James McSherry (author)

McSherry , JAMES, author; b. at Liberty Town, Frederick County, Maryland, July 29, 1819; d. at Frederick City, Maryland, July 13, 1869, was the son of James McSherry and Anne Ridgely Sappington, and grandson of Patrick McSherry, who came from Ireland in 1745 to Lancaster County, Pa., and removed later to Maryland. He graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, Md., in 1838, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1840. He began the practice of his profession in Gettysburg, Pa., but returned to Maryland in 1841, marrying Eliza Spurrier on September 30 of that year. Of his five children the oldest, James, became chief justice of Maryland. He continued in the practice of law at Frederick until his death. Mr. McSherry was always of a literary turn, his writings showing a strong Catholic spirit, and is best known for his “History of Maryland” (Baltimore, 1849). He was a frequent contributor to the “United States Catholic Magazine”, and also wrote “Pere Jean, or the Jesuit Missionary” (1849) and “Willitoff, or the Days of James the First: a Tale” (1851), republished in German (Frankfort, 1858).

J. P. W. MCNEAL