Communicator
 THE BERRY FAMILY

 

 
 
ARTICLES
W. C. & LETTICIA (WOODY) BERRY

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

W. C. and LETTICIA (WOODY) BERRY
submitted by Mrs. Billy R. Jones, Rt. 6, Box 884, Kingsport, TN 37660

 
     "This record was written in 1870 by W. C. Berry, Averys Creek, NC, for his son, Joseph M. Berry, and carried to Oklahoma where it passed to Joseph's daughter, Lillie Belle Berry Clark in 1917.  In 1951 Lillie entrusted it to Ruth Hope Parker Lessley, daughter of her sister, Laura Berry Parker, whom she reared from infancy.  Laura died in 1907.  Other copies were given other children of W. C. but as far as I know this is the only copy to survive and is only proof of con- nection of children of William Woody I and Sarah Percel (1720 - 1815).  Following is Percel connection.
     (signed)  Ruth Hope Parker Lessley, July 22, 1988."
     "Wm. C. Berry was born October 19th 1796 and on the 30 day of April AD 1816 was married to Miss Letticia, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Woody by whom he became the father of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, viz., Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Wm. McC., Larkin M., Mariah Louise, Lewis Franklin, Sarah Elviry Emely, Martha Ann, Ephraim Moor, Joseph Maning and Letticia Minerva (Frank?).

     Thomas F. was born February 2, 1817 and died July 18th, 1818.

     Elizabeth was born October 29th, 1818.  She married Wm. Bishop of Spartanburg, SC, May the 16th, 1844 and became the mother of 9 children, five sons and four daughters, and departed this life on Saturday, April the 1st, 1864, aged 46 years, 5 months and two days.

     Mary Berry was born March 22nd, 1820 and was married to James B. Sitton, January 13th, 1849.  She became the mother of ten children, two of which died in infancy.  She lived to see six grandchildren, and died November 22nd, 1869, aged 49 years and 8 months.

     Wm. McC. Berry was born February the 27th day, 1822 and was married to Clarsa Williams, daughter of Frederick and Martha Williams of South Carolina by whom he became the father of four children, two sons and two daughters.  He yet lives, and recently visited his aged Father who now resides in Jackson County, N.C. at the close of the year 1869.

     Larkin M. Berry was born April the 12th day AD 1821, professed Religion in the thirteenth year of his age, was a licensed Preacher of the Baptist denomination in the 17th year of his age, and was ordained to work of the gospel ministry December 24, AD 1848.  He has now attained the character of an able, popular and efficient Preacher.  He married Miss Martha Bishop of Spartanburg, S.C., on May the 16th day, AD 1844; became the father of four children, three sons and one daughter.  He located himself and family in the City Lacon, Illinois, in the Spring of 1869 where he now lives, January 3rd, 1870.

     Mariah Louise was born April 10th AD 1826, married John Bishop of Spartanburg, S.C., August 31st 1849, by whom she became the Mother of seven children, four sons and three daughters.  Her husband John Bishop died near Richmond in the Confederate Army in the Spring of 1864.  She is now living in Jackson County, N.C., 1870.

     Lewis Franklin Berry was born May the 25th day AD 1828.  Joined the Baptist Church at Boiling Springs, Spartanburg, S.C. in October 1844 he married Sarah Lewis of Spartanburg by whom he became the father of seven children, five sons and two daughters.  He emigrated to Morgan County, Alabama and settled three miles North of Summerville, Professed to be a Preacher of the Gospel....

     Sarah Elviry Emaly was born March the 1st day AD 1830.  Married John Crook Jr..  She died December the 28th day AD 1865 aged 34 years, 9 months and 27 days.  She left but one child behind to perpetuate her name.

     Martha Ann was born May the 3rd 183a [sic] and died on Friday July the 5th 1834.

     Ephraim M. Berry was born August the 9th day AD 1834, professt [sic] Religion in October 27 day, 1850 and was baptized into the fellowship of Refuge Baptist Church in Henderson County, N.C.  He married Miss Matilda Jenkins in the spring of 1853.  His wife Matilda lived seven months after their marriage and died of Consumption on Monday, December 24th, 1853, and in the year 1863 said E. M. Berry emigrated to the Northwest.  Located himself in the State of Indiana where he has attained to some degree of notoriety as a M.D. and an Eldership in the Christian Church.

     Joseph M. Berry was born December the 11th day AD 1837, made profession of the Christian Religion on the 26th day of October AD 1850 and was Baptized into the fellowship of Refuge Baptist Church in Henderson County, N.C.  On Friday, November 8th day by his father, Elder Wm. C. Berry, and after Death of his Mother Joseph M. located in Greenville, DS, S.C., where he married Susannah Owen by whom he became the father on one child, a daughter born the 1st of January 1861 and in the Spring of 1863 he emigrated to the Northwest, located at Bidford, Indiana, became a student of the High school at that place and has since attained to high distinction and notoriety as a scholar and a clergyman in the Christian Church.

     Letticia Minerva Jane Berry, the youngest of her father's family was born March the 4th day AD 1840, profess'd [sic] Religion the 25th day of October 1850, and was Baptized into the fellowship of the Refuge Baptist Church in Henderson County on Friday the 8th day of November 1850 by her brother Elder Larkin M. Berry.  She remained at home with her parents until her mother's Death and then she was placed under the care and control of her Aunt Mary Rogers (?) And after the death of Mrs. Rogers (?) Minerva Returned to her fathers who married Miss Charlotte Osborn Daughter of Jeremiah and Ann Osborn.  She remained with her father and stepmother until June the 23rd 1863 when her father and step Mother was driven to the necessity of leaving home, as refugees, and see a situation of safety in the State of South Carolina.  Minerva then went to East Tennessee where she was still living when last heard from, by the writer, her Father and her Mother.

     Letticia Woody was married the 30th day April 18, 1816 and she died April the 14th 1855 aged 56 years, 10 months and twenty two days (?).  she had lived many long years a pious and exemplary Christian life and died in the full triumph of the Christian faith.

     Jonathan Woody, her father, was the son of Hillman Woody, a native of England who married Sarah Persel an English lady.  They emigrated from England and settled on the Potomac River, State of Virginia, where Jonathan was born. After his birth his father and family moved to South Carolina where Jonathan married Mary Lovel by whom he became the father of eight children, four sons and four daughters. Three died in infancy.  Their father, Jonathan Woody, moved when near one hundred years of age to the State of Iowa and died at his youngest son's, viz., Berry Woody.  Jonathan Woody had three brothers and four sisters, viz., Wm., Talton and James, Elizabeth, Nancy, Sarrah and Mary. William married Elizabeth Lovel, sister to Jonathan's wife.  Elizabeth married a Mr. Wadkins; Nancy married John Slatton (Hatton?) - Sarah married Abner Norrce and Mary married John Davise, nicknamed Jack of Diamonds.

     William Woody, Brother of Jonathan had thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, John, Talton, William, Killis, Silas, Nicholas, David, Joseph, and Washington, and Nancy, Elizabeth, Kizzia (*) and Mary.  (According to his obituary preserved by Brent Holcombe, 1983, Marriages and Death Notices from UpCounty of SC as taken from the Greenville Newspapers, 1826-1863, page 200, William died at the home of his son, Silas Woody, on Spring Creek, Buncombe County at the age of 114 years.  "He was a soldier in the War of Independence, and for a great many years an orderly and acceptable member of the Baptist Church.")

     Nancy married Wm. Miller, Elizabeth married John Gasperson, Polly married Mr. Cooke."

(End of W. C. Berry's record of 1870)

   Mrs. Billy R. Jones (submitter) has an idea that the Kizzie (*) above could very well be the Cassa Ann or Cassandra Woody who married Isaiah Gilbert and also lived in Buncombe Co.  Does anyone have any further suggestion/information re this person?  Correspondence with Mrs. Jones invited.

Source: From the research of Ruth Hope Parker Lessley 
Paducah, Kentucky
Publication source: "A Lot of Bunkum," September 1988, 
Vol. IX, #9, p. 88-101