My ancestor, REDDICK HUNTER BERRY, was born in North Carolina or Eastern Tennessee between 1791 and 1805. (The available censuses allow for this wide range of time, as they all disagree as to his age – and place of birth). His parentage is not known, at this time. (His brother Andrew Berry married Minerva Goff in Maury County, Tennessee in 1826, so it is possible that Reddick lived in Maury County, before he showed up on the tax records of Madison County in 1829).
Reddick married first, Nancy Piercy, daughter of Cader Piercy, of Bertie County, NC and Madison County, Tennessee. They had four daughters before Nancy died in Madison County, TN in 1843.
After Nancy’s death he and the four girls moved to Gibson County, and settled in the Center-Salem area near Gadsden, in what is now Crockett County. There on December 13, 1843 he married Catherine A. Allen, the daughter of Miles Allen and Jincey (Jane) Bledsoe Allen of Wake County, NC and Gibson County, TN. Reddick and Catherine had at least eleven children.
There are family traditions that place Reddick Berry with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in 1814-1815, but this has not been verified. Also there is a tradition that says he was a riverboat Captain, and this too, has not been substantiated. I have searched through countless records and books to check out these traditions, without success. I assume that if he was a riverman, that he probably worked on one of the branches of the Forked Deer River, because when he lived near Jackson, Tennessee it was a bustling port for steamboats, keelboats, flatboats and barges. There was also commercial river traffic at Eaton, in Gibson County during his lifetime.
Reddick died in 1876 or 1877 in Crockett County, TN It is said that Reddick was plowing in his field on his 83rd birthday when he had a stroke and had to be carried to the house by his son Henry. According to a family tradition he died on his next birthday, at age 84, and was interred in a coffin that he had built out of cherry wood.
The story about the circumstances of Catherine (Allen) Berry’s death is that she was sitting on the side of her bed in the Salem Community of Crockett County, waiting for a carriage to arrive to take her to the train station. She was supposed to leave for Rector, Arkansas where she intended to live with her son Henry and his family. Many of her other children were living in the same area, and she was looking forward to being with all of them. Many friends and relatives were at her home to see her off on her journey, when someone said something funny, to which she roared in laughter. Then she fell back on her bed and died.
It is believed that Reddick was a Methodist, and Catherine was a Baptist, but it is not known where either one is buried. They lived almost in sight of the Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but there are no grave markers for them there.
Below are listed the children and grandchildren of Reddick Berry, by his wife Nancy Piercy and his second wife, Catherine Allen:
Reddick Berry’s Children by his first wife, Nancy Piercy:
- MARY ELIZABETH “SIS” BERRY (born June, 1828 in Madison Co., TN died April 21, 1913 Bradford, Gibson Co., TN) married Miles Louis ALLEN (Oct.11, 1848 in Gibson Co., TN). Miles was brother to Catherine Allen Berry (Reddick’s 2nd wife). Miles was son of Miles Allen and Jincey Bledsoe Allen.
Their children were: Andrew Murray Allen, Ruth Allen (Ford), Letitia Allen (Scruggs), Marion Jay Allen, William Lea Allen, Isabelle Allen, and Joseph Green Allen. - HARRIET MATILDA “HATTIE” BERRY (born 1831 or 1832 in Madison Co., TN- died Oct. 1, 1914) married William C. CARR (in 1852 in Gibson Co., TN) William was son of William Frank Carr and Nancy Carter.
Their children were: Mary Jane Carr (Oliver), Annie Eliza Carr (Bradford), Nancy E. Carr (Yates), Margaret L. “Maggie” Carr (Oliver), John F. Carr, Tennessee Frances “Fannie” Carr (Bradford). - PENELOPE JANE “NEPPIE” BERRY (born April 18, 1834 in Madison Co., TN-died Feb. 13, 1921, buried at Salem Churchyard in Crockett Co., TN) married Francis Perry DRINKARD (Dec. 13, 1855 in Gibson Co., TN). Francis P. Drinkard was the son of William Chalmers and Jane Tatum Drinkard of Lincoln Co., TN. He was previously married to Josephine Tinson McMillan, and had four children by her.
Neppie’s children were: Reddick Franklin “Frank” Drinkard, James Buchanan “Buck” Drinkard, baby (twin), Eliza Ann Drinkard, Jerome Bonaparte “Bona” Drinkard, Edward Howard Drinkard, Minnie Claire Drinkard (Hall), Repps Childress Drinkard. - LUCINDA A. “LUCY” BERRY (born about 1835 in Madison Co., TN) married Pleasant Walter “Pless” HOPPER on Nov. 28, 1855 in Gibson Co., TN) He was son of William and Elizabeth Hopper originally of Lincoln Co., TN.
Their children were: Tabitha Jane “Bitha” Hopper (Wooten), Mary L. Hopper, James J. “Bud” Hopper, Lou Hopper (Spence), Nancy E. Hopper (Stafford), Virginia A. Hopper (Brownfield / Dean), John H. Hopper, Etta M. Hopper (Hodges), Minnie Hopper.
(Most of these people settled in Poinsett County, Arkansas).
Reddick Berry’s Children by his second wife, Catherine A. Allen:
- DULCINA ADELINE “SENA” BERRY (born in Gibson Co., TN about 1845 – Died before 1900) married George Francis REASONS (on August 10, 1870 in Gibson Co., TN). George was born July 27, 1847 and died Sept. 11, 1914. He was the son of John Rhodes Reasons and Mary “Polly” Sollis. In 1902 George married Katherine L. Henderson.
Sena’s children were: Ader J. Reasons, John Rhodes Reasons II, Edward L. Reasons, Nancy Reasons (Curtis/Patterson), Thomas Reasons, Ora Garfield Reasons, Grover G. Reasons, Hermon Austin Reasons. - AMANDA “MANDY” BERRY (Dates of birth and death not known)
- CATHERINE BERRY (Dates of birth and death not known)
- YOUNG HENRY “Y. H.” BERRY (Born Oct. 14, 1848 Gibson (now Crockett) Co., TN – died Aug. 22, 1925 in Clay Co., Arkansas) married 1. Andromedia Vickers(Dec. 24, 1872 in Carroll Co., TN). Married 2. Willie Ruhamah Evans(Throgmorton) (Md. Nov. 13, 1892 in Rector, Clay Co., AR).
Y. H.’s children by Andromedia Vickers were: John Henry Berry, Reddick Hunter “Dock” Berry II, Flora Alice Berry (Joiner), Walter Mack Berry, Enola Alafair “Nola” Berry (Reid), Pearl Berry. Y. H.’s children by Willie Evans were: Twin baby boys, Nannie Ira Berry (Holder), Annie Myra Berry, Gertrude Leticia “Gertie” Berry (Poynor), Twin baby boys, John Evans “Gabe” Berry, Louie Chester Berry, Homer Earle Berry, baby boy (still-born), Willie Roosevelt “Ted” Berry, Allen Spencer Berry, Vivian Frances Berry (Laffoon), Mary Gwendolyn Yates Berry (Laffoon). - MAHALA NANCY BERRY( Born Nov. 22, 1851 in Gibson Co., TN – died April, 1933 in Rector, Clay Co., AR) married Sampson James OLIVER (on Dec. 21, 1873 in Crockett Co., TN). Samson J. Oliver was the son of Robert Logan Pulaski Oliver and Sarah Branson.
Their children were: Redic Pulaski Oliver, Luther Lee Oliver, Charles Green Oliver, Johnny Oliver, James Alford Oliver, Myrtle Mann Oliver, Lillie Belle Oliver (Clarke). - SARAH FRANCIS “SALLIE” BERRY (Born Jan. 13, 1855 in Gibson Co., TN – Died June, 1922 in Rector, Clay Co., AR) married 1. Thaddeus Seymore PATTON (on July 15, 1879 in Crockett Co., TN). Married 2. George D. HARPOLE (on July 26, 1894 in Rector, Clay Co., AR). Thad Patton was the son of Alexander Washington. Patton and Sallie Trollinger Freshwater of Orange Co., NC.
Sallie’s children were: Callie Tennessee Patton (Merideth / Creek), Ada L. Patton (Merideth), baby Patton, baby boy Harpole. - MARTHA EVELINA “MATT” BERRY (Born October, 1856 in Gibson Co., TN – Died @1921 in Center Community, Crockett Co., TN) Married 1. James A. MCDERMOTT (on Jan. 4, 1874 in Crockett Co., TN) Married 2. John Newton CRAIG (on March 3, 1889 in Crockett Co., TN). James McDermott appears to have been the son of J.M. and Charity McDermott. John Newton Craig appears to have been the son of Jasper and Lucretia Craig. He was first married to Dolly Berry (Matt’s sister).
Matt’s children were: Ida Lee McDermott (Nunn), Minnie Frances McDermott (Evans), Bertha Craig (White), William Craig. - NARCISSA JANE “DOLLY” BERRY (Born @ 1858 TN – Died 1886 or 1887 in Crockett County, TN – buried at Salem Church) Married John Newton CRAIG (Dec. 29, 1875 in Crockett Co., TN). John Newton Craig was apparently the son of Jasper and Lucretia Craig. After Dolly died he married her widowed sister, Mattie Berry McDermott.
Dolly’s children were: Jasper Hardy Craig, Gertie Ann Craig (McCoy), Martha “Mattie” Craig, Hunter S. Craig, John Craig, Isabel S. “Belle” Craig. - ANDREW BERRY (Born about 1858 or 1859 – died while a young child)
- JOHN LOUIS (or LEWIS) BERRY ( Born August 5, 1860 (some say 1861) in Gibson Co. TN- Died Feb.17, 1923 (or 1924) in Stith, Jones Co., Texas) Married 1. Betty Adeline Patton (on July 27, 1881 in Crockett Co., TN) Married 2. Annie Eliza Crockett Stewart (On Oct. 24, 1894, in Crockett Co., TN). Betty Patton was daughter of Alexander W. Patton and Sallie Trollinger Freshwater. (Betty was sister of Thaddeus Seymore Patton who married Sarah F. Berry). Annie Stewart was daughter of John and Martha J. Stewart of Center Community, Crockett Co., TN.
John and Betty Berry’s children: Etta Ann Berry (Patterson), Elvie Louis Berry, Ozella Berry, Maggie Arilla Berry (Blanton), Lillie Adaline Berry (Vantreese), Henry Curr Berry.
John and Annie Berry’s children: Arthur Andrew Berry, Pearl Jane Berry, Barney Clarence Berry, baby girl (still-born), Annie Clara Berry, Ona Belle Berry, Dollie Opal Berry (Elfers), Ollie Otha Berry, Johnny Arlin Berry, baby girl (still-born), Marvin David “Pete” Berry, Roy Roscoe Berry. - MALISSA ANN BERRY (Born April 7, 1863 in Gibson Co., TN – Died Oct. 19, 1906 in Rector, Clay Co., Arkansas) Married Newton Jasper MCCOY (on Dec. 15, 1878 in Crockett Co., TN. Newton Jasper McCoy was the son of Hugh and Martha McCoy. After Malissa died in 1906 he married her niece Gertie Ann Craig, daughter of Malissa’s sister Dolly Berry Craig. (Newton and Gertie had six children).
Malissa’s children were: Nora Jane McCoy (Collier), Maggie Della McCoy (Linam), William Alfred McCoy, Mollie McCoy (Linam), Nellie McCoy (Jordan), Ollie Verlie McCoy, Flossie McCoy (Cox), Lela Pearl McCoy (Braden), baby McCoy.
This concludes the listing of the Children and Grandchildren of Reddick H. Berry of the Center/Salem area of Crockett County, Tennessee.
THE LEGEND OF REDDICK HUNTER BERRY
By W. Ross Berry
The man who engendered you Berrys and me
Was born in a cabin in east Tennessee
Named Reddick Berry he grew to his teens
Then fought in the Battle of ole New Orleans
With his brother Andrew and their father John
their sisters, and mother- they trekked toward the sun
And camped near a river called South Forked Deer
and lived there as neighbors for many a year
A keelboat he worked on for money and meals
and soon became Captain of steam paddlewheels
Then one day to farm life he took quite a fancy
and married a maiden whose first name was Nancy
They planted their fields with cotton and corn
And labored each day ’til their fingers were worn
and had four fine daughters, and possibly more
It’s said that all total He fathered a score!
Those children Nan gave him were sources of pride
But then his sweet Nancy fell sick and soon died
He and his children, moved across county line
to search for a new life where farming was fine
He built a large cabin where wolves once were prowlin
then wed a young colleen named Catherine Allen
She cared for his daughters ’til all were full grown
And loved them the same as if they were her own
Along came new daughters and three little boys
Those Berrys had hardships, but shared many joys
There was “Sis” and “Hattie” and “Neppie” and “Luce”
the first of the harvest Sire Berry produced
Then “Sena” and “Mandy” and Henry and Nancy
and “Sallie” and “Mattie” and “Dolly” and “Andy”
It’s said there were others, forgot now, I fear . . .
but John and Malissa were the last to appear
Then he died in the year eighteen-seventy-six
near the village of Salem (way out in the sticks)
He’d prepared his own coffin of elegant cherry
and ’twas in that fine ark that they laid Reddick Berry
It’s been said he was missed by his children and wife
and it’s claimed a fine worker he’d been all his life
He’d been a boat Captain, he’d soldiered in war
He’d traveled a hard road, while he fathered a score
Along with some hard times he’d had some times merry
Descendants, be glad there once lived Reddick Berry!
2001 – W. Ross Berry