Prince-Anne-County-Va 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.

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.

Roger Williamson PAC

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Roger Williamson from England and Princess Ann County, Virginia#

PARENTS of Roger Williamson and Ann Foster are unknown at this time.

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.

Mary Kempe PAC

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Mary Kempe from Princess Ann County Virginia#

PARENTS:

Mary’s Parents George and Mary Hutchinson Kempe

MARY KEMPE married RICHARD WILLIAMSON (daughter of George and Mary Hutchinson Kempe of Kempe’s Landing) There is some question at this time about Mary Kempe’s marriage date since George and Mary Hutchison Kempe may not have arrived in America before 1650. My thoughts are that Richard Williamson and Mary Kempe were probably married around 1670 to 1675. From Richard Williamson’s 1721 will we learn that his children were:

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 PAC 1730 Will and Transcript

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Below is the transcription of Robert Berry (PAC) 1730 Will with all the spelling errors as they appear in the original.

Will of Robert Berry September 20th 1730

 In the name of God Amen: The twentieth day of September in the year of our
 Lord one thousand and six hundred and thirty. I Robt Berry of Prencess Ann County in
 Virginia being of perfect mind and memory
 vis I give and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Berry my plantation I now live on with
 houses cleared ground orchard sharing her gift after her decease to my son Richard
 Berry and the heirs lawfully begot of his body for ever. I give to my son Richard
 my gun cupbard. vis I give to my son Robt Berry the plantation I had by my wife
 farming upon bought this land of George Williamsons land being about ond
 hundred acres of land to himself and the heirs of his body lawfully begot forever
 vis I give my loving wife Mary Berry all the rest of any Estate both within
 & without assessing his ----- one young mare my desire is she may
 be sold & his proceeds to be divided among all my children in the estate
 I hereby nominate, appoint & ordain my loving wife Mary Berry to be
 My whole & sole executor of this my last will & testament disposing all former
 wills by me made establishing confirming & allowing this to be my last will and
 Testament & none other –-- –-- Testimony whereof I now hereunto to
 set my hand and seal.					 ==His Mark==
Signed & sealed					Robert---I Berry Seal
in presence of us
Bartho Williamson		presented at court held the 7th October 1730
Sarah S Mathyas			named then the above last will and testament
				 Rpbt Berry died in Princess Ann County
				 His Executor made oath the she is Mary Berry
				 Provided by the oath of both his witnesses
				 Hereunto is ordered to be recorded.

Click the image below to see the original 1730 document

Roger Williamson PAC

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Roger Williamson from England and Lower Norfolk County, Virginia#

Princess Anne County was formed from part of Lower Norfolk County Virginia in 1651

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.