Our Forebears

Ruth Johnson was born in August 1664 in Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts. Her father was Lt. Francis Johnson Jr. (1644-1717), and she had one known sister, Mary Johnson, who married Thomas Warden. There is a deed in Essex County, Massachusetts, in 1666 that lists Francis’ wife as Elizabeth, but more research is needed to confirm if she is the mother of Ruth and Mary.

On July 21, 1702, in Scituate, “Ruth Seargant Jr” gave an oath regarding a paternity case. Ruth is believed to have been a midwife, so maybe that is why she had to testify. After Thomas died, Ruth married John Barry on May 13, 1713, in Boston. On March 4, 1719, Ruth Barry sold property on behalf of her husband, John Barry (Tanner), and that deed also lists her father and her eldest son, William. In a “Deed of Gift” on April 18, 1719, John Barry gave his estate to his wife Ruth, and assigned William Sergeant to be administrator on her behalf. John died on May 17, 1720, in Boston, and apparently did not have any kids. There are several court cases between John’s nephew, James Barry (also a Tanner) and Ruth Barry regarding her dower, and on October 4, 1720, she was granted her 1/3 part of her husband’s estate.

On April 3, 1733, there is another court case between James Barry (Tanner) and Ruth Barnaby (Widow.) We believe she is the same Ruth Barry, although no records have been found to show that she married someone named Barnaby.

On September 6, 1764, in Boston, there is a curious deposition given by Ruth Barnaby, aged 100 years old. She was deposed about her time in the Pemaquid area with her father when she was a young girl. She said they lived there many years until they were driven off by the Indians. Based on the names she remembered, and other records that also list these families with either the Sergeants or the Johnsons, we believe that this woman was the same Ruth (Johnson) Sergeant Barry. The deposition ended with the Justices claiming that Ruth was of “sound memory & understanding.”

Ruth Barnaby died on February 12, 1765, in Boston. Her obituary said she had reached her 100th year the prior August, and that she had been a midwife for 40 years. Her burial was listed in the Christ Church (Old North) records on February 15, 1765; however, it is not known where she is buried.

Note: Thomas and Ruth’s eldest son, William, married Ruth Barnaby, who married Thomas Doty after her first husband died, and then Ruth Doty died in 1757. No connection has been found between that Barnaby family and “Ruth Barnaby” in the 1764 deposition.