Ayres Family Genealogy

Moses Ayres, Jr. of Brookfield Massachusetts and Barnard Vermont

"In the office of the Secretary of State of Massachusetts we find the following statement of services of Moses AYRES, Jr: Moses AYRES, Brookfield. Private in Capt. Josiah King's Co., Col. Brewer's (9) Mass. Regt." The History of North Brookfield says: '...This regiment went into camp at Roxburn May 19, and commissions were issued May 23'. The regiment was also at Roxbury and Watertown and Dorchester. "It also says...'The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought by these 8-months men, but no returns are found giving the names of the Brookfield men who took part in that action'. The returns found in the State House in Boston are very incomplete. Secretary Pierce told me (SCA) that the papers so much desired for the archives were many of them falling to pieces in the attics of people who do not know their value'. "The name Moses AYRES is found upon the return of August 1, 1775, and that of October 9, 1775, and he receipted Dec 2, 1775, at Roxbury for a woolen coat furnished by the colony to men who had served 6 months. "Mr. Loring (Arthur G.) of Woburn to whom I am much indebted, thinks Moses AYRES went to New York with the Continental Army. 'Col. Brewer had 300 men at Bunker Hill'. Sweet. 'Col. Brewer had 70 or more Worcester and Middlesex Co men with him.' Lt. Col Buckmaster. 'Col Brewer's regiment was in battles of White Plains and Frog's Point.' See Pen Claim of Widow of Jacob Ellis, 1402 Jonathan Brewer's regiment was in Cambridge July 10, 1775 with 373 men (p.250), This was before the troops were arranged in grand divisions and new brigaded by Washington."  SOURCE: Text: Notes made by Susanne Caroline AYRES ca 1895 - 1920. She was assisted by Arthur G. Loring, genealogist. She cites as Authorities: New England History & General Reg. Vol XV pp 307-310; Temples History of North Brookfield; Town and Probate Records; Massachusetts Archives Records; Wheeler's Narrative, Mass. Historical Collection; Sewall's History Woburn.

"We find Moses AYRES, Jr., and 46 others subscribing to the following covenant: 'We, the subscribers enlisted agreeable to the vote of the Provincial Congress as Minute or Picquet Men in the town of Brookfield, for the term of six months, Officers: Joseph Gilbert, Capt; William Ayres, 1st Lt; Peter Harwood, 2nd Lt; and Albert Low, Ensign, do hereby solemnly covenant and agree that we will muster, exercise, and do our utmost to obtain the art military, and subject ourselves to the command of our said Captain and the subalterns of his company by us chosen and appointed; and if any dispute shall arise or if any of us shall not give such obedience to his or their orders as he or they shall think reasonable or just, the same shall be determined by the major part of the company and we severally agree that we will at times submit as shall be determined. "'Witness our hands this fourteenth day of November, 1774"  SOURCE: Text: Notes made by Susanne Caroline AYRES ca 1895 - 1920. She was assisted by Arthur G. Loring, genealogist. She cites as Authorities: New England History & General Reg. Vol XV pp 307-310; Temples History of North Brookfield; Town and Probate Records; Massachusetts Archives Records; Wheeler's Narrative, Mass. Historical Collection; Sewall's History Woburn.

RootsWeb World Connect Database Entry for Moses Ayres Jr.

Will of Moses Ayres, Jr.

born 30 Jan 1751 in Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts; died abt 1825 in Barnard, Windsor County, Vermont

Probate Court District of Hartford
Woodstock Vermont

Recorded in Vol 8, p 406

In the name of God Amen -

I Moses Ayres of Barnard in the County of Windsor in the state of Vermont being of sound mind and memory knot knowing the day of my death, do constitute this to be my last will and testament

First -  I give my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent manner -

First - I order and direct my honest debts to be paid.

Secondly. To my loving wife Lucy Ayre to have one cow & all my household furniture excepting one bed and bedding, which I give to my son John Ayres _

Furthermore I order and direct that my son John Ayres in consequence of what I hereafter bequeath to him shall comfortably maintain and support her in all things suitable to a person of her age: he is to provide suitable meat & drink doctoring & nursing: she is to have a right in the house, za horse & carriage to use any time when she wants free from all expence to her. This is to be in lieu of her thirds.

Thirdly. To my son Josiah Ayers, I give one quarter of my land except the buildings.

Fourthly. To my daughter Lydia I give and bequeath one quarter part of my land to her I give one cow which she now call her own, likewise four sheep & one colt.

Fifthly. I give to my son John Ayres I give and bequeath the remainder of all my real estate & buildings, & all my notes credits, all my stock excepting what I have heretofore bequeathed, all my farming tools, my two rights in pews in the yellow meeting house I give equal right to Josiah, John & Lydia.

Sixthly I hereby constitute & appoint my son John Ayres sole executor of this my last will and testament -

I witness whereunto I set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of July AD 1825.

Moses Ayres

Done in the presence of us the subscribers being all present at the time of signing and in our hearing the said Moses Ayres declared this instrument to be his last will and testament.

John Foster, Joseph Butler, Experience Foster
Admitted to Probate 2 November 1825