Richard Berry died Sept 1676 Yarmouth (West Dennis)

Richard and Alice Berry

I find ancestors like Richard and Alice Berry quite refreshing after reading the 19^th century accounts of the early Plymouth and Cape settlers. Every man seems to have been a serious, upstanding citizen and their wives nearly invisible. The Berry’s were colorful, to say the least!

Richard was at Barnstable and Boston before settling by 1649 in Yarmouth (now West Dennis) near the mouth of the Bass River (west end of what is now Aunt Julia Ann's street off Cove Rd), where his 11 children by wife Alice were born.

Old Postcard of the Cove, West Dennis

Some of Richard’s transgressions captured in Plymouth Court Records:

--In 1659 Richard Beere of Marshfield, was disenfranchised for being a grossly scandalous and debauched person and having been formerly convicted of filthy, obscene practices.

--Richard and Teague Jones were caught playing cards on the Sabbath.

--Richard Berry accused Teague Jones of committing sodomy and other unclean practices with Sarah, wife of Hugh Norman. However on 6 March 1649/50 Berry acknowledged before the General Court that he had given false witness under oath and he was sentenced to be whipped at the post. Apparently Teague was a forgiving sort, as the men went on living together.

--On 9 June 1653, the court ordered Teag Jones and Richard Berry (or Beere) and others with them to part their uncivil living together. The court was very family oriented and preferred single men to live with families, not as a group of bachelors. Strangely though, Richard’s oldest child was born in 1652, so perhaps he was hanging out with Teague instead of facing his responsibilities at home.

--On 3 June 1668 Zachariah Ryder was complainant against Richard Berry, charging him with stealing an axe.

--Richard went to meeting on the Sabbath days carrying with him his pipe and tinder-horn. One Sabbath, during the "the time of exercise" he and others, instead of listening to the exhortations of the preacher, seated themselves at the end of Yarmouth Meeting House and indulged in smoking tobacco. Can’t you just see the exasperated and shocked looks of the more respectable citizens? For this offense he and his companions were each given a 5 shilling fine at the March court in 1669.

As luck would have it, I’m a direct descendant of Teague Jones as well!

 

From the Mayflower Descendant:

[BERRY—CRISP]

An agreement appointed to bee Recorded

Memorand: That Richard Berry of yarmouth with his wifes Concent; and other frinds; hath given unto Gorge Crispe of Eastham and his; wife theire son Samuell Berry; to bee att the ordering and Disposing of the said Gorge and his wife as if hee were theire owne Child; untill hee shall accomplish the age of twenty one yeares; and in the meane time to provide for the said Samuell in all thinges as theire owne Child; and afterwards if hee live to marry or to goe away from them; to Doe for him as if hee were theire owne Child; furthermore the said Gorge Crisp Doth engage that if God should soe Dispose as to take away either himselfe or his wife: or both before the time expressed : that then neither of them is to Dispose of the said Samuell Contrary to the likeing of his father or mother This both Gorg Crispe and Richard Berry acknowlidged to bee theire Joynt agreement before mee Thomas Prence Govr: Eastham this 19th of January 1660

Sad to see Samuel given away like this. It was a fairly common occurrence at the time to put children out to learn a trade, especially for poor families, but this reads more like an actual adoption. As shown in George Crisp/Crispe's will Richard became "stubborn and rebellious and went away” against George’s protest before his lawful time. In consequence Mr. Crisp ordered the executor to pay Richard the small sum of 12 pence and no more.

Amos Otis describes Alice as a "a thievish woman." On one occasion she helped herself to some articles of clothing from the home of William Pierce and got caught. On another she stole bacon and eggs from the home of Samuel Arnold and got caught again. She also stole a woman’s shift and a piece of pork from Benjamin Hammond.

In June 1665 she was again before Court, this time for milking Thomas Phelp's cow without permission. She was fined 10 shillings, but if fine could not be paid she had to sit for one hour in the stocks on the next training day. I would guess she was humiliated by sitting in the stocks as there is no further record of the fine being paid and it seems unlikely she had the money to pay the fine.

Reproduction of Colonial stocks (source: ehow.com)

No question that Alice was often in trouble with the law, but she was also a desperate, poor woman with a rogue of a husband and many children to feed. I don’t imagine she was a popular woman with her neighbors.

"This is a sufficient specimen of her character, and it is unnecessary to trace it farther," Otis wrote, after outlining a few of her run-ins with the law.

Swift, in his History of Old Yarmouth, writes that each of the Berry children had an exemplary character and sons John and Samuel were useful and esteemed citizens. (See what I’m talking about?!)

Richard was buried at Yarmouth (now West Dennis) on 10 Sept 1676. I haven't found anything on his age at death or where in England he originated. No dates or maiden name are known for Alice.

Otis writes that in his old age Richard lived a better life, was admitted a townsman of Yarmouth and his wife became respectable. They were very poor and having a large family, it was very difficult for them to provide the necessaries of life. They thought it less criminal to steal than to starve. Necessary may palliate dishonest acts, but it cannot justify them. As soon as their children were able to contribute something by labor for the support of the family, no more is heard of the thievish propensities of the Berry's.

I have three lines of descent from Richard and Alice, two through their son Samuel and one through son John. John served in King Philip’s War. He married Susannah (?Crowell) and had five children at Yarmouth (W. Dennis). Samuel married Elizabeth Bell and had six children. He removed to Harwich.

Sources:

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, It's History and People, 1986

Amos Otis, Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families, 1861

Reid, Nancy Thacher, Dennis, Cape Cod from Firstcomers to Newcomers, 1639 – 1993, 1996

Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884

Plymouth Court Records 1686-1859, on CD, NEHGS

The Berry Family of Yarmouth, Library of Cape Cod History & Genealogy, No. 80, CW Swift publisher, Yarmouthport, MA, 1912

David Howes Kelley 1842-1925, West Dennis, MA

David Howes Kelley, my great-great-grandfather, came from a family of mariners, the youngest of eight children of Hiram Kelley and Abagail Howes, grandson of Elihu “The Ferryman” Kelley I wrote about earlier. To see that post, click here.

Mary Ann and David Kelley

 My grandmother, Millie, said David started out as a seaman, but later worked in a variety of jobs, including a house painter. I do wonder if he left the sea because of the seafaring related tragedies in his family or if it had become less lucrative as the golden age of sail ended.

David’s oldest brother Hiram died in the West Indies of Yellow Fever at age 21. His brother Isaac, who was the closest in age to David, died at sea at age 23, leaving a young daughter and a pregnant wife. His nephew Scotto B.N. Kelley (son of Ezra) died at sea at age 31.His brother-in-law was lost at sea in a gale.

Millie was born in the house where David lived and was there at different times in her childhood. He died when she was eight, but she had vivid memories of him and was incredibly fond of him. She respected her grandmother, but said she was quite religious and stern. David was playful, sweet and funny. She was surprised to find he had suffered so many losses in his life as his attitude toward life didn't portray that kind of sadness.

David married first Lucina Doane Ellis at West Dennis 20 December 1864. They had children Roland, Lila and Hiram. Hiram died as an infant, but Roland lived to age 63 and Lila to 84. Lucina died in 1874 at 30 years of age. Roland married Lilla Baker and they raised their four children in Brockton and later moved to Yarmouth. Lila married David Nickerson and they raised their four children in Yarmouth.

Roland Kelley in the 1920s

 He married 2^nd Mary E. Chase on 4 May 1876 at Harwich. They had a daughter, Olive, born at Dennis and who died at age 11.

David married his third wife, Mary Ann Kelley (daughter of Valentine and Rosana (Eldredge) Kelley of Dennisport) in Boston in 1881 and was a mariner there, but he didn’t stay there long as they were in West Dennis in 1883, Brockton in 1884 and 1888, West Dennis in 1890. He was likely in Brockton to find work to adequately support his family. The Kelley Genealogy by Eunice Kelley Randall gives David two wives, understandably getting the two Mary's confused. 

David lived for most of his life and died in the family homestead on Ferry Street in West Dennis that his father built. My great-grandmother Ethel Kelley and grandmother Millie Booth were also born in that house.

The Ferry Street House, West Dennis

There are now other homes between the house and Bass River, but back then they owned the property down to the waterfront and had a fishing shanty on the river. Even after he left the sea, David kept boats and was an avid fisherman. My cousin June Kelley Willard said there is a painting with David’s fishing shanty in the background at what was Bank of Boston in Yarmouth. I wish I went to see it when she told me, as I don’t know the current name of the bank.

David Kelley's Fishing Shanty on Bass River, West Dennis

David and Mary Ann had: Hiram, Charles, Arthur, Ethel (my great-grandmother), Harold, Lester, Robert.

Hiram and Lester died as infants. Robert “Robby” died at age 20 in the 1918 flu pandemic. He contracted the disease when visiting his fiancee in Lowell. He was the youngest in the family and my great-grandmother Ethel adored him. She kept a small program of his grammar school graduation, which I still have.

Robby Kelley

 Charlie married first Annie Thompson and had Edward, Gordon and Nanette. He married 2^nd Ellen Marren. He died at age 69.

Charlie Kelley

Arthur married Susan Gage, they settled at Avon and had nine children. He married 2^nd Mildred Brown and third May ____ and died at age 84.

Arthur Kelley (thank you to James Roscoe for this photo)

Ethel, my great-grandmother, married Wallace Booth of Cowansville Quebec and they had six children, with three dying as infants, but Wallace Cedric, Mildred and Charlotte all lived to old age. Ethel died in Falmouth in 1981, at age 90.

Ethel Kelley Booth with Cedric and Mildred

Harold married Marion Goodspeed and had Harold and Mavis. He died at age 69.

Harry Kelley

Mary Ann Kelley was active in the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints, as were some of her children, including Polly (whom she had by a prior relationship), Ethel, Harold, Charles, and Arthur (who later left the church). David was a member of the church, but doesn’t seem to have been very active, so perhaps joined to appease his wife. 

RLDS Church in Dennisport

  

On 19 August 1925, David died in the West Dennis house where he was born. He was 83 years of age. His death certificate says he died of apoplexy (i.e. a stroke), and that he was a house painter. Millie said he was working up until his death and on the day he died he came home from painting a house next to the West Dennis Cemetery feeling exhausted and went to his room to lie down. When his wife Mary Ann went to check on him he was already gone.

West Dennis Cemetery

I don't think David ever had much financial success, but what a work ethic he possessed to still be performing manual labor at age 83 on a hot summer day.  Although he suffered so much loss in his life, he was well loved by his family and remembered fondly by his granddaughter 70 years after his death.

Mary Ann lived as a widow for many years, dying at age 85 in 1941, in the same West Dennis house.

Mary Ann Kelley in her Ferry Street yard

David was a direct descendant of David O’Kelley (spelled in various ways), the first of the name on Cape Cod in the 17^th century. Because most everyone else was English, he was sometimes referred to as “David the Irishman” in records. David's line to the first David: David Howes Kelley>Hiram Kelley and Abagail Howes>Elihu Kelley and Thankfull (?Baxter)>Eleazer Kelley and Hannah Baker>Eleazer Kelley and Sarah Browning>Jeremiah Kelley and Sarah (?Chase)>David Kelley and Jane Powell.

Josiah Benson 1826-1910, Woodstock VT and Plymouth MA

Josiah Benson was born in Woodstock, Vermont, July 24, 1826, to Isaac and Amelia Benson. Josiah’s grandfather Moses Benson was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts ca 1775 and relocated to Vermont. Moses married Experience Gibbs, also of Middleborough, 15 Jan 1796 (Middleborough VR).

My Benson research is still a work in progress, and I’ve found a good deal of conflicting information. There’s an Experience Gibbs of Sandwich who married a Moses Benson, but since she was born in 1797, she’s clearly a different Experience (NEHGS Register, Thomas 1 Gibbs of Sandwich, MA, July 1969, vol 123).

I believe Moses was the son of Elisha Benson and Sarah Stewart> Ebenezer Benson and Joanna Andrews>John Benson and Elizabeth _____. John was one of the first settlers of Rochester, MA.  

At age 25, Josiah married Aurilla (or Aurilia) West Nye 10 March 1853 at Middleborough, MA. Aurilla was the daughter of William Nye and Nancy Snow of Rochester. They raised their seven children in Plymouth, where Josiah was a mariner. I descend from their daughter Hattie Maria, who married Charles Washburn.

Josiah and Aurilla lived at what is now 119 Sandwich Street, Plymouth, a home known as the Harlow House, now owned by an antiquity society and open to the public.

Harlow House, Plymouth, 2001

"King Philip's War, The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict," by Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias, p. 126: In 1677, after King Philip’s War ended, the Pilgrims’ fort on Burial Hill was abandoned as a defense . Material from the fort was sold to William Harlow for a house now known as the Harlow Old Fort House. Built in 1677, the Harlow House is a working museum that offers a glimpse of colonial life around the time of King Philip's War through daily demonstrations of household arts.

My cousin Jane Weston sent me a copy of a newspaper article from the Plymouth paper with an 1898 picture of the Harlow House:

"Harlow House - 1898. Sgt. William Harlow built this gambrel half-cape at 119 Sandwich St. to accommodate his growing family (15 children by three wives) in 1677. Nearly 50 years before he built his house, the meadow site was part of the common lands of Plymouth, used for cattle grazing. The meadow was known as Alkarmus Field. A cooper by trade, Harlow had obtained his half acre of land on the edge of a little pool at a 1669 town meeting. Harlow was known as a "freeman" or voter of the Plymouth Colony. He was also a selectman and typical of the responsible, sober and hardworking men who carried on the Pilgrim tradition. The weather beaten Cape has officially been called the Harlow Old Fort House since 1951. According to Harlow descendants, the timbers were part of the Pilgrim Fort built above the first street (Leyden). The fort was dismantled at the end of King Philip's War in 1676 when the second generation of Pilgrims believed that attacks from the Indians had come to an end. The small story and a half dwelling contains a tiny hall in which a steep narrow stairway rises abruptly to the bedrooms on the second floor. To the front is the largest room called "the Hall." Here the brick fireplace is large enough to burn huge logs and has an oven built into the back. The furnishings date from the 17th century. The Harlow House, as seen in the A.S. Burbank photo above, was owned by Dr. Edward B. Stephens and his sister, Mrs. Ruth Baker, prior to the Tercentenary. In 1920 the one-year-old Plymouth Antiquarian Society purchased the 17th century dwelling for $3,000. At the time the old oaken frame was covered and protected by this 'modern weather-boarding.'”

Vintage postcard of the Harlow House

 Josiah died in Plymouth 26 Oct 1910 at age 84. Aurilla died 24 March 1905, age 75. They are buried at Chiltonville Cemetery in Plymouth. 

Josiah and Aurella's gravestones, Chiltonville Cemetery, Plymouth

 

Josiah Benson's obituary from the Plymouth Old Colony Memorial: "Josiah Benson, a well known citizen, died at his home, 119 Sandwich Street, on Wednesday, aged 84 years. He was born in Woodstock, VT, a son of Isaac and Amelia Benson, and came here when a young man and for a time was engaged in the Grand Bank fishery. It was related of him that on one voyage while he was fishing he hooked a bag which he raised to the surface of the water only to have its rotten threads break and let the contents, a considerable amount of gold coin, drop back to the ocean bed once more. He secured one of the gold pieces which was of English mintage, and had it at his home for years, and the supposition at the time was that the fishing line had dropped into the wreck of some English trading ship. After leaving the sea he resided at Chiltonville and was watchman at the Hayden Mill until the business was closed up and not long after he removed into town and lived in retirement. He is survived by several children. Funeral services were held yesterday and interment was made in Chiltonville cemetery."

The story about Josiah's loss of the gold coins makes me hope a family member somewhere still has the one piece he salvaged!