Tuolumne County Biographies

MAJOR R C. BARRY

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Was born Great Britain of Irish parents, in 1806, says the �Union Democrat�.  
Settling at an early age in Texas, on the breaking out of the war which resulted 
in the independence of that State,  he became a noted actor therein.  Strong 
decision of character marked him, while his education hardly deserved the name, 
for hardly could he read or write.  The obstinate man retained throughout llife 
a hatred to Mexicans, which extended to all foreigners.
He served through the Mexican War, and after peace was made, came through Mexico 
to California, in a company iii which were many of his old fellow-soldiers.  
Barry came up from San Francisco in company with Alfred Luckett, Dr. Bell, 
Joshua Holden, A. Elkins and Captain Alonzo Green, all of them settling in what 
afterwards became Sonora.  A large population soon arriving, made it neces�sary 
to devise some way of keeping the peace, and Barry on account of his decision of 
character and indomitable resolution, was chosen Justice.  This position pleased 
the Major vastly, and he maintained the dignity of his Court in the highest 
degree, never allowing its decrees to meet with aught but the deepest respect. 
His docket, consist�ing of loose papers, was unfortunately burned in one of the 
many disastrous fires which have ravaged Sonora. A small portion of this great 
curiosity is now extant, and has been incorporated in the body of this work. 
Much of that which is going the rounds of the press, purporting to be Barry�s 
docket, is a base forgery, revealing its character by internal evidence.
Major Barry died in Alameda County about 1870.

�A History of Tuolumne County, California� B.F. Alley, 1882. Pg. 371-372.