The Washington herald., 1907-03-31
THE BARRY WILL.

We call special attention 70 the alb
stract of Mrs. Joanna Barry's Will, which
We publish in these columns to-day. Her
maiden name was Gould. and her husband.
James Barry. was a highly prominent
citizen OF Washington in It's early days;
the intimate associate of Thomas Law
and other well-knOwn men of that time.
and one Of the most public-spirited men
in the city Among his other benefactioRs.
he was founder Of St Mary's Catholic
Church. the edifiee having been built. with
funds contributed by himself in that part
of the city then known as CarrOiisburg-
after the Carroll family, the owner Of
large tracts of land in the southeast por-
ton of the city. This viii alone. even if
no other evidence were available, affords
ample proof of the wealth, social position.
and high refinement of the family. and
will bear q careful inspection. The refer
ences 10 the family portraits by Gilbert
Stuart as well as that of Bishop Carroll
of Baltimore, by the same artist. are well
worthy Of special attention, and we shall
bc very grateful to any Of our read
ers who will give us information that will
enable us to locate them. James and his
wife Joanna Could Barry left no chill
dren. their two daughters. Ann and Mary,
both unmarried having died before the
date of their mothers will. Their nephew
John D. Barry. after his uncle's death
was the most prominent representative
Of the family in Washington. He married
in 1911 Juliana Coombe daughter Of
Griffith Coombe and his wife. Mary Pleas
onton, the aunt of Gen. Alfred Pleasonton,
prominently known ia the military history
of our country. Griffith COombe was
highly conspicuous IN the social and bust
ness life of the Capital and lived in one
of the first houses erected in Washington
located on the corner of Georgia avenue
and Third street southeast. IT was an
abode of wealth. elegance. and culture
and dispensed hospitality which was en-
joyed by Washington. jefferson, Madison,
and other highly prominent men of the
land. When Gen. Winder and his army
In 1874. retreated before the British in
Maryland and entered Washington by the
Long Bridge. he occupied this house as his
headquarters, and there received, until he
marched his troops to Bladensburg. the
President, the Secretary Of State (Air
MOnFOe} the Secretary Of War (Gen.
Armstrong;, Commodore Tingey (the conf
mandant of the Washington Navy Yard.
Commodore Barney. and many other dis
tinguished officials Nearly opposite TO
this home of Griffith Coombe. on Third
street lived his son-in-iaw. John ID. Bar
ry, already spoken Of. who was promi-
nently Identified with the social and busi-
ness life of the city He subsequently re-
moved to the farm previously owned BY
his uncle, James Barry, at what was
then called Poplar Point directly across
the Anaeostia River from Third street,
where he resided until his death. in 1913
The village around Poplar Point is even
yet frequently called Barry Point. He
was an incorporation of the Washington
Canal Company. an enterprise planned
by himself and Thomas Law. and was
also one Of the projectors OF the Long
Bridge across the Potomac. nothing OF
which will remain in a little time save
the memory Of its historic career. We are
informed that descendants of Mr. Barry
are stiH residing IN Washington. and we
shah appreciate the courtesy Il they Will
communicate with Us.