Deed on Berrytree.org

Chapter 1: Williamsons, Fosters, Berrys & Kemps

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← Preface | Table of Contents | Chapter 2: Robert Berry →

Chapter 1#

Williamsons, Fosters, Berrys & Kemps#

I have been researching the Robert Berry family from Orange County since 1997. When I first started researching, I found that the Census forms from 1790 to 1840, only listed the head of household’s given and surnames. Sometimes they would be listed alphabetically, which was not totally useless but not very helpful either. When the families were listed in the order of farms and plantation physical location, the information became more valuable. I would search the census forms from the very early years and become familiar with as many of the surnames located near one of my known ancestors as possible. Soon I learned that a cluster of surnames in one county would often vary greatly from the surnames listed in the very next county. Since the population was small, clusters of surnames in a close proximity were often related to each other. As our ancestors relocated from one state to another, the pattern was repeated over and over. When I located a family surname who seemed to be a relative from a previous community, I started looking at the surnames of his neighbors. I always paid particular attention to these very close neighbors. This is a very important tool; since there were really not very many people in these early settlements, many of them migrated there together. Many of them were friends and a lot of them were relatives and children who had known each other their entire lives. They had grown up together and when the time came to relocate, they chose to go together.

John Robert Berry

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John Robert Berry

Generation 5 John Robert Berry

Born: September 25, 1842, Orange County, North Carolina
Died: October 10, 1917, Orange County, North Carolina
Married: Elizabeth Frances Bowling — married November 30, 1865
Parents: Thomas Person Berry and Sarah Lunsford, Orange County, NC

Direct Berry Line

Robert and Mary Williamson Berry — Princess Anne County, Virginia
Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry — Orange County, North Carolina
William Berry and Hannah Cate — Orange County, NC
Thomas Person Berry and Sarah Lunsford — Orange County, NC
John Robert Berry and Elizabeth Frances Bowling — Orange County, NC

Early Life#

John Robert Berry was born on September 25, 1842, in Orange County, North Carolina. He was the third son of Thomas Person and Sarah Lunsford Berry. There is not a lot known about the period between Thomas Person Berry and Sarah Lunsford’s marriage on September 28, 1831, and the birth of their first son in 1836.

Chapter 2: Robert Berry 1729–1814

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← Chapter 1: Williamsons, Fosters, Berrys, Kemps | Table of Contents | Chapter 3: Mary Berry →

Chapter 2#

Robert Berry 1729–1814#

Robert Berry OC came to a part of Granville County, North Carolina, which was soon to become Orange County, NC. We know that he built a small cabin in the northeast corner of his staked out land. This cabin was documented in Robert Berry’s OC Entry for his Land Grant. Thomas Bradford owned the land just north of Robert Berry’s OC claim.

Robert Berry (OC)

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Generation 2 Robert Berry

Born: c. 1729, Princess Anne County, Virginia
Died: 1814, Orange County, North Carolina
Married: Elizabeth Cate — married c. 1759, Orange County, NC
Parents: Robert Berry and Mary Williamson, Princess Anne County, VA

The Story of Robert Berry#

Robert Berry was the son of Robert Berry and Mary Williamson of Princess Anne County, Virginia, and he came to Orange County, North Carolina, in 1751.

Hannah Cate Berry

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 3William Berry × Hannah Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Generation 3 (by marriage) Hannah Cate Berry

Born: 1770, Orange County, North Carolina
Died: 1858, Orange County, North Carolina
Married: William Berry — married August 12, 1799, Orange County, NC
Parents: William and Elizabeth Smith (Messersmith) Cate

The Story of Hannah Cate Berry#

Hannah Cate was born in 1770 and she died in 1858 in Orange County, NC. Hannah Cate was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Smith (Messersmith) Cate.

Robert Berry (PAC)

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Generation 1 Robert Berry (PAC)

Born: Unknown — probably born in England
Died: c. 1730, Princess Anne County, Virginia
Married: Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia
Parents: Unknown — most likely born in England

The Story of Robert Berry (PAC)#

Robert Berry (PAC) of South Norfolk County, Virginia, married Mary Williamson and established a home in Princess Anne County, Virginia, which is now known as Virginia Beach, Virginia. Robert and Mary had two sons. The oldest was Richard Berry and the baby was Robert Berry “Orange County, NC” (OC) who was born about 1729. Robert Berry (PAC) wrote his will in 1730 and died shortly after Robert Berry (Orange County, NC) was born.

Sarah Cate Berry Pigg

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 3Thomas Berry × Sarah Cate — Orange County, NC → Wayne County, TN

Generation 3 (by marriage) Sarah Cate Berry Pigg

Born: December 27, 1782, Orange County, North Carolina
Died: March 7, 1875, Wayne County, Tennessee
Married: 1st: Thomas Berry — married August 11, 1800, Orange County, NC · 2nd: John Pigg — married December 11, 1815, Williamson County, TN
Parents: William Cate and Elizabeth Messersmith Cate

The Story of Sarah Cate#

Sarah Cate was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Messersmith Cate and was born in North Carolina on December 27, 1782. Nothing is known about Sarah’s early life except that she had two brothers and two sisters. The brothers were John Cate and Benjamin Cate and her two sisters were Charity and Hannah Cate.

William Clarence Berry NC, ALA, TX

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 3William Berry × Hannah Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 4William Clarence Berry × Sally Bowles / Massa Ann Tompkins — Orange County, NC → Fayette County, AL → Burnet County, TX

Generation 4 William Clarence Berry

Born: October 17, 1803, Orange County, North Carolina
Died: September 8, 1878, Burnet County, Texas
Married: 1st: Sally Bowles (married November 20, 1826; died 1833) — 2nd: Massa Ann Tompkins (married 1836)
Parents: William Berry and Hannah Cate Berry, Orange County, NC

William Clarence Berry, son of William and Hannah Cate Berry#

William Clarence Berry was born on October 17th 1803 in Orange County, North Carolina and died on 08 September 1878 in Burnet County Texas. He and his two brothers were listed on Hannah Cate Berry’s 1810 census. The family was living in the old Patrick Rutherford plantation house which Robert Berry bought in 1787. They may have lived there for many years but Hannah did not list in the 1820 Orange County, NC, census.

Thomas Person Berry

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 3William Berry × Hannah Cate — Orange County, NC → Tennessee

Gen 4Thomas Person Berry × Sarah Lunsford — Orange County, North Carolina

Generation 4 Thomas Person Berry

Born: June 1, 1808, Orange County, North Carolina
Died: April 30, 1884, Orange County, North Carolina
Married: 1st: Sarah Lunsford — married September 28, 1831 · 2nd: Lucy Brown — married August 24, 1871 · 3rd: Elizabeth Peed Bowles — married December 3, 1883
Parents: William Berry and Hannah Cate, Orange County, NC

The Story of Thomas Person Berry#

Thomas Person Berry

Aldridge Berry Farquhar Waggoner Connection

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There are several marriages in different Berry lines involving these four families.

From Henry Waggoners 1784 Will (Orange County NC Deed Book A Page 231) Henry and Ketriana Waggoner’s Children:

Berry Wills and Deeds from PAC, 1691–1755

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Only 12 listings were found for Berry wills and deeds in Princess Anne County, Virginia, and only three Berrys appeared in the Virginia 1704 quit rent rolls. In the list below, wd = will dated, wp = will probated.

Deed Book Page 331 Land Purchase in Person County NC

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This deed book entry records Robert Berry Jr.’s land purchase in Person County, North Carolina.

Deed Book Page 421 Robert Berry Jr - land sold

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This deed book entry records Robert Berry Jr.’s land sale in Person County, North Carolina.

Georgia Land Document

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Ancestors: Generation 1 — Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry Generation 2 — David J. Berry and Mary Blalock

Back to David J. Berry Page →

James Berry Tenn

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James Berry, son of Joshua Berry and Nancy Ellison Berry#

Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia
Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina
Gen 3 Joshua Berry × Nancy Ellison — Orange County, North Carolina

James Berry was born in 1800 in Orange County, North Carolina. James Berry and Mary Parker were married in North Carolina about 1829. Their first three daughters were born in North Carolina. The oldest daughter, Nancy, was born in 1830. The youngest daughter, Delila, was born in North Carolina in 1836 and was 14 years old in the 1850 Smith County, Tennessee census. The oldest child born in Tennessee was, Martha, who was 11 years old in 1850. This means James and Mary were in North Carolina in 1836 and in Tennessee in 1839. I have no absolute proof that the James Berry on this page is related to us but all the facts indicate he was..

Robert Berry’s Deed to Joshua Berry with James Berry as a witness. Dated February 24 1811 (Orange County Deed Book 14 Page 57)

Page Updates

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If you have pictures or information about your family line, we’d love to hear from you through our Contact page.

4/04/2026 Created James Thomas Wilson page and updated Pattie Berry Wilson page

Proof Page

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This page assembles the documentary evidence connecting Robert Berry of Orange County, NC, to Princess Anne County, Virginia, through shared surnames, tax lists, and land records.

Relatives Found in PAC Deed Book

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Names of Relatives

George and Mary Hutchinson Kempe’s Children;

Ann Kempe
Mary Kempe
Thomas Kempe married Sally Thorowgood 17 Jul 1779 (PAC)
Elizabeth Kempe
Sarah Kempe
James Kempe married Frances [Mrs] Shepherd 23 Jun 1762 (PAC)
John Kempe

Richard Williamson married Mary Kempe- Their Children;

Robert Berry Joshua's Son NC

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Robert Berry, son of Joshua Berry and Nancy Ellison Berry#

Ancestors#

Generation Robert and Mary Williamson Berry: Princess Anne County, Virginia.
Generation Robert and Elizabeth Cate Berry: Orange County, North Carolina.
Generation Joshua and Nancy Ellison Berry: Orange County, North Carolina.

ROBERT BERRY was born in 1800 in Orange County North Carolina. Robert Berry and Sally Cates were married in Person County North Carolina circa 1814. There is a great deal that we did not know about this family. We know that they did live in Orange County for their entire lives or at least until 1850. Sally Berry age 52 (born 1798) listed as head of household in 1850 with her two daughters Rachel Berry age 11 (born 1839) and Sarah Berry age 14 (born 1836).

Robert C. Berry NC Ala

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 3William Berry × Hannah Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 4Robert C. Berry × Sarah Chappell — Orange County, NC → Fayette County, Alabama

Generation 4 Robert C. Berry

Born: April 14, 1805, Orange County, North Carolina
Died: Fayette County (Berry), Alabama
Married: Sarah Chappell (married c. 1839, Fayette County, Alabama)
Parents: William Berry and Hannah Cate Berry, Orange County, NC

Son of William and Hannah Cate Berry#

Robert C. Berry was born on April 14th 1805 in Orange County, North Carolina. Robert C. did not marry in Orange County and was about 29 or 30 years old when he left the state. Since he was single and didn’t own property there are no official records naming him. He did however witness the sale of property on September 19th 1833 that his two brothers sold.

Robert C. Berry NC Ala

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 3William Berry × Hannah Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 4Robert C. Berry × Sarah Chappell — Orange County, NC → Fayette County, Alabama

Generation 4 Robert C. Berry

Born: April 14, 1805, Orange County, North Carolina
Died: Fayette County (Berry), Alabama
Married: Sarah Chappell (married c. 1839, Fayette County, Alabama)
Parents: William Berry and Hannah Cate Berry, Orange County, NC

Son of William and Hannah Cate Berry#

Wiley P. Berry Jr. NC

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Gen 1 Robert Berry × Mary Williamson — Princess Anne County, Virginia

Gen 2 Robert Berry × Elizabeth Cate — Orange County, North Carolina

Gen 3William Berry × Hannah Cate — Orange County, NC

Gen 4Thomas Person Berry × Sarah Lunsford — Orange County, NC

Gen 5John Robert Berry × Elizabeth Bowling — Orange County, NC

Gen 6Wiley P. Berry × Ida Ann Wilson — Orange County, NC

Gen 7Wiley P. Berry Jr. × Mary Elizabeth Barbee — Orange County, NC

Generation 7 Wiley P. Berry Jr.

Born: September 1, 1919, Orange County, North Carolina
Died: August 18, 2007
Married: Mary Elizabeth Barbee (born January 13, 1928; died January 25, 2014)
Parents: Wiley P. Berry Sr. and Ida Ann Wilson Berry, Orange County, NC

The Story of Wiley P. Berry Jr.#

The picture below is of the Wiley P. Berry Family and was taken around 1925. Their second oldest son, Thomas Young Berry was born on May 11 1903 and died on June 8 1925. He may be the one taking the picture or he may have already died. L-R Sally Malena, Mary Elizabeth, Woodrow Wilson, William Eugene, Wiley Harold, Mother: Ida Ann Wilson Berry, Wiley P. Berry Jr, and Father: Wiley P. Berry Sr.

William Clarence Berry NC, ALA, TX

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William Clarence Berry, son of William and Hannah Cate Berry Berry#

ANCESTORS

Generation 1 Robert and Mary Williamson Berry VA

Williamson Deeds and Wills 1691–1755, Princess Anne County

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The first date shown in the will is the date it was written
The second date is when it was probated ** 1DB193 Page 13**

25 Jul 1698 / 7 Sep: 1698 **Bartholomew WILLIAMSON **- son Charles, son James land bought of brother-in-law William CHRISTOPHER, wife Martha daughter Sarah wife of Thomas HARRYSON, daughter of Mary Widow of Francis Bond, daughter Elizabeth wife of Thomas SPRATT, daughter Martha grandson Bartholomew son of Francis BOND. Ex: wife and Charles. Overseers: Benoni BOROUGH, Edward MOSLEY, Sr., brother Richard. Wit: Edward MOSLEY, Sr., William MOSLEY Sr., Thomas HARRISON, Francis MOSLEY.