Abraham J. Berry

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Dr. Abraham J. Berry, M.D.

Abraham J. Berry (c. 1797-1865),[1] a physician, was the first mayor of "the independent city of Williamsburgh."[2][3]

Early life[]

Berry "was born in New York City and educated as a physician."[4] "Dr. Berry became one of the most admired and recognized figures in the city" partly due to his 1832 work with cholera patients.[4]

First mayor of Williamsburgh[]

Among his accomplishments leading up to and becoming the first mayor of Williamsburgh (1852-1853)[5] were:[4]

  • a ferry linking to Manhattan
  • dropping the h from Williamsburgh[6]
  • "his 1855 proposal[7] consolidated Williamsburg with the rest of Brooklyn."

Following his term in office, Berry was unsuccessful in a four-way race for a congressional seat.[8] In 1851, prior to his mayoral term in office, he was an election supervisor, appointing election inspectors.[9] Only one other person served after him as mayor of Williamburgh.[10][11]

Civil War[]

"At the beginning of the Civil War, Dr. Berry enlisted as a surgeon in the 38th New York Infantry."[4] [12] He died[5] "the result of a fever he contracted during that time."[4]

Family[]

He had a wife,[13] a daughter named Julia (d. 1906),[14] and a son John (c. 1835-1915).[15]

Legacy[]

The name Berry in Williamsburg's Berry Playground[16] at 106 South Third Street,[17] between Bedford Avenue and Berry Street, refers to:[4]

  • nearby Berry Street
  • the street was named for his family
  • that he was a physician, and the park's address is linked to a since-closed hospital.

References[]

  1. ^ "DIED". The New York Times. October 23, 1865.
  2. ^ Jake Mooney (June 19, 2005). "How Williamsburg Got Its Groove". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "EVELYN GRISWOLD BRIDE OF B. MAYOR; Rev. Dr. Coffin Performs the Ceremony in Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. SISTER IS HONOR MATRON A. Hyatt Mayor Best Man for His Brother--Wedding Tour to the West Indies". The New York Times. March 19, 1931. great-granddaughter of the late Dr. Abraham J. Berry, first Mayor of Williamsburg.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Berry Playground". NYC Department of Parks (NYCgovparks.org).
  5. ^ a b Posted in(Not)Forgotten Greenpoint: Geoff Cobb (January 25, 2019). "Where Do The Names of Williamsburg Streets Come From". Greenpointers.
  6. ^ Joyce Cohen (October 6, 1996). "Trendy Ambiance and Manhattan Views". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Jake Dobkin (May 8, 2006). "Last Days of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank".[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "City Nominations for Congress, Assembly, and City and County Offices" (PDF). New York Times. November 1, 1854.
  9. ^ "The People v. Cook". March 1, 1853.
  10. ^ "The Citizen guide to Brooklyn and Long Island". December 21, 2020. Dr. Abraham J. Berry was the first Mayor of Williamsburgh. William Wall was the second and last.
  11. ^ During his successor's term, Berry's proposal for joining "with the rest of Brooklyn" succeeded! meanwhile, he was back to being a full-time doctor.
  12. ^ "United States Army New York Infantry Regiment, 38th". testimonials for Abraham J. Berry as surgeon to the 38th Regiment
  13. ^ "Commission of Appeals 1872, Page 19". 1864. a conveyance by Abraham J. Berry and wife
  14. ^ "New York times June 7, 1906 Page 7 old newspaper archives".
  15. ^ "American or English, 1800-1815".
  16. ^ "Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning EIS" (PDF). nyc.gov.
  17. ^ "Foodscape: Williamsburg/Greenpoint".
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