21. 1. AYERS. F. A. B. M., Aug. 23, 1922. Experts believe that the wife of John Ayers, 1589-1637,
of Haverhill, Mass., the Pilgrim or American settler, was Hannah Webb or Evered, the latter name
being an alias used later in life by the father of Hannah.
In 1670 Peter Ayer, son of John, acknowledged the receipt of a legacy of 20 pounds from the estate
of John Webb. Peter's sisters, Mrs. Arlebe, Mrs. Webster and Mary Webb, each received a legacy of
20 pounds from the estate of their suposed "Uncle Webb." See C. H. A.'s Comment on Note 694, in
the [Boston] Transcript, of 1910. She was a descendant of John Ayer. Those who remember her
valuable contributions to the Transcript will consider her opinion important if not conclusive, when
after thorough investigation, she says: "I vote for Hannah Webb as the maiden name of
Grandmother Ayer."
John (2), 1623-1700 (John 1), married first, 1646, Sarah Williams. He married, second, 1663, Mary
Wooden.
Peter (2) Ayer, 1632-1699 (John 1), married, 1659 [?not clear] Hannah (2) Allen (William 1).
John (_?) Ayer, 1657-1708. Thomas (2), 1630-1686 (John 1), married Hannah Travis.
Obadiah (2) Ayer (John 1) married, 1660, Hannah (2) Pike (John 1 [Pike]).
Hannah (3) Ayers (Nathaniel 2, John 1) married, 1690 Ebenezer Belknap.
Hannah (2) (John 1) married Stephen Webster.
Hannah (3) Ayers (Peter 2, John 1) married, 1681, John Osgood.
I do not know the John Ayers who married Susan Symonds. There were in almost every Ayer
family a son John and a daughter Hannah. There was another colonial settler named Ayers, viz.,
Surgeon Simon Ayers, who came in ship Increase in 1635, aged 48, of whose descendants I have no
knowledge.
John (1) Ayers' father was Thomas Ayer of Wiltshire, Eng., who married Elizabeth Rogers. It is
claimed that he was the fifth in descent from Galpedes LeHeger, in time of Edward II.
I have not the line, nor have I the line to one Truelove, who, it is said, saved the life of William the
Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings by opening the helmet of the latter when he fell from his horse.
William knighted him, and changed his name to Ayer, or air. All such traditions can be considered as
fairy stories. There are a host of Ayer descendants at present. I am descended from both Thomas
and Peter Ayres, sons of John (1). For Ayer data see Essex Antiquarian, vol. 14, page 145. Also "Five
Colonial Families."
C. G. H. H.
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I have a xerox copy of Capt. John AYRES information from the "Five Colonial Families."