Wednesday, September 6, 2023

52 Ancestors - Week 36 - Tradesman

 Our Avery Branch

A few days ago I got pulled back up into the Tisdale family tree by a post on Genealogy Bank:

“New England's 'Winthrop Fleet': The Avery Family Line” (part 1 & 2) by Melissa Davenport Berry. It was 16 pages of well-documented information on the line descended from Christopher Avery II (1590-1679).

Our Tisdale line goes back to Mary Avery (c1645-1713), wife of James Ebenezer Tisdale (1644-1715). Mary was the daughter of Dr. William Avery (1621-1687) and Margaret Albright or Allright (1628-1678). Several online family trees have William Avery as the son of Christopher Avery II and Margery Abraham. The information in Melissa Berry's article proves that Christopher Avery II is not the father of William Avery.

Christopher Avery II, a weaver from Ipplepen, Devonshire, came to Massachusetts in 1630 on the Arbella, the flagship of the Winthrop Fleet, funded by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He brought with him his ten year old son, James Avery (1620-1700). Another source says Christopher and his son James came over in 1631 with the younger Winthrop. Several times in the article it is said that James was his only son.(The Averys of Groton, Homer D. L. Sweet, Syracuse, 1894)

The most convncing proof that James was the only son is an entry on the books of the county court of New London, Connectcut, November 24, 1683:

Capt. James Avery appearing in this Court and there Declaring himself the only son & heir of his Father Mr. Christoppher Avery deceased and that there was neither son or Daughter but himself was sole heir and he desiring this court would so constitute him and give him power of administration upon the said estate of his father deceased...”

Sweet says “The earliest known Avery will from Ipplepen is that of Johann Avery, made in 1597, but there were Averys in that town before that time.” Sweet also mentions a will of “One William Avery, of Buckland...” whose 1623 transfer of land to his son John is witnessed by Hugh Sweet who had also witnessed the estate inventory of Christopher Avery I. So it is very likely that they were related.

At any rate it is clear that our 8th great granfather, William Avery, was not the son of Christopher Avery II. Looks like it's time to get back to my Genealogy Do-Over.


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