Henry Fry : Short Biography

Henry Fry Esq. of Fairy-hill (1790-1874) was 6 years old when his father passed away. The house and brewery of Fairyhill (in the townland of Knocknashee, Boyle) owned by John Fry Esq. (1743-1796) were advertised to let by his mother and uncle: 

TO be LET, from the first November next, for such terms may be agreed upon, the Dwelling-house, Offices and Brewery of FAIRY-HILL, near Boyle, lately occupied by John Fry, Esq. with about 40 acres of choice Ground, and an excellent Kitchen-garden well planted with wall fruit-trees, enclosed with an eight feet wall coped and dashed.—Also a good Malt-house in the town of Boyle to be let. 

To be SOLD by public cant, the household furniture of the said John Fry, Esq. deceased, the first of November next, when the tenant will be declared. Every utensil appertaining to the brewery to be given -at valuation.—The house, offices and brewery are new and in thorough repair. Proposals to be received by Henry Fry, Esq. Fry-brook, Boyle, Mrs Fry, Fairy-hill. N. B. No preference to be given to any but the highest and best bidder. Fairy-hill, Sept. 17, 1796. [Dublin Evening Post - 8 November 1796 ].

The 1833 Tithe Books recorded "Knockashee & Abbeyview" in the name of the Reps. of John Fry Esq. (deceased). Abbeyview House was the residence of Morgan Crofton at that time. It looks like the "Old Brewery" marked on the first OS map of 1837 would have been the 18th-century Fairy-hill (as it matches the description about planted trees and kitchen-garden).

In 1829, a young Henry Fry Esq. of Fairyhill registered a freehold of £20 with 34 acres at Knocknashee, Boyle for a lease of one life. In 1835, Henry Fry Esq. of Fairyhill and his uncle Henry Fry Jr. (1757-1847) of Frybrooke were founding members of the Agricultural and Commercial Bank in Boyle.   In 1840, Henry Fry's  House offices and Yard at Fairy hill, Knockashee were valued at 6 pounds and 8 pounds (to include lease with land). 

In 1830, he married Abigail Knott (1809-1855) and had at least 8 children (Church of Ireland):

1. Matilda Fry bap. 20-Mar-1832 died at Knockvicar, age 28 bur. 22-May-1858 Boyle 

2. Hannah Elizabeth  aka Honor Fry (bap. 5-Jul-1832) Boyle

3. Jane Fry (1837-1856) died at Knockvicar, age 19 bur. 19-Jun-1856 Boyle 

4. Elizabeth Fry (1837-1855) died at "Androsna" age 18, bur. 26-Aug-1855 Boyle

5. Miss Mary Fry of Knockananima registered a dog licence in 1868 and later married in 1868 (Carrick-on-Shannon GRO). 

6. Miss  Anne Fry of Knockananima, dau. of Henry Fry Gent. married William Tilson RICon 3 July 1876 (Carrick-on-Shannon GRO). 

7. John Fry 25-Jul-1840  (newspaper announced he was the first son, joining 6 sisters) died at Knockvicar bur. 04-Sep-1865 Boyle

8. Julia Fry 24-Oct-1842 (1843-1915) married Edward McDonagh (1837-1915) interred at Old Killummod Cemetery.

The 1840 birth announcement of their "son and heir", John Fry, states that the child was born "at her seat, Fairy-hill, Boyle, the Lady of H. Fry Esq...". 

That same year, his brother, Captain John Fry of the Rifle Brigade (born 1793 to John & Sarah Fry, Boyle,  first commissioned in 1809 age 16, a Captain by 1838) died at Weedon in 1840.  DIED  At Weedon, Capt. Fry [Rifle Brigade] brother of Henry Fry Esq. of Fairy-hill, near this town. He was a Peninsular and Waterloo Veteran and was severely wounded at St. Sebastian.  [Roscommon & Leitrim Gazette - Saturday 01 August 1840].

Circa 1852, the family left Fairy Hill and moved north of Boyle, after which the Old Brewery and orchard at Fairy Hill fell into ruin. 

In 1855 "Alicia" aka  Abigail (Knott) Fry died age 46. Her address at the time of burial was "Androsna". She was buried at Boyle.  She was followed in death, 5 months later, by her daughter Elizabeth Fry, who died at Androsna, age 18.  See Andresna, Kilmactranny, Co. Sligo. 

By 1856, Henry Fry and his children had moved west to "Knockvicar" and the townland of Errironagh [See Henry Fry at GV2ab Errironagh in 1857; No Fry was in Errona in 1834].  Here, three more of his children died; daughters Jane Fry (1837-1856),  Matilda Fry (1832-58) and John Fry (1840 -1865).  Sometime after the death of his only son, Henry moved to Knockananima with his remaining 3 daughters. 

Henry Fry  Esq. (1790-1874), farmer, died at Knockananima Carrick-on-Shannon (see the squire's property held by Henry Peyton in 1857).