John Ayers/Ayres,the sixth child and youngest son of Thomas Ayers and his wife Elizabeth Rogers, came to America in 1637 from Norwich, County Norfolk, Eg. He was a proprietor in Salisbury,Ma in 1640. He received land in Salisbury in 1640 and again in 1643. He sold his house, land, and commonage to John Stevens in 1645 when re moved to Haverhill,Ma. Here he built a house which together with his land was valued at 160 pounds.This house was continously occupied by his descendants thru the sixth generation. He was one of thirty two landowners.In Haverhill he was fined in Feb 1647 for not attending the town meeting in season; he served on the Grand Jury in Apr and Oct 1649 and in Apr 1652. He was made a Freeman in Mar 1654. As he signed his own name in certain court proceedings, he was a man of some education. When he was made a Freeman, the list had an evaluation of man’s property; John Ayers valuation was 160 pounds and was he 2nd highest on the list.

John Ayers died 31 Mar 1657 at Haverhill,Ma. His will was dtd 12 Mar 1657 and was probated and proved by Henry Palmer 6 Oct 1657. It was a very extensive and comprehensive will wherein he speaks of his wife and all of his children. The inventory amounted to 248 pounds,5 shillings,6 pence.He was considered a well-to-do New England Yoeman. His wife Hannah survived John and died :aged” in Haverhill on 8 Oct 1688. In fact, she became “unreasonable with age” and in 1674 and years following was “dissatisfied” with the way he sons were providing for her.

Robert Ayers, 2nd son of John above was born in England in 1625. He was a yoeman farmer in Haverhill,MA. He took the Freeman’s oath 8 Oct 1667 and in the same month he was made corporal in Haverhill military company. Later he was made a sargeant. He recieved land in the second ands fifth divisions of “plough-land”. He was a Selectman in 1685. He was one of a committee of three who were appointed to see about settling Rev. Benjamin Rolfe, the second minister in Haverhill.

Robert Ayers died between May 1716 and Mar 1717 at the age of ninety two. There was no formal will or inventory; many dispositions exist wherein he given land and goods to his children and in 1708 he gave the ”remainder of his estate” to his grandson, James Ayers, with the caveat that he, Robert, retained the use of same for his life. Robert’s wife Elizabeth pre-deceased him and died 24 April 1705.

Mehitable Ayers, third child/second daughter, was born 14 Sept 1656 at Haverhill, Ma m Thomas Philbrick of Hampton,NH on14 Apr 1681.

Ref:FH20:973-975,1169-1174;FH21:1085-1089;FH135:76-77;FH315:286-288;PH17:V1: 84:PH27::709-710;PH71:V4-10:31-32;PH97:25;PH215:279-281;NEHGR:V17:307-309