1788 - 1866

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• Birth	9 Jan 1788	Sussex Co., VA
  Sex	Male
  Died	15 Sep 1866
  Person ID	I0275	avefamily
  Last Modified	27 Feb 2007
  Father	John Avent, b. 16 Mar 1744/45
  Mother	Elizabeth Grizzard
  Family ID	F476	Group Sheet
  Family	Mary "Polly" Avent, b. 23 July 1787, Aventon, Nash Co., NC
  Children	> 1. Benjamin Ward Avent, b. 1812, Greensville Co., Virginia > 2. James Monroe Avent, b. ABT. 1816, Greensville Co., VA > 3. Washington D. Avent, b. 15 Mar 1820, Greensville Co., Virginia   4. Mary E. Avent, b. 1822   5. Evaline M. Avent   6. Fannie Avent   7. Nannie Avent
  Last Modified	27 Feb 2007
  Family ID	F461	Group Sheet

• Notes

  1850 Rutherford Co., TN census shows 3 Avents born in VA: James, b. 1788, Benjamin W. Avent, b. 1812, and Washington Avent, b. 1820. Walton Family Cemetery Limestone County, Alabama James Avent bn Jan 09, 1788 died Sept 15, 1866 Mary Avent [wife of James] bn July 23, 1787 died Sept 04, 1830. James Monroe Avent, a prominent and wealthy attorney of Murfreesboro, Tenn., was born December 10, 1816, in Greenville County, Va. His parents, James and Mary Avent, were natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina, and removed from the father's native State to Alabama, from whence they came to this State and county in 1830. They resided here until 1856, when they removed to Hardeman County, Tenn., where the elder Avent died in 1868. James M. Avent's boyhood's days were spent on the farm and in the schools, differing from the experience of many lads of his day, insomuch that his education was superior to that of the ordinary youth. He secured a good literary education at the Clinton College, in Smith County, Tenn. At the age of twenty-one he had decided to make the law his profession for life, and entered the office of Charles Ready, of this city, with whom he read law until he was admitted to the Rutherford County bar in 1840. He then engaged in the practice here, rapidly growing in reputation and character as a lawyer, and was for many years a partner of the late ex-Chancellor B. L. Ridley. Mr. Avent is now the senior member of a well-known law firm of Avent, Smith, & Avent, and it may be justly said that he has contributed largely to the success and high standing of this firm at the Rutherford County bar. February 27, 1837, Mr. Avent married Mary W., the daughter of the late Maj. John W. Childress, of this county. The result of this union has been five children, the following four now living: Frank, James M., Bettie B., and Sarah W. Mr. Avent is a Democrat of the old "Jacksonian school," and has always been an active and zealous worker for his party, but never aspired to office. He has frequently been appointed judge pro tem of our courts, and discharged the duties of this highly responsible position in a manner that indicated his superior qualities as a jurist. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been identified with all public and private enterprises that were calculated to promote the prosperity of the city and county. He was one of the organizers of the Stone's River Creamery Company, of which he is now president. Himself and wife have been life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is justly and universally reocgnized as one among the leading and successful citizens of our county, a lawyer of fine judgement and ability and a consistent Christian gentlemen. Source: The Goodspeed History of Rutherford County, Originally published in 1886. Wills Vol 3 Page 191 Will of John Avent Daughter Polly Drewry- i slave and half interest in machine on James drewer's pond, etc Son Henry Avent- 1 negro girl Clary Son Thomas Avent-1 negro Ephriam Son Peter Avent-1 negro Mingo James Avent-1 negro boy slave named George which he carried with him to the state of Tennessee in March 1820 To the orphaned children-James Edwin Avent, Nancy Elizabeth Avent, Robert Henry Avent children of John Avent{deceased] $450.00 etc. To my daughter Elizabeth Woodruff-1 negro boy slave named Nat and part of the land whereon I now live adjoining Martin Pucket, also 1 negro girl slave "Vilet" to James Woodruff son of William and Elizabeth Woodruff 1 negro boy Hall. Henry Avent, Thomas Avent and James Drewry named as executers. November 22, 120 Witnesses- Thomas Johnson, Jones Sturdevant, Samuel Avent, Thomas Avent Proven at court of Greensville County, held 14 Febuary 1821 on the oaths of Jones Sturdevant and Samuel Avent.E Mason C.G.C. Rebecca Avent married George Sheehorn in 1820 and left Greensville. William Woodruff died and Elizabeth woodruff married ? Walton and removed to Limestone County, Ala. James Avent and wife Mary "Polly" Avent are buried in Limestone County, Ala. also. Peter married Sarah ? and left Greensville for Halifax Co., NC before moving on to Hardeman County, Tennessee. Wife of John Avent (Sr) was not mentioned but is thought to have been Elizabeth Grizzard dau of Ambrose Grizzard. "James, son of John, lived in Davidson, Rutherford and Hardeman counties in Tennessee. He died in Hardeman County, Tennessee. It is thought that he married his cousin Mary "Polly" Avent daughter of William Avent and Sarah "Sally" Ward of Nash County, N C. James was in Limestone County, Alabama in 1830. His sister Elizabeth Woodruff Walton lived in Limestone at "The Cedars" or "Belle Mina" plantation near Athens."