Thomas Richard Berry was born on 20 August 1815 in Shoreditch, MDDSSX, ENG.
1,2,3,4 He and
Rebecca Keysley Carstairs were married on 22 August 1841 in St Leonard;s, Shoreditch, MDDSX, ENG.
4 He died on 2 June 1868, at age 52, in Nelson, NZ.
4 Class: steerage
10 children
Thomas Berry (buried as de Berry) was my 3rd great grandfather. He is also Fredrick Thomas?s and Thomas Richard?s father. Frederick and Thomas junior worked for the NZ Company ? sailing from London to Wellington and then onto Nelson in the late 1830s (before the first migrant ships arrived). They later brought their families to Nelson and their father Thomas followed as did most of Thomas senior?s children (he was married three times and had 18 children).
There is a very large book published by a family member in 1993 on the approx. 6,000 descendents of Thomas Berry (de Berry) published by Evagean Publishing (see their web site). This includes copies of the letters between early family members (now held by the Nelson museum) about Thomas? senior?s possible link with the French royal family. This was never proven and my theory is that Thomas senior was trying to provide his family with social standing in a new colony. ST
Thomas Richard BERRY was the only known child of his father's (Thomas BERRY) first marriage, to Sarah PALMER. He was born in Shoreditch, Middlesex, UK on 20 August 1815. Like his father, he was a brushmaker. He married Rebecca Keysley CARSTAIRS at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch on 22 August 1841. Rebecca Keysley CARSTAIRS, was born on 14 May 1822 at Holborn, Middlesex, UK. She was the daughter of one J. CARSTAIRS, who was a writing master, and had a book published in 1828 called "The Pen Man's Delight", which is said to include details of a system which appears to have been a forerunner of shorthand. They emigrated to New Zealand on board the "Fifeshire", which left London on 26 September 1841, arriving in New Zealand on 01 February 1842, giving his occupation as "farmer". (The "Fifeshire" was wrecked on Arrow Reef, leaving Nelson Harbour for the onward trip China.) On 06 February 1846 Thomas, obviously not put off matters maritime by the fate of the "Fifeshire", bought a vessel of his own, a 12-ton cutter, which he named "Sarah Berry", presumably in honour of either his mother or his eldest daughter. The idea was to use her (the ship, not the daughter!) for trade between the West Coast and North Island, but this did not last long, as she met with heavy weather on 27 June 1846, and went aground. No lives were lost, but the vessel was a write-off. Thomas later became a goldminer. He and Rebecca had ten children. Thomas died on 02 June 1868 at Nelson. Rebecca died on 22 May 1872. If you have a connection with this family or would like to learn more please contact David Lamb. Thomas Richard Berry had person sources.
5 He immigrated to ENG to NZ on the Fifeshire arriving NZ 1/2/1842 on 26 September 1841.
4 He was a brushmaker, Farm Labourer in 1842.
4 He was a shopkeeper, Haven Rd, Nelson in 1844.
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