Avery Stories

A number of interesting old letters from the Groton CT - Aurora NY - Grand Rapids MI Avery line have survived the years through descent in the family. This project attempts to share these documents with the broader Geni family in hopes of adding color and depth to the threads of this family lineage. These personal letters shed light on the human condition within the context of their times as captured through the personal reflections of each author's own life experiences.

The letters have been transcribed for ease of reading, however scans of the original documents are provided when possible in the event the transcription is questioned.

Steven Avery Kelley

The Letters in chronological order:

1801

• Transcribed Letter from Elias Avery (1768-1837) to his brother Daniel Avery (1766-1842) dated December 26, 1801. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1805

• Transcribed Letter from Elizabeth Barber (Denison) (1748-1822) to her daughter Sally Avery (Barber) (1773-1837), written at Groton Conn., August 20, 1805. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1819

• Transcribed Letter from Edward Bloomer Ely (c. 1790-1844) to Elias Avery (1768-1837), written at Fredericksburgh, Kentucky September 20, 1819. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1822

• Transcribed Letter from Mr. R. Humphrey to Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800 –1850), written at Newport OH, November 27, 1822. Mr. Humphrey would appear to be a former teacher at a New York academy that Joseph likely attended and continued to be a mentor to Joseph. Both had recently removed to Ohio at the time of this letter. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from William E. Avery (1805-1826) to his sister Maria Barber Avery (1801-1826), written at Springfield Mass, November 30, 1822. This melancholy letter was written by William when he was 17 years old. He would not live to see his 21st birthday. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1824

• Transcribed Letter from William Smith (c1796-) to his aunt Nancy Morgan (Barber) (1785-1864), written at Farmer, Seneca Co, NY, Dec. 11, 1824. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from William Smith (c1796-) to his father-in-law Elias Avery (1768-1837) and mother-in-law Sarah “Sally” Barber (1773-1837) on the news of the death of their daughter Elizabeth Denison Avery (1803-1824), written at Farmerville, December 16, 1824 Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850) to his father-in-law Elias Avery (1768-1837) and mother-in-law Sarah “Sally” Barber (1773-1837) on the death of their daughter Elizabeth Denison Avery (1803-1824), written at Columbus Ohio, December 24, 1824. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1825

• Transcribed Letter from Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850) to his father-in-law Elias Avery (1768-1837) and mother-in-law Sarah “Sally” Barber (1773-1837), written at Columbus Ohio, February 14, 1825. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850) to his father-in-law Elias Avery (1768-1837) and mother-in-law Sarah “Sally” Barber (1773-1837), written at Cincinnati Ohio, September 20, 1825. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1826

• Transcribed Letter from Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850) to William Smith (c1796-?), written at Hamilton Ohio July 16, 1826. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from William Smith (1796 -) to Elias Avery (1768-1837) and Sally Barber (1773-1837) shortly before the death of Maria Barber Avery (1801-1826) written at Springfield, Mass, October 12, 1826. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Albert Morgan (1789-1860) to Christopher Morgan Jr. (1777-1834), written at Springfield Mass, October 15, 1826. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Esther Brainard White (Johnson) (1790-1878) to Sarah “Sally” Barber (1773-1837), written probably at Aurora NY, while not dated it must have been written soon after Maria Barber Avery’s death in October 1826. This letter has been kept inside the front cover of a book of verses written by many individuals probably as a remembrance of Maria who died on October 14, 1826. The first entry in this book is by Betsey Ann Barber, Maria's cousin, dated September 15, 1826.

1827

• Transcribed Letter from Albert Morgan (1789-1860) and his wife Lucy Avery Miner to Elias Avery (1768-1837) and Sally Barber (1773-1837) reflecting on the recent death of his half sister Maria Barber Avery (1801-1826), written at Springfield Mass, January 1, 1827. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1828

• Transcribed Letter from Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850) to William Smith (c1796-?), written at Newark Ohio December 5, 1828. Scan of ORIGNIAL LETTER

1835

• Transcribed letter from Elias Avery (1768 – 1837) to his nephew Sidney Smith Avery (1800 – 1869), son of Congressman Daniel Avery, written a Ledyard September 8, 1835. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1862

• Transcribed Letter from Hettie to her cousin John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). dated September 28, 1862. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1863

• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids MI, March 26, 1863. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids MI, March 26, 1863. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids MI, March 30, 1863. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Frances Brownell Avery (1846-1928) to Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) Postmarked Aurora NY, July 6, 1863. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids, MI, September 16, 1863. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids, MI, October 1, 1863. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER.
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids MI, December 23, 1863. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids MI, December 26, 1863. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from John Morgan Avery (1847-1873) to his father Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) and step-mother Elizabeth Dougherty (1820-1875), written at New York City December 27, 1863. Stationary embossed with Aurora Cayuga Lake Academy seal, 1798 where John was attending school. Includes a first person account of the funeral procession of Brig. General Michael Corcoran in New York City. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1864

• Transcribed Letter from Maria Avery (1833-1893) to her cousin Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) Postmarked Aurora MA, January, 1864 describing the death of her brother James Avery (1825-1864). Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Helen Louise Avery (1850-1918) to her cousin John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Farmer NY, May 11, 1864. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Helen Louise Avery (1850-1918) to her cousin John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Dated Farmer, NY, August 23, (1864 by inference). Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from John Morgan Avery (1847-1873) to his father Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) written at East Hampton MA, September 11, 1864. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Helen Louise Avery (1850-1918) to her cousin John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Dated Aurora, NY, October 18, (1864 by inference). Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873), written in Grand Rapids MI, December 14, 1864 during the Civil War. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1865

• Transcribed Letter from Frances Brownell Avery (1846-1928) to John Morgan Avery (1847-1873), Postmarked New Haven, CT, January 14, 1865. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids MI, March 30, 1865. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from John Morgan Avery (1847-1873) to his father Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901). Postmarked Easthampton MA, April 17, 1865 – two days after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from A. W. Moore (?-?) to Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901). Postmarked Washington DC, May 22, 1865. This letter includes a first hand account of the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington D. C. following the closure of the Civil War. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from John Morgan Avery (1847-1873) to his father Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901). Written in Easthampton MA, June 8, 1865. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Margaret Perry to her brother-in-law Noyes Latham Avery (1815 - 1901). Postmarked Tecumseh, MI, August 8, 1865. ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from T. Foote to John Morgan Avery (1847-1873), Postmarked Grand Rapids MI, August 26, 1865. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER.
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873). Postmarked Grand Rapids MI, November 9, 1865. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Francis Amasa Walker (1840-1897), to Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901), discussing disciplinary action for Noyes' son John Morgan Avery (1847-1873), who was a student attending the Williston Seminary Institute at the time, written November 13, 1865. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER.

1866

• Transcribed Letter from John Barber Avery (1808-1898) to his brother Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) Postmarked Farmer Village NY, March 29, 1866. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Ebenezer White Arms (1805-1877) to Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) Postmarked Aurora NY, March 30, 1866. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

1874

• Transcribed Letter from Somandele to Noyes Latham Avery (1881-1947), Postmarked Aurora NY, April 28, 1874. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER.

1882

• Transcribed Postal Cards from Noyes Frederick Avery (1855-1915) to Annie Barstow Avery (1858-1921) dated December 12, 1882, New York. Scan of ORIGINAL POSTAL CARDS

1883

• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Latham Avery (1815-1901) to his son Noyes Frederick Avery (1855-1925), Postmarked Grand Rapids, MI, March 16, 1883. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER.
• Transcribed Letter from Noyes Frederick Avery (1855-1915) to Annie Barstow Avery (1858-1921) dated May 25, 1883, Yokohama. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Annie Barstow Avery (1858-1921) to Noyes Frederick Avery (1855-1915) dated July 20, 1883, Grand Rapids, MI. Scan of ORIGNIAL LETTER

1917

• Transcribed Letter from Frederick DeLano Avery (1895-1980) to his mother Annie Haley Barstow (1858-1921) postmarked April 23, 1917. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Frederick DeLano Avery (1895-1980) to Noyes Latham Avery (1881-1947) Postmarked Newport, Rhode Island, April 16, 1917 on US Navy stationary. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Frederick DeLano Avery (1895-1980) to his mother Annie Haley Barstow (1858-1921) written May 13, 1917. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Frederick DeLano Avery (1895-1980) to his father Noyes Frederick Avery (1855-1925) Postmarked Newport, Rhode Island, October 4, 1917. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Frederick DeLano Avery (1895-1980) to his mother Annie Haley Barstow (1858-1921) Postmarked Newport, Rhode Island, October 22, 1917. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Frederick DeLano Avery (1895-1980) to his mother Annie Haley Barstow (1858-1921) postmarked November 17, 1917 while serving as an Ensign in the US Naval Reserves onboard the U.S.S. Florida (BB30). Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Frederick DeLano Avery (1895-1980) to his mother Annie Haley Barstow (1858-1921) written December 7, 1917 while serving as an Ensign in the US Naval Reserves onboard the U.S.S. Florida (BB30). Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER