Abraham Avery III moved to Wilbraham from the Montville Connecticut area, sometime in the early 1800s. The home he lived in Wilbraham was located at 239 Main Street. This home was built circa 1785 and it is unknown who lived in that house before Abraham.
His first wife, Elizabeth Bliss Avery was from Wilbraham and was born on January 29, 1788. Her father was Abel Bliss Jr. and her grandfather, Abel Bliss, the one who built his home taller than that of the Meeting House. (Read his story at https://david-bourcier.wixsite.com/wilbraham-tidbits/post/abel-s-pretentious-new-home ). The Bliss family was very prominent in town, North Wilbraham high society. Elizabeth grew up in a house her father Abel had built in 1769, 288 Main Street, and that home was in the Bliss family for at least four generations.
Elizabeth was only nine years old when she and other family members went to her uncle's house on April 29, 1799, for a celebration in which later that day her three cousins drowned in Nine Mile Pond. (Read this tragic story at https://david-bourcier.wixsite.com/wilbraham-tidbits/post/the-melancholy-event-of-1799).
On February 20, 1810, Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, a son, Addison Avery. Tragedy struck with their next four children, all of whom died early, an infant child, one day old, Benjamin Avery, six years old, Simeon Avery, one year old, and Elizabeth Avery, eighteen years old. Their last two children were Julia Avery Rand and Abraham Avery, IV.
Abraham Avery III was a tanner, saddler, and harness maker. He was said to be the best in his craft throughout the region. His harness shop was located just south, approximately 500 feet from his home. The shop was built circa 1790 and is located at 267 Main Street, where the building still stands today as a private residence. It appears that the building used as a harness shop by Abraham was built on land owned by Elizabeth's father Abel. The tanning vats for his shop were most likely located at the rear of this lot because the tanning process required a great deal of water and a stream passes west of this place. The harness shop became a shoe shop by 1870 when Francis Firmin, a shoemaker, owned the property and building.
Abraham Avery III was a prominent man in town who was a large landowner and a successful businessman. He was among the First Parish members who became devoted Methodists; one of the founders of the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham; also of the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., of which he was a trustee. He also represented his town in the state legislature and filled many local positions in town.
In the early days of the precinct and town, the money for the support of religious services was raised by a tax assessment on the property to which they owned. This was all well and good when there was one church society. But as other denominations began to be formed, their members objected to paying any part of the expenses of the original Orthodox Ministry. Remember that Abraham was a devoted Methodist after leaving the First Order, which many families had done. In those early days, there was a rivalry between the two faiths.
So now we come to the story that the tax collector came to Abraham's shop and demanded payment of the tax levied on all who were not members of the Orthodox church for the support of that denomination. Of course, he refused to pay for it, in his mind that was not right and justified. The tax collector left with no money in hand but would certainly be back to his shop and collect the tax owed from Abraham, he would make sure of that.
It was said that Abraham was cunning and liked practical jokes. It was also well known that Abraham could make a good saddle, one that the "Queen's horse guards" would be proud to have. Abraham came up with a plan, he would make a saddle instead of payment, so he selected the pieces of leather that looked the best and fitted them together with his skillful talents. He mounted it with shining metal that would please the eye of the beholder. But Abraham knew one thing, this saddle did not have the strength as he roughly tacked it together but no one would know just by looking at that beautiful saddle.
The tax collector came back to the shop a few days later with the constable. Abraham had already cleared most of the finished work but left this saddle out in plain view. The tax collector demanded again for Abraham to pay, but he refused. Now the saddle being in plain sight diverted the attention of the tax collector and he now demanded the splendid saddle that sat before him in payment. Abraham scoffed, and stated, "Take it then". Abraham's face sparkled with delight as the constable put the saddle in his wagon then they drove off.
The saddle was sold at auction and brought a great price, far above the amount of the tax due. The constable offered the excess of the sale to Abraham, but he refused to take it. Then the constable tendered to him the balance in gold, but Abraham refused that as well.
The saddle was purchased by a gentleman from Belchertown. The saddle looked magnificent and he then placed it upon his horse. The gentleman eagerly wanted to try out the new saddle, so he mounted his horse. As he began to ride off, the saddle came apart one by one. It was said that the gentleman was very angry and spoke words of Abraham and his saddle which were not "lawfully to be spoken, and should not be written."
The gentleman who purchased the saddle from the auction came to Abraham's shop in great anger and asked him if he did not warrant his saddles. Abraham then replied, certainly I do. Then the gentleman said, look at this saddle. "Ah," said Abraham " that is the Presbyterian saddle, " I have nothing to do with that." Abraham gleefully enjoyed what had transpired as he continued his skillful work on making saddles.
Abraham's first wife died on December 27, 1851, at the age of 63. Abraham married his second wife Cordelia Belinda Brewer who was twenty-two years younger. She died on November 15, 1877, at 72, twenty-three years after Abraham, who had died on October 8, 1853, at 71. They are all buried at Woodland Dell Cemetery in Wilbraham.
