Reverend Ephraim Kingsbury Avery

1799 - 1869  (69 years)  Submit Photo / Document

• Name	Ephraim Kingsbury Avery
  Title	Reverend
  Born	18 Dec 1799
  Gender	Male
  Library book: The Groton Avery Clan	02721
  Biographical Information	21 Dec 1832
  	On this date the body of Sarah Maria Cornell was found hanged. Investigators soon found out the woman was pregnant and letters seemed to incriminate Reverend Avery. On March 8, 1833 Avery was indicted for murder. He plead "not guilty", and the trial began on May 6, 1833. The trial lasted 27 days. On June 2, 1833 after deliberating for 16 hours, the jury found Avery "not guilty". Public opinion was largely against Avery with most believing he was wrongly acquitted. In 1836, Avery left the ministry, and took his family out of state in an attempt to escape his past. They eventually settled in Ohio, where he lived the rest of his life as a farmer.
  		Report on E K Avery. As he was found not guilty the New England Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church issued a report that he should be considered of good character and was allowed to return to the ministry. Burlington (Vermont) Free Press, Friday, June 21, 1833
  		A Very Bad Man. A lithograph that reflected public opinion of the day depicts Reverend Ephraim Kingsbury Avery killing Sarah Maria Cornell while surrounded by demons. An owl sits by the haystack as the crime occurred at night. The demon in the upper left is saying "A Jury ye young fools is nothing. what's to be done with Public Opinion." The print was submitted for copyright on July 18, 1833 by New York publisher Henry Robinson & Company.
  		A minister extraordinary taking passage & bound on a foreign mission to the court of his satanic majesty! A lithograph depicting Reverend Ephraim Kingsbury Avery being taken to hell. His (alleged) victim is shown on the left hanging by her neck. A note on the ground near her alludes to a note found in her room that read: "If I should be missing, enquire of the Rev. Mr. Avery of Bristol, he will know where I am." It was one piece of evidence used to charge him with murder. The print was submitted for copyright on August 14 1833 by New York publisher Henry Robinson & Company. This was long after Avery's acquittal early in June.
  		The Life And Trial Of Rev Ephraim K Avery. A number of books were written about the subject. All like this one considered him guilty and accused the people who testified in his behalf of perjury. This one was published in 1883, many years after his death.
  Died	23 Oct 1869
  Buried	South Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Lorain, Ohio, United States
  Siblings	7 siblings
  1. Amos Avery, II,   b. 30 Apr 1783, Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut
  2. Irene Avery,   b. 22 Feb 1787, Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut
  3. Nabby Avery,   b. 19 Dec 1788, Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut ,   d. 12 Jul 1875, Pittsfield, Lorain, Ohio
  4. Polly Avery,   b. 3 Mar 1791
  5. Laura Avery,   b. 28 Oct 1793
  6. Harriet Avery,   b. 3 Aug 1796
  7. Louis Avery,   b. 22 Feb 1802, Canaan, Columbia, New York
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I37961	Nagel
  Last Modified	11 Feb 2019

  
  

  Father	Amos Avery, Jr,   b. 22 May 1757, Norwich, New London, Connecticut ,   d. 16 Sep 1837, Richmond, Berkshire, Massachusetts  (Age 80 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Abigail Loomis,   b. 17 May 1761, Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut ,   d. 5 Sep 1836, Lenox, Madison, New York  (Age 75 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Married	24 Oct 1782	Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut
  Family ID	F12009	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Sophia Wells,   d. 8 Dec 1876
  Children	1. Edwin K Avery,   b. 18 Nov 1824  [Birth] + 2. Edwin Kingsbury Avery,   b. 15 Jul 1826  [Birth]   3. Catharine Avery,   b. 2 Aug 1828  [Birth]   4. Maria E Avery,   b. 9 Mar 1830  [Birth] + 5. Francis Loomis B D W Avery,   b. 11 Feb 1833,   d. 29 Feb 1868  (Age 35 years)  [Birth]   6. Josephine Avery,   b. 8 Sep 1842  [Birth]
  Last Modified	25 Jul 2019
  Family ID	F12010	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Buried - - South Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Lorain, Ohio, United States  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Reverend Ephraim Kingsbury Avery Reverend Ephraim Kingsbury Avery - Fourth Great Grandson of James Avery. Clergyman accused of murder.