By Muriel Bristol | September 10, 2023
James Berry was born in Wakefield, NH, in 1805, son of James F. and Betsy (Pollard) Berry.
James Berry married in Milton, in 1835, Eliza G. Jewett. She was born in Milton, in 1811, daughter of Nathaniel and Nancy J. (Rogers) Jewett.
(The known children of James and Eliza G. (Jewett) Berry were: Mary Augusta Berry (1835–1922), Charles Jewett Berry (1837–1933), Nathaniel J. Berry (1842–1880), Eliza E. Berry (1843–1843), Nellie Clara Berry (1844–1938), and Eliza G. Berry (1848–1850)).
Daughter Mary Augusta Berry was born in Milton, in 1835. Son Charles Jewett Berry was born in Milton, in 1837.
Stephen Watson of Acton, ME, sold 14 of 24 days [58.3%] use of the “Watson privilege” at a sawmill on the Salmon Fall River to James Berry, for $1,000, May 7, 1839 (Strafford County Deeds, 182:143).
Milton sent James Berry to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative, for the 1839-40 biennium. (There was also a Rep. Berry of Greenland, NH).
On Friday, July 5, 1839, Rep. Berry of Milton voted with the 101 representatives [51.3%] that voted in favor of “An act empowering the town of Concord to purchase and hold stock in the Concord Rail Road Corporation.” Another 96 representatives [48.7%] voted against the act.
Rep Berry of Milton voted with the 113 representatives [56.2%] that opposed “an act to abolish imprisonment for debt.” Another 88 representatives [43.8%] voted in favor of abolishing imprisonment for debt.
Rep. Albert Baker of Hillsborough, NH, proposed a set of five Resolutions regarding Slavery and the Slave Trade.
Resolved, That the relation of master and slave, as established by law within the jurisdiction of any of the States, is an institution for which the State, within which it is established, is alone responsible, and with which neither Congress, nor the Legislature of any other State, can rightfully interfere.
Resolved, That the adoption and prosecution of measures by individuals residing within one State, with the avowed design of overthrowing the institutions of another State, by sending emissaries scattering documents, pamphlets or papers, within that State against the declared will of the same, is a disregard of that comity, and mutual respect, which should ever be cultivated among the States.
Resolved, That Congress ought not to interdict the slave-trade between the States, or to abolish slavery within the District of Columbia, or the Territories of the United States.
The first three resolutions passed the NH House on a division (i.e., hand count) vote. The fourth resolution passed also but required a roll call vote. Rep. Berry of Milton voted with the 69 representatives [33.5%] that opposed the fourth resolution, rather than with the 137 representatives [66.5%] that voted in favor of it. (The fourth resolution referred to the then current U.S. Congressional “gag” rule that sought to prevent any petitions regarding slavery ever being heard (see Milton and Abolitionism)).
Resolved, That the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, by which all memorials relating to the abolition of slavery, upon the presentation of the same, were ordered to lie on the table, without any further action thereon, was not an infringement of the right of petition.
The fifth resolution passed on a division vote, as had the first three of them.
Resolved, That the immediate abolition of Slavery, by whatever means effected, without the expatriation of the slaves would be productive of calamities, moral and political, such as should be deprecated by every friend of humanity.
James Berry headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Eliza G. (Jewett) Berry], one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 10-14 years, one female aged 5-9 years [Mary A. Berry], and one male aged under-5 years [Charles J. Berry]. One member of his household was engaged in Commerce and one member was engaged in Agriculture.
Son Nathaniel J. Berry was born in Milton, in 1842. Daughter Eliza E. Berry was born in Milton, in 1843. She died in 1843. Daughter Nellie Clara Berry was born in Milton, in 1844.
Father-in-law Nathaniel Jewett died in Milton, June 2, 1847.
Daughter Eliza G. Berry was born in Milton, in 1848. She died in Milton, in 1850.
James Berry, a trader, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Eliza G. [(Jewett)] Berry, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), Mary A. Berry, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Charles J. Berry, aged thirteen years (b. NH), Nathaniel J. Berry, aged eight years (b. NH), and Clara E. Berry, aged six years (b. NH). James Berry had real estate valued at $8,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Marsh, a shoemaker, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME), and James Parker, a weaver, aged twenty-five years (b. ME).
James Berry, a farmer, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton (Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Eliza G. [(Jewett)] Berry, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), Mary A. Berry, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), Charles Berry, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Nathl. J. Berry, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Clara A. Berry, aged fifteen years (b. NH). James Berry had real estate valued at $5,500, and personal estate valued at $100. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Coleman, a farmer, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH), and Elbridge W. Fox, a farmer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH).
Daughter M. Augusta Berry endorsed the Granite State Health Institute in Hill, NH, in June 1864 (See Milton in the News – 1864)).
James Berry, a farmer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Eliza A. [(Jewett)] Berry, keeping house, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), Mary A. Berry, a milliner, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), Nathaniel J. Berry, a farm laborer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), and Nellie C. Berry, a teacher, aged twenty-six years (b. NH). James Berry had real estate valued at $6,000, and personal estate valued at $815. Mary A. Berry had personal estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Cyrus F. Hart, a farm laborer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), and William S. Monaghan, a carder in woolen mill, aged twenty-seven years (b. MA).
Miss Augusta Berry appeared in the Milton directory of 1871, as a Milton milliner.
Daughter Nellie C. Berry married in Acton, ME, November 19, 1871, Luther B. Roberts, she of Milton and he of Limerick, ME. She was a teacher, aged twenty-seven years, and he was a merchant, aged twenty-seven years. Rev. Dexter Waterman performed the ceremony. Roberts was born in Waterboro, ME, September 13, 1845, son of Jeremiah and Olive Roberts.
Son Nathaniel J. Berry died March 19, 1880, aged thirty-eight years, one month. (The Lord doeth all things well).
James Berry, a farmer, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eliza G. [(Jewett)] Berry, keeping house, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), his daughter, Mary A. Berry, a milliner, aged forty-five years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Nancy [(Rogers)] Jewett, at house, aged ninety-two years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Charles J. Berry, a clerk in store, aged forty-three years (b. NH), and Mary A. Nutter, keeping house, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH).
Luther B. Roberts, a storekeeper, aged thirty-four years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged thirty-six years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Winfield S. Miller, a farmer, aged thirty years (b. ME), and John Lewis, a bookkeeper, aged thirty-seven years (b. England).
Augusta Berry appeared in the Milton directory of 1880, 1881, 1882, 1884, 1887, and 1889, as a Milton Mills milliner. (She appeared also as Miss M.A. Berry, a Milton Mills fancy goods merchant).
Mother-in-law Nancy J. (Rogers) Jewett died in Milton, January 9, 1881, aged ninety-three and ½ years.
Eliza G. (Jewett) Berry died of a heart complaint in Milton December 13, 1882, aged seventy years.
James Berry died of enteritis in Milton, December 5, 1886, aged eighty-one years, six months, and five days.
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. Capt. Berry, an officer of the old State militia, died recently at Milton Mills (Farmington News, December 17, 1886).
Luther B. Roberts, an insurance agent, aged fifty-four years (b. ME), headed a Portland, ME. household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-nine years), Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), his daughter, E. [Eva J.] Roberts, aged eighteen years (b. ME), and his boarder, Clifford Legrow, a cabinet engineer, aged twenty-three years (b. ME). Luther B Roberts rented their house. Nellie C. Roberts was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.
MILTON MILLS. Mrs. L.B. Roberts of Portland is visiting her sister, Miss M. Augusta Berry (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), August 9, 1907).
MILTON MILLS. The woman’s missionary society met Friday afternoon at the home of Miss M. Augusta Berry (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), June 5, 1908).
MILTON MILLS. Miss M. Augusta Berry, who has been quite ill for several weeks, is now much better (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), November 13, 1908).
Luther B. Roberts, a real estate agent, aged sixty-five years (b. ME), headed a Portland, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-eight years), Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), his daughter, Eva J. Roberts, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME), and his lodgers, George Huntress, a paper hanger, aged sixty-nine years (b. ME), and Lura C. Partington, aged seventy-eight years (b. ME). Luther B. Roberts owned their house at 311 Amb. Avenue. Nellie C. Roberts was the mother of two children, of whom one was still living. Lura C. Partington was also the mother of two children, of whom one was still living.
Agusta M. Berry, aged eighty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the tie of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her brother-in-law, Luther B. Roberts, aged seventy-four years (b. ME), and her sister, Nellie C. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged seventy-five years (b. NH). Agusta M. Berry owned their house on Main Street, free-and-clear. Their household appeared between those of Frank H. Whipple, a blacksmith, aged thirty years (b. MA), and Loring W. Pillsbury, a woolen mill carpenter, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME).
Daughter Mary A. Berry died of chronic interstitial nephritis on Main Street in Milton Mills, January 10, 1922 [1923], aged eighty-six years, eight months, and eighteen days. (Gathering Home).
Luther B. Roberts, retired, aged eighty-four years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Clara E. [(Berry)] Roberts, aged eighty-seven years (b. NH). Luther B. Roberts owned their house on Main Street, which was valued at $2,000. They did not have a radio set. Their household appeared between those of Fred H. Simes, a woolen mill superintendent, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), and Mary E. Clark, a private family housewife, aged fifty-nine years (b. NY).
Son Charles J. Berry died in Portland, ME, March 17, 1933.
Son-in-law Luther B. Roberts died in Milton Mills, August 5, 1933, aged eighty-seven years.
Daughter Clara Ellen “Nellie” (Berry) Roberts died of broncho-pneumonia in Milton Mills, August 23, 1938, aged ninety-four years, four months, and twenty-one years. She was a lifelong resident, except for forty years. P.A. Kimball, M.D. signed the death certificate.
References:
Find a Grave. (2018, April 26). Charles Jewett Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/189182567/charles-jewett-berry
Find a Grave. (2021, March 3). Eliza E. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/223823002/eliza-e-berry
Find a Grave. (2021, March 3). Eliza G. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/223823054/eliza-g-berry
Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). James Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115349770/james-berry
Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). Mary A. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115349918/mary-a-berry
Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). Nathaniel J. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115349977/nathaniel-j-berry
Find a Grave. (2013, August 16). Nellie Clara Berry Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115578580/nellie-clara-roberts
NH General Court. (1839). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=cyswAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA146
Milton Observer 