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 (1806-06-08) (aged 66)[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 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.