C.A.T.'s Southern Genealogy - Family of Elias BERRY of Union Co., GA

Ancestors & Descendants of
Elias BERRY
Union Co., GA

Elias/Elisha "Lish" BERRY was born 1812 in SC of parents both born in SC. He died 1885 in Choestoe Dist., Union Co., GA.

Today, we believe that his parents were Little and Sarah BERRY who arrived 1821-1830 in Habersham Co., GA from probably Burke Co., NC. They were in Burke Co. only a brief time 1812-1822 after removing from SC.

Little and Sarah BERRY were married 1810 SC per LDS. Little was born 1770 VA and was obviously married before as Sarah BERRY was born 1791 SC. We don't yet know Sarah's maiden name. Of all the North GA BERRYS, Little was the only one that stayed in SC in 1812-1816, the time frame of when Elias was born. So far, Little is the only BERRY that makes reasonable sense to be Elias' father. The children in this line of BERRYs were repeatedly named Sarah, Susan, Hannah, Thomas and Jesse.

We believe that Elias BERRY's first wife was Hannah CRUMLEY, but this is not yet proven. The Hannah BERRY that was in Lumpkin Co., GA in 1852 wrote a letter about her government pension from her father, Thomas CRUMLEY d. 1836. Hannah's mother was Ruth MORGAN-BERRY who died 1837. This Hannah stated her age in as 64...making her born abt 1788. She also mentions Elias BERRY in this letter but not what their relationship was. Some researchers have jumped to the conclusion that Elias was her husband....I believe that instead, this Hannah was married first to Little BERRY, Elias' father. We are conducting further research on the CRUMLEYs in early Habersham Co., GA at this time. Several of these CRUMLEYs also went to Union Co., GA and married Hannah BERRY & Caleb BOWERS only daughter, Sarah Rebecca BOWERS.

Elias has been found in a 1854 deed referred to once as Elisha; but all other records show him as Elias; except his tombstone says "Lish". I see frequently that Elias, Elijah, Elisha and Eli can refer to the same man. Jesse M. BERRY witnessed this deed. I don't know yet if this Jesse M. was the Jesse Martin BERRY, s/o of Jesse#1 above or else it was Elias' brother Jesse b. 1832. Both Jesses were of majority to witness deeds in 1854.

Union Co., GA Recorded Deeds show land owned 3/15/1857 by a Jesse BERRY. In 1880, a Hannah BERRY of Lumpkin Co., GA sold this same land. Hannah had to have inherited this property somehow but those Estate records are likely in Lumpkin Co. or were part of the Union Co. records that did not survive the fire. There was a Jesse BERRY who died 4/1856 & is buried at Nimblewill Cem. in Lumpkin Co., GA; but that date of death was a year before the execution date of this deed.

An E.H. BERRY of Whitfield Co., GA sells a different tract of land in 1858 in Union Co., GA. These 4 deeds have raised more questions than they have answered.

Elias BERRY's first wife is not known. She died shortly after the 1840 Union Co., GA census. Elias had only 2 dtrs by this 1st wife: Hannah b. May 1837 and Elizabeth b. May 1838.

Elias BERRY married second his friend and neighbor's dtr Sarah JOHNSON dtr of John J. JOHNSON. They lived in Wolf Creek area of Union Co., GA. Sarah bore him two children: John Johnson BERRY b. May 1848 and Thomas BERRY b. 1850.

Hannah BERRY m. Caleb BOWERS in 1852. She died in 1885 Union Co., GA
Elizabeth BERRY m. Charles Henson in 1882. She died in 1921 Union Co., GA
John Johnson BERRY m. Caroline Elizabeth SWAIN in 1866 He died in 1921 in Union Co., GA.

Thomas BERRY m. Nancy Caroline BALLARD in 1867. He died after 1900 in Union Co., GA.

BERRY Documents:

Others Researching Elias BERRY family

Websites:

The BERRYs of North GA - history & raw data files