| BIRTH & DEATH | He was probably born circa 1635-1646, somewhere in Ireland and died in Rumney Marsh [now Chelsea], Suffolk co., MA in 1718; he was 83[1,2]. |
| NAME VARIATIONS |
His personal history and the many permutations of his name are fascinating. Anyone studying this family
owes a debt of thanks to Michael E. Hager, whose 1994 article on Thaddeus in the New England Historic
Genealogical Register unravels all the knots of his names in colonial records.
His original Irish-Gaelic name was Taidhg O'Barry. Taidhg is phoneticized to "Teague", "Teage" or "Teige" and "Teague" was used as the 17th and 18th century versions of "Paddy" or "Mick" in English-speaking countries -- i.e. when in doubt, you called an Irishman "Teague" regardless of his actual name. When "Teague" would precede an Irish surname that began with "O", the two were often elided by English speakers and thus the first name became "Teago" or "Tego"[3]. When Anglicized, it becomes "Thaddeus" or "Timothy" and "Taddeus" is found as its equivalent in Latin documents[4]. The custom of quickly anglicizing one's name upon arrival in America in order to avoid persecution and prejudice persisted well into the late 20th century.
By virtue of his Irish accent and the vagueries of early spellings, Thaddeus' name is in the town
records as follows: It is worth noting that he had already anglicized his name from "Teague" to "Thaddeus" by the time of his military service[5]. Significantly, he names a son "Thomas" but not "Teague" nor "Thaddeus" nor do those versions of his name appear in any subsequent generations[6]. |
| ORIGINS | Thaddeus' Irish origins are revealed in an 1844 letter from William Jenks of Boston, Suffolk co., MA to Alonzo Lewis of Lynn, Essex co., MA in which he reveals that Jenks' grandmother was a Berry. The pertinent passage reads: "But her family name was, in fact, Barry, and the father of her father, Thaddeus, came from Ireland, a man in humble life."[21] It is probable that he was from the western part of County Cork, Ireland. The name "O'Barry" is from that area, and is of Anglo-Norman origin[18]. According to Marcia Wiswall Lindberg, Thaddeus is possibly the son of William Barry (9th generation removed from Sir William Moyle Barry VIII) from Cork, Ireland. As McTeige Barry, this man was the only one of three sons to escape being murdered by emigrating to America. As romantic as this notion is, it is not the most likely explanation of Thaddeus' origins. |
| MIGRATION | He could possibly arrived at Marblehead in 1654 on the ship Good Fellow, which carried a cargo of several hundred Irish children[18,19]. The latter is most likely. The occupying British did with the Irish what more recently was done with the "Train Orphans" in America of the 1920s or the Aborigines of Australia until the late 20th century. That is, children were taken from their homes and summarily sent to "a better life" -- in this case, indentured servitude in New England. Other reasons for an Irish lad making his way to New England in the mid-1600s: there was a war in 1641 and the perennial troubles following it. Some fled this war, others were kidnapped and sold as redemptioners [a.k.a.: indentured servants][17] to American colonists. |
| RESIDENCE |
Regardless of how he arrived, Thaddeus was definitely here by 1662 or so when he had married Hannah Farrar
and their eldest son, John was born. Because Rumney Marsh, Suffolk co., MA was separated from Boston,
Suffolk co., MA by water - except for the Winnimissett Ferry - his ties were more likely with Lynn or
Ipswich, Essex co., MA. "Berrys Land" was used as a boundary when Chelsea was incorporated on
8 January 1738/9[39].
Thaddeus can be found on the Tax Lists of Rumney Marsh, Suffolk co., MA. He is, however, absent from the 1674 and 1676 lists - perhaps due to his service in the King Phillip's War. On 15 December 1681 he is listed as "Teage Upbarron"[34]. On the 1687 and 1688 lists, he is listed as "Teageo Barry" and "Teago Barry", respectively[35]. He is on the 1695 list of inhabitants as "Thadeus Barrow"[35]. Finally, he is on the 1702, list of Rumney Marsh inhabitants as "Theeodrus Berry"[30,36]. |
| MILITARY | As Thadeus Berry, he served in Captain John Whipple's Company from Ipswich, Essex co., MA during King Phillip's War. His dates of accounting were 24 June 1676 and 24 August 1676 with his probable residence given as Lynn, Essex co., MA[20]. This company served in the Springfield area of western Massachusetts. |
| REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS |
Thanks to Hager's research, we are able to trace Thaddeus' considerable real estate transactions
and mention in colonial records. Samuel Bennet sold 30 acres of his farm of 300 acres "in the upper
part of the Pan Handle" above North Revere to "Teague a Barrow of Rumney Marsh in Boston" on
12 June 1672 for £6 in cash and £54 to be paid later. On this same deed, he is also referred to as
"Teague o Barrow" and "Teague Barrow"[2,22,23]. This parcel was known as
"Bennet's Farm" or the "Chelsea Panhandle" and lay above Breeden's farm and on
the edge of the Newburyport Turnpike. On 9 June 1674, Samuel's sons, John & Elisha Bennett,
quitclaimed this land with a confirmatory deed to "Teage a Barrow" with Thomas Farrar
witnessing[2,24,25,26]. On 28 June 1673, Samuel and Sarah Bennett conveyed their 700-acre farm
to their son Elisha, reciting a boundary which referenced the land of "Tego Barrow"[23,27].
On a 1 April 1678, deed of gift, John Bennett excepted therefrom the land of "Teague Barrow"[23,28].
On 28 September 1698, "Thadeas Berrey" (also named as "Thadeus") granted half of the "Teague a Barrow" holding of 1672 to his son "Thomas Berrey," reserving a life estate to himself and his wife[29,33]. Note that there are three separate spellings of his name in this one document! "Tego Barrow's land" appears as a boundary description in a 60-acre conveyance from Elisha Bennett to Lydia Paul on 28 March 1699[30,31]. On 17 October 1701, Lydia Paul and her daughter deeded this land to Thomas Cheever. This time the boundary refers to the land of "Tego Berry" [30,32]. "Tego Berry's land and "Teago Berry" are used as boundaries in a deed from Elisha and Dorothy Bennett to Richard Pratt on 12 November 1702[30,33]. Finally, on 24 May 1714 Thaddeus Berry, husbandman, deeded 126 poles of land at Bass Neck, Nahant (Lynn), Essex co., MA to one John Lewis of Lynn[30,37]. This same transaction is recorded in a deed of 14 August 1716[38]. |
| LEGAL MENTION |
On 30 June 1691, the case of Tieg A Barrow v. John Paul was tried in the Quarterly Court of Salem,
Essex co., MA and unsuccessfully appealed to the Court of Assistants[7,8]. In the proceedings
of this case alone, his name appears as "Teague Abarrow"; "Tego Barrowe"; "Teang
ABarrow"; "Teaug Abarrow"; "Teing Barrow"; "Teague a Barrow"; "Teague a
Barrow"; "Teauge Abarro"; teag barrow"; "Teg o barro"; "Teag Barrow";
"Teag abarrow"; "teage a barro"; "Teag a barra"; "tege barrow".
In this case, Teague charged John Paul with unlawful dominion over land claimed as part of the Abarrow farm, destruction of a fence, and removal of hay and oats - a classic combination of trespass quare clausum fregit [unlawful & forceable trespass] and de bonis asportatis, ["of goods carried away"] here used as the basis of trying title to land. The litigants agreed in writing on 20 April 1691 to try title at the next quarterly court session at Salem[9,10]. The statements gathered for this case reveal the existence of Joseph Townsend, Ephriam Barrow, Daniel Barrow, Elizabeth Townsend and Thomas and Daniel Barrow[11]. |
| ESTATE |
Thaddeus died intestate. His estate was administered by his son John Berry of Wenham, Essex co., MA on 5
June 1716. [Suffolk Probate v. 21: 7, 98 and v. 22: 20-22][12] John was
assigned the land and reserved the "widow's third" for his mother Hanna for use during her
life's duration. He then distributed the property to his siblings Hannah Needham, Samuel Berry,
Thomas Berry, Daniel Berry, Rebecca Bassett, Abigail Bassett, Jerusha Merriam, Mehitabel Berry & the
legal representatives of Elizabeth Townsend (deceased), Sarah Stocker & Ethilrid
Merriam[13].
The initial inventory reports some 70 acres of upland and meadow valued at £87 10s, but the later report and account of 8 November 1720 describe 23 acres worth £95 15s.[14] The Real estate was "incapable of division among his children & heirs without great prejudice to or spoiling of the whole" the court ordered assignment of the premises to John Berry with a reservation of 1/3 to the widow, Hannah Berry, for life as dower[15]. As eldest son, John was entitled to a double portion. Accordingly , John Berry was ordered to pay £14 18s. 2d (a thirteenth share) by 8 May 1721 to each of the remaining eleven heirs at law per stirpes[16]. |
| MARRIAGE | Circa 1664 when Thaddeus was 29, he married Hanna FARRAR, daughter of Thomas FARRAR & Elizabeth [surname not known], in Rumney Marsh, Suffolk, co. MA or Lynn, Essex co., MA[1,40,41,42,43]. There are two Torrey entries for him. One under "Berry, Teague" and the other under "Berry/Barry?, Thaddeus". |
| CHILDREN | 2. | i. | John BERRY | John was born circa 1664. John married Rachel LEACH and moved to Wenham, Essex co., MA. |
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3. | ii. | Elizabeth BERRY | Elizabeth was born on 24 November 1665 in Boston, Suffolk co., MA as "Elizabeth of Thaddeus & Hannah Berry"[45]. She died on 27 February 1693/4; she was 27. On 22 May 1690 when Elizabeth was 24, she married Joseph TOWNSEND, in Boston, Suffolk co., MA[46]. |
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4. | iii. | Samuel BERRY | Samuel was born on 20 June 1667 in Boston, Suffolk co., MA as "Samuel of Thaddeus & Hanna Berry"[47] and died after 8 November 1720; he was 53. |
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5. | iv. | Hannah BERRY |
Hannah was born on 12 August 1668 in Boston, Suffolk co., MA as "Hannah of Thaddeus &
Hannah"[48] and died in "suddenly" on 28 September 1740; she was 72.
Circa 1688 when Hannah was 19, she first married Richard HOOD, Jr., son of Richard HOOD Sr. & Mary NEWHALL. After 7 September 1696 when Hannah was 28, she second married Edmond NEEDHAM[49]. |
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6. | v. | Thomas BERRY |
Thomas was born on 20 September 1670 in Boston, Suffolk co., MA as "Thomas of Thaddeus & Hannah
Berry"[52] and died of consumption[44] in Lynn, Essex co., MA on
19d:10m(December):1736 as "Berrey, Thomas"; he was 66[13,53].
On 28 September 1698, Thaddeus conveyed the southern half of the farm and house he bought from Samuel Bennett to Thomas. Thaddeus and his wife were to "enjoy a half of the house and one half of the barn during the life of the longer liver." Thomas was to continue to farm the land and give one half of the produce to Thaddeus and Hannah by placing the corn and hay in the barn and ready for use[2]. Before 1695 when Thomas was 24, he married Elizabeth DIVAN, daughter of John DIVAN & Elizabeth [surname not known], in Lynn, Essex co., MA. They had one daughter, named Elizabeth. |
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7. | vi. | Daniel BERRY | Daniel was born circa 1672[11,54]. This is estimated from a 1691 deposition in which Daniel gave his age as "18 years". He died on 18 June 1738; he was 66, and is buried in Copp's Hill Cemetery, Boston, Suffolk co., MA. On 8 July 1697 when Daniel was 25, he married Mary MAYER. |
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8. | vii. | Sarah BERRY | Sarah was born circa 1674. Sarah died in Lynn, Essex co., MA circa 13 December 1752; she was 78[2]. On 29 November 1700 when Sarah was 26, she married Thomas STOCKER, in Lynn, Essex co., MA[2,55]. |
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9. | viii. | Ephriam BERRY | Ephriam was born circa 1675/6[11]. We know this from a 1691 deposition in which Ephriam gave his age as being "14 years and upward". It is assumed that Ephriam died before 8 November 1720, as he was not named in his father's will.; he was 45[56]. |
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10. | ix. | Athelrid/Ethelred BERRY | Athelrid was born circa 1676 and died before 30 October 1709; she was 33. On 20 December 1695 when she was 19, she married William MERRIAM, in Lynn, Essex co., MA[55]. |
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11. | x. | Rebecca BERRY | Rebecca was born circa 1678 and died on 2 February 1766; she was 88. On 14d:11m:(January):1703/4 when Rebecca was 25, she married William BASSETT III, son of >William BASSETT Jr. & >Sarah HOOD, in Lynn, Essex co., MA[2,57]. He was born in November of 1678 in Lynn, Essex co., MA[58] and died in Lynn, Essex co., MA on 4 March 1762; he was 83[2]. |
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12. | xi. | Abigail BERRY | Please see her own page. |
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13. | xii. | Jerusha BERRY | Jerusha was born circa 1682 and died after 30 June 1733; she was 51. On 13 February 1709/10 when Jerusha was 27, she married Ebenezer MERRIAN/MERRIAM, in Lynn, Essex co., MA[2]. |
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14. | xiii. | Mehitable BERRY | Mehitable was born circa 1684 and died in Lynn, Essex co., MA as "Berry, Mehitable" on 14d:7m:(September):1748; she was 64[44]. Mehitable never married. |
| GENERATION | Great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great (G8) Grandfather |
| FAMILY NUMBER | 2030 |
| SOURCES |
1. Torrey, Charles, New England Marriages Prior to 1700.,
(Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Society).
[Torrey]. 2. Shurtleff, Benjamin, The History of the Town of Revere, (Boston: 1937), [Shurtleff-Revere], 81. 3. New England Historic and Genealogical Register. Vols. 1+, (Boston: New England Historic and Genealogical Register, 1845+), [NEHGR], 68:331,332. 4. Ibid. 68:332-333. 5. Ibid. 139(1985):3. 6. Ibid. 68:336. 7. Records of the Court of Assistants, (Boston 1901), [RCA], 1:345. 8. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686, 9 volumes, (Salem 1911-1975), [EQC], 50:87/2-93. 9. Ibid. 50-90-1. 10. [NEHGR], 68:336-7. 11. Ibid. 68:337. 12. Suffolk County, Massachusetts Probate Records, [SPR], #4042, 21:7, N.S. 11:10-12. 13. [Shurtleff-Revere], 82. 14. [SuffolkProb], 21:98; 22:20,21 N.S. 11:13. 15. Ibid. 22:21, 22-23; N.S. 11:12, 13-15,21 N.S. 11:13. 16. Ibid. 22:21, 22-23; N.S. 11:12, 13-15. 17. [NEHGR], 68:332. 18. Ibid. 68:335. 19. Coldham, Peter Wilson, The Complete Book Of Emigrants, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing co., Inc., 1987), [Coldham], 267. 20. [NEHGR], 42(1888):100; 43(1889):274. 21. Ibid. 68:331, citing 9:204. 22. Suffolk Deeds, Volumes 1-14, (Boston, 1880-1906), [SLR], 8:344-345. 23. [NEHGR], 68:333. 24. The Probate Records of Essex County, [EssexProb or EPR], Case #9263. 25. [SLR], 8:420-1. 26. [NEHGR], 6(1852):253,317. 27. [SLR], 8:177-190. 28. Ibid. 12:177-8. 29. Ibid. 20:446-8. 30. [NEHGR], 68:334. 31. [SLR], 8:109-110. 32. Ibid. 29:44. 33. Ibid. 21:287-288. 34. A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, (Boston:1878), [BRC], 1(1881):76; query whether the "n" in "Upbarron" is a misread "w". 35. Ibid. 1(1881):132,145,159. 36. Ibid. 1(1881):142. 37. Essex co., MA Deeds, [EssexDeeds or ELR], 28:28. 38. Ibid. 31:170. 0. [NEHGR], 68:339. 40. Ibid. 9:204. 41. Flagg, Ernest, Genealogical Notes on the Founding of New England, (Hartford: Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1926), [FlaggAnc], 178,213. 42. Pope, Charles Henry, The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660, (Boston: C.H. Pope, 1908), [PopesPioneersofMEandNH], 49. 43. The Essex Antiquarian, (13 vols.)(n.p., 1897-1909), [EssexAnt], 8:102,103. 44. Lynn, Essex co., MA Vital Records, [LynnVR], II:427 [P.R. 5]. 45. Boston, Suffolk co., MA Vital Records. [BostonVR or BVR], Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699 Document 130, Volume 9, page 95. 46. [BRC], 9(1883):192. 47. [BostonVR or BVR], Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699 Document 130, Volume 9, page 104. 48. Ibid. "Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699" Document 130, Volume 9, page 107. 49. Waters, Henry F., The Newhall Family, (Salem: Essex Institute, 1882; repr., Rutland, VT: Tuttle Antiquarian Books), [Newhall(1882)], 18. 50. [LynnVR], I:200 [Ct. R.]. 51. Page, Lucius R., List of Freemen of MA, 1630-1691., [Page-Freemen], III:10-12. 52. [BostonVR or BVR], Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699 Document 130, Volume 9, page 114. 53. [LynnVR], II:427 [P.R. 5]. 54. [EssexAnt], 8(1904):102. 55. [LynnVR], II:43. 56. [NEHGR], 68:338. 57. [LynnVR], II:44 [C.R. 1]. 58. Ibid. 1:44. 59. ??????, "First Book of Intentions of Marriage in the City of Lynn", Essex Institute Historical Collections, vol. 1+, [EIHC-LynnInt], 16:71ff. 60. [LynnVR], II:39 [C.R. 1] and II:43 [C.R. 1]. 61. Ibid. I:45. 62. Ibid. II:425 [P.R. 5]. 63. Ibid. II:62.
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Return to the Berry (MA) Index page. |
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