James Thompson Gerry (1797 - 1854)

Born 21 Aug 1797 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Died 28 Sep 1854 at age 57 in Lost at sea

Biography

James T Gerry, appointed midshipman US Navy Dec 20, 1814, Lt April 28, 1826, commander, Apr 17, 1842, and was lost on the Albany Set 28, 1854.^[1]

USS Albany

After its service in combat, it conducted surveillance and observation missions throughout the Caribbean. In September 1854, it sailed along the coast of Venezuela when it was lost with all hands on 28 or 29 September 1854. Included among the 250 men lost were Commander James T. Gerry, youngest son of Elbridge Gerry, formerly Vice President of the United States, Lieutenant John Quincy Adams, grandson of the second president and nephew of the fourth, and Midshipman Bennet Israel Riley, son of Brevet General Bennet C. Riley, the former military governor of California.^[2][3]

Birth

Parents:

Elbridge Thomas Gerry (1744 - 1814)

Ann Thompson Gerry (1763 - 1849)

James was West Point in 1814.^[4]

Commander James Thompson Gerry died on 28 September 1854, aboard the Albany, which was lost as sea. ^[5]

Inscription:

Commander United States Army, 62 yrs.

Commander James Thompson Gerry was mentioned on a memorial in Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States with a death date of 28 September 1854.^[6]

James had written his will on 17 July 1852. His estate passed probate in 1855.^[7] Beneficiaries:

• Elbridge Gerry, Brother
• Ann Gerry, Sister
• Eleanor Stanford Gerry, Sister
• Elbridge Thomas Gerry, Nephew
• Thomas Russel Gerry, Brother
• Almy Gaclet Gerry, Niece
• Jean Buchanan Gerry, Niece
• Elisa Townsend, Sister
• David S. Townsend, Brother-in-law
• Helen Maria Gerry, Sister
• Emily Louisa Gerry, Sister

Sources

1. ↑ Cutter, William Richard. "Genealogical and Personal Memoirs: Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts." Genealogical Publishing Com, Jan 1, 2000. pp 2201. Page 50.
2. ↑ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Albany_(1846) USS Albany 1846]
3. ↑ 'Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the Families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts by Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918', 1908, Volume v.1, pp 48, archive.org (accessed 18 December 2022)
4. ↑ Military: "U.S., Military and Naval Academies, Cadet Records and Applications, 1800-1908"
   National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Series Number: M688
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1299 #2150 (accessed 18 December 2022)
   Name: James Thompson Gerry; Service Date: 1814; Service Place: West Point, Orange, New York, USA.
5. ↑ Death: "U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941"
   Various volumes. Washington, D.C.: Navy Department Library
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2324 #3792 (accessed 18 December 2022)
   James T Gerry death 28 Sep 1854.
6. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #18727304 (accessed 18 December 2022)
   Memorial page for CDR James Thompson Gerry (21 Aug 1797-28 Sep 1854), citing Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA (plot: 13 Ivy Path, North); Maintained by Sandy Bronkhorst Reimink (contributor 49057782).
7. ↑ Probate: "Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999"
   Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880; Author: Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9049 #2771470 (accessed 18 December 2022)
   James T Gerry probate in 1855.

• Chapter Sketches, Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution, Patriots' Daughters (Connecticut Chapters, Daughters of the American Revolution, New Haven, 1904) Page 10.