Founded originally as an oyster company, H.M. Terry Co was created with the express purpose of spawning, transplanting, growing, harvesting, processing, and marketing a branded oyster from the ocean waters of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. And with the company’s founding, the Sewansecott™ brand was formed. Joined by his two sons, Nat and Henry “Buzzy” Terry, the elder Henry Miller Terry established a platform of success upon which the company could grow, eventually passing the family business on to the second generation. During this time, H.M. Terry Co specialized in processing shucked oysters, and in 1980, Nat’s son, Pete, returned to the Shore—followed shortly after by his brother, Wec—to continue the family business as the third generation of the company. Through three generations, the family farming and processing operation flourished to a point in the early 1980’s when the company employed over 100 individuals and was processing and distributing over 100,000 bushels of Sewansecott™ Brand Oysters annually.
Today—now in the fourth generation of the family business — H.M. Terry Co produces over 40 million delicious, Sewansecott™ ocean salt clams and oysters annually. Hatchery produced from the best natural Virginia brood stock available, our oysters and clams are grown to market size in the pristine waters of Hog Island Bay, located within the 80 mile chain of undeveloped barrier islands of the Virginia Coast Reserve. This entire area used for oyster and clam grow-out has been designated and protected as a United Nations Biosphere Reserve, and our sustainable harvesting methods provide our customers with the highest quality shellfish year-round while also reflecting our dedication to ecological preservation. Known for our high standards of quality and our dependability in delivering fresh Sewansecott™ oysters and clams to our customers year-round, our future once again looks assured as the fourth generation of the family business carries the company into the 21st century.