Berry Arms

Confirmation of Arms

In 1940 a confirmation of the arms of Thomas Berry (1737-1815) was granted to his grandson Francis Keith Berry (1881-1945). I term these the “Fleetwood Berry Arms” and below is a photograph of a framed photograph of the confirmation, (courtesy of Ann Anderson, née Button) and a transcript of the text. Also described are the arms of James William Middleton Berry (1812-1855), confirmation of which was granted in 1848. Both incorporate the or three bars gu of the arms of Berry of Berrynarbor, Devonshire. The motto of the arms of J.W.M.Berry – Nihil Sine Labore - is the same as for the arms of Berry of Berrynarbor.

In 1809 Sir William Cusack-Smith wrote to Sir William Betham, Deputy King of Arms, Ulster, seeking to have his family arms incorporate the quarterings of Lady Smith's (Hester Fleetwood Berry) Berry arms. I have not looked further into this as yet.

Confirmation of Arms of Thomas Berry (1737-1815) – the “Fleetwood Berry Arms”.

Transcript of Text (This differs in minor details from the text of the Confirmation of Arms held in the National Library of Ireland).

TO ALL AND SINGULAR as well Noblemen as Gentlemen, and others to whom these Presents shall come, I , Thomas Ulick Sadlier, Esquire M.A., M.R.I.A., Barrister-at-Law, Deputy Ulster King of Arms, send due Salutations and Greetings.

Whereas application hath been made unto me by Lorton Alexander Wilson, Esquire, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., on behalf of his brother-in-law the Reverend Francis Keith Berry, M.A. of Eglish, King’s County, only son of the Reverend William Berry, M.A. of Eglish, who was grandson of Thomas Berry and his wife Frances Berry, only daughter and heiress of Knight Berry, of Clonehane, King’s County, Esquire, setting forth that certain Armorial Ensigns have been long used and borne by his family which do not appear to have been heretofore recorded in my Office as appertaining unto them, and being desirous that such arms, as without injury or prejudice to any other he may bear and advance may be duly confirmed by lawful authority and registered and recorded in the Office of Ulster King of Arms in Ireland, to the end that the Officers of Arms there and others upon occasion may take full notice and have knowledge thereof, he hath therefore prayed for a full confirmation of his arms with such directions as I may deem proper to assign unto him and his descendants.

Know ye therefore that I, the said Deputy Ulster King of Arms, having taken the request of the said applicant into consideration, and having examined into the circumstances, am pleased to comply therewith, and by virtue of the power unto me given by His Majesty’s Letters Patent under the Great Seal, and by the authority of the same, have ratified and confirmed and by these Presents do exemplify, ratify and confirm unto the said Francis Keith Berry the Arms following, that is to say: 1st and 4th Gules, three bars or, 2nd. Per pale nebuly or and azure, six martlets countercharged (for Fleetwood); 3rd Vert, three crosses crosslet gold (for Berry*) for crest, on a wreath of the colours. A griffin’s head erased per pale indented gules and argent, mantled gules, doubled argent, mottoes: Liberté tout entière, and above the Crest, Deus protector meus, the whole as is the margent more clearly depicted.

To have and to hold the said Arms unto him the said Francis Keith Berry and his descendants, and to the other descendants of Thomas Berry aforesaid, for ever, and the same to bear, use, show, set forth and advance in shield or banner or otherwise, observing and using their due and proper differences according to the Laws of Arms and without the let, hinderrance, molestation, interupption, controlment or challenge of any manner or person or persons whatsoever.

In witness wherof I subscribe these Presents with my name and title and affix hereunto the seal of my office this Twenty-first day of December in the fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland & the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth, and in the year of Our Lord One Thousand nine hundred and forty.

Thomas Ulrick Sadlier

Deputy Ulster King of Arm

* The Dovegrove Berry Family - presumably Knight Berry's arms. The arms of James Berry, or Bury (d.1588), son of Edmund Berry, or Bury (d. 1512) of Hampton Poyle, Co. Oxfordshire are recorded as “vert a cross crosslet or” by Henry Sydney Grazebrook, author of “The Heraldry of Worcestershire”.

Confirmation of Arms of James William Middleton Berry

(Transcript of copy of Confirmation of Arms as recorded in the Register of Arms, GO Ms Volume 107 folios 376-7, National Library of Ireland).

BERRY. To all and Singular to whom these presents shall come I Sir William Betham Knight attendant on the most illustrious Order of Saint Patrick Ulster King of Arms and Principal Herald of all Ireland send greeting Whereas application has been made to me by James William Middleton Berry of Ballynegall in the County of Westmeath Esquire setting forth, that he is descended from a family long seated in the said County and has used and borne certain Armorial bearings which appear to be the same borne by the family of Bury or Berry of Devonshire from which family the tradition is that his family is descended and he has prayed me to exemplify and confirm the said Arms with due difference; and further he has represented that James Gibbons late of Ballynegall aforesaid Esqre having no children by his last will and testament left his said estate of Ballynegall to the said James William Middleton Berry who out of affectionate regard to the said late James Gibbons is desirous of bearing the Arms of Gibbons with his own in such manner as may be consistent with the laws of Arms and has prayed me accordingly to exemplify register and confirm the same to him the said James William Middleton Berry and his descendants Know Ye therefore that I the said Ulster King of Arms by the power to me Given by Her Majesty’s Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Ireland and by Authority of the do by these presents give exemplify and confirm unto the said James William Middleton Berry and his lawful descendants the Arms following that is to say Quarterly 1st & 4th Gules three Bars or a Trefoil Vert for difference for Berry 2nd and 3rd Argent a lion rampant Gules debruised by a Bend Azure, charged with the three Escallops or for Gibbons* For Motto Nihil Sine Labore the whole as is above more clearly depicted, to be borne and used by the said James William Middleton Berry and his descendants for ever according to the laws of Arms without the let hindrance molestation or interruption of any person or persons whatsoever In Witness thereof I have signed these presents with my name and title and affixed hereto my Official Seal this twelfth day of January in the eleventh year of the reign of Our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord 1848

William Betham

* For Crests 1st a Griffins head and neck per pale indented Gules and argent charged with a Trefoil countercharged for difference for Berry 2nd A demi Lion rampant azure holding in his paws a escallop or for Gibbons