History of the Berry and Allied Families
~~ INTRODUCTION ~~The preparation of this Berry family history has been prompted by a desire to put on record, before it is too late, the fast diminishing traditional information with which it is still possible, in some degree, to supplement such meagre written records of the Berry family as we happen to possess, and though it probably contains little, which can be of interest to the general reader. Yet, my purpose will be fulfilled and my labour amply rewarded, if it proves of interest to the Berry family members and to the allied connections of the Berry family itself.
I would like to give thanks and my gratitude to following family members for their guidance and support; Wally Berry, Mary Louise Ryan (nee Berry), Findlay Thomson all of whom have been instrumental in the gathering of a lot of the family history and memories, thorough their own desires of putting down to ink and paper their desires to preserve the existence of past family members. I would also like to thank Jan Bonnett, the genealogist for John Coull family, John wished to have his mother's side of his family, Ena Agnes Berry researched and this is how our two branches relate. When I said, to my Uncle Wally, I was interested in our family history; I didn't think he would so readily take me to task on it.
It is needless to say that this book could not have been written without the help of many generous family members, and I would like to express my gratitude to them all. I am aware that, though the greatest care has been taken to obtain correct information, and to verify every statement, family letters, registers and other sources of information, yet there are undoubtedly many blemishes and defects in the book. There are many families that are incomplete, but there are very few genealogies of this nature, which this cannot be said. Omissions are a less evil than mistakes, and my endeavour throughout the book has been, as far as possible, to be correct in my information, however meagre it might be. So, here it begins and hopefully it does not stop here and someone else in the family will also become interested in keeping it going into the future. This is an on going project, and as I get more family data, pictures and stories, I'll be updating the material at hand. Now, I'll leave you to your thoughts and the fading echoes of time....
The name Berry is, said to be by the book of "Scottish Names", of an old landed family, 'of Tayfield,' in Fife. In Aberdeen and Angus the name is said to be a variant of Barrie. Seventieth century Berries and Berrys were located in Strathdon, under Forbes of Brux, and in the parish of Coldstone under Farquharson of Invercauld.
It appears the Berry surname is found with in the lands of the noble family of Forbes, whom flourished in Scotland for many centuries, and they appear both in our histories and records. Martin, of Clermont, a learned and judicious antiquary, says that one Solvathius Forbes married Maravilla, daughter of King Gregory the Great, about the year 870 - founding the family. It is alleged by others with more probability, that Forbes is a local surname, and was first taken up by the proprietors of the lands and barony of Forbes soon after the reign of King Malcolm Canmore and about which time many men in Scotland assumed their surnames from the lands they possessed, from the book "Ringrose's Heraldry".
Septs of the Forbes include; Bannerman, Berrie, Berry, Boyce, Boyes, Fordyce, MacOuat, MacOwat, MacQuattie, MacWatt, Mechie, Mekie, Meldrum, Michie, Middleton, Walter, Walters, Waters, Watson, Watt, Watters, Wattie, and Watts. Motto - Grace me guide; Crest - A stag's head attired with ten tines proper; Arms - Azure three bear's heads couped two and one argent muzzled gules; Supporters - Two bloodhounds (argent) collared gules.
Even though the clans are scattered all across the world, is there a vague remembrance of their Scottish heritage? What remains? Is the Scottish clanship, the sense of family, of common roots, of a place from where we all came, strengthened by the romance of history, the skirl of pipes, the swing of the kilt, the remembrance of hard times, of a beautiful land, and above all, Highland pride and loyalty.
~ Old Scottish Verse ~
A person dies three times
Once when the soul leaves the body
Once when the body is interned to the grave
And finally when their name is spoken for the last time.
- Author unknown
~ A Toast to the Ancestors! ~
May the hill rise to meet you,
And may the mountain be always over the crest;
And may the God that you believe in
Hold you in the palm of his hand.
