Hi Watermusic,
I stumbled across this thread yesterday while trying to find the antecedents of my James Fry, born about 1786 in Membury. I've been searching for a long time and from half a world away, but one possibility as father was the John Fry you're looking at.
I wonder if this might be him - the John who came to Membury from Wambrook and apprenticed to John Seaward (possibly an uncle?):
FRY JOHN married MATTOCKS MARY 1785 03 29 AXMINSTER (Devon FHS Marriages)
children:
William, b 1790, bap. 1 Jul 1792 Membury
Daniel, bap. 1 Jul 1792, Membury
Marianne, b 1795, bap. 22 Jun 1802, Membury
George, b 1798, bap. 22 Jun 1802 Membury
There is also this:
Mother: Sarah Dunster, Father: John Fry of Membury, labourer,” (Bastardy Papers Order 2590 A/PO64/14 1786)
As there are no births recorded (that I can find) between 1785 and 1790, I wonder if my James might be a son of John and Mary. Or, in fact, if he might be the bastard born to Sarah Dunster.
Another Fry, John, was born in Membury c.1787, according to censuses and he might also be a son.
(BTW James' son George bap Membury 1820 was convicted of stabbing a man in Somerset in 1841 and transported to Van Dieman's Land. That's my great-great grandfather.)
What do you think?
cheers
Gary
Melbourne, Australia