Sunday, December 11, 2011

Backward Glance - James Christopher Avery

A descendant of the Avery family of Groton, Connecticut, James Christopher Avery was the son of James and Mercy (Baker) Avery who were both born in Massachusetts, but removed to New York around 1810. In the book The Groton Avery Clan, his birth is recorded as 1809 in Leyden, Massachusetts. However, Christoper's family was enumerated on the U.S. Federal census in 1850 in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio, where it is shown that he was born in New York about 1812. In a biography about his son, Edwin, his birthplace is given as New York, also. James had five brothers, all of whom were younger than he. They were Daniel Dake, Allen Arvin (sometimes Arvin Allen), Lauren, Warren and William Nathaniel.

After living in Spafford, Onondago, New York, until at least 1826, James and Mercy Avery moved their family to Ohio. Many sources state they went to Summit County, but it was not formed until 1840 from portions of Medina, Portage and Stark Counties.

Ohio County Marriages, 1790-1950; Medina County
 On July 16, 1835, James Christopher Avery was married to Ruth Caroline Coleman. She was born on August 29, 1817, in Connecticut. She was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah 'Sally' (Bishop) Coleman. Christopher and Ruth were married in Medina County, Ohio. They had four children, Edwin A., William Hugh, Austin Sawyer and Myron Every. In 1840, the family was living in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio. In 1850, they were living in the same place, as of June 1st. He was a farmer.
1850 US Federal Census; Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio


It has been difficult to determine when or where James C. Avery died. His wife, Ruth, removed with her children to Indiana in 1851. By 1865, she was enumerated in Kansas as a widow with the last name Willis. One source sets James' death at February 26, 1863. However, that is his father's death date. Hopefully, as more records become available, this mystery will be cleared up.

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