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

. . . in the same manner. . . .

Some little time afterward Mr. Berry called the Deponent to him and told him he felt so exceedingly relieved by the drops that he begged for God’s sake the Deponent would put them away in some secure place, for that damned creature Boyd would swallow them all. Some time afterward the Deceased had his cloaths brought to him, which he put on, and came out into the other room . . . joined the conversation, and appeared to be as cheerful and conversible as any present. He told Mr. John Frederick Augustus Priggs and the Deponent that he had some good cheese in the house and asked if they would eat some, which they agreed to & the cheese and biscuit were produced. The Deceased gave order to have some toddy made.

Sometime afterward the Deponent made a motion to leave the house. Mr. Berry observing it begged he would stay a little longer, for he had some business for him to do. He then produced an instrument of writing which the Deponent believes to be the writing now exhibited as the will of William Berry. He jokingly observed to Mr. Berry (before he knew the contents . . .) he did not suppose it to be his will as he believed there was no danger of him that bout. Mr. Berry observed it might be so but that it was always best to be prepared, said it was his will and that he wanted the Deponent to be a witness to it. Mr. Berry sat down to his desk, signed and sealed the will in the presence of Mr. Archibald Boyd, Mr. J. F. A. Priggs, and the Deponent. After which Mr. Boyd took up the will and desired Mr. Berry to say that he published and declared it as his last will and testament & that he delivered it for the purposes therein mentioned. Mr. Priggs observed upon this that that was not the usual form in which he had seen wills executed but observed that the following was the form: that he published and declared it to be his last will and testament and desired the witnesses to witness the same. Upon which Mr. Berry took the will up and repeated the words made use of by Mr. Priggs; that is to say, I acknowledge this to be my hand and seal and publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, or words to that effect, and call upon you to witness the same, and immediately afterwards requested the Deponent to subscribe it as a witness, which he did, and Mr. Boyd, Mr. Priggs, and Mr. Thomas Marshall then also subscribed it in the presence of the Deponent and the Deceased.

. . . . Being asked how long he has been acquainted with the late William Berry deceased, answers about fourteen years . . . [and] has attended . . . [him] as a physician for eight or nine years or thereabouts. Being asked how far the said Wm Berry lived from Bladensburg, the place of residence of this Deponent, answers, About five or six miles . . .

Source: Prince George’s County Register of Wills (Orphans’ Court Proceedings) 1777-1790, f. 93, MSA C 1275-1