| Notes |
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See Misc-Docs folder.
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See pension application under Military
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found at http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fams/genealogy/durrenberger/nti03411.htm
Notes for Andrew DERRYBERRY
Biography
Andrew Derryberry was one of seven "first-generation" Derryberry men who appear in the records of Burke Co., NC prior
to 1800. Of the seven, Andrew is the only one for whom we have a reasonably precise estimate of birth year, namely
1765. We do not know when his parents migrated from New Jersey or Pennsylvania to North Carolina, but it likely
occurred sometime in the 1760's, and so we cannot be sure where he was born.
He first appears in records in 1778 as a chain carrier on land surveys for his (presumed) older brothers Michael and
John in the Silver Creek area of Burke Co. He would have been a young teenager at the time, which was not unusual for
chain carriers. He fought in local campaigns in the Revolutionary War starting in 1781, when he was about 16 years of
age. His statement describing his service, from his Revolutionary War pension application and dated 14 Oct 1832 at
Perry Co., TN, is as follows.
"In the year 1781 in the winter of said year he volunteered his services to fight the Indians being then a citizen of
the County of Burke in the State of North Carolina and attached himself to a company or party commanded by Thomas
Kenedy and marched to a point in said County by the name of John Davidson's Fort where he remained one month guarding the same. From thence he was marched to another point in said County known by the name of 'Warford Fort' where he remained for about two weeks guarding the same [& two weeks after Cornwallas]. He then returned home to his residence, and there remained until the 25th day of August in the year following (1782), when he ... enlisted in the Army of the United States with Captain Alexander [Brevard] and served in the Regiment of the Continental line under the following named officers: Colonel Archibald Lytle - Major __ McRee and Major __ Blount, Captain Peter McCourts - Fort 1 Lieutenant and __ Dickson second Lieutenant-- Charles Sturdevan orderly Sergeant and __ Dunigan - Sergeant. He
enlisted at Ramsaw's Mill Lincoln County in the State of North Carolina. From thence he was marched to Bacons Bridge
on the Ashley River seven miles below the same he reached head quarters and joined the Regular Army where he remained four months. From thence he was marched to James' Island between the Rivers Stone Oak and Ashley where we remained for six months. From thence he was marched to what was called the ten mile house leading from Charlestown to Camden where on the fifth day of July he was discharged..." [Source: Revolutionary Pension File, app. W10312.]
The above statement was given by Andrew, who stated his age about 67 at the time, and was signed with a mark. The
Justice of the Peace who took the statement, James Williams, stated on the same date that Andrew "lived within a few
hundred yards of my house, that he is so very old as to be altogether unable to get to Court to file his declaration,
that he believes the said Deberry [sic] to be as old as he states himself to be in his declaration, and that he is
generally known and reputed to be a Revolutionary soldier...."
North Carolina Secretary of State William Hill stated on 26 Mar 1833 that "it appears from the muster rolls of the
Continental Line of this State in the Revolutionary War that Andrew Derreberry a private soldier in Capt. Bacot's
Company of the 10th Regiment enlisted in 1782 for the term of 18 months, and that nothing more is said of him on said
Rolls." Militia returns from Thomas Kennedy's company from the period 1780-82 describe him as age 16, 5 foot 6 inches
tall, light hair, grey eyes, and fair complexion.
Following his discharge in 1783 Andrew seems to have returned to Burke Co., where in 1787 he was deeded land on Silver Creek from Jacob Hipps. This property was probably close if not adjacent to that granted to Michael and John
Derryberry in 1782, the surveying of which he participated in as described above. The 1790 census shows him in the
Silver Creek area near widow Anne, with a single female in his household. It is likely that Andrew had married prior
to 1790, possibly to a daughter of Jacob Hipps given the land record, but had no surviving children by 1790.
This first wife evidently died, since he married Sarah Rucker in 1795, to whom he remained married for the rest of his
life. A former next-door neighbor of Sarah's from Burke Co., Christopher Pearson, stated in 1850 that he recalled the
marriage, she having borrowed a mare from him to ride to the home of Justice of the Peace John Hall for the ceremony.
Andrew appears in the 1800 census in Burke Co., and on the tax rolls for the Silver Creek area for the period
1793-1808. In 1804 he deeded 100 acres of land to his probable brother Daniel, and on 10 Jul 1807 he signed a document as part of a twelve-member jury tasked with laying out the dower of Delila, widow of Mathias Hipps. Also signing was the Christopher Pearson mentioned above.
Given that he disappears from Burke Co. records after the 1808 tax list, it seems likely he migrated west to Tennessee
about 1808, settling by 1812 in Warren Co., TN, where he appears on the tax list there along with probable brothers
Jacob and Michael. Daniel does not appear on that list but may have been living there as well, since he seems to have
left Burke Co. the year after Andrew. In the 1820 census, there are two entries for an Andrew Derryberry in Warren
Co., TN, but they appear to be duplicate entries for this same man. He signed the petition for a new jail for Warren
Co. that same year, along with John and Michael Derryberry (both probably sons of Jacob).
Sometime between 1820 and 1830, Andrew and Daniel both moved west to Perry Co., TN, with Andrew settling near
Decaturville, which in 1845 would become Decatur Co., and Daniel settling near Lobelville. By this time Andrew was
getting on in years, and applied for a pension for his Revolutionary War service to help him in his old age, as noted
above. He sought help from two famous Tennessee Congressmen in his efforts. The first was David "Davy" Crockett,
"King of the Wild Frontier" and Representative for Tennessee's 9th District for 1827-31, and 12th District for 1833-35.
"On motion of Mr. Crockett [on 19 Feb 1828], Revolved, That the Committee on Military Pensions be instructed to inquire
into the expediency of placing Andrew Derryberry, a soldier of the Revolution, on the pension roll." (Source:
Congressional Edition, vol. 168, p. 317.) Rep. Crockett made several similar attempts over the next several years,
most or all of which were tabled. Another note, from 6 Apr 1830, states, "Mr. Bockee, from the Committee on Military
Pensions, made an unfavorable report on the cases of ... Andrew Derryberry, ..., and others, Revolutionary soldiers, of the county of Hunterdon, in the State of New Jersey. Ordered, That the said reports do lie on the table." (Source:
Congressional Edition, vol. 194, p. 507.)
The second was James K. Polk, later the 11th US President and Representative for Tennessee's 6th District for 1825-33
and 9th District for 1833-39. Entry from 16 Dec 1831, "Handed J. L. Edwards Esqr. Pension office, letter of Andrew
Derryberry of Perry County, desiring to know what decision had been made on his application for a pension, the papers
for which were forwarded to the War Dept. some time since." And from 19 Dec 1831, "Enclosed answer of J. L. Edwards, that the application was rejected in Decr. 1827, and papers withdrawn by Col. Crockett in Feby. 1828." ("James K. Polk and His Constituents", contributed by John Spencer Bassett to "American Historical Review" vol. XXVII no. 1, Oct 1922.)
The pension was at long last granted starting 4 Mar 1833 at the rate of $39.27 per annum, with arrears from the two
previous years also paid totaling $78.54. This was for 11 months 24 days of service as a private in Cpt. Kennedy's
company, Col. Lytle's regiment, NC Militia. The pension certificate was actually issued 6 Jun 1833 and sent to
Andrew's son, Andrew Jr., of Perryville. Following Andrew Sr.'s death in 1839, his widow Sarah would receive a widow's
pension at the same rate starting 4 Mar 1848 and sent to D. E. A. McElrath of Decaturville. (See Sarah's notes for
further information from her widow's pension.)
The Perry Co. tax list for 1837 lists an A. J. Derryberry, which could refer either to this man, or to his son Andrew
Jr., since both were alive and of adult age at the time. That raises the possibility that Andrew Sr. had a middle
initial of J., but this does not appear on any other documents, and it is possible it referred to, or was misread from,
"Jr." Thus he is shown without middle initial here. No trade is mentioned on any document, but it is likely he was a
farmer. His birth, marriage and death dates all come from statements of himself or his widow in the pension file
above; thanks to that pension file, we know more details of Andrew's life than any of the other first-generation
Derryberrys. It is likely that he died in Perry Co., where he was apparently still living in 1837. Shortly before his
death, he appointed his son, Andrew Derryberry Jr. of Warren Co., TN, his attorney. His place of burial is,
surprisingly, unknown.
He and Sarah had about 11 children, of whom six sons and one daughter are known or strongly suspected. See below for further details.
Sources
Burke Co., NC Court Records:
Militia returns, 1780-1782. Andrew Dereberry, age 16, 5 foot 6 inches, light hair, grey eyes, fair complexion,
Kenody's Co.
Burke Co., NC Land Records:
38. Jacob Hipp, 50 a on falling branch of Silver Creek between John Pearson and Alexander Harbison and George Hipps.
8 Feb 1787. Transferred to Andrew Derrebery.
1790 US census, 13th Co., Morgan Dist., Burke Co., NC
Anne Direberry (2 males >16 yrs, 1 fem)
Andrew Direberry (1 male >16, 1 fem)
Hana Direberry (1 male >16, 2 males <16, 1 fem)
"North Carolina Genealogical Magazine" Vol. 9, page 88, item 30, mentions that Andrew Derryberry [originally written
"Derreberry" but with the first "e" overwritten with "y"] received a leave of absence pass 21 Apr 1791 at Burke Co., NC
and signed a power of attorney for George James to draw out Andrew's final settlement claim for service due on the
"final furlow."
His Revolutionary pension statement notes that Andrew was born about 1765 and that he had lived, while in Burke Co., in proximity to the Pearsons. The Pearsons lived in 13th Company, the same area where the Andrew found in the 1790 census lived. This indicates that the Andrew in the 1790 census is the same man who served in the Revolutionary War and later lived in Perry and Madison Cos., TN.
Burke Co., NC Tax Lists, all from the Silver Creek area, and 1 poll in all instances:
1793, Cpt. James Macky's Co.: Andrew Dereberry (100 acres)
1794, Cpt. James Mackey's Co.: Andrew Derreberry (100 acres)
1795, Cpt. Thomas Lain's Co. (incomplete): Anders Derryberry (100 acres)
1802, Samuel Simpson's Co.: 300 acres
1803, [unnamed], Silver Creek area: 200 acres
1804, Samuel Simpson's Co.: 200 acres
1806, Whetstone's Co.: 130 acres
1807, Whetston's Co.: 130 acres
1808, Wm Neill's Co.: 130 acres
[Not found in 1809 or 1810.]
1800 US census, Morgan Dist., Burke Co., NC
Andrew Derberry (2 males <10, 1 male 26-45, 1 female 16-26)
[This places Andrew's birth between 1755 and 1774, and his wife's between 1774 and 1784. One of the sons was Michael C., the other was probably Daniel of Madison Co., AL. Near his presumed mother Ann in the list.]
Burke Co., NC Deed Records:
Andrew Derryberry, 100 a to Daniel Derreberry, 17 Apr 1804.
Michael Derreberry, 50 a to Joshua Hall, 16 Oct 1805, proved by Andrew Derrebrerry.
1812 Warren Co., TN tax list, transcribed in "Ansearchin' News" (TN Genealogical Society, Memphis), vol 19 no. 3,
Jul-Sep 1972), Graham's district:
Jacob Dareberry
John Welb (Webb?)
Joel Starky
...
Jarvis Starky
Andr. Derreby
[Note some transcriptions have mistakenly interpreted "Andr." as "Jas."]
In 1820, two Andrew Derryberrys, both age 45 and up, are enumerated in Warren Co., TN: one is enumerated on p. 34 near a Daniel, also age 45 and up, and the other is enumerated on p. 42 near Jacob's widow Christiana and her presumed son Daniel (age 26-44), with households as noted below. Given the similarities of ages, particularly for the women, and the fact that no other Andrew of this age is known, these are taken to be duplicate entries for the same man.
1820 US census, Warren Co. ,TN
Andrew Derryberry (p. 34): 120001 // 20301 [adjacent to brother Daniel]
Andrew Derryberry (p. 42): 111201 // 20310 [adjacent to sister-in-law Christiana]
Furthermore, an 1820 jail petition for Warren Co., while not signed by everyone in the county, includes only one Andrew
Derryberry. The other Derryberry's signing were John and Michael, both likely adult sons of Jacob Derryberry.
Land grant, Warren Co., TN, no. 19819, granted 12 Aug 1823. To Andrew Derryberry, assignee of Bolling Fisher, five
acres by survey bearing date the 4th day of May 1816 lying in the second district in Warren County on the waters of the
Barren Fork of Collins River and bounded as follows to wit. Beginning at a post oak the south west corner of a 5 acre
survey made in the name of said Derryberry running thence north with a line of said 5 acres twenty poles to a stake his
corner, thence west forty poles to a stake and pointers, thence south twenty poles to a post oak, thence east forty
poles to the Beginning."
1830 US census, Perry Co., TN [img 17]
Andrew Derberry 000020001 00000001
[Andrew age 60-70, wife age 50-60, and 2 sons age 20-30. On the same page were M.C. Derberry and Thos Derberry, both probable sons. Most of the women in the household from the 1820 census appear to have been living with Thomas in 1830.]
TN Pension Roll 1835:
Andrew Deweberry, Perry Co., private, North Carolina militia. Annual allowance $39.27. Amount received $98.17.
Pension started 6 Jun 1833. Age 73.
1837 Tax List, Perry Co., TN (district 4)
M. C. Derryberry [1 poll]
A. J. Derryberry [1 poll]
[The A. J. may refer to Andrew's son Andrew Derryberry Jr. However, given that Andrew Sr. was still alive in 1837, it
is possible that A. J. refers to Andrew Sr., making his own middle initial J. This district was in the southwest part
of the county, near Decaturville and on the Henderson Co. line. It is in modern-day Decatur Co.]
In 1838, Andrew assigned several properties in Warren Co. to a Thomas Hopkins. These are grants no. 5796, 5797, 5798, and 5799, dated 25 Jan 1838.
Probable Children
Based on the various census records, Andrew seems to have had as many as 10 children. Five sons are known or strongly suspected, while the names of four of five daughters are unfortunately unknown. We have the 1800, 1820 and 1830 censuses to account for children. He was enumerated twice in 1820, and the listing of children, particularly sons, is inconsistent between the two. It is entirely possible that Daniel and/or Michael C. were gone from the household by
1820, leaving room for probable son John, although the age estimates don't fit perfectly.
Possible children:
son Daniel (<10 in 1800, 18-26 in 1820); b. 1796?
son Michael C. (<10 in 1800, 18-26 in 1820); b. 1799
dau (16-26 in 1820); b. 1800?
dau (16-26 in 1820); b. 1802?
son Andrew Jr. (16-18 in 1820, 20-30 in 1830); b. 1804
dau (16-26 in 1820, 20-30 in 1830 Thomas hh); b. 1806?
son Jesse (10-16 in 1820, 20-30 in 1830); b. 1808
son Thomas (<10 in 1820, 15-20 in 1830 enumerated separately); b. 1811?
dau (<10 in 1820, 10-15 in 1830 Thomas hh?); perhaps the J. J. b. 1810 (see below)?
dau Minerva (<10 in 1820, 10-15 in 1830 Thomas hh?); b. 1819
The identities of the daughters (probably 5 altogether) are all currently unknown as mentioned above. However, one of
them may be the J. J. Derryberry age 50 living alone in Decatur Co., TN in the 1860 census. Andrew Jr. and Jesse R.
are probably the two younger men in the 1830 census.
1860 US census, Dist. 4, Decatur Co., TN (P.O. Decaturville)
J. J. Dereberry [fem], age 50, [occ. illegible], $100/400, b. TN
In Madison Co., TN deed book 1, pp. 478-479 is found a record of a land sale from John Chisum, on which a "Harvy
Derryberry" was a witness, dated 1830-1. No "Harvey" Derryberrys are known from that time period, so it is most likely
that "Harvy" was a mistranscription of "Henry", and that record is attributed to Henry W. Derryberry of Maury Co. (son
of Jacob Derryberry and Margaret Long), and not someone from Andrew's family. [Only the transcription has been
checked, not the original.]
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|
S Butler and S Hibbs Family History Our Family's Journey Through Time
1765 - 1839 (74 years)
