Nicholas Averell

We give here a brief synopsis of his records relating to that family. Mr. Hoppin has concluded after his long experience in England and America in this sort of research, that our William1 Averell was the eldest son of Nicholas and Dorcas Averell of Ash, Kent (very near London); grandson of Robert Averell, buried at Ash, and mentioned in a Chancery case, 1638; and greatgrandson of Thomas Averell of Ridley, Kent, who died September 1556, and was mentioned in a Chancery case 1638 (see p 16 for English Genealogy Data: Averells of Kent, prepared by C. A. Hoppin, Jr.).

The following items are from his statement:

"Nicholas Averell, the father of William1, made a will, 8 September 1631, in which he called himself of Ashe (by Farmingham), Kent, yeoman. He wished to be buried by his father in the churchyard; and he left to his eldest son, William Averell and his heirs, his home in Ashe with the forge, barne, orchard, etc.; and to his son Michael a house and tenement in Little Peckham, alias West Peckham; to his wife, Dorcas Averell, executrix, the rents of said houses until his sons came to the age of 21. He gave also to both his sons £20 apiece when 21; the residue to his wife Dorcas. William's uncle, Geoffrey Averell of Stansted, Kent, yeoman, made a will, Jan. 10, 1631, leaving lands to his brother, Robert Averell, and his heirs; and if Robert had no issue (he d. soon after) they were to go to Wm. Averell, son of Nicholas Averell, deceased. If William Averell left no heirs the lands were to go to his brother Michael. William Averell had left for America at date of this will; the fact may, or may not, have been known to the testator. No matter in either case: for, if Robert held his brother Geoffrey's estate, he was obliged to pass it on to William.

"Another of William's uncles, Robert Averell of HartleyKent, also mentions his nephews Michael and William in his will dated Nov. 15, 1637; proved 30 Nov. 1637, giving them his two houses and lands at Stansted, Kent. This will is proof that both William and his brother Michael were of age in 1637; also that William was of age in 163k if not before."

After finding the above and other records, Mr. C. A. Hoppin, Jr., wrote: "It is clear how William Averell got means for so adventurous and ambitious a voyage as to America, while he was a young man, and also for an early marriage; and he was close to the stream of emigration which swept down the river past Kent from London." [Letter of May 25, 1905.]

It is probable that William1 Averell was born at "Ash, near Farmingham, Kent" (there is another Ash in Kent), between 1611 and 1613, as he was not of age, September 8, 1631, and had reached his majority November 15, 1637. He must have left home by January, 1631, when eighteen or twenty years of age. His name does not appear in Kent records so far as known after 1637; and our first record of him in America is found in the Proceedings of the Town of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, volume 1, page 32; "in the year of 1637, the 2d day of March," when under the name of "William Avery," he received a grant of land in that town.

The Averell-Averill-Avery family: A record of the descendants of William and Abigail Averell of Ipswich, Mass. ... (Google eBook)

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