| Notes |
- Reference: Annals of Clarke County, Virginia by Stuart Brown Jr. Volume 1, 1983
"Long House"
Joseph Berry and his family lived in an old log house which may have been built by Fishback or by Combs, and may have been occupied by Combs -- in 1773 Joseph Berry bought the Fishback tract which extended down the river to a point opposite Burwell's Island. The low-lying, low-ceiling, rambling house, replete with exquisite pine paneling and beautiful brass hinges and door knobs had fourteen rooms, five main staircases, and in the loft, there was a large room equipped with sliding doors as dividers, a room that often served as a ballroom, and perhaps more often as a tavern and resting place for travelers -- there were many times when the river was too high to be safely traversed even by the ferry, and on such occasions, the traveler had to seek food and lodging in the area, and wait perhaps for several days, until the river returned to normalcy. Over the years the old log house (sometimes called Berry's Ferry) was enlarged, usually by adding on lengthwise, and eventually becoming so lengthy as to occasion a neighbor's remark that if any more additions were made, a person could enter it, the "Long House", at the Shenandoah River, and walk all the way up to Ashby's Gap without ever going outside. Although the "Long House" was located to the north of what is now Route 50, the house and its occupants are so intertwined with Berry's Ferry and the surrounding area that it and its occupants are being herein grouped among the south of Route 50 old homes and families.
Will of Joseph BERRY of Frederick Co, Va.
5/8/1806 Proven 4/20/1807
In the name of God amen I Joseph Berry of Frederick County and State of Virginia being in a tolerable State of health and sound in mind and memory do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form as follows. First and principally I give and bequeath my soul unto almighty god hoping for acceptance thereof through the merits of Jesus Christ and my body to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner, at the discretion of My Executrix her in after mentioned and
with respect to my worldly estate, all my Just debts being first paid and Discharged, I will & dispose of in manner following...Item, I give and beqeuath unto my son FRANCIS BERRY one dollar and no more;
Item I give, and bequeath unto my son BENJAMIN BERRY one Dollar and no more.
Item I give and beqeuath to my Daugter REBECKAH EARLS who was REBECKAH WOOD, who was REBECKAH BERRY one Dollar and no more.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daugter SUSANNA CONWAY late SUSANNA BERRY one Dollar and no more.
Item I give to my Daughter MARY CONWAY late MARY BERRY - one Dollar and no more.
My reason for giving the said Francis, Benjamin, Rebeckah, Susanna and Mary BERRY, no more of my Estate is that they have received their full parts before this period.
Item I give and bequeath to my loving wife HULDA BERRY all my Estate both real and personal during her life or widowhood, for her the said HULDAH BERRY to dispose of amongst her children as she thinks best but should she marry it is my will that, she should have one Eighth part of my Estate to her and her heirs forever, and no more; but Should she continue Single after my Decesae, it is my desire for her always to have the benefit of my estate both real and personal at her own disposal and whatever of the extate may be in her hand, at her death to be equally divided amongst my seven Children Viz: PEGGY BERRY, SARAH BERRY,JOSEPH BERRY and HULDAH BERRY, THOMAS BERRY, WILLIAM B. BERRY and KATHARINE BERRY to them and their heirs forever.
Item and Lastly it is my will and desire that that (sic) my loving wife HULDAH BERRY be my Executrix of this my Last will and Testament requesting that no security be required of her upon her qualification as such. In Witnefs whereof I have Subscribed my name and affixed my seal this Eighth day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and six.
Signed sealed and
delivered in presence ofJos. Berry [seal]
Samuel Bryerly
James Lindsay
Lester Pullen
James Hathaway
Abraham Hefs (Hess)
At a Superior court continued and held for the district composed of the counties of Frederick, Berkeley Shenandoah and Jefferson at Winchester the 20th day of April 1807. The Last will and testament of JOSEPH BERRY was produced to the court and proved by the oaths of JAMES HATHAWAY and ABRAHAM HEFS witnefses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of HULDA BERRY the Executrix therein ------- she having made oath and entered into bond in the final sum of ten thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs (the said will directing that security
should not be taken and it appeasing to the Court by the oath of
From the will, it appears obvious that there are two groups of children; one group has already received their portions, and one group has not. Since Huldah has one eighth, and the rest evenly divided, I have somewhat arbitrarily decided to place the "seven children" listed as being issue of Joseph and Huldah, and the (older?) children as children of Joseph and Mary FAIRFAX, which marriage is not proven in my records.
In addition, I have interpreted several of the words in the will differently from Judy Warth, who provided this will and to whom I am eternally grateful. We will see if the distribution of children is consistent with other records as time goes on.
12/23/1758, sold 100 acres with wf Mary, sold 150 acres to Col. Chs Carter; probably Moved with other family (see Benj) to Frederick Co at this time.
In 1757, Thomas Ashby conveyed Ferry Rights to Joseph Berry. This crossing is now called Berry's Ferry. In 1736 John Kersey was given Ferry Rights in Sherrando (Shenandoah) river. Thomas Ashby aquired from him.
Frederick Co. Records:
March 30, 1759 - Deed Book 5, pg. 284, Thomas Ashby of Prince William County, Va., and Betty, his wife, to Joseph Berry of Hanover Parish, King Geo. County, 308 acres patented to said Ashby.
Deed Book 5, pg. 506, March 22, 1760, George Ross of Frederick Co., to Thomas Berry of same place, 303 acres.
Deed Book 8 pg. 41, Nov. 2, 1762, Thomas Berry and wife Hannah to Bryan Bruin of Winchester - 303 acres.
Deed Book 16 pg. 636, Nov. 30, 1774, George Mercer, Esq., late of Va. now of London, and many others including George Washington, to Thomas Berry of Frederick Co., 357 acres.
Deed Book 20 pg. 105, Feb. 6, 1789 - Deed of Gift, Joseph Berry to Francis Berry of same place , 308 acres formerly belonged to Thomas Ashby.
Facts about this person:
Probate April 20, 1807
will proved
Immigration Abt. 1759
King Geo. to Frederick Co., Virgina
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1723 - 1807 (83 years)
Has 26 ancestors and 19 descendants in this family tree.
[1, 2] 
1641 - Yes, date unknown