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.

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