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AYRES, John

AYRES, John

Male Aft 1615 - 1675  (< 58 years)

 Set As Default Person    

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name AYRES, John  [1, 2] 
    Birth Aft 1615  England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Immigration Abt 1636 
    Residence 1667  Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Occupation 1671  Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Tavern owner & operator 
    Wars 1675  Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    King Philip's War 
    Wars 2 Aug 1675  Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Was among the 8 men killed instantly in the skirmish known as Wheeler's Surprise 
    Web Address https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheeler%27s_Surprise 
    Web Address https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ayres-616 
    Occupation Husbandsman and Farmer 
    _MILT Captain in local militia 
    Death 2 Aug 1675  Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Killed during "Wheeler's Surprise"
    Person ID I16570  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2024 

    Father AYER, John   d. 31 Mar 1657 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Living 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F12957  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Children 
     1. AYER, Joseph,   b. 16 Mar 1658, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F12958  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2024 

    Family 2 SYMONDS, Susanna,   b. 1617, Essex, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Feb 1682, Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years) 
    Marriage 1644  Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. AYERS, Thomas I,   b. 1652, Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Dec 1722, Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. AYRES, John Jr.,   b. Abt 1649  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. AYRES, Samuel,   b. Abt 1650  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. AYRES, Joseph,   b. Abt 1655  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     5. AYRES, Susanna,   b. Abt 1656  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     6. AYRES, Edward,   b. 12 Feb 1658  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     7. AYRES, Marke,   b. 15 Dec 1661  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     8. AYRES, Nathaniell,   b. 6 Jul 1664  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F12542  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Aft 1615 - England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1644 - Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1667 - Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Tavern owner & operator - 1671 - Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWars - King Philip's War - 1675 - Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWars - Was among the 8 men killed instantly in the skirmish known as Wheeler's Surprise - 2 Aug 1675 - Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 2 Aug 1675 - Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    John Ayer - Killed by Indians
    Ayres-Tavern

    Documents
    Indian Attacks in New England    		Indian Attacks in New England

    Histories
    History of New Braintree, Jeffrey H. Fiske    		History of New Braintree, Jeffrey H. Fiske
    Captain Thomas Wheeler's Narrative.    		Captain Thomas Wheeler's Narrative.

  • Notes 
    • Ayers, or Ayer - JOHN, Haverhill, s. of the preced. b. in Eng. m. 5 May 1646, Sarah, d. of John Williams of the same and next, after 1659, Susanna, d. of Mark Symonds of Ipswich, and rem. to Brookfield as one of its first sett. there k. by the Ind. when they destroy. the town, 3 Aug. 1675. He kept the inn, and his ch. were (beside Sarah) Samuel, John, Thomas, Joseph, Mark, Nathaniel, and Edward; of wh. some liv. at B. after its renova
    • John Ayres, born around 1615-1625 in England, was a notable figure in the early history of colonial America. His journey from England to the New World was driven by the same quest for religious freedom and opportunity that motivated many of his contemporaries during the period of the Great Puritan Migration.

      Upon settling in Ipswich, Massachusetts, John quickly integrated into the community, contributing to its growth and development. His marriage to Susanna Symonds solidified his position in the community, and together they raised a family, adapting to the challenges of life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

      John's life in Ipswich was marked by his active involvement in the community. He was known for his work ethic and commitment to the burgeoning town. However, the relative peace of his life in Ipswich was starkly contrasted by the events that unfolded during King Philip's War, a brutal conflict between Native American tribes and English settlers.

      In the summer of 1675, John Ayres found himself in the midst of this conflict. He was part of a group led by Captain Edward Hutchinson and Captain Thomas Wheeler, tasked with negotiating with the Nipmuck tribe. The delegation, seeking to ease tensions and find a peaceful resolution, traveled to a prearranged meeting spot near a swamp. However, the meeting turned into an ambush by the Nipmuck warriors, leading to a violent skirmish. John Ayres was among the eight men killed in this unexpected attack.

      The death of John Ayres had significant repercussions. Following the ambush, the survivors, including the wounded Captain Wheeler, retreated to Brookfield. In a desperate bid for safety, they gathered in John Ayres' tavern, which served as a makeshift fort. This building became a crucial stronghold for the settlers during the Siege of Brookfield, one of the key events of King Philip's War.

      The siege saw the settlers, including women and children, barricaded inside John Ayres' tavern, defending themselves against continuous attacks by the Nipmuck warriors. The tavern, being one of the sturdiest structures in the town, provided crucial refuge during this critical time. The occupants endured days of assault, with limited supplies and under constant threat, until they were eventually relieved by a colonial militia.

      John Ayres' untimely death and the subsequent siege at his tavern highlight the volatile and dangerous nature of life on the colonial frontier. His story is emblematic of the struggles and conflicts that characterized the early years of American colonization. The legacy of John Ayres is not only in his personal contributions to his community but also in the pivotal role his tavern played during a critical moment in the history of Brookfield and the broader context of King Philip's War.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1772] Ancestry.com, North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2016;), Book Title: A Genealogical Record of the Corliss Family of America : including partial records of some of the f.
      North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000      		 North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000


    2. [S1802] WikiTree, John Ayres listing.
      https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ayres-616


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