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

that he called at Mr. Wm. Berry's about the middle of June last and about ten days before his death. When this Deponent got to the house, he saw one of the young Mr. Berrys &. . . asked if Mr. Berry was at home. He told him, Yes, but he was unwell. Deponent asked him if he was in bed. He answered, He was on the bed and unwell, and Deponent asked if he was so unwell that he could not be spoke with. The Deponent gave him his name & desired to speak with Mr. Wm. Berry. He left him at the door and went into the room. He returned & told Deponent Mr. Wm. Berry would be out presently. He accordingly soon came out. Dept. asked Mr. Wm. Berry how he did, & he said,” Very poorly.” Deponent asked him what had been the matter with him, & he said he had been unwell for some time, & seemed very unwell. Deponent told Mr. Berry his business. He said it was very well and asked him if he would drink something. Deponent said he would drink a little toddy. It was late in the evening, not long before sundown. They had a little bowl made, & they both sat down together.

They had sit but a little while and had a drink or two when the Deponent looked around and saw the little boy (Wm. Berry Warman, mentioned in the will), and Dept. said to Wm. Berry, “Billy, who is this?” Says he,” That['s] my son.” Said Dept.,”Who, Warman?” Says he,”Yes.” Dept. asked what was his name. “Wm. Berry,” answered Capt. William Berry . . . “he is christened Wm. Berry and will never go by any other name.” Dept. asked him how long he had been there, & Capt. Wm. Berry said, “about 5, 6, or 7 months,” and that he had been to school or was going to school, he does not know which, and that he would make a very clever fellow of him. Dept. told Mr. Berry he thought he ought to do something clever for him. He said that he had left him all his estate. Dept. said, “All your estate, Mr. Berry.” He said,”Almost all. I have made my will. Boyd had wrote it.” Dept. then

Source: Prince George’s County Register of Wills (Orphans’ Court Proceedings) 1777-1790, f. 109, MSA C 1275-1