Thomas Derry Jr. (Thomas Frederick Derry on Find a Grave) was born on 26 January 1832 in Cambridgeshire, England, the son of Thomas and Mary A. (Johnson) Derry, both natives of England (1884 Gratiot County album). The village is not named in the printed sources; earlier notes in this archive said Fen Drayton, a fenland village on the River Ouse about 8 miles northwest of Cambridge, which is unconfirmed. He had a school education in England, emigrated with his parents in 1854 and settled in Wayne County, New York, and came to Hamilton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan, in January 1866 with his brothers William, John and Alfred. He farmed section 3 of Hamilton Township, was a Presbyterian, and married Mary Ann Swailes (b. 13 Sep 1838, Wayne County, NY; d. 8 Dec 1890), daughter of John Swails. They had nine children: Albert, Herbert A., Frank A., Emma E., Agnes M., Willis, Lewis, Anna and Frederick. He died on 11 December 1901 and is buried at Hamilton Township Cemetery, Ithaca. The "Jr." fits the record: his father was also named Thomas Derry.
Timeline
1832
Born26 Jan 1832 — Cambridgeshire, England (village not named in the printed sources; Fen Drayton unconfirmed)
1901
Died11 or 12 Dec 1901 — Hamilton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan (Tucker 1913 and Find a Grave differ by a day); buried Hamilton Township Cemetery, Ithaca
Claims in the record
26 Jan 1832 — Cambridgeshire, England (village not named in the printed sources; Fen Drayton unconfirmed)
11 or 12 Dec 1901 — Hamilton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan (Tucker 1913 and Find a Grave differ by a day); buried Hamilton Township Cemetery, Ithaca
Farmer
Albert M. Derry (b. 29 May 1859, New York; d. 1945; lived at Ashley, Michigan) — and eight other children
Ernest A. Derry (b. 1886, Michigan)
'Jr.' — his father was Thomas Derry (Sr.), and his mother Mary A. Johnson (1884 album)
Small fenland village, River Ouse, 8 miles NW of Cambridge — the family-record birthplace; printed sources say only 'Cambridgeshire'
England → Wayne County, New York (1854, with his parents) → Hamilton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan (January 1866)
Mary Ann Swailes (b. 13 Sep 1838, Wayne County, NY; d. 8 Dec 1890), daughter of John Swails (1884 album; Tucker 1913)
William, John and Alfred Derry, who came with him in 1865–66 and settled in Hamilton and Lafayette townships, Gratiot County (Tucker 1913)
1884 Portrait and Biographical Album of Gratiot County, p. 260; Tucker, Gratiot County, Michigan (1913) (Rowell family entry); Find a Grave memorial 45304831
Ann 'Annie' Hounsell (1838–1908), married 1897 (Find a Grave)
Confirm the village: the 1841 and 1851 English censuses (Thomas, age 9 and 19), Cambridgeshire Archives baptism registers (Fen Drayton 1576–1865) or Bishop's Transcripts. A descendant's note on Find a Grave says the family sailed on the Quickstep from London on 17 May 1854; the ship is not confirmed. The 1860 US census for Wayne County, New York should show his parents.