William Berry (genealogist)
Encyclopedia
William Berry was an English
genealogist.
Berry, well known from his various works on family history, was in the earlier part of his life, 1793–1809, employed as a writing clerk to the registrar of the College of Arms
. On his retirement from that post, he for some time resided in Guernsey
, where he published a very able work called The History of the Island of Guernsey, compiled from the collections of Henry Budd, 1815, 4to. Previously to this, in 1810, he had brought out a work entitled Introduction to Heraldry.
Returning to England
, he resided at Doddington Place, Kennington, Surrey, and in 1832 commenced A Genealogical Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was a carefully compiled family history, with very beautifully engraved coats of arms, but it did not receive much support, and after the issue of the fourth number, which terminated with an account of the dukes of Rutland
, no further parts were printed. His Genealogia Antiqua, or Mythological and Classical Tables, published in 1816, met with more success, and a second and improved edition appeared in 1840. This work was dedicated to Lord Grenville.
His next undertaking was entitled Encyclopedia Heraldica, or Complete Dictionary of Heraldry. It was brought out in numbers between 1828 and 1840, and forms four quarto
volumes. This is a valuable heraldic work, as it embraces the greater part of the contents of Edmondson and other writers, with much original matter.
Perhaps, however, the writings by which Berry is best known are his county genealogies published in small folio volumes, at five or six guineas per volume. These were Kent
, 1830; Sussex
, 1830; Hampshire
, 1833; Berkshire
, Buckinghamshire
, and Surrey
, 1837; Essex
, 1839; and Hertfordshire
, 1842. The three latter volumes were printed by means of lithography from the handwriting of the author. The first portion of The County Genealogies, Kent, being severely reviewed in The Gentleman's Magazine, and objections taken to Berry calling himself on the title-page of that work registering clerk in the College of Arms, he brought an action for libel against Messrs. J. B. Nichols & Son, the publishers of the magazine.
The trial took place in the Court of King's Bench before Lord Tenterden on 1 November 1830, when, although the plaintiff
was represented by Henry Brougham
, afterwards the Lord Chancellor
, the jury, without hearing any rebutting evidence, almost immediately gave a verdict in favour of the defendants.
Berry died at his son's residence, Spencer Place, Brixton, 2 July 1851, aged 77, having survived his wife two months.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
genealogist.
Berry, well known from his various works on family history, was in the earlier part of his life, 1793–1809, employed as a writing clerk to the registrar of the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. On his retirement from that post, he for some time resided in Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, where he published a very able work called The History of the Island of Guernsey, compiled from the collections of Henry Budd, 1815, 4to. Previously to this, in 1810, he had brought out a work entitled Introduction to Heraldry.
Returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he resided at Doddington Place, Kennington, Surrey, and in 1832 commenced A Genealogical Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was a carefully compiled family history, with very beautifully engraved coats of arms, but it did not receive much support, and after the issue of the fourth number, which terminated with an account of the dukes of Rutland
Duke of Rutland
Earl of Rutland and Duke of Rutland are titles in the peerage of England, derived from Rutland, a county in the East Midlands of England. The Earl of Rutland was elevated to the status of Duke in 1703 and the titles were merged....
, no further parts were printed. His Genealogia Antiqua, or Mythological and Classical Tables, published in 1816, met with more success, and a second and improved edition appeared in 1840. This work was dedicated to Lord Grenville.
His next undertaking was entitled Encyclopedia Heraldica, or Complete Dictionary of Heraldry. It was brought out in numbers between 1828 and 1840, and forms four quarto
Quarto
Quarto could refer to:* Quarto, a size or format of a book in which four leaves of a book are created from a standard size sheet of paper* For specific information about quarto texts of William Shakespeare's works, see:...
volumes. This is a valuable heraldic work, as it embraces the greater part of the contents of Edmondson and other writers, with much original matter.
Perhaps, however, the writings by which Berry is best known are his county genealogies published in small folio volumes, at five or six guineas per volume. These were Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, 1830; Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, 1830; Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, 1833; Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, and Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, 1837; Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, 1839; and Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, 1842. The three latter volumes were printed by means of lithography from the handwriting of the author. The first portion of The County Genealogies, Kent, being severely reviewed in The Gentleman's Magazine, and objections taken to Berry calling himself on the title-page of that work registering clerk in the College of Arms, he brought an action for libel against Messrs. J. B. Nichols & Son, the publishers of the magazine.
The trial took place in the Court of King's Bench before Lord Tenterden on 1 November 1830, when, although the plaintiff
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
was represented by Henry Brougham
Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux
Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux was a British statesman who became Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.As a young lawyer in Scotland Brougham helped to found the Edinburgh Review in 1802 and contributed many articles to it. He went to London, and was called to the English bar in...
, afterwards the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, the jury, without hearing any rebutting evidence, almost immediately gave a verdict in favour of the defendants.
Berry died at his son's residence, Spencer Place, Brixton, 2 July 1851, aged 77, having survived his wife two months.