AYRES
From The Genealogy of the Ayres Family; printed for private distribution, New York City, 1902.
"In Thorpe's catalogue of the deeds of Battle Abbey we find the following: "Ayres or Eyre. The first of this family was named Truelove, who was one of the followers of William the Conqueror. At the Battle of Hastings, A.D. 1066, Duke William was thrown from his horse and his helmet beaten into his face; which Truelove observing, pulled it off and horsed him again. The Duke told him, 'Thou shalt be from Truelove caller Eyre (or air), because thou hast given me the air I breathe.' After the battle the Duke, on inquiry respecting him, found him severely wounded (the leg and thy having been struck off). He ordered him the utmost care, and on his recovery gave him lands in Derby in reward for his services, and the leg and thigh in armor cut off for his crest, an honorary badge yet worn by all the Eyres in England."
Also of interest is The Genealogy of the Ayres Family of Fairfield County, Conn., compiled by James Noyes States, New Haven Connecticut, 1916.
This book details the descendants of John Ayer of Haverhill, who died March 31, 1675. Part of the genealogy deals with Captain John Ayres of Brookfield who was killed by indians, August 3, 1675. The history continues with his descendants but with an interesting note from The Ayres and Ayer Families by W. H. Whitmore, Esq (pages 307-10). "Savage in his account makes mistake. Capt. John Ayres of Ipswich and Brookfield was not the son of John Ayer of Haverhill." Historical items of this branch of the Ayres family trace their ancestry back to Captain John Ayres who was descended from three brothers who came to the United States from England and settled in the old Bay State early in the seventeenth century. So it would appear thet there were two Captain John Ayres living in the same town at the same time who were unrelated. The sources are unclear about the truth of the matter, so until someone can clarify the issue, the Ayres family tree which follows here begins with Captain John Ayres of Brookfield Massachusetts.
AYRES FORUM: