Documenting the American South

Monument Name

In Memory of Six Sons of Thomas and Mary Avera, Erwin

Type

Marker

Subjects

Civil War, 1861-1865

Creator

Edgerton Memorials, Inc., Dunn NC, Foundry

City

Erwin

County

Harnett

Description

The marker was placed in memory of the six sons of Thomas and Mary Avera that all served for North Carolina during the Civil War. Only one returned home alive. It stands just over five feet tall consisting of a granite block 24 inches wide and 8 inches thick on a granite base with a concrete pad for the foundation. Incised at the top of the monuments front face is a Confederate Cross of Honor. This symbol is often seen on the tombstones of Confederate veterans who served honorably. At the bottom beneath the inscription are five stars formed into a circle. A marker to the history of Old Averasborough and a memorial to Company B, 10 Battalion, NC Heavy Artillery form a triangle on the concrete pad. Four flagpoles surround this grouping. One flies the American flag, one the Confederate national flag, one the Confederate battle flag and one a Revolutionary War era flag.

Images: Back inscription | Grouping of three monuments | Monuments and flagpoles

Inscription

Front: IN MEMORY OF, / THE SIX SONS OF THOMAS AND MARY AVERA. / THEY LEFT AVERASBORO TO SERVE NORTH CAROLINA / IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. / ONLY JOHN DANIEL AVERA RETURNED. / ISSAC AVERA - CO. K, 38TH REGIMENT / 1826-1863 / LUCIAN AVERA – Co. F, 15 REGIMENT / 1830-1863 / JOHN DANIEL AVERA – CO.B, 10TH BATTALION / 1832-1900 / WILLIAM RUFUS AVERA – CO.B, 10TH BATTALION / 1835-1864 / CALVIN A. AVERA – CO. F, 15TH BATTALION / 1842-1862

Rear: [Lists of names of donors]

Custodian

Bryan Avery

Dedication Date

May 19, 2012

Decade

2010s

Geographic Coordinates

35.307110 , -78.679580 View in Geobrowse

Supporting Sources

North Carolina History Project. "Averasboro (Town of)," (accessed June 25, 2014) Link

Phone interview with Bryan Avery by Russell Long on August 27, 2015

Public Site

Yes

Materials & Techniques

Granite

Sponsors

Bryan Avery and Avery descendants

Monument Cost

$2,500

Subject Notes

Of the five sons that did not return from the Civil War, four died of disease. The fifth died of wounds received at the battle of Chancellorsville.

The site is a permanent private easement to Bryan Avery but within a few feet of the public right of way. The public may access the site. The easement for the site was provided by Wade Hampton West.

Location

The monument stands on the northwest corner of a four way intersection, Salt Market Street and Norris Road run east-west, and Chicora Road runs north-south. The monument forms a triangle, along with a marker to Company B, 10th Regiment NC Heavy Artillery and Olde Averasborough Monument.

Landscape

The monument stands on the grass in rural area outside the town of Erwin.