Chapter 6#
Joshua Berry 1766–1838#
Joshua Berry was probably the fourth child of Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry. He was named for his mother’s oldest brother, Joshua Cate. I think Joshua was born around 1766, and I know his wife, Nancy Ellison, was born in 1775 based on census information taken from the 1850 Orange County, North Carolina, census. Joshua Berry, with his family and most of his descendants, is one of the four brothers whose families remained in Orange County, North Carolina.
Joshua Berry was listed in the first USA Orange County, North Carolina, Census recorded in 1790. George Washington was President of the newly formed United States of America and Alexander Martin was the governor of North Carolina.
The second record found about Joshua Berry was his marriage bond to Nancy Ellison dated January 28th, 1792. Henry Terrell was his bondsman.
Marriage Bond of Joshua Berry and Nancy Ellison
Joshua and Nancy’s first son was named Robert Berry for his paternal grandfather. Robert was born about 1792 and remained in Orange County until he died sometime between 1840 and 1850. Joshua and Nancy Berry had a total of 9 children and 7 children remained in North Carolina. James, their 3rd child, removed to Smith County, Tennessee, and Joshua Jr., their 4th child, removed to Gallia County, Ohio. They had a grandson, Ira Berry, and a granddaughter, Nancy E. Berry Wagoner, who removed to Union County, Kentucky, around 1854 (both are children of Lewis and Sally Tolar Berry). After Lewis Berry died in 1858, Sarah Tolar Berry joined her two children and lived with her daughter’s family in Kentucky. (Fig: 71, Pg. 163)
Children of Joshua and Nancy Ellison Berry#
Robert Berry married Sally Cates, and they made their home in Orange County, NC.
Dicey Berry, born 1798, married Andrew Murdock on December 16th, 1824, and remained in Orange County, North Carolina.
James Berry, who was born around 1799, married Mary around 1829. James removed to Smith County, Tennessee, before 1840. (See Page 155)
Joshua Berry Jr., born April 15, 1801, married Anna Thorpe and was in Ohio in 1820. Joshua died in Benton County, Iowa, on May 18th, 1879. (See Page 156)
Delilah Berry, born about 1802, married John Hightower on September 25th, 1827.
Lewis Berry, born in 1805, married Sally Tolar on October 13th, 1828. After Lewis died, Sally Tolar Berry went to Kentucky to live with her daughter, Nancy E. Berry Wagoner, and her family.
Nancy Berry was born in 1810 and died a spinster in March, 1883.
Charlotte Berry was born in 1813, married William Waggoner Sr. on August 18th, 1837. They lived their lives in Orange County, NC.
Eli Berry was born on October 10th, 1821, and married Judy Betsey Taylor on December 21st, 1846. They lived all of their lives in Orange County, NC.
Joshua Berry Jr. was just 19 years old when he was granted land in Ohio on June 16th, 1820. He was the first child of Joshua and Nancy Ellison Berry to migrate from North Carolina. Joshua may have met his wife in Ohio or in Orange County, North Carolina. Anna Thorpe Berry was born in North Carolina in 1800. It is a fact that Joshua Berry Jr. and a lot of other members of Robert Berry’s OC family were leaving Orange County after his death in 1814. Joshua Junior’s older brother, James, probably left the County about eight to ten years later than he did. Joshua Jr. left about the same time his Uncle Robert Berry Jr. and his family departed for Fayette County, Alabama. I suspect that Joshua Berry Junior left shortly before his uncle, Robert Berry Junior, made his decision, or he might have decided to go to Alabama instead of Ohio. I can never be sure why Joshua took the route he did. Perhaps he had talked to his cousin, George Berry, who may have served in the northwest during his service in the war of 1812. George had returned home and started his family around 1814, at just about the time their grandfather, Robert Berry Sr., OC died. When the will was read, Joshua Jr. may have figured that he was not going to be able to obtain any farmland in Orange County, North Carolina. Many other children and grandchildren were facing that same problem after their grandfather Berry died. This was typical because many children and grandchildren of the original settlers would hang around until their parents or grandparents died. Usually only one son would inherit the family homeplace and the other siblings would be forced to seek land in the new frontiers as it was being made available in the west by the United States government.
There are many examples of this as our Berry family headed into the opening frontiers as land became available and continued into the future for at least the next fifty years and longer. Many of our Berry family moved to different parts of the nation, seeking jobs during the depression of the 1930’s. I think Joshua Berry Junior’s moving to the northwest may have influenced other members of his immediate family to decide to go in that general direction. Joshua Berry’s children and grandchildren were the only members of Robert Berry OC’s family to go to northern Tennessee and the northwest. All of the other members of Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry’s family who left North Carolina headed south and then west.
Anna Thorpe was born in North Carolina, so is it possible that the Thorpe family joined up with the group of people from Orange County as they traveled to Ohio? Joshua and Anna Thorpe were married in 1820 and established their new farm in Raccoon Township, Gallia County, Ohio, in 1820. They did what so many other young couples always do. They started their family very soon after they were married. Joshua Jr. and Anna Thorpe Berry and their family lived in Gallia, Ohio, for the next 17 years.
A Transcribed 1830 Gallia County, Ohio, Census#
1830 Gallia County, Ohio, Census
James Thorpe in the chart above is very likely Anna Thorpe’s younger brother. Her father was probably dead and the lady who was listed age 60 to 70 living with James Thorpe was likely Anna Thorpe Berry’s mother.
Sometime between 1837 and 1839, Joshua Berry Jr. and his family removed from Gallia County, Ohio, and located in Indiana. Their first five children were born in Ohio. All seven of the youngest children in the family were born in Indiana.
I do not know where the names Cynthia or Harrison came from unless they were named for some members of Anna’s family. Their fourth child, Lewis Berry, was named for his Uncle Lewis Berry who married Sally Tolar in Orange County, N.C., on October 13th, 1828. Uncle Lewis was Joshua Berry Junior’s next younger brother. Uncle Lewis and Aunt Sally Tolar Berry lived in Orange County, North Carolina, until Lewis died in 1858. After Lewis Berry died, Sally Tolar Berry joined her son, Ira Berry, and her daughter, Nancy E. Waggoner, in Kentucky and lived there until she died. (Fig: 71, Pg. 163)
Joshua and Anna Thorpe Berry’s Children#
Cynthia Berry 1820 born in Ohio died November 19th, 1887.
Harrison Berry 1824 born in Ohio died December 29th, 1897.
Robert Berry 1822 born in Ohio died 1911.
Lewis E. Berry 1826 born in Ohio died March 6th, 1907.
Wealthy Berry 1829 born in Ohio died after 1880.
Nancy Berry 1831 born in Ohio Married John Glime
Aleccann Berry 1832 born in Indiana died after 1900.
John Berry 1833 born in Indiana
Samuel Berry 1835 born in Indiana died 1880–1890.
Martha J. Berry 1838 born in Indiana
William James Berry 1841 born in Indiana died 1906.
Joseph Berry 1843 born in Indiana died 1934.
Joshua Berry Jr. headstone
Five of the 12 children of Joshua and Anna Thorpe Berry were named for members of the Berry family in Orange County, North Carolina. Seven of the children may have been named after members of the Thorpe family. After living in Indiana about 20 years, Joshua Berry Jr. and his family removed to Benton County, Iowa, sometime before 1860. Joshua Berry Jr. lived the rest of his life in Benton County, Iowa, and died there on May 29th, 1879. He is buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in the Canton Township, Benton County, Iowa. At one time there was a head stone at his grave but it now seems to have been removed. A picture of his headstone is on the right.
Anna Thorpe Berry was last located in the 1880 census. She was living with her youngest son, Joseph Berry, in Benton County, Iowa, and died around 1887, most likely at his home.
There is a very enlightening report on Joshua and Anna Berry’s son, Lewis Berry. A story about Lewis may be viewed on the Sedgwick County, KS, Gen Web site. Wichita, Kansas, is in Sedgwick County, Kansas. On March 20th, 1851, Lewis Berry married Eliza Hayward. Eliza Hayward was born on November 16th, 1833, and was six years younger than Lewis. Lewis had a very excellent reputation as a strong, well built and very healthy man. He was also a very good businessman and made a lot of money in real estate. At one time, he apparently owned twenty building lots in Wichita, Kansas. He also owned a house and two lots in the small town of Goddard, Kansas, just west of Wichita.
The following information was written by Shelley Rusk Hanson. Shelley is a descendant of this Joshua Berry Jr. line. A descendant from this family line has been verified by a Y-DNA test.
Harrison Berry
“Harrison Berry was born 31 May, 1854, in Benton County, Iowa, to Lewis and Elizabeth (Hayward) Berry. He was named after his Uncle Harrison Berry, who was the son of Joshua and Anna (Thorpe) Berry. He was the second child born to Lewis and Eliza Haywood Berry. Lewis and Eliza, along with Lewis parents, Joshua and Anna (Thorpe) Berry and Eliza’s father (Abijah Haywood) had moved from Indiana to Iowa prior to the birth of Harrison. They all engaged in farming in Benton County, Iowa, area. On the 9th of August, 1873, Harrison married Henrietta Havens in Linn County, Iowa. Henrietta was the daughter of Ransom and Olive (Usher) Havens. Harrison and Henrietta made their home in Benton County, Iowa, and had three children. Children of Harrison and Henrietta Havens Berry:
Fred M. Berry born 28 February, 1874
Rosa Belle Berry born November, 1876
Eliza O. Berry born April, 1878
Tragedy struck the family on 14 May, 1878. According to the newspaper article in the Vinton Eagle: ‘Her husband was cutting a large tree down close to where they lived, when Henrietta attempted to go near where he was to tell him she was going to a neighbor’s, having her babe in her arms and a little girl running along with her, when the tree fell, crushing Henrietta almost to jelly, while remarkable as it may seem, the baby was still alive, though probably fatally injured. The little girl, too, narrowly escaped.’ Rosa Belle did survive, but Henrietta died instantly and Baby Eliza died within three days. Harrison, his surviving children, Fred and Rosa Belle, along with Henrietta’s parents, moved west to Carroll County, Iowa, sometime prior to 1880.
Fred and Rosa Belle were raised by their maternal grandparents, Ransom and Olive (Usher) Havens, and their uncle, Charles Havens, in Iowa.”
Fred M. Berry#
“December 28th, 1881, Harrison married Sarah A. B. Hammon in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas. Sarah was the daughter of Nic and Mary Hammon (dec.). Harrison worked for the railroad as a watchman and freight checker and remained in the Wichita area until at least 1889. It is unknown if Harrison and Sarah had any children or what became of Sarah. By 1899, Harrison was living in Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado, and was a teamster for Pueblo Transfer & Storage Company.”
“In February, 1900, Harrison married Eveline C. Searls in Pueblo County, Colorado. Eveline was the daughter of Oliver and Lucinda Searls. On January 29th, 1934, Harrison died in Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado of arteriosclerosis. He is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.”
Census Information for Harrison Berry#
“1854 In household of Lewis Berry: Polk Township, Benton Co., Iowa [Iowa State Census]
1856 In household of Lewis Berry — Benton County, Iowa [Iowa State Census]
1860 In household of Lewis Berry — Benton County, Iowa [1860 US Census]
1870 In household of Lewis Berry — Benton County, Iowa [1870 US Census]
1880 Glidden Township, Carroll County, Iowa [1880 US Census]
1900 Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado [1900 US Census]
1910 Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado [1910 US Census]
1920 Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado [1920 US Census]
1930 Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado [1930 US Census]”
“Frederick M. Berry was born February 28th, 1874, in Palo, Linn County, Iowa to Harrison and Henrietta (Havens) Berry. When Fred was four years old in 1878 his mother, Henrietta, was killed by a falling tree.
“On April 9th, 1898, Fred married Bertha May Butrick in Glidden Township, Carroll County, Iowa. Bertha was the daughter of Francis Marion and Margaret (Whippie) Butrick.
Fred and Bertha had the following children:
Ethel V. Berry born 1902 Iowa, died May 1985 Iowa.
Lillian G. Berry born 1905 Iowa, died November 1991 Iowa.
Fred Harrison Berry born 1907 Iowa, died May 1983 Iowa.
Pearl Berry born 1908 Iowa.
William Berry born 1909 Iowa, died 1988 Wyoming.
Lora Olive Berry born 25 February 1911, died 13 March 1912 Iowa.
Virgil C. Berry born 25 Dec. 1912 Iowa, died 30 November 1971 California.
Bertha Butrick Berry died in Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa, on Feb. 18th, 1913.
On July 13th, 1913, Fred married Sarah Ann (Miner) Kelley in Lake City, Calhoun, Iowa. Sarah was the daughter of Jeremiah and Etta May (Whipple) Miner, the widow of John Wesley Kelley and mother of two daughters, Mamie Mae Kelley born 1908 and Ida Wilma Kelley born 1911. Sarah’s parents and five of Sarah’s siblings had died tragically in a house fire in April, 1910, in Ponca, Nebraska.”
Fred and Sarah Berry 1925
Fred and Sarah Berry’s Children (Wisconsin)#
Evert Amos Berry born 11 March 1914 Iowa, died 9 October 1999 Wisconsin.
John Joseph Berry born 18 Aug. 1916 Iowa, died 10 March 1981 Wisconsin.
Sarah Beatrice Berry, born 22 April, 1920 Wisconsin
Mildred Bernice Berry born 20 Aug. 1922 Wisconsin, died 3 Feb. 1974 Minnesota.
Living female Berry born 1925 Wisconsin
Living female Berry born 1928 Wisconsin
Gloria Muriel Berry born 7 Apr. 1932 Wisconsin, died 12 Apr., 1932 Wisconsin.
Living female Berry born 1934 Wisconsin
Living female Berry born 1937 Wisconsin
Fred, Sarah and children moved from Iowa to Wisconsin some time between 1916 and 1920. Fred was a farmer in Barron and Polk County, Wisconsin, areas. On the 2nd of October, 1951, Fred died in Amery, Polk County, Wisconsin, of carcinoma of the lung. He is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Tuttle Lake, Wisconsin.
Census Information for Frederick M. Berry:
In the household of Harrison Berry: Glidden Township, Carroll County, Iowa [1880 U.S. Census]
In household of Olive Havens: 1885 Glidden Township, Carroll County, Iowa [1885 State Census]
1895 In household of Charles Havens [Iowa State Census]
1900 Lincoln Township, Calhoun County, Iowa [1900 U.S. Census]
1905 Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa, [Iowa State Census]
1910 Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa, [1910 U.S. Census]
1915 Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa, [Iowa State Census]
1920 Turtle Lake Village, Barron County, Wisconsin [1920 U.S. Census]
1930 Clayton Township, Polk County, Wisconsin [1930 U.S. Census]
This family line continued to move west as far as California and at least one of the family was a gold miner at Pikes Peak, Colorado, for a time. Berry Train Station, Colorado, is named for this family line. In addition to having an excellent archival trail compiled by Shelly Rusk Hanson, one of her cousins, a descendant of Joshua and Anna Thorpe Berry, has been verified by a Y-DNA test.
James Berry, Smith County, Tennessee#
Joshua and Nancy Ellison Berry’s son, James Berry, was born in Orange County, NC. James Berry was 30 years old when he married Mary (unknown last name) in 1829. Their first daughter, Nancy Berry, was born in North Carolina in 1830. The second daughter, Delilah Berry, was born in North Carolina in 1836. Their third and last daughter to be born in North Carolina was named Mary Berry who was born in 1839. Their first son, James Jr., was born in Smith County, Tennessee, in 1840. He was named for his father. Martha Berry was born in Tennessee about 1841 and their last son, Clay Berry, was born in 1844. Edward Berry, a school teacher, was living with the family in the 1850 Smith County, Tennessee, Census.
Tennessee Land Grant Warrant No. 788: “To whom granted and rank: James Berry, heir of Robert Berry. No. Acres: 640, Service in months: 84, Location and to whom deeded and date of warrant. Within the limits of the lands allotted the officers and soldiers of the Continental Line, by Law, 1783, Oct. 14: Apr. 30: Col. Brown.”
James Berry was listed in Smith County, Tennessee, census for the first time in 1840. The ages and names of the family were determined from this 1850 Census. James Berry was able to get a 640 acre land grant in Tennessee because of his grandfather, Robert Berry’s OC, service in the Revolutionary War. Smith County, Tennessee, is almost due West of Orange County, North Carolina, and today it is 459 miles from Hillsborough by way of I-40.
Children of James & Mary Berry, Smith County, Tenn.#
From 1850 Smith County Tennessee census information:
981 981 James Berry 50 M born NC
Mary 48 F born NC
Nancy 20 F born NC
Delila 14 F born NC
Mary 17 F born NC
Edward 26 M School Teacher born in Virginia
James 10 M born in Tennessee
Clay 6 M born in Tennessee
Martha 11 F born in Tennessee
I have noticed that several of Joshua and Nancy Berry’s descendants named a daughter Martha. This may mean that Nancy Ellison’s mother or grandmother was named Martha.
Smith County Marriages 1838, 1844–1850#
Thomas Allen Married Nancy Berry Nov. 28th, 1850
From: Smith County Marriages 1851–1859
Marcus Allen married Delilah Berry Feb. 6th, 1851
From: Smith County Marriages 1860–1863
Burton Marks married Martha V. Berry April 11th, 1860.
Ira Berry and His Sister, Nancy Berry Waggoner#
Lewis and Sally Tolar Berry’s son, Ira Berry, and their daughter, Nancy E. Berry Waggoner, were living in Orange County, North Carolina in 1850.
Ira Berry in the 1850 Orange County, North Carolina, census
Ira Berry was 17 years old in the 1850 Orange County Census. (Fig 70) Ira was enumerated living with Eli Berry and his young family. James Waggoner and Nancy E Berry Waggoner were living next door. Nancy E. Berry Waggoner was age 21 in 1850. James and Nancy Waggoner were married on June 19th, 1849, and in the 1850 Orange County Census, they had a 2 month old son named John. I was unable to identify Ira Berry’s parents and they were a mystery to me for many years. In 1850, Eli Berry was only 27 years old and too young to be Ira’s father. I thought that Ira had to be a grandson of Joshua and Nancy Berry because of his age. I knew that Nancy E. Berry Waggoner was Lewis and Sally Tolar Berry’s daughter, but it did not occur to me that Ira Berry was also their son. Ira Berry disappeared from Orange County, North Carolina, before 1860 and I had no idea where he went.
In 1858 Lewis Berry died from the flu in a worldwide epidemic. Sally Tolar Berry also did not show up in the 1860 Orange County, North Carolina, census. James Waggoner and Nancy E. Berry Waggoner and their son were also missing in 1860. I thought that James Waggoner and Ira Berry may have decided to go to the west in an attempt to avoid the upcoming war. I still do not know if this is the reason they made their decision. They may have been influenced by information from Ira’s Uncle James Berry in Smith County, Tennessee, about available land.
It was not until I learned that the actor, Ken Berry, is a member of our Berry family and is a descendant of Ira Berry that the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.
Ken Berry is noted for his acting in “F-Troop”, “Mama’s Family”, and “Mayberry RFD”, in the heyday of television sitcoms. After talking to some of Ken’s family on the Internet, I became aware that Ira Berry had gone to Kentucky. After locating Ira Berry in the 1860 Morganfield, Union County, Kentucky, census, I saw that Ira and his sister were living next door to each other. I also noticed that a Sarah Berry, age 65, was also living with Ira’s sister and her family. (Fig. 71, Pg. 163) In the 1860 census, Ira and his new wife, Nancy Wynn Berry, had a 4 year old son named Franklin Berry who was born in Kentucky. Nancy and James Waggoner also had a 4 year old daughter who was born in Kentucky. James and Nancy Berry Waggoner also had a son, John Waggoner, who was 10 years old and born in North Carolina. John Waggoner was listed as a baby in his parent’s 1850 Orange County Census. Ira Berry and his sister’s family left Orange County, North Carolina, in the spring of 1854.
It seems reasonable that Ira and Nancy E. Berry Waggoner stopped in Smith County, Tennessee, to visit their Uncle James and Aunt Mary Berry. Ira Berry was single when he arrived at his uncle’s farm. Ira met Nancy Wynn and they were married in Union County, Kentucky, on November 16th, 1854. Ira Berry’s new wife was born in Robertson County, Tennessee. It is unknown where Ira met Nancy, but he may have met her in Robertson County on the way to Kentucky.
If you were to travel from Smith County, Tennessee, to Morganfield, Union County, Kentucky, today, you would follow the same route that Ira and his sister’s family did in 1854. From Carthage in Smith County, Tennessee, to Springfield in Robertson County, Tennessee, is only 84 miles. From Springfield, Tennessee, to Union County, Kentucky, is 142 miles.
Ira and Nancy Wynn Berry are Ken Berry’s 2nd great-grandparents.
In the 1860 Kentucky Census, Nancy and James Waggoner’s oldest son, John, was now 10 years old. They also had three daughters: Nancy Waggoner, age 4; Eliza Waggoner, age 2; and Lucy Waggoner, who was six months old.
Ira and Nancy Wynn Berry had three children in 1860. Their names were Franklin Berry, age 4; Thomas Berry, age 3; and Edward Berry, age 1. All of these children were born in Kentucky. The name Edward Berry brings up a question that is unanswered at this time. Ira’s uncle, James Berry, in the 1850 Smith County, Tennessee, Census, had a 26 year old school teacher living with him by the name of Edward Berry from Virginia. Edward Berry might be a descendant of Richard Berry from Princess Anne County, Virginia. Richard Berry was Robert Berry’s OC brother.
Ira was 23 years old and his wife Nancy was 21 years old when their first son, Franklin Pierce Berry, was born in Kentucky in 1855. Franklin Pierce Berry was 23 years old when he married Sophie Sellers in 1878. (See their Pictures on page 164) Franklin and Sophie are Ken Berry’s great-grandparents. Their first child was Theodore Guest Berry, who was born in 1878 in Kentucky. Theodore Guest Berry registered at the Williamson County, Illinois, Draft Board in World War I 1917–1918. He was 39 years old and he was born on November 30th, 1878. He was described as medium height and medium build with dark hair. His occupation was listed as coal miner. Odo Berry, as Theodore was called, married Verdin (Verda) Hall about 1903 and they had four children listed in the 1910 Williamson County, Illinois, Census.
Theodore (Odo) and Verda Hall Berry were Ken Berry’s grandparents. Their youngest son, Darrell Berry, was one year old in 1910 Williamson County, Illinois, Census. Darrell was 11 years old in his parent’s 1920 census. In 1930, Darrell and his new wife, Bernice Larson, were living with her parents, George E. Larson, age 45, and Ida M. Larson, age 40. George Larson stated in the 1830 census that both of George E. Larson’s parents and his wife’s parents were born in Sweden. Darrell and Bernice are Ken Berry’s parents. Ken was 6 years old in 1940 and his father and mother were still living with Ken’s grandparents in Moline, Illinois. The census was taken on April 12th 1940.
Ken Berry’s Berry ancestors can be traced back in America long before the Declaration of Independence was signed. His 5th great-grandfather, Robert Berry OC, married Elizabeth Cate in 1757 in Orange County, North Carolina. Robert Berry OC was in North Carolina as early as 1751. This was 25 years before the United States of America was founded. Robert Berry OC built his plantation home in 1766, 10 years before the Declaration of Independence.
Our current research indicates that Robert Berry OC in Orange County was actually born in Princess Anne County, Virginia, in 1729. His parents were Robert and Mary Williamson Berry. Mary Williamson’s grandmother was Ann Foster who married Roger Williamson about 1645 in South Norfolk County, Virginia, which later became Princess Anne County. Ann Foster was born in 1620 in England. Roger Williamson and his good friend John Carraway were also born in England and came to the Colonies together around 1640. After Roger Williamson died, Anne Foster Williamson married John Carraway around 1650. Ann Foster had three children by each of her husbands. Ann’s son Richard Williamson married Mary Kempe, daughter of George and Ann Kempe. Richard and Mary Kempe Williamson were Mary Williamson’s parents. Mary Williamson married Robert Berry in Princess Anne County around 1700. None of Robert Berry’s OC brother, Richard Berry’s, living descendants have been located. The archival data we have is pretty good but we need Y-DNA results from Richard Berry’s family to complete our research.
Joshua Berry’s Y DNA Proof — Two Participants#
Robert and Mary Williamson Berry, in Princess Anne County, Virginia.
Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry, in Orange County, North Carolina.
Joshua and Nancy Ellison Berry in Orange County, North Carolina.
Lewis and Sally/Sarah Tolar Berry, in Orange County, North Carolina.
Ira and Nancy Wynn/Winn Berry, Union County, Kentucky.
Franklin Pierce and Sophia Sellers Berry, Evansville, Indiana.
Theodore Guest and Verda Hall Berry
Darrell and Bernice Larson Berry. Iowa
Ken Berry
Robert and Mary Williamson Berry, in Princess Anne County, Virginia.
Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry, in Orange County, North Carolina.
Joshua and Nancy Ellison Berry, in Orange County, North Carolina.
Joshua and Anna Thorpe Berry Jr., North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa.
Harrison and Henrietta Havens Berry, Benton County, Iowa.
Frederick M. And Sarah Ann Berry (Minor) Kelly, Iowa, Wisconsin.
Charles Thomas Berry.
Charles Thomas Berry Junior.
1860 Morganfield, Union County, Kentucky#
Ira Berry in Kentucky 1860 Census
This census form shows Sarah Berry, age 68, a female born in North Carolina was living with James and Nancy E. Berry Waggoner in 1860. Lewis Berry, who was born and died in North Carolina, married Sally Tolar and raised their family in Orange County, North Carolina. As stated before, Lewis Berry died 1858 at the same time several other members of our Berry family died, most likely from the worldwide flu epidemic. After Lewis died, Sarah Tolar Berry made her way to join her son and daughter in Kentucky. My own third great-grandmother, Hannah Cate Berry, also died in 1858 in Orange County. Hannah Cate Berry’s grandson William H Berry, son of Thomas Person Berry, was also a victim of this flu virus. Elizabeth Berry Franklin’s husband Theodrick Franklin died in Floyd County Georgia at the same time. This epidemic probably caused all four of these deaths in my Berry family line. Other members of our Berry family throughout other parts of the nation may have died from this virus also. If you know of a family member in your line who died in 1858 it was most likely caused by this 1857/1858 worldwide flu epidemic.
Franklin Pierce and Sophia Sellers Berry in Kentucky#
Franklin Pierce Berry is the great-grandson of Joshua & Nancy Berry in Orange County, NC. The grandson of Lewis & Sally Tolar Berry, & the son of Ira & Nancy Wynn Berry.
Franklin Pierce Berry and Sophia M. Sellers
Franklin was born on July 12th, 1854, and died on January 1st, 1909.
Sophie was born on April 6th, 1860, in Anton, Kentucky, and died in 1912.
Sophie was the daughter of Orman and Louisa Ashby Sellers.
The couple was married on February 6th, 1878, in Evansville, Indiana.
There were ten children born to this couple.
Children of Franklin and Sophie Berry#
Theodore Guest Berry born October 30th, 1878, died 1943.
Maggie Berry born September 22nd, 1880.
Edward Berry born November, 1882.
Lenon Berry born March 5th, 1885, died 1966.
Sophronia Berry born March 16th, 1887, died 1979.
Orion Weaver Berry born September 9th, 1891.
Maude Terrel Berry born February 22nd, 1894.
Frank Berry born March 11th, 1895.
Katherine Berry born August 12th, 1896; died on August 22nd, 1966.
Pauline Berry born September, 1901.
Katherine Berry was born in Seabee, Webster County, Kentucky, and died in Williamson County, Illinois. She is buried in Lake Creek Cemetery, Williamson County, Illinois. Kate married Benjamin Franklin Moake in Williamson County, Illinois. Benjamin Moake was the son of Ezekiel Moake and Dale Everett.
Katherine Berry Moake, Daughter of Franklin and Sophia Berry#
Benjamin Franklin and Kate Berry Moake
All four children of Benjamin and Kate Moake were born in Williamson County, Illinois.
Benjamin Franklin and Kate Berry Moake’s Children:
Donovan Jack Moake was born on July 16th, 1914, & died on March 22nd, 1985, in Belleville, St Clair County, Illinois.
Lorene Moake was born on February 16th, 1916, & died in 2007.
Robert Moake was born on January 2nd, 1918, & died March 15th, 1985, Los Angeles, California.
Frank Moake was born on August 18th, 1923 & died 01 Sep 1998
Donovan Moake, Robert Moake, Frank Moake
Left to Right: Mose Felts, Lee Crist, Ben Moake, Orion Berry, Lenon Berry
Left to Right: Maude Crist, Kate Berry Moake, Maggie Felts McDonald
Deed from Robert Berry OC to His Son, Joshua Berry#
This Indenture made this 24th day of February in the year 1811 between Robert Berry Snr. Of the one part and Joshua Berry of the other part Witnessed that for and in consideration of the Sum of One Hundred Dollars to him in hand paid the said Robert hath given, granted, bargained, sold and conveyed unto the said Joshua one tract of land being in Orange County, North Carolina on Lick Creek and bounded as follows: beginning at a hickory corner the dividing line between William Stagg and said Berry thence West twenty five chains fifty links to a black oak corner thence North forty five chains to a hickory Rountree’s corner thence East Rountree’s line thirty chains to Lick Creek thence up the creek as it meanders to the mouth of cattail branch thence by a line of marked trees to the beginning One hundred twenty nine acres more or less which tract of land with all the appurtenance the said Robert Berry Warrants to Joshua Berry his heirs, executors, Administrators, assignees, against the legal claims of all persons whatsoever. In Witness he hath hereunto has set his hand and affixes his seal the day and date above written.
Signed Sealed and Delivered Robert Berry Sen. Seal
Charles Holeman Orange County February Term 1812
James Berry the foregoing deed was duly proved in open court by the oath of James Berry one of the subscribing Witnesses. Hence is ordered to be recorded.
Test J. Taylor C. C.
I transcribed the Joshua Berry deed on August 25th, 2009, from a copy of the original.
The description of the property that Robert Berry OC sold his son, Joshua, amounted to about half of the 1757 original Granville Land Grant. There is a slight difference of five chains noted on the west boundary of Robert Berry’s property and the deed he made to Joshua. This transfer of property took place in 1811 on February 24th (Deed Book 14 Page 57). The west boundary on the Granville Grant was 40 chains and on Joshua’s deed it was 45 chains. This can easily be explained by the fact that Robert Berry acquired the Patrick Rutherford property, which joined his southern boundary, in 1787. Patrick Rutherford had died and his three sons sold the property to Robert Berry on March 2, 1787, (Deed book 4 Page 518) Orange County, North Carolina. In 1811, Robert could have made the western boundary any length he wanted up to about 90 chains.
Property map
This same property changed ownership several more times. I have no idea what happened to this land between 1811 and the time my 2nd Great-Grandfather Thomas Person Berry acquired it.
In 1852 Thomas Person Berry built his new family home on it.
In 1936 my grandfather, Wiley P. Berry, owned it and gave it to my Uncle Wiley Harold Berry at that time. The property is currently owned by three of my first cousins.
Below is an application that Eli D. Berry submitted to the county in order to serve as administrator of his Cousin Nancy Berry’s estate. Nancy had inherited her estate when her mother, Nancy Ellison Berry, died sometime before 1860. Nancy Ellison Berry may also have died from the worldwide flu epidemic that took the lives of four other members of our Berry family in 1858. Joshua and Nancy Ellison Berry’s spinster daughter, Nancy Berry, died intestate in March, 1883. Nancy’s brother, Eli Berry, was still alive but Eli may have known that his son, Eli D. Berry, was better qualified to manage the duties of an administrator. Eli D. Berry was only 21 years old at the time and likely better educated than his father.
Eli D. Berry's Application
Nancy Berry's Property Settlement
A list of Nancy Berry’s heirs:
Dicy Murdock, heirs of Charlotte Waggoner, heirs of Lewis Berry, Joshua X. Berry, heirs of Nancy Ellison Waggoner, heirs of Rachel Neal, heirs of Sarah Jones
Rachael Neal and Sarah Jones were Robert and Sally Cates Berry’s two daughters. Rachael Berry and Sarah Berry can be found living with their mother in the 1850 Orange County Census. Sally Cates Berry was born in 1798, and was the wife of Joshua’s son, Robert Berry (dec).
Sarah Berry was born in 1836, and Rachael Berry was born in 1839. I have no marriage records for either girl or no idea where they were living in 1883. Even though Joshua Berry Junior’s heirs were living in other states, they were still mentioned on this statement and may or may not have received their share of Nancy Berry’s estate.
Transcribed Deed of Trust of Joshua Berry#
This Indenture made this 3rd day of January, 1828 between Joshua Berry of the county of Orange & State of North Carolina of the one part & William Lipscomb of the same County of the other part Witnessed that whereas the Said Joshua Berry is jointly indebted to William Bowles & William Parker A bond of Five Hundred Dollars, which Thomas P. Evans is bound to the said Bowles as Security & said Parker’s Bond the said Evans assigns him — The said Joshua Berry is deserving & honest to sever assignment Of the payments of the said Debts & interest & cost ensuing therein by consigning To said William Lipscomb property herein mentioned, the said Joshua Berry in Consideration his being so indebted to Bowls & Parker & said Evans
Bound for the three Bonds the Amounts about five hundred Dollars and is Desirous to secure the payment thereof the aforementioned, and of the sum Of One Dollar good & lawful money to him in hand paid by the said Lipscomb
Before the sealing & delivery of those presents the receipts hereby Acknowledges, He the said Joshua Berry has given, granted, bargained & Sold unto the said Lipscomb his heirs, assignees forever, the following Properties to wit his tract of Land whereon he now lives One hundred & thirty one acres more or less, One Negro Dave, Two Stills, one cloak, three head of Horses, twelve head of cattle, Forty head of hogs, Thirty head of sheep Household & Kitchen furniture, with all other articles to tedious to Mention! Crop & Together with all & Singular his right & appurtenance To said William Lipscomb his heirs & assignees doth covenant & agree To & with the Lipscombe his heirs that he signed & probated Of a good sure, right & title to the property above mentioned & duly conveys To him the said Lipscomb his heirs against the claim of all persons Whatever, Provided nevertheless that if the said Berry his heirs or Assignees do & shall will & truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said Thomas P. Evans his heirs or assignees the aforesaid sum, interest & cost on Or before the first day of May next, then this Indenture shall cease & Become void. But if the said Berry his heirs & assignees fail to pay the said Sum interest & to the said Evans his heirs & assignees on or before the before mentioned, Then it May & Shall be lawful for the said Lipscomb his heirs or assignees having given Ten days notice by advertisement & sell at Public Sale for ready money the property heretofore Mentioned, & out of the money deriving from such Sale pay & satisfy the said Evans his heirs or assignees the aforesaid Sum Interest & cost thereon Attending the Execution of the Trust hereby created & the surplus of any pay over to the Berry or order In testimony where of I truly set My hand & affix my seal this day & date aforementioned.
Witness Joshua Berry SEAL
H. Terry
Wm Bowles Joshua Berry is truly indebted to H. Terry so in A Debt due by Bond hearing each date with the above to the amount Of thirty three Dollars ninety four cents which is to come in on the Same property jointly above mentioned in this Trust on the above Named Property, in witness where of I have hereunto set my name & affixed my seal this day & date first above written.
In presence of Joshua Berry SEAL
Thomas P. Evans Orange County May Term AD 1828
Wm Bowles The Execution of the foregoing Deed in Trust was duly proved in Open Court by the oath of William Bowles one of the subscribing Witnesses thereunto and ordered to be registered.
Test J. Taylor C. C.
I think that there was a great financial depression in the late 1820’s and early 1830’s. Joshua Berry must have had some money problems because he borrowed money and used his property as collateral. He ended up having to forfeit his property because he could not repay his loan, which is obvious from the transcribed Deed of Trust. (Deed of Trust bk. 23 pg. 126 Orange County NC)
I know that President Andrew Jackson closed the Federal Reserve Bank without the proper authority after he came into office on March 4th, 1829. Times were hard in the late 1820’s and money was very scarce. It is possible that Joshua Berry got in debt over his head because of the economy. Regardless of the reason, Joshua had borrowed money against his property that he could not repay. The deed was registered in the February Term of Court, 1812. As far as I know, there was no dwelling on this tract of land.
Some of the descendants of William Berry, Joshua’s brother, own some of that same property today. Joshua’s nephew, Thomas Person Berry, built a home on this same tract of property in 1852.
Murder of Joshua Berry October 8th, 1838#
This article was in the Hillsborough Recorder on Wed., 10th Oct., 1838. “The murder was Monday last.” The prior Monday was October 8th, 1838.
Joshua’s widow, Nancy Berry, inherited their property and her unmarried daughter, Nancy Berry, lived with her until Nancy Ellison Berry died sometime between 1850 and 1860. Joshua’s widow, Nancy, listed as age 75 in 1850. Her daughter Nancy was listed as age 40 in that census. Nancy’s son, Lewis Berry, died in 1858 in the worldwide flu epidemic. There were four of our Berry relatives who died that same year. My 3rd great-grandmother, Hannah Cate Berry, was one of them. Joshua Berry’s wife, Nancy Ellison Berry, may also have been a flu victim. Their spinster daughter, Nancy Berry, inherited her mother’s property when Nancy Ellison Berry died.
After the 1830 census was taken, there is only one more record about Joshua that I have located. There was an article about his death in 1838 in the local newspaper. “Joshua Berry was murdered in a grog-shop by Martin Armstrong who had been drinking heavily and was refused more liquor by Joshua, the owner of the shop. Martin Armstrong seized Joshua and threw him over the railing of the piazza, which broke his neck/back. Armstrong immediately made his escape. He was last seen heading east on the Raleigh Road.”
Joshua Berry listed in every Orange County, North Carolina, Census from 1790 to 1830. On February 24th, 1811, Robert Berry Sr. OC sold the western half of his Granville Land Grant to Joshua Berry for the sum of $100 (Orange County Deed book 14 Page 57). Joshua’s father started disposing of his land in 1800. I suppose he was in failing health because on April 16th, 1812, Robert Berry OC wrote his will. James Berry, Joshua’s son who later went to Smith County, Tennessee, was a witness on the deed that Robert made to Joshua. The other witness was Charles Holeman, who was married to the daughter of Joshua Cate and was a neighbor.
In Memory of Patricia Murdock Hutchins 1928–2006#
Patricia Murdock Hutchins 1928–2006
Pat was a descendant of Andrew Murdock and Dicey Berry. Dicey Berry was a daughter of Joshua and Nancy Ellison Berry.
Pat was accepted into the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) through Joshua Berry and his mother, Elizabeth Cate. I have copies of the family group sheets Pat did on the Andrew Murdock and Dicey Berry family line. Pat was a great researcher and, like me, both sides of her family were in Orange County, North Carolina, since the 1750’s. The same was also true of her husband. Because of this, she said “I am a researcher of family lines, not a genealogist.” She said genealogy is too complicated. Pat attended our 2002 Wiley P. and Ida Ann Wilson Berry Reunion for the first and only time. Her husband was invalid and getting away from home was somewhat difficult for Pat. This picture was taken at the Schley Grange Hall in July, 2002.