The William C. Berry Family of Sumner and Robertson Co., Tn

Submitted by Larry Hallstrom
© 2009

 

                William C. Berry was born in Virginia based on Census data, but his parents and the exact county of his birth are unknown.  At some point he migrated to Roane Co., Tn, near Knoxville, where he met and married Eleanor Kirk, who was born in England, and lived with her parents William and Mary Kirk, and her sister Mary, who never married.

                William and Ellen Berry moved to Sumner Co., Tn by 1831 when his first child was born.  In 1843 he purchased two tracts of land from William P. Thomas, and one tract from William J. Douglass. 

                William C. Berry probably moved from Sumner Co., Tn to Robertson Co., Tn between the 1850 Census and 1853 when he sold his land to Peter Looney.  Also his first daughter, Pamela, married in Sumner Co., in 1847, and his son William K. Berry married in Robertson Co. in 1855.

                In 1853 William C. Berry purchased 117 acres of land near Orlinda in Robertson Co., Tn from Walter O. Carter, and the next year purchased 50 acres from L. Berry Wright.  In 1856 he purchased another 144 acres from Thomas O. Tarpley in the Elm Spring area.

                In April 1856, William Berry and Permelia Cunningham, his daughter, joined Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.  William Berry became very involved with the church, being appointed to the association, and later he and his son William K. Berry became Deacons.  William C. Berry became the Moderator of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in 1873 and served in that capacity til his death in 1879.  Elders for the church were G. W. Featherston and Joshua Arnold, and the latter, Joshua Arnold, married two of his daughters of William C. Berry, Mary and Margaret Eleanor Berry.

                A school building was erected on the land of William Berry about one-half mile southeast of Orlinda, Tn, near Elm Spring.  It was later called Bois De Ark Academy.  Joseph L. Weir was a teacher in 1878.

                Pictures of many of this family and the Payne family, who married William K. Berry, are posted elsewhere on the Robertson Co., Tn website.

                William C. Berry and many of his family are buried in the Berry Family cemetery west of Orlinda Methodist Church on the farm owned by James W. Drake near Orlinda.

 

The following gives the children of William C. Berry and Eleanor Kirk as well as their grandchildren.

 

Generation No. 1

 

                1.  WILLIAM C.2 BERRY  (UNKNOWN1) was born 21 Dec 1807 in Va1, and died 03 Jul 1879 in Robertson Co., Tn1.  He married ELEANOR ELLEN CLARK KIRK 08 Apr 1830 in Roan Co., Tn2, daughter of WILLIAM KIRK and MARY UNKNOWN.  She was born 06 Apr 1811 in Manchester, Lancashire, England3, and died 05 Nov 1886 in Robertson Co., Tn3.

               

Children of WILLIAM BERRY and ELEANOR KIRK are:

                2. i. PERMELIA ANN PAMELIA3 BERRY, b. 18 Feb 1831, Sumner Co., TN; d. 24 Nov 1919, Davidson Co., Tn..

                3. ii. WILLIAM K. BERRY, b. 01 Jul 1832, Sumner Co., TN; d. 29 Feb 1868, Robertson Co., Tn.

                    iii. THOMAS W. BERRY, b. 24 Mar 1834, Sumner Co., TN; d. 26 Jun 1854, Robertson Co, TN4.

                4. iv. SOPHIE E. BERRY, b. 04 Nov 1835, Sumner Co., TN; d. 11 Dec 1901, Robertson Co., Tn.

                5. v. JAMES W. BERRY, b. 10 Feb 1838, Sumner Co., TN; d. 27 Oct 1917, Robertson Co., Tn.

                6. vi. LAWRENCE K. BERRY, b. 13 Dec 1839, Sumner Co., TN; d. 25 Jul 1908, Sulphur Spring, Simpson Co., KY.

                7. vii. MARY F. BERRY, b. 30 Jan 1842, Sumner Co., TN; d. 20 Jul 1864, Robertson Co., Tn.

                8. viii. CHARLES W. BERRY, b. Sep 1844, Sumner Co., TN; d. 19 Nov 1934, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ky.

                9. ix. MARGARET ELEANOR BERRY, b. 22 Jan 1847, Sumner Co., TN; d. 16 Mar 1939, Owensboro, Daviess Co., Ky.

                10. x. LORENZO G. BERRY, b. 05 Oct 1847, Robertson Co., TN; d. 11 Mar 1928, Simpson Co., KY.

 

Generation No. 2

                2.  PERMELIA ANN PAMELIA3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 18 Feb 1831 in Sumner Co., TN, and died 24 Nov 1919 in Davidson Co., Tn..  She married WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM 28 Oct 1847 in Sumner Co., Tn.5.  He was born 16 Oct 1816 in VA, and died 09 Mar 1876 in Robertson Co., Tn..

Children of PERMELIA BERRY and WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM are:

                i. ANALZA ANALIGN E.4 CUNNINGHAM, b. Abt. 1849, Tn; d. Aft. 1867.

                ii. JOHN T. CUNNINGHAM, b. 1851, Tn6; d. 1925, Robertson Co., Tn..

                iii. JAMES WALTER CUNNINGHAM, b. Feb 1854, Tn6; d. Sep 1926, Robertson Co., Tn.; m. KATIE BRIGGS, 1874, Robertson Co., Tn; b. Jan 1858, Ky6; d. Aft. 1900, Robertson Co., Tn..

                iv. ROBERT  E. CUNNINGHAM, b. Jan 1859, Tn; d. Aft. 1920; m. MOLLIE E. UNKNOWN; b. Jul 1864, Tn; d. Bet. 1910 - 1920.

                v. ELLA C. CUNNINGHAM, b. 1861, Robertson Co., Tn; d. 1952, Robertson Co., Tn.; m. FOUNTAIN PITTS KELLEY, 1880, Robertson Co., Tn; b. 1853, Tn; d. 1919, Robertson Co., Tn..

 

                3.  WILLIAM K.3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 01 Jul 1832 in Sumner Co., TN7, and died 29 Feb 1868 in Robertson Co., Tn7.  He married SAPHRONIA PAYNE 17 Oct 1855 in Robertson Co., Tn8, daughter of SOLOMON PAYNE and ELIZABETH REED.  She was born 1830 in Robertson Co., Tn9, and died 1879 in Robertson Co., Tn9.

               

Children of WILLIAM BERRY and SAPHRONIA PAYNE are:

                i. THOMAS DOUGLAS4 BERRY, b. 01 Oct 1851, Robertson Co., Tn10; d. 25 Dec 1910, Robertson Co., Tn10.

                ii. EMILY GERTRUDE BERRY, b. 1857, Robertson Co., TN11; d. 1943, Robertson Co., TN11; m. JOHN BENJAMIN GILBERT12,13, 21 Oct 1877, Robertson Co., Tn14; b. 1855, Sumner Co., Tn.15; d. 04 May 1918, Davidson Co., Tn16.

                iii. MARY JAMIE BERRY, b. 08 Dec 1862, Robertson Co., Tn17; d. 24 Aug 1886, Robertson Co., Tn; m. GILBERT WILLIS BABB, 26 Apr 1882, Robertson Co., Tn18; b. 1862, Logan Co., KY19; d. 1933, Robertson Co., Tn20.

 

                4.  SOPHIE E.3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 04 Nov 1835 in Sumner Co., TN, and died 11 Dec 1901 in Robertson Co., Tn.  She married JOHN WILLIAM WEIR 27 Dec 1854 in Robertson Co., Tn21,22, son of WILLIAM WEIR and ELIZABETH LATIMER.  He was born 30 Oct 1823 in Tn., and died 17 Oct 1864 in Robertson Co., Tn.

               

Children of SOPHIE BERRY and JOHN WEIR are:

                i. MARGARET E.4 WEIR, b. Jan 1848, Robertson Co., Tn; d. Aft. 1900, Robertson Co., Tn; m. UNKNOWN CANIT; d. Bef. 1900.

                ii. EMMA FRANCES WEIR, b. Aug 1857, Robertson Co., Tn; d. Jan 1928, Robertson Co., Tn.; m. JAMES HARVEY RICHARDS, 18 Dec 1873, Robertson Co., Tn22; b. 20 Jan 1851, Robertson Co., Tn; d. Jan 1929, Robertson Co., Tn.

                iii. MARY MOLLIE E. WEIR, b. 1858, Robertson Co., Tn; d. 1945, Robertson Co., Tn; m. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS BARRY, 23 Jan 1898, Robertson Co., TN22; b. 1856, Robertson Co., Tn; d. 1928, Robertson Co., Tn.

                iv. WILLIAM J. WEIR, b. 10 Feb 1861, Robertson Co., Tn23; d. 18 Sep 1889, Robertson Co., Tn23; m. MARGARET V. UNKNOWN, Bef. 1888; b. 07 Jun 1861, Robertson Co., Tn24; d. 15 May 1924, Robertson Co., TN24.

 

                5.  JAMES W.3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 10 Feb 1838 in Sumner Co., TN25,26, and died 27 Oct 1917 in Robertson Co., Tn.  He married MELISSA A. WEBB 23 Dec 1860 in Robertson Co., Tn27,28.  She was born 01 Oct 1840 in Tn29, and died 13 Feb 1920 in Robertson Co., Tn.

               

Children of JAMES BERRY and MELISSA WEBB are:

                i. LURA FRANCES4 BERRY, b. 20 Jan 1862, Ky.; d. 21 Jan 1934, Robertson Co., Tn; m. NICHOLAS JOSEPH WILLIAMS, 25 Oct 1882, Robertson Co., TN30; b. 18 Jul 1862, Tn; d. 09 Oct 1933, Robertson Co., Tn.

                ii. WILLIAM NEWTON BERRY, b. 01 Sep 1865, Tn.31; d. 30 Jul 1951, Robertson Co., Tn.; m. ELLA A. KERNAN, 29 Dec 1885, Robertson Co., TN32; b. 04 Aug 1865, Ky33; d. 07 Jul 1948, Franklin, Ky.

                iii. MARY ELLEN BERRY, b. May 1868, Tn..

                iv. EFFIE E. BERRY, b. 12 Mar 1871, Tn34; d. 13 Apr 1942, Robertson Co., Tn.

 

 

                6.  LAWRENCE K.3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 13 Dec 1839 in Sumner Co., TN35, and died 25 Jul 1908 in Sulphur Spring, Simpson Co., KY35.  He married MILDRED ANN CLAYTON 13 Oct 1866 in Robertson Co., Tn36, daughter of UNKNOWN CLAYTON and EWIN UNKNOWN.  She was born 22 Apr 1850 in Tn37, and died 22 Nov 1928 in Sulphur Spring, Simpson Co., KY37.

               

Children of LAWRENCE BERRY and MILDRED CLAYTON are:

                i. WILLIAM H.4 BERRY, b. Mar 1869, Simpson Co., KY; d. 26 Dec 1928, Simpson Co., KY; m. BESSIE UNKNOWN, Abt. 1904; b. Abt. 1883, KY; d. Aft. 1930.

                ii. JAMES M. BERRY, b. 30 Mar 1871, Simpson Co., KY37; d. 13 Aug 1888, Sulphur Spring, Simpson Co., KY37.

                iii. LUTHER DEVERE BERRY, b. 11 Oct 1882, Simpson Co., KY; d. 03 Feb 1975, Sulphur Spring, Simpson Co., KY; m. PAULINE R. UNKNOWN, Abt. 1903; b. 05 Jan 1883, Ky; d. 28 Nov 1962, Sulphur Spring, Simpson Co., KY.

 

                7.  MARY F.3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 30 Jan 1842 in Sumner Co., TN38, and died 20 Jul 1864 in Robertson Co., Tn.  She married JOSHUA D. ARNOLD 28 Jul 1861 in Robertson Co., Tn.39,40, son of ELISHA ARNOLD.  He was born 12 Aug 1839 in Macon Co., Tn, and died 11 Jun 1881 in Spencer Co., IN.

               

Child of MARY BERRY and JOSHUA ARNOLD is:

                i. DORA A.4 ARNOLD, b. Abt. 1863, Tn; d. 20 Apr 1940, Daviess Co., Ky; m. BURR P. KIRK, Abt. 1882; b. Jul 1858, Ky; d. Aft. 1920.

 

                8.  CHARLES W.3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born Sep 1844 in Sumner Co., TN, and died 19 Nov 1934 in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ky.  He married SARAH FRANCES CLAYTON 12 Jan 1862 in Robertson Co., TN41,42, daughter of RICHARD CLAYTON and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN.  She was born Nov 1846 in Robertson Co., Tn, and died 01 Aug 1924 in Nashville, Davidson Co., Tn.

               

Children of CHARLES BERRY and SARAH CLAYTON are:

                i. NONAME4 BERRY, b. 25 Oct 1870, Robertson Co., TN; d. 25 Oct 1870, Robertson Co., TN.

                ii. JOHN TAYLOR BERRY, SR, b. Aug 1874, Robertson/Sumner Co.,Tn.; d. 22 Sep 1957, Jacksonville, Duval Co., FL; m. CHARLOTTE H. HERNDON, Abt. 1900; b. Sep 1878, Ky; d. 13 Nov 1937, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ky.

 

                9.  MARGARET ELEANOR3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 22 Jan 1847 in Sumner Co., TN, and died 16 Mar 1939 in Owensboro, Daviess Co., Ky.  She married (1) JOSHUA D. ARNOLD 08 Feb 1866 in Robertson Co., TN, son of ELISHA ARNOLD.  He was born 12 Aug 1839 in Macon Co., Tn, and died 11 Jun 1881 in Spencer Co., IN.  She married (2) S.A. CAMP Aft. 1881.  He died Bef. 1900.

               

Children of MARGARET BERRY and JOSHUA ARNOLD are:

                i. FANNIE D.4 ARNOLD, b. Abt. 1875, IN; d. Aft. 1944; m. WALTER W. RAGER, Abt. 1898; b. Abt. 1874, Ky; d. 12 Apr 1927, Daviess Co., Ky.

                ii. WILLIAM H. ARNOLD, b. Abt. 1878, KY; d. 04 Oct 1944, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY; m. MARY D. UNKNOWN, Abt. 1902, Ky; b. Abt. 1884, Ky; d. Aft. 1930.

 

                10.  LORENZO G.3 BERRY (WILLIAM C.2, UNKNOWN1) was born 05 Oct 1847 in Robertson Co., TN43,44, and died 11 Mar 1928 in Simpson Co., KY.  He married MARY J. BURR Abt. 1877.  She was born Dec 1851 in KY, and died 26 Dec 1933 in Simpson Co., KY.

               

Children of LORENZO BERRY and MARY BURR are:

                i. EDWIN JAMES4 BERRY, b. 23 Feb 1876, KY; d. Aft. 1930; m. AMANDA ELIZABETH UNKNOWN, Abt. 1898; b. Abt. 1880, KY; d. Aft. 1930.

                ii. CHARLES KIRK BERRY, b. 12 Feb 1884, Ky; d. 07 Apr 1964, Simpson Co., Ky; m. LULA MELISSA GILLESPIE, 07 Sep 1904, Simpson Co., Ky; b. 23 Sep 1884, Simpson Co., Ky; d. 02 Feb 1973, Simpson Co., Ky.

                iii. MINNIE BERRY, b. 05 Jan 1888, Ky; d. 17 Jul 1971, Simpson Co., Ky.

 

 

Endnotes

 

1.  Tombstone, Inscription:William C. Berry Born December 31 1807 Died June 3 1879.

2.  McCluen & Hutcherson, Roane County, Tenn Marriage Records 1801-1855,  (1973), p. 107.

3.  Tombstone, Inscription:Ellen C. wife of W.C. Berry Born Apr 6, 1811 Died Nov 5, 1887.

4.  Gregory G. Poole, Robertson Co., Tennessee, Obituaries & Deaths,  (1999), 26.

5.  Byron & Barbara Sistler, Early Middle Tenn Marriages, Vol. 2 Brides,  (1988), p.41.

6.  Mrs. Charles W. Durrett, Cemetery Records of Robertson Co., Tn., Vol. 2,  (1975), p.2.

7.  Tombstone, Inscription:William K. Berry July 1, 1832 Feb 29, 1868.

8.  "Marriages of Robertson Co., Tn, 1838-1861," p. 82

9.  Tombstone, Inscription:Saphronia Berry, wife of W.K. Berry 1830-1879.

10.  Tombstone, Inscription: T.D. Berry Oct 1, 1851 Dec 25, 1910.

11.  Tombstone, Inscription: Gertrude Gilbert 1857-1943.

12.  Sumner Co., Tenn, Lawsuit, #4208, 1869.

13.  Sumner Co., Tn Deed Book, Deed Book 26, p. 303, Names grandsons John Benjamin Gilbert and William James Gilbert, Benjamin Roney to  Bennette Gilbert, deceased.

14.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002, 1877.

15.  Death Certificate, Death Certificate 326 Davidson Co., Tn.

16.  Death Certificate, Death Certificate Vol. 13, pg.326 at Central State Hospital Davidson Co., Tn.

17.  Tombstone, Inscription: Jamie Babb, wife of Gilbert Babb Dec 8, 1862 Aug 24, 1886.

18.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002.

19.  1870 Census Logan Co., KY, Logan Co., KY,  page 54, Adairville, District 1.

20.  Cemetery Records of Robertson Co., Tn., Vol. 3, p.68.

21.  Robertson Co., Tn Marriage Book.

22.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002.

23.  Tombstone, Inscription: Feb 10, 1861 Sept 18, 1889.

24.  Tombstone, Inscription: Margie Weir Arnold, June 7, 1861 May 15, 1924.

25.  Mrs. Charles W. Durrett, Cemetery Records of Robertson Co., Tn., Vol. 2,  (1975), p.5.

26.  Death Certificate, File No. 230, Robertson Co., TN.

27.  Byron & Barbara Sistler, Early Middle Tenn Marriages, Vol. 1 Grooms,  (1988), p..

28.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002.

29.  Mrs. Charles W. Durrett, Cemetery Records of Robertson Co., Tn., Vol. 2,  (1975), p.5.

30.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002.

31.  McCluen & Hutcherson, Roane County, Tenn Marriage Records 1801-1855,  (1973), Elmwood Cemetery Sec 8 9 31 Z.

32.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002.

33.  Jean Durrett, Robertson County Tennessee Cemetery Records, Elmwood Cemetery Sec 8 9 31 Z.

34.  Mrs. Charles W. Durrett, Cemetery Records of Robertson Co., Tn., Vol. 2,  (1975), p.5.

35.  Simpson Co Historical Society, Simpson Co., KY Records,  (1975), p.291.

36.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002.

37.  Simpson Co Historical Society, Simpson Co., KY Records,  (1975), p.291.

38.  Mrs. Charles W. Durrett, Cemetery Records of Robertson Co., Tn., Vol. 2,  (1975), p. 2.

39.  Byron & Barbara Sistler, Early Middle Tenn Marriages, Vol. 2 Brides,  (1988), p. 42.

40.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002.

41.  Byron & Barbara Sistler, Early Middle Tenn Marriages, Vol. 1 Grooms,  (1988), p.40.

42.  Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002.

43.  Simpson Co Historical Society, Simpson Co., KY Records,  (1975), p.211.

44.  Death Certificate, File 8119, Simpson Co., KY.

 

 

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