Chapter 3#
Mary Berry 1757–1795 to 1800#
Mary Berry was the first child born to Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry sometime between 1757 and 1758. Unfortunately, she was born and married before such records were kept in Orange County, North Carolina. We have located several documents which give us a little peek into Mary’s life. George Waggoner left a will dated April 2nd, 1781, which named Mary Waggoner as his beloved wife. Mary Waggoner and her father, Robert Berry, were named executors of his will. (Orange County Will Book A Page 231)(Fig. 39 page 108 this book.)
The battle of Guilford Courthouse was fought on March 15th, 1781. This conflict was only about 40 miles from Fiddleton, and Robert Berry OC was a private in the North Carolina Line in 1781. George Waggoner was probably mortally injured in that battle. Robert Berry OC most likely helped his son-in-law, George Waggoner, return to the Fiddleton plantation where Mary would have been staying during the absence of her husband and father. Robert Berry OC would then return to join General Nathan Greene’s troops. The early spring rains had swollen the Dan River, so General Greene made a brilliant decision to confiscate all of the boats along the south side of the river and ferry his army into Virginia. General Greene kept all the boats on the north side of the Dan River making it impossible for General Charles Cornwallis to engage General Greene’s army who were safely on the other side. Our Robert Berry OC was very likely with this army in Virginia while witnessing the frustration of General Cornwallis and his army. When General Charles Cornwallis was forced to turn back because he had no way to attack General Greene’s army, he made the decision to retreat back to central North Carolina. General Cornwallis claimed victory of the Guilford Courthouse battle. A British statesman named Charles James Fox made the statement: “another victory like Guilford Courthouse and Cornwallis’ army will be completely destroyed.” When General Greene crossed back into North Carolina, he split his troops into two parts and proceeded to lead the exhausted British army all over central and southern North Carolina.
The English fully expected loyalty from the planters in western North Carolina. This expectation never materialized and after a short time, General Cornwallis, and his army retreated to Virginia, where he finally surrendered at Yorktown on October 19th, 1781. It is very satisfying to me to know that my ancestor and men like him were able to contribute so much to the creation of our nation.
George Waggoner wrote his will in April, 1781, and it was not probated until November, 1781, so we have no idea exactly when he died. Robert Berry OC was probably away serving in the North Carolina Continental Line at the time he died. Robert Berry OC was back in North Carolina by the November, 1781, term of Court. Robert Berry OC and his daughter, Mary Berry Waggoner, presented the Last Will and Testament of George Waggoner Decd. to be probated at that time. The will was duly proven in open court by the Oath of George Clower, a subscribing witness thereto, and ordered to be recorded at the same time.
Mary Waggoner and Robert Berry qualified as Executor and Executrix of his will. The court ordered that letters Testamentary issue to them accordingly.
In the February term 1782 an inventory of the estate of George Waggoner deceased was returned on oath by Robert Berry and Mary Kemp (sic) executor and executrix etc. and ordered to be recorded. Mary had married James Kemp between November, 1781, and February, 1782.
George Waggoner’s Transcribed Will Dated April 2nd, 1781#
We have no information about what happened to George Waggoner’s two daughters, Elizabeth and Ann Waggoner, that he mentioned in his will. They were not with James Camp in 1800 and Mary Berry Waggoner Camp was already dead when that census was taken.
Mary Berry married James Camp sometime between November, 1781, and February, 1782. We have no record of exactly how long James and Mary lived in Orange County before they removed to Rutherford County, North Carolina. From the information in Naomi Hill’s affidavit, it appears that this move occurred between 1784 and 1785, after their first child, John Camp, was born. We know from Annie Naomi Camp Hill’s affidavit that four of James and Mary Berry Camp’s children were born in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Mary may have given birth to her first child, John Camp, in 1783 in Orange County, North Carolina.
Affidavit of Annie Naomi Camp Hill, March 29th, 1848#
From the Affidavit of Annie Naomi Camp Hill, it seems that James and Mary Berry Camp removed to South Carolina the next day after Joseph Camp was born. This document was a very important addition to our research about Mary Berry. It established without a doubt that Mary Berry Camp was the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry from Orange County, North Carolina. It also reveals the names of Mary’s five children.
Children of James and Mary Berry Camp#
- John Camp born about 1784
- Sarah Camp Humphries born November 9th, 1785
- Robert Berry Camp born about 1787
- Starling Camp born October 22nd, 1793
- Joseph Camp born about 1795
These are also the five children who drafted a Power of Attorney after Mary’s father, Robert Berry, died in 1814.
In Annie Naomi Camp’s affidavit, she stated that all of James and Mary’s children were born in North Carolina and after Joseph Camp was born, her brother and his family removed to Laurens, and Greenville District, in South Carolina.
We know for a fact that Mary Berry Kemp died before April 15th, 1812, because that is the date her father, Robert Berry OC, wrote his will. Based on this fact, we know that Mary was fairly young when she died. In the will, she was listed as deceased. I have no idea why Robert Berry OC left her only 1 pound inheritance. He definitely knew she was not alive. Mary’s brother, William, was also left 1 pound in the will. The reason for the small inheritance for both may have been based on the fact that both children had moved to other states. Mary could not have been more than 42 years old when she died, if she was born in 1758. If she died soon after her son, Joseph Camp, was born in 1795, she may have been no older than age 37.
Joseph Camp remained in South Carolina after his sister and three brothers removed to Fayette County, Georgia. From the Power of Attorney we learn that Joseph Camp became an attorney in South Carolina. Joseph Camp drafted the Power of Attorney for his three brothers and his sister, who were living in Fayette County, Georgia, in 1815.
This was after Robert Berry Senior died in 1814 in North Carolina. Mary Berry Camp’s children were trying to claim their mother’s inheritance with their Power of Attorney that Joseph Camp delivered to his uncle, Henry Berry, in Orange County, North Carolina, on December 29th, 1816. The Power of Attorney establishes that Robert Berry OC died sometime between April 15th, 1812, when he wrote his will, and the 14th day of January, 1815.
Robert’s wife, Elizabeth Cate Berry, and his son, Henry Berry, who were his executors, probated his will in the Orange County, North Carolina, August Court in 1814.
Little did Mary Berry Camp’s children know that her inheritance was probably less than the cost of the attorney’s fee. There was only one pound left to Mary Kemp in her father’s will. Joseph Camp apparently returned to Orange County on the 14th day of January, 1815, on behalf of his siblings to deliver this document. I am sure he was happy to see his uncle, Henry Berry, who was the only living administrator of Robert Berry Senior’s will, but I am equally sure he was disappointed in the settlement the family was entitled to. I have a copy of this document with Henry Berry’s signature on the back of it.
Mary’s children who signed the Power of Attorney written on the 14th day of January, 1815, were exactly the same children named in the Naomi Camp Hill affidavit.
Transcription of Mary Berry Camp Children’s Power of Attorney#
GEORGIA Jackson County
To all men by these presents — John Camp, Robert Camp, Starling Camp Snr., and Shadrack Humphries the husband & representative of Sarah Humphries formally Sarah Camp have consulted and appointed Joseph and by his presents so commission & appoint Joseph Camp of the State of South Carolina, Greenville District our Power of Attorney henceforth revoking and annulling all other Power of Attorney for given and trusting a special trust in our Attorney to transact for us successfully & in our stead all business matters elective to the estate of Our grandfather Robert Berry Sen. (deceased) which we claim the rights of our mother Mary Berry since Mary Camp (deceased) giving full power to our said attorney to bring suit or suits for the sum any monies or goods or chattels lands or tenements, acquire any monies & accept for the reasons undeliverable sums as though we were personally present thereby satisfying & confirming whatsoever our said Attorney shall lawfully do our interest in said Estate. Given under our hand & seal this 14th, day of January 1815 The word mother underlined and assigned In presence of S John Camp seal Hosea Camp J.J.C Robert Camp seal Starling Camp seal Shadrack Humphries seal
I Edward Adams Clerk of the Superior Court & in aforesaid county of Jackson I hereby certify that Hosia Camp Esquire before to whom the written power of attorney its presents have been acknowledged.
State of Georgia, Jackson County
In the 1800 Laurens County, South Carolina, Census, James Camp listed two sons under 10, two sons 10 to 15 and himself age 26 to 45. James Camp listed one daughter who was 10 to 15 and no other females. The young daughter would have been Sarah Camp, who was born after 1784. Mary Berry Camp had already died when this census was taken.
After going over all the available information, I suspect that Mary Berry Camp died in South Carolina shortly after Joseph Camp was born in 1795. Moving so quickly after her youngest son was born may have caused complications from that childbirth. Mary Berry Camp was probably about 37 years old when she died. We know that she could not have been older than 42 in 1800. Mary gave birth to five children in 12 years and that spacing seems very reasonable.
James and Mary Camp’s children:
- John Camp born about 1784
- Sarah Camp Humphries born November 9th, 1785
- Robert Berry Camp born about 1787
- Starling Camp born October 22nd, 1793
- Joseph Camp born about 1795
1800 Laurens County, South Carolina, Census#
George Waggoner’s Father Henry Waggoner’s Will#
In the name of God Amen I Henry Waggoner of the County of Orange and the state of North Carolina being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be unto God therefore I do constitute this my last will and testament and defined it to be received by all as such. Imperfect as I am I bequeath my soul to God who gave it and my body at my death to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my executors’ full assurance of its resurrection at the last day.
Items I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Ketriana Wagner her living and maintenance on the Minton place during her widowhood and also the one third part of all my clear final Estate forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my son John Wagner the one half of McAllister’s track on the lower end the lower half of the new Entered land to him and his heirs likewise a horse creature worth 15 pounds when he is of age if such a creature is belonging to the estate.
Item I give and bequeath to my son Henry Waggoner the other end of the old tract and also the upper end of the new Entered land and horse creature worth 15 pounds when he is of age to him and his heirs if there is such if such a creature is belonging to the estate.
Item I give and bequeath to my son Jacob Waggoner the track of land adjoining John Brown’s Alexander Turrentine and others containing 300 acres and a horse creature worth 15 pounds when he is of age if such a creature is belonging to the estate.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Susannah Smith
I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Johns a cow and 4 pounds cash
I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Waggoner one good bed and furniture two cows a spinning wheel and a saddle
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Judith Waggoner one good bed and furniture two cows one spinning wheel and a saddle
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter (unreadable) Waggoner one good bed and furniture two cows one spinning wheel and a saddle
I give and bequeath to my daughter Catherine Waggoner one horse one bed and furniture two cows one spinning wheel and a saddle
I give and bequeath to my daughter Uley Waggoner one horse three cows one bed and furniture one spinning wheel and a saddle
Item and my will is that the children shall be maintained close and educated on my estate until they arrive at age in that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid out of my personal estate.
Item and that John and Henry Waggoner is to pay each of them ten pounds to each of my son George Waggoner’s children Mary and Agnes Wagner when they are of age.
And I do constitute nominate and appoint my wife Ketriana Waggoner and my son Stephen Smith executors of this my last will and testament and do disallow revoke and disallow other wills and statements and do declare publish and pronounce this to be my last will and statement in witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of February in the year of our Lord seventeen eighty four (February 1, 1784) pronounced and delivered.
Henry (his x mark) Waggoner
John Hall, William Buchanan, William Hannaby
NOTE: Will Location (Orange County NC Book A, Page 330)
There is a slight discrepancy in the name of George Waggoner’s two daughters from his will and his father’s will. His father names them Mary and Agnes Waggoner and George names them Mary and Ann Waggoner. I suspect that her name was Agnes and she went by the name Ann.
The Children of Henry and Ketriana Waggoner:
Elizabeth Waggoner Johns, Uley Waggoner, Susanna Waggoner Smith, Mary Waggoner, Catharine Waggoner, (unreadable) Waggoner, and Judith Waggoner, who married Peter Aldridge, are sisters; their brothers were John, Henry, Jacob, and George Waggoner. Stephen Smith was married to Susanna Waggoner.
Peter and Judith Waggoner Aldridge are parents of Susan Aldridge who married George Berry, son of Robert Berry Junior.
Key Events Timeline#
- The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was fought on March 15th, 1781
- George Waggoner’s Transcribed Will dated April 2nd, 1781
- A short time after the battle of Guilford Courthouse, General Cornwallis left North Carolina and surrendered at Yorktown October 19, 1781
- Robert Berry OC was back in North Carolina by the November 1781 term of Court
- Robert Berry OC and his daughter, Mary Berry Waggoner, presented the Last Will and Testament of George Waggoner Decd. to be probated at that time
- February Term 1782: An inventory of the estate of George Waggoner deceased was returned on oath by Robert Berry and Mary Kemp (sic) Executor and Executrix and ordered to be recorded
These events affecting the Waggoner Family had far reaching effects on both Mary Berry and her brother Robert Berry Junior’s lives.
Robert Berry Jr., Waggoner, Aldridge, and Kemp Connections#
(“November Term 1791 Orange N.C. Court Minutes: Book 4 pg 114) Robert Berry Jr. posted a bond for Catherine Waggoner to be the administrator for James Waggoner’s estate. “Issd. Administration of the estate of James Waggoner is granted to Catherine Waggoner at the same time she entered into Bond with Robt. Berry Jun. Secy. in the sum of L 50.” James Waggoner was likely Catherine Waggoner’s husband.
Robert Berry Junior was married before records of marriages in Orange County, NC, were recorded. I think he married Mary Waggoner, who was the sister of Mary Berry’s first husband, George Waggoner.
Henry Waggoner’s wife was named Ketriana (Catherine) Waggoner.
In 1785, Robert Berry Jr. and his wife, Mary Waggoner Berry, named their first daughter Catherine Berry. The first daughter is commonly named for her maternal grandmother.
Robert Berry Jr. was also the bondsman for Judith Waggoner when she married Peter Aldridge on February 4th, 1788. (Mary Waggoner had a sister named Judith Waggoner.)
In the 1810 Person County Census, Peter Aldridge’s family was living very close to Robert Berry and his family.
In 1814, George Berry married Susanna Aldridge, who was the daughter of Peter Aldridge and Judith Waggoner. The Waggoners and the Berry family were always very close and there were many marriages between the two families.
The Camp Family Connections#
John Camp b. October 13, 1743, Orange Co. VA d. 1813 Jackson Co., GA. Buried Lebanon Church, Greenville, SC; m. Mary Tarpley January 30, 1764. John Camp was the third born to Thomas Camp and Winifred Starling in Orange Co., VA.
John Camp and Mary Tarpley’s Children:
- Thomas Camp b. 1765, NC — m. Susan Waggoner (born cir. 1766)
- James Camp b. 1768, NC — d. married Mary Berry Waggoner between November 1781 and February 1782 in Orange County, North Carolina. (Mary Berry was the widow of George Waggoner.)
- Annie Naomi Camp b. 1769, Orange Co., NC — d. after 1850 Walton Co., GA — m. John Hill (She gave the Affidavit)
- Starling Camp b. November 24, 1771, Rutherford Co., NC — d. April 15, 1851, McMinn Co., TN — m. Anna Helm December 25, 1800
- William “Snipe Bill” Camp b. 1773, Rutherford Co., NC — d. after 1812 Elyton, Jefferson Co., AL — m. Sarah Eliz. Reeves; 2nd m. Dunn
- Abner Camp b. July 12, 1775, Rutherford Co., NC — d. September 17, 1853, Winder, GA — m. Elizabeth Ragsdale
- Kezziah Camp b. May 20, 1777, Rutherford Co., NC — d. August 14, 1835, Greenville Co., SC — m. Benjamin Arnold, February 5, 1795
- John Camp Jr. — m. Eliza Thomason
- Sara Camp — d. October 21, 1854 — m. Thomas Graydon b. c. 1770
- Winifred Camp — m. Thomas Kinsman
According to folklore Robert Berry Jr. is supposed to have married John Camp’s sister Mary Camp. As you can see from the list of children above John Camp who married Mary Berry Waggoner did not have a sister named Mary Camp.
Since Thomas Camp married Susan Waggoner and Mary Berry was married to George Waggoner, I think it very reasonable to assume that Mary Berry’s brother, who was about 2 years younger than she, might have married Mary Waggoner who was George Waggoner’s sister. (Henry Waggoner’s Will Page 113)
This is even more likely because Mary Waggoner’s parents were Henry & Ketriana Waggoner and Robert Berry’s first child was a daughter who was named Catherine Berry.
There is absolutely no doubt about Annie Naomi Camp Hill being Mary Berry Camp’s sister-in-law. Her affidavit is proof of that.
Did Robert Berry OC and his son Robert Berry Jr. meet Thomas and James Camp in the Army? The two brothers’ parents were living in Rutherford County, North Carolina, and that is where James and Mary Berry Waggoner Camp went soon after they were married. The Revolutionary War had ended and soldiers were returning home in 1781.
