Berry Branch: Generations One and Two

The Berry Branch: Generations One and Two

Hugh Michael Berry (possibly Barry) was my great, great grandfather on my mother’s side. Hugh Michael was born 1822, 1823 or 1825 in County Armagh (possibly City Armagh) Northern Ireland where he was a lock tenderer/lock keeper on a canal. In reading about canals in Northern Ireland, I see the Ulster canal passed through County Armagh and near City Armagh. There are several locks and towns along the canal in County Armagh (Moy, Charlemont, Benburb, Milltown, Blackwatertown, Caledon, Tynan and Middletown). City Armagh appears to be about 11 or 12 miles from Caledon and Tynan. Locks 1-12 from Lough Neagh to Middletown are within County Armagh. Is it possible Hugh Michael and his family lived in this area? There is also the Newry canal to consider. Who were Hugh Michael’s and Catherine Ann’s parents, siblings and grandparents?

Hugh Michael married Catherine (possibly Katherine) Ann Cain (Kane, Kaine?) August 25,1842 in County Armagh, Seagoe Parish by the Reverend Laughlin. Catherine was born in 1820 or 1822. Her death certificate in the US lists Henry and Ann Cain as her parents. Hugh Michael and Catherine Cain had two daughters born in Ireland and one son born in the US.

1. Margaret Ann Berry was born in Ireland March 14,1844 and baptized in the Diocese of Dromore, County Armagh, Seagoe Parish April 5, 1844. She immigrated to the US in July 1854 with her mother and younger sister on the “Sea Nymph” from Liverpool England to New York, USA.  Margaret Ann (age 17) married Oscar L Bentley (age 27) on July 21, 1861. They had eight children (Hugh, Catherine, Mary Elizabeth, Oscar James, George, Charles Stewart, John J and Frank). She predeceased her husband at the age of 43 on September 30,1887 in Millport NY. Margaret Ann is buried in St Mary Our Mother Cemetery in Horseheads NY. This left Oscar as a widower with eight children ages 3-24 years old.
2. Mary Jane Berry was born in Ireland June 15,1847 and baptized at the same place as her sister. We do not have a date. She immigrated to the US in July 1854 with her mother and older sister on the “Sea Nymph” from Liverpool England to NY USA. Mary Jane married Clarence Smith (no date) and had one son, Harry E. Smith in 1872. They lived in Addison NY. Her husband predeceased her in 1893 when she was 46 and her son was 21. Mary Jane then married her sister’s husband (a widower), Oscar L Bently (now 59), on August 31, 1893. My mother admired her Aunt Mary Jane for helping to take care of her sister (Aunt Margaret) while she was ill. By this time, Aunt Mary Jane was a widow with one son. Mary Jane also helped Oscar with the eight children. It was no surprise when they married. Eight years later in 1901, Oscar died. Mary Jane lived 27 more years and died on July 4,1928 at age 81 in South Corning NY. She is buried in St Mary’s Cemetery in South Corning NY.
3. George Colton Berry was born in Chemung County NY USA (possibly the town of Millport or Veteran) May 16, 1855. He went to work on the now defunct Chemung Canal with his father when he was 15 years old. He was married to Mary Quinlan in Watkins Glen NY in 1880 by the Reverend Herrick. Mary was born October 30,1858 in Ireland. We don’t know where Mary lived in Ireland, her family, when she immigrated or how she and George met. They had ten children and one who died in infancy (Catherine, Margaret, Hugh Michael, Edward Joseph, John Lawrence, William Patrick, Anna Marie, Mary Agnes, twin brothers Frederick Paul and Francis Adrian – my grandfather). George started out as a canal lock keeper on the Chemung canal and then worked for the Railroad as an iron molder, core maker, railroad car restorer and a blacksmith. His wife, Mary died June 16,1930 at age 72. Five months later, George died November 29,1930 at age 75. They had been married 50 years. George and Mary are buried in St Mary’s Cemetery in South Corning NY.

Back to Hugh Michael Berry: We did not see Hugh Michael listed on the 1854 ship manifest with his wife and two daughters. His younger daughter, Mary Jane, was born in Ireland in 1847.  His son, George, was born in the US in 1854 – about eight years later. Where was Hugh Michael between 1847 and 1854? Did he come to the US alone before his family came? Did he settle in the Millport-Veteran-Elmira area where the Chemung Canal was because he was a canal lock keeper in Ireland? How did George learn about the Chemung Canal in Chemung County in the southern tier of NY? Below is a documented record of Hugh’s timeline with the Chemung Canal and the US Civil War.

• 1830 Work on the Chemung canal began.
  
  • 1833 Chemung canal opened with 49 locks.
  • 1850 The Erie Railroad began laying tracks parallel to the Chemung Canal.
  • 1854 Hugh’s wife and two daughters arrived in the US from Ireland.
  • 1855 Hugh’s son, George was born in Chemung County (possibly in Veteran NY).
  • 1860 Hugh was living in Veteran NY with his family working on the canal.
  • 1863 Hugh enlisted in the US Union Army in the Civil War.
  • 1865 Hugh was discharged from the Army and returned to Veteran NY to “light work” on the canal.
  • 1870 Hugh is living in Millport (a part of Veteran) and working on the canal.
  • 1878 the Chemung Canal fell into disuse and disrepair. It could not compete with the Railroad.
  • 1901 Hugh (from Millport) died in Corning while visiting his daughter.

Records of Hugh Michael between 1870 and 1901 have not been found. We don’t know how long Hugh continued to work on the Chemung Canal. For sure he must have stopped when the Canal closed in 1878. Did he have another job in Millport for a while? Perhaps he went to work with the Erie Railroad?

Early US Federal and State Censuses show different spellings for Hugh Michael’s last name: In 1860, “Barry”, in 1865, “Berry” and then in 1870, “Barry” again. His birthdate also varies. The 1860 census shows his age as 38 (born 1822), 1865 census shows Hugh Michael being born “about” 1823 and the 1870 census shows him at 45 years old (born 1825).

We do have records showing Hugh Michael served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He enlisted as a Private on December 18, 1863 in Elmira NY. He was a member of Co. G. 50^th Regiment NY Volunteer Engineers as an Articifer. He was seriously injured March 1864 while building trenches in Washington DC. A wall caved in on him and a large stone was forced through the lower part of his right thigh. Injuries involved his knee and ankle as well. When Hugh Michael applied for his military disability pension, the doctor described him as “all broken down having lost all his hair including his eyebrows and eyelashes.” Hugh Michael was discharged from the army June 13, 1865 at Fort Bragg in Virginia (one year, five months and 25 days of service and sacrifice to his new country) and returned to his family to begin doing “light” work on the canal as a bridge watchman.

Hugh Michael’s wife of 60 years, Catherine Ann Cain, died January 25, 1902 in Millport hospital in Veteran NY. Two months later, March 11, 1902 Hugh Michael died. Following is his obituary from the Elmira Daily Advertiser:

“Hugh Berry died at 4:30 O’clock this morning at the home of his son, George Berry, 136 Pulteney Street Corning NY where he had been visiting for the part of this month. Hugh Berry was 82 years of age. His home was in Millport NY. Besides his son, he is survived by one daughter Mrs. Oscar Bentley (Mary Jane Berry). The remains will be taken to Horseheads for burial. Date to be announced later.”

Both Hugh Michael Berry and Catherine Ann Cain are buried at Mary Our Mother Cemetery in Horseheads, NY.

About me.......My name is Donna Elizabeth Gustina. I am a 77-year-old wife, mother, grandmother and oldest of four children (still alive and kicking!). I am a retired college professor, an artist and am Deaf. To all who volunteer their precious time and energy, I sincerely appreciate your help in filling in the gaps regarding our Irish ancestors. My questions are imbedded in the narrative above. I tried to be as complete as possible and hope I didn't over share. Please don't hesitate to contact me via email (donna.gustina@gmail.com). Again, many thanks!