John Avery Jr.

John Avery Jr.
John Avery Jr.
1st Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
	In office; January 1, 1780 – June 7, 1806
Preceded by	Samuel Adams; (as Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay)
Succeeded by	Jonathan L. Austin
Deputy Secretary of the; Province of Massachusetts Bay
	In office; June 21, 1776 – January 1, 1780
Preceded by	John Lowell
Succeeded by	None
Personal details
Born	September 2, 1739
Died	June 7, 1806 (aged 66); Boston, Massachusetts
Spouse	Mary Cushing
Children	Mary, Sarah, Deborah, John, Betsey, Lucy, Peggy Cushing, Lucy, Mary A. Smith, Thomas Hancock
Alma mater	Harvard College, 1759
Signature

John Avery Jr. (September 2, 1739 – June 7, 1806) was an American politician who served as the first Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Family

Avery was a direct descendant of Dr. William Avery from Barkham, Berkshire, England, who emigrated to Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1650.^[5]

Avery was born to John and Mary (Deming) Avery on September 2, 1739.^[3]

Avery married Mary (Polly) Cushing in April 1769;^[3] they had ten children.^[4]

Avery was a member of the Sons of Liberty.^[6]

Avery had served as Deputy Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay under Samuel Adams.^[1] Avery defeated Adams at the polls to be the first Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.^[1]

Avery died on June 7, 1806.^[4]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g 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
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ 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
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Carter, Jane Greenough Avery (1893), Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Winslow W. Avery, p. 144
^ ^a ^b ^c Carter, Jane Greenough Avery (1893), Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Winslow W. Avery, p. 145
^ Carter, Jane Greenough Avery (1893), Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Winslow W. Avery, p. 19
^ Carter, Jane Greenough Avery (1893), Genealogical Record of the Dedham Branch of the Avery Family in America, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Winslow W. Avery, p. 147

Political offices
Preceded by Samuel Adams	1st Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth January 1, 1780 – June 7, 1806	Succeeded by Jonathan L. Austin

John Avery Jr.


1st Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth^[2]
In office January 1,^[1] 1780^[2] – June 7, 1806^[2]
Preceded by	Samuel Adams^[2] (as Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay)^[1]
Succeeded by	Jonathan L. Austin
Deputy Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay^[1]
In office June 21, 1776^[1] – January 1, 1780^[1]
Preceded by	John Lowell^[2]
Succeeded by	None

Personal details
Born	September 2, 1739^[2]
Died	June 7, 1806 (1806-06-08) (aged 66)^[2] Boston, Massachusetts^[2]
Spouse	Mary Cushing^[3]
Children	Mary, Sarah, Deborah, John, Betsey, Lucy, Peggy Cushing, Lucy, Mary A. Smith, Thomas Hancock^[4]
Alma mater	Harvard College, 1759^[2]^[3]
Signature