NORTHERN NEW YORK
Genealogical and family history of northern New York: a record of the achievements of her people
in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation.
New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co. 1910.
TERRY
Transcribed by Coralynn Brown
One authority defines the name Terry thus: "Not 'the tearful one,' as some entomologists have it, but a corruption of Theodoric, the personal name." Mr. Ferguson, in his "Teutonic Name System," classes together the old German names Tarro, Terra, Torro, ninth century Terri, and English names Darr, Darrow, Door, Dorey, Dorre, Tatt, Tarry, Terry, Torrey, and French names Dary, Dorre, Dor, Dore, Tarie, Terray, Terre, and he derives these from the Norse word doerr, meaning spear, probably from the Sanscrit root tar.
Mr. Samuel Terry, of New York City, has made investigation and thinks it originated among the early French, where under the form of Therry it was not an uncommon personal name, and through the Franks coming to be regarded as French, and is now sometimes found there as a family name in this form and as Therry, and also Terry.
The earliest information of the founder of the family in this country is an agreement formed by William Pyncheon and Samuel Terry, Oct. 15, 1650, whereby he is to receive a certain amount for his services, and be taught the trade of linnen spinner, he binding himself to be diligent in service. Signed by Samuel Terry, Benjamin B. Cooley (his mark) and William Pyncheon, witness Richard Maund and John Benham.
Hon. William Pyncheon was in England in the spring of 1650 and there made the contact, and doubtless it was then that he took into apprenticeship the boy Samuel Terry, who may have been of Barnet, a village eleven miles from London. He may have been an orphan whom Mr. Pyncheon had known, and it is unlikely that he would have taken such a boy for less than the entire term of his minority, accordingly he was probably born about the year 1633 or 34. Mr. Pyncheon returned to England, and was relieved of the contract.
(I) Samuel Terry, born about 1633, in England, arrived in America about 1650, was of Springfield, Mass. in 1654, and was granted land Jan. 7, 1654, consisting of ten acres on "Chuckappee Plain" on condition that he remain in the town five years. In 1658 he forfeited it by leaving.
He was granted land at Wononaco town, 1664, and land at Fresh Water Brook (now Enfield) in 1665. He was granted thirty acres of upland, along with his meadow land beyond Chicopee Plain in 1670. He with others was assessed two loads of firewood for the use of their pastor.
In 1678 he was appointed a surveyor of highways. His name and that of his son Samuel appear in a list of persons who took the oath of allegiance, Dec. 31, 1678, and Jan. 1, 1679.
He married, Jan. 3, 1669, Ann Lobdell, and the town settled with him for his claim to the land before mentioned by making him a grant a little further south. In May, 1684, his wife died, also his adopted child, Johny Matthews.
In 1685 he was one of a town committee to establish boundaries between Springfield and adjoining towns, and the records speak of him as Sargeant Samuel Terry. In 1690 he married Sarah, widow of John Scott, and daughter of Thomas and Margaret Bliss.
In 1693 he made an agreement to teach the art of weaving to his stepson, Ebenezer Scott, whence it appears he still practiced it himself. He was also chosen constable this same year. He and his wife parted in 1694, and she died Sept. 27, 1705.
In 1730 the administration of his estate was granted to his sons Samuel and Thomas, and in the record he is called "husbandman," formerly of Springfield. This was doubtless the year of his death. he signed his name in a free hand, as one much in the habit of writing, so probably he was better educated than most of the men of his time.
Children:
Samuel (mentioned below), Ephraim (died young), Thomas, Mary, Rebecca (died young), Ephraim, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Ann.
(II) Samuel (2), eldest son of Samuel (1) and Ann (Lobdell) Terry, was born July 18, 1661, in Springfield, and died in Enfield, Mass., Jan. 2, 1730. He settled in Enfield about 1683, and was a farmer. He held offices of constable and selectman, and was several years ensign of the local militia, of which he became captain in 1716.
He was a man of exemplary piety, prominent in the church, and is styled "gentleman" in the public record of his appointments as administrator of his father's estate.
He married (first) May 17, 1682, in Springfield, Hannah, daughter of Miles Morgan, who was born April 11, 1656, and died Jan. 17, 1696.
He married (second) Jan. 4, 1698, Martha, widow of Benjamin Crane Jr., who was born about 1666, and died May 29, 1743, in Enfield.
Children by first wife:
Hannah, Samuel, Rebecca, twin sons who died young, and Ebenezer.
By second wife:
Benjamin, Ephraim (mentioned below), Jacob, Martha, Jonathan and Isaac.
(III) Ephraim, son of Samuel (2) and Martha (Crane) Terry, was born Oct. 24, 1701, in Enfield, and died Oct. 14, 1783. He lived in Enfield, and was a tanner, also major of militia.
He married, Sept. 13, 1723, Ann, daughter of Nathaniel and Alice (Adams) Collins, who was born Dec. 20, 1702, and died Sept. 10, 1778. She was a great-great-granddaughter of Gov. William Bradford.
Children:
Mary, Samuel, Ephraim, Nathaniel (mentioned below), Anne, Lucy, Elijah, Alice, Sybil and Eliphalet.
(IV) Nathaniel, son of Ephraim and Ann (Collins) Terry, was born June 3, 1730, and died Feb. 20, 1792. He was a captain of militia at Enfield, and the day following the receipt of the news of he battle of Lexington he started for Boston with fifty-nine men. He afterward became a colonel.
He resided in Enfield.
He married, July 17, 1763, Abiah, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Lyman) Dwight, who was born April 9, 1732, in Middletown, and died June 14, 1816.
Children:
Jabez, Elizabeth, Nathaniel (mentioned below), and Henry.
(V) Nathaniel (2), son of Nathaniel (1) and Abiah (Dwight) Terry, was born Jan. 30, 1768, in Enfield, and died June 14, 1844, in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated at Yale College in 1786. He was judge of county court from 1807 to 1809, and was representative of Hartford twelve sessions of the legislature, member of congress 1817-19, and member of Connecticut constitutional convention in 1818. He was mayor of Hartford 1824-31, and also a general of militia.
He married, March 14, 1798, Catherine, daughter of Colonel Jeremiah and Mehitable Wadsworth, in Hartford, who was born Jan., 1774, and died Oct. 26, 1841.
Children:
Henry Wadsworth, Edward Pomeroy (mentioned below), Alfred, Harriet Wadsworth, Adrian Russell, Charles Augustus, Catherine Elizabeth and Frances Ellen.
(VI) Edward Pomeroy, second son of Nathaniel (2) and Catherine (Wadsworth) Terry, was born Oct. 28, 1800, and died Dec. 22, 1843. He graduated at Yale College in 1820, became a physician, and lived in Hartford.
He married, July, 1823, Sophia Hamilton Ross, daughter of Carlisle and Anna (Yates) Pollock, who was born Oct., 1804, and died July 5, 1868.
Children:
Quentin Carlisle, Louise Gertrude (mentioned below), Charles Edward, Emma Gillingham, Edward and Clarence.
(VII) Louise Gertrude, daughter of Edward Pomeroy and Sophia H. R. (Pollock) Terry, was born Aug. 2, 1827, and died March, 1864. She was married Sept., 1850, to Augustine McCrea (see McCrea).
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