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

that in the morning of the day on which the will now exhibited was written the Deponent was awakened by a negro who came into the room & informed him that there was a messenger from Captain William Berry, who had sent for him to go and write his will. The Deponent had been drinking hard the over night, was much indisposed and very unwilling to get out of bed, so that he sent word by the negro . . .that he could not possibly go. The negro in a little time returned again and informed him that the messenger bid her tell him that Captain W. Berry [was] uncommonly ill and had dispatched another messenger for a doctor. Upon hearing which, tho’ with the utmost reluctance, he got up and went over with the messenger.

When the Deponent opened Captain Wm Berry’s hall door, he found him laying upon his back on the bed, which he had drawn from its usual place immediately opposite the two hall doors, the windows and doors being all fast. He had his left hand on his forehead; his right hand he held out to the Deponent as he entered. He took hold of the hand of the Deceased & asked him how he did. He told the Deponent he was dying in a very feeble tone of voice. He told the Deceased he hoped not, and on feeling his pulse and observing it was remarkably languid, the Deponent told him he was only a cup too low, & immediately ordered the girl or some person who was in the room to mix some spirit with some tea or coffee & give to him.

Whilst he was drinking, the warm tea or coffee . . . he informed the Deponent he had been puking excessively that morning and was apprehensive it would not stay upon his stomach. He drank it, however. Then, applying his hand to his forehead again, he made use of the following expression: “Oh this head, this head, this is not my head, I wonder whose head this is I have got”- an expression almost constantly in his mouth when in that situation. The Deponent told him that his (meaning the Deponent’s) was a full match for his head. He asked the Deponent if he had been in that way too. He informed him he had & that the only difference between them was that the Deponent had resolution enough to get up & he had not. He answered that it was a pity, that he and the Deponent had as good heads as any in the County if they would only give them a fair chance.

Another cup of tea or coffee mixed as aforesaid was then handed to him . . . which he drank. He then informed the Deponent he had sent for him to write his will. He told the Deceased he was very willing to write his will but but that he (the deponent) must drink something first, for that he could not write his own name at that time, when some sling was ordered. Which whilst he was drinking, he informed the Deponent . . .as nearly as he can recollect in these words: “These brutes won’t come to see me before I die.”. . . The Deponent told him he had sent for them so often to see him die, and they had come and only found him

Source: Prince George’s County Register of Wills (Orphans’ Court Proceedings) 1777-1790, f. 97, MSA C 1275-1