John Colbert Morry
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 29 Sep 1925 - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 1108,6995 Christening: Death: 31 Aug 1995 - Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada ( at age 69) 6995,6996 Cremation: After 31 Aug 1995 - Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada 6997 Cause of Death: Myocardial Infarction 6995Events
Occupation: Owned Moving Company called Cantin's Moving and Storage, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Census: Household of Albert Graham Morry, 1339 Stanley Ave., 1931, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Household Member)
Religion: RC, 1931, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Member)
Residence: 201 Regina St., Saanich, from Voters List on Ancestry, 1957, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Owner: Mermaid Cove Resort, Cir 1965-1995, Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada.
Residence: From 1962 Voters List. 757 Castle St., 1962, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Manager.
Residence: 2640 Estevan Ave. from 1968 Voters List, 1968, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Manager.
Residence: 2640 Estevan Ave., 1970, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Medical Condition: Suffered a severe stroke in 1988 and could not speak afterwards., 1988.
Residence: Vancouver Island, 1988, British Columbia, Canada.
Cremation: Ashes Scattered Yellow Point,, 1995, Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada.
Alt. Death: 1995, Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada. Yellowpoint.
Parents
Father: BQMS Albert Graham Morry 109,168,3630,3631 Mother: Josephine Elizabeth Colbert 168,747,748
Spouses and Children
1. Patricia Louise Doyle 4326 Partnership: Children: 1. Living 2. *June Rose Pamela Riggs 6901 Marriage: 1955 - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 1108 Children: 1. Living 2. Living 3. Living 4. LivingJohn Edgar Morry
Sex: MAKA: Edgar J. Morry 6960
Individual Information
Birth Date: 24 Jun 1930 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Christening: Death: 1 Oct 2003 - Holyrood, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( at age 73) 53,6998 Burial: 6 Oct 2003 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 53 Cause of Death: Died suddenly at home 6999Events
Census: Household of John Henry Morry in 1935 Newfoundland Census, 1935, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Household Member)
Census: John Henry Morry family in 1945 Newfoundland Census, 1945, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Household Member)
Occupation: Fish making, Fishery, 1945, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Religion: RC, 1945, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Member)
Residence: House valued at $2000. This was the house originally willed to my father., 1945, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Occupant)
Occupation: Cir 1950-1960, Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Worked on gravity-based platform for Hibernia as pipefitter, Bef 1995, Bull Arm, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Residence: Between 1999 and 2000, Holyrood, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Residence: 2000, Bishops Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Parents
Father: John Henry Morry 168,316 Mother: Mary Elizabeth Sesk 919
Spouses and Children
1. *Emma Teresa Barron 1757,1758,1759 Marriage: Children: 1. Living 2. Living 3. Living 4. Living
Notes
General:
John Edgar Morry
Living in Holyrood, Newfoundland, in 1997 according to son Rick
111003:
David Wells sent me this obituary, presumably copied from the EveningTelegram website:
MORRY, John Edgar - Passed away suddenly at his home in Holyrood on Wednesday, October 1st, 2003, John Edgar Morry, age 73 years. Predeceased by his parents, John and Elizabeth Morry; his brothers: Graham, Willie, Douglas, Gerald, Robert; his sisters: Lillian and Trix. Leaving to mourn with precious memories, his wife Emma (Barron) whom he lovingly cared for; his children: Brett, daughter-in-law Karen, grandchildren Sonia and Aleks in Texas; Lisa, son-in-law Jeff Vincent, granddaughter Emily in Halifax; Sean in British Columbia and Rick in Holyrood. He also leaves to mourn his brother Jack; his sisters: Mary Barron, Margaret Bulko, Ursula Kieley, Laura Williams, Sheila Morry and a large circle of extended family and friends. Resting at Dunphy's Funeral Home, Holyrood. Visitation on Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9. Funeral will take place on Monday, October 6, 2003 following 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial from Holy Cross Church, Holyrood. Interment will be in the R.C. Cemetery, Ferryland. Flowers gratefully accepted, ordonations in his memory may be made to Holy Cross Memorial/Restoration Fund or to a charity of one's choice. Please visit www.dunphysfuneralhome.com to sign the memorial guest book. ³In memory, a daily thought. In heart, a silent sorrow.² October 03, 2003
John Foale Morry
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Cir 1799 - Dartmouth, Devon, England 316 Christening: 22 Jan 1800 - Dartmouth, Devon, England 497 Death: 16 Jul 1837 - Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( about age 38) 316,7000 Burial: 26 Jul 1837 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 316,2958,2961,2962,7000 Cause of Death:Events
Occupation: Merchant / Planter, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Baptism: 8 Nov 1799, Dartmouth, Devon, England.
Court: High Court of Chancery cases against his grandfather and Walter Prideaux, 1816-1825, Dartmouth, Devon, England. It is fascinating that these two historical documents were preserved in the family all these years because they form the focus of a long and acrimonious legal battle waged by Matthew's ward and grandson, John Foale Morry, against his grandfather and the other partner in Matthew Morry and Company, Walter Prideaux, a Solicitor and Banker from Kingsbridge and Dartmouth, Devon. At the heart of the matter was how these two partners wound up essentially depriving John of the inheritance left to him by his parents, who both died in 1807 when he was only seven years old. Matthew was his court-appointed guardian and, along with another Dartmouth lawyer, William Cholwich Hunt, was charge by the court with protecting his young wards inheritance much of which was tied up in these Consolidated £3 perCent Annuities sold by the Government of England. Instead he conspired with Prideaux to sell off these ironclad assets and used the funds to pay off personal and Company debts on the pretext that he would look after John with Company funds until he reached the age of maturity. This left John with no inheritance. After many years before the High Court of Chancery, a judgement was found against Matthew and Prideaux but it is not know what portion of John's inheritance was restored to him afterwards. The fact that Matthew or John held onto this evidence from the trial is quite bizarre really.
Court: MG237 Box 2 File 13 Deed of Loan to Matthew Morry & Co. (Dartmouth & Caplin Bay) by John Morry (Dartmouth), 20 Aug 1816, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Party)
Court: Called as member of Grand Jury; Inaugural Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, Between 24 May 1826 and 29 May 1826, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Juror)
Court: Grand and Petty Juries, Second Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 3 Nov 1826, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Juror)
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Third Sitting of the Southern Circuit Court, 2 Oct 1827, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Presiding: The Honourable Richard Alexander Tucker, Esq., Chief Judge of the Supreme Court
B. G. Garrett, Clerk and Registrar, SCC
John Bulger, Deputy Sheriff
William Carter, Magistrate & Custos Rotulorum (Keeper of the Rolls)
Andrew Morrison, Magistrate
John Preston, Magistrate
Richard Sullivan and John McLennan, Constables
Peter Gorman, Gaoler
Grand Jury:
Charles Hutchins (FOreman); Thomas Congdon, G. Brown; James H. Carter; Matthew Morry; John Morry; John Row; W. Richards; N. Stabb; P. Winsor; Thomas Norris; Thomas Norris, Jr.; John W. Saunders; M. Brazil; E. Stabb; A. Clift; B. Sweetland; Phillip Wright; Robert Evans; William Goff. Court: John Morry v Richard Sullivan at 4th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 8 Nov 1828, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Action to recover £39.0.0
Robert Carter foreman of Special Jury
Verdict for Plaintiff. Owner: Brigantine Miriam, 1832-1838, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. 180202: On the CD-ROM "Ships and Seafarers of Atlantic Canada" there is reference made to a John Morry as a shipowner and builder who may be this John, since other John Morry's on file would not be of the correct age to match the records. However, since this John died in 1837 it begs the question why his name would still be on the ship's register two years later when it was lost at sea. The only other John Morry we know of who was in Newfoundland at this time was John Henry, son of Matthew and grandson of Matthew the original immigrant. But that John would only have been 14 at the time this vessel was constructed and only 21 when it sank. There is always the possibility that the another son of Matthew the immigrant who accompanied him to Newfoundland may have had a son named John as well but I have no record of this if they did.
The other more plausible explanation is that John Foale Morry was the original owner and his 1st cousin, John Henry Morry, son of Matthew Morry the 2nd, became the person on the register after the death of John Foale Morry. The latter apprently left his fortune to this cousin.
Registration No.S838037 Length (ft) 58 Owner's Surname: Morry Width (ft) 15 Owner's First Name: John Depth (ft) 8 Residence: St. John's, Nfld. Gross Tonnage 58 Occupation: Professional Year Registered 1838 Owner No. 01 Official Closure Year 1840 Partnership Divisor: 01 Reason for Closure 12 (Lost at Sea) Shares: 64 Actual Closure Date 1839 Was Owner The Builder: Yes Vessel Name: Miriam Where Prev. Registered: Exeter Year Prev. Registered: 1832 Place Constructed: Foreign (Unknown) No. of Decks: 1 No. of Masts 2 Type of Vessel: Brigantine. Court: Called as a witness for Richard Sullivan, plaintiff, in case before the circuit court, 5 Mar 1833, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. What is interesting about this reference is that he was present this early in the year in Ferryland which means he was there all winter since it was a harsh winter according to Robert Carter and no vessels from England had yet been able to make it to Newfoundland that year.
Arrival: From St. John's, 18 Mar 1837, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. This again implies that he must have overwintered in Newfoundland but where exactly is unknown.
Occupation: Merchant and Planter, Caplin Bay, Bef 16 Jul 1837, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Alt. Death: 26 Jul 1837, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Probate: Application for Letters of Administration to John Morry's estate by Uncle Matthew Morry, 11 Oct 1837, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Parents
Father: Capt. John Morry 168 Mother: Mary Foale Luke 109 Marriage Did Not Marry
Notes
General:
5 August 2000:
I only know of this person's existence from the data on his tombstone transcribed by the NLGS:
"Matthew Morry, merchant, a native of Dartmouth, Devon, England died 19 June 1836 age 86 yrs. Also, John Morry, merchant of Dartmouth, Devon, grandson of the above Matthew Morry. Died 16 June 1837 aged 37 years"
Actually the stone reads as follows:
Sacred to the Memory of Matthew Morry Merchant of Dartmouth who Died 19th day of June 1836 Aged 86 Years Also John Morry Merchant of Dartmouth Grandson of the Above Matthew Morry who Died 16th day of July 1837 Aged 37 Years
This was one of many abbreviations and errors made by Roberta Sullivan, who was quite careless about such things.
7/8/00:
Enid O'Brien writes: "Re: John Morry, grandson of Matthew Morry who died on 16 June 1837, age 37 years. I believe this John is the son of John and Mary Toale/Foale Luke who had a son, John baptised at St. Saviour's Parish in Darthmouth 8/11/1799. The age would be correct and he would be the grandson of Matthew Morry."
This is new information on a son for this John and Mary and on this basis I have made the connection in the file.
January 20, 2001:
Geoffrey Williams provided the clue to seal this in his email Number 461:
"1800John MORRY M C 22 Jan 1800 John MORRY Mary Foale LUKE Dartmouth District of South Hams DEV ENG Parish Records Feral ENG Morey Forum"
I wrote to him to make the link and have added this new Christening date. I think Enid's Baptism date of November 8, 1799 may in fact be the date of birth. I'll pose this to the two of them to sort out.
180202: On the CD-ROM "Ships and Seafarers of Atlantic Canada" there is reference made to a John Morry as a shipowner and builder who may be this John, since other John Morry's on file would not be of the correct age to match the records. However, since this John died in 1837 it begs the question why his name would still be on the ship's register two years later when it was lost at sea. The only other John Morry we know of who was in Newfoundland at this time was John Henry, son of Matthew and grandson of Matthew the original immigrant. But that John would only have been 14 at the time this vessel was constructed and only 21 when it sank. There is always the possibility that the another son of Matthew the immigrant who accompanied him to Newfoundland may have had a son named John as well but I have no record of this if they did.
Registration No.S838037 Length (ft) 58 Owner's Surname: Morry Width (ft) 15 Owner's First Name: John Depth (ft) 8 Residence: St. John's, Nfld. Gross Tonnage 58 Occupation: Professional Year Registered 1838 Owner No. 01 Official Closure Year 1840 Partnership Divisor: 01 Reason for Closure 12 (Lost at Sea) Shares: 64 Actual Closure Date 1839 Was Owner The Builder: Yes Vessel Name: Miriam Where Prev. Registered: Exeter Year Prev. Registered: 1832 Place Constructed: Foreign (Unknown) No. of Decks: 1 No. of Masts 2 Type of Vessel: Brigantine
30/03/03: There is a Last Will and Testament on file at the Probate Court in St. John's which I believe to be that of this John Morry as it is administered by Matthew Morry II and he indicates in the court documents that he was the uncle of the deceased. See scrapbook for a transcript. He died unmarried and without children and left most of his fortune to Matthew II's son John, his first cousin, for reasons unexplained.
April 5, 2004: Church of England Ferryland Burial Record on Newfoundland's Grand Banks website: July 26, 1837Morry, John Caplin Bay Merchant/Planter 37 Not Stated
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291219: It is of note that both Matthew Morry Sr. and his grandson, John Morry, served on a Grand Jury in Ferryland on May 24, 1826. While this in and of itself proves nothing, it does seem indicative that they apparently had settle their differences hanging over their relationship from the court cases in England.
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300720: I have just discovered that the Robert Carter diaries contain no reference to the death or burial of John Morry. This implies, despite the evidence of a burial record in the Petty Harbour register, that John died and was buried elsewhere or was lost at sea. The stone, therefore, was merely intended to commemorate him, along with his grandfather, Matthew Morry Sr., who undoubtedly was buried there.
Living
Sex: M
Parents
Father: John Henry Morry 168,316 Mother: Mary Elizabeth Sesk 919
Spouses and Children
1. *Shirley Ann O'Brien 275,343 Marriage: Children: 1. Living 2. Living 2. LivingJohn Henry Morry
Sex: MAKA: John Henry Morey 6849,7001
Individual Information
Birth Date: 9 Mar 1896 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 918,7002,7003 Christening: 12 Mar 1896 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 918,6852,6878,7001 Death: 29 Apr 1960 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( at age 64) 282,7002,7003,7004 Burial: After 29 Apr 1960 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 316,7002,7003,7004 Cause of Death: Coronary Thrombosis/Arteriosclerosis 7004Events
Godfather: Michael White, 12 Mar 1896, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Godmother: Maud White, 12 Mar 1896, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Minister/Priest: L. K. Vereker, 12 Mar 1896, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Oil Refiner (presumably meaning cod liver oil), 10 May 1920, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Census: Household of Agnes Sesk, widow, 1921, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Household Member)
Census: Living with wife and 1st child at home of mother in law, 1921, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Cod Fisherman, 1921, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Census: Household of John Henry Morry in 1935 Newfoundland Census, 1935, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. John Morry
Newfoundland Census, 1935
Name:John Morry
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1935
Event Place: Ferryland, Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada
Gender: Male
Age: 39
Marital Status: Married
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1896
Birthplace: Newfoundland
Page: 119
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Morry Head Male 39 Newfoundland
Elizabeth Morry Wife Female 35 Newfoundland
Lillian MorryDaughter Female 14 Newfoundland
William MorrySon Male 12 Newfoundland
Douglas MorrySon Male 11 Newfoundland
Graham MorrySon Male 10 Newfoundland
Gerald MorrySon Male 8 Newfoundland
Mary MorryDaughter Female 6 Newfoundland
Edgar MorrySon Male 4 Newfoundland
Margaret MorryDaughter Female 3 Newfoundland
Robert MorrySon Male 1 Newfoundland. Occupation: Fisherman, Cod Fishery, 1935, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Declared earnings of $1200 in this year places him well above other fishermen because he had more than one crew and was also involved in selling the processed fish.
Residence: Ferryland; Fisherman, 1936, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Property: Sale of John Henry Morry II property to Thomas Grant, 12 Jun 1936, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Party)
Military: Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Corps in WWII, Between Jan 1940 and 1942, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Laura Morry Williams in On the Edge says he and the others left Newfoundland in January 1940.
Arrival: Return from stint with Foresters in Scotland, 11 Mar 1942, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. March 11 1942:
John arrived in St. John's from Scotland.
. Census: John Henry Morry family in 1945 Newfoundland Census, 1945, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Found on FamilySearch, 141018
Sheet corrected to make right and left sides match May 2020. Occupation: Fisherman, Cod Fishery, $3000 pa, 1945, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Religion: RC, 1945, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Residence: House valued at $2000. This was the house originally willed to my father., 1945, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Documentation: Profiles of World War II Veterans in the 2019 Come Home Year Book, 2019, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. From "Treasured Memories - Then and Now", the Ferryland 2019 Come Home Year Book
.
Parents
Father: Pte. Thomas Graham Morry III 168,282,283,749,2274,6854 Mother: Catherine Frances White 42,168,6855,6856,6857,6858,6859,6860
Spouses and Children
1. *Mary Elizabeth Sesk 919 Marriage: 10 May 1920 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 7005Marriage Events
Alt. Marriage: 29 Apr 1920, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Witnesses: Gus Duffy and Margaret Carew, 10 May 1920, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Marriage Notes
Note that this information is from the "official" register of marriage and should be accurate. But it differs from what I received from the family so I am not sure which to believe. On the other hand, both their names are misspelled, his as Morey and hers as Siesk, so that speaks to the accuracy of this register transcript.Children: 1. Lillian Josephine Morry 2. William Anthony Morry 3. Douglas Joseph Morry 4. Graham Joseph Morry 5. Gerald Francis Morry 6. Mary Louise Morry R.N. 7. John Edgar Morry 8. Margaret Mary Morry 9. Robert Joseph Morry 10. Ursula Marie Morry 11. Beatrice Mary Morry 12. Living 13. Living 14. Living
Notes
General:
Checked Marriage date with daughter Ursula 120202 - Date given is April 29, 1950 on genealogy supplied by Aunt Jean Funkhauser but this was obviously a transcription error because he had a large family, according to my father, Thomas Morry (information provided 1999), and all were born before this date. In fact the date should be April 29, 1920.
Roberta Sullivan confirms in email 24/05/01 that he had 14 children; she added John Henry to our list.
Gravestone in Ferryland Catholic Cemetery reads: "John Morry, died 29 April 1960; 64 yrs. erected by his wife and family."
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21/02/02: Birth/Baptismal record from Holy Trinity RC Church, Ferryland transcribed on NGB website contains errors in spelling of surname:
MOREY, John Henry; Born Mar 9, 1896; Baptised 12-Mar 1896; Father - Thomas Morey; Mother - Kate White; Witnesses - Michael White and Maud White.
Michael White and Maud White were Kate White's brother and sister.
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020209: Article in the Evening Telegram sent to me by Wanda Garrett:
"Monday, February 24, 1997 The Evening Telegram
CHILDHOOD HOME Ferryland is the setting for this quaint outport dwelling
By JEAN EDWARDS STACEY The Evening Telegram
The Morry house in Ferryland sits next to a finger of land that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The house itself is an ordinary looking two-storey structure that has been in the Morry family ever since it was built in 1870.
Tom Morry and his wife Catherine (White) of Ferryland were the ones who commissioned a man named Swain from Calvert to build the house. Years later, Catherine died and Tom married his childhood sweetheart and moved to British Columbia. But before moving he passed the house on to his son John, and John's wife Elizabeth (Siske).
John and Elizabeth moved into the house in 1934 and it was there they raised a family of 14 children. Today, their daughter-in-law Jeanie lives in the house. (Regrettably, her husband Robert has died since our visit to Ferryland). Robert's sister, Laura Williams, lives close by. Another sister, Mary Barron, lives in St. John's. Ferryland is part of Newfoundland's historic and beautiful Southern Shore - a stretch of land that ranges from bay Bulls in the North to Cape Race in the south. Included among the communities that make up the shore are Witless Bay, Mobile, Tors Cove, Cape Broyle, Calvert, Aquaforte, Fermeuse, Renews, Cappahayden and Trepassey.
Ferryland is actually Newfoundland's second oldest community, the oldest settlement being Cupids, in Conception Bay, which was founded by John Guy in 1612. Ferryland's beginnings can be traced to 1621 when colonists from England arrived to settle on land that had been given to George Calvert, later Lord Baltimore.
Permanent settlement of the Southern Shore began with the West Country English, but by the early 1760s Irish settlers were the dominant force.
The Morrys of Ferryland number among their ancestors people from County Cork, Ireland, and Devonshire, England, but, as is the case with many people along the Southern Shore, their Irish background is predominant. Irish ancestry is evident the moment they speak.
"Let me show you the dark hall where we used to play as children," says Laura in a lilting voice that could pass without notice on any street in Dublin.
The so-called dark hall is a small area at the end of the front hall that is surrounded by doors. There's a door to the hall, one to the kitchen, one to the back porch and one to the breakfast room. When all the doors are closed this area is dark and scary. The Morry children spent hours playing in the dark hall. It was a perfect spot to play a game they called Ghosts.
"We had so much fun growing up here," says Laura as she leads you back toward the front door and into a room known as the front room or the piano room. In this room where the family gathered on winter evenings, there's a piano as well as a fireplace and a built in cupboard where Laura remembers her mother used to keep the "good" china.
In Robert and Laura's grandfather's time, the room was also known as "the surgery." When required, the entrepreneurial Tom Morry would rent the room to visiting doctors for use as a temporary surgery/office.
Across from the front room is what was always known as the front parlour. This room with its decorative fireplace was reserved for company and was strictly off limits to the Morry children.
Behind the piano room is what was always known as the breakfast room. Laura says this room with its huge gate leg table was used as a company dining room.
In earlier times there was a built-on addition off the breakfast room. This addition, which has since been torn down, is where grandfather Tom had a shop which also housed the community post office.
Across from the breakfast room is the kitchen. For the Morrys, this room with its wood and coal stove and big wooden table was truly the heart of the house. Family meals were eaten in the kitchen. After supper when the dishes had been cleared away, schoolbooks were taken out and homework was done on the kitchen table. The wooden table was also the site of raucous games of cards and board games like snakes and ladders and checkers.
In one corner of the kitchen there's a couch - more commonly referred to as a daybed - a piece of furniture once found m most out-port kitchens. Robert used to enjoy an after dinner snooze on the daybed. And Laura remembers her fisherman father napping there after returning from a morning on the water.
With a grin, Laura walks to the daybed.
"When 1 was a child," she says as she kneels on the daybed facing the wall, "this is where my mother used to kneel to say the rosary. She said the rosary every night after supper."
The Morry children knelt on the kitchen floor and accompanied their mother in the saying of the rosary. If friends dropped by, they too were included.
Off the kitchen is what's known as the "well house." With walls of rough wide lumber and an open beamed ceiling, this is the room which housed an indoor well. It's also where milk from the family's six head of cattle was separated.
The Morrys, like many people in the outports, used to be quite self sufficient. In addition to their cows, they had eight to 10 sheep, some pigs, some goats, chickens and a horse.
On their 20 acres of land they grew vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and cabbages for their own use as well as to sell. Close by the house was the kitchen garden where their mother grew lettuce, peas, onions, cucumbers, parsnips and Swiss chard. During the summer the children would be sent to the kitchen garden to gather vegetables for dinner.
To the rear of the kitchen is the back porch and the pantry.
In the upstairs of the Morry house, there's a back bedroom known as the boys' room for obvious reasons. Seven Morry sons slept here at one time or another. The door leading into the boys' room has stained glass panes and to enter the room you must go down one step.
Next is a large bedroom called the children's bedroom. This is where Laura and her sisters slept. Off this room there used to be two rooms, accessible either from here or by way of outside stairs. One room was for storage. The other was a room where the Morry children sometimes slept in summer. In Tom Morry's time, the room was likely used as maid's room.
"We were grand in grandfather's time," laughs Laura.
The master bedroom is at the front of the house and in this room there are a number of pieces of furniture which have been passed down through the Morry family.
The items include a washstand, an elaborate dresser with a mirror, and an armless rocking chair.
Across from the master bedroom is what's known as "Lillian's room." In a house where there were 14 children, this bedroom was set aside for Lillian, the eldest child.
Even though Lillian died in 1987 at age 67, her siblings found it difficult to call the room anything other than Lillian's.
Leaving the Morry house by way of the back door, you hold the door as the wind whips up from the ocean, then step down into a flat field which stretches out to the sea. You can see white capped waves dash against the rocky shore and picture generations of fishermen heading home, knowing they're safe now that they've glimpsed the lights of home in Ferryland."
230310 Geoffrey Williams extract of 1945 Census from NGB: JohnH M 49 Ferryland Morry Elizabeth Wife F M 44 Morry William Son M S 23 Morry Douglas J. Son M S 21 Morry Gerald F. Son M S 18 Morry Mary L. Dau F S 17 Morry Margaret M. Dau F S 13 Morry Robert J. Son M S 11 Morry Ursula M. Dau F S 9 Morry Beatrice M. Dau F S 7 Morry Agnes M. Dau F S 5 Morry John H. Son M S 2 Morry Sheila M. Dau F S 12-Feb Morry Edgar J. Son M S 15 Ferryland
1935 Census of Ferryland
NAMESTATUS AGE VALUE OF HOUSE OR RENT PAID NUMBER OF ROOMS IN HOME OCCUPATION INCOME Since June 1934 READ OR WRITE COMMENTS Morry, John Head 39 1200 11 Fisherman 1200 W Has Radio Morry, Elizabeth Wife 35 Homemaker No Pay W Morry, Lillian Daughter 14 Student W Morry, William Son 12 Student W Morry, Douglas Son 11 Student W Morry, Graham Son 10 Student W Morry, Gerald Son 8 Student W Morry, Mary Daughter 6 Student W Morry, Edgar Son 4 Morry, Margaret Daughter 3 Morry, Robert Son 1
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071213:
In her book "Over the Fence", John's daughter, Laura, tells how her father, Howard Morry, Jim Barnable, Jack Devereaux and the Johnstons all supplied cod livers to Johnny Jordan which he then took to Ede Keough's to render in a large cylinder provided by the government.
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071219:
Laura's latest book, self-published in 2019, is entitled "On The Edge". It is essentially a collection of biographical notes including excerpts from her daily diary.
In one of the first pages she explains her version of how her father wound up getting the house built by his father, Thomas Graham Morry. Since she was not alive at the time she can be excused somewhat for getting the facts wrong, but she should have had access to her grandfather's will, since that is how her father actually did wind up owning the house, and that tells a completely different story than the fiction she has created in her own mind or has been told by other family members:
"When grandfather, in his later years, wished to sell the house
and move to Alberta [should be British Columbia], he knew he would have difficulty getting a buyer because of the house's size [he had no intention of selling the house; he had left it to my father in his will, written shortly before leaving Newfoundland]. He approached my father, who had recently built a two storey house at the end of the lane, close to the road [actually John had built that house years before when he first married].
Grandfather felt it would be easier to sell a new house so he arranged with my father to swap the old homestead and land in exchange for his dwelling [absolutley untrue].
Grandmother Morry, nee White, from the south side of Ferryland, had been deceased then. After the house exchange, Grandfather sold the newer house to Tommy Grant who was married to Philomena Barnable, the daughter of Jim Barnable, my mother's first cousin [this all took place after John had convinced his father to change the will and leave the house to him; Tom had a codicil to this effect made out in Victoria and the transfer of the house and sale of John's old house took place after his death and was faciliated by William Gray acting as his executor].
Following the deaths of Tommy and his wife, the house became the property of their niece, Sheila, daughter of Philomena's brother, Henry. After moving away, Grandfather Morry married a woman he
had known from his childhood. His second wife had been married twice before.
My brother, Robert, was a baby when the family moved down the lane into the big house, around 1935 [only this part of the story is correct as the timing coincided with the death of her grandfather, not his move to BC]. Robert married a Calvert girl, Jeanie Kavanagh, in the 1970's, and they spent the rest of their days in the old homestead raising their two girls, Shelly and Susan."
The above story bears only a slight resemblance to the story told to a Telegram reporter years ago by Shelly and Susan about the history of the house and how they came to be living there. That story was a fiction as well.
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From Dad Morry's diary dated May 2, 1960:
(May 2) Last week was a bad week for us. We
all had the Flue, & then on Friday morning [April 29]
a neighbour, Pat Crane, came & broke the
news to me of my brother John's death.
He died suddenly at 5 A. M. Just sat up in
bed & fell back dead. He was a good man,
one of the few who have not to die to get a
good name. He had the Largest Funeral
ever seen in Ferryland, fifty seven cars, each
full of people & more than a hundred walking besides.
I'll miss him, for I saw him every day
and looked out for him while he was little.
Another root pulled up. As our old friends go, there
there is no one to take their place. Each leaves
a gap.
John Henry Morry
Sex: MAKA: John Morey 3006, John Morry 278
Individual Information
Birth Date: 23 Feb 1818 - Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 278,728 Christening: 29 Sep 1818 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 278,728 Death: 15 Apr 1897 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( at age 79) 316,481,7006 Burial: 18 Apr 1897 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 282,316,2958,2962,3197 Cause of Death:Events
Alt. Birth: 22 Feb 1818, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. This date is out by one day compared to the date given on the NGB website, based on the Vital Statistics transcript of the Anglican Cathedral Register (23 Feb 1818). I really don't know for sure which date is correct because I don't know what source Aunt Jean was using and cannot consult the Anglican Cathedral register itself (the church refuses to allow such examinations).
Minister/Priest: Thomas Grantham, 29 Sep 1818, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Member of officials at 7th sitting of Southern Circuit Court, 10 Oct 1831, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Juror)
Owner: Brigantine Miriam, 1832-1838, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. 180202: On the CD-ROM "Ships and Seafarers of Atlantic Canada" there is reference made to a John Morry as a shipowner and builder who may be this John, since other John Morry's on file would not be of the correct age to match the records. However, since this John died in 1837 it begs the question why his name would still be on the ship's register two years later when it was lost at sea. The only other John Morry we know of who was in Newfoundland at this time was John Henry, son of Matthew and grandson of Matthew the original immigrant. But that John would only have been 14 at the time this vessel was constructed and only 21 when it sank. There is always the possibility that the another son of Matthew the immigrant who accompanied him to Newfoundland may have had a son named John as well but I have no record of this if they did.
Registration No.S838037 Length (ft) 58 Owner's Surname: Morry Width (ft) 15 Owner's First Name: John Depth (ft) 8 Residence: St. John's, Nfld. Gross Tonnage 58 Occupation: Professional Year Registered 1838 Owner No. 01 Official Closure Year 1840 Partnership Divisor: 01 Reason for Closure 12 (Lost at Sea) Shares: 64 Actual Closure Date 1839 Was Owner The Builder: Yes Vessel Name: Miriam Where Prev. Registered: Exeter Year Prev. Registered: 1832 Place Constructed: Foreign (Unknown) No. of Decks: 1 No. of Masts 2 Type of Vessel: Brigantine
. Property: Full Description of the Holdsworth Property, 5 Dec 1837, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Note that a part of this property was originally the Plantation of a man named John Robins but was sold to Robert Holdsworth on April 13, 1765. The relevant indenture is attached and enclosed in the Media Items folder. It was found in July 2018 at The Rooms in the "Special Items Collection: MG 956 R33 C 1 Robert Holdsworth purchase of John Robins Plantation Ferryland 13 August 1765
. Property: Announcement of John Morry (Lemessurier & Morry) Intent to Purchase, 26 Apr 1844, Ferryland, Newfoundland. Carter indicates that John Morry is buying the Holdsworth property:
Holdsworth's premises taken in charge
by Mr Jn Morry to carry on Business there
Firm
LeMessurier & Morry. Property: Purchase of Holdsworth Property, 3 May 1844, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Morry and Norris sue Thomas Condon for non-payment of cost of bait, Jan 1847, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Ferryland Court records examined by Kevin Reddigan. He believes the two people suing Condon were John Henry Morry (representing Morry & Co.) and their sometime partner, Thomas Norris.
Living: 1848, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Owner: Owner or at least user of the small coaster, the "Lion", 1848, Ferryland, Newfoundland. It was initially shown to belong to his father, Matthew Morry II.
Residence: Ferryland Voters List first mention of any Morry, 1849, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Merchant, 9 Feb 1850, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Documentation: Petitition to provide support via roadwork to destitute of Ferryland, 29 Oct 1852, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Signatory)
Occupation: Merchant, 28 Dec 1852, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Property: Notice of Auction of Holdsworth Property - Public Ledger, 28 Dec 1852, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Discovered this today (13 Dec. 2022) on the Google Newspaper Archive after first finding a reference to it in "Ferryland Bibliography" researched by Clara Murphy and Ronald J. Fitzpatrick for the Ferryland Historical Society, first researched in 1987 and then printed but not published in 1995.
This adds a new dimension to the Ann Coulman Winsor indenture by which she completed the purchase of this property on behalf of her sons in law, John Henry Morry and Peter Paint Le Messurier, though only the former really benefited since he occupied the premises. Although they had contracted to purchase this property in 1844, their failure to complete the necessary payments before 1852 almost resulted in Henry Holdsworth reselling it out from under them if it were not for Ann Coulman Winsor making them a loan of the final payment to give to Holdsworth. Property: Indenture between John Henry Morry & Peter Paint Le Messurier and Ann Coulman-Winsor, Between 16 May 1853 and 28 Oct 1862, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Party)
Occupation: Merchant, 29 Oct 1854, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Merchant, 1 Dec 1855, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: List of Grand Jurors in SDC, Between 11 Oct 1859 and 12 Oct 1859, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Juror)
Court: Supreme Court: Alexander Graham v. Henry Morry, 1860, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador probate, estate and related records
Reel 205
Supreme Court: Alexander Graham v. Henry Morry
Series GN 170, File Reel 205, Frames 779-789
1860
Level of descriptionFile
Extent 11 p. textual records
Forms part ofReel 205
Record typeGovernment Records
Scope and content File consists of claim for debt, £50, occupation of premises.
Schedule of property.
CopyrightCopyright resides with Crown. Occupation: Planter, 21 Jun 1862, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Merchant (Cod Liver Oil) and Planter and Post Master, Between 1864 and 1896, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Southern Circuit Court, 3 Oct 1864, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Indenture between John Henry Morry and Ann Coulman-Winsor, 2 Dec 1864, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. (Party)
Court: Summons to appear at the suit of Kenneth McLea for debts incurred, 7 Dec 1864, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Brought to my attention August 17 2020 by Edward Chafe through Facebook Messenger.
Here is how the whole thing now comes together with the addition of this one paper:
Hi Enid, Kevin and Steve:
You will recall that on 2 Dec 1864 John Henry Morry took the unusual step of essentially selling all his goods and chattels to his mother-in-law, Ann [Coulman] Winsor.
Previously, on 16 May 1853, she had already bailed out he and his then partner, Peter Paint Le Messurier when they failed to make the second payment on the purchase of the Holdsworth property. She thereby became the de facto owner of those premises. The fact that they failed to ever reimburse her was recorded formally in another indenture covering the house, outbuildings, lands and waterside premises on 28 October 1862.
But, other than the assumption that his finances continued to be compromised, we never really knew why that "sale" on 2 December 1864 was necessary. Now we do!
Yesterday, Edward Chafe sent me via Facebook Messenger the enclosed Summons to Appear dated five days later on 7 December 1864. From this we can determine that John Morry had dug himself so deeply into debt to Kenneth McLea and Company that he knew he would be unable to repay his debts at the Supreme Court when he responded to this summons and he would thereby be ruined financially and shamed socially. He and Kenneth were second cousins, but money is thicker than blood apparently. So mother-in-law to the rescue again!
We should all be so lucky as to have a fairy godmother so generous and well-heeled! But I'm willing to bet that the old dear never let him hear the end of it! As you know, she never returned ownership of the property to John, instead gifting it to his son, Thomas Graham Morry, on 15 Dec 1881 on condition that he reserve the use of the house for his maiden sisters as long as they lived. Two of them never married and outlived him, and hence he never did gain full use of the property in his lifetime.
Many thanks to Edward for clearing up this little puzzle.
Chris. Occupation: Planter, 23 Jan 1865, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Southern Circuit Court, 4 Oct 1865, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Southern Circuit Court, Oct 1866, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Planter, 17 Feb 1867, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Southern Circuit Court, 7 Oct 1867, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Southern Circuit Court, 8 Oct 1868, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Southern Circuit Court, 5 Oct 1869, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Southern Circuit Court, 4 Oct 1870, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Living: Postmaster, 1871, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Court: Grand Jury for Southern Circuit of Supreme Court, 3 Oct 1876, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Posted on Newfoundlanders and Genealogy Facebook by Edward Chafe on Feb. 19, 2021.
Court: Member of Grand Jury, Southern Circuit Court, 3 Oct 1877, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Postmaster, 13 Feb 1879, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Occupation: Ran boarding house called The Morry House at 159 Gower St., Cir 1896, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Alt. Death: 10 Apr 1897, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Residence: 159 Gower St., 15 Apr 1897, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Minister/Priest: Henry C. Winsor, Lay Reader, 18 Apr 1897, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Parents
Father: Matthew Morry II, JP 78,105,109,168 Mother: Ann Sanders
Spouses and Children
1. *Elizabeth Sarah Winsor 168,282,283 Marriage: 12 Dec 1848 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 1108,2511,7007Marriage Events
Alt. Marriage: Caplin Bay, 12 Dec 1848, Calvert, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Minister/Priest: H. H. Hamilton, 12 Dec 1848, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Witnesses: Henry Winsor Sr., Anne Winsor, Matthew Morry, Henry Winsor Jr., 12 Dec 1848, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. I assume the Matthew Morry acting as witness was his father, Matthew Morry II, just as the two men who signed as Henry Winsor were more than likely her father and her brother and Anne Winser was likewise Ann Coulman, her mother. Marriage Notes
280621:Children: 1. Pte. Thomas Graham Morry III 2. Agnes Frederica Morry 3. Alice Maud Morry 4. Clara Isabella Morry 5. John Howard Morry 6. Florence B. Morry 7. Mary Le Messurier Morry 8. Alice Wylly Morry 9. Augusta Winsor Morry 10. Emily Frances Victoria Morry R. N. 11. Jane Josephine Morry
Jean Carter Stirling's family history notes indicate that they were married in Aquaforte. This is actually possible because although St. Luke's existed at the time in Ferryland, there were long periods of time when no minister was resident there. That said, the parish register shows the marriage taking place in Ferryland.
Notes
General:
[Brψderbund Family Archive #118, Ed. 1, Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s - 1900s, Date of Import: Jul 26, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.118.1.61990.6]Medical:
Individual: Morry, John Event: Living Year: 1871 Place: Ferryland, Ferryland
Province of record source: Newfoundland County of record source: Ferryland
Comments: Farmer.
Source: Newfoundland Directory for 1871. Publisher: The Genealogical Research Library Publication place: Toronto Publication year: 1984
Volume/Page(s): 29
Please note: The province and county are associated with the location of the record source and in some cases may not be the same as the place where the event occurred.
Date of death shows as 18 April, 1897 on Aunt Jean's photocopied records but 15 April on the LDS site. Actually he was buried on the 18th. This is also borne out by his gravestone which reads:
"In Memory of John Morry Died 15 April 1897 Aged 79 years "
Listed on Lovell's 1871 Directory for Ferryland as a "planter" by profession. This meant a land-holder fisherman, one with more than just a boat to his name.
No Morry shows up in the Voters List for Ferryland 1840-1859 until John's name appears in 1849 with "North Side" given as his specific domicile. In 1855 and 1859 he is joined on the list by his brothers Henry (South Side) and Arthur (North Side) in that order, who evidently moved from Caplin Bay at that time (their names appeared on the list for Caplin Bay before that).
Also a John "Morsy" appears as a merchant in the 1864-65 Directory of Ferryland.
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Geoffrey Williams'email 366 of 10/08/00 refers:
"Their (Matthew and Ann's) son married Elizabeth Sarah Windsor
1818John Henry MORRY M B 22 Feb 1818 Mathew MORRY Anne SAUNDERS Elizabeth Sarah WINDSOR Caplin Bay NFD CAN Notebook 01 KLN Gabriel Morey Forum"
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190202: It isn't entirely clear when the Holdsworth Property first came into possession of the Morrys. Enid O'Brien provided photocopies of pages found in an "old black ledger" in the Lands and Deeds Office at the Confederation Building. These papers pertain to a transaction between John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier on the one part and Ann Winsor of Aquaforte on the second part, dated May 15, 1853 indicate this property was bought by them (John and Peter) jointly from Arthur William Olive Holdsworth (Arthur's son) on May 3, 1844 and they then sold it to Ann Winsor on that May 15 1853. The John Morry in question was undoubtedly this John Henry Morry, Matthew Morry the emigrant's grandson via Matthew Morry Jr. He was married to Elizabeth Sarah Winsor, the daughter of Henry Winsor and Ann Coulman. Peter Paint LeMessurier was notonly his business partner but also the husband of John's sister Mary. Why John would be selling the house that later belonged to his son Thomas Graham Morry and later his grandson Howard Leopold Morry, and howit ever came back into their possession from the Winsors is a mysteryat this time. Perhaps the "sale" to his mother-in-law was strictly a way of transferring capital from her to her son-in-law for business purposes or to avoid taxes. In any event, the house did remain in John'spossession and that of his descendants despite this transaction:
"John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier to Ann Winsor
This indenture made at St. John's in the island of Newfoundland this sixteenth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-three between John Morry of Ferryland in the aforesaid island, merchant, and Peter Paint LeMessurier of St. John's aforesaid, gentleman, of the one part AND Ann Winsor, Aquaforte in the island aforesaid, widow, of the other part, whereas the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier did by indenture bearing date the third day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, purchase from Arthur William Olive Holdsworth of Dartmouth, Esquire, for the consideration of six hundred pounds (Buy?) - the premises situate at Ferryland aforesaid hereinafter more particularly described all of which consideration money was faithfully and fully paid at the time appointed for payment thereof, and whereas the said Ann Winsor hath contracted with the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier furtherabsolute purchase of the said premises for the consideration hereinafter expressed. Now this indenture witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred pounds currency of the island aforesaid to the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier, in hand paid before the execution hereof by the said Ann Winsor and from the paymentof which she and her heirs are forever acquitted and released. They,the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier have granted bargained sold and assigned and by these presents do grant bargain, sell & assign unto the said Ann Winsor and heirs all those messuages, lands, tenements, hereditaments and premises at present in the possession of the said John Morry situate lying and being in Ferryland aforesaid and comprised within the following limits or boundaries, that is to say, bounded on the northwest by the highroad leading to Caplin Bay, on the southwest by a certain rock in the harbour of Ferryland aforesaid called Anchor Rock, in the south by the said harbour, in the southeast by property of Robert Holdsworth, and in the north northeast by the sea shore of Caplin Bay aforesaid, together with all messuages, outhouses, stores, flakes, buildings, erections, yards, gardens, meadows and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining or reputed as part and parcel thereof, and all the estate right title, interest, property claim and demand whatsoever either at law or in equity of them, the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier with all revisions and rights of revision and remainder and remainders and all plans deeds evidences and documents which in anywise relate tothe said premises or any part thereof. To have and to hold the said messuages, lands, tenements and all and singular the premises aforesaid with appurtenances unto the said Ann Winsor, her heirs and assigns forever. To the only proper use and behalf of the said Ann Winsor her heirs and assigns forever AND the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier for themselves their heirs, executors and administrators do hereby covenant promise and agree with and to the said Ann Winsor her heirs and assigns in the manner following, that is to say that, they, the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier, have in themselves good rightful power and lawful authority by these presents to grant bargain sell assign and convey the said messuages tenements and all and singular the premises herein before released with appurtenances unto andto the use of the said Ann Winsor, her heirs and assigns, in manner aforesaid and that it shall be lawful for the said Ann Winsor her heirsand assigns peacefully and quietly to enter have, hold and enjoy, thepremises aforesaid and receive and take the rents issues and profits thereof to her and their own use and uses without the let hindrance orinterruption of the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier their or either of their heirs or assigns or of any person or persons whomsoever and that free and clear and, freely and clearly, acquitted, exonerated, discharged, or otherwise, by the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier their heirs, executors and administrators, saved, defended, and kept harmless of and from and against all former and other gifts, grants, bargains, sales, mortgages, charges, and encumbrances whatsoever AND that they, the said John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier, their heirs and executors and administrators do and shall at the reasonable request and at the expense of the said Ann Winsor, her heirs and assigns, make and execute all such other acts and deeds as may be reasonably required for the more effectual assurance of the messuages,lands and premises aforesaid according to the true intent and meaning of these presents.
In witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto inscribe their hands and set their seals this fifteenth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
John Morry,
PP LeMessurier
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of FBT Carter"
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Email from Kevin Reddigan March 28, 2002, providing details on Morry deeds and land transactions reported in the Confederation Building forthe Southern District - 1825-1888:
"Vol. 3 - Folio 250 - May 3, 1844 - (600 pounds)
This is the deed that covers the sale of the Holdsworth property at Ferryland to John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier. A couple of items of note. It states that they are "both of St. John's" - a rather revealing statement - and it also shows that they paid only 200 pounds at that point in time. I mention this here, since it may reflect on later events concerning the "purchase" of the land and other items by Ann Winsor. I didn't pick up when the remainder of the outstanding amount was due, it's probably there somewhere in the repetitious legal terms that go on and on for several pages.
Vol. 4 - Folio 252 - May 16, 1853 - (400 pounds)
This is the deed in which Ann Winsor appears to "purchase" the old Holdsworth property from John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier. The document states that all payments that were due have been paid, howeverI wondered if the amount is just coincidence or represents what they would have to have gathered to cover the outstanding amount of the 1844 deed.
Vol. 4 - Folio 327 - Dec 2 1864 (200 pounds)
This is the another deed in which Ann Winsor appears to "purchase" additional Holdsworth property from John Morry. This time it covers the household furniture, horse, cows, sheep, pigs, etc. I gathered from this that Ann Winsor still "owned" the rest of the property.
Vol. 4 - Folio 69 - Dec 15 1886 ($1)
This is the indenture that returned ownership of all of the property at Ferryland from Ann Winsor to Thomas Graham Morry and his family. As noted in the deed, the house was returned on condition that Thomas Graham's sisters would be allowed to remain in the house while they were unmarried.
After having read these last four documents, I have formed an opinion of what this process may have been all about. I may be totally wrong but here's how it looks to an outsider.
When the two young ambitious gentlemen, John Morry and Peter Paint LeMessurier bought this property from Arthur William Olive Holdsworth (born to Henry Holdsworth and his wife Maria in Dartmouth on Sept. 11, 1808 and baptised at St. Clement Townstal on Oct. 18, 1808) at the hefty price tag of 600 pounds, they may have had more ambition than money. They were, however, able to put up the initial 200 pounds towards the purchase of the property. This means that they still owed 400 pounds, which we find they had managed to pay by 1853. I would speculate that paying off this residual amount, and the ups and downs of the fishing industry, may have left them a little strapped for capital so they went looking for a loan. It appears their "banker" may have been John's mother-in-law, Ann Winsor, who gives them the loan, which is secured by signing over the property to her as collateral. Nine years later it appears that the loan is still outstanding, since an additional 200 pounds is loaned by Ann Winsor to John Morry and is covered by chattels not included in the original loan agreement of 1853. It appears that there are amounts still outstanding in 1881, since Ann Winsor still wields control over the property, and when she agrees to sign it back into the Morry family it is on condition that her four granddaughters be allowed to remain in the house while they are single."
[NB: The last musings are those of Kevin Reddigan. I agree in large measure with his deductions. I had come to similar conclusions independently. Proving them to be fact would be another thing.]
April 5, 2004: Church of England Ferryland Burial Record on Newfoundland's Grand Banks website: April 18, 1897Morry, John Caplin Bay ( Died in St. John's) 79 Henry Winsor
April 15, 2004: In the "Ships and Seafarers of Atlantic Canada" CD Database there are two references to vessels captained by William Morey (the HOPE and the MERMAID), one reference to a vessel captained by William Sweetland Morey (the CREOLE), one reference to a vessel captained by Wm. S. Morey (the ANN), two references to vessels captained by William Morry (the GEM and the GEORGE), and one reference to a vessel captained by William S. Morry (the HOPE, once again). I believe that all these references pertain to William Sweetland Morry (1814-1892). This is partly because the dates the vessels were in charge of the person in question makes it impossible for it to have been his son, William Sweetland Morry(1852-1877). But there was at least one other William Morry (1791-1851) whose middle name was evidently not Sweetland, who was born early enough and lived long enough to have been the captain of at least some of these vessels. He was William Sweetland Morry Sr's cousin. I know very little about that person and cannot say if he was also a ships captain. William Sweetland's son, who also named William Sweetland Morry,was also a ships captain and could fit the bill except that he was born in 1852 and was lost at sea in 1877. Thus his years as a sea captain would have been between about 1872 and 1877 and none of the vesselsnamed was registered as being in charge of any Morry during that period. There were many other Moreys and Morrys named as captains of vessels in the database: David, Edward, James, John, Joseph, Richard. Like William, in some cases their names were spelled Morey and in other cases Morry, but they seem to have been the same individuals regardless. Most of those names are not traditional Christian names among Matthew Morry's descendants and I don't have anyone by those names in my database who was alive at the appropriate time. The only one that I am sure was one of our Morrys was John Morey, who captained the vessel E. M. DODD. The reason I am sure he was one of our John Morrys was because the vessel was owned at the time by Peter Germon Tessier, who was of course related by marriage to this family (married to Anne Catherine Weston Carter). This could be my 2 g grandfather, John Henry Morry(1818-1897), because he was definitely the right age at the time this vessel was in charge of Captain John Morey (sometime between 1853 and 1867) but I cannot prove this because I never had any evidence before this that he was a sea captain. I believe there were other John Morrys alive at this time too, though I am uncertain of their years of death, and it could equally have been one of them.
Key facts on the captains and the vessels for which they had responsibility are:
Morey, John, vessel E.M. DODD, owner Peter Germon Tessier and Lewis Tessier, built 1845, registered 1853, closure 1867 Labrador Morey, William, vessel HOPE, owner Ewen Stabb, constructed 1850, registered 1856, closure 1862 Truro Morey, William, vessel MERMAID, owner William Thomas, built 1835, registered 1835, closure 1842 place not given Morey, William Sweetland, vessel CREOLE, owner Ewen Stabb, built 1829, registered 1835, closure 1838 Demerara Morey, Wm. S., vessel ANN, owner Ewen Stabb, built 1844, registered 1856, closure 1859 London Morry, William, vessel GEM. owner Phillip Hutchins, built 1876, registered 1879, closure 1890 Caplin Bay Morry, William, vessel GEORGE, owner Ewen Stabb, built 1839, registered 1839, closure 1841 St. John's Morry, William S., vessel HOPE, owner George Thomas Brooking, George Richard Robinson, Thomas Brooking, built 1846, registered 1846, closure 1853 St. John's
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120705:
The information below are my notes pertaining to the photo of John Henry Morry and girls in the Scrapbook.
Photograph of John Henry Morry and his daughters and niece
I came upon this photograph in the collection of Holdsworth papers at PANL. It seems to me it is misplaced there and should have been filed with the Morry papers. I will ask that they relocate it as it will never be found there. The identification in the Holdsworth papers is B9-150 and in the Morry papers, where it belongs, is A41-60. In their computer database the two are described as follows:
Location Number ? A41-60 Description ? members of the Morry family and Mrs. Arch. Ellis in front of the Holdsworh Stone House. Community Described ? Ferryland
Location Number ? B9-150 Description ? Holdsworh House Ferryland Community Described ? Ferryland Collection ? Holdsworh
This photograph was given to N. C. Crewe by Helena Morry (Mrs. Frank LeMessurier) on 21 May 1953. His typed notes pertaining read:
?File Morry
Photograph of the Holdsworth stone house at Ferryland. It came into the possession of the Morry family about 1830.
The persons in the photograph were identified for me by the only survivor, Mrs. Frank LeMessurier, nee Helena Morry, and I made the notes thereof on its back, during my call on her at her house, on 21 May 1953, in green ink --- leaving them to be completed later----her house was and is No. 1 Blackmarsh Road, St. John's.
N. C. Crewe 29 Decr. 1959?
In a scrawl that would appear to be Nimshi's own handwriting there is an additional note that reads:
?Memo ? get this re-photographed ? 6 prints to Mr. Morry 12 April 60?
From this it appears that Dad Morry had requested copies for himself and his surviving children but from what I know he never received them, or if he did, he never distributed them.
On the back of the photograph the captions in N. C. Crewe's writing read:
?Given me to-day 2 may 1953 by Mrs. Helena LeMessurier (5), nowA41-60
1)John Morry, son of Matthew Morry & father of the (?the? crossed out) Thomas Graham Morry who was (changed from ?is?) the father of the present Howard Morry of Ferryland (now about 67 years old). 2) Frances Morry ? dau. Of John, died unmarried about 1946 in St. John?s 3) Alice Wylie do ? do. (Mrs. Arch. Ellis) 4) Josephine Morry ? do. (Mrs. W. N. Gray) 5) Helena Morry (underlined) ? dau. Of John?s brother Robert & wife of Frank LeMessurier 6) Florence Morry?died unmarried
In someone else's writing:
Would like these? Perhaps you have them? Keep them if you would like them. This was the writing of Helena Morry Le Messurier, who gave the photo to Nimshi.
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150809: A minor historical footnote. It is reported in the Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. 211, that Arthur William Olive Holdsworth Esq. passed away at age 52 at Maisonnette, Devon on July 1, 1861.
170818: Also noted in the images of the St. Clement Townstal Register on FindMyPast, Arthur William Olive Holdsworth born to Henry Holdsworth and his wife Maria in Dartmouth on Sept. 11, 1808 and baptised at St. Clement Townstal on Oct. 18, 1808.
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111109 from NGB:
John MORRY
Matthew? & Ann (Saunders)
b Feb 23 1818
bap Sep 29 1818
Ferryland
Surname changed from WOORY to MORRY and Maiden name of mother SAUNDERS from Kevin Reddigan.
From Anglican Cathedral records as transcribed for the Vital Statistics and then retranscribed by NGB volunteer, Jill Marshall and then corrected by Kevin Reddigan. Obviously there is ample room for error to have snuck into this source of information.
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120710: This article was found on the Centre for Maritime Studies website collection of articles:
Twillingate Sun, April 20, 1889
Mr. Green presented a petition from the Rev. L. Vereker, John Windsor, John Morry, R. H. White, Martin Devereaux, and other inhabitants of Ferryland. The petition sets out that many inhabitants of the north side of the harbour have taken advantage of the Agriculture Act of 1888 and have cleared several acres of land. There is no road or means of approach to the land and consequently no means of bringing manure thereto. The sum of l00 dollars is all that is asked to carry out this useful work, and he hopes that the claims upon the road grant will not be so great as to prevent this very just application from being acceded to. He shall do his best, however, to further the matter.
0811211:
Frank Galgay, in his book "A Pilgrimage of Faith", records that Matthew Morry sat on the Board of Education for Ferryland from 1836 to 1841 when it was non-denominational and then on the Protestant Scool Board in 1845. By 1862, after Matthew had died, his son John was a Board Member. Other relations serving during these years included Robert Carter, H.M. Customs, Robert Carter, R.N., James Carter, Benjamin Sweetland, and Peter Windsor, MHA.
161015:
This information from the Evening Telegram was provided by Enid O'Brien. I do not know why I never discovered it before nor why Enid never thought to give it to me before:
"ET April 15, 1897 - At 1:30 pm today, John Morry, 79 years, a native of Ferryland from his late residence 159 Gower Street tomorrow Friday am at 8:00 a.m. and will be proceeding as far as the cross roads, Riverhead, interment at Ferryland".
This was John Morry md Elizabeth Sarah Winsor. I guess John was boarding at 159 Gower Street. By the obit I presumed he was living in his own home at 159 Gower Street. Did he own it and Mr. Ewing was the proprietor? I don't know.
080116:
According to evidence given orally to Nimshi Crewe by Dad Morry on the 16th of November 1964 (in Nimshi Crewe papers - MG281 at The Rooms), John Henry Morry was a clerk with the Holdsworth company and latterly a Postmaster. This, if true, paints an entirely different picture of the continuity of the family fishing and shipping enterprise than had previously been assumed. But it should be noted that Dad Morry was getting on in years and that the notes Nimshi took at that meeting contain many errors in dates, etc. and it could be that Dad Morry's memory was failing him at the time.
211016:
I am today including in the media gallery all four of the Indentures pertaining to the purchase and sale of the Holdsworth property so that it will be clear to the reader what actually transpired. In the first indenture, John Morry and his business partner and brother-in-law Peter Paint Le Messurier purchased the property from Arthur William Olive Holdsworth, grandson of the original owner. In the second Indenture, John Morry and Peter Paint Le Messurier "sold" the property to John's mother-in-law, Ann Coulman Winsor, though he and her daughter, Sarah Elizabeth continued to occupy the house and lands. This was quite probably a matter of security whereby she gave money to her daughter and husband, whose business interests seemed to be flaging, and also became the de facto owner to head off any claims by potential creditors. Later John also "sold" her his household furnishings, livestock and farming implements, once again almost certainly to head off creditors. Finally she "sold" the property to her grandson, Thomas Graham Morry, on condition he allow his maiden sisters to occupy it whilst they remained single, which turned out to be the rest of their lives (and they outlived him). So the house fell into ruins and was demolished around 1908, according to a letter Dad Morry wrote to Michael Murphy on January 18, 1954, which was transcribed by Enid O'Brien for the "Newfoundland Ancestor" Spring 1999 Edition. Dad Morry's new house was built on its foundations after the war.
080218:
After years of debate, I am hereby concluding that this John Morry was the son of Matthew Morry II who was mentioned as an heir in a letter from his first cousin, John Foale Morry, written in December 1828 as he was about to embark to return to England for the winter. That letter served as a sort of ersatz will in the probate of his estate by Matthew Morry II a decade later when John Foale Morry did in fact die (most likely in Ferryland).
131222:
New light has been shed on the background behind the indenture signed by John Henry Morry and Peter Paint Le Messurier to Ann [Coulman] Winsor pertaining to the Holdsworth property. A new find in the Public Ledger dated 28 Dec. 1852 shows that the Holdsworth's were about to aution off the property on January 5, 1853 because of the failure of the two partners to complete the final payment. Ann came to their rescue in the nick of time. 7008
Died at 1:30 in the afternoon 7009
John Howard Morry
Sex: MAKA: Arthur Morry 7010
Individual Information
Birth Date: Bef 1 Dec 1855 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 282,283,3130 Christening: 1 Dec 1855 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 109,1688,3130,3835 Death: Bef 3 Dec 1855 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 282,2958,3113 Burial: 3 Dec 1855 - Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 109,282,2962,3113 Cause of Death:Events
Minister/Priest: A. E. C. Bayley (Private), 1 Dec 1855, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Minister/Priest: A. E. C. Bayley, 3 Dec 1855, Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Parents
Father: John Henry Morry 168 Mother: Elizabeth Sarah Winsor 168,282,283 Marriage Did Not Marry
Notes
General:
Minister at Christening was A.C. Bayley according to C of E records in Ferryland.
April 5, 2004: Church of England Ferryland Burial Record on Newfoundland's Grand Banks website: December 3, 1855Morry, John Howard Ferryland Infant A. Bayley
080116:
I have added St. Luke's as the place of Christening of the children in this family because it is most logical since the events were recorded at Petty Harbour C of E registry, not at the Cathedral in St. John's.
John Joseph George Morry
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 30 Nov 1967 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Christening: Death: 30 Nov 1967 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Burial: Cause of Death: Cardio Respiratory Failure/Premature Birth 220
Parents
Father: Howard George Morry 867 Mother: Mary Perpetua Carroll
Notes
General:
231021:
I never knew until I stumbled upon this death certificate today on the website of The Rooms that this child existed. No one in the family every mentioned him to me.
Living
Sex: M
Parents
Father: Living Mother: LivingLiving
Sex: M
Parents
Father: Dr. Peter John Morry 6862 Mother: Living
Spouses and Children
1. Living Children: 1. Living 2. Living
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