Robert Martin Ayres was born in Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland, in 1812. He was the son of Lambert Pernell Ayres (1782-1856) and Nancy Richardson Ayres (1782-1876). After moving to Adams County, Mississippi, Ayres married Sarah Macrery (ca. 1822-1859), daughter of Natchez physician Andrew Macrery, in 1839. He obtained Roseland, an 857-acre plantation on Second Creek, Adams County, from the Macrery family in 1849. Ayres was also the partner of William Cannon in the Natchez mercantile firm, Cannon and Ayres. He died at Roseland Plantation in 1864.

Robert Martin and Sarah Macrery Ayres were the parents of Anna Milbury Ayres (b. ca. 1845) and John Richardson Ayres (1849-1924), an Adams County planter who worked as an agent for the New Orleans cotton factor, John Phelps and Company. He married Nellie Henderson (ca. 1859-1951) in 1886.

This collection accretion includes papers and records of Dr. Andrew Macrery of Natchez and scattered papers and records of allied families.

Series Identification:

• Roll 1 (MF Roll # 36187): letter, G. W. Morgan to Dr. Andrew Macrery, May 25, 1809; letter, John D. Henderson to Susan Henderson, October 15, 1860; accounting ledger, Missionary Society of the Mississippi Presbytery, 1820-1835; Southern Rural Almanac and Plantation and Garden Calendar for 1861, by Thomas Affleck; dowry deed, Leonard Pomet to Pierre Duranthon, July 29, 1829; deed of conveyance, Leonard Pomet to John Seip, March 12, 1817; marriage license, Pierre Duranthon and Francisca Pomet, July 20, 1829; Italian railway pass, 1875; invoice book, 1834-1839; accounting ledger, 1811-1812 (partial).
• Roll 2 (MF Roll # 36188): accounting ledger, 1811-1812 (continued); accounts and receipts of Dr. Andrew Macrery, 1801-1821; n.d.; anonymous critical essay on Erskine’s writings on Christianity.