James Ayer, Jr.

Notes:

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.

James married Marcy Hathaway Terry in 1839. Marcy was born on 6 Feb 1810 in Evans Center, New York; died on 4 Jan 1862; was buried in Forest Ave Cemetery, Angola, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James Ayer was born in 1842 in Evans, New York; died on 28 Jul 1842.
2. Sarah Reliance Ayer was born on 28 Feb 1846 in Evans, New York; died on 26 Feb 1849.
3. Ann Augusta Ayer was born on 29 Feb 1848 in Evans, New York; died on 29 May 1849.
4. James Judson Ayer was born in 1851 in Evans, New York; died in 1910; was buried in Forest Ave Cemetery, Angola, New York.
5. Clara Ayer was born about 1855 in Evans, New York; died after 1930.

Other Events:

• Census: 1820, Eden, New York

Notes:

Biography:
He bought a farm in Haverhill about 1796 on the Merrimac River. In about 1811 he sold the farm and moved his family in a covered wagon to Erie County, NY and built a log cabin on a 430 acre farm outside of Buffalo. His gravestone still exists and reads:
In Memory of
James Ayer,
formerly of Haverhill
Massachusetts, who died
March 13, AD. 1839,
aged 73 years 1 month
& 13 days
Blessed are the dead who died in the
Lord

Census:
Head, 110201-120100 1 male under 10, one 10-15, 2 16-25, 1 45 and over, 1 female under 10, 2 10-15 and 1 26-44.

Buried:
In Memory of
James Ayer
formerly of Haverhill
Massachusetts who died
March 13, AD 1839
aged 73 years 1 month
& 13 days

James married Sarah Bradley on 14 Dec 1794 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of Enoch Bradley and Mary Low) was born on 1 Feb 1774; died on 7 Dec 1844; was buried in Evans Center Cemetery, Evans Center, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Sarah Ayer

Notes:

Biography:
Her gravestone still exists and reads:
Sarah B. Ayer,
Wife of
James Ayer,
Died Dec. 7, 1841,
Aged 70 Y'rs. 10 Mo's.
& 7 days.
The righteous ...

Other Events:

• Probate: 6 Jun 1781

Notes:

Biography:
He was a tanner and lived in the west parish of Haverhill. He fought in the American Revolution. He was Captain of a Company in Col. Johnson's Regiment that marched to the "Alarm" of April 19, 1775. He served seven and a half days. He was also a member of a Committee of Correspondence for the town - appointed July 20, 1774. On January 30, 1775 he was appointed member of the Committee of Inspection for the town.

Richard married Martha Mitchell on 14 Jun 1753 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Martha (daughter of James Mitchell and Martha Bradley) was born on 5 Aug 1729 in Haverhill, Massachusetts; died on 26 Sep 1767 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Martha Ayer

Notes:

Anecdote:
Enoch fought in the Revolutionary War with the rank of Sergeant under the command of Captain Eaton and Colonel Johnson.

Buried:
Inscription:
In memory of Enoch Bradley, Esq. Who died May 29, 1834 ET 85 Although God long suffers and forbid with sinful man, and seems to delay his call that he may be prepared for mansions in the skies yet my surviving friends, delay no time in securing your peace with God, for youth nor all this world can give, will avail death's arrows, when God directs.

Enoch married Mary Low on 10 Oct 1770 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Caleb Low and Abigail Varney) was born on 18 May 1747 in Essex, Massachusetts; died on 23 Aug 1822 in Haverhill, Massachusetts; was buried in West Parish Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Bradley

Notes:

Buried:
Inscription:
Gone in fatal moment hence . Mrs. Mary wife of Enoch Bradley, Esq died Aug 23, 1822 AET 75 - The pain she long endured are now no more. Her body moulders in the silent tomb, But gone we trust to some more blisfull shore, Her spirit reigns where joys unfading bloom.

Other Events:

• Will: 10 Jan 1774
• Probate: 7 Jul 1774

Notes:

Biography:
He lived in the west parish of Haverhill and was a tanner. He was a deacon.

Peter married Lydia Perley on 17 Jan 1720/21. Lydia (daughter of Jacob Perley and Lydia Peabody) was born in 1697 in Boxford, Massachusetts; died on 29 Sep 1750 in West Parish Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts; was buried in Ancient West Parish Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Lydia Ayer

Notes:

Biography:
Her last name is often given as Peaslee.

Died:
Her gravestone reads:
Here lies buried the body of
Mrs. Lydia the wife of Deacon Peter Ayer,
Died Sept. 29, 1750,
In the 53 (rd) Year of Her Age

Notes:

Buried:
His grave says: HERE LIES INTERNED _THE BODY OF CAPt JAMES MITCHEL WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE DECr 19th 1745 IN THE 50th YEAR OF HIS AGE.

James married Martha Bradley on 10 Dec 1719 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Martha (daughter of Joseph Bradley and Hannah Heath) was born on 7 Nov 1699; died after 1734. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Martha Mitchell
• Baptism: Mar 1700, Haverhill, Massachusetts

Other Events:

• Baptism: 7 Apr 1707, Haverhill, Massachusetts

Joseph married Sarah French on 20 Sep 1748 in Newbury, Massachusetts. Sarah was born about 1712; died on 26 Apr 1809 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Sarah Bradley
• Name: Sarah Marble

Notes:

Biography:
French may be her name from a previous marriage. Peters refers to her as Mrs. French. She is said to be of Newbury.

Died:
She was 97 when she died.

Caleb married Abigail Varney on 8 Jan 1733 in Chebacco Parish, Ipswich. Abigail (daughter of Thomas Varney) was born on 14 Oct 1713 in Chebacco Parish, Ipswich, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Abigail Low