Person:Jane Berry (12)

Identity of John Tate's Wife

Several researchers have believed that the wife of this John Tate was a Jane "Jenny" Steele, but recently, after examining the Revolutionary Pension Application and Statement of John Berry, it appears that John Tate's wife was actually Jane "Jenny" Berry, the sister of John Berry, both children of George Berry (est. 1725-1804) of Augusta County, Virginia. In his Revolutionary War Service Statement, he clearly states that he served in the place of John Tate, his brother-in-law, for one month, and served under [then] Capt. William Tate, who appears to be the brother of this John Tate, as follows:

That also he (John Berry) volunteered for two months which tour he served out under Capt Thos Smith [Thomas Smith] in the fall of the year seventeen hundred and eighty who went from Staunton Virginia. The other officers not recollected. that also, he went as a substitute for his brother in law John Tate and served one month. This tour was seved in the fall about Sept. shortly previous to Cornwallises capture in Oct’r. 1781 [Cornwallis, 19 Oct 1781] under Capt. William Tate in Colo Boyers regiment again with Major Long – Gen’l Layfayette Gen’l Wayne – Gen’l Mulenburgh [sic: Lafayette, Anthony Wayne, Peter Muhlenberg] regular officers were along and commanded but this declarant was more under the immediate command of Gen’l [William] Campbell who was a militia officer & died on this Expedition Major [Thomas] Armisted is also recollected as a regular officer. that he served several minor tours as a volunteer besides the foregoing – particulars of which are not sufficiently recollected to set them forth that on the second Expedition above named he marched from Augusta County Va. to Richmond where he staid in service the ballance of s’d tour.

It should also be noted that George Berry, John Tate's apparent father-in-law, was a witness to John Tate's will, also adding additional support to John Tate's wife being a Berry instead of a Steele.