Christopher Avery

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Christopher Avery (d. 1679)

The migrant ancestor Christopher Avery is of unknown origins. He came to New England with his son James by 1643 and he went to Gloucester. He was buried on 12 March 1678/9, probably in New London.

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “5 day of march 78-79 mrs. bruster was buried the 12 day ffather avery was buried." [1]

The New London town clerk wrote, “Christopher Avery’s death, vide, near the death of mother Brewster.” [2]

Christopher is said to have married Margery Stephens by a license of 26 August 1616 in Ippleden, Devonshire. [3]

Christopher was a weaver. [4]

Apparently Christopher abandoned his wife in England, something the Massachusetts authorities disapproved of. In December 1643 he was presented to the Essex county court in Salem for living absent from his wife. On 29: 12: 1647 he was again presented to the court for living absent from his wife. In 1653 Christopher was further presented for living apart from his wife who was in England. The court ordered him to pay a fine of 20 pounds or to go to her at the first opportunity.” [5]

Christopher was a selectman in Gloucester from 1646 to 1654. In December 1647 he became the constable of Gloucester. On 29: 4: 1652 he was sworn a freeman. On 29: 4: 1652 he was supposed to be on a trial jury but was replaced. [6]

Chrisopher moved to Boston in 1658. [4]

As did Thomas Minor, Christopher had some sort of dispute with Mr. Blingman and in September 1649 he was presented for speaking scoffingly of him. The court was told that he Christopher had gone to Boston to live and it issued a warrant for his appearance at the next county court in Boston. [7]

On 26: 4: 1655 Christopher rather unconvincingly sued James Standish for slander, “For reporting that he was in company drinking strong liquors and that they drank so long that they could not tell ink from liquor; also that they broke bottles and that he had a man’s wife on his lap or on his knees.” He sued a supporting witness William Vinsent for slander as well, “For saying that he drank so long that he drank ink for liquor, and dandled another man’s wife on his knee.” [8]

Christopher moved to New London in 1666. [4]

On 8 August 1665 Christopher bought a house, orchard and lot from Robert Burrows in the town plot in New London. In June 1667 he was released from watching and training there. In October 1669 he was made a freeman. [2]

By a 1685 deed James gave is four sons the house, lot and orchard that had belonged to his father Christopher. [2]

Children of Christopher Avery:

i. Captain James Avery was born about 1620. He was buried on 20 April 1700. He married first Joanna Greenslade. He married second Abigail Ingraham.

References:

1. Thomas Minor, Sydney H. Minor and George D. Stanton, The Diary of Thomas Minor, Stonington, Connecticut, 1653–1684(New London: Press of the Day, 1899).

2. Frances Mainwaring Caulkins, History of New London, Connecticut (New London: H.T. Utley, 1895), 331.

3. "New England Marriages to 1700," digitized books, AmericanAncestors, originally published as Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015), vol. 1: 55.

4. "Notes," Essex Antiquarian 6 (1902): 89.

5. George Francis Dow, ed., and Harriet S. Tapley, trans., Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, 9 vols., digitized books, Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project (http://salem.lib.virginia.edu), vol. 1: 58, 133, 300.

6. Dow, Records of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, vol. 1: 130, 253, 254.

7. Dow, Records of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, vol. 1: 175.

8. Dow, Records of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, vol. 1: 390.

Revised July 12, 2023