Nathaniel Avery, Sr.

Nathaniel, son of Captain John and Abigail (Cheseborough) Avery, was baptized 18 Jun 1692 along with two brothers and a sister, meaning that he was born earlier. He was a Freeman of Groton in 1712 thus was at least 21 years of age then. Several times, John Avery deeded land to his dutiful sons and invariably named then Nathaniel, William and Elisha, in that order. Thus, Nathaniel Avery was the eldest.

By 1736 he was living in Lyme where he bought land of Moses Huntley.

Nathaniel Avery made his will 1 July 1769, proved 28 Jun 1770, in which he mentions wife, Abigail. Therefore, by 1769, Rachel Yeomans Avery had pre-deceased him.

The names of the children of Nathaniel Avery were obtained from the settlement of their father's estate, so birth order cannot be established (males were listed first in the will), therefore the children of Rachel Yeomans cannot be designated with any certainty (The Groton Avery Clan, Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery).

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Nathaniel Avery, was baptized 19 June 1692 at the First Church of New London, Connecticut. He probably married before 1721, Rachel Yoemans, daughter of Edward and Mary Yoemans. David Avery, a noted historian on the family, wrote that Nathaniel Avery married Desire Yoemans and moved to Walnut Hill, Lyme, Connecticut. On 26 September 1721, Edward Yoemans, in a deed, mentioned his loving son-in-law, Nathaniel Avery. Nathaniel, in a deed dated 3 December 1724, spoke of land that he had bought of his father-in-law, Edward Yoemans, late of Groton, New London Co., Connecticut (Groton Deeds, 2:280). Edward Yoemans, late of Groton, called himself of Grinage (Greenwich), Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and, in 1725, spoke of himself as then living in Elizabeth, Essex Co., Province of East Jersey. These and other deeds make it plain that the last name of Nathaniel Avery's first wife was Yoemans. David Avery said the first name was Desire, but the birth of Nathaniel's son, Elisha, is recorded at Lyme Connecticut, as the son of Nathaniel and Rachel Avery. Edward and Mary Yoemans had a daughter, Rachel, baptized in the First Church of Stonington, New London County, Connecticut, on 31 July 1692. Although Nathaniel had a daughter, Desire, the most careful researh fails to show that Edward Yoemans had a daughter of that name. For once it seems, David Avery was mistaken, and that Nathaniel Avery married Rachel Yoemans.

Although Nathaniel's baptism took place well after his brother William's birth, there is evidence to suggest that, in fact, Nathaniel was the older of the two. Nathaniel Avery was a freeman of Groton in 1712, hence at least 21 year sold. Several times, John Avery, the father, deeded land to his dutiful sons, Nathaniel, William, and Elisha, invariably mentioning them in that order (Groton Deeds, 1:329). On 17 April 1724, Capt. John Avery of Groton, "out of love," deeded to his dutiful son, Nathaniel Avery of Groton, "my dwelling house and land," 30 acres bounded "on the west side with the land of my brother Capt. James Avery," north by Nehemiah Smith's land, easterly by the common, westerly by Poquonock lane.

On 6 March 1726/1727, Nathaniel Avery deeded land that he had from his father, Capt. John Avery, to Lawrence Stagors, except the part he had already sold to his brother, John Avery (Groton Deeds, 2:90, 379). On 1 April 1746, Nathaniel Avery deeded to his eldest son, Nathaniel, "he being of lawful age," forty acres of land on Walnut Hill. On 20 December 1747, William Avery, son of Nathaniel Avery, bought land of Henry Rowland, so he must have been, at that time, at least 21 years of age. Nathaniel called himself "of Groton" in deeds from 1716, 1721 and 1726. He was, however, living in Lyme in 1736, when on 10 April he bought land from Moses Huntley. In 1737, he bought 70 acres on Walnut Hill; in 1745, he bought from Joshua Bill, of South Kingston, 50 more acres on Walnut Hill, and still more from Thomas Lord in 1750 (Lyme Deeds, 6:34, 369 & 8:180, 535 & 12:169).

Nathaniel Avery's will was made 1 July 1769 and proved 28 June 1770. In it he mentioned wife, Abigail, son William, deceased, Nathaniel, "late of Lyme," daughter Desire Whitney, wife og John Whitney, granddaughter Abigail, wife of Joseph Sweet, granddaughters Abigail and Hannah (daughters of his daughter Mary Huntley, deceased), grandson, Amos (son of his daughter Mary Merriot, deceased) (New London Wills, J:94).

The children of Nathaniel Avery were born in several places; some of their names were obtained only from the settlement of their father's estate, so birth order cannot be established (males were listed first in the will), therefore the children of Rachel Yoemans cannot be designated with any certainty. William bought land in 1747, as already stated, meaning his birth would have taken place sometime bewteen about 1721, the time of Nathaniel's first marriage, and 1726, in order for him to be of legal age to participate in a land transaction in 1747. The daughter, Mary, was born in 1729 and Mary was the name of Rachel Yoeman's mother. It was common practice to name first born children after parents, thus it is likely that Rachel was married to William at least until 1729, making it most probable that Rachel was the mother of William.

Children:

• 1. Nathaniel, birth unknown, died 1756
• 2. William, mentioned below
• 3. Elisha, born 16 November 1726 at Lyme, Connecticut, died 1750
• 4. Mary, baptized 4 May 1729 at First Church of Groton, Connecticut; married Mr. Huntley
• 5. Andrew, baptised 16 April 1732 at First Church of Groton, Connecticut
• 6. Amos, birth unknown
• 7. Desire, birth unknown; married John Whitney
• 8. Ann or Amy (Amie); married a Mr. Harriot
• 9. Abigail, birth unknown

1692, June 19: Nathaniel, son of John and Abigail (Chesebrough) Avery, was baptized at the First Church of New London.

1712: Nathaniel Avery was a freeman of Groton.

1724, April 17: Captain John Avery of Groton "out of Love" deeded to his dutiful son, Nathaniel Avery of Groton, "my dwelling house and land" 30 acres bounded "on the west side with the land of my brother, Captain James Avery "North by Nehemiah Smith's land, easterly by the common, westerly by Poquonock land.

1724, December 3: Nathaniel Avery, in a deed. . . spoke of land that he had bought of his father-in-law, Edward Yeomans, late of Groton (Groton Deeds, II:280).

1727, March 6: Nathaniel Avery deeded land that he had of his honored father, Captain John Avery, to Lawrence Stagors, except for that part already sold to his brother, James Avery (Groton Deeds, II:90, 379).

1736: He was living in Lyme, Connecticut

1737: He bought 70 acres on Walnut Hill.

1745: He bought of Joshua Bill of South Kingston, 50 acres more on Walnut Hill.

1746, April 1: Nathaniel Avery deeded to his eldest son, Nathaniel, "he being of lawful age" forty acres of land on Walnut Hill.

1747, December 20: William Avery, son of Nathaniel, bought land of Henry Rowland so he must have been, at that time, at least twenty-one years old.

1750: He purchased additional land on Walnut Hill (Lyme Deeds, VI:34, 369; VIII:180, 535 and XII:169).

1769, July 1: The Last Will and Testament of Nathaniel Avery was made.

1770, June 28: His Will was proven. In it he mentions his wife, Abigail; son, William, deceased; sons, Andrew and Amos; grandson, Elisha, eldest son of deceased son, Nathaniel, late of Lyme; daughters, Desire Whitney, wife of John Whitney; granddaughter, Abigail, wife of Joseph Sweet; granddaughters, Abigail and Hannah, daughters of daughter, Mary Huntley, deceased: grandson. Amos, son of daughter, Mary Merriot, deceased (New London Wills, J:94).

"The Groton Avery Clan" by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery: I:143-4; Cleveland, Ohio; 1912 (929.2 CHS)

1721c: Nathaniel Avery, probably, married Rachel Yeomans. Children: 1) Nathaniel; 2) William; 3) Elisha, born November 16, 1726 at Lyme;4) Mary, baptized May 4, 1729 at the First Church of Groton; 5) Andrew, baptized April 16, 1732 at the First Church of Groton; 6) Amos; 7) Desire: 8) Ann and 9) Abigail.

"The Groton Avery Clan" by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery: I:143-5; Cleveland, Ohio; 1912 (929.2 CHS)

Marriage Note: David Avery wrote that Nathaniel Avery married Desire Yeomans and moved to Walnut Hill, Lyme. In the record of the birth of his son, Elisha, is recorded in Lyme, Connecticut as the son of Nathaniel and Rachel Avery.

"The Groton Avery Clan" by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery: I:143; Cleveland, Ohio; 1912 (929.2 CHS)

1721, September 26: Edward Yeomans, in a deed mentioned his loving son-in-law, Nathaniel Avery.

Sources

"The Groton Avery Clan" by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery: I:143; Cleveland, Ohio; 1912 (929.2 CHS)