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Many thanks to Andy Clay Harris for permission to reproduce some of the Avery family details from the family tree he has posted to Rootsweb.

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1840 Gibson County TN: BGHB Avery (James' father) is shown with three young males in his household and seven young females, as well as 13 slaves.

1850 census, Gibson County, TN., District 16, household 493:

(note that household 495 is his daughter Margaret Pate and household 496 is his brother RTS Avery)

BGHB Avery, age 47, Meth. E. Clergm., worth $5000, born NC.

Charity, 45, born NC. All others born TN.

James, 21.

John, 18.

Martha, 16.

Frances, 14.

Emily, 12.

Henry, 10.

William, 8.

Thomas 6.

Louisa 4 (she becomes Margaret in the next census).

Gibson County marriages show James F.A.M. Avery & Nancy Gunner wed in 1854 (multiple other sources list her surname as Gunter)

1860 Gibson County TN District 4, household 438

JF (NM?) Avery, age 31, farmer, $1000/1000, born TN (JF very clear, N is iffy, M seems likely)

Nancy Avery, age 25, born TN

Green Avery, age 4, born TN

Frances Avery, age 1, born TN

Note: household 433 is Lasiter, household 439 is Hopper (with son James born c.1854--see 1880 census on this page), household 441 is his father, BGHB

1870 census Gibson County TN District 4, household 81

J.F. Avery, age 42, farmer, $2000/$1000 born TN

Nancy Avery, age 35, keeps house, born TN

Absalom Avery, age 13, farm labor, born TN

Frances (female) Avery, age 12, at home, born TN

John Avery, age 9, at home, born TN

William Avery, age 7, at home, born TN

(household 82 is RT Smith and wife Cassie--see 1882 guardian bond document below; household 83 is James F's brother-in-law Henry Babb)

2-10-1871 date of signature on will of BGHB Avery, Gibson, TN Will Book G, page 202. To wife Charity: half of stock, so Jonas and Katy may make a living, house and land on which she lives, beginning line of James F. Avery's 40 acre tract, so as to include the graveyard, and over to the corner of the gin field, including the field to the lane. To son W.A.G. Avery: the rest of the tract to live on. To son James F. Avery: 50 acres. Daughter Martha has had $400 worth of land in Arkansas; must make account to estate before she shares. Grandson B.G. Pate owes me some notes and accounts and he has acted very strange. It is my will that two-thirds of what he owes me be collected and paid his sisters Amanda and Emily. Grandson B.G. Tatum: $150 put to interest, and when he is twenty years old, principle and interest to be paid to him. All others equally. Executors: sons H.B. and James F. Avery

11-4-1872 Crockett Co. Court Clerk's Minutes (as transcribed by Natalie Huntley on Crockett Co. page of TNGenWeb): On motion Henry Babb was this day appointed Administrator of John B.G. Babb deceased thereupon said Henry Babb came into court and entered into Bond in the sum of one thousand dollars with J.S. Babb and J.F. Averry as his securities which Bond was severally acknowledged in open Court approved by the Court and ordered to be recorded. And it is further ordered that letters of Administration issue to the said Henry Babb and the said Babb was qualified as administrator of JBG Babb deceased.

Note: in the 1880 census Henry Babb, widower I think of James's sister, has in his household granddaughter Mattie Babb.

1880 census, Crockett County TN, District 3, household 128

Jas. F Avery, age 51, farmer, born TN of parents born TN

wife Nancy, age 45, born TN of parents born TN

son Will A., age 16

boarder Jas Hopper/Hoppen? age 25, white, laborer, TN-TN-TN

mother Charity Avery, age 75, NC-NC-NC

boarder Grand? Carman/Farmer? age 55, black, laborer, NC-NC-NC

1-4-1886 Guardian bond for Sarah, Azzie, Henry and Austin Spencer, Crockett County

We, W.S. Babb, R.T. Smith and J.S. Roberts are held and firmly bound to the state of Tennessee in the penal sum of six hundred dollars...this 4th day of January AD 1886. The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound W.S. Babb has been appointed Guardian of Sarah, Spencer, Azzie Spencer, Henry Spencer and Austin Spencer minor heirs of Wm. Spencer deceased. Now if the said W.S. Babb shall well and truly perform the duties which are or may be required of him by law as such Guardian, then this obligation to be void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue...(signed W.S. Babb, R.T. Smith, J.S. Roberts)....

        Another legal paper gives W.S. Babb legal authorization to take into his possession for the benefit of his wards (the Spencer kids named above) "the profit of the lands, tenements and hereditaments belonging to the said ward and also the goods, chattels and other personal estate of said wards; to bring such suits or actions in relation thereto as may be deemed necessary" and in two years renew the bond and "upon arrival at full age" of the wards, "or sooner, if required, to make final settlement...to deliver and pay to the person lawfully authorized to receive the same, the residue of said estate, including the profits arising therefrom."

Note: R.T. Smith, mentioned in the Guardian bond, may be James' 1870 neighbor, between James and his brother-in-law Henry Babb, suggesting the Smiths may have married into the Avery or Babb lines. In the 1880 census Henry Babb--widower, I think, of James' sister Sarah A.E. Avery Babb, has in his household granddaughter Mattie Babb and grandsons "Austin" and Henry Spencer.