What happened to James Wesley Berry and Susan Nancy Cave?
I descend from James Wesley Berry and Susan Nancy Cave through my gg
grandmother and their daughter Ellen Narcissa Berry. Ellen was one of nine children
of this couple and I have documented through marriage and wills, death records,
supplemented by census these nine children. However, I am at a loss to find
what every happened to Wesley and Nancy (the names they commonly used).
James and Wesley were married in Page County, Virginia 24 December 1834. Her
father is listed on the marriage record as John Cave, her mother as
Elizabeth. I know there were two John Cave’s with wives names Elizabeth in Page County
at the time. One John was married to Elizabeth Aleshire. I do not believe
those were Nancy’s parents due to where she was in the 1850 & 1860 census.
I have never found Wesley in any census. I only have his name from death and
marriage records of children. There children are listed as follows:
Frances Edna Berry born about 1835 married Francis Marion Cave in Page County
1 June 1854. She lists her parents as Wesley Berry & Nancy Cave.
Ellen Narcissa Berry born 1839 in Page County. Married William Shelton
Harris in Page County 3 April 1866. She lists her parents as Wesley Berry & Nancy
Cave.
Mary Elizabeth Berry born July 1843. She married Noah Andrews Meadows in
Rockingham County 16 June 1867. She lists her parents as Wesley Berry & Nancy
Cave.
James Madison Berry born 12 August 1846 in Page County. He married Lucy Ann
C. E. Harris 22 July 1868 in Rockingham County. His marriage record lists his
parents as Wesley Berry and Nancy Cave. His death record states James Berry
and Susan Cave, my first clue that Wesley and Nancy weren’t their full given
names.
Elizabeth F. Berry born about 1848, living with her mother (who is listed as
Nancy under the surname of Cave) in the home of her grandparents John &
Elizabeth Cave in the 1850 census for Page County.
Susan Harriet Berry born September 1850, still living in Page County in 1900.
She is shown living with her mother Nancy in the 1850 census detailed above.
Adeline Berry born about 1853, is shown living with her mother in the
household of her grandmother Elizabeth Cave in the 1860 census. John Cave is shown
living in the household of Simeon Cave which makes me believe he is the brother
of Nancy.
Newman H. Berry born December 1857, living with his mother in the 1860
census. He married Elizabeth Weakley in 23 December 1877 in Madison County and
lists his parents as Wesley & Nancy Berry.
John W. Berry born 1859 and is living with his mother in the household of his
grandmother in the 1860 census. He is living in the household of his sister
Ellen, now Ellen Harris in the 1870 census in Rockingham County. His death
record lists his father as James Harris.
The only tie I have showing the parents of James Wesley Berry is the will of
Margaret Ann (Peggy) Ward Berry who died in Page County in 1853. She does not
list Wesley nor 8 of his children in the will, but does list granddaughter
Frances Edna Berry. When the estate is disbursed Frances’ share is paid to her
husband Francis Marion Cave. Why isn’t James or the other children mentioned
in the will? One researcher suggests Frances was his only child and he died
before his mother. Something I feel is incorrect given the fact she lists the
heirs of son Lawson Berry who died before her and the fact that all nine of
Wesley’s children, especially two of those born after Margaret Ward Berry’s
death can be linked to him through some type of documentation.
Wesley cannot be found in any census, only listed on marriage and death
records. Nancy isn’t found after the 1860 census. What happened to Wesley &
Nancy? Why wasn’t he listed in his mother’s will? Why is his wife always living
with her parents? Children appear at regular intervals, so he must be around.
Can anyone help? This family appears in Page, Rockingham and Madison
Counties.
Anita Schultz-Peters
Remember:
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