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


The deposition of Archibald Boyd, Attorney at Law, cont'd

believes it was last winter. The first time he thinks he recollects seeing him there was when he, the Deponent, paid a visit to Captn Berry last winter, after the breaking up of the ice, when he recollects Wm Berry informed him of a quarrel he had the day before with the tailor who made a suit of clothes for said Wm. B. Warman upon his threatening to warrant him for the money. . . .

Was William Berry, when in a course of drinking, easily imposed upon by those who might wish to take advantage of him in making bargains? Answers, he was not, he believes. Did you ever know of his being imposed on or of his making an imprudent contract when in that situation? Answers, “I do not recollect being present at any bargain made by Captain Berry when in that way, tho’ I have heard him boast of making good bargains when drinking, but I have also heard him again & again say that he never should get out of debt with a certain John Mahue, who kept a tippling house in his neighbourhood, because John could not write himself & kept all the charges he had to make against him in his head until he found Capt. Berry sufficiently drunk for his purpose and then handed him his book and made him make the

Source: Prince George’s County Register of Wills (Orphans’ Court Proceedings) 1777-1790, f. 106, MSA C 1275-1

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© Maryland State Archives, 2000