James Avery was baptized at a small village named Wolborough, in the county of Devon on April 22, 1621.

Later that year, he was granted a farm in South Groton but he continued to live with his family on the west side of the great river.

[3] James Avery soon became active in military affairs and is generally spoken of by the title of ensign, lieutenant, or captain.

John Mason in command of the Connecticut troops and their Mohegan and Narragansett allies, was on the Mystic River, on the eastern line of Groton.

The fair disposition and judicial temperament of James Avery are here clearly shown-qualities that doubtless gave him much of the great influence that we know he possessed with the friendly Indians of that region.

For several years, the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England referred almost everything relating to the Pequots to Messrs. Denison, Stanton and Avery for adjustment.

In 1668, James Avery and Cary Lathem were chosen to settle the boundary line with the sachem (chief), Uncas.

For his services James Avery received many parcels of land and was often called for by the town and by individuals in the settling of such controversies.

In 1678, the commissioners granted Captain Avery five pounds "for his good service in assisting in the government of the Pequots for sundry years".

[2] After the accession of William and Mary in 1688, Connecticut called her general court together without waiting for instructions from the home government.

In the thirty years above indicated, for twenty of which James Avery was deputy, the general court passed many wise and helpful laws.

"[2] In his famous diary, Thomas Minor makes frequent reference to James Avery with whom he was to be connected by the marriage of three of his children.

As early as 1678, the people on the east side of the great river (Thames), through James Avery, petitioned the general court for a church and minister of their own.

In 1687, after persistent petitionings in which James Avery was prominent, it was ordered that for the future they should have liberty to invite the minister of the town to preach m their side of the river every third Sabbath during the four most inclement months of the year.

[2] The work that he had thus begun was continued by his sons and, in 1702, the church on the east side of the river for which he had so long labored became a reality.