PRY FAMILY HISTORY

The patriarch of the Pry family, John Debrie, was born in France in the early 1700s. He immigrated to America alone, when he was only six years old. He was an indentured servant, which meant that someone else paid for Debrie’s passage. In return, Debrie would work for that person until he was 21.

On his 21st birthday, DeBrie’s indenture ended and he was given his freedom … and a horse. He climbed on the horse, and he promptly made his way to Pennsylvania.

The German immigrants in Pennsylvania had a hard time pronouncing DeBrie’s French name last name, so he changed it to Bryen/Bryan and later to Bry. His son, Philip Sr. (b. 1760), would eventually change the family name to Pry.

John Debrie Bry, and his son Philip, moved to Maryland in 1810. There, Philip Bry bought 126 acres of farmland in Keedysville. Philip and his wife, Susannah, made that land their home, where they raised their three children Samuel (b. 1814), Susannah (b. 1815), and Philip Jr. (b. 1817).

Samuel and Philip Jr. would inherit and expand their father’s property after his death.

Learn More About Samuel and Philip’s Work on the Land [Link to Addendum Page “Meet the Prys”]

Return to Exhibit [Link to Main Page “Meet the Servants”]