Chapter 15#

John Robert Berry 1842–1917#

John Robert Berry was born on September 25th, 1842, and was the third son of Thomas Person and Sarah Lunsford Berry. He is also my great-grandfather. He fought in the Civil War and was wounded in the battle of Cold Harbor. After the war, he returned to Orange County, North Carolina, and married Elizabeth Frances Bowling on November 30th, 1865.

Top left: John Robert Berry's Home. Top right: John Robert Berry's Store & Meredith Post Office. Bottom left: John Robert and Elizabeth Berry. Bottom right: Berry's Grove Baptist Church.

Children of John Robert and Elizabeth Bowling Berry:#

• Emma G. Berry born October 31st, 1866, died February 12th, 1945
• Cora D. Berry born January 14th, 1868, died June 26th, 1950
• Wiley P. Berry born September 12th, 1869, died May 8th, 1965
• John W. Berry born February 2nd, 1871, died December 22nd, 1922
• Mary A. Berry born 1873, died after 1957
• Ada Lee Berry born July 11, 1875, died November 22nd, 1968
• Willie Adolphus Berry born June 3rd, 1877, died January 8th, 1961
• Thomas Ewart Berry born January 25th, 1880, died December 15th, 1960
• Pattie S. Berry born August 8th, 1886, died December 12th, 1915

John Robert and Elizabeth Bowling Berry Donated Land for Church#

All nine of John Robert Berry’s children were born in Orange County, North Carolina, and all of their children made their homes in North Carolina.

Spouses of John Robert Berry’s Children:#

1. John Saunders Berry was the grandson of Joshua Berry. John Saunders Berry was born on January 1, 1859, died on March 1st, 1938. Married Emma G. Berry October 15th, 1884. Emma was the great-granddaughter of William Berry and John & Emma had 7 children.

2. Frank Ansell Breeze was born on September 5, 1860 and married Cora D. Berry on June 26, 1889 and died on June 26, 1950. Frank and Cora had 9 children.

3. Ida Ann Wilson was born on September 30, 1876, married Wiley P. Berry June 2, 1895, and died May 4, 1941. She was hit and killed by an automobile. Wiley P. and Ida had 8 children.

4. No Spouse — John Berry was never married.

5. James O. Webb was born in 1859, married Mary A. Berry January 27, 1904, and died June 26, 1950. James and Mary had 2 children.

6. William Jackson Rogers was born October 10, 1864, married Ada Lee Berry September 1, 1895, died April 12, 1931. William and Ada had 9 children.

7. Fannie Jones Hall was born February 12, 1881, married Willie Adolphus Berry June 3, 1900, died August 23, 1980. Willie and Fannie had 10 children.

8. Mary Ella Tilly was born July 25, 1881, married Thomas Ewart Berry on November 29, 1903, died September 17, 1945. Thomas and Mary Ella had 6 children.

9. F.C. Wilson born 1887, married Pattie S. Berry December 20th, 1910. F.C. Wilson’s death is unknown. Pattie and F.C. had 2 children.

John Robert and Elizabeth Frances Bowling Berry had 52 grandchildren.

John Robert Berry Enlists in the Confederate Army#

The Civil War began on April 12th, 1861, and John Robert Berry enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army on October 6, 1861. He was placed in Company E, 31st Infantry Regiment of North Carolina. He was only 19 years old at the time.

John Robert Berry’s CSA Service Record:#

Service Timeline:

• Enlisted in Company E, 31st Infantry Regiment, North Carolina, October 6, 1861
• POW on February 8, 1862, at Roanoke Island, NC
• Paroled on February 21, 1862, at Elizabeth City, NC
• Returned September 15, 1862
• POW on June 1, 1864, at Cold Harbor, VA
• Wounded on June 1, 1864, at Cold Harbor, VA
• Confined on August 16, 1864, at Old Capitol Prison, Washington, DC
• Transferred on August 27, 1864, to Elmira, NY
• Took Oath of Allegiance on June 23, 1865, at Elmira, NY. Returned to North Carolina

Elmira, New York, Union Prison#

John Robert Berry was wounded on the second day of the battle at Cold Harbor in Richmond, Virginia. He was wounded on his right hand and shoulder. He was captured on May 31st or June 1st, 1864. John Robert Berry was then sent to a hospital in Washington, D.C., for about a month and a half. On August 16th, 1864, he was transferred to Elmira, New York. This was John Robert’s residence from August 27th, 1864, until the conclusion of the war. He was released on the 23rd of June, 1865. After taking an Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, John Robert Berry was put on a train to Hillsborough, NC. After arriving late in the day, John Robert Berry had to walk about 14 miles to his home at Fiddleton. He arrived before about 4:00 AM and rather than wake his parents, he lay down on a log bench across the road from their house to sleep until daybreak. This was probably a good idea, because people were still a bit jumpy and traumatized by the war and being shot at night was a real possibility.

Elmira Prison Camp historical marker, Elmira, New York. 12,123 Confederate soldiers were held on 30 acres from 1864 to 1865.

John Robert Berry married Elizabeth Frances Bowling on November 30th, 1865. Thomas Person Berry deeded 117 1/4 acres to his son, John Robert Berry, on April 15th, 1868, for the sum of $1.00. (Orange County Deed Bk. 50 Pg. 56)

The Family of Willie Adolphus Berry#

Willie A. Berry is the 7th child of John Robert and Elizabeth F. Bowling Berry.

Willie Adolphus and Fannie Jones Hall Berry

The home of Willie Adolphus and Fannie Jones Hall Berry

The ten children of Willie Adolphus and Fannie Jones Hall Berry. Top row: Clyde Hall, Mabel Lee, Bettie Bowling, Lula, Milton Banks. Bottom row: John Lambert, Fannie Bennett, Lucille Jones, Willie A. Jr., Virginia Gertrude. Nine were born in Person County, NC; Bettie Bowling Berry was born in Orange County, NC.

The Family of Thomas Ewart Berry#

Thomas Ewart Berry and all 6 of his children. Thomas was the 8th child of John Robert and Elizabeth Frances Bowling Berry and he married Mary Ella Tilly. The family lived in Durham, North Carolina, and Thomas owned and operated a grocery store. Pictured left to right: Ernest Perow, Mary Frances, Blannie, Jennings Gentry, Pattie, Robert Claiborne, and their father Thomas Ewart Berry.