John Avery, Jr.

John Avery, Jr.
1st Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth[1]
In office
January 1,[2] 1780[1]  June 7, 1806[1]
Preceded by Samuel Adams[1]
(as Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay)[2]
Succeeded by Jonathan L. Austin
Deputy Secretary of the
Province of Massachusetts Bay[2]
In office
June 21, 1776[2]  January 1, 1780[2]
Preceded by John Lowell[1]
Succeeded by None
Personal details
Born September 2, 1739[1]
Died June 7, 1806[1]
Boston, Massachusetts[1]
Spouse(s) Mary Cushing[3]
Children Mary, Sarah, Deborah, John, Betsey, Lucy, Peggy Cushing, Lucy, Mary A. Smith, Thomas Hancock[4]
Alma mater Harvard College, 1759[1][3]
Signature

John Avery, Jr. (September 2, 1739 – June 7, 1806) was an American politician who served as the 1st Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Family

Avery's was a direct descendant of Dr. William Avery from Barkham, Berkshire, England. Dr. William Avery immigrated to Dedham, Massachusetts in 1650.[5]

Early life

Avery was born to John and Mary (Deming) Avery on September 2, 1739.[3]

Family life

Avery married Mary (Polly) Cushing in April of 1769,[3] they had ten children.[4]

Sons of Liberty

Avery was a member of the Sons of Liberty.[6]

Massachusetts Secretary

Avery had served as Deputy Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay under Samuel Adams.[2] Avery defeated Adams at the polls to be the first Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.[2]

Death

Avery died on June 7, 1806.[4]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Roberts, Oliver Ayer (1901), History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts 1637–1888. Vol. II – 1738–1821, Boston, MA: Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers, p. 196.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1922), The Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Volume XXI, Boston, MA: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, p. 498.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Carter, Jane Greenough Avery (1893), Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Winslow W. Avery, p. 144.
  4. 1 2 3 Carter, Jane Greenough Avery (1893), Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Winslow W. Avery, p. 145.
  5. Carter, Jane Greenough Avery (1893), Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Winslow W. Avery, p. 19.
  6. Carter, Jane Greenough Avery (1893), Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Winslow W. Avery, p. 147.
Political offices
Preceded by
Samuel Adams
1st Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
January 1, 1780 – June 7, 1806
Succeeded by
Jonathan L. Austin
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