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DDerry Family Archive
Derry Line — Confirmed English!

Thomas Derry Jr.

1832 – 1901

Needs research
Kyle DerryWyn DerryJack C. DerryErnest A. DerryAlbert M. DerryThomas Derry Jr.

Life

Thomas Derry Jr. is your 4× great-grandfather and the confirmed English origin of the Derry surname in your family. He was born in 1832 in Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, England — a small fenland village on the River Ouse, about 8 miles northwest of Cambridge. He was a farmer. At some point he emigrated from England to America, with his son Albert being born in New York — the classic landing point for English emigrants crossing the Atlantic. The family then continued west to Michigan, where Thomas died in 1901. His presence in Michigan in 1901 means he lived to see his grandson Ernest (b. 1886) as a teenager. The Derry surname in this Cambridgeshire context almost certainly connects to the Norman-French "daree" (penny weight) recorded in Northamptonshire in 1200 AD — both counties are in the East Midlands/East England belt where the name was historically concentrated. The "Jr." designation confirms his father was also named Thomas Derry, pushing the line back one more generation in England.

Timeline

  1. 1832
    Born1832 — Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, England
  2. 1832
    OccupationFarmer
  3. 1901
    Died1901 — Michigan, USA

Claims in the record

1832 — Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, England
1901 — Michigan, USA
Farmer
Albert M. Derry (born New York)
Ernest A. Derry (b. 1886, Michigan)
'Jr.' — his father was also Thomas Derry (Sr.), England
Small fenland village, River Ouse, 8 miles NW of Cambridge
England → New York → Michigan
Unknown — research needed

Research next

Thomas Derry Jr. born 1832, Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire is a highly researchable record. Search: (1) FreeBMD or FindMyPast for Thomas Derry Jr. birth registration, Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, ~1832. (2) 1841 and 1851 England Census for Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire — search for Thomas Derry age 9 (1841) and age 19 (1851); this will name his parents (Thomas Derry Sr. + wife). (3) A passenger manifest for Thomas Derry departing England for New York (1850s–1860s). (4) The 1880 US Census in Michigan for Thomas Derry — will confirm his birthplace as England and show his household. The 'Jr.' designation means Thomas Derry Sr. is findable in England — likely Cambridgeshire parish records going back to ~1800.