Adelaide Speagle Berry (1833 - 1904)

By John Berry

Adelaide Speagle Berry was born in 1833 and passed away in 1904.  She was married to William Martin “Billy” Berry (1825-1911).  The married in 1855. This photo was likely taken in the last 1870s. She had a number of children (9) and lived in Burke County, North Carolina. This would be my great, great, grandmother.  Adelaide's parents were Martin Speagle (1799-1864) and Elizabeth Hudson (1801-1850). 

Adelaide Speagle Berry

Adelaide Berry's children were Ruffin Berry, Martin Bascomb Berry, Martha Ann Berry, Jane Lucinda Berry, Isobella Berry, William Pinkney Berry, Henderson David Berry (my great great grandfather), Stanley Berry and Ezekiel Berry.  

William D. Bennett Letter to Burgin Berry on Berry Family 1987

By John Berry

The following is a letter from 1987 from noted genealogist William D. Bennett to my late uncle, Connelly Burgin Berry in 1987. My uncle had sought to dig deeper into the Berry genealogical roots in Burke and Lincoln counties. There have been a fair amount of new discoveries since this time about the Berry line, but I thought that it would be nice to share the text of the letter with others looking into this Berry line. There is a significant amount of helpful information.

However, one note that I would make is that it seems pretty convincing, based on records I have seen, along with the continued ownership of the same lands to assume that John Berry (1790 - 1871) was the son of Lott (Lot) Berry, and the brother of Archibald Berry.  Both Lott and Archibald are believed to be the sons of William Berry, Sr. (1738 - 1780).  The letter from April 1987 follows:

_______________

                                                              Rt. 1, Box 232 

                                                             Wendell, NC 27591    

                                                             11 April 1987

Mr. C. B. Berry
P. O. Box 1479
North Myrttle Beach, SC 29598

Dear Mr. Berry:

   I have recently had a chance to do some research on your Berry family. As I told you, in my previous letter, it is my policy to start with a known ancestor and work backwards and not try to leap-frog back to a possible antecedant.

   Before I begin on the Berrys I might mention that in doing other research I found where Nicholas Fry (it does not say either Jr. or Sr.) was tried in 1779 by the Salisbury District Superior Court for Treason. He was found not guilty.

   Because it seems likely that the Barbara Berry, wife of John Berry, of the 1850 Census was formerly Barbara Fry, I made a quick check of the Lincoln County wills and loose estates papers. I found nothing on Nicholas Fry, Jr. I was searching for further proof that John's wife was his daughter. I found nothing of value on the Berry family. There is a will of a Robert Berry written 7 May 1835 and probated in July 1835. It lists his wife, Nancy, and sons Robert Franklin and Edwin M. Berry. It also lists a daughter, Susannah, and her daughter, Minnou Loudka. There had apparenrtly been another son, William G. Berry, who predeceased his father. The will of William G. Berry was written 3 July 1834 and lists his wife, Frances, brothers, Robert and Edwin M., and niece, Manervva Lodusky. These are found among the loose original wills. In the loose estates papers is a file for John Berry. The papers in this file are apparently for two different John Berrys. There is a return of John Hudson, Administrator of John Berry dated October 1811. There is an administrators' bond for Hugh Berry (signed Barry) as administrator of John Berry dated 21 July 1818.  There is also the record of the sale of the estate of a John Berry by William Berry, Executor. I have not checked the will book for this will.

   Seeing nothing of value concerning your Berrys I went to the Burke County records. There are a number of deeds of interest concerning your family. Listed below are the Burke County deeds of interest.

   B:1, 6 June 1865, Ezekiel Berry & Margaret, his wife, to Pinkney Berry, 60 1/2 acres for $50, on both sides

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of Cony or Middle Fork of Drowning Creek, on the south side of the Island Ford Road, Joins John Berry and Hertzog.

   B:38, 14 November 1860, Silas Berry, for $100, on Ezekiel Berry's old tract William and Pinkney Berry. Ezekiel and Margaret Berry to waters of Jumping Run, joins and D. A. Cook, witnesses,
B:57, 6 June 1865, Ezekiel and Margaret Berry to John Berry, Jr., 60 1/2 acres for $50, on both sides of Conoy or Middle Fork of Drowning Creek, on Island Ford Road.

   B:116, 9 March 1858, Lawson acres for $210, on both sides John Berry's old tract and Philip
Warlick, Berry to John Bailey, 70 of Drowning Creek, joins Wesley Wilson, witness,

   B:135, 4 February 1843, John Berry to Philip Warlick, 100 acres for $200, on waters of Drowning Creek, witnesses, Lawson Berry and Joel Chester.

   E:8, 7 November 1851, Ezekiel Berry to William and Jonathon Page, 50 acres for $50, Joins Ezekiel berry's old tract, witnesses Elijah Berry(?) and William Bailey, proved by Elijah Page.

   E:12, 1 September 1848, Ezekiel Berry to William Icard, 100 acres for $200, on south side of "Catawby" on a branch called Jumping Run, part of a tract granted to Robert Ballew (Blew) 16 November 1790, adjoins land on Jumping Run Gulley Branch and both sides of Hoover Knob Road, witnesses, E. S. Page and Abraham Wilson, acknowledged 26 August 1856.

Your John Berry appears on page 144 of the 1830 Burke County census and both John and Ezekiel appear on page 3663 of the 1840 Burke County census.

Tax records give a little more information on the Berry family. There were two groups of Berrys by the 1830s. Charlotte Berry (widow) and Archibald Berry lived in what was called "Tower District." I am not sure of its location. This would be the family of the John Berry who died in 1798 and Lott Berry who died about 1832. Charlotte could have been Lott's widow. The other group of Berrys lived between Drowning Creek and Jumping Run. This is just east of the present town of Valdese. I have enclosed copies of the 1838 tax list showing John Berry charged with 100 acres and no polls, Ezekiel Berry charged with 100 acres and one poll, and a Nicholas Berry charged with 300 acres on the South Fork of the Catawba and one slave. I have also enclosed a copy

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of the report of Peter Ballew showing that John Berry failed to list his 100 acres and one poll in 1834. I have also enclosed a copy of the 1830 tax list showing John Berry owned no taxable land. The last tax list is for this same district and showing Joseph Berry with 210 acres and no polls as the only Berry listed for taxes in that district. This last tax list is dated 1817 and
is then called Capt. peter Ballew's District. The following are the 1816 and 1815 tax lists for this district.

Capt. Peter Ballew's District - 1816
Jesse Berry, 200 acres on Drowning Creek,
Hynim Berry, 120 acres on Drowning Creek,
Joseph Berry, 110 acres on South Drowning polls.

Capt. Campbell's District
Jesse Berry, 200 acres on Drowning Creek, 1 white poll
Hyram Berry, 120 acres on Drowning Creek, 1 white poll
Joseph Berry, 110 acres on Drowning Creek, no polls.

Not finding John Berry in any of the surviving tax lists prior to 1830, I went back to Lincoln County to check the tax lists there. Lincoln County tax lists are much more meagre than those of Burke County. The 1821 tax lists of Lincoln County seem to be fairly complete. I found the following Berrys listed in 1821.

Capt. Levi Ward's District
William Barry (nothing listed after his name)
Robert Barry (nothing listed after his name)
Richard Barry, 224 acres, 3 black polls.

Capt. Samuel Cox's District
John Berry, 450 acres, 2 black polls
William Berry, no land, 1 white poll
Thomas Berry, 249 acres, 1 white poll
Andrew Berry, 200 acres, 3 blck polls.

Capt. Green's District
John Barry, no land, 1 white poll

Capt. Rufus Reed's District
Mathias Berry, Sr., no land, 1 white poll
Mathias Berry, Jr., no land, 1 white poll
John Berry (nothing listed after his name).

If your John Berry was in Lincoln County at this time it is

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possible he was the John Berry in either Green's or Reed's district. But the question is, "Was he in Lincoln County?" There were a number of grants for land on Drowning Creek to Berrys other than William Berry. The earliest entry date I find is a grant to Joseph Berry for land entered 25 December 1778 by Robert Adams and assigned to Joseph Berry 6 Oct 1784. Much of Joseph Berry's land was on the Pounding Mill Branch of Drowning Creek. There is a survey for land entered by John Berry 28 April 1797 with John Berry as a chain carrier when surveyed in 1797. The grant was probably not completed because of his death. Listed below are surveys with chain carriers named Berry for this
period. They are listed with the name of the grantee, date of
entry, chain carrier, and date of survey.

Joseph Berry 23 Oct 1797 William Berry 23 Oct 1797
Joseph Berry 23 Oct 1797 No Berrys 8 Apr 1798
Joseph Berry 3 Mar 1795 William Berry 23 Oct 1797
Joseph Berry 3 Mar 1795 William Berry 23 Oct 1797
James Berry 30 Aug 1786 John and Joseph Berry 17 Dec 1786
James Berry 28 Jan 1793 Joseph Berry 8 Nov 1794
Jesse Berry 29 Oct 1799 Joseph & Jesse Berry 7 May 1800
Joseph Berry 29 Oct 1799 Jessee Berry 7 May 1800

In addition to the Burke County Berry Estates Papers listed in your letter can be found a record for an Enoch Berry who died in 1841. At the sale of personal property in 1842, the only Berry purchaser was the widow, Amanda Elvira Berry. There is also a file for Lawson Berry. S. A. Page was the administrator, bond dated 22 July 1861, Ezekiel Berry and Anthony Page securities.

With what Larry Wood had to say in his letter about the earlier Ezekiel Berry, I am surprised I have not found him in any of the records I have searched so far. I am sorry I have not been able, so far, to provide you with an answer to your question. It is very possible that your John Berry was not descended from William Berry. This is especially so since there were several other Berrys in the same immediate area at the time William Berry was there. All of the deeds I cited were re-recorded after 1865. It is possible that later other of the early deeds were recorded which may throw some light on John Berry.

A search of their probate of deeds in the court minutes from 1830 to 1834 may show how John Berry acquired his land. What is the connection with Enoch Berry. Francis Glass was the administrator of the estate and in 1850 John Berry's house was the fourth house from Francis Glass. I have not checked the deeds of Lincoln County to see if there is anything concerning your John Berry. It is also possible that if John Berry lived in Lincoln County at anytime there might be something in the Catawba County records.

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If you would like for me to do further research, please let me know.

Sincerely yours,

_____________________
William D. Bennett, C.G.

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Ye Old Ancestors - The Berrys of Drowning Creek

By John Berry

This is a reprint of my Uncle Burgin Berry's research entitled Ye Old Ancestors, The Berrys of Drowning Creek. This was likely prepared in the mid-1980s and a few things have changed. I believe that this is clearly our Berry line, but I believe that our ancestor was Ezekiel Berry's brother, Lott Berry. Lott Berry had 4 children, including Archibald mentioned below and John Berry (my line).

Henderson Berry (my great grandfather), as noted below in my uncle's handwriting, lived on the same land (albeit a smaller portion) as William Berry did in the 1760s. Lots of great research by my late uncle in here.  

William Berry, Sr. Land Plan for 381 Acres 1778

By John Berry

Below is a land plan for William Berry, Sr on the Catawba River, consisting of 381 acres from 1778.  The Chain Carriers were William Berry, Jr and neighbor Patrick O'Neal.  The document is signed by David Vance and Christopher Beekman, dated Dec. 1, 1778. The Land Plan number is No. 81.

Logan Berry (1813 -1910)

By John Berry

Logan Berry

Logan Berry is believed to be the author's 1st cousin (3 times removed). His line also appears to descend from William Berry, Sr., (1738-1780). The line would go like this William Berry, Sr., Lott Berry, John Berry (shared descendant of mine) and then it gets fuzzy. It is hard to tell which part of the Berry line that this Ezekiel came from.  I had previously listed Ezekiel Berry as born in 1813 (as the son of John), which would have made it impossible for him to be Logan's father. Another Ezekiel Berry (a common name for Berrys here) would have had to have been born earlier.

In any event, Logan Berry was born on December 18, 1813 in Burke County, North Carolina, the son of Mary Hildebrand and Ezekiel Berry. Ezekiel Berry was part of the Burke County Berry clan and was prosecuted for an out of wedlock birth related to the birth of Logan. This is reflected in the Lincoln County records. Ezekiel Berry was living in Burke or old Lincoln County where he was said to be a very wealthy man. He fathered a son by Maria (Mary) Hildebrand (1795-1880), a woman who worked in his home, and she named him Logan Berry in honor of his father. Maria/Mary and her future husband, James Clark, left the area and moved away to Macon County, North Carolina, and raised Logan Berry who left an illustrious line of descendants.  Mary Hildebrand and James Clark married on Oct. 2, 1817.

The old Lincoln County Judgment Rolls show that Ezekiel Berry was tried for the out of wedlock birth about the time of Logan’s birth but the results are not known.

Lincoln County Records re Logan Berry's birth

Logan Berry grew up in Macon County and married Matilda Postell of Buncombe County, NC, born June 15, 1813, on February 9, 1832. Matilda Postell passed away on August 15, 1884 and is buried in the Jennings Cemetery in Holly Springs, North Carolina.

The couple had 10 children:

William H. Berry (Dec. 18, 1833 - April 27, 1915). Married to Mary Angeline Moore

Mary (Polly) Ann Berry (Jan. 15, 1835 - Oct. 27, 1872). Married to John Parker Moore

Nancy Katherine Berry (Dec. 18. 1836 - Oct. 20, 1919). Married to Burr Allen

James M. Berry (Oct. 22, 1838 - July 22, 1864). Unmarried.  Died during the Civil War, Battle of Atlanta.

Logan Alexander Berry (Oct. 27, 1840- July 22, 1864). Unmarried.  Died during the Battle of Civil War, Battle of Atlanta. Logan Berry had served in the 39th Regiment of the North Carolina Infantry, Company B.

Sarah Malinda Berry (Oct. 27, 1845 - Sept. 11, 1885). Unmarried

Margaret Matilda Berry (July 30, 1847 - Apr. 26, 1941). Married to Joseph Huffman Higdon

John Taylor Berry (Aug. 8, 1849 - June 23, 1934). Married to Modean Corbin (first wife) and then to Delia Clouse (second wife).

Ruth Angeline Berry (Nov. 23, 1854 - Nov. 5, 1924). Married Furman Henry.

Laura Jane Berry (Dec. 29, 1856 - Oct. 23, 1939).  Married Zachary Taylor.

Logan Berry passed away on February 8, 1910 in Holly Springs, NC. His will was probated by John Berry (it appears to be his son) on June 6, 2010 where he maintained assets of $746.00 at that time.

Portions of Estate Record of Logan Berry

Logan Berry left behind many descendants that carry on his part of the Burke Berry line today.  HIs memorial grave is shown below:

If anyone has additional information on Logan Berry, which updates or corrects any information, please let me know.

John Berry of Burke County - 1790 - 1871

By John Berry

John Berry's signature

John Berry, born 1790, likely in Burke County, North Carolina, lived until 1871. It is strongly believed and has been verified by other researchers of the Berry family, that his father was Lott Berry (1765-1831) and mother was Millie (Thompson) Berry of Burke County, North Carolina. His siblings were Archibald Berry, David and Mina (Elminor) Berry.

Lot Berry descendant chart by Marguerite Berry
Carswell & Jean Norvell Berry

John Berry was married to Barbara (Barbary) Fry (1795-1861), the daughter of Nicholas Fry, Jr., on January 1, 1813. The Lincoln County marriage document, shown below, is signed by John Berry, Phil Whitener and Peter Fry.

Marriage of John Berry to Barbara Fry, 1813

After his first wife passed, John Berry married Priscilla Bowman (1836-1911) who was 40 years younger than him.  He had many children between his two wives.  John Berry is said to be buried at Friendship Methodist Church, near Hickory, North Carolina.  He is listed as a farmer in the 1850 and 1860 Censuses.  John Berry owned land located on the Old Hickory Road about 3 miles east of Connelly Springs, North Carolina.  He is shown below affirming his father-in-law's service (Nicholas Fry, Jr.) in the Revolutionary War.  

Father-in-Law Nicholas Fry's Statement

Nicholas Fry, Jr. Revolutionary Census

John Berry had 2 marriages and at least 11 children.  In John Berry's first marriage to Barbara Fry, his known children were Ezekiel Berry, William Martin "Billy" Berry, Lawson Berry, Calvin Berry, Mary Matilda Berry, Peggy Berry and Isabel Berry.  In his marriage to Priscilla Bowman, John Berry had 4 additional children: Portland Levi Berry, Rhoda Berry, Pinkney Andrew Berry and James Theodore Berry.  John Berry and his family cared for his first father-in-law, Nicholas Fry, Jr., who was a revolutionary pensioner.

Deed from J.W. Wilson to Priscilla Berry, 1873

If any other information is known, please let this author know.  John Berry is the author's Great, Great, Great Grandfather.  Special thanks to my late uncle, Connelly Burgin Berry and to Virginia Berry Niemeyer for information that contributed to this article.

Henderson David Berry (1866-1935)

By John Berry

Henderson David Berry was born on February 11, 1866 and died on February 3, 1935. He lived in Burke County, North Carolina. He was the son of William Martin "Billy" Berry (1825-1924) and Adelaide Speagle (1833-1904). Henderson Berry's farm lies on the same land that William Berry, Sr. (1738-1780) did.

Diagram of Henderson Berry's land in Burke County

He resided on Drowning Creek on a farm and is buried at Mt. Harmony Methodist Church.

Grave Marker of Henderson and Ella Berry

Lou Ella Williams Berry 1910s

Henderson Berry appears in this 1901 Berry Reunion photo, but I have had a
hard time placing him. The following photo contains the 
list of attendees. If anyone can identify Henderson, please let me know.

The list of attendees for the 1901 Berry Reunion, above, is shown below:

1901 Berry Reunion Attendance List

On November 14, 1889, Henderson Berry married Lou Ella Williams and had two sons and two daughters: Gilmer Connelly Berry (1890-1964), Maude E. Berry (1892-1972), Jonsie E. Berry (1895-1989) and Ivey Jones Berry (1901-1961).

In 1906, Henderson Berry engaged in lumber and work associated with the repair of roads and bridges.  In 1910, Henderson Berry was appointed a Democratic election judge in Icard, NC by the County Board of Elections. In 1918, he was named by Burke County as an Agricultural Advisor. In 1919, Henderson Berry was a speaker at a Burke County event on the topic of Growing Wheat.
In January of 1920, Henderson Berry was appointed to a committee for World Prohibition of alcohol in Burke County. In 1922, Henderson Berry was nominated as the Democratic candidate for County Commissioner by the Burke County Democratic Party.

Henderson Berry was into local politics and became part of the Democratic party in Burke County at the time, holding some offices and was known by Senator Sam Ervin.

     

William Martin "Billy" Berry (1824-1911)

By John Berry

William Martin "Billy" Berry

William Martin "Billy" Berry (July 5, 1824 - Nov. 6, 1911) (my great, great grandfather) lived in Burke County, North Carolina and was buried at Warlick's Baptist Church in Icard, NC, a church near (and overlooking) Drowning Creek. Billy Berry was a stage driver, with Philip Warlick and operated a coach line between Salisbury and the Old Fort area. He also hauled provisions during the Civil War for the Confederacy.  

On August 29, 1833, Billy Berry married Adelaide Speagle (Aug. 29, 1833 - Mar. 9, 1904), the daughter of Martin Speagle and his wife Elizabeth Hudson.  They were the parents of 9 children: Ruffin Berry, Martin Berry, William Pinkney Berry, Henderson Berry (my line), Stanley Berry, Audrey Berry (Cook), Ezekiel Berry, Jane Lucinda Berry, Martha Ann Berry and Isabel Berry.

Adelaide Speagle Berry (1833-1904)

A photograph of the Berry reunion, with Billy Berry and Adelaide Berry was taken in about 1901.  The photo is not great, but I hope to someday get a better copy of it. The picture is below:

1901 Berry Reunion - Billy and Adelaide in center

William Martin "Billy" Berry passed on November 6, 1911 and was buried at Warlick's Baptist Church.  His gravestone is shown below:

Any additional information on this ancestor is greatly appreciated.  

Nicholas Fry - Father in Law of John Berry of Burke County, NC

By John Berry

Nicholas Fry, Jr. (1746-1841) (my 4th Great Grandfather) was born on February 2, 1746 in Berks County, Pennsylvania and moved with his German parents (Nicholas Fry, Sr and Maria Elizabeth Pabst) to Lincoln County, North Carolina in or about 1761. He was married to an Elizabeth Burns Fry and he is listed as having a daughter Sally Fry (1780-1853) in 1780 and then daughter Barbary Fry in 1795 (1795-1861). There could have also been two sons, David and Peter Fry, but this also is not been confirmed in my research. Not much, so far, is known as Elizabeth (possibly Burns) or a Margaret Ansell, but they are not in the area or life towards the end of Nicholas' life. There is some discussion about whether or not Nicholas and his wife remarried or died early, but my research hasn't determined this yet.

Nicholas Fry, Jr. Signature - 1838

Nicholas served in the American Revolution in 1781 and his unit was later discharged after a number of battles near Beatty's Ford and was later given a pension for his service to our country. Nicholas Fry was a private in the Company commanded by Captain McFarland, from the Regiment commanded by Colonel McDowell in the North Carolina Line for 6 months.  He received a pension for his service and is inscribed in the Rolls of North Carolina at the rate of 20 Dollars and 50 Center, per annum, commencing on 4 Mar 1831.  The certificate of pension was issues 13 Aug 1838 and thereafter sent to Nicholas Fry, living in Lovelady, Burke County, NC, residing with his son-in-law, John Berry (who married his daughter Barbara Fry). This John Berry (1791-1871) is my Great times 3 grandfather.

As Nicholas got older, he lived with John Berry until he passed in the early 1840s. John Berry cared for Nicholas Fry until he passed in or around 1841. Here is a copy of Nicholas Fry's Revolutionary War application. The link to the transcribed version is here.

1841 Revolutionary War Pension List

Gilmer Connelly Berry of Burke County 1890-1964

By John Berry

I am a grandson of Gilmer Connelly Berry. The information below comes from my father, John West Berry (1933- ) and others within our family.

1902 - Eli Young, Gilmer Connelly Berry, Sarah Yount Williams, Lilie Williams Miller (L-R)

Gilmer Connelly Berry was born on September 29, 1890 and lived until June 5, 1964. His parents were Henderson David Berry (1866-1935) and Ella Williams Berry (1872-1937). He had 3 siblings, Maude Berry (1892-1972), Jonsie Estell Berry (1895-1989) and Ivey Jones Berry (1901-1961).

He was the son of Henderson David Berry (1866-1935) and Ella Lou Williams (1872-1937). Gilmer Connelly Berry was born in Icard, NC. He attended the Abernathy School, Rutherford's College and King's Business College in Charlotte, NC. He was also the treasurer of the Mt. Harmony Methodist Sunday School as a young man.

GC Berry 1917 Draft Card

The following photos are of GC Berry during his life.

GC Berry to the right with members of family

Lula Porter Berry, Eloise Berry Gruber, John West Berry, Gilmer Connelly Berry, William Bart Berry
Lucille Berry Morgan (L-R) (all children of GC and Lula Berry)

GC Berry was in the lumber / sawmill business for a good portion of his career. He married Lula Porter from Anson County, NC on November 23, 1913 and 5 of their children were born in Anson. The marriage service was conducted by Methodist Minister Rev. L.L. Smith at the home of Lula Berry Porter.

Nov. 13, 1913 Messenger and Intelligencer - Wadesboro

GC Berry & Lula Berry Certificate 1913

Gilmer and Lula Berry lived in the White Store Community, while he was engaged in the sawmill business. Later on, Gilmer Connelly Berry managed the Ingram Plantation for a number of years in Riverdale, where 3 of his sons (Henderson Porter, Connelly Burgin and Zeb Vance Berry) were born.

Later on, Gilmer and Lula Berry moved just South of Wadesboro, NC on Highway 52, where he managed the County Home for 2 years. Gilmer Connelly Berry signed up for the World War I draft in 1917.  The family eventually moved to Patrick, SC in Chesterfield County.

Gilmer Berry referred to as GC Berry and Lula Porter had 7 children, Henderson Porter Berry (1917-1936), Connelly Burgin Berry (1919-2007), Zeb Vance Berry (1921-2000), Lucille Berry (1925-1967) and Eloise Berry (1925-present), William Bart Berry (1932-2012) and John West (Wess) Berry (1933-present).  Henderson Porter Berry passed away from appendicitis in 1936 and the family moved from Patrick, SC to Little River, SC in 1937, where they remained.

In Little River, SC, he was also engaged in farming and owned a fair amount of land in Little River and Conway, SC. GC Berry worked with another lumber pioneer in the area, Edwin Craig Wall. He was a timber buyer for the Canal Wood Corporation.  GC Berry and Lula Porter Berry celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962. He celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with Lula Porter Berry below:

GC Berry was treated for pancreatic cancer at Duke University and passed away on June 5, 1964.

He is buried at the Little River Methodist Church next to his wife Lula Porter Berry (1895-1983). He left behind numerous grandchildren.  I recall my father, John West (Wess) Berry telling me that his father made him work the farm hard while he was a boy in Little River, South Carolina.  I have also heard from my cousins (because I was born after he passed) that he was a kind man with a compassionate heart.

Enigma of Ezekiel and Logan Berry

By John Berry

(first research conducted and published by Connelly Burgin Berry in 1986)

The following is an updated synopsis of a letter my late uncle, Connelly Burgin Berry prepared in or about 1986 about a Berry relative from the Burke Berry family, Ezekiel Berry.  The following is an updated version based on what is known today.

Ezekiel Berry is believed to have been born in Maryland or Virginia in or around the mid-1750s and was the son of William Berry, Sr. who was believed to have been born in 1738 in Maryland.  In 1780, William Berry obtained a grant for 640 acres of land lying on both sides of Drowning Creek, West of Hickory, N.C., upon which he and his wife (Elizabeth Montgomery) made their home. The plat of this property lists the chain carriers as John Ervin and Ezekiel Berry.

It is uncertain whether or not there were 2 Ezekiel Berrys in Burke County at the time, or perhaps one was the son of the other.  It is hard to say.  What we do know is this.  In 1813, an Ezekiel Berry is reported to have been a very wealthy man residing in Burke County. Employed in his home was a young woman named Mary (or Maria) Hildebrand (born Nov. 11. 1795) who worked doing carding and spinning.

On December 18, 1813, Mary Hildebrand gave birth to an illegitimate son whom she named Logan Berry because Ezekiel was the father.  Of note, the Catawba County Genealogical Society noted, in their review of the Lincoln County court minutes that a Bastardy Bond was issued for Ezekeal Barrey (Berry) in October of 2013 with the mother listed as Mary Hildebrand.

1813 Lincoln County Bastardy Bonds

Ezekiel Berry apparently wanted to keep Mary and his young son Logan Berry but Mary and James Clark slipped out of the home under the cover of darkness and moved to Macon County, Georgia where they resided with a Setzer family that was related to Mary. Apparently, Ezekiel Berry's family also was not thrilled with the idea of Ezekiel marrying Mary.  Mary later married James Clark but she wanted her son to have his true father’s name of Berry.

Logan Berry

The original article by my uncle is listed below.

Original 1986 Letter from Burgin Berry

My uncle had asked the question of whether this Ezekiel Berry could be the Ezekiel Berry who was the chain carrier on William Berry's land grant? He must have been at least sixteen years of age when he was a chain carrier. If so, he would have been born prior to 1764. If Ezekiel Berry was a wealthy person in Burke County in 1813, he should be listed in the census records. However, his name does not show up in the 1810, 1820 or other census records. I tend to believe that this Ezekiel Berry was however, someone different.  There is evidence that the Ezekiel Berry who was the son of William Berry, Sr., died at the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780.  Perhaps this Ezekiel Berry (the father of Loan) was his son.  

The name Ezekiel has come down in the Berry family. John Berry (ca. 1794- 1870) married 10 January 1813, Barbara Fry, daughter of Nicholas Fry, Jr. They named their first born, a son, Ezekiel Berry (Oct. 10, 1813 - Oct. 22, 1890) who married Margaret Peggy Page. They and other members of their family are buried in the yard of Friendship Methodist Church which overlooks Drowning Creek. This Ezekiel's brother, William M. Berry (1824-1911) married Adelaide Speagle and they named one of their six sons Ezekiel Berry who married Laura Williams. daughter of Clingman Coleman Williams, William and Adelaide are buried in the yard of Warlick’s Baptist Church which also overlooks Drowning Creek. Logan Berry, son of the first Ezekiel Berry, married I February 9, 1832, Matilda Postell and they were the parents of ten children. Descendants of this family are very prominent in Macon County today. 

Life and Times of Lott (Lot) Berry

By John V. Berry


Lott Berry is believed to be this writer’s great, great, great, great grandfather, and is listed as
follows:  William Berry, Sr., Lott Berry, John Berry, William Martin Berry, Henderson Berry,
Gilmer Connelly Berry, John West Berry, to the writer.

Lott (Lot) Berry (1763 – 1832) is believed to have born circa 1763 in the Commonwealth of
Virginia and died in Burke County, North Carolina on March 30, 1831. Lot Berry married Millie
Thompson (Thomson, Thomason, Thomas) in 1784 and they had three sons (Archibald, John & 
David Berry), and one daughter (Elminor (Elminer, Mina, Miner)) Berry.  Over the course of his life 
Lott Berry lived in two or three different locations: likely born in Virginia and living in 
Caldwell/Burke/Rutherford counties in North Carolina during his life.  Lott Berry appears to have 
been born in Virginia. He later appears to have lived with his mother and father in what is likely the 
Town of Icard, North Carolina, today.  


He likely lived in an area near Drowning Creek in what is now the Town of Icard, NC and on the
Lovelady Ford, specifically on Wards’ Creek in Burke County, near the Caldwell County, NC
boundary line.  One reference, for which no citation was found, indicated that Lott Berry lived in an
area known as “Tower District.”  Lott Berry was a son of William Berry, Sr. (1738-1780) and
Elizabeth Montgomery.

Lott Berry is believed to have been born in the Commonwealth of Virginia in about 1763 to parents
William Berry (1738-1780) and Elizabeth Montgomery (c1745 - __). Lott’s older siblings would
likely have come from Maryland and his younger or perhaps some of his other numerous siblings
would have been born in Burke County, North Carolina.  See The Descendants of Lott Berry,
Volume I, by Virginia Berry-Niemeyer, she provided  information that  another Berry descendant, 
Bruce D. Moore, also establishes Archibald, David, and Miner as the children of Lott and "Millie" 
Thomas and that Lott "came from Virginia." Based on Mr. Moore and Ms. Berry-Niemeyer’s data, 
and that from Marguerite (Berry) Carswell and the mother of Ms. Berry-Niemeyer, the cited 
descendancy chart for Lott and Millie (Thompson) Berry came about.

Descendancy Chart

The above chart was provided by Virginia Berry-Niemeyer, a fellow Berry descendant of this line, 
and very respected genealogist, to the Author who she referred to as her “third cousin, once 
removed.” She obtained the chart from Marguerite Aljean (Berry) Carswell, her mother, from data 
collected by her mother, Jean Arbunoth (Norvell) Berry, the wife of William Alvin Berry.  In this 
hand written chart, she provides proof that Archibald, David, John, and Mina are the children of Lott 
Berry and Mille (Thompson) Berry.

While it appears that many of his older brothers and sisters likely were born in the State of Maryland
or in Pennsylvania, Lott Berry appears to have been born in the Virginia, according to records
provided by researcher to the writer in 2009. Virginia Berry-Niemeyer, The Family of Lott Berry and
Millie Thompson of North Carolina, Vol. I, at page 5.  Lott Berry was born circa 1763, most likely in
a part of Virginia within reach of the Great Wagon Road, as the family traveled South to their
ultimate destination in Burke County, NC where the old road still travels up to the family’s old land
grant on Drowning Creek, which was kept in the family for many generations.  Possibilities for more
specific areas of his birth include Fincastle County and Lunenburg County, both in Virginia.

Chronology of Lott Berry

1763       Lott Berry is born to William Berry, Sr. and Elizabeth (Montgomery) Berry in Virginia.

1784       Lott Berry marries Millie Thomson (Thompson, Thomas).  Of note, Millie shares the same
last maiden name as Lott Berry’s brother, Enoch Berry, Barbary (Thomson) Berry.

1784       Archibald Berry (1784 – 1875), the first son of Lott and Millie Berry’s is born in Burke
County, North Carolina on April 14, 1784.  Archibald Berry would eventually marry Martha
Connelly.

1789       Daughter Elminor (Mina/Miner) Berry (c1789-after 1850) is born to Lott and Millie
(Thompson) Berry.

1790       Lott Berry is listed as being part of the Burke County Militia Second Company in 1790.
Annals of Caldwell County, NC, at pg. 63. The Second Company, commanded by a Captain John
Connelly, included Lot Berry, and three of his brothers, Joseph, James and John Berry.  The Second
District Militia Company was listed as operating out of “Eastern Burke County.”  See Burke County
Public Library Summary of Dr. Emmett White’s Notes (Jan. 1985).  As noted in the Annals of
Caldwell County, the “second company, John Connelly, captain, had 78 heads of families living
along the Catawba river and lower Lovelady Township.”  Annals of Caldwell County, at page 2. It is 
hard to say if this location is in Burke or Caldwell county as they exist today. 

1790    Lott Berry is listed as a head of his family in Burke County, Morgan District, North Carolina
Census, having 1 male over the age of 16 (Lott Berry), 2 males under the age of 16.

1790    John Berry (1794 – 1871) is born to Lott and Millie Berry in Burke County, North Carolina.
In her genealogical proofs, Virginia Berry-Niemeyer provides two sources of proof for the father-son
relationship between Lott Berry and John Berry.  The first is a handwritten chart by Tessie Alice
(Wagner) Berry, Virginia Berry-Niemeyer’s mother. The second source of proof are charts developed
from genealogical research conducted by Marguerite Aljean (Berry) Carswell.  See Virginia Berry-
Niemeyer, the Descendants of Lott Berry, Vol. III, CH. 5, at 1

1794    Some resources also indicate that this John Berry was born in 1794. In any event,  John Berry
married Barbara Fry (1795-1861) and then after her passing in 1861, married as his second wife,
Priscilla Bowman (1836-1911).  One source refers to this John Berry as John Berry IV (the fourth),
but it is unknown quite what it meant by this reference.


1798    David Andrew Berry (1798 - 1870) is born in Burke County, North Carolina to Lott and
Millie (Thomspon) Berry.


1798    On June 11, 1798, Lot Berry had surveyed Land Grant #2384, entry #3281, for 50 acres on
Wards Creek on the South side of the Catawba River. This land joined Lott Berry’s own line for
existing property, as well as one Andrew Gwin's line. The chain carriers for the survey, were Andrew
Gwin and John England. A copy of this land survey follows.

For the land survey shown following the written transcription of the survey, which immediately
follows, shows that reading these Colonial-era type property documents can sometimes be a bit
difficult, so the following information is provided:

“State of North Carolina, Burke County. By virtue of a present dated August the 11th 1797 No. 3281
Survey for Lot Berry fifty acres of land lying on Wards Creek that fall in on the South Side of the
Catawba River joining him on line & Andrew Gwins (Goins) line beginning on a p___ his old corner
& runs North ___ to a Hick[o]ry then West to Eight Chains to a post oak in Sd. Gwin's line then goes
fifteen chains to a stake then West fifteen chains to a post oak to a stake then South fifteen chains
crossing (?) the creek to a maple then East twenty-five chains to a stake then north twenty chainsaw
to a stake in his old line then to the beginning survey. April the 11th 1798 The two chain carriers
were Andrew Gwin & John England and signed by William Davenport.”

1798    John Berry (1774 – 1798), Lott Berry’s younger brother, died some time prior to the July
1798 Burke County Court of Pleas and Quarters session.  Furthermore, during the July, 1798 Session 
of the Burke County Court of Pleas and Quarters (from the minutes): Ordered by court that Daniel 
[H]udson have letters of administration on the Estate of John Berry, deceased, together with Lott 
Berry & giving bond with Joseph Morgan & David Thomson, Security in the sum 2000 pounds. John 
Berry, the brother of Lott Berry, with no spouse listed, is indicated as having died prior to the July 
1798 Burke County Court session. Both Lott Berry and Daniel Hudson were appointed 
executors/administrators of John Berry’s estate. See Burke County, NC, Court Minute Book. Lott 
Berry is also listed as a purchaser of items from John Berry’s estate sale.

1798    In July 1798, Lott Berry is Juror #4 on a panel in the case of James Greenlee v. William
James.

1799    In 1799, Lott Berry and Daniel Hudson, John B. Murray tendered a promissory note for six
pounds currency to Lot Berry and Daniel Hudson, as Administrators of John Berry’s Estate.  The
promissory note was found on the back page by the writer of a Revolutionary Pension Application
by John B. Murray’s wife, Rosanna Murray, in materials found at the National Archives.

“I promise to pay unto Lot Berry and Daniel Hudson, Administrator of John Berry dec’d the just and
full sum of six pounds currency of North Carolina to be paid on or before the 30th day of April 1801
it being for value receiv’d of them this 19th date of October 1799 as witnessed by my hand and seal.
This was signed by John Murry (Murray) and also signed (apparently as witnesses) by one William
(Wm.) Fincannon and one William Crye.”
                     
1800    In the Burke County Court of Pleas and Quarters minutes: 590: No. 11. Lott Berry is #4 in
jury impaneled in case of James Greenlee v. William James, Burke County Ct. of Pleas & Quarters,
590, No. 11. (1800).

1800    During the April, 1800 Session of the Burke County Court of Pleas and Quarters, Lott Berry
is listed as an assistant overseer/hand to assist neighbor John England, Jr. in keeping a local road
under repair.  Overseer. Ordered by court that John England, Jr, overseer of the road leading from the
forks at the Widow Englands to the Lovelady Ford on the Catauba (Catawba) have the following
hands to work under him on said road, to wit... Lott Berry...to keep the same in repair for one year.
Issd.


1800    In the July, 1800 Session of the Burke County Court of Pleas and Quarters: Case No. 341 has
Lott Berry listed as the No. 12 juror in Joseph Dobson to use of David Crawford v. Thomas
McGimsey, Burke County Ct. of Pleas & Quarters, 341. (1800). The jury found for the Plaintiff and
assessed damages and costs.

1800    In the 1800 Burke County Census - Lott Berry 3 M under 10, 1 M 10-16, 1 M 26-45, 1 F
under 10, 1 F 26-4 (Family includes, David Andrew, John IV, ? M Archibald, Mina (Elminor), and
Millie).

1800    In the January 1800 session, from the Burke County Court Minutes, p. 118, ordered John
England be overseer of a road from fork at the widow Englands to the Loveland Ford on the
Catawba hands-Rob. Grasby, Lott Berry, Wm. B., Zack Ewing, Samuel Goldsmith, Wm.  Sutherland, 
Wm. Duckworth, Wm. Deal, Henry De----, Jon. Duckworth, John England, Joseph England, 
Ephraim Ewing, John Tizard?

1802    The Burke Journal, February 1999: Morganton 1802. Will Tate's Tax Return of Captain
James Young's Company. Lott Berry is listed with 200 55 acres of land with 1 Pole.

1802    In the April 1802 court session of the Burke County Court of Pleas and Quarters minutes,
Lott Berry is appointed the Overseer of the road from the Forks near the Widow England’s property 
to the Lovelady Ford with the same hands as before, and that he keep the road in good repair for the 
term of one year.  There also is a reference to the order being issues from the room of William 
Duckworth.

1802    In 1802, Lott Berry is listed in the Burke Journal (Feb. 1999), on Will Tate’s Tax Return of
Captain James Young’s Company as having 200 – 55 acres of land with 1 pole.


1803    During the Burke County Court of Pleas and Quarters, in their April Session 1803:  “Jury of
view.  Ordered that the following be a jury to view and mark a road leading from Morganton to the
Lovelady Ford on the Catauba the nearest and best way, to wit . . . Lott Berry . . . and make a report
to our next county court. Issd,” 1804    In May 1804, Joseph Berry sells his brother Lott Berry 200 
acres of property, in an instrument dated 28 May 1804, proven by John McGalliard.  Burke County 
Deeds Registered, 1804 – 1813, at 8 (Referring to the April 1804 Sessions).

1810    Lott Berry is also listed in the 1810 U.S. Census as living in the Drexel/ Morganton section of
Burke County, NC.  Burke County, Morgan District, North Carolina Census Lott Berry 2 M 10-16
(John, IV and David Andrew), 1 M 16-26 (Archibald or ? M), 1 M over 45, 1 F 16-26, 1 F over 45

1813    "Burke County Deeds Registered 1804-1813", pg 8, has Joseph Berry to Lott Berry 200 acres
dated 28 May 1804 proved by John McGalliard; April Sessions 1813

1815    Lott Berry, with 1 tract of land lying on the Catawba, is listed on Martin Kibler's - Burke
County, NC, 1815 Tax List. 1815      

1820    Lott Berry is also listed in the 1820 Burke County, Morganton, NC Census. Burke County,
Morgan District, North Carolina Census Lott Berry 1 M 16-26, 1 M over 45, 1 F 26-45, 1 F over 45
(David Andrew, Lott, Mina, and Millie).

1822    Lott Berry, along with son David Berry, was chain carrier for a land grant surveyed for
Archibald Berry 20 August 1822.

1830    Burke County, Morgan District, North Carolina Census Lott Berry listed in the N.C. Census
Index as #148.
                     
1831    On March 30, 1831, Lott Berry passed away in Burke County, NC.


1831    Deed Book 34, pg 146, Lincoln County Court House, Lincolnton, NC has a deed for the sale
of 1/5 of 133 acres of land owned by William Berry, deceased, and willed to his brother and heir,
Lott Berry. This land lay on Dutchman's Creek. Proven and recorded at April Sessions 1831. Prior to 
his death in 1831, Lott Berry sold his 1/5 inheritance from either his brother, William Berry, Jr. in 
March of 1831.   See Lincoln County, NC Deed Book 34, page 146 (Mar. 1831).  

1832    Burke County Surviving will and Probate Abstracts 1777-1910:  #50 Lot Berry, presented for
probate April 1832.  The Burke County Record of Inventories of Sales of Estates, 1832-1838, lists
two sales involving Lott Berry.  The first sale, in 1832, Lott Berry, pg 112-114, sale 4 March 1832,
court date of 23 July 1832, lists purchasers as:  Archibald Berry, David Berry, et al.  Lott Berry, with
no spouse listed, is indicated to have died before the Jan. 1820 Session. Robert H. Erwin (Archibald's
son-in-law) and Archibald Berry are Executors or Administrators. This is believed, however, to be a
mistake.

1832    Burke County Surviving will and Probate Abstracts 1777-1910:  Number 50, Lot Berry,
presented for probate April 1832.  In the Journal of Burke County Genealogical Society, May 1997
Issue, page 24, are abstractions from the Deaths recorded in Minutes of the Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions, Burke County, NC, 1791-1834.


1834    Lott (Lot) Berry is listed as deceased in a document dated 26 July 1834, Robert H. Ervin,
Administrator of Estate Sale of articles dated 23 July 1832, which lists approximately 100 buyers of
sale items, for a total sale of $249.00.  Among the purchasers of items at the Lott Berry Estate Sale,
were Samuel Williams, son David Berry, Richard Williams, son Archibald Berry and daughter
Eliminer Berry.  The Lot Berry Estate Sale was also apparently dated 21 July 1834 and the
purchasers were also named as Archibald Berry, Elminor Berry, etc. Burke County Record of 
Inventories of Sales of Estates, Lott Berry, pg 156-157, court 21 July 1834. Purchasers: Archibald 
Berry, Elminor Berry, et al.

1850    Elminor Berry age 61 Joseph Baker, Jr. 31, Elizabeth Baker 27, Elisha Baker 9, Moulton
Baker 7, Emily Baker 4, Elizabeth Baker 2.

1866    Book of Deed Abstracts, North Carolina Room, Burke County Public Library, pg 50 30 April
1866 Archibald Berry deeds land to John Wesley Berry adjoining “Lot Berry Tract”

1868    Book of Deed Abstracts, North Carolina Room, Burke County Public Library, pg 375-376 7
December 1868 Archibald Berry deeds land to John Wesley Berry--land known as “Lot Berry Tract.”

1869    In deeds registered 12 Mar. 1869, Numbers 375 and 376, Lott Berry’s son Archibald Berry
grants, to his son, John Wesley Berry, property known as "Lot Berry Tract," on the South Side of the
Catawba River on Josiah Bradshaw's line, constituting approximately 150 acres. 50 acres of the
original tract were sold to John Kincaid (to the mouth of Ward's Creek). Abstracts from Burke
County Public Library, Morganton, Deed Book A.


1898    Book of Deed Abstracts, North Carolina Room, Burke County Public Library, 1 Jan. 1898
John Wesley Berry, Sr. deeds to John Wesley Berry, Jr. land known as Lot Berry tract. John Wesley 
Berry, Sr. deeds to Phifer Erwin Berry land on line with Lot Berry Tract, now known as David Berry 
Place.