Captain Berry's Will
Debauchery, Miscegenation, & Family Strife
Among 18th Century Gentry

Being asked if he had ever any conversation with Mr. Berry respecting his brothers . . . answers that he had advised Mr. W. Berry, in order to break off his habit of drinking to break up housekeeping and to live with some one of his brothers. He told him . . . that he could not think of such a thing, for they had used or treated him ill. The Deponent asked him in what respect, for that they had always appeared to the Deponent, when in company with them, to have behaved to him with brotherly affection. He told the Deponent that he did not know them, that he was convinced they had no regard for him, that they had often neglected him when he thought himself at the point of death, and tho’ he had repeatedly sent for them, they had refused to come. The Deponent observed to Mr. William Berry that it could not have proceeded from want of affection but that it might be disagreeable to them to see him in his drunken fits, and that altho’ they might have animadverted, perhaps with too much severity, upon his conduct, so as to have hurt his feelings at the time, yet he could not suppose that they were wanting in regard for him. He told the Deponent that it did not signify, he would not live with any of them, and that it was his determination, as soon as he could settle his affairs, to take a trip to London. The Deponent told him he agreed with him, that he thought his scheme right, that he had property to justify it and no family to leave behind him, that by that means he would break off his disagreeable connections, & that it would probably make a new man of him. . . . The Deponent cannot be positive as to the time this conversation happened but thinks it was some time last fall and after Mr. Berry had been in a course of drinking, that by breaking off connections was not meant . . . breaking off his connections with his relations but with those who frequented his house and led him into his habits of drinking.

The Deponent further saith that at the time the will aforesaid was executed no other or forecidient will was cancelled to his knowledge, nor did he hear anything about one. . . . [Yes,] he himself was perfectly sober at the time aforesaid. . . he was not much acquainted with Mr. Priggs but thinks he was sober also . . . Mr. Boyd appeared to be a little muddled . . .he had seen him much more in liquor than he was at that time . . . Mr. Marshall appeared to be sober at the time.

Being asked how long Mr. Berry lived after the execution of the will aforesaid, answers about four weeks, that he was called on to visit him about the 30th day of June, and he was dead when he arrived.

Being asked at what time he came to Mr. William Berry’s house the day the will was executed, answers, after nine o’clock in the morning, he believes, and went away about noon.

Sworn to in open Court
Test. Saml. Tyler, R. Wills, P.G. County

Source: Prince George’s County Register of Wills (Orphans’ Court Proceedings) 1777-1790, f. 96, MSA C 1275-1