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

that the evening before the will was made about three o'clock in the day, this Deponent found Captain William Berry in bed and asked him how he did. He told this Deponent, "Poorly," but he was going to get up again & desired him to sit down upon the bedside where he was laying, for he was at a great loss for company, and therefore the Deponent should not leave there that night. Upon which the Deponent consented to stay.

The Deponent sat by the bed conversing with him until sunset. Wm Berry grew very unwell & was taken with a puking & continued to grow more unwell until, the Deponent believes, about ten o'clock that night. Capt. Berry desired his nephew Jere. Berry, about the hour of eight, to go for some one of his brothers - Deponent thinks his brother Benny - and if he was not at home, to call on Thos O. Williams. The messenger returned about half an hour after nine and said he had called on them both or spoke to them both, and they said they could not ride out that night. The messenger, Jere. Berry, and this Dep't sat with him till twelve or one o'clock that night. Capt. Berry found himself getting much better and desired that Jere. Berry & the Deponent might go to bed. Upon which they all went to bed, and all rested very peacefully till morning as far as this Deponent knows.

Source: Prince George’s County Register of Wills (Orphans’ Court Proceedings) 1777-1790, f. 112, MSA C 1275-1