By Muriel Bristol | September 13, 2026
William Berry was born in Greenland, NH, circa January 1755, son of Francis and Comfort (Neal) Berry).
William Berry married, circa 1775, Elizabeth Wiggin. She was born circa 1759.
(The known children of William and Elizabeth (Wiggin) Berry were: James F. Berry (1777-) and Joseph Berry (1778-1855)).
Son James F. Berry was born in 1777. Son Joseph Berry was born in 1778.
Father Francis Berry of Greenland, NH, made his last will July 14, 1786. He specified that “she,” i.e., his widow, Comfort (Neal) Berry, was to have “only her legal Dower in my Estate.” His daughter, Ann Ayers, was to have a cow or so much money as necessary to purchase one, apart from what she had received already. His daughter, Comfort Ayers, was to have furniture for housekeeping equal to what her sister, Ann Ayers, has already had, as well as a cow or the purchase price of a cow. His daughter, Elizabeth Berry, was to have comfortable support while she remains single and, should she marry, she was to have necessary housekeeping articles and a cow.
His son, Samuel Berry,
… not being so capable of managing for himself, shall have a necessary support – food, clothing, lodging, & in case of sickness, physick and necessary attendance suitable to his condition, provided for him out of the income of my Estate, during his natural life.
All the rest of his estate, both real or personal, and whether in Greenland, Wakefield, or elsewhere, he bequeathed equally to his three sons, William, Francis, and James Berry, whom he appointed as joint executors. Rev. Samuel McClintock, Job Chapman, and James Ayers signed as witnesses. His will was proved in a Rockingham Probate Court, December 20, 1786 (Rockingham County Probate, Case 5227).
William Berry would seem to have settled in Rochester’s Northeast Parish, i.e., the Milton Branch and Milton Mills part of what would become Milton, before 1790.
It does not appear that any settlement was made east of the West Branch river prior to about 1785 or 1786, and among the earlier settlers there may be named among others Reuben Jones, Paul Jewett, Amos Witham, the Berrys, the Millers, Ephraim Twombly, Paul Wentworth, Caleb Wingate, David Coursan, John McDuffee, and soon after Hatwell Nutter, Thomas Applebee, William Applebee, John Hart, John Remick, Jr., Jonathan Dearborn, Joseph Dearborn, and many others.
Wm Berry headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, at the time of the Second (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], and two females [Elizabeth (Wiggin) Berry]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Berry and Amos Whitehouse. (See Northeast Parish in the First (1790) Federal Census).
William Berry headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Elizabeth (Wiggin) Berry], one male aged 16-25 years, and one male aged under-10 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
William Berry and his sons, James Berry and Joseph Berry, signed the Rochester Division Petition of May 1802. (See Rochester Division Petition – May 1802).
Son James F. Berry married, circa 1802, Betsey Pollard. She was born in Shapleigh, ME, in 1776.
Son Joseph Berry married (1st) in Rochester, NH, April 22 1802, Mary “Polly” Berjin [Bergin], both of Rochester, NH. Rev. Joseph Haven performed the ceremony. She was born in the Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, May 28, 1778, daughter of John and Abigail (Berry) Bergin (Lancaster, NH, Vital Records).
Will Berry and his sons, James Berry and Joseph Berry, were assessed in Paul Jewett, Esq.’s School District No. 3, in December 1806. (See Milton School Districts – 1806).
William Berry and his sons, James Berry and Joseph Berry, were among the thirty-five Strafford County inhabitants that petitioned the NH Governor and Executive Council, January 2, 1810, to have Maj. Andrew Wentworth of Somersworth, NH, appointed as Strafford County Sheriff. (See Strafford County Sheriff Petition – January 2, 1810).
Wm Berry headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Elizabeth (Wiggin) Berry], one female aged 10-15 years, and one male aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Bery [Berry] and Isaac Brackett. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
James Berry headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years, one male aged 10-15 years, one male aged under-10 years, and four females aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Francis Berry and Joseph Bery [Berry]. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Joseph Bery [Berry] headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years, one female aged 26-44 years, one male 16-25 years, one female aged 10-15 years, two males aged under-10 years, one female aged under-10 years, and one female aged 45-plus years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Berry and William Berry. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Daughter-in-law Mary (Bergin) Berry died in Milton, March 19, 1813.
Son Joseph Berry married (2nd) in Lebanon, ME, December 1, 1814, Abigail “Nabby” Fall. She was born in Lebanon, ME, July 9, 1786, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary (McCrellis) Fall.
Wm Berry headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 70-79 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years [Elizabeth (Wiggin) Berry], one male aged 20-29 years, and one female aged 20-29 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joanna Tuck and Elizabeth Berry. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Elizabeth [(Pollard)] Berry headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 50-59 years [herself], one female aged 20-29 years, and one male aged 10-14 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Elizabeth Berry and Joseph Berry. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Joseph Berry headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Abigail (Fall) Berry], one female aged 30-39 years, one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 20-29 years, two males aged 10-14 years, one female aged 10-14 years, one female aged 5-9 years, one female aged under-5 years, and one female aged 80-89 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Elizabeth Berry and Simeon Wiggin. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Widow Betsey [(Pollard)] Berry as well as Francis Berry, Eliza G. [(Jewett)] Berry, Betsey Berry, and Sarah Berry, were all founding members of the Acton & Milton Mills Free-Will Baptist Church in October 1834.
William Berry headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 80-89 years [himself], and one female aged 80-89 years [Elizabeth (Wiggin) Berry]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Hussy and Jonathan Berry.
Jonathan Berry headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 20-29 years, one female aged 30-39 years, and one female aged 60-69 years [Betsey (Pollard) Berry]. One member of his household was engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of William Berry and Jonathan Berry, Jr.
Joseph Berry headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years [Abigail (Fall) Berry], one female aged 20-29 years, one female aged 15-19 years, two males aged 15-10 years, one male aged 5-9 years. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Berry and Simeon Wiggin.
Elizabeth (Wiggin) Berry died in Milton, July 16, 1841.
Died. In Milton, Mrs. Elizabeth Berry, wife of Mr. William Berry, aged 82 (Dover Enquirer, October 19, 1841).
Daughter-in-law Abigail (Fall) Berry died in Milton, June 18, 1846.
William Berry died in Milton, October 8, 1846, aged ninety-one years, nine months.
DEATHS. In Milton, Oct. 8th, Mr. William Berry, aged 91 years and 9 months (Dover Enquirer, November 24, 1846).
Son Joseph Berry married (3rd) in Wakefield, NH, December 31, 1846, Nancy (Hanson) Witham, both of Milton. Rev. Joseph Spinney performed the ceremony.
Jonathan Berry, a farmer, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Betsey [(Pollard)] Berry, aged seventy-four years (b. NH). Jonathan Berry had real estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Berry, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and Joseph Berry, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. NH).
Joseph Berry, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Nancy [((Hanson) Witham)] Berry, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), Charles Berry, a farmer, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and William Berry, a farmer, aged forty-seven years (b. NH). Joseph Berry had real estate valued at $2,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jonathan Berry, a farmer, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and Thomas L. Pickering, a carpenter, aged thirty-one years (b. NH).
Son Joseph Berry died in Milton, August 24, 1855.
Betsey [(Pollard)] Berry, aged eighty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. Her household included Salley Berry, aged five years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jona Berry, a farmer, aged forty-two years (b. NH), and Thomas L. Pickering, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH).
Daughter [-in-law] Betsey [(Pollard)] Berry died of dysentery in Milton, August 23, 1864, aged eighty-seven years, eleven months.
References:
Find a Grave. (2018, October 13). Joseph Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/193945977/joseph-berry
Milton Observer 