Elnathan Ayres and Martha Travally

The east end of St. Katharine's Church, the chapel of the hospice founded by Queen Matilda.

Elnathan Ayres (b. 1724), bachelor, married Martha Travally (b. 29 Jan 1716), spinster, daughter of Thomas Travally and Rachel Winnall at the Collegiate Church of St Katherine By the Tower, on 25 Sep 1748. (St Katharine by the Tower on map c. 1720. The church was destroyed in 1825 to make way for the new St Katharine Docks.) The licence says that Elnathan was 24 years old, and a Shipwright from the parish of St Anne's Limehouse. He paid a bond of £200, a huge sum at that time. Martha's age was listed as twenty-five. 

Elnathan Ayres, I am certain was the son of Elnathan Ayres and Mercy Mary Jones of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Other records suggest that Martha's husband was born in America and more still list their son as American. It's such a distinctive name that it would be hard to imagine he WASN'T connected. Both Nathaniel and Elnathan appear to be family given names and the family appear to trace back to one John Ayres (b.~1616 in England), who had made his way to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The only record of a child of this couple was their son:

1. Elnathan Ayres b. 17 Jul 1752, bap. 19 Jul 1752 son of Elnathan Ayres, Shipwright of Pump Yard (Pump Yard, Ratcliffe cross, was parallel to Narrow Street, as shown on the map here at In Search of Old Ratcliffe) and Martha, at St Anne, Limehouse (2 days old)

Ratcliffe from the fourteenth century was known for shipbuilding and the fitting and provisioning of ships. In the sixteenth century, various voyages of discovery were began from Ratcliffe, including those of Willoughby and Frobisher. The Brethren of Trinity House made Ratcliffe their headquarters in the early 17th century before they moved to the City. [Source] The Brethren of Trinity House form the governing body and advisory fraternity of the Corporation of Trinity House, a historic maritime charity and the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, and the Channel Islands.

One can see why a shipwright would wash up in this area. Land Tax Records place Elnathan Ayres in Pump Yard in 1754, 1758, 1760, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1767 and 1768. In most cases he is listed first in this location and is paying one of the highest rates. There was once a Cricketers Pub at 42 London Street, 1 Pump Yard, Ratcliff (presumably the corner thereof). 

Martha Ayres of St Ann, Middlesex (St Anne, Limehouse), was buried on 10 May 1768 at Poplar, meaning Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church).

Not found any confirmed records for Elnathan Ayres Snr beyond this.