William Avery (Massachusetts politician)

William Avery (circa 1622[lower-alpha 1]-March 18, 1686) represented Dedham, Massachusetts, in the Great and General Court.[2] He was also a selectman, serving eight terms beginning in 1664.[3]

Coat of Arms of William Avery

Avery was a blacksmith, medical doctor, and original proprietor of Deerfield, Massachusetts.[2] Avery was the first educated physician in Dedham,[1] though it is not known when exactly he began practicing.[4] He sold some land to Joshua Fisher.[5]

He was a member of the First Church and Parish in Dedham.[2] Avery built his house next to the Old Avery Oak, which was named for his family.[6]

With his wife, Margret, he emigrated from England.[2] After her death in 1678 he moved to Boston[2] where he became a bookseller.[1] His second wife was Mrs. Mary Tapping (née Woodmansey).[1] She died in 1707.[1] He had a son, also named William, who was a blacksmith. With his wife, Margret, he emigrated from England.[2] After her death in 1678 he moved to Boston[2] where he became a bookseller.[7]

Avery died on March 18, 1686, and is buried at the King's Chapel Burying Ground.[1] For having donated £60 to establish a Latin school in Dedham, the Avery School was named for him.[1][8]

Notes
  1. Avery was about 61 years old in 1683.[1]

References
  1. Carter & Holmes 1893, p. 28.
  2. Carter & Holmes 1893, p. 26-27.
  3. Worthington 1827, p. 79-81.
  4. Carter & Holmes 1893, p. 27.
  5. Fisher 1898, p. 15.
  6. Carter & Holmes 1893, p. 24-25.
  7. Carter & Holmes 1893, p. 29.
  8. Smith 1936, p. 119.

Works cited
  • Carter, Jane Greenough Avery; Holmes, Susie Perry (1893). Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America. Press of Avery & Doten. pp. 19–34. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  • Smith, Frank (1936). A History of Dedham, Massachusetts. Transcript Press, Incorporated. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  • Worthington, Erastus (1827). The history of Dedham: from the beginning of its settlement, in September 1635, to May 1827. Dutton and Wentworth. p. 29. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  • Fisher, Phillip A. (1898). The Fisher Genealogy: A Record of the Descendants of Joshua, Anthony, and Cornelius Fisher, of Dedham, Mass., 1630-1640. Massachusetts Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-608-32125-7. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
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