John BERRY

                   Historical information included in notes.

RESEARCHER: Maurine Colgrove, P.O. Box 73, Wickenburg, AZ 85358.MARRIAGE: Sidney Berry of Hunterdon and CatherineWaldron Oct 10 1768.Family Bible says married Oct. 12 1768.NOTES: Col. Sidney Berry was a member of the first Board of Trustees and atthe time of hisappointment in February 1791 resided on the west bank of theHudson, in what was then the town of Saratoga and County of Albany, andimmediately afterward included in the County of Saratoga and on a roadconstructed for military purposes, in the autumn of 1756 by Lord Loundon in thecourse of the French war, and leading from what is now Schuylerville to the"Block House", then standing on the west bank of the river, opposite FortEdward. He was born in the Countyof Monmouth in the State of New Jersey aboutthe year 1744 and died at Northumberland, Saratoga County, on Aug 7 1820 in the75th year of his age. He served in the War of the Revolution, and was detailedto receive on the 30th of Sep. 1776, the messenger sent by Lord Howe to inviteDr. Franklin, John Adams and Mr. Luttrage, to a conference on Staten Island.(See Stone's Reminiscence ofSaratoga, note 360) He married Catherine Waldron,who long survived him, dying on 22 Mar. 1833 in the 80th year of her age. Bothare buried in the old graveyard on the west bank of the Hudson, inNorthumberland. He early emigratedfrom New Jersey and settled in the old townof Saratogae, now Northumberland,on the river bank, nearly opposite theresidence of the late Dan. T. Payne, and about a mile north of Ft. Miller. Hethere soon after assisted in organizing a school district, which afterwardbecame famous, extending on the north from and including the residence of Col.Berry, to and including the residence of Capt. Samuel Lewis on the south, adistance of 3 miles and over in length.Col. Berry was the first Surrogate ofthe County of Saratoga, held the officefrom Feb. 1791 when the court wasorganized, to Sep. 1794, was a member of Assembly from Albany, before Saratogawas set off from it, elected in 1790, and immediately after the organization ofSaratoga County, was elected therefrom tothe Assembly in 1791, and re-electedin 1792. Samuel Lewis, Esq. formerly ofMoreau, now deceased, thus describedCol. Berry: "I remember him well. I can see him now-the old fashionedgentlemen-dressed in short breeches, with silverknee and shoe buckles. Iremember how I stood in reverential awe of him, notwithstanding he was full ofanecdote, cheerful and kind. History of Washington Co, NY in Americana Vol. 1p. 72-75 (sent to me by Maurine Colgrove)