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Description
DNA Member Families
Our project includes Avery and Every surnames and related variants. Many members trace their ancestry back to immigrant settlers in colonial America around 1600-1700s. Below are some of the well-documented lineages participating in this project:
- Dedham, MA Avery Family; England origins
- Groton, CT Avery Clan; England origins
- Pound Ridge, NY Avery Family; England origins
- Richmond, VA Avery Family; England origins
- Westchester, NY Evre/Every Family
The origin of the name Avery has occasioned much discussion. According to the Patronymica Britannica it may come from any of the following: Aviarius — "A keeper of birds"; Avery — "A place where forage for the kings horses were kept"; Alberic — "German personal name, softened in Norman times to Aubray." Another authority traces the name to Avernum, from the French Avoir, to have or to hold. The name has been spelled Avery, Avrey, Auvrey, Auerey, Averie and Averye. The Averys have been found in the southwestern counties of England. In Cornwall (whence the Groton Averys, from whom Philo Avery descends) Thomas Avery appeared at Bodmen in 1310; William Avery in 1333; Michael Avery was mayor in 1544; Thomas Avery was mayor of Tintagel in 1603; William Avery in 1746, and Richard Avery in 1801, etc. ("History of Tugg Manor.") In 1579 a grant of arms was made to William Avery, of Filongley, Warwick. There were many Averys in Somerset also. Arnold Avery was a justice of the peace in 1650; Henry Avery was a soldier in 1654; Joseph Avery was deputy governing the Merchant Adventurers Company in Holland in 1660; Robert Avery was a Royalist officer in the civil war; Benjamin, Richard and Timothy were Presbyterians in Berkshire in 1697. The Averys were in the clothing trade in Newbury. The English residence and parentage of Christopher Avery, the immigrant ancestor, is unknown, consequently the Groton Averys have no established claim to any coat-of-arms.
(I) Christopher Avery, a weaver, was born in England, about 1590. The date of his death is not sure, but Minor gives it in his diary as March 12, 1679. There are several traditions as to the date of his coming to America — one that he came from Salisbury, Wilts, England, in the "Arabella," with John Winthrop, and landed at Salem, Massachusetts, June 12, 1630; another that he came with the younger Winthrop in 1631. The family is very old in Cornwall, England, and the best opinion is that he came from there. He was selectman of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1646-52-54. At Salem he took the freeman's oath June 29, 1652; was chosen and sworn clerk of the band, constable, and clerk of the market. His wife did not come with him to this country, and in 1654 he was relieved of a fine that had been imposed on him for living apart from her. From "Records of Massachusetts," vol. 3, p. 364: "October 19, 1654. Christopher Avery being fined at Ipswich court for living from his wife, upon his petiçon to the court being aged, poore, havinge used means to procure his wife hither the fine is remitted." In 1658 he sold his lands in Gloucester and removed to Boston, where March 18, 1658, he purchased a home in what is now the business centre of Boston, paying therefor forty pounds. The lot was twenty-six by forty-six feet, and located in what is now the centre of the postoffice building on Devonshire street. The famous old spring (which gave the name to Spring Lane) was near, and is now preserved under the postoffice. He sold the lot in 1663 for the same price (40 pounds), and followed his son James to New London, Connecticut. Here he claimed exemption from watching and training on account of his age, in June, 1667, and was made a freeman of the colony of Connecticut, in October, 1669. According to an affidavit in the probate court he left an only son James.
(II) Captain James Avery, only child of Christopher Avery, and probably the founder of the family that is known as the Groton Averys, was born in England, about 1620, died April 18, 1700. He came to America with his father, and lived at Gloucester, Massachusetts, for several years. Miss Caulkin's History of New London, p. 67, says: "On the 19th of October, 1650, grants were made by the townsmen to Mr. Blynman, Obadiah Biven, Hugh Caukin, Hugh Roberts, John Coile, Andrew Lester, James Averye, Robert Isbell." He received many other land grants in the several distributions, and others for public and military service. His dwelling in New London, once "the unadorned church and watch tower of the wilderness," is still in good repair and was owned and occupied by an Avery in 1893. He was active in military affairs and is generally spoken of as ensign, lieutenant or captain. In the English-Dutch quarrels and in their own Indian troubles he saw much military service and fully earned his rank of captain. He was equally prominent in civil affairs; he was chosen selectman and held office for twenty years; he was a commissioner to "try small causes." Here he gained his title of judge. Before his court came actions for small debts and complaints of evil speaking and disorderly conduct, wills were proved and marriages performed. He was in this office many years. From 1658 to 1680 he was elected to the general court twelve times. In 1871 Judge Wheeler published a list of representatives from Groton which was set off from New London in 1705. "It is worthy of note that out of 545 representatives of the town of Groton, 104 have borne the name of Avery, and all were descendants of Captain James Avery." He was prominent in church affairs, and the references to him in the records are numerous. He married, November 10, 1643, in Boston, Joanna Greenslade, born about 1622 and living in 1693. Children, the three first being born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the others in New London, Connecticut: Hannah, James, Mary, Thomas, John (see forward), Rebecca, Jonathan, Christopher and Samuel. Captain Avery married (second), 1698, Mrs. Joshua Holmes, a widow.
(III) John, third son and fifth child of Captain James and Joanna (Greenslade) Avery, was born in New London, Connecticut, February 10, 1654. He was of Groton, that part of New London lying on the east side of the river (Thames). He conveyed land in 1691, was appointed "ensign" by the general court in 1692 and again in 1693, and May 13, 1697, "John Avery was appointed captain of the train band at New London, on the east side of the river." His name appears with the title in the patent of New London granted by the general court, October 14, 1704. In 1700 he became one of the original proprietors of New Lebanon, Connecticut, and May 10, 1705, the general court confirmed him and his associates in the possession of lands in that town. He is known to have held lands in Preston, Connecticut, in 1706. There is no record of him later than January 5, 1713. Captain John Avery married November 29, 1675, Abigail, born September 30, 1656, daughter of Samuel and Abigail Cheseborough, and granddaughter of William and Ann (Stevenson) Cheseborough. William Cheseborough was of Lincolnshire, England, and founder of Stonington, Connecticut. Children of Captain John and Abigail (Cheseborough) Avery; Abigail, Abigail, Mary, John, Benjamin, William, Elizabeth, Anna, Elisha, Desire, Josiah, Daniel, Nathaniel, see forward, Thomas.
(IV) Nathaniel, thirteenth child and seventh son of Captain John and Abigail (Cheseborough) Avery, was born about 1701. There is little in the records concerning him. He married,
Requirements
A Surname Project traces members of a family that share a common surname. They are of the most interest in cultures where surnames are passed on from father to son like the Y-Chromosome. This project is for males taking a Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test. Thus, the individual who tests must be a male who wants to check his direct paternal line (father's father's father's...) with a Y-DNA12, Y-DNA37, Y-DNA67, or Y-DNA111 test and who has one of the surnames listed for the project. Females do not carry their father's Y-DNA. Females who would like to check their father's direct paternal line can have a male relative with his surname order a Y-DNA test. Females can also order an mtDNA test for themselves such as the mtDNAPlus test or the mtFullSequence test and participate in an mtDNA project. Both men and women may take our autosomal Family Finder test to discover recent relationships across all family lines.
Surnames In This Project
Avera, Averill, Avert, Avery, Averye, Ephre, Every, Evre, Eyverie