Samuel Berry 1691-1741 and Rebecca Gray (ca 1691), of Yarmouth and Harwich, Massachusetts

 

Samuel Berry was born November 1691 at Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Bell) Berry. His birth is recorded in Yarmouth Vital Records, as son of Samuell and Elesa(worn) “Beery.” When Samuel was a young boy, his family moved to Harwich where they were among the first white settlers. They lived on the north side of Herring River in North Harwich. I wrote about Samuel and Elizabeth here.

Herring River, N. Harwich

Samuel married Rebecca Gray on 16 October 1712 at Harwich. They lived in the Harwich house where Samuel grew up, according to Josiah Paine.

Rebecca was born Harwich about 1691, the daughter of William and Rebecca (Dillingham) Gray.  Her birth isn’t recorded, but her parentage is shown in her father’s 22 May 1723 will which names her as Rebecca, wife of Samuel Berry. I haven’t seen the will myself. Samuel and Rebecca are my 7^th great-grandparents on my grandmother Milly (Booth) Rollins’ side of the family.

Rebecca and Samuel had just one known child, which was unusual at the time. Their daughter, Thankful Berry, married, first, Rev. Richard Chase and, second, John Chase. I wrote about Thankful and Richard here.

I have read that Rebecca Gray Berry died before 12 August 1721, but without a source. Paine has Samuel’s death as 1741 at Harwich, but again not sourced.  

As you can see, I have found very little information on this couple, mostly because of scarce records in the early days of Harwich. I’d love to hear from anyone who has more information.

Sources:

 Josiah Paine, History of Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, 1620-1800, 1937

 CW Swift, The Yarmouth Family of Gray, Cape Cod Library of History and Genealogy, No 58, 1913

 

Oliver Kelley (1795-1883) and Priscilla Chase (1796-1882), Harwich, Mass.

My 4th great-grandfather Oliver Kelley was born in Harwich, Mass., on New Year’s Eve--31 December-- 1795, the son of Patrick Kelley and Dorcas Chase.  I wrote about Patrick and Dorcas here.

Oliver’s childhood in the large Kelley household (he had 10 siblings) would have centered around the sea as his father was a shipbuilder and many family members were mariners. His father was an astute businessman as he also became part owner of a grist mill, a carding mill and a cotton and woolen factory.  Growing up in his North Harwich neighborhood, Oliver was surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins with the family even having its own cemetery.

Possibly Oliver's home in Harwich

At age 19, Oliver married Priscilla Chase in September 1815 at Brewster.  Note: His probate information states they were married 6 September but their marriage intentions were published on 8 September.

Brewster Vital Records: The intentions of marriage between Mr Oliver Kelley of Harwich and Miss Prissilla Chase of Brewster are here entered this 8th day of September A.D. 1815 and made public the Sabbath following. Joseph Smith T. Clerk

Priscilla was born Brewster 28 November 1796, the daughter of Richard Chase and Priscilla Snow. 

Oliver and Priscilla had 10 children, born Harwich:

1. Stillman, b. 16 February 1816, m. Olive Howes Sears and lived in East Dennis where he died in June 1894. He operated a packet business between Dennis and Boston and later owned a store and a fishing business.

2. Oliver, b. 17 October 1817, m. Angeline Baker, died 22 March 1878. He was a master mariner. I wrote about Angeline’s tragic death here.

3. Lorenzo born 09 January 1820, married Fanny Small (one of my favorite names ever!) and died 31 January 1895 in East Bridgewater, Mass.  He was a mariner.

4. Priscilla born 16 December 1822, married Zebina Doane, died 1896 in Somerville, Mass.

5. Richard born 11 August 1824, died before December 1840.

6. Valentine born 14 November 1828, married Rosana Eldridge, moved to Dennis Port and died there 18 March 1911. Valentine and Rosana are my 3^rd great-grandparents and I wrote about them here.

7. Francis born 06 November 1830, married Betsey Howes and moved to Dennis where he died 09 March 1876. He was a mariner.

8. Mary Ann born 17 February 1834, married Anthony Megathlin, died 17 June 1915. Anthony was a sea captain and served as a Naval Officer during the Civil War, acting as master of the Winnebago and the Flambeau.

9. Rebecca, born in 1836, died in 1836, age 4 weeks.

10. Richard born 8 Dec 1840, died 05 January 1841.

In the 1850 Census Oliver, a farmer, is 44 (sic: should be 55) living in Harwich with his wife Priscilla, 53, sons Valentine and Francis (both mariners) and daughter Mary Ann.

In the 1870 census his is a 74 year old house carpenter, living with wife Priscilla in Harwich, next door to their son Oliver.

In the 1880 Census his is 84 years old living in Harwich with his wife Priscilla, 83, and their servant Elisabeth Long age 56. The family must have been comfortable financially as it was not very common for Cape families to have servants at that time. Oliver and Priscilla’s daughter Mary Ann Megathlin is living next door with her family.

In an 1880 map of Harwich, Oliver's house (as O. Kelly) is shown near Sand Pond, not far from railroad tracks, and near A. Megathlin, his son-in-law.

Priscilla died in Harwich on 13 July 1882, age 85, of old age.

Barnstable Patriot, 24 July 1882, page 3, Deaths: In Harwich, 13th inst. (current month), Mrs. Priscilla, wife of Oliver Kelley, aged 85 years, 7 months, 15 days.

Oliver died on Christmas Day, 25 December 1883, in Harwich.

Barnstable Patriot, 15 Jan 1884, page 1, Harwich: Mr. Oliver Kelley, the oldest man in town, died the 25th ult. (previous month), very suddenly, aged 87 years, 11 months.

Priscilla and Oliver are buried side-by-side at the Kelley Cemetery in North Harwich. They have identical marble stones, with raised decoration and an engraved "K" on top.

Oliver Kelley's gravestone

Priscilla Kelley gravestone

Barnstable Co. Probate, Oliver Kelley of Harwich, son of Patrick Kelley and Dorcas Chase, born 31 December  1795 Harwich, m. 6 Sept. 1815 Priscilla Chase in Brewster, d. 25 Dec 1883, Harwich,  Case No. 8524, 1884. Spelling mistakes and "ditto" marks as written in records.

Next of kin:

 Stillman Kelley of Dennis, son.

Oliver Kelley of Rhode Island, son.

 Priscilla S. Doane, wife of Zebina S. Doanne of Somerville.

 Mary Magathlin wife of Anthony of Harwich, daughter.

Lorenzo Kelley, Dennis.

Ella Chase, wife of Isaiah Chase, Brockton.

Emma Kelley, husband unknown, Brockton

Mary Kelley, Brockton

Grandchildren and children of Valentine Kelley, deceased (referring to Ella, Emma, Mary)

Francis H. and May H. Chase children of Francis H. Kelley deceased

___ was son of Oliver deceased, the eldest son of said deceased.

Dated 12 Feb 1884.

Appointment of Stillman as admin of estate late of Harwich, admin. bond 12 Feb 1884.

Inventory:

In the Town of Harwich

Brush land near flax pond                                            9.00

Woodland called Abner Hall piece                            56.00

do called Leindry(?) Nickerson "                                38.00

do Elijah Nickerson "                                       20.00

" Squaw Road "                                                 50.00

" Tipper Bass "                                                   200.00

Cedar Swamp called Dry Brook "                               60.00

" near O.C.R. Road East Lot                                          14.00

"  "  "                        West Lot                                            20.00

Cranberry land North of O.C.R. Road                       100.00

___ land near Marshall Kelley                    21.00

Meadow called Tuttle point piece                            5.00

"              "   Nickerson Island piece                              5.00

Piece land called School House lot                            8.00

Homestead with dwelling house and ___ all other

                building thereon                                              266.00

Land south of homestead with dwelling

                house and all buildings thereon

                occupied by A. Megathlin                             150.00

Cleared land with dwelling and ___

                barn thereon occupied by

                Lorenzo Killey                                    110.00

                                                                                1,132.00

Personal estate

In parlor desk 3.00 clothing in desk 4.50

                clock & looking glass 1.75                              9.25

" Bedstead 50, 7 chairs 1.25 table & cover 1.17

                dishes 2.00                                          4.92

" ___ and mats 1.000 Bedstead.50 clothing 1       2.50

Front bedroom bed & bedding 10 bureau &

                clothing inside 5.00                                          15.00

" 4 chairs & stand 1 __ 1.25 dishes 1.50

                knives & forks .50                                            4.25

Kitchen Desk 1.75, settee 1.00 Books 1.00

                5 chairs .75                                          4.50

2 tables 75 __ & mats .50 bedstead & under bed

                .75                                                          2.00

Sundries in closet .25 Box s__ings1.00 looking

                glass. .50                                              1.75

Pantry crockery 1.50 book room 1 large chest

                & clothing 10.00                                                11.50

Book room table & cloth 50 store 2 5 chairs 50

                lamp 50                                                                3.50

" Sundries in closet 50 looking glass & pail

                50 crockery 2                                      3.00

At Magathlins House 2 featherbeds 7, 4 pillows

150 bolster .60                                                   9.10

" 4 quilts 1.90 Blankets sheets shirts &

                pillowcases 3.33                                                5.23

Cash deposited in CC. Fire ___ Bank Harwich      114.84

Farm & carpenter tools 3, 2 wagons 2                     5.00

contents of woodhouse 1.50 contents of corn

                house 2.50                                          4.00

Contents of store 10.00 2 stores 3                            13.00

Boxes and sundry articles in store chamber         2.00

Boxes chests and sundry articles in house

                chamber                                                              3.00

Chest & clothing 5 bed & bedstead 4                       9.00

Chest & beding 3 2 boxes & contents & 2 chairs1               4.00

Bedstead & bed stead & chairs                  1.00

2 boxes & contents 75 womens clothing 1            1.70

1 trunk and clothing                                                        5.00

                                                                                239.00

Patrick Kelley 1753-1834, Harwich, Mass.

  

Patrick Kelley was born in 1753, probably in Harwich, Mass., one of the six sons of Patrick Kelley and Bethiah Baker. His name is also spelled Killey and O’Killey in records.

On 23 January 1777 Patrick married Dorcas Chase, the daughter of Sylvanus and Charity Chase. Dorcas was born in Harwich 13 November 1757. The couple settled on the Penney farm, which he purchased from Isaac Weekes in 1788. The house which he built and in which he resided until his death is now occupied (1890) by his son Marshall Kelley, standing northwesterly from the Harwich railroad station and is one of the oldest houses in town.

The pre-1925 photo below is of my great-great grandparents, David Howes Kelley and Mary Ann Kelley, standing in front of the old family homestead in Harwich. On the back is written "grandfather Kelley's house in Harwich," which would mean Patrick's grandson Oliver, so perhaps it had been Patrick's in his lifetime. Years back I contacted the Harwich Historical Society to see if they had information on Patrick's house, but they did not. I would guess it is no longer standing, but would love to know the exact location. 

Patrick and Dorcas had 11 children born Harwich (information is a work-in-progress):

--Oliver b. 31 December 1795, married Priscilla Chase and had 10 children

--Henry b. 08 July 1777, married Temperance Baker and Lucinda Swift

--Huldah b., 01 November 1779, married Watson Baker

--Amos b. 30 January 1782, married Keziah Crowell

--Rosana/Roxana b. 16 December 1783, married Gamaliel Chase

--Sarah/Sally b. 09 January 1786, married Freeman Burgess and moved to Nova Scotia

--Patrick b. 17 February 1788, married Hepsebeth Chase and had 10 children

--Isaiah b. 04 January 1792, married Sally Downs

--Marshall b. 15 April 1798, married 1st Cynthia Clarke and 2nd Eliza Bassett

--Lilly (son) b. 15 November 1793, married Achsah Chase

--Coleman b. 02 January 1801, married Christiana Calhoon

I descend from Oliver and Priscilla.

Patrick Kelley was a shipwright by trade. One vessel he built was the Schooner Dorcas, presumably named after his wife, which was launched in 1817. Some of his sons were mariners, captains and co-owners of vessels. 

Ship Registers, Barnstable Co., 1814-1913, Compiled from original documents stored in the New Bedford Custom House, National Archives Project:

DORCAS, schooner, of Harwich.  Built at Harwich in 1817.  Reg'd 3 May 1821.

Owners:  Henry KILLEY, Patrick KILLEY, Patrick KILLEY Jr., Gamaliel CHASE, Harwich.

Master:  Isaiah KILLEY.

Gamaliel was likely Patrick’s son-in-law of that name. Henry, Patrick and Isaiah were Patrick's sons.

Old postcard of the Mouth of Herring River

Vessel building on the river in West Harwich commenced in the early 1800s and continued until 1848.

Patrick was also part-owner of the Harwich and Chatham cotton and woolen factory. In 1824 the factory was erected on the Red River, a small, muddy stream on the southeastern part of Harwich, but was soon removed to North Harwich along the Herring River because of the poor supply of water. Also nearby were the grist mill and the mill for carding wool. Patrick’s father of the same name owned one of the mills and Patrick inherited a quarter share of that.

Patrick died Harwich 28 October 1834 in his 81^st year. He is buried at the Kelley Cemetery in Harwich.

Patrick Kelley's gravestone at Kelley Cemetery in Harwich

Dorcas died Harwich 15 April 1834 in her 77th year. She and Patrick are buried side-by-side with identical gravestones. When I visited in 1999, the stones were in very good condition. They are slate, with weeping willow and urn engravings.

Dorcas Chase Kelley's gravestone, Kelley Cemetery, Harwich

Patrick died intestate, but there are several records at the Barnstable Co. Probate, Case No. 791, dated 1834.

Patrick’s son Henry was named Administrator on 11 November 1834. The estate inventory was dated 15 December 1834. It included his Harwich homestead on four acres worth $350; 8 acre parcel of cleared and woodland and cedar swamp worth $100; 4 acres of brush called Brookes lot worth $20; ½ acre of land at the west side of the factory $10; ¾ acre land called Burgess lot $70; Burges swamp $20; one acre Nickerson meadow $40; 3/8 acre Bridge meadow $32; ¼ of mill and mill privileges in land $150; 1/12 of the Chatham and Harwich woolen and cotton factory $290; one piece of land and swamp adjoining that factory $10. Total $1,042.

Patrick’s personal estate included one-half of the Schooner Dorcas worth $250, three shares of bank stock, cow, hay, desk, tables, stove, spinning wheel and pair looms, bible, silver buttons and gold beads, his and deceased wife’s wearing apparel, notes against Henry and Isaiah Killey, Nehemiah Robbins, David Robbins, 1/13 of a school house. Total value $907.82.

The division of his estate dated 18 March 1835 named his children: Henry Kelley, Patrick Kelley, Isaiah Kelley, Oliver Kelley, Lilly Kelley, Marshal Kelley, Coleman Kelley, Huldah Baker, Rosanna Chase & Sally Burgess. To be divided as soon as able to notify Anthony Kelley, appointed attorney for the said Sally (can't read rest of sentence).  Coleman, Isaiah, Oliver, Marshall, Patrick, Henry, Lilly, Huldah Baker, Rosanna Chase, Sally Burgess each received land and/or shares in the factory.  

Henry Kelley also presented a list of expenses, including purchase of tombstones and digging of graves for a total of $16.83.

Son Amos predeceased his father.

 

Sources not listed above:

Simeon L. Deyo, editor, History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, HW Blake & Co., New York, 1890

Eunice Kelly Randall, David O'Killia the Immigrant of Old Yarmouth, Massachusetts with His Descendants and Allied Families, 1652 to 1962