James William Middleton Berry Esq.

James W. Middleton Berry Esq. of Ballynagall was originally from Middleton, Co. Westmeath. He was the son of John Middleton Berry of  Middleton Park House, Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath (Lewis 1837) and is descended from Berry of Berrynarbor.

In 1846, through the will of James Gibbons Esq. (who died without issue), Berry inherited the handsome Grecian mansion of Ballynagall (which had long been the seat of the Gibbons family) and applied to take on the Arms of Gibbons, which was confirmed in 1848:

... Whereas application has been made to me by James William Middleton Berry of Ballynegall in the County of Westmeath Esquire setting forth, that he is descended from a family long seated in the said County and has used and borne certain Armorial bearings which appear to be the same borne by the family of Bury or Berry of Devonshire from which family the tradition is that his family is descended and he has prayed me to exemplify and confirm the said Arms with due difference; and further he has represented that James Gibbons late of Ballynegall aforesaid Esqre having no children by his last will and testament left his said estate of Ballynegall to the said James William Middleton Berry who out of affectionate regard to the said late James Gibbons is desirous of bearing the Arms of Gibbons with his own in such manner as may be consistent with the laws of Arms and has prayed me accordingly to exemplify register and confirm the same to him the said James William Middleton Berry and his descendants Know Ye therefore that I the said Ulster King of Arms by the power to me Given by Her Majesty’s Royal Letters Patent ... affixed hereto my Official Seal this twelfth day of January in the eleventh year of the reign of Our Sovereign Lady Victoria ... in the year of our Lord 1848.       [NLI:  Register of Arms, GO Ms Volume 107 folios 376-7]

In 1848, at the age of 36, he held the office of High Sherriff of Co. Westmeath.

 

In 1851, he married Caroline Augusta Smith (d.1896), daughter of the Right Hon. TBC Smith, Master of the Rolls in Ireland.

In 1855, he appears as a landlord in Griffith's Valuation under "Jas. William M. Berry" and "James W. M. Berry".

He died suddenly at a hunt in December 1855 and was interred at the family vault nearby at Ballynagall Church of Ireland.  Berry's sudden death at the end of 1855, led to the quick sale of his hunting horses in January 1856, and his widow auctioned all carriages, horses, stock, crops and farm implements at Ballynagall in April 1856.

Ownership of Ballynagall then transferred to his in-laws, the Smyth Family. 

 

 

[Research by Rua Mac Diarmada]