ˈeɪvɚɹi wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn hˈɑːɹdᵻmən kˈaʊnti, tˌɛnəsˈiː ˌɔn noʊvˈɛmbɚɹ ɪlˈɛvən, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪntiːn, ðə sˈʌn ʌv nˈeɪθən ænd ɹᵻbˈɛkə dʒˈoʊnz ɹˈɪvɚz ˈeɪvɚɹi.
Avery was born in Hardeman County, Tennessee on November 11, 1819, the son of Nathan and Rebecca Jones Rivers Avery.