Husband William Gilmore Berry 1 2 3
Born: 2 Dec 1781 - Colerain Twp, Lancaster Co, PA 3 4
Christened:
Died: 26 Oct 1866 - Canonsburg, Washington Co, PA 3 4
Buried: - Canonsburg U. P. Church, Canonsburg, Washington Co, PA
Father: John Berry (1753- ) 3 5
Mother: Elizabeth Gilmore ( - ) 3 5
Marriage: 1804 5
Wife Jane McConnell 3 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: 25 Feb 1848 - Canonsburg, Washington Co, PA 4
Buried: - Canonsburg U. P. Church, Canonsburg, Washington Co, PA
Father: Matthew McConnell, Esq. (Abt 1742- ) 6
Mother: Mary Alexander ( - ) 7
Children
1 M John Berry 3 4
Born: 1 Aug 1805 - near Venice, Cecil Twp, Washington Co, PA 4
Christened:
Died: 8 Jun 1881 3 4
Buried: - U. P. Cemetery, Pigeon Creek, Washington Co, PA
Spouse: Jane Eagleton ( -1844) 3 4
Marr: 1 Dec 1829 4
Spouse: Mary Barr ( -1864) 3 8
Marr: 1851 8
Spouse: Sarah J. Logan ( -1877) 3
2 F Mary Berry 2
Born: 22 May 1810 5
Christened:
Died: 15 Feb 1893 5
Buried:
Spouse: John May ( - ) 5
Marr: 9 Feb 1837 5
3 F Elizabeth Berry 4
AKA: Mary Berry 9
Born: 23 Jul 1815 5
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William J. McLaughlin ( - ) 5
Marr: 27 Oct 1840 5
4 F Jane Berry 4 9
Born: 1817 10
Christened:
Died: 21 Sep 1888 - Canonsburg, Washington Co, PA 10
Buried:
Spouse: John Thorne ( - ) 9
Marr: 17 Feb 1841 10
5 M William Berry 4 9
Born: 1819 10
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Collahan ( - ) 9
Marr: 1 Dec 1848 10
6 F Prudence Berry 4 9
Born: 1821 10
Christened:
Died: Jan 1886 - Canonsburg, Washington Co, PA 10
Buried:
Spouse: John Carson ( -1849) 10
7 M Matthew Berry 5 9 11
Born: 30 Jan 1823 - Strabane Twp, Washington Co, PA 5
Christened:
Died: Aft 1910
Buried:
Spouse: Margaret Willison ( - ) 10
Marr: Apr 1847 10
8 M James Berry 4 9
Born: 22 Mar 1827 10
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Martha McConnell ( -1890) 10
Marr: 22 Feb 1846 10
General Notes: Husband - William Gilmore Berry
In the spring of 1795 or 1796 he came with his father to Mt. Pleasant township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and when able to do for himself he moved to Venice, Cecil township, where he purchased a farm and mill property, afterward buying and settling on a farm in North Strabane township. About 1850 he retired from active work and took up his residence in Canonsburg, where he died.
He began his business career at Venice, Pennsylvania, working for some time at house carpentry. Soon, however, purchasing a small farm and gristmill, he successfully managed them for a number of years, improving the farm, erecting a new dwelling house and new mill, with increased capacity. About 1821 he purchased a small flock of Spanish Merino sheep from the celebrated flock of W. R. Dickinson, of Steubenville, Ohio, and from that date until he disposed of his business interests his prominent industry was sheep raising and wool growing. In order that he might increase his flocks he purchased from time to time a number of farms in Washington County and in Ohio. The first purchase was the Nelson farm in Mt. Pleasant township; the second purchase was in company with his brother, John, a farm of 200 acres near Cecil postoffice, in Washington County, known as the Gordon farm. Later they purchased the Spencer farm of 200 acres on Paint creek, Ross County, Ohio, near the city of Chillicothe. In 1834 he purchased in his own interest a farm in Cecil township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, from James Watson, same containing 170 acres. In August, 1835, he purchased the "Peach Garden" farm one mile south of Canonsburg, containing 300 acres. He moved to this farm his family (except his oldest son John) on the last day of March, 1836, and lived for one year in the home later occupied by S. W. Berry. Here he made extensive improvements, building a large brick dwelling, and very extensive and commodious farm buildings. He purchased and operated the Canonsburg Mills for a number of years, with the land adjoining, mostly now within the borough limits. The aforementioned properties he disposed of from time to time, his son William securing the north end of the Peach Garden farm, while Matthew procured the south end, the Canonsburg Mill property going to the youngest son, James. William Gilmore Berry lived for a number of years on the Peach Garden farm, but later moved to Canonsburg, building the dwelling house at No. 404 West Pike street, where he resided until his death. [CBRWC, 123]
Gov. Simon Snider commissioned him justice of the peace for District No. 5, composed of Cecil and Chartiers townships, his commission bearing date December 13, 1815, and to use the language of the commission for "so long as you shall behave yourself well." He held the office until he moved from the district in March, 1836. He was a prominent Abolitionist, and associated in this movement with such men as Dr. F. Julius Le Moyne, Maj. Samuel McFarland, W. H. McNary, Joseph Lee and others. He gave liberally of his means to establish and maintain the "Underground Railroad," which put many a black man to the land north of the great lakes, and he lived to read the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln. In politics he was first a Democrat, afterward a Whig, then an Abolitionist, and later a Republican. In religion he was a Presbyterian, in later life a member of the Associate Reformed Church, and after the union a United Presbyterian, a member of the Speer Spring Congregation from its organization until his death, and for a number of years was a ruling elder in that congregation.