Person:Agnes Hall (11)

Notes for Agnes Hall

The following information is obtained from the "Genealogy of the Berry and Associated Families of Augusta, Rockbridge, and Washington Counties of Virginia" by Jim Jackson, Carol Vass, Marie Loughlin, Donna Fischer. Their site is a wealth of information with Primary Source Documentation

"George Berry was born at an unknown date in the either Ireland, Scotland or Pennsylvania, but no definitive documentation has been found, to date, to accurately define his birth date or place. While his (probable) brother Thomas was quite likely born in 1718, sources disagree on the birthplace. The educated guesses are Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Ireland, and while these sources are not of much help in determining the place of George Berry's birth, they may point to two likely locations. The best statement in regard to George's birth date is that it was probably somewhat close to the 1718 birth date of his brother, Thomas Berry.

At an unknown date and place, possibly in Augusta County, Virginia, George Berry married Agnes Hall, a daughter of William and Jane Hall. As will be noted below in the discussion of George's in-laws, the Hall family is believed to have traveled from northern Ireland or Scotland through Philadelphia to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and finally to Augusta County, Virginia. The earliest date that William Hall can be placed in Augusta County is 1742.

If George married Agnes prior to the arrival of the Hall family in Augusta County, then it is quite possible that the Berry's migration trail passed through Pennsylvania from northern Ireland. One of George and Agnes' children is known to have been born in 1755 in Augusta County, Virginia, which must mean their marriage occurred prior to that date. As noted above in the discussion of the elder James Berry, the 1742 Augusta County militia lists (Table V) do not contain any Berry family members, strongly suggesting that they had not yet arrived in the area at that time.

It is assumed that Agnes passed away before George, as she is not mentioned in his 1803 will. She is, however, mentioned in a 1778 court record, so her death probably took place sometime between these two dates (1778 and 1803). George is known to have lived in Augusta County from 1751 to his death in 1803 or 1804, and since it appears that Agnes preceded him in death, it stands to reason that Agnes must have passed away in Augusta County, Virginia. It is also apparent that George Berry died in Augusta County, because his will was written and proved there. A series of references from Augusta County records, shown below, trace George and Agnes Berry from 1751 to 1804. His date of death can be bracketed as occurring between April 1803, when he wrote his will, and June 1804, when his will was proved in court."

1. ↑ Will Abstract of William Hall.

   HALL, WILLIAM. Botetourt County, Virginia. 27 Dec 1772. 8 Feb 1773.
   Wife: Jean
   Children: Andrew Hall, Agnes Berry, John Hall, Isable Buchanan, William Hall, Nathaniel Hall, James Hall,
   Exe: son [in law] George Berry]
   Wit: Joseph Walker, John Thompson, Andrew Mackinley
   [WB A:21]