Chapter 7#

Isaac Berry 1768–1830 to 1840#

Isaac Berry was probably born about 1768. He was the fifth child of Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry. I have no idea where the name Isaac came from in the naming sequence of their children. I have noticed that the 5th child in several of our Berry families was given biblical names. Robert may have had an uncle or a distant grandfather named Isaac. The name Isaac was later used in several branches of the family. Isaac was the only biblical name used in naming any of Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry’s sons. I guess Joshua is a biblical name, but in this case Elizabeth Cate Berry had a brother named Joshua Cate. All of the other sons were named for Kings or other unknown family members in the Berry and Cate families.

Robert Berry referred to his son, Isaac Berry’s, condition as not being of proper reason. The only official record with Isaac’s name recorded in Orange County is in his father’s will. I know that Isaac Berry lived with his father until he died and then he lived with his brother, Henry Berry, for the rest of his life. Isaac was never listed as head of household in any census.

It is obvious that Robert Berry went to great detail to make Isaac’s future secure. Here is an excerpt from Robert Berry’s April 16th, 1812, will about his concern for his son.

“I will and bequeath to my son Isaac Berry one Negro woman named Lydia also one horse to the value of thirty dollars and two cows and calves. This my son Isaac Berry’s legacy to be left in the care of my son Henry Berry so as for the aforesaid Isaac to have the benefit of it but not so he can sell or dispose of it without Henry’s approbation. Also this my son Isaac Berry’s legacy at his death to be divided among my heirs equally provided he has no heirs born after this will is wrote. Also: this son Isaac Berry’s legacy to be given to him for to be at his own disposal if he becomes to his proper reason. If he does not come to his right reason to be kept as above mentioned.”

Another condition to be met for Henry Berry to inherit his father’s property: “Provided he gives to my son Isaac Berry one hundred dollars, fifty to be paid one year after his mother’s death and the other fifty in two years after his mother’s death.” Isaac was probably 44 years old in 1812 when his father wrote that will and 46 years old when Robert died. Isaac Berry died sometime after 1830 and before the 1840 census was taken in Orange County, North Carolina.

There are no other records about Isaac Berry recorded anywhere concerning marriage, land, deeds, wills, or any type of court record. I think this indicates that Isaac Berry was never able to function on his own as an adult member of society. Isaac Berry was living with his brother, Henry Berry, in 1830. Isaac may have been living in the old Patrick Rutherford house with Lydia in 1840. Isaac Berry was not listed in Henry Berry’s 1840 Orange County Census. Isaac was probably about 60 to 67 years old when he died.

In 1840, Lydia Berry listed as head of household in the Orange County Census. Lydia was between 30 and 40 years old and had a young daughter under 10. Felix Wilson was living between Lydia Berry and Henry Berry. Felix Wilson was living on land he bought from William and Person Berry in 1833. Henry Berry was living in the Fiddleton Plantation House Robert built in 1766. I think Lydia Berry may have been living in the old Patrick Rutherford house with Isaac who was definitely alive in 1830.

Isaac Berry’s Daughter#

Since Lydia Berry listed as head of household in 1840, I think we must assume that she was considered Isaac Berry’s wife. It appears that Isaac, Lydia, and Mary Ann Berry were living as a family in one of Henry Berry’s houses that he had inherited. In 1850 Lydia Berry, age 35, her daughter, Mary Ann Berry, age 18 were living in Person County with Joshua Cates, age 39. Joshua Cates listed as head of household and was living beside Solomon Cates age 41. Solomon Cates was probably Joshua Cates’ father. Solomon and Elizabeth Cates had five children at home: Biddy female age 30, Thomas, male age 18, Absalon male age 27, Nathanial male age 16, and Sarah female age 14.

In the 1860 Person County census, Joshua Cates was still listed as head of household but Mary Ann Berry had married Samuel Hunley. Samuel and Mary Ann Berry Hunley had four children; the oldest was a daughter who was eight years old. Lydia Berry was still living in the household. On October 14, 1870, a census was taken in the Bushy Fork Township of Person County. Samuel Hunley was now listed as head of household and he and Mary had five children, and Lydia Berry and Joshua Cates were living with them. On June 7, 1880, Samuel and Mary Ann Berry Hunley had four sons, four daughters, a daughter-in-law, a grandson, and a granddaughter living with them. Joshua Cates was listed as a cousin and Lydia Berry was listed as mother-in-law.

Based on this information, Isaac Berry had eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren by the year 1880. [Person County NC Roll T9_977 Page 138]

Household of Samuel age 58 and Mary Ann Berry Hunley age 48:

Liddy Hunley age 25 daughter

Thomas J Hunley age 23 son

David R Hunley age 20 son

Julius Hunley age 13 son

Ida Hunley age 8 daughter

Mary Ann Hunley age 7 daughter

William Hunley age 6 son

Cora L Hunley age 5 daughter

Sarah Hunley age 21 daughter in law

Hilda D Hunley age 3 granddaughter

Dalton D Hunley age 1 grandson

Joshua Cates age 68 cousin

Lydia Berry age 78 mother-in-law

1900 Orange County, N.C., Census, Little River Township#

James S. King age 45 Head Feb. 1855

Mary Hunley age 61 Cousin Mar. 1832

William Hunley age 18 Cousin Apr 1872

John H. Bowles age 7 Cousin May 1892

Mary Ann Berry Hunley was 48 years old in 1880, William Hunley was six years old.

Looking at their ages, I think William Hunley and James Bowles may be Mary Hunley’s grandchildren. There was a discrepancy of seven years in Mary Hunley’s age.

(See Chapter 11, Henry Berry, on Page 222 for more details).