At a Portsmouth Historical Society Open House, someone asked me about Portsmouth’s African American families. There was nothing in the exhibits that spoke to that question and Marge Webster and I decided to take on that question as a research topic. The stories we found were exciting and this blog is a short summary of what we found about one of the families.
Much of Portsmouth history is farm history and the Ayler family represents the best in Portsmouth farming. In 1870, Morgan Ayler, his wife Matilda and three of his children are listed as residing on the farm of Joseph Macomber off East Main Road in Portsmouth. Macomber went to Washington after the Civil War and brought back 16 former slaves to live in Portsmouth. We don’t know the reason he brought the 16 with him, but Macomber was a devout Quaker and aiding former slaves was an important activity for members of the Society of Friends. Morgan moved from being a farm laborer on the Macomber farm to owning his own farm. He won awards for his produce at the Newport County Fair.
Morgan’s son Edward went on to farm 80 years in Portsmouth. Edward Ayler’s obituary (published in the Newport Mercury in June of 1935) provides some clues to understanding their success in Portsmouth life. “Edward Ayler, one of the oldest and best known citizens of Portsmouth, died last Friday at his home on Freeborn Street.” Edward was one of the founders of the Portsmouth Free Public Library.
The Ayler family was very involved in Portsmouth activities. Edward Ayler’s wife (Louise Jackson Ayler) was active in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. She often hosted meetings at her home. She was active in the Friends Missionary Society. The early generations of the Aylers were strong Quakers, but there seems to be a split among the third generation. Edward’s sons Raymond and Emerson and daughter Alice Ayler Morris were known for their singing in the Friends Church before World War I. During the war, however, Raymond H. Ayler was commissioned as Second Lieutenant after having been drafted “with the colored boys” (Mercury, 9/13/18) while brother Osceola received a deferment because of his Quaker faith. In the 1920s Raymond would be on the executive board of the American Legion along with William Vanderbilt and Bradford Norman.
There is little left in Portsmouth as reminders of the Ayler family. Macomber’s farm has been sold and his house torn down. Morgan Ayler’s farm at Cozy Corners has become commercial property and Edward Ayler’s home is only foundations left on Freeborn Street. The family moved on to Newport and to the Boston area. They came to Portsmouth and they made a difference.
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