The AYER Family of Haverhill, Essex, MA and Salisbury, Essex, MA

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JOHN AYER (d. 1657) of Salisbury and Haverhill m. Hannah Unknown (d. aft 1602)
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REBECCA AYER (m. 1648) m. John Aslett
THOMAS AYER (d. 1686) of Haverhill m. Elizabeth Hutchins
CORNET PETER AYER (abt 1633 - 1699) of Haverhill m. Hannah Allen
 
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LOVE AYER (1663-1735), wife of Joseph Kingsbury 1
RUTH AYER (1660-1695), wife of John Denison 2

First Generation

JOHN AYER (d. 1657) of Salisbury and Haverhill

Parents: It has been hypothesised that John Ayre is the son of Robert and Cecily (Crosse) Eyre, baptised on 28 Mar 1596 in Bronham parish, Wiltshire. [Ref]

John Ayer died on 31 Mar 1657 in Haverhill. [Ref][Ref] He married Hannah Unknown. Hannah died after 1692.

John was in Salisbury as early as 1640. [Ref] He served on the grand jury at the 24 (2) 1649 and 13 (2) 1652 courts in Salisbury and the 2 (8) 1649 court at Hampton. [Ref] John's name is on a list of the original inhabitants of Salisbury from a town meeting on 3 (12) 1650. [Ref]

John was, presumably because he was close to or over 60, freed from all training by the 3 (8) 1654 court at Hampton. [Ref]

John of Haverhill's will was signed on 12 Mar 1656/7; he mention his wife Hannah and his children John, Nathaniel, Obadiah, Robert, Thomas, Peter, Hannah, Rebecca and Mary. His will was deposed by his son Robert's father-in-law Henry Palmer on 6 (8) 1657 and inventory was taken on 10 (2) 1657. [Ref 3;201][Ref]

Hannah was charged with selling cider and was to be fined. She was ordered to present herself to the 13 Oct 1674 court at Hampton and her son Nathaniel was bound for her appearance. When illness prevented her from appearing and she admitted her offense, the bond and the fine were remitted. [Ref]

Note: Do not confuse this John Ayer with John Ayers of Ipswich.

Children of John Ayer and Hannah Unknown:

  1. John Ayer married first Sarah Williams on 5 May 1646 in Haverhill. [Ref date only][Ref] Sarah was the daughter of John Williams of Newbury and Haverhill. [Ref] She died on 25 Jul 1662. [Ref] John married second Mary Wooddam on 26 Mar 1663 in Haverhill [Ref date only][Ref date only][Ref] Mary was the daughter of John and Mary Wooddam. [Ref]
    John took the oath of allegiance on "Novem. 28, [16]" 1677 in Haverhill. [Ref] He was living in Ipswich with his wife Mary in 1679. [Ref] He was of Ipswich in 1693-4. [Ref]
    John was alive in 1692 when he joined his mother and brothers Peter and Nathaniel in deeding land to his brother Robert. Thus, he is not the Capt. John Ayers who moved from Ipswich to Quabog [about 1660] and was killed in Brookfield in 1675. [Ref]
  2. Rebecca Ayer died betwaeen 20 May 1687 and 2 Nov 1702. She married first John Aslett. She married second George Keyser.
  3. Sgt. Robert Ayer was born about 1625. He deposed that he was 86 in 1711. [Ref] He died between 1713 and 1723. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Palmer on 27 Feb 1650/1 in Haverhill. [Ref date only][Ref says 1650][Ref says 1659] Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry Palmer [Ref] She died on 24 Apr 1705 in Haverhill, aged 71. [Ref] Robert is in the Haverhill section of the 23 May 1666 list of freemen. [Ref] He took the oath of loyalty at the 8 (8) 1667 court at Hampton. [Ref] He was a constable in 1671. [Ref] He was constable of Haverhill on 5 Oct 1674. [Ref 5;410] He lived in Haverhill. [Ref]
  4. Thomas Ayer died on 9 Nov 1686. He married Elizabeth Hutchins .
  5. Cornet Peter Ayer was born about 1633. He died on 2 Jan 1698/9 in Boston. He married Hannah Allen.
  6. Mary Ayer was born about 1634. [Ref] She may have married Nathan Parker and moved to Andover. [Ref] The Mary Ayer who married Nathan Parker was executed for witchcraft on 22 Sep 1692 in Salem. [Ref] Kelly [Ref] presents an interesting story of her life and trial. [Ref] It is frequently claimed, by Kelly and others, that this Mary is the Mary Ayer who married Nathan Parker, but the evidence is not entirely convincing. Mary's father's will suggests that Mary is married and has children, but does not identify her husband. [Ref]
  7. Obadiah Ayer was born on 1 Oct 1635. [Ref] He died on 14 Nov 1694 in Woodbridge, NJ. [Ref][Ref gives only the date] He married Hannah Pike on 19 Mar 1660/1 in Haverhill. [Ref date only][Ref][Ref] Hannah, the daughter of Capt. John Pike, was born on 26 Apr 1643. [Ref] She died on 31 May 1689. [Ref][Ref] Obadiah sold his house in Haverhill in 1669 and moved to Woodbridge, NJ. [Ref] He had ten children. [Ref]
  8. Nathaniel Ayer died on 17 Nov 1717. [Ref] He married Tamesin Turloar on 10 May 1670 in Haverhill. [Ref date only][Ref][Ref] She died on 13 Dec 1700. [Ref] He had 11 children. [Ref] When his father wrote his will on 12 Mar 1656/7, Nathaniel was an apprentice to Unknown French. [Ref 3;201] He lived in Haverhill. [Ref] He took the oath of allegiance on "Novem. 28, [16]" 1677 in Haverhill. [Ref]
  9. Hannah Ayer was born on 21 Dec 1644 in Salisbury. [Ref][Ref] She married Stephen Webster on 24 Mar 1662/3 [Ref date only][Ref says in Salisbury][Ref says in Haverhill]

Second Generation

REBECCA AYER (m. 1648)

Parents: John Ayer and Hannah Unknown [Ref]

Rebecca Ayer died between 20 May 1687 and 2 Nov 1702. [Ref] She married first John Aslett on 8 Oct 1648 in Newbury. [Ref says "probably"][Ref][Ref][Ref] They lived in Andover. [Ref] She married second, as his second wife, George Keyser of Salem. [Ref] George was probably born about 1612 - 1614 in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. [Ref] He died abut 1690 in Salem. [Ref] He married first Elizabeth Holyoke about 1645. [Ref] He signed his will on 15 Feb 1686/7; it was proved on 20 Sep 1690. [Ref]

THOMAS AYER (d. 1686) of Haverhill

Parents: John Ayer and Hannah Unknown

Thomas Ayer died on 9 Nov 1686. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Hutchins on 1 Apr 1656 in Haverhill. [Ref][Ref]

Thomas was living in Haverhill as early as 1646. [Ref] He bought a house in Haverhill in 1648. [Ref] Thomas Ayer of Haverhill was made a freeman on 24 (2) 1649. [Ref] He is also in the Haverhill section of the 23 May 1666 list of freemen. [Ref]

Thomas took the oath of loyalty at the 8 (8) 1667 court at Hampton. [Ref] He was on the grand jury at the 8 (8) 1678 court at Hampton. [Ref] He was charged 7 shillings tax to pay the elder's salary on 17 Nov 1679. [Ref 8;309] He was constable of Haverhill on 23 Mar 1681/2. [Ref 8;277]

Children of Thomas Ayer and Elizabeth Hutchins, all births recorded in Haverhill. [Ref]

  1. John Ayer was born on 14 May 1657.
  2. Elizabeth Ayer was born on 23 Dec 1659. She died on 26 Oct 1695 in Haverhill. [Ref] She married Samuel Watts of Haverhill on 28 Oct 1684. [Ref] He married second Elizabeth (Ayer) Clement, the daughter of his first wife's uncle Robert Ayer. [Ref]
  3. Mary Ayer was born on 22 Mar 1660/1l. She died on 5 May 1739. [Ref] She married Samuel Colcord, the son of Edward Colcord and Anne Warde in 1680. [Ref]
  4. Love Ayer was born on 15 Apr 1663. She died on 24 Apr 1735. She married Joseph Kingsbury 1.
  5. twin son Ayer was born on 16 Jan 1664/5 and died on 20 Jan 1664/5. [Ref]
  6. twin son Ayer was born on 16 Jan 1664/5 and died on 20 Jan 1664/5. [Ref]
  7. Thomas Ayer was born on 9 Jun 1666. He married first Ruth Wilford on 12 Jun 1694. [Ref] She was killed by Indians on 29 Aug 1708 at age 36. [Ref] He married second Dorothy (Martin) Blaisdell on 7 Mar 1709/10 in Amesbury. [Ref][Ref] Dorothy was the widow of Henry Blaisdell 2.
  8. Samuel Ayer was born on 11 Jul 1671. He died on 15 Jul 1672. [Ref]

CORNET PETER AYER (abt 1633 - 1699)

Parents: John Ayer and Hannah Unknown

Cornet Peter Ayer was born about 1633. [Ref] He died on 2 Jan 1698/9 in Boston. [Ref] He married Hannah Allen on 8 Oct 1659 in Salisbury. [Some references say 1 Nov but the town records say 8 Oct. These records are torn and Hannah's first name is missing, as is the year, which I suppose is inferred from the location in the records.] [Ref][Ref][Ref][Ref]

His father's will says, "To Peter that young sow whose ear hangs down and all my flaggy meadow." [Ref]

Peter is in the Haverhill section of the 23 May 1666 list of freemen. [Ref] He was on the grand jury at the 14 (2) 1668 court at Salisbury. [Ref] He was fined for not appearing as a member of the grand jury at the 13 (8) 1668 and 14 (8) 1673 courts at Hampton. [Ref] He was on the trial jury at the 12 Apr 1670, 8 Apr 1673 and 8 Apr 1679 courts at Salisbury. [Ref] Peter acted as a lawyer [Ref] He lived in Haverhill and represented the town in the general court in 1683, 1685, 1689 and 1690. [Ref]

John Woodham successfully sued Peter for debt at the 26 Mar 1667 court at Ipswich. [Ref]

Children of Peter Ayer and Hannah Allen, all births recorded in Haverhill. [Ref]:

  1. Ruth Ayer was born on 30 Oct 1660. She died on 2 Feb 1694/5 in Ipswich. She married John Denison 2.
  2. Hannah Ayer was born on 21 Aug 1662. She married Lieut. John Osgood of Andover on 17 Oct 1681. [Ref][Ref] She was his widow in 1730. [Ref]
  3. Abigail Ayer was born on 4 Jul 1664. She married Robert Lord, yeoman of Ipswich, on 7 Jun 1683. [Ref] They were both living in Ipswich in 1730. [Ref]
  4. Mary Ayer was born on 6 Aug 1666. She married Joseph Calef of Ipswich before 1699. [Ref] She was his widow in Ipswich in 1730. [Ref]
  5. Martha Ayer was born on 1 Mar 1667/8. She married Capt. Peter Osgood, tanner of Salem, on 19 May 1690. [Ref] They were both living in Ipswich in 1730. [Ref]
  6. Samuel Ayer was born on 28 Sep 1669. His uncle Richard Allen left him a chest and its contents. [Ref]
    some descendants of Samuel Ayer
  7. William Ayer was born on 23 Sep 1673. He died on 20 Nov 1675. [Ref]
  8. Rachel Ayer was born on 18 Oct 1675. She died of small pox on 21 May 1678 in Haverhill. [Ref][Ref]
  9. Ebenezer Ayer was born on 22 May 1678. He died on 10 Oct 1695. [Ref]

Third Generation

LOVE AYER (1663-1735)

Parents: Thomas Ayer and Elizabeth Hutchins

Love Ayer was born on 15 Apr 1663 in Haverhill. [Ref][Ref] She died on 24 Apr 1735 and is buried in the Franklin Burying Ground in Franklin, New London, CT. She married Joseph Kingsbury 1 on 2 Apr 1679 [Ref] in Haverhill. [Ref]

Love was admitted to the church in West Farms, New London, CT on 4 Jan 1718. [Ref]

RUTH AYER (1660-1695)

Parents: Cornet Peter Ayer and Hannah Allen

Ruth Ayer was born on 30 Oct 1660 in Haverhill. [Ref] She died on 2 Feb 1694/5 [Ref] in Ipswich. [Ref] She married John Denison 2. [Ref]

References

Court Records

Dow, George Francis, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Essex Institute, 1911.

Encyclopedias

Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692.

Family Genealogies

Colcord, Doane B., Colcord Genealogy: Descendants of Edward Colcord of New Hampshire, 1630 to 1908, Coudersport, PA, Mahlon J. Colcord, 1908.

Editors, "Ayer Genealogy," Essex Antiquarian, 4, 1900.

Hoyt, D. W., "Williams Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 12, 1858, 297 -.

McTeer, Frances Davis and Frederick G. Warner, "The Aslebees of Andover, Mass.," The American Genealogist 40, 1964, 231-237.

Whitmore, W. H., "The Ayres and Ayer Families," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 17, 1863, 307.

History

Kelly, Jacqueline, "The Untold Story of Mary Ayer Parker: Gossip and Confusion in 1692", 2005.

Local Histories

Brown, Asa W., "Early Settlers of Salisbury, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 7, 1853, 311-314; 8, 1854, 79-82, 157-162.

Coffin, Joshua, "Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6, 1852, 207.

Mr. Thornton, "Original Settlers of Salisbury, MA," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3, 1849, 55.

Wright, Lin, "Early Settlers of Haverhill," US GenWeb project site for Haverhill.

Vital Records

Editors, "Old Norfolk County Records: Haverhill Deaths," Essex Antiquarian 5, 1901, 13.

Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850. Online Database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2007.