Daniel Avera, 1808-1888, Clinch County

by

Daniel Avera was born in 1808 in Robeson County, North Carolina, the son of Moore and Elizabeth Avera. The Avera family, of Welsh ancestry, had emigrated to North Carolina before the Revolutionary War. Moore Avera later relocated his family to Wilkinson County, Georgia, where Daniel grew up. On 5 Nov 1826, Daniel married Tabitha Cook, who was born in 1810 near Savannah, Georgia, the daughter of James Cook. She lived to the age of 80.

Their children were:

  1. Cynthia Ann Avera, born 28 Sep 1827, married Murdock Newman about 1851, son of James and Emelia Chloe (Keen) Newman, born 27 Jun 1836, died 10 Oct 1909. She died 2 Aug 1894. Children.
  2. Nancy Avera, born 1832, married about 1865 William Register, son of David and Matilda (McDaniel) Register. She died before 6 Feb 1882 when William married (2) Eliza Hines in Columbia County, Florida.
  3. William M. Avera, born 3 Jul 1834, married Harriet Jones, daughter of Clayton and Malissa (Rouse) Jones, born 16 Jun 1829 and died 7 Jul 1882. He died 21 Mar 1896 and is buried at Griffin Cemetery with his wife.
  4. Stephen Willis Avera, born 5 Jan 1836, married 14 Jul 1854, Martha Elizabeth Akins, daughter of William Green and Winnifred Ann (Moore) Akins, born 14 Jan 1837, died 7 Nov 1917. He died 20 Oct 1926 and is buried beside his wife at Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Moultrie, Georgia.
  5. Elizabeth Avera, born 1838, married David Columbus Craig.
  6. Rebecca Jane Avera, born 1841, married Guilford Register, son of David and Matilda (McDaniel) Register, born 4 Jul 1834, died 17 Sep 1903. She died 16 May 1906 and is buried with her husband in the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Lake City, Florida.
  7. Mary Ann Avera, born 1 Aug 1843, married John Moses Dowling of Columbia County, Florida, son of William Wesley and Ardelia E. (Frier) Dowling, born 22 May 1842 and died 28 Apr 1927. She died 27 Nov 1928 and is buried with her husband in Woodlawn Park Cemetery, Miami, Florida.
  8. Sallie Avera, born 27 Jun 1846, married Samuel Register, son of David and Matilda (McDaniel) Register, born 14 May 1843 in Stockton, Georgia and died 23 Nov 1936 in Clinch County. She died 27 Jun 1886 and they are both buried in Boney Bluff Cemetery in Echols County, Georgia.
  9. Christina (Zany or Zana) Avera, born 1848, never married; “idiotic”. Probably died between 1870 and 1880.
  10. John Ross Avery, born 23 Dec 1850, married in 1869, Emily S. Register, daughter of David and Matilda (McDaniel) Register. She was born 14 Apr 1847 and died 3 Jun 1905. He died 5 Apr 1924 in Benton, Florida and both are buried at Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Deep Creek, Florida.
Daniel Avera
Daniel Avera

In 1838, Daniel Avera and his family moved to Lowndes County, in what is now Berrien County, Georgia. They settled near the Lowndes-Irwin county line, where he engaged in farming and cattle-raising. Seeking more extensive grazing land for his livestock, he moved in 1858 to the southern part of Clinch County, near the Florida border. There, he formed a partnership with William, Harmon, and John Gaskins of Berrien County, and together they built a thriving cattle business along the Okefenokee Swamp. This partnership remained in place until Avera’s passing.

The 1860 U.S. Census records show that Rebecca Ridgell, born in 1780 in South Carolina, was living with the Avera family. She was Tabitha Avera’s mother. After the death of her first husband, she remarried a man named Ridgell but had no additional children. Also residing with the Averas in 1860 was Peter J. Williams, born in 1824 in North Carolina, who was Daniel Avera’s nephew.

Daniel Avera died in 1888 and was buried at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Hamilton County, Florida. His wife, Tabitha, passed away in 1890 and was laid to rest beside him. There appears to be no gravestones marking their graves. The current (2025) FindAGrave listings place the cemetery and their burials in the wrong town. The Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery is at 6592 NW 48th Street in Jennings, Florida.

Researcher Note: This family will be found in the records using both Avera and Avery for their surname.

Sources

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.