~ re: The Terry line... Genealogically Speaking Of Course...

By Danny McCarthy
The Whitaker Historical Collection goes back to a time of the founders of Southold when a certain line known as the Terrys arrived. They are “an ambitious, conscientious and race who has won prominence in political, industrial and professional pursuits in America”. They have been known on the whole for their “integrity, resourcefulness, and personal charm.”
According to genealogist David M. Griswold, “Today you will find Terrys in every State of the Union and there are not many cities or towns of any size in which you will not find a family of that name.” The name Terry is one of great age.
On July 13, 1635 three brothers, Thomas, Robert and Richard Terry sailed from London on board the vessel James and emigrated to New England and later settled at Southold. Nothing further is known of the immigrant Robert except that perhaps he remained in New England. Thomas, the elder Terry brother, had issue of at least three sons on Block Island that included a son Thomas who resided at Freetown, Massachusetts. Son John married a woman with the last name of Farrow in 1705 and they had two sons named John and Silas. Son Benjamin married Margarit but the names of his children are not available.
Youngest brother Richard was 17 when he sailed on the ship James, making him having been born in 1618. Other records say that he was born in 1612. Robert was 25 and Thomas was 28 when they emigrated. Richard is said to have issue at Southold by his wife Abigail with children named Abigail, Gershom, Nathaniel, Sarah, Richard, John, Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary and Bethea.
Richard supposedly was negotiating with Lynn, Massachusetts Captain Howe about settlement on Long Island. He was one of the Reverend John Youngs’ original group of men who were associated with the early settlement of Southold. Richard Terry was one of the early settlers from whom all the Terrys from the vicinity descended. He was Town Recorder from 1662 to 1674.
According to the Southold Historical Society Guide to Historic Markers from 1960, the Richard Terry House had its origin circa 1653 and is located on West Main Street in Southold. There is a door located at the front of the house that opens on stairs made of stone that lead to a cellar that is the typical small cellar version found among old houses. The Richard Terry House is located on the Main Road by Jasmine Lane today with an historic marker out front. Thomas Terry’s house is located farther south on the Main Road.
Richard and Thomas established the Terry family lines in the Southold Township. Whitaker’s Southold reads: “They gave to it a posterity worthy of association with its best citizens, and equaled in number by few other families severally.”
Thomas’ son Thomas 2nd and Richard’s son John settled in Orient. Richard’s line is found in Cutchogue. He owned a rather large tract of land that was known as “Pequash Necke.” Overtons followed Terrys in ownership including Nathaniel Overton who married Pastor Joshua Hobart’s granddaughter. Allotments of Richard Terry’s land included two Cutchogue plots and one at Aquebogue.
The will of Thomas was dated November 26, 1671 and was proved on July 2, 1672. Thomas predeceased his brother Richard by several years.
As generations lay their mark, the Terry line has consistently progressed in Southold. Here’s an example: An unusually brave man from Orient in the winter of 1780 was Noah Terry. Augustus Griffin shares in his Griffin’s Journal that Noah Terry rode his galloping across the ice to Island. There was a time when Noah escorted a nurse and came across a break in the ice. Griffin said: “Nothing undaunted, he dismounted…leaped the spirited horse over the chasm, lifted the woman over…and galloped off to the island.”
Daniel Terry was born on February 6, 1827 in Riverhead. He was a skillful blacksmith who learned his trade in Wading River. He came to Southold at the age of 20 and opened a shop where the former Bohack’s was located. His shop locations were frequently moved. According to information compiled by Frances Booth Petty, Mr. Terry “did not wait long for work to do. Very soon, the excellence of it, his fairness and his desire and ability to accommodate and benefit his customer, brought him more work than he could do alone.” So he hired an apprentice (a journeyman). His career spanned some 50 years. He trained many boys to be expert workmen and good citizens. Indeed he had a great love of horses. One of his horses was a pacer. He was a patron of Southold Academy.
The Daniel Terry House is on the corner of the Main Road and Mechanics Street in Southold. Daniel Terry acquired the land in 1856 and placed the house “end wise and near his east.” A white picket fence surrounded the property. The house passed through so many hands over the years either by purchase or rental and is recorded as having served so many varied purposes to so many varied residents and their owners and, yes, guests. Lawyer Albertson Case had his office above William H. Vail who was living below in that house. Another occupant was Kramer’s Drug Store. Over the years, the house was turned to the position known today. Now Rothman’s Department Store is on the site and is a fine welcome addition.
Sources also include: Genealogy of Terry by John H. Terry, Profiles of the Early Settlers of the Town of Southold Long Island as prepared and compiled by Purcell P. Robertson, and Southold’s Founders and Their Lots compiled by Donald M. Bayles (Past President of the Southold Historical Society).
I HONESTLY AM SO HAPPY TO "NETWORK" AGAIN - AND CONNECT - THE WHITAKER HISTORICAL COLLECTION AND SOUTHOLD HISTORICAL MUSEUM - AS "HERE-IS-SOMETHING-NOT-FAR-FROM-A-MISSING-LINK CARRYING THE AVAILABILITY OF Southold Historical Society Guide to Historic Markers FROM SOUTHOLD HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
https://www.southoldhistorical...