How will you be remembered?
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Micro hidden at a local monument
CAUTION: STAY AWAY FROM THE AMTRACK RAIL LINES, YOU DO NOT NEED TO GO ANYWHERE NEAR THEM TO FIND THE CACHE!!!
We first noticed this monument yesterday...no telling how many times we've driven by it without even knowing that it is there. Today we went by to find out why it is there, and it got us to thinking...what is it that makes someone put a man's bronze head on top of a 20 or 30 foot column of granite?
A little research on the web, and here's what we found out about James Avery:
James Avery (1620 - 1700)
He was successively Ensign, Lieutenant, and Captain of the "Trainband" of New London. He was twelve times Deputy to the General Court from 1668 to 1690 and a Judge. He was Lieutenant and afterwards Captain in King Philip's War and served with great distinction in the Swamp Fight on December 19, 1675, in command of the volunteers from New London, Stonington, and Norwich. In 1676 he was Captain of one of the four companies of volunteers which protected the frontiers. (Hubbard's Narrative, pages 125 to 131.)
Captain James Avery
• Born: 1620, Cornwall Devonshire England
• Christened: 22 Apr 1621, Newton Abbot Devon England
• Married: 10 Nov 1643, Gloucester MA
• Died: 18 Apr 1700, New Haven New Haven CT
• Buried: Apr 1700, Pequonoc New London CT
Notes for JAMES AVERY:
THE HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, pages 199 & 200.
THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. Found in the DAR Library, Washington DC. Pages 43 through 78.
James Avery came to America with his father in 1630 on the "Arbella". James was an early land owner at Gloucester as it is shown by extracts from the town book containing an account of "Land laid out and to whom;"
9 mo. (16)45. "Andrew Lister had 8 acres of upland upon Planter's Neck, running from Lobster Cove to the sea, the 24th lott next to James Averies."
1 mo. (16)47, "James Averie Given 6 acres of upland at the hed of Little River to be laide out."
26. 3. (16)51. "Also the said Richard Beefor bought of James Avery three acres of upland."
15. 10. (16)53. James Avery had marsh at Chebacco.
The following items are from the Salem quarterly court records and files.
1: 11: 1645. James Avery of Gloucester took the oath of freeman.
25: 10: 1649. James Averey grand juryman from Gloster.
24: 4: 1650. James Averey grand juryman.
In studying the record of these days, the careful student is strongly impressed with the fact that Capt. James Avery was a very remarkable man. Living as he did in stirring times, he was a leader among strong men, enjoying their confidence and respect because he deserved them. Especially it is to be noted that although the state took cognizance of affairs that we now call private and interfered in the details of family life and personal relations in a way that would not now be tolerated, he was never censured or "presented" for any shortcoming or alleged dereliction of duty of propriety. Eminent in all the relations of life, his descendants look upon him with pride and affection as one "sans p[eur et sans reproche."
Our Family: James Avery came from Devonshire with Gov. Winthrop's company in 1630.
C.M. Babcock: James Avery, born 1620, came to New England on the Arbella in 1630 with the Winthrop fleet. This is implied, since he came with this father and Christopher is credited with the 1630 arrival. Some say, however, that they might have come in 1631 with Winthrop Jr., since he and James were great friends and may have become well acquainted on the 1631 voyage. James was 12 times deputy to the General Court (1658-1680). He died 18 April 1700. Married Joanna Greenslade 10 Nov. 1643.
De Forest: Dates are the same as above. Freeman at Gloucster in 1645. Moved to what is now New London in 1651 after receiving some 300 acres of land in 1650 and 1651. He received more land later for his public service. In 1665 Ensign Avery was named lieutenant of the train band and during the threat of Connecticut's attack by the Dutch, he was named a captain in 1673. During King Philip's War he was appointed fifth in command of the united Army against the Indians, and he led the Pequot allies during the Great Swamp Fight 19 Dec. 1675. He was named selectman in 1660 and held that office for 23 years. He was deputy to the General Court almost continuouly from 1659 to 1689. In 1663 and 1664 he was appointed a commissioner to try small causes, and from 1666 to 1670 and from 1674 to 1695 he was judge of the county court.
Red King: Captains James Avery and George Denison led Hartford's two newly authorized companies in a search for Canochet in 1676, the second year of King Philip's War. The English were augmented by Niantics and Mohegans, in a ratio of some 40 Englishmen to 80 native ancillaries. They succeeded in capturing the Narraganset sachem, who was condemned to death April 2 at Stonington. "Flintlock and Tomahawk" by Douglas Edward Leach mentions this campaign, saying it was led by Capt. Denison. He does not mention James Avery.
Virkus: Capt. James Avery, 1620-1700. Captain in King Philip's War, judge, deputy to the General Court; married 1643 Joanna Greenslade.
Information on children comes from "The Averys of Groton" and AF data. An AF record lists a 10th child, Joanna Avery, born 1669 in New London. In the Averys of Groton, someone has written in that same information.
His land grant in Groton adjoined that of James Morgan. And Averys and Morgans are buried in the same old cemetery in Groton. Pequonnock, or Poquonnock, is now Groton.
He married (2) Abigail Ingraham Chesbrough Holmes July 4, 1698. She married (1) Samuel Chesbrough, was widowed and then married (2) Joshua Holmes.
The name Avere first appears in England in the Domesday Book, which was completed in 1084.
Montville: James Avery, ensign, lieutenant and captain in the early train band. Active in King Philip's War. Twelve times deputy to the General Court.
Savage: James Avery of Gloucester, married 10 Nov. 1643 Jane Greenslade of Boston. Removed to New London. "He was held in high esteem; lieutentant, captain, served in King Philip's War when he commanded the Pequot allied force; was living in February 1694; representative to the General Court in 1659 and often after to 1669. First three children born in Gloucester and others in New London. Savage records a daughter Joanna, born 1669, not listed in The Averys of Groton or the Groton Avery Clan.
Colonial Wars: Capt. James Avery, born 1620 in England, died 18 April 1700 in New London. Married Joanna Greenslade 10 Nov. 1643 in Boston or Gloucester, Mass. and had 10 children. Ensign, lieutenant and captain in King Philip's War; led 40 Indians from Stonington, New London and Lyme. 1676, captain of one of four companies that protected the frontier; 23 years a town officer and 12 times deputy to the General Court, 1656-1680.
We didn't bring binoculars, so we couldn't really see what he looked like; but that is about all we know about him. Got us to thinking about a poem we like...
Ozymandias
I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read,
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed,
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
-Percy Bysshe Shelley
1792-1822
So how will you be remembered?
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Yrsg pnvea.