James Ayer, Jr.

1813 - 1863  (49 years)

• Name	James Ayer  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Suffix	Jr.
  Born	14 Aug 1813	Evans, Erie County, New York
  Gender	Male
  Biography	According to his brother he lived on their father's farm. In 1850 and 1860 it was valued at $6000 and $7000 respectively. He recruited, trained, and was captain of a Company that fought in the Civil War as did his brother Ira. His company was Company K, 116th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He died of disease in camp during the Civil War. Post No 202 of the Grand Army of the Republic (Union veteran's organization) named themselves the James Ayer Post in his honor. His brother Ira was a member. A memorial book by the James Ayer Post to Ira Ayer gave the following description of James Ayer: Captain James Ayer was the youngest brother of Captain Ira Ayer. He was born in what is now the town of Evans, August 14th, 1813, and died in camp at Baton Rouge, La., May 22, 1863. I have heard it stated at various times, though I am not prepared to substantiate the fact from any records, that James Ayer was the first white male child born within the present limits of the town of Evans. His early life, like that of his older brother, developed military ability. When a young man he was Captain and afterwards, by successive promotions, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel of a Regiment of New York State Militia. He resided all his life in the town and upon the same farm where he was born. As a citizen he was honored and beloved by all. In a long acquaintance with him and with those among whom he resided I never heard other than words of esteem spoken of him as a neighbor, a friend and earnest and exemplary Christian citizen. Like his brother he had been called to pass through great affliction. A short time before he offered his services to his country he buried his wife and was left with two motherless children of tender age to care for. He, however, did not falter in his convictions of duty and receiving authority to recruit a company he soon found himself mustered into the service as Captain of Company "K," One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He was an efficient officer and had he lived would undoubtedly have gained promotion, as he had the entire confidence of his superior officers. In the service he exhibited the same spirit of kindness and solicitude for others welfare that had ever been a prominent trait in his life and character and the more intimately the members of his company came to know him the stronger was their attachment to him as a friend and their admiration of him as an officer. A few days before we left Baton Rouge on the Port Hudson campaign, he was taken sick and much against his wish compelled to remain in his tent, not wishing to go to the hospital. ... His symptoms, however, grew more alarming. He was taken with fever, followed by inflammation of the bowels and at 5 P.M. of May 22nd he passed away. ... After the war had ceased his remains were removed from Southern soil and placed by the side of his beloved wife in the town where he was born.
  Died	22 May 1863	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  Buried	Forest Ave Cemetery, Angola, New York
  Person ID	I434	Our Family
  Last Modified	27 Sep 2016

  
  

  Father	James Ayer,   b. 1 Feb 1766, Haverhill, Massachusetts ,   d. 13 Mar 1839  (Age 73 years)
  Mother	Sarah Bradley,   b. 1 Feb 1774,   d. 7 Dec 1844  (Age 70 years)
  Married	14 Dec 1794	Haverhill, Massachusetts
  Family ID	F151	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Marcy Hathaway Terry,   b. 6 Feb 1810, Evans Center, New York ,   d. 4 Jan 1862  (Age 51 years)
  Married	1839
  Children	1. James Ayer,   b. 1842, Evans, New York ,   d. 28 Jul 1842  (Age 0 years)   2. Sarah Reliance Ayer,   b. 28 Feb 1846, Evans, New York ,   d. 26 Feb 1849  (Age 2 years)   3. Ann Augusta Ayer,   b. 29 Feb 1848, Evans, New York ,   d. 29 May 1849  (Age 1 years)   4. James Judson Ayer,   b. 1851, Evans, New York ,   d. 1910  (Age 59 years)   5. Clara Ayer,   b. Abt 1855, Evans, New York ,   d. Aft 1930  (Age ~ 76 years)
  Last Modified	18 Dec 2016
  Family ID	F386	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 14 Aug 1813 - Evans, Erie County, New York Died - 22 May 1863 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana Buried - - Forest Ave Cemetery, Angola, New York  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Headstones		Captain James Ayer, Jr
  		James Ayer, Jr. Family Plot

  
  

  Histories		Reminiscences from The Life of a Pioneer by Ira Ayer I
  		Memorial toIra Ayer1802-1889 And A History of Company A of the 116th Regiment of the New York Volunteer Infantry by LeRoy S. Oatman 1890

  
  

• Sources

  [S30] Ayer, Ira I, Reminiscences, . (Reliability: 0). [S36] Oatman, LeRoy, Ayer Memorial (Reliability: 0). [S40] Ayer, James, 1850 US Census (Reliability: 0). [S42] Ayer, James, 1860 US Census (Reliability: 0).