Papers of the Berry family

Papers including correspondence of the Berry family of Aberdeenshire and other family members in Edinburgh, Somerset and Denmark. These are on a range of topics, notably on medical matters in the case of Dr Barclay's correspondence. There are also references to India, Jamaica, the 1831/2 cholera epidemic and the family's reaction to Walter Berry's second wife's alcoholism.

The main series of correspondence are:

DD641/1/1 Dr George Barclay ( - 1820)

DD641/1/2 Emma Barclay

DD641/1/3 Walter Berry (- 1833)

DD641/1/4 George Berry (1795 - 1874)

DD641/1/5 George Barclay (1820 - 1910), son of Dr George and Emma Barclay

DD641/1/6 Edmund and George Berry, sons of George Berry

DD641/1/7 Walter Oliphant Berry

DD641/1/8 Letters concerning the award of the Danebrog to Edmund Berry

DD641/1/9 Other family correspondence.

By far the largest set of correspondence is that of George and Emma Barclay.

The collection also includes legal papers relating to various members of the family, likely accumulated in the course of Eleanor Berry's research (DD641/2). There are also genealogical research notes compiled by Eleanor Berry, including photographs of various family members, and 19th century papers relating to the Danish branch of the family (DD641/3).

Eleanor Mary Elizabeth Berry (1898-1989) had farmed in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire before retiring to London.

Her father, Edmund Berry, was the son of Walter Oliphant Berry (1827-1904), Danish Consul General in Scotland, and Emily Hansen, daughter of Andreas Hansen of Copenhagen, Denmark. Walter Oliphant Berry was the son of George Berry (1795-1874) and Elizabeth Richmond. George Berry's sister Emma married Dr George Barclay of Aberdeen in 1816. George and Emma (sometimes Emme) were the children of Walter Berry ( - 1833) and Mary Robertson. Walter Berry had moved to Canada, married Mary and then returned with her to Scotland (see DD641/3/2/4/3 for more information about his time in North America). The Robertson family originally hailed from Stonehaven.

George and Emma Barclay had three children, Charles (born 1817), Mary (born 1819, died early 1820s) and George (1820-1910). The family seem to have lived in Templand, Auchterless, whilst Dr Barclay worked in Aberdeen, both at the Infirmary and the Lunatic Asylum. Dr Barclay died towards the end of 1819 and Emma thereafter ran a school for girls in Golden Square, Aberdeen.

Members of the Berry and Barclay Families (including Walter Oliphant Barclay and George Barclay (1820-1910) were partners in the firm of Berry, Barclay and Company, a grain business in Leith (earlier Berry, Henderson and Co.). The Berry family seems to have been based in Edinburgh.

More information about the family and the collection can be found in N.J. Mills' "'With Advantage and Pleasure': The Life and Letters of a Scottish Doctor and his Family, 1806-1836" (Kellas Cat Press, 2008) a copy of which is available in the Old Aberdeen House searchroom.

Open

Old Aberdeen House, open for consultation at Old Aberdeen House, open Mon-Wed 9:30-12:30 and 13:30-16:30. It is advisable to make an appointment.

Please see the Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives catalogue at https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/

Inititally catalogued by Nicola Mills in 2010, descriptions checked and opened to OPAC in 2018.

Deposited by the executor's of Miss Eleanor M E Berry with Grampian Regional Archives via firm of solicitors and the Scottish Record Office.

None expected