William Terry was born in Willmington, North Carolina, and served 36 years on merchant ships and nine years in the U.S. Navy. William Terry was married and had two children living in New York when he died. William's Children's names were John Terry and Louise Terry. William Terry was admitted to Snug Harbor when he was 60 years old in 1842. He would be expelled from the Harbor in 1847 and would not return until 1857 when he was approximately 75 years old. On February 18, 1870, William Terry passed away and is buried in Plot 1 at Sailors' Snug Harbor Cemetery.
USS ST. LAWRENCE, 1826-75, 27 April 1852 - Naval History and Heritage Command
William Terry was on the St Lawerance in 1856 when it sailed for South America to become the Flag Ship of the Brazil Squadron (Naval History and Heritage Command). William served on the USS St Lawerance until 1857 ( Terry William's Registrastion S.S.H.).
When The St Lawerance was in the Guanabara Bay in Brazil, the Ship was visited by Sailors of the USS Merrimack (Kinnaman,166). Two future Snug Harbor inmates were on these ships in 1857, Horatio Parker and William Terry. It is possible that they met for the first time aboard ship and not just at the Harbor.