Berry family - papers of the Berry, Wollstonecraft and Hay families, 1741-1941

MLMSS 315

fonds

Textual Records, Clippings

423418

Photocopy : MLMSS 315/1: Hardcopy version (158 pp.) filed with other MSS Guides in the Mitchell Library Reading Room. See also the ONLINE version, with links at the end of this catalogue entry: PART 1 : GUIDE (60pp.); PART 2: INDEX to Correspondents in MLMSS 315/2-4, 5 (selective only) & 7-8 (32pp.); PART 3: INDEX to Correspondents in MLMSS 315/46-52, 54/3 & 78 (62pp.).
Microfilm : MLMSS 315/2-3, 5-6, 8, 37-42, 46-54, 56-65, 67-72, 73 (items 1-2), 74-77, 85-88, 90, 92-96, 97 (items 1-2), 98, 100, 104, 105 (items 1-2), 106 (items 1 & 4), 107 (item 2), 108, 110 (items 1 & 3), 111, 114 (items 4-5), 117-118. For the microfilm reel numbers please see the online GUIDE (links below), or refer to Information Desk staff.
Digitised : MLMSS 315/37-42

96 volumes, 22 boxes - 14 Meters
Textual Records
Textual Records - (typescript)
Textual Records - (typescript, carbon)
Clippings
Textual Records - (printed)

Alexander Berry (1781-1873), merchant, landowner, pastoralist and parliamentarian was born at Fife, Scotland, son of James and Isobel Berrie. He was educated at Cupar Grammar School and the Universities of St. Andrews and Edinburgh where he graduated in medicine. After travelling as a surgeon's mate to China and Madras he abandoned medicine for commerce. Berry first arrived in Sydney in 1808 before further travels. During his further travels Berry met Edward Wollstonecraft who was to become his business partner. Berry arrived in Sydney in 1819 establishing a business before travelling back to England in 1820. Wollstonecraft, who arrived at Sydney shortly after Berry, was a partner in the business which he managed while Berry was in London. Wollstonecraft was granted land on the North Shore of Sydney. On his return to Sydney Berry acquired land in the Shoalhaven River region of NSW in 1822 separately and in partnership with Edward Wollstonecraft. In 1827 he married Edward's sister, Elizabeth Wollstonecraft. Berry's brothers, John, David and William later managed the estate based at Mount Coolangatta on the north side of the Shoalhaven River. Berry was a nominated member of the Legislative Council (1828-1861). Edward Wollstonecraft died in 1832 and his estate was left to his sister Elizabeth Berry. Elizabeth Berry died in 1845 having had no children. Alexander Berry died in 1873 and his estate passed to his brother David Berry. When David Berry died in 1889 there were legacies to various institutions and the property 'Coolangatta' passed to his cousin once removed, John Hay (1840-1909) who had been born and brought up at 'Coolangatta'.

I. Berry and Wollstonecraft Partners, 1804-1846
II. Alexander Berry, 1802-1872
III. Edward Wollstonecraft, 1805-1832
IV. Elizabeth Berry, nee Wollstonecraft, 1789-1845
V. Berry Family, 1741-1835
VI. James Berry, 1811-1827
VII. John Berry, 1817-1848
VIII.Charles John Campbell, agent for Alexander Berry, 1838-1844
IX. David Berry, 1832-1889
X. William Berry, 1833-1875
XI. Berry Estate letters, 1819-1874
XII. Coolangatta Brass Band, 1888-1889
XIII.Sir John Hay, 1849-1908
XIV. James Tod Hay, 1860-1887
XV. Jessie Sinclair Hay, 1889, 1902
XVI. Alexander Hay, 1889-1941
XVII.William G. Mathews, 1902
XVIII.Printed material, 1863-1938

Available online - Part 1 acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2007/D00007/berry1.pdf

This collection was listed in 2004 as part of the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW 1856-2006 Project.

Guide to the papers of the Berry, Wollstonecraft and Hay Families (137 pp), including an index to correspondents, is available by clicking on the link below
Pictorial material and relics are located at Pic.Acc.5597; maps are located at M Ser 4 000/1 MLMSS 315 maps 1-26; Newspapers are located at MLMSS 315/Box 118X.
Selected volumes and boxes of papers have been preservation microfilmed. See Guide for microfilm request numbers.