William Avery (circa 1622-March 18, 1686) represented

Dedham, Massachusetts Dedham ( ) is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,364 at the 2020 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest b ...

, in the

Great and General Court The Massachusetts General Court (formally styled the General Court of Massachusetts) is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, ...

. He was also a selectman, serving eight terms beginning in 1664. Avery was a blacksmith, medical doctor, and original proprietor of

Deerfield, Massachusetts Deerfield is a New England town, town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Settled near the Connecticut River in the 17th century during the colonial era, the population was 5,090 as of the 2020 census. ...

. Avery was the first educated physician in Dedham, though it is not known when exactly he began practicing. He sold some land to Joshua Fisher. He was a member of the

First Church and Parish in Dedham First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

. Avery built his house next to the

Old Avery Oak The Old Avery Oak Tree was a white oak treehttps://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:1r66j353d Avery Oak 1923. that stood in Dedham, Massachusetts, Dedham, Massachusetts until it was knocked down in 1972. It had a circumference of ...

, which was named for his family. With his wife, Margret, he emigrated from England. After her death in 1678 he moved to

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

where he became a bookseller. His second wife was Mrs. Mary Tapping (). She died in 1707. He had a son, also named William, who was a blacksmith. With his wife, Margret, he emigrated from England. After her death in 1678 he moved to

where he became a bookseller. Avery died on March 18, 1686, and is buried at the

King's Chapel Burying Ground King's Chapel Burying Ground is a historic graveyard on Tremont Street, near its intersection with School Street, in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1630, it is the oldest graveyard in the city and is a site on the Freedom Trail. Despi ...

. For having donated £60 to establish a Latin school in Dedham, the Avery School was named for him.

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* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Avery, William Members of the colonial Massachusetts General Court from Dedham People from Deerfield, Massachusetts People from Boston 1620s births 1686 deaths Year of birth uncertain Burials at King's Chapel Burying Ground Kingdom of England emigrants to Massachusetts Bay Colony Dedham, Massachusetts selectmen Signers of the Dedham Covenant