Col. Thomas Avent acquired property on the north side of the Roanoke River (in Northampton Co. across from present-day Roanoke Rapids, NC) as early as 1712, and probably earlier. This property was inherited by William, who died in 1761.

William became a prominent landowner and farmer and his descendants formed the community of Aventon, which is there to this day. William was the Captain of a company of militia in the Revolutionary War (see the page 'Avents in American Wars' for more on William's activities during the Revolution).

Sometime near the year of William's death his sons John and Joseph, daughter Sarah and Sarah's husband William Ragland moved as a group from Northampton Co. to Chatham Co., NC (located SW of Raleigh). Daughter Rebecca and husband Seth Cotten followed 1777 - 1778.