Chapter VIII#

…I Wish I Was in Dixie… (1830-1840)#

The first Federal Census of Fayette County Alabama is for the year 1830. The following BERRY men are listed as Head of Household:

• Berry, David — Age 20-30 (believed to be a brother to William C. Berry)
• Berry, George — Age 30-40 (operated a mill 1828-1845) (XV; p.35)
• Berry, Henry — Age 30-40 (believed to be a brother to William C. Berry)
• Berry, John — Age 30-40 (believed to be a cousin of William C. Berry)
• Berry, Robert — Age 60-70 (perhaps father, uncle or cousin to father of William C. Berry)
• Berry, Thompson — Age 20-30 (believed to be a brother to William C. Berry)

There were a few land grants issued to BERRY pioneers of Fayette County Alabama between 1830-1840. Those uncovered presently include:

1. William Berry. 1835 (XV; p.167)
2. John Berry. 1837 R-12W; TS-16S; S-35
3. George Berry. 1837 R-12W; TS-16S; S-35; 1839 R-12W; TS-16S; S-36 (X; Tract Book)

On November 20, 1826, William C. Berry married Sally Bowles in Hillsborough, North Carolina. (XVII; p.10) The Federal Census of 1830 Orange County, North Carolina, showed William C. Berry age 20-30; wife age 20-30; 1 male child age 0-5. They had three (3) children born in North Carolina:

1. George Rufus Berry, born February 29, 1829 (XXIV)
2. Elisabeth Jane Berry, born March 17, 1831 (XXIV)
3. Rowan Frances Berry, born 1833 (XXIV)

It is believed that Sally (Bowles) Berry died at this time and is buried in North Carolina. It is suspected that she died at childbirth of Rowan Berry in 1833 or perhaps another child in 1835.

During the 1830’s, many pioneers from Fayette County were leaving the state and going other places, mostly to Texas. Just as surely as some settlers were leaving the state, others were coming in to take their place.

Such was the case with William C. Berry. One family member recalls that his Great-Grandfather, William C. Berry, was supposed to have walked all the way from North Carolina to Fayette County Alabama. He apparently brought his three (3) small children with him. The years 1834-1837 are the most likely for him to have made the trip. This is due to the fact that Rowan was born in 1833 in North Carolina. John T. Berry, the first child of the second marriage was born 1838 in Fayette County Alabama.

It is estimated that William C. Berry married Massa Ann (Tompkins), who was Indian, in 1836. However, it is not known whether he married her in the state of North Carolina or Alabama. There is no record of this marriage in Orange County North Carolina. Marriage records in Fayette County Alabama are destroyed before 1866, so it is more likely that it took place there. One fact is known. The oldest child of the second marriage, John T. Berry, was born July 26, 1838, in Fayette County Alabama. He was the Great-Grandfather of Glenn Berry, the author of this book.

William C. Berry is listed in an old account book as being an Original Settler living in Fayetteville (early name of Fayette, Alabama) in the year of 1838. (XV; p.67)

Family recollections are that five (5) BERRY men were among the first White Settlers of Fayette County. Three (3) were brothers, and two (2) were their cousins. Most of these five (5) are believed to have been either brothers or cousins to William C. Berry. All came down to Alabama from North Carolina.