Some Old Families of Clarke County, Virginia[1]
by
Lorraine F. Myers, Stuart E. Brown, Jr., and Eileen M. Chappel
Copyright 1994
by
Virginia Book Company
Box 431
Berryville, Virginia 22611
2nd
1
BEESON
Dulcibella Wilhelmina Stribling (b. 1792), m. Edward Beeson. Children and descendants:
(1) Jesse Taliaferro Beeson (b. 1820), m. Nancy Ann Reed (b. 1821), dau. of Moses (son of Nancy Auringham) and Rachel Porter Reed (m. 1775 of Prince Edward County). Rachel’s brothers William Porter, Nathaniel Porter and Oliver Porter were in the Revolution and went to Georgia.
Moses Reed’s children:
(a) Nathaniel Reed (b. 1787), m. Elizabeth Moore (b. 1797), dau. of Samuel and Nancy Radican (of Pennsylvania) Moore, in Prince Edward County.
N.B. The mother of Davy Crockett was Nancy Reed, kin to Moses Reed.
(2) Benjamin Berry Beeson
(3) Peggy Beeson, m. Isaac Hamilton of Kentucky
(31) Lottie Hamilton (b. 1846 at Bulten County, KY). Residence: Louisville.
(4) Margaret Alice Beeson, m. 1870 Capt. C. C. Thompson of Decatur, Texas.
(41) Charlie Alice Thompson, m. Tom C. McMurray. Fort Worth, Texas. One grandchild.
(411) Deceased.
(412) Deceased.
Much mention of the Quaker family of Beeson is included in HOPEWELL FRIENDS HISTORY and there were several persons whose name was Edward Beeson.
BERRY
Much about the early members of the Berry family, originally from King George County, is included in George Harrison Sanford King’s article “Will of William Berry of King George County”. 1 VG 547.
(1) Henry Berry (d. testate 1677), m. Ann ___. Came to Virginia as a headright in a patent issued to Epaphraditus Lawson 5/2/1650.
(11) Henry Berry, Jr. (d. testate in Richmond County 1683), m. Sarah Harper
(12) William Berry (d. testate in King George County, 1721), m Margaret Doughty
(121) Capt. Joseph Berry (1691-1749), m. Catherine Simcock
(1211) Frances Berry (b. 11/11/1721), m. (1st) Thomas Golding (St. Paul’s Parish 1/28/1738), m. (2nd) Thomas Dobyns (after Golding’s death in 1738), m. (3rd) 1749 James Davis of King George County, son of Joshua Davis of Caroline County.
(1212) Joseph Berry (b. 4/27/1723), m. (1st) Mary Colston (Frederick DB 21/894), m. (2nd) Huldah Hewlett of King George County.
Daughter of Huldah Hewlett Berry:
(12121) Sarah Berry (b. 4/6/1786), m. James Lindsey. See ANNALS page 863.
(12122) Benjamin Berry
(1213) Benjamin Berry (10/16/1724-1810), m. Eliza Colston. Apparently the founder of Berryville. See below.
(12131) Benjamin Berry, Jr., m. Jane Bell, dau. of John and Frankie Bell. Went to Fayette County, KY. Then to Henderson County, KY, where they owned land. Then to Hopkins County, KY. Then to Fayette County, KY where he died in 1849, age 84. Was a big wheeler and dealer in land promotions. An astute businessman.
(121311) Reubin B. Berry, M.D.
(121312) Lucy Berry
(121313) Henry K. Berry, m. Catherine Taylor (b. 6/2/1811)
(1213131) Virginia Berry, m. Henry Bullitt of Lexington, KY.
(1213132) Benjamin Berry
(1213133) Lucy Berry, m. Henry Blackburn, M.D.
(1213134) Laura Berry, m. _____ Fowler
(1213135) Eliza Berry, m. Richard Stanhope
(1213136) Lavinia Berry, m. Winder Monroe
(1213137) Fanny Berry, m. Esten Keller
(1213138) Anderson Berry, m. _____ Keller
(1213139) Sarah Elizabeth Berry
(121313x) Mary Bullitt Berry
(121314) Anderson U. Berry
(121315) Francis Jane Berry
(121316) Benjamin Berry
(12132) John Berry, m. Elizabeth _____. To Fayette County, KY, by 1800. Then to Henderson County, KY. Then to Hopkins County, KY, where he died in 1811.
(121321) William Berry (son or brother?)
(121322) Lewis Berry
(121323) Edwin Berry
(121324) Nancy Berry, m. David McGary. Gave land for Madisonville, Ky. Prominent in Hopkins County affairs.
(121325) Betsy Berry
(121326) Thomas Berry
(121327) Polly Berry
(121328) Mahala Berry
(121329) Patsey Berry
(12132x) James G. Berry, m. Lucinda (Christie?). Went to Illinois in about 1817.
(12132xl) Uriah B. Berry
(12132x2) John C. Berry
(12132x3) Christie C. Berry
(12132x4) James H. Berry
(12132x5) William Thomas Berry (born in Kentucky), m. Ann Elizabeth Greer. Went to Kansas. Nine children including:
(12132x5l) Rose Ann Berry, m. W. F. Bell. Rose Ann died soon after birth of [sic]
(12132x5ll) Thomas S. Bell, m. Bertha A. Morgan. To Idaho in 1907. Thomas S. Bell was raised by his Aunt Rebecca
Berry, an “old maid” school teacher, who married (when Thomas S. Bell was 10 or 12) Fred Stemple.
(12132x5111) Thomas Donald Bell (b. 10/24/1910). A granddaughter Ann Botsford is going to or went to college in Vienna, VA.
(12133) Reuben Berry, m. Sinah _____. To Fayette County, KY by 1780. To Henderson County, KY by 1800. Died in 1829 in Hopkins County, KY.
(121331) Hanna Berry
(121332) Lucinda Berry
(121333) Parthenia Berry
(121334) Ann Berry
(121335) Becky Berry
(121336) Elizabeth Berry
(121337) Sally Berry
(121338) Polly Berry
(121339) Joseph Berry. Gave town name of Madisonville after James Madison who was then Secretary of State and was a friend of the Berrys in King George County. One of the first Justices of the Peace (in 1806) along with Stephen Ashby.
(12133x) Reuben Berry
(12133a) Joseph Berry
(12133b) William H. Berry
(12133c) Benjamin Berry
(12134) William Berry. A son or a grandson. To Henderson County, KY by 1900. Connected with Hopkins County, KY. Executor of John Berry’s will (12132).
(12135) Thomas Berry. Fayette County, KY, by 1790. Clark County, KY, by 1800.
(12136) Dullabella (“Dully”) Berry (d. by 7/29/1807), m. 11/__/1781 James Benson in King George County. Had children but there is no record of Dully and her children living in what is now Clarke County.
(12137) Sarah-Berry (Will probated 11/__/1827), m. (1st) John Humphreys. His will dated 7/8/1775 was probated 3/4/1777, and the witnesses were Elizabeth McGuire (“late Elizabeth Berry”) and Thomas Berry. The possibilities are that Humphreys was Capt. Daniel Morgan’s First Lieutenant of Riflemen and was killed at Quebec on December 31, 1775. CARTMELL 102-3. Humphrey’s personal estate included “1 surveyor’s chain & compass” (WB 4/644). Sarah m. (2nd) 4/23/1789, William Stribling (ca. 1763, d. early in 1793), a Winchester merchant, and son of Taliaferro and Elizabeth Stribling of “Hopewell”, Frederick County. William became an orphan prior to reaching the age of twenty-one and chose as his guardian his brother Francis who owned property adjacent to the founder’s 191¾ acre plantation near “Battletown”.
On 12/4/1811, Sarah conveyed land to the Berryville Academy Trustees. On the 5th of that year she conveyed to her son-in-law George Steptoe Lane (son of Joseph and Mary Newton Lane) all of the lots belonging to her in Berryville except those that had been sold (DB 40/36). Some time later, Sarah lived in Berkeley County where on 4/4/1814, she executed a Deed (DB 36/102). And in 1616 her daughter Dully executed a Deed in Berkeley County. Sarah executed her will on 10/16/1823 when she was living in Butler County, KY. She owned 1000 acres in Green River, KY. Lane was Administrator, c.t.a. of her estate, his sureties being Jacob R. Nicklin and Joseph M. Nicklin. In Sarah’s will mention is made of a lease of land made to her by Joseph and Reuben Berry. She had tried to collect on this lease but failed.
(121371) Elizabeth (“Betsy”) T. Stribling (b. Winchester ca. 1790), m. 6/14/1810 George Steptoe Lane (d. 1843 intestate. His wife died before him—intestate). On 10/8/1831, when Lane was Postmaster, the name of the post office (established in 1799) was changed from Battletown to Berryville. Grace Episcopal Church records show that Lane, his sons Benjamin and Joseph, and Mark Nicklin are buried in Lot 38. For Lane see McDONALD DIARY.
(1213711) Mary N. Lane, m. Mark Nicklin of Kentucky. No issue. A notice in the Clarke Courier on 5/1/1873 states
that Mary was the last descendant “known in this area” of Benjamin Berry and Sarah Stribling Berry.
(1213712) Elizabeth P. Lane (11/29/1822-9/13/1844), m. Fisher Ames Lewis (1/11/1811-9/19/1883) of “The Rocks”. She lived only two years after the marriage (d. at age of 21 years, 9 months, 11 days). No issue.
(1213713) Joseph Lane. Unm.
(1213714) Benjamin Lane. Unm.
(121372) Dulcibella (“Seller”) Wilhelmina Stribling (b. Winchester ca. 1792, d. after 1817), m. Edward Beeson, probably a member of a prominent Berkeley County family. On 1/10/1816, Dulcibella W. Stribling of the County of Berkeley conveyed land in what is now Clarke County to George McCormick (DB 38/213). And on 4/19/ 1817, Dulcibella stated that she was satisfied with the settlement of her father’s estate “being the only party concerned with it”. See BEESON.
(1214) Margaret Berry (b. 7/16/1725, d. inf.)
(1215) Margaret Berry (b. 7/14/1726)
(1216) Withers Berry (3rd son). Mason County, KY.
(1217) Thomas Berry (7/__/1733-12/1(3/1818), m. ca.1758 Frances (“Frankie”) Kendall. Frederick County. Born at “Berry Plain”, King George County. Will admitted to record in Frederick County and in Mason County, KY. A Revolutionary War soldier. A letter from “Berry Plain” written by Lucinda Kercheval, a granddaughter of Capt. Thomas Berry, mentions her Aunt Rankin of Jefferson City, Mississippi Territiory; her Aunt Calmes (Elizabeth Berry, m. William Calmes, ANNALS 30) in Newbury District, South Carolina (they had issue); Uncle Joseph Berry and Lucinda’s mother in Mason County, KY; and Aunt Coole, the youngest daughter, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Lucinda Kercheval lived at “Berry Plain” in Frederick County.
(1218) Baldwin Berry (5th son). Mason County, KY.
(1219) Reuben Berry (younger son), m. Margaret Martin.
(12191) Benjamin Berry, m. Sally _____. In Henderson County, KY, 1800. In Hopkins County, KY, where he died 4/__/1834.
(121911) Henry Berry
(121912) Lysander Berry
(121913) Franklin Berry
(121914) Elizabeth Berry
(121915) Clarissa Berry
(121916) Edward Berry
(122) Enoch Berry (169?-1763), m. 12/12/1796 Dulcabella Burnbury
(1221) Winifred Berry, m. Benjamin Berry. Moved to Frederick County. See King article.
(123) Margaret Berry, m. Christopher Rogers
(124) Elizabeth Berry, m. (1st) Robert Strother, m. (2nd) William Wheeler. See King article.
(13) John Berry
(14) Richard Berry
ANNALS p. 111 Ann Helm, m. 3/6/1766 Enoch Berry. Had issue.
William Berry had a tavern in the 1800's in the Paris, Virginia-Berry’s Ferry area.
Mention is made of Marquis Calmes, Senior and Junior. Members of the Berry family and the Calmes were Clarke County neighbors.
Many years ago the remains of Benjamin Berry and of Sarah Stribling “were removed”, possibly from the old cemetery at “Trap Hill”, and are buried in the graveyard at Grace Episcopal Church. Lane and his sons Benjamin and Joseph are buried there in Lot 38 as is Mark Nicklin, Elizabeth P. Lane and Fisher Ames Lewis.
Founder of Berryville
The following statement appears on the plaque in the Berryville court yard:
BENJAMIN BERRY
1720(?)-1810
BENJAMIN BERRY, SON OF HENRY BERRY OF KING GEORGE COUNTY, SETTLED IN WHAT IS NOW CLARKE COUNTY PRIOR TO THE REVOLUTION, AND IN 1798, HE PROCURED THE FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TOWN OF BERRYVILLE, THE TOWN HAVING BEEN PLATTED BY HIM, AND CONSISTING OF A PORTION (TWENTY ACRES) OF A LARGER TRACT OF LAND OWNED BY HIM AND HIS DAUGHTER, SARAH STRIBLING. HE AND SHE ARE BURIED IN THE NORTHEAST SECTION OF THE YARD OF GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The date 1720(?) and the statement that the founder of Berryville was the son of Henry Berry of King George County do not appear to be correct.
(1213) Benjamin Berry (10/16/1724-1810), the founder of Berryville, came to what is now Clarke County at an early date. On 12/24/1781, he acquired two slaves, Charles about 40 and a woman named Sook who was 16 (DB 19/264). In 1782-4, he subscribed (DB 19/264) one pound four shillings to an Episcopal congregation that met at “Trap Hill”, located to the north of the present town of Berryville, and on 6/7/1791, Berry acquired from John Smith (younger son of Maj. Charles Smith) and from Charles Smith, Jr., a 191¾ acre “plantation” located on the “Winchester road”, and near if not adjacent to the “Battletown” plantation (DB 22/363). 9 CCHA 8.
The records show that the founder of Berryville was a farmer and did some surveying, perhaps including the laying out of the town of Berryville.
On 8/18/1810, Benjamin Berry executed his Last Will and Testament, bequeathing and devising to Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Lane one-half of his personal estate and his “Berry Ville Farm” which he described as being “near and adjoining Berryville”. The remaining one-half of his personal estate, together with the “farm purchased from Benj. Taylor”, he left to Dulcibella Stribling but it was to be kept in George S. Lane’s hands until Dulcibella reached adulthood.
Berry died soon thereafter, and when his will was probated on 10/2/1810, it was opposed by two persons, one of whom was Berry Beeson, a son of Dulcibella Beeson, and the other was Martin Plagon. However, the opponents were either mollified or discouraged, and on 10/5/1810, the will was approved. 2 SCWB 342 and 3 SCWB 30. Witnesses: Samuel Taylor, T. Smith, Thomas Kercheval and Charles Smith, Jr.
Appraisers of Benjamin Berry’s estate were: Thomas McCormick, Geo. H. Norris and Micajah Crupper. Slaves were John ($400.00), Frederick ($500.00), Zoe ($1.00) and Frank ($1.00).
Gifts and Conveyances by the Founder
By Deed dated 6/30/1798, Benjamin Berry and Sarah Stribling conveyed Lot 22 to James Larue (upon which the Hawthorne Building stands)(DB 31/254) and Lot 10 (presently occupied by the B. P. Servicenter) to Jabez Larue (DB 31/256). And by Deed dated 10/26/179e, Benjamin Berry and Sarah Stribling conveyed Lot 8 to William Bourne (DB 32/314).
By Deed dated 12/26/l806, Benjamin Berry of Berryville conveyed Lot 21 to Micahjah Crupper of Berryville (DB 30/313).
By Deed dated 4/20/1809, Benjamin Berry conveyed to George H. Norris Lots 9 and 19, each ¼ of an acre (DB 31/505).
By Deed dated 8/1/1818, Benjamin Berry conveyed to James Bulger Lot __ (DB 33/17).
By Indenture dated 7/10/1810, Benjamin Berry conveyed to Benjamin Taylor a spring lot—a tavern at this time was occupied by Jesse Brown (DB 33/60).
Gifts and Conveyances by the Founder to his Family
By instrument dated 3/27/1804, the founder gave to Sarah Stribling the slaves Solomon, Rachel, and Winny and child (DB 30/412). By instrument dated 4/29/1607, he gave to “the heirs of my daughter Dully Beeson” the use during his lifetime of the slaves Peter, Sooky (probably the Sook purchased in 1781), Roscoe, Grace, Hannah, Emily and Lucy (DB 30/413). And by Deed dated 3/21/1809, he (“of the Town of Berryville”) conveyed to his granddaughter, Elizabeth T. Stribling, the remainder interest (following his death) to forty acres lying between the road leading to the Town of Fredericksburg and Berry’s Ferry (probably what is now Church Street) and the road leading to Alexandria and Snicker’s Ferry (Main Street).
By Deed dated 7/5/1810, Benjamin Berry conveyed to Sarah Stribling 26½ acres. DB 32/362.
Acquisition to the Founder
Benjamin Berry obtained from Benjamin Taylor Lot 93 (DB 31/110) a corner opposite Patrick Dougherty’s lot, being the same lot improved by Benjamin N. Barnett.
Identifying Benjamin Berry, the Founder of Berryville
The problem of identifying the founder of Berryville is complicated by the fact that (in 1798) in the area there were several persons named Benjamin Berry.
George Mercer Conveyances (1774-1775)
On 11/20/1774, George Mercer conveyed to “Benjamin Berry of Frederick County, son of Henry Berry late of King George” Lot 13 (324 acres) and Lot 15 (234 3/4 acres) lying to the west of the Shenandoah River in what is now the Chilly Hollow section of Clarke County. On 11/13/1775, Benjamin Berry conveyed Lot 13 to James Allnutt (D8 18/246) and Lot 15 to Elisha Williams (DB 18/244). In both of these Deeds, a witness was a second Benjamin Berry and another witness was John Humphreys, probably the man who married Sarah, the daughter of Benjamin Berry, the founder of Berryville.
In another Deed to Elisha Williams from Thomas Berry (apparently a brother to the founder of Berryville) and his wife, the former Frances Kendall, the witnesses were Benjamin Berry, Robert Parker, Reuben Rankin and another Benjamin Berry.
Benjamin Berry, Jr. (12131)
On 10/1/1791, “Benjamin Berry, Jr.” was granted 217 acres near “Abraham’s Creek” and by Deed dated 3/2/1799, he and his wife Jane (both then of the County of Fayette, Commonwealth of Kentucky) conveyed their 257 acres on Abraham’s Creek (DB 26/51).
It appears that this Junior was the son of the founder of Berryville.
Denny Fairfax Leases (1792)
On 2/18/1792, Denny Fairfax leased to Benjamin Berry Lot 331, a part of the manor of Leeds, for the lives of Benjamin Berry and “John and Peter, his sons”. (DB 23/170). On 8/18/1792, there was a similar lease of Lot 331 with addition during the lives of Benjamin Berry and “Joseph, John and Peter, his sons”. (DB 23/313). And on 11/17/1792, there was a similar lease of Lot 460 for the lives of Benjamin Berry and of “Epaphroditus, Reuben and Thornley, his three sons” (DB 23/462) . . . this Benjamin Berry, m. Elizabeth Thornley, dau. of John and Ann Woffendale Thornley.
In 1757, Capt. Jack Ashby sold to Joseph Berry 308 acres located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For some years, Joseph Berry operated the ferry (known as Berry’s Ferry), and by Deed dated 5/9/1770 John Fishback sold the ferry to Joseph Berry (DB 13/231). On 10/2/1799, Joseph Berry leased Berry’s Ferry to Gen. Daniel Morgan. 2 CCHA 31.
Berry Statement
Statement of Benjamin Berry of Berryville, age 83 (ca. 1802), in the collections of the Virginia Historical Society:
William Berry, b. Northampton County, ca. 1635, was the son of James Berry who settled on the north side of the Patuxent River in Calvert County, Maryland. William’s second son, James, had three wives, the third of whom, Sarah Skillington, had ten children:
(1) John Berry
(2) Thomas Berry
(3) James Berry
(4) Joseph Berry
(5) Benjamin Berry b. 9/24/1734
(6) Benjamin Berry b. 8/24/1736, m. 5/__/1769 Sarah, dau. of Thomas and Sarah Lightfoot
(7) Elizabeth Berry
(6) Sarah Berry
(9) Rachel Berry
(x) Lydia Berry
BUSHROD-WASHINGTON
Richard Bushrod acquired 4000 acres in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and m. Apphia _____.
Children and descendants:
(1) John Bushrod (1663-1719), m. Hannah Keene, dau. of William and Elizabeth Keene of Northumberland County. He is buried at “Bushfield”, Westmoreland County.
(11) Apphia Bushrod, m. W. Fauntleroy
(12) Capt. Richard Bushrod
(13) Mary Bushrod
(14) Col. John Bushrod, High Sheriff of Westmoreland County 1758, m. Jane Corbin.
(15) Catherine Bushrod, m. ca. 1765 Capt. W. Taylor. See TAYLOR.
(16) Hannah Bushrod, m. 1760 John Augustine Washington
(161) Bushrod Washington, Justice of the Supreme Court of U.S., m. Julia Ann Blackburn
(162) Augustine Washington, d. young.
(163) Mildred Washington, m. _____ Gregory
(164) Corbin Washington, m. Hannah Lee
CASTLEMAN
David Castleman (1734-2/13/1826), m. Margaret Johnson (ca. 1739-1/30/1808). He supplied provisions to Washington’s troops during the Revolution.
David and his brothers Jacob Castleman (d. ca. 1815) and Lewis Castleman came to Virginia from Albany County, New York in about 1750—in 1753 Lewis was godfather to several adult Indians at the Winchester 1753 Conference called by Governor Dinwiddie. Jacob settled in Pittsburg ca. 1795 and Lewis settled in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1787. Courier 1/11/1840.
In 1762 David purchased “Head Spring” farm at Summit Point. In 1772, he sold it and purchased “Glen Owen” farm three miles east of Berryville. In 1911, he sold it, reserving the burying ground where his wife had been buried in 1e0e (and where he was buried). In 1811, he purchased “Rose Hill” at Wickliffe, conveying in 1824 one acre to the Trustees of Wickliffe Academy.
He lived with his daughter Elizabeth Castleman Shively from 1812 until his death.
The following appears in the Virginia State Library among the Public Claim Papers for Frederick County:
I hereby certifie that I have received for Public use of David Castleman muttons adjudged to be worth Six hundred and ten pounds, for which payment shall be made agreeable to Act of Assembly. Given under my hand this 28th day of July 1781. L 610.00.