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

He was in company with Mr. Berry at the time of his making the said last will . . . about two or three hours. . . . the idea of his being out of his senses never entered the Deponent’s mind. From his whole behavior and conversation he appeared to be a reasonable man and to have his senses . . . [and to be] capable of making a testamentary disposition of his affairs. . . .he had been two or three times with William Berry when he had been reduced by the effects of liquor to the same situation he was in when he last saw him. . . Mr. Berry’s languor and debility in his last illness . . . he believed . . .to be the effect of drink . . . he had before known Mr. Berry after a course of intoxication to recover as perfect a state of health as ever. . . he never visited Mr. Berry after the time before mentioned. [Yes,] Mr. Berry had . . . sent for the Deponent as a physician [at times when he had not been drinking], but thinks it had not been done at any time within a twelvemonth before his death but within a much less time than two years. Being asked if at the last time he was with Mr. Berry when the will was executed . . . he had seen him read or peruse the will, answers he did not, nor was there any converation respecting its contents. . . . Being asked if any other persons were present besides those already named when the will was executed, answers that he thinks [only] Thomas Owen Williams, brother-in-law to the Deceased . . . .

Being asked if Mr. Berry . . . before the will was executed drank anything besides the grog & volatile drops . . .answers that he might have drank of the toddy as it went round, but is not certain, that if he did drink, he drank sparingly & the toddy was not strong, and he believes that he was as capable of doing business . . . as he ever was in his life. . . . there was a small bowl or tumbler full [of toddy] drank, but whether it was filled a second time, he does not recollect. Mr. Priggs had some liquor mixed for himself, and this deponent believes, drank none of the toddy. . . . he thinks Mr. Berry was sober at the time of executing the will. . . .[Yes,] he believes he might wish the world not to know he drank as hard as he did. . . .[Yes,] he had seen Mr. Berry when he was perfectly sober and free from the effects of liquor . . . and when he had congratulated him on his appearance and asked him if had left off drinking, he answered that upon his honour he had . . . .

Source: Prince George’s County Register of Wills (Orphans’ Court Proceedings) 1777-1790, f. 95, MSA C 1275-1