Wagons South and Wagons West on Berrytree.org

Chapter I: Origin of the Surname

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Chapter I#

Origin of the Surname#

The family name BERRY is a good example of the evolutionary nature of names. People took as surnames the names of flowers, fish, animals, birds, and occupations. But by far, one of the most common sources of surnames was place names. The name BERRY is a derivative of the Old English suffix burg, indicating one who lived at or near a hill, stronghold, or fortified place. Thus, the surname BERRY became a frequent name in a large category of surnames derived from place names. Because of the evolutionary nature of name development, it is virtually impossible to pinpoint the exact date of the formation of any new name. BERRY, of course, is no exception. However, some of the ancient records of the English nation give evidence of early forms of the name and show usage as early as 1513. (III; p.3)

Chapter II: Family Crest & Coat of Arms

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter I: Origin of the Surname | Table of Contents | Chapter III: Immigration to America →

Chapter II#

Family Crest & Coat-of-Arms#

BERRY#

ARMS: Vert a cross crosslet or. CREST: From a coronet (set with crosses) a goat’s head proper. ARMS: On a green field, a gold cross with the four ends of the cross crossed. CREST: From a coronet [set with crosses] a goat’s head in its natural color.

Chapter III: Immigration to America

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter II: Family Crest & Coat of Arms | Table of Contents | Chapter IV: The Revolutionary War →

Chapter III#

Ships Ahoy (Immigration to America)#

…Every American is either an immigrant or has descended from immigrants, except possibly the American Indians. The story of American immigration is the story…of an estimated seventy (70) million people of different backgrounds & nationalities. It is the story of their hopes, their fears, their aspirations: it is the story of America itself…

Chapter IV: The Revolutionary War

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter III: Immigration to America | Table of Contents | Chapter V: Wagons South →

Chapter IV#

The British Are Coming (The Revolutionary War)#

As I begin writing this chapter, it is not known the name of the BERRY ancestor, if any, who fought to gain Independence for America from England.

Chapter V: Wagons South

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter IV: The Revolutionary War | Table of Contents | Chapter VI: Away Down South in Dixie →

Chapter V#

Wagons South — Alabama — “Heart of Dixie”#

A. State of Alabama created December 14, 1819#

Some native-born Americans from the 13 Original Colonies trickled into Alabama while the British ruled here. After the Revolutionary War ended, the trickle became an increasing stream…A boundary dispute with Spain involving Alabama was settled by the Treaty of San Lorenzo 1795. (I; p.123)

Chapter VI: Away Down South in Dixie

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter V: Wagons South | Table of Contents | Chapter VII: In the Land of Cotton →

Chapter VI#

…Away Down South in Dixie… (1820-1830)#

A group of BERRY pioneers settled in Blount County Alabama at Brooksville in about 1815. Kenneth E. Lee, now deceased, published a history on this “set” of BERRY’S in 1981. In 1985, his brother Arthur C. Lee, published an additional book completed and up-dated on this “set” of BERRY’S.

Chapter VII: In the Land of Cotton

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter VI: Away Down South in Dixie | Table of Contents | Chapter VIII: I Wish I Was in Dixie →

Chapter VII#

…In the Land of Cotton…#

Clothmaking in the North demanded the use of much cotton, and cotton came from the South. Before 1800, tobacco had been the all-important crop of the South, but after 1800, cotton began to take over that role. This was due to the increased need for cotton in Northern manufacturing centers and to the invention of a machine to pick seeds from cotton, called the Cotton Gin. (XIII; pp.274-275) In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin (engine). This machine is described below:

Chapter VIII: I Wish I Was in Dixie

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter VII: In the Land of Cotton | Table of Contents | Chapter IX: Texas Fever in the Air →

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:

Chapter IX: Texas Fever in the Air

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter VIII: I Wish I Was in Dixie | Table of Contents | Chapter X: In Dixie Land Where I Was Born →

Chapter IX#

Texas Fever in the Air#

During the 1830’s and from thence onward, “Texas Fever” caught hold of many Alabamians. Many pioneers left the State of Alabama and County of Fayette before they had very deep roots established there.

Chapter X: In Dixie Land Where I Was Born

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter IX: Texas Fever in the Air | Table of Contents

Chapter X#

…In Dixie Land Where I Was Born… (1840-1850)#

The Federal Census of Fayette County Alabama 1840 lists the following BERRY pioneer men as Head of Household:

Chapter XI: Look Away Dixie Land

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

← Chapter X: In Dixie Land Where I Was Born | Table of Contents

Chapter XI#

…Look Away Dixie Land… (1850-1860)#

The Federal Census of Fayette County Alabama 1850 reveals that there are eleven (11) of the BERRY surname as Head of Household. They are given below:

Bibliography

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Table of Contents | Chapter I: Origin of the Surname →

Bibliography#

Source of all material used

The author cited these 34 works throughout the text by roman numeral, for example “(III; p.4).” They are reproduced here as printed, with obvious OCR scanning errors corrected. Two entries contain details (a date and a county name) too garbled in the scan to confidently correct; these are flagged below rather than guessed at.