The One Who Doesn’t Want To Be Found” … My Brick Wall!

Once again I am returning to Robert Berry who is my 2nd great grandfather… he’s the one who doesn’t want to be found; or maybe he does and I’m just not looking in the right places!

Robert Berry married Agnes Ann Beatty on 27 Oct 1860 at the Lisburn Cathedral. William and Sarah Ann Crothers witnessed their wedding.  The Crothers families are intertwined with my family going back many generations; a story for another day!

Robert was a twenty two year old labourer at the time of his marriage and was living in Belfast. His father and my 3^rd great grandfather; was a farmer named James Berry.  There is no indication of Agnes Ann’s age in the record; however it reveals she was a weaver who resided in Clogher, Co. Antrim.  It would seem that two of my 3^rd great grandfathers in this particular “crooked branch” of my tree were James; and both where farmers.

Robert Berry & Agnes Anne Beattie – Marriage Record

Robert & Agnes Ann had four children that I’m currently aware of, James born 1862, my great grandfather; Elizabeth born 1865; Sarah born 1866; and Robert who was born in 1869.  Considering the birth dates, there are other children that remain to be found; but for now I’m focusing on Robert and what I know, and don’t know; for sure!

The birth record for my great grandfather James verifies that the family was living in Ballymacarett, Co. Down on the 18 Jun 1864.

James Berry – Born Ballymacarrett

Marriage records for Robert’s children show that on 23 Sep 1882 his daughter Eliza’s marriage record indicated he was a farmer. On 25 Feb 1893 his son James’s marriage record shows he was a labourer; and on 3 Jul 1909 his daughter Eliza’s 2nd marriage record revealed he was a sailor.  Frustratingly, none of the marriage records divulged if Robert was living or not at the time of the marriages.

Berry Marriages

By 25 Feb 1893 the family was living at 41 Moore Street, Belfast which was confirmed by their son James marriage record.  The question is… was Robert still living then?

A snapshot in time… A Street scene from the same general area as 41 Moore Street; the Berry home.

When Agnes Ann died on 27 Feb 1894 her death record listed both her home address of 41 Moore Street; and the workhouse as her last residence at time of death.

On the 28 Feb 1894 a Death Notice was published in the Belfast Telegraph by her son James (my great grandfather). It stated: “BERRY February 27, at 3 Tyne Street, Belfast. Agnes Ann Berry the remains of my mother will be removed for interment in the city Cemetery on tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at two o’clock. Friends will please accept this intimation. James Berry”.

Death Notice – Agnes Ann Berry (nee Scott) Published by her son James

As her son James had the death notice published, and there was no mention of her husband Robert; this might infer that Robert was deceased by 1894? Maybe… however, her death record indicates she was “married” at the time of her death; not widowed!

Grave A492 at the Belfast City Cemetery is the burial ground of Agnes Ann, her daughter Sarah, a son in law and a granddaughter.  When Sarah was buried in Jan 1887 her death record showed that the Grave Owner was her father Robert Berry.  The next burial in the grave was that of Agnes Ann who died on Feb 1894 and showed that James Berry was the owner of the grave.  Is this another indication that Robert was no longer living?

Burial Ground – Berry Family

Together, all of this information would intimate that Robert died between 1887 and 1894. To date I have been unable to find a death or burial record for Robert; he is not interred in the family burial ground.

Growing up my grandmother, Lizzie; told me that her grandfather was a “sea faring man who went down with is ship”.  Much of the information I have gleaned would lean toward her statement being factual.  If so… what ship, where did it sink and when?  Robert, to date; remains a man shrouded in mystery!  Where do I go from here?

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