Individual Details

According to email correspondence (and the LDS Ancestral File) William's father was Daniel Avery Jr, his father was Daniel, his father was David, his father was Robert. This is yet to be confirmed. There are some serious problems with the years between generations and some of the locations in this material. However, since I first received the database, I have been able to find enough documentation that I believe that lineage is correct.

The link from William to his father Daniel is proved by circumstance and proximity, but also by the receipt of William's Patriarchal Blessing which states his parents were Daniel & Sarah. They were in Franklin Co, Ohio, together. They came to Schuyler Co, IL at the same. Solomon Wixom, an elder in the Mormon church and William's brother-in-law, kept a Diary. A few of his entries substantiate these relationships. On the 6 of Aug 1835, he said Then went to the Avery's and baptized four more, Margaret Avery, the wife of William Avery, and Margaret, the wife of Dan Avery, and Sarah Avery and her daughter." On the Sabbath, the 7th of Feb 1836, Wixom held a meeting at William Avery's; and on Wednesday at Father Avery's. On Monday, 14 Feb 1836, Wixom was married to Sarah Avery [the daughter of "Father" Daniel Avery & his wife Sarah]. A later note refers to the laying of hands on Brother William Avery's child who had been scalded very bad. "The fire came out and in the morning it was perfectly well". He had also laid hands on Mother Avery and his own wife and child, all who recovered immediately. He mentions several other meetings as Father Avery's [obviously his father-in-law].

William Avery and Margaret Pickle were married by Lyndes L. Latimer, JP, in Franklin Co OH

They seem to have been living with his father in 1830 - William is not found as head of household that year:
By 1830 the index shows Daniel, Daniel Jr. & Stephen all in Franklin Co - so this is definitely the right family. William and family may have been living with them - he had married in that county in 1828.
Daniel Avery was in Perry, Franklin Co Ohio:
1m 15-20 [Pelatiah was 19], 2m 20-30 [Chancy probably still at home, no marriage record found - he would be about 29, William was married but age 27 - older sons Stephen & Daniel Jr in their own residences], 1m 60-70 [Daniel himself]. 1f -5 [William & Margaret's daughter Sarah born 1829], 1f 10-15 [Sally was about 13], 1f 15-20 [Mariah was 18], 1f 20-30 [William's wife Margaret would have been about age 22], 1f 50-60 [Sarah Sargent Avery was about 58]

1840 Census, Schuyler Co IL, Precinct 4, p.112. William Avery, 1m -5 [William], 1m 10-15 [Philo], 1m 30-40 [William]; 2f -5 [Elisabeth & Mary J], 1f 10-15 [Sarah], 1f 30-40 [Margaret]
Although the ages aren't exactly as given in later censuses this is the correct number and sex of the children of William and Margaret in 1840, with the exception of the son Joseph who was perhaps born in late 1840 rather than in 1839.

William Avery was paid for 6 days of Jury duty on the Grand Jury in Schuyler Co IL, April Term 1842.

Land Records 1844, 977.3475 R2s, Family History Library
Entered Lands: Woodstock, Twp 1N, 3W
40 Acres, William C. Avery, NE 1/4 of the NE Qtr of Section 1
[Note: this is the same tract listed for Daniel Avery, SR, in 1841]
It may be this tract:
Schuyler Co IL DB E, p.482
15 Apr 1837 Daniel Avery and wife Margaret sold to Daniel Avery Sr and Chancy Avery for $150 the NE 1/4 of the NE Quarter, Section 1, T1N, R3W.
Signed: Daniel Avery Jr, Margaret Avery.
Acknowledged and dower released on the same day.


The family of William Avery lived next door to Ira & Eliza Irwin in 1850. Mary J. born 1835 seems to be the first of their children born in Illinois. The oldest daughter of William & Margaret, Sarah who married Goveneur Butterfield, was in the household just before theirs. Sarah appeared to have a 3 year old son William and a year old daughter named Almira. The children of William & Margaret living at home were Philo age 20, b. Ohio, Mary J. age 15, William age 12, Joseph age 10, Emma age 7, David age 6, and Solomon age 3. Also living with them was Barbara Pickle, age 56, probably Margaret's mother.

3 Jul 1855 Illinois State Census
Woodstock, Schuyler Co, IL
William Avery, 3 males under 10, 2 males 10-20, 1male 50-60. 2 females under 10, 1 female 20-10, 1 female 40-50.
Philo Avery, next entry. 1male age 20-30. 1 female under 10. 1 female age 20-30.

In 1860, Eliza J. Roberts, age 20, born in VA lived with William & Margaret Avery. Their children still at home were William, age 23, Joseph 21, David 14, Solomon 11, Hiram 8, Margaret 6, and Rosetta 4. Daughter Emma, married to Willis Lewis was the next household enumerated, and they had a year old son named Elias. "Philow" was next. Philo and Rebecca had Allis 8, Sarah 4, and Joseph 2, as well as Isaac "Peckell" age 25 living with them. The family enumerated after Philo was his sister Mary J. and her husband Elbridge [spelled Abbridge] Morrell and their two-year-old Samantha. The next three households were Irvins - first Elizabeth Ann Avery's in-laws, Robert & Lavina; then her husband's brother Harrison and his family; then Eliza A. and Ira with William age 9, Edith 4 and Robert F. 2. This accounts for the entire Avery family with the exception of oldest daughter Sarah and her husband Governour Butterfield.

1865 Illinois State Census. Woodstock. On the same page with Robert & Ira Irwin.
William Avery: 1 male and 2 females under 10. 1 female 50-60. 1 male 60-70.
Philo, William C. & Joseph were on the same page, all the Averys in a row.

The following data was found online, but I was able to order a copy of the Patriarchal Blessing of William Avery from the LDS Church. Most importantly it does state that William Avery was the son of Daniel & Sarah Avery and was born May 11, 1803 in Otsego County, New York.
Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1830-1848
Name: Avery, William (Source: Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46 Temple Index Bureau (TIB) Family Group Sheet-Self Book of Patriarchal Blessings Index (Pat Bless) Our Pioneer Heritage. Carter, Kate. 1958 )
Gender: Male (Source: Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46 Temple Index Bureau (TIB) Family Group Sheet-Self Book of Patriarchal Blessings Index (Pat Bless) Our Pioneer Heritage. Carter, Kate. 1958)
Birth Date: 11 May 1803 (Source: Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46) Birth Place: Ostego, , NY, USA (Source: Temple Index Bureau (TIB))
Alternate Birth [sic - death] Place: Date: July 14, 1870 Family Group Sheet-Self
Place: Rushville, Schuyler, IL, USA Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46 Father: Avery, Daniel
Mother: Sargent, Sarah Alice Dean
Spouse: Pickle, Margaret
Marriage Date: 5 November 1839
Children:
1. Avery, Philo 1830
2. Avery, Mary J. 1835 Schuyler, IL, USA
3. Avery, William C. 1838 Schuyler, IL, USA
4. Avery, Joseph Sydney 1840 Schuyler, IL, USA
5. Avery, Emma 1843 Schuyler, IL, USA
6. Avery, David 1844 Schuyler, IL, USA
7. Avery, Solomon 1847 Schuyler, IL, USA
Church Ordinance Data: Avery, William (Male)Ordained Elder Book of Patriarchal Blessings Index Patriarchal Blessing Book of Patriarchal Blessings Index Date: January 8, 1846 Place: Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, USA Officiator: Smith, John Temple Ordinance Data: Avery, William (Male)BaptismTemple Index Bureau (TIB) Date: August 29, 1967 Temple: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah Endowment Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46 Date: January 12, 1846 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois
Comments: Avery, William (Male)William was wounded in a battle with Indians on April 29, 1866. Our Pioneer Heritage. Carter, Kate. 1958 Avory [This statement is highly doubtful!!!]
The database is comprised of a 50-volume list created by Susan Black about people who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1830 to 1848 and who lived in the United States, Canada or Great Britain. The database was compiled using more than 300 primary and secondary sources on early Latter-day Saints, but it does not necessarily include every member of the Church who lived during the time period.

William Avery died at his residence on 21 Dec 1867. Margaret made an undated Petition for Administration of the estate. Heirs were listed as Margret Avry, widow and children: Sarah Dailey, Philo Avry, Eliza A. Irvin, Mary J. Morrell, Wm. C. Avry, Joseph Avry, Emmy Avry, H. P. Avry, Margaret E. Avry, Rosetta Avry. 14 Feb 1868, Margaret Avery received letters of Administration on the estate of William Avery, Schuyler Co, IL. Bond was set in the amount of $400. Ira Irvin and William C. Avery provided security.
Probate Notice appeared in the Rushville Weekly Times for six consecutive weeks, certified by E. A. Snively. A copy of the notice is enclosed - on both the petition for Administration and the notice, Avery was spelled "Avry" although it was correct on the Letters of Administration and the bond.
Copies of debts in the file included one to William Stargil in 1866 for building a fire place $4.00 and one in account with W. W. Wells for $61.36. There was an account of debt to W. D. Scott in the amount of $21.19 for meal and bran which was perhaps feed for livestock.
Inventory was presented 21 Apr 1868 by Margaret (X) Avery. Real Estate noted was the NE Qtr of the NW Qtr of Sect No. One Tp 1N.3W purchased of Daniel Avery and Chancey Avery, held by Warranty Deeds. bottom land some swampy, worth about $600. The Inventory of the estate included two beds, various household items, a stove and pipe for it, a rifle gun, 2 cows, 6 shoats [pigs], a Bible. Notes listed included N.L. Government Bounty - $90. [Although the inventory states plainly that this was the NE quarter of the NW quarter - that may be an error. Earlier records indicate the land he lived on that came from Daniel Avery Sr & Chancy was the NE quarter of the NE quarter of Section 1.]
Appraisal of the personal property had been done by Henry Chew, Enoch Gilham and Ezekiel (x) Abbott on 19 Feb 1868. There was a printed form which included a section for their "Estimate for the Widow" and had a preprinted list of items - the appraisers had some math difficulties. The list of items presented by Margaret Avery was itemized to the total of $128.20 yet the estimate for the widow came to a slightly incorrect total of $588.75. I can only assume this indicated she was entitled to more than the estate was worth - however, it also included food stock & fuel, and wearing apparel for the widow and family that were not included in the inventory of William's personal effects.

29 Oct 1870, one W. W. Wells deposed in Court and stated Margaret Avery had died on 4 May 1870, leaving the estate of William Avery unsettled. That the estate owed affiant the sum of Sixty One and 36/100 dollars as filed in court against the Estate on 21 Apr 1868. He requests to be appointed Administrator de bonis non that the Estate may be settled.
Then on 1 Nov 1870, Wheeler W. Wells was appointed Administrator as requested. He gave bond of $800, Gideon Goodwin signing as security.

At the January Term 1871 of the Schuyler County Court, W. W. Wells presented the following letter to the Hon. E. J. Pemberton [Judge of the Court]:
The undersigned Administrater [sic] of the Estate of William Avery deceased would respectfully report that nothing has come to his hands as Such Administrator from Said Estate there being no personal property now belonging to Said Estate and that the real Estate belonging to Said Estate is not Subject to Sale on account of being encumbered as homestead of the minor heirs of Said William Avery deceased. Said Administrator would further report that he has given notice thereof as required by law as will appear by proof of the Same herewith filed and does hereby resign his office as Administrator
of the goods chattels rights credits and effects of said William Avery deceased and prays that his resignation be accepted and that he be discharged from the further exercise of his Said Office as Adminitrator aforesaid. Signed: W. W. Wells

The notice of resignation enclosed was dated 19 Dec 1970, and also included two IOU's signed by Wm Avery - one dated 1 Jan 1861 to Wilson Green for $6.75 and one dated 5 Jan 1859 to Thos. Wilson for 39.75.
A copy of the newspaper notice of Wells resignation was included in the file and certified that it was run in The Rushville Times for four successive weeks by Edwin Dyson, Publisher.

Birth	11 May 1803	Otsego County, New York
Marriage	25 Feb 1828	Franklin County, Ohio - MARGARET PICKLE
Blessing	8 Jan 1846	by John Smith, Patriarch, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois
Death	21 Dec 1867	Rushville, Schuyler County, Illinois

Spouse	MARGARET PICKLE (1809 - 1870)
Child	Sarah Avery (1829 - 1868)
Child	Philo Avery (1830 - 1910)
Child	ELIZA ANN Avery (1832 - 1881)
Child	Mary Jane Avery (1835 - 1880)
Child	William Clark Avery (1837 - 1902)
Child	Joseph Sidney Avery (1839 - 1900)
Child	Emma Avery (1842 - 1915)
Child	David Avery (1844 - 1863)
Child	Solomon Avery (1847 - 1861)
Child	Hiram Philander AVERY (1852 - 1907)
Child	Margaret AVERY (1854 - )
Child	Rosetta AVERY (1856 - )

Father	DANIEL AVERY (1768 - 1848)
Mother	SARAH "Sally" Sargent (1772 - 1840)
Sibling	Stephen AVERY (1796 - 1849)
Sibling	Daniel AVERY Jr. (1797 - 1851)
Sibling	Mary "Polly" AVERY (1799 - 1850)
Sibling	Chancy AVERY (1801 - )
Sibling	Anna "Nancy" AVERY (1804 - 1870)
Sibling	Elizabeth "Betsy" AVERY (1807 - 1883)
Sibling	Pelatiah S. AVERY (1810 - 1891)
Sibling	Mariah Avery (1813 - 1844)
Sibling	Sarah "Sally" AVERY (1817 - 1849)