Genealogy Report for Thomas Brieryhurst

(Three generations -- including grandson, John Gardner Briery)
 

Generation No. 1

1.  THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST  (JOHN1 BRIERHURST) was born Oct 1750 in Middleton Green, Staffordshire.  He married SUSANNAH GARDNER 27 Feb 1780, daughter of JAMES GARDNER and SUSAN LOWE.

Notes for THOMAS BRIERYHURST:
Christened 21Oct1750.  Compiled by Rev. Chas N Sinnett, Fertile MN:  Thomas Bryerhurst b Middleton Green, England, according to the data preserved by the descendents.  He was a soldier in the English Army during the Revolutionary War.  When the members of his regiment returned to England, he remained in America, as he had become strongly attached to some American soldiers from Maine.  He joined Captain Mustard's Company of soldiers and came with them to their home at Topsham ME.  He then lived at Harpswell ME for a time.  He then bought a large tract of land in Bowdoin Me, next to the Samuel Story farm, and was one of the most industrious and worthy pioneers in that town.  He was highly esteemed by all who knew him.  He always preserved the English form of his name, but many of the descendants changed the name to Briery.

M at Harpswell Me, Susan Gardiner, of one of the best old families of that town; a woman who was ever busy in helping others.  As many of the old family records were burned it is not possible to give the children in their chronological order.

From Biographical Review:  The name of the family was originally Brierhurst, and his father was a silk and linene merchant in England.  Thomas Brierhurst, who was a native of Lincolnshire, is said to have been impressed into the British  navy during the American Revolution, and brought to this country between the years 1775 and 1780.  He never returned to England, but remained in the United States, and settled in Bowdoin, Me.  he married a Miss Garndner, of Harpswell; and the ceremony was performed by old Parson Eaton, who also christened his four sons and five daughters.  His wife lived to an advanced age, and both were buried in Bowdoin.
 
Children of THOMAS BRIERYHURST and SUSANNAH GARDNER are:
2. i. JOHN3 BRIERY.
 ii. NANCY BRIERY, m. WALTER MERRYMAN JACK.

Notes for NANCY BRIERY:
"The 5th daughter of ancestor Thomas Bryeryhurst lived at Bowdoin ME."

3. iii. ELIZABETH (BETTEY, BETSY) BRIERY, b. 04 Nov 1780, Topsham (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. 13 Nov 1854, Bowdoin ME.
4. iv. JAMES BRIERY, b. 15 Feb 1782, Topsham (Sagadahoc County) ME.
5. v. JUDITH BRIERY, b. 20 Aug 1783, Topsham (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. 23 Aug 1856, Bowdoin ME.
6. vi. THOMAS BRIERY, b. 1791, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. 16 May 1874, W. Gardiner(Kennebec County, Highland Cemetery, Gardiner) ME.
7. vii. JOSEPH BRIRY, b. 27 Feb 1792, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. 26 Jan 1843, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County, N Cemetery) ME.
8. viii. RUTH BRIERY, b. 1794; d. 18 May 1881, Levant (Waugh Cemetery) ME.
 ix. ELIZABETH MARY BRIERY1, b. 1795, Bowdoin (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. WFT Est. 1806-18891; m. PIRIGRINE WELLS1, WFT Est. 1806-18391.
9. x. CATHERINE BRIERY.
 

Generation No. 2

2.  JOHN3 BRIERY (THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST, JOHN1 BRIERHURST).  He married HANNAH HOUGH 13 Oct 1814.

Notes for JOHN BRIERY:
Killed by a falling tree

More About JOHN BRIERY:
Fact 1: accidentally killed
 
Children of JOHN BRIERY and HANNAH HOUGH are:
 i. NANCY4 BRIERY.
 ii. CORDELIA BRIERY, b. 19 Mar 1815.
 iii. ELVIRA BRIERY, b. 19 Feb 1817, Bowdoin (Sagadohoc County) ME; d. 08 Oct 1881, Pittsfield ME; m. THOMAS B WILLIAMS, 1833.

Notes for ELVIRA BRIERY:
"Of bright mind and helpful character."

 iv. THANKFUL BRIERY, b. 18 Apr 1819.

3.  ELIZABETH3 (BETTEY, BETSY) BRIERY (THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST, JOHN1 BRIERHURST) was born 04 Nov 1780 in Topsham (Sagadahoc County) ME, and died 13 Nov 1854 in Bowdoin ME.  She married EBENEZER CURTIS.

Notes for ELIZABETH (BETTEY, BETSY) BRIERY:
"The 3rd daughter of ancestor Thomas Bryeryhurst."
 
Children of ELIZABETH (BETTEY and EBENEZER CURTIS are:
 i. ISAAC4 CURTIS, b. 21 Dec 1813, Harpswell ME; d. 28 May 1899, Brunswick ME; m. HANNAH POTTER.

Notes for ISAAC CURTIS:
"Workman in shipyards."

 ii. JOHN CURTIS.

Notes for JOHN CURTIS:
"Was an 1849 California Gold Miner and died in California."

4.  JAMES3 BRIERY (THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST, JOHN1 BRIERHURST) was born 15 Feb 1782 in Topsham (Sagadahoc County) ME.  He married (1) MARY ESTHER FOSTER.  He married (2) HANNAH.

Notes for JAMES BRIERY:
A Successful farmer of Bowdoin ME; highly esteemed.

From LDS Records (Records & Births in the town of Bowdoin p.54):  The children of James Bryrihurst and his wife Esther were born as follows:
Esther Bryrihurst was born 17 Jun 1810
Annis Bryrihurst was born 1 May 1812
Susanna Bryrihurst was born 10 Dec 1814
Mary Bryrihurst was born 1 May 1816
Betsy Bryrihurst was born 2 May 1818

More About JAMES BRIERY:
Fact 1: prosperous farmer in Bowdoin
Fact 2: lived to be Octogenarian
 
Children of JAMES BRIERY and MARY FOSTER are:
 i. ALBERT R4 BRIERY, m. ELLEN N STINSON, 16 Oct 1870.
 ii. JAMES G. BRIRY, b. 1818; d. 09 May 1900, Litchfield (Litchfield Plains Cemetery) ME; m. (1) MARY BARTLETT; m. (2) MARGARET F. PARKS, 08 Jun 1844, Bowdoinham ME.
 iii. MINERVA BRIERY, b. Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME; m. ALVIN B. HALEY, 06 Nov 1847, Topsham (Sagadahoc County) ME.
 iv. OCTAVIA ANN BRIERY, m. JESSE D. HALEY, 06 Oct 1844, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME.
 v. ESTHER BRIERY, b. 17 Jun 1810, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. Lisbon Falls ME; m. CHARLES FOSTER.
 vi. ANNIS BRIERY, b. 01 May 1812; m. RICHARD PARKS.
 vii. SUSANNA BRIERY, b. 10 Dec 1814; m. CHARLES BUKER.
 viii. MARY E. BRIERY, b. 01 May 1816, Bowdoin (Sagadahoc County) ME; m. PELETIAH FOSTER.
 ix. BETSY BRIERY, b. 02 May 1818.
 x. LEAH G. BRIERY, b. Abt. 1825, Bowdoin (Sagadahoc County) ME; m. ALFRED W. WILLIAMS, 17 Jun 1854, Litchfield (Kennebec County) ME.
 xi. SAMUEL CAMPBELL BRIERY, b. 12 Jan 1830, Bowdoin (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. 09 Apr 1908, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County, Ridge Cemetery) ME; m. (1) OCTAVIA CAROLINE BUKER, 19 Jun 1858, Bowdoin ME; m. (2) SYBIL AVESTA BUKER, 08 Feb 1881.

Notes for SAMUEL CAMPBELL BRIERY:
Resided at Gardiner ME for some years.  Had lived on a fine farm near Bowdoinham ME for 20 yrs.  A man of industrious life and very worthy character.

 xii. ALPHEUS F. BRIERY, b. Abt. 1831, Bowdoin (Sagadahoc County) ME; m. ELIZABETH COOK SMITH, 25 Dec 1859, Litchfield (Kennebec County) ME.
 xiii. ELLEN M. BRIERY, b. Abt. 1831, Bowdoin (Sagadahoc County) ME.
 xiv. ANGELINE (ANGELA) S. BRIERY, b. Abt. 1833, Bowdoin (Sagadahoc County) ME.

5.  JUDITH3 BRIERY (THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST, JOHN1 BRIERHURST) was born 20 Aug 1783 in Topsham (Sagadahoc County) ME, and died 23 Aug 1856 in Bowdoin ME.  She married NATHANIEL HALL WILLIAMS 26 Oct 1809, son of GEORGE WILLIAMS and HANNAH HALL.

Notes for JUDITH BRIERY:
1REFN89 1FAMS@F1494@O@15888@INDI

1st daughter of Thomas Bryerhurst.
"She was a very energetic and helpful woman."

Notes for NATHANIEL HALL WILLIAMS:
"A very industrious and worthy farmer of Bowdoin ME."
 
Children of JUDITH BRIERY and NATHANIEL WILLIAMS are:
 i. GARDNER4 WILLIAMS, b. 25 May 1810, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. 11 Aug 1902; m. ELIZABETH ADAMS.
 ii. THOMAS B WILLIAMS, b. 06 Jan 1813, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. 02 Oct 1901, Pittsfield ME; m. ELVIRA BRIERY, 1833.

Notes for ELVIRA BRIERY:
"Of bright mind and helpful character."

 iii. NATHANIEL HALL WILLIAMS II, b. 1817; d. 1890; m. LOIS ANN CAMPBELL.
 iv. IRA WILLIAMS, b. 16 Apr 1815, Bowdoin ME; d. 06 Jun 1877; m. ARABELLA RAYMOND, 24 Nov 1844, Richmond  ME.

6.  THOMAS3 BRIERY (THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST, JOHN1 BRIERHURST) was born 1791 in Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME, and died 16 May 1874 in W. Gardiner(Kennebec County, Highland Cemetery, Gardiner) ME.  He married (1) NANCY TOWNE 03 Dec 1820 in Bowdoin ME.  He married (2) LUCY WHITE 16 Apr 1838 in Bowdoin ME.

Notes for THOMAS BRIERY:
1850 ME Census:  59m, carpenter, joiner, $300.

According to son J.G., a corker for boats.

More About THOMAS BRIERY:
Fact 1: 1850, see notes
 
Children of THOMAS BRIERY and NANCY TOWNE are:
 i. URIAH4 BRIERY, b. 19 May 1823, Bowdoin (Sagadohoc County) ME; d. 09 Feb 1896, W. Gardiner (Kennebec County, Mt Hope Cemetery, S Gardiner) ME; m. RACHEL GOODWIN, 06 Aug 1846, Gardiner (Kennebec County) ME.

Notes for URIAH BRIERY:
1850 Census:  27m, shoemaker, $500, b in ME.  (John 2m, Thomas D 2mo m, Rachel Goodwin /12 f)

More About URIAH BRIERY:
Fact 1: 1850, see notes

 ii. JANE T. BRIERY, b. Abt. 1826, W. Gardiner ME; d. 29 Aug 1842, W. Gardiner ME.
 iii. JOHN GARDNER (JACK) BRIERY, b. 12 Feb 1828, Gardiner ME; d. 14 May 1892, Twin Creek (Osborne County) KS; m. ALMIRA (SARAH) OSGOOD, 17 Jul 1852, Gardiner ME.

Notes for JOHN GARDNER (JACK) BRIERY:
1875 KS Personal Property:  Value = $211.  ($5 implements, 6 acres sown of winter wheat in 1874, 6 acres spring wheat, 7 acres corn, 1/4 acre irish potatoes, 1 acre sorghum.)

1885 KS Personal Property:  Total value= $2500  ($250 paid wages, $80 implements, $25 wood, 1 dog, all 160 acres not under fence, 27 acres winter wheat, 25 acres corn, 1/2 acre irish potatoes -- 300 bushels on hand 1 Mar 1985, 20 tons prairie hay cut in 1884, 3 apple trees nonbearing, 2 boiling apple trees, 20 peach trees, $275 animals sold, 100 lbs butter, 5 horses, 11 milk cows, 1 other, 50 swine-- 15 died of disease.  m56, b in ME, fr WI, learned carpenter, Honorable Discharge, enl in MA, onboard US Navy ship Decature.

According to son Watt, ran away & joined Navy at 14 for 3 yrs, then on a whaler for 4 yrs.  Had paralysis & one leg was shorter by several inches, or would have been fighting in Civil War for Yankee side.
Went with Clem Osgood, Watt's mother's brother, to California Gold Rush, didn't have much luck mining but found a good-sized nugget had made into ring for Almira.  Married, moved to IL, OH, WI

More About JOHN GARDNER (JACK) BRIERY:
Fact 1: 1880, Osborne County KS Census: m 51, merchandising, crippled, born in ME, as was F& M
Fact 2: 1875, see notes.
Fact 3: 1885, see notes.
Fact 4: 1850, ME Census: living with Thomas & Lucy, 21m, laborer

More About ALMIRA (SARAH) OSGOOD:
Fact 1: 1880, f48,keeping house, crippled, attended school within yr, b in ME as was F & M

 iv. CLEMENT P BRIERY, b. 1832.
 v. MARGARET BRIERY, b. 1835.
 
Children of THOMAS BRIERY and LUCY WHITE are:
 vi. NANCY E4 BRIERY, b. 1842.
 vii. JOSEPH BRIERY, b. 1846; m. VESTA H. COLLINS, 08 Sep 1867, Lewiston (Androscoggin County) ME.
 viii. LUELLA BRIERY, b. 1849, Gardiner (Kennebec County) ME; d. 1850, Gardiner (Kennebec County, Highland Cemetary) ME.

7.  JOSEPH3 BRIRY (THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST, JOHN1 BRIERHURST) was born 27 Feb 1792 in Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME, and died 26 Jan 1843 in Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County, N Cemetery) ME.  He married MARY STORY 10 Jun 1824, daughter of SAMUEL STORY and OLIVE CATLIN.

Notes for JOSEPH BRIRY:
He acquired a good education at Hebron Academy, and taught school both before and after marriage, becoming a noted educator of that section in his day.  He was a man who possessed a large amount of general information, and was especially well informed upon legal matters.  He served as Trial Justice for many years, and was known as the Squire, a title which he was abundantly qualified to bear.  Aside from his duties as a schoolmaster and public functionary, he owned an tilled a good farm with energy and ability.  He resided in Bowdoin until his death, which took place in 1842, when he was at the age of fifty years.

"An excellent farmer at Bowdoin ME, located next to Samuel Story."

Notes for MARY STORY:
Mary Story Briery and her two daughters, following the selling of the Briery Farm at East Bowdoin in 1866, removed to Richmond Village.  All died at Richmond.

"Died in Richmond in 1891, aged 96 and 6 months.  She was a woman of extraordinary vitality, retaining possession of her faculties until the last; and she could read and sew without glasses up to the time of her death.

"At 96, with her mind bright and her strength wonderful."
 
Children of JOSEPH BRIRY and MARY STORY are:
 i. ELLEN FRANCIS (MARIA)4 BRIRY, b. 06 Nov 1820; d. 1920.
 ii. MILTON STORY BRIRY, b. 17 May 1825, Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County) ME; d. 02 Aug 1899, Bath (Oak Grove Cemetery) ME; m. SUSAN PHILBROOK HIGGINS, 13 Dec 1855, Bath (Sagadahoc County) ME.

Notes for MILTON STORY BRIRY:
"A successful physician at Bath ME"

"Milton S. Briry, M.D., a well-known physician and surgeon of Bath, and one of the oldest homoeopathic practitioners in the State, was born in Bowdoin ME, May 17, 1825, son of Joseph and Mary (Story) Briry.  Dr. Briry is descended from an English ancestry.  The name of the family was originally Brierhurst, and his great-grandfather was a silk and linen merchant in England.  Thomas Brierhurst, Dr. Briry's grandfather, who was a native of Lincolnshire, is said to have been impressed into the British navy during the American Revolution and brought to this country between the years 1775 and 1780.  He never returned to England, but remained int he United States, and settled in Bowdoin Me.  He married a Miss Gardner of Harpswell; and the ceremony was performed by old Parson Eton, who also christened his four sons and five daughters.  Of his sons, John was accidentally killed; James became a prospersous

 iii. OLIVE AMANDA BRIRY, b. 14 Nov 1826, Bowdoin ME; m. SAMUEL ODIORNE.
 iv. ANGELINA SOPHIA BRIRY, b. 06 Sep 1832; d. 26 Jun 1872.

Notes for ANGELINA SOPHIA BRIRY:
A teacher who died in young womanhood.

8.  RUTH3 BRIERY (THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST, JOHN1 BRIERHURST) was born 1794, and died 18 May 1881 in Levant (Waugh Cemetery) ME.  She married SAMUEL CAMPBELL.

Notes for RUTH BRIERY:
Ruth Bryeryhurst lived and died at Kingsbury ME.
 
Children of RUTH BRIERY and SAMUEL CAMPBELL are:
 i. SUSAN4 CAMPBELL, b. 1820, Kingsbury (Piscataouis) ME; d. 16 Feb 1893, Kingsbury (Piscagaquis) ME; m. THOMAS D. TITCOMB, Jun 1841.
 ii. LOIS ANN CAMPBELL, b. 22 Nov 1819; d. 27 Jan 1887; m. NATHANIEL HALL WILLIAMS II.
 iii. SAMUEL CAMPBELL II.
 iv. ALVIN CAMPBELL.
 v. AMASA CAMPBELL.
 vi. OCKIE CAMPBELL.

9.  CATHERINE3 BRIERY (THOMAS2 BRIERYHURST, JOHN1 BRIERHURST).  She married JOHN DOUGLASS.

Notes for CATHERINE BRIERY:
"2nd daughter of ancestor Thomas Bryeryhurst, Katie Bryeryhurst lived at Bowdoinham ME."
 
Children of CATHERINE BRIERY and JOHN DOUGLASS are:
 i. JOHN4 DOUGLASS II.
 ii. ENOS DOUGLASS.
 

Endnotes

1.  Brøderbund Software, Inc., World Family Tree Vol. 12, Ed. 1,  (Release date: July 28, 1997), "CD-ROM," Tree #2585, Date of Import: 27 Jun 1998.