Fonds MC303 - Barry family

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Barry family

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  • Textual record

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the fonds.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA PANB MC303

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3.3 m of textual records

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Name of creator

(Branch begins in 1858)

Biographical history

Jeremiah Hayes Barry, the son of Julia Hayes and Patrick Barry (d. 1888), was born at Maugerville, Sunbury County, New Brunswick on 21 May 1858. He had 6 siblings, namely, Edward, James (m. Susan Farrell), John, Patrick (d. Duluth, Minnesota), Michael (d. Winnipeg 1889), and Julia (m. Ryan). Patrick Barry, Sr., had emigrated from Bandon, Ireland, to New Brunswick in 1840. Jeremiah H. Barry (also known as Jery) received his early education at Maugerville, later attending the Collegiate School at Fredericton. He studied law under the Honourable James A. Van Wart and was admitted as an attorney, on 28 June 1882, and was called to the bar in June 1884. On 10 June 1891 he married Isabella E. Owens (1866-1951), the daughter of Isabella and John Owens (1834-1926), a merchant, of Fredericton, and they had four children, Charles Rossiter, Mary Elizabeth (known as Molly), Paul Rossiter Hayes, and Agnes Rita (O'Brien). The Barry family lived at 751 Brunswick Street, in Fredericton, and attended St. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Church.

Jeremiah H. Barry practised law in Fredericton alone before going into partnership with the Hon. A. G. Blair. The firm functioned from March 1887-1896, under the business name Blair & Barry. In 1896 Blair was appointed Minister of Railways in Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier's cabinet. J. H. Barry served as crown council on some important criminal cases. in 1885 he was named clerk of the York County Court. He was appointed Queen's Council in 1899, and in September of the same year, he was appointed judge of probate for York County, holding that post until May 1909. J. H. Barry was named to the bench of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick, in May 1909, the first Irish Roman Catholic to be so named. On the re-organization of the Supreme Court, on 11 December 1913, he was appointed a justice of the King's Bench Division. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick, King's Bench Division, on 1 October 1924. He served in that capacity until his retirement on 18 October 1945.

Beyond his legal career, J. H. Barry was interested in municipal and community affairs. He was a member of the Senate of the University of New Brunswick, a trustee of the Victoria Public Hospital, a member of Fredericton's Board of Health, vice-president of the Barristers' Society, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and a councillor of the Board of Trade. In 1914, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of New Brunswick. Jeremiah Hayes Barry died at Fredericton on 23 March 1946, aged 87 years, and was buried in the Hermitage, Fredericton. His wife, Isabella E. Barry, passed away in 1951.

Jeremiah H. Barry's son, Charles Rossiter Barry, was born on 1 April 1892, at Fredericton. He attended local schools, graduating from Fredericton High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of New Brunswick, in Fredericton, in 1912. Subsequently, he studied law at Dalhousie University, Halifax, earning an LL.B. He was called to the bar of New Brunswick in 1916. Charles R. Barry was appointed judge of probate for York County about 1936 and a justice of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Fredericton Curling Club, Fredericton Tennis Club, and the Fredericton Automobile and Boating Club. As well, like his father, he was a member of the Liberal Party. Charles Rossiter Barry died unmarried on 23 December 1968

Charles Barry's brother, Paul Rossiter Hayes Barry, was born on 4 November 1900. He attended local schools, graduating from the University of New Brunswick, in Fredericton, in 1920. He was employed as a credit manager in Long Island, New York. He married Violet C. MacMillan (b. 1906), a registered nurse. Paul R. H. Barry died in 1985, and was buried in the Hermitage, Fredericton.

Their sister, Mary Elizabeth Barry (known as Molly), was born on 13 August 1893. She graduated from Fredericton High School, in 1910, and subsequently attended the Villa Maria Convent School, in Montreal, from 1910-1912, which was operated by the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame. Villa Maria, a private Catholic girls' high school, received students from Canada and the United States. Molly Barry became a librarian and worked in Fredericton.

Lastly, Agnes Rita Barry (also known as Dee), was born on 22 June 1894. She graduated from Fredericton High School, in 1911, and, like her sister, Molly, attended Villa Maria Convent School, from 1911-1913. She became a registered nurse and worked in Fredericton prior to her marriage, on 30 June 1931, to John McPeake O'Brien. John O'Brien, the son of Lavina McPeake and John O'Brien, of South Nelson, Northumberland County, was a merchant and lumberman. They had at least one child, a son, John Barry O'Brien, born 2 June 1938.

Sources: Daniel F. Johnson Vital Statistics from New Brunswick Newspapers; RS141 Vital Statistics from Government Records; Censuses of Canada on-line and automatedgenealogy.com; profile of Jeremiah H. Barry on http://www.newirelandnb.ca/People-Biographical-Profiles/Bio-Profiles-Jeremiah-Hayes-Barry.html and MC303.

Custodial history

Information about the custody of these records prior to acquisition is incomplete.

Scope and content

This fonds documents the legal career of Jeremiah Hayes Barry and sheds light on his family life, his personal activities, and the activities of his children.

It consists of more than 450 legal case files that contain correspondence and legal documents pertaining to property transactions, the settling of estates, civil suits, bankruptcies, agreements, and other matters. Legal records also include additional professional correspondence, a legal ledger (1887-1906), a journal pertaining to the Symonds & Burpee estate (1880-1891), office accounts, ledgers, and legal papers (1840s-1900s).

Personal records include correspondence relating to J. H. Barry's appointment to the Supreme Court, his personal correspondence, and materials relating to the Victoria Public Hospital, the University of New Brunswick, St. Francis Xavier University, St. Dunstan's parish (Roman Catholic) and St. Dunstan's school.

Family records include the correspondence of J. H. Barry, Isabella Barry, and the Barry children; household receipts; invoices; materials pertaining to the children's schooling (examinations, study notebooks on various subjects, grades); Charles Barry's lecture notes from Dalhousie law school; newspaper clippings; and photographs.

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Donated by Molly Barry of Fredericton, N.B. in 1969 and 1970.

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

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No restrictions

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