Nancy Avery was born in Wells or Kennebunk, then lived and worked in Waterboro and Alfred. She was "a member of Alfred's only black family."

"Obituary and grave records indicate she [Nancy] was born in Wells, November 28, 1828, reportedly one of thirteen children. The primary occupations of the Averys were laborers and stone wall builders ... Nancy worked as a domestic and cook in several homes and businesses around Alfred. A picture of her can be found in Harland Eastman's book, Alfred, Maine - The Shakers and the Village (1986)." - Price & Talbot, pp. 40-41

She was listed with her family in the 1850 US Census for Waterboro, all coded "B" for Black.

Her death record lists Kennebunk as her place of birth, while Price & Talbot cite Wells as her place of birth, and provide the specific date.

Note that a considerable amount of additional information can be found in the article by Bruce Tucker.

Bibliography:

Maine's Visible Black History - by H. H. Price and Gerald E. Talbot (2006)

Alfred, Maine - The Shakers and The Village - Harland H. Eastman (1986)

Free Persons of Color: The Averys of Waterboro, ME - Bruce R. Tucker, Alfred Historical Society (2022) available at https://www.parsonsmemoriallibrary.com/post/free-persons-of-color-the-averys-of-waterboro-me