Dr Eli Ayres, son of Caleb Ayars and Naomi Davis, was born 9 May 1778 at Shiloh, Cumberland Co, NJ. He married Elizabeth West in 1812 at Gloucester Co, NJ. Dr Ayres was a descendant of Robert Ayars (1650-1719).

Dr Ayres practiced medicine at Woodbury, Gloucester Co, NJ and in 1818 he entered into an agreement with the Maryland Colonization Society as an agent to purchase land on the coast of Africa where they would establish a colony of "Freedmen". In 1821, Dr Ayres and Captain Robert F Stockton signed an agreement with: King Peter, King George, King Zoda, King Long Peter, King Governor and King Jimmy- "...Dozoa Island and also all that portion of land bounded north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, an on the south and east by a line drawn in a south-east direction from the north of Mesurado River......" Thus was born the state of Liberia.

Ayres and Stockton traded various items for this purchase, including tobacco, muskets, beads, gunpowder, iron, pots, hats, coats, pipes, shoes, canes, etc. The purchase soon came under a cloud when the African chiefs pointed out that the treaty was worthless since land cannot be bought and sold. Disease and mosquitoes further complicated the process but on 25 April 1822 the first Afro-Americans set foot on the soil of Liberia.

Persons interested in more data and bibliography can contact Walt Ayars . If you are a descendant of ROBERT AYARS (1650-1719) you may request a copy of our newsletter, AYARS HEIRS.