Carden Terry was born in February 1742, the son of John Terry and Sarah Carden. He was apprenticed in 1758 but it is not known to whom. First mention was in Corke Evening Post, 9th February 1764, advertising business at “New House within 2 doors of Broad Lane, Corke, at the sign of the Golden Cup.” The next entry in the Cork Journal was on 23rd July 1764 which stated that “he has lodgings to let near Broad Lane." In 1765, it was noted that Carden Terry, son of John Terry, Burgess, opened up at Main Street, at the corner of Meeting House Lane. He also married Catherine Webb of Kilworth the same year. In 1768, he became a member of the Cork Goldsmiths Company. In the Hibernian Chronicle 30th April 1770, he advertised that he “has returned from London and Dublin and set up as a goldsmith, wants an apprentice.” Received Freedom of Cork in 1785 and registered with Dublin Goldsmiths Company in 1784 from his North Main Street location. His older sister, Jane, was married in February 1754 to the Clonmel silversmith, Hercules Morgan.