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

After that he got out of his bed and rode about the neighborhood in his sulky, and had got so well that he sent a note to the Deponent to see if he would lend him his seine, that he, Doctor Berry, & Mr. Oakly were going down to the landing to haul the seine in the morning and would be glad to have the Deponent’s company. He returned for answer that he could not go but they were welcome to his seine provided Captain Berry would go with them, for he knew that Captain Berry knew how to use it.

. . . the Deponent went to see Capt. Berry a day or two afterwards, when he found him in bed drunk and was informed by Capt. Berry, upon his enquiring after the fishing, that Mr. Oakly & the doctor had gone but that he was not able to go, because he was drunk or drinking. He believes this to have been in the month of May, and afterward the Deponent never saw him sober until he died. He was either in a state of despair . . . or his spirits were too high by drinking. the Deponent . . . saw him two or three times between the time above mentioned and the making his will & four or five times afterwards before his death. One of which times, whether before or after making the will he does not know, he, the Deponent, wanted to burn all the beds around the house.

. . . he was exceedingly well acquainted with Mr. Berry. Being asked if the deceased was not apt to endeavour to conceal his drinking from strangers, answers that there never was a man that the Deponent was acquainted with that had the art of concealing his intoxication in so great a degree as Capt. Berry. Being asked if he had seen instances of his deceiving people by putting on the appearance of being sober when he was reallly not so, answers that he cannot condescend upon any particular instance; it was so common with him that the Deponent passed it by without notice or observation. Being asked if . . . he remembers that Capt. Berry drank anything besides the drops before spoken of, answers he does not know. Being asked if from his knowledge of Mr. Berry and the state he was in on the day the will was executed, he could be easy or calm or patient, and how long, without strong drink, answers that he thinks he could hardly have supported his existence without drink every quarter or half hour.

Being asked whether, from the affection which Mr. Berry had always shown for his sister and the friendship between them, he thinks he would, if in his sober senses, have been desirous of leaving the bitch to his sister & the puppies to the children, answers, he does not think he would. Being asked if he ever heard Mr. Berry when sober make use of any disrespectful expressions toward his sister and her children, answers, that so far from it, he has repeatedly heard him express a great share of affection for them.

Source: Prince George’s County Register of Wills (Orphans’ Court Proceedings) 1777-1790, f. 101, MSA C 1275-1