Person:John Berry (129)

Was this John Berry Master of the Graces from 1785 to 1788? - CBGreen

The brig The Graces was involved in a court case in 1844 (see The Jurist, 8(1):501). One would have to wonder how a wine merchant would also be a ship's master. Exeter does have a port - Jonathan Berry

1.   The Story of Berry Bros & Rudd
   10.

   ... John Berry was a wine merchant in Exeter. When John Clarke died, he designated his infant grandson [George Berry] to be the heir to The Coffee Mill and looked for a suitable caretaker to manage affairs. His chose the Brownes of Westerham, a rich and prospering family of lawyers and yeomen into which John Berry's sister had sensibly married and they agreed to look after the business until young George should be old enough to take over. ...

2.   History of Berry Bros. & Rudd.

   ... In 1787 John Clarke’s daughter Mary, who had married [John Berry] a wine merchant from Exeter, gave birth to the first George Berry, who was to take over his grandfather’s business. ...