Life History

Notes

• This Berry A Gregory may be the son of Robert Gregory, born in Union County (old 96th), South Carolina, and died in DeKalb County, Alabama, who seems to be the son of Robert Gregory, son on Isaac Gregory, who moved to Union County from Virginia.  But one genealogy presents an index record that says Berry Alexander Gregory's parents were Berry Gregory and Margaret Word.  His father's name may have been Robert Berry Gregory.  But he appears in records as Robert Gregory.
  
  Alabama, Marriage Index, 1800-1969
  B A Gregory
  S E Burk
  Marriage 10 Oct 1878 DeKalb County, Alabama
  Performed By Justice of the Peace Sam N Warren
  Source Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research
  
  1860 Federal Census, DeKalb County, Alabama, 13 June, Division 2, page 6 (scan 98), Hse #40, Fam #42
  Robert Gregory 34 M Farmer $300 Real Estate $230 Personal born South Carolina [b abt 1826]
  Margaret J Gregory 30 F Housewife born South Carolina [b abt 1830]
  Sarah E Gregory 10 F born South Carolina [b abt 1850]
  William T Gregory 8 M born Alabama [b abt 1852]
  John B Gregory 5 M born Alabama [b abt 1855]
  Berry A Gregory 3 M born Alabama [b abt 1857]
  Theodore H Gregory 8 months M born Alabama [b abt Sept 1859]
  
  ------------------------------
  Berry Alexander (Alec) Gregory (14 November 1856-28 May 1950), fourth child of Robert and Margaret, was born near Lebanon in DeKalb County, Alabama. The old homestead was located on acreage now owned by I D Gregory, a grandson. Before his marriage, he worked as a jailor in Lebanon (the County Seat at the time) to earn money to buy a farm.
  
  Alexander was a “circuit-riding” Baptist preacher. He pastored Mt Zion Baptist Church for twenty years. He traveled from church to church in a buggy drawn by a claybank (dun) colored mare that he called, “Old Mag.” He kept a journal of his travels and a record of marriages and funerals he performed, as well as fees he was paid. Most years he didn’t even earn enough to keep his horse shod. Unfortunately, this journal appears to be lost, either burned in a fire that destroyed the home of daughter, Mary Yarbrough, or lost by family members.
  
  Alec married Sarah Elizabeth Burk (29 September 1856-9 August 1929) on 10 October 1878. Sarah was the daughter of Wilburn and Martha Ann Carver Burk. Both are buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery. Their children: William L; Sally Josephine Rebecca; Charlsie F; John Fred Walker; Robert Alexander; Mary Jane; Wilburn Wallace; and Stella Estell.
  --  Gregory Family Genealogy, http://gregoryfamilygenealogy.org/?page_id=387
  ------------------------------
  
  One history names a child not found in other lists of children of Berry Alexander Gregory and Sarah Elizabeth Burk.  His name appears as William L Gregory.  He would be the child indicated in the 1900 census, which says 8 children were born but only 7 were living at that time.
  
  1900 Federal Census, Cherokee County, Alabama, 9 June, Beat 11, District 126, page 6A, Hse/Fam #104
  Gregory, Berry A Head W M Nov 1853  46 Married 22 yrs [mar abt 1868] AL SC SC Farmer Owns
  Gregory, Sarah E Wife W F Sept 1856  43 Married 22 yrs 8 children/7 living AL NC GA
  Gregory, Josie Dau W F May 1881  19 TN TN TN
  Gregory, Charlesie Dau W F Feby  1884  16 AL AL AL
  Gregory, Walker Son W M Aug 1886  13 AL AL AL
  Gregory, Alexander Son W M Nov 1888  11 AL AL AL
  Gregory, Mary Dau W F July 1891 81 AL AL AL
  Gregory, Wallace Son W M Dec 1894  5 AL AL AL
  Gregory, Estell Dau W F Mar 1899  1 AL AL AL
  
  Berry's death certificate transcription (no document image) reports his father as Berry Gregory.
  
  Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974
  Berry Alexander Gregory
  Death 28 May 1950 Collinsville, DeKalb, Alabama
  Age 93 (born abt 1857)
  Father's Name Berry Gregory
  Mother's Name Margaret Word
  
  Most genealoiges, however, report his father as Robert.  In historical records he is called Robert, and is well-documented as Robert.  No documentation has been found for the name Berry.
  
  Alabama, Death Index, 1908-1959
  Berry A Gregory
  Death 28 May 1950 DeKalb County
  Recorded Volume 19, Certificate #9219
  
  A matching Find a Grave memorial in DeKalb County, Alabama links to a memorial for his mother in the name of Margaret Gregory.  No link is provided to a memorial for his father.  Links to memorials for three children match individuals reported in the above 1900 census.  One anomaly is that this memorial reports that death occurred in Cherokee County, Alabama, where Gregorys also lived, but his death record (index only) above reports he died in DeKalb County  The date of death and wife's memorial also match.
  
  -------------------
  Rev Berry Alexander Gregory
  Birth Nov 14, 1856 Lebanon, DeKalb County, Alabama, USA
  Death May 28, 1950 Cherokee County, Alabama, USA
  
  Parents Margaret Gregory (1828 - 1898)
  Spouse Sarah Elizabeth Burk Gregory (1856 - 1929)
  Children:
  Sally Josephine Gregory (1881 - 1965)
  Robert Alexander Gregory (1888 - 1979)
  Wilburn Wallace Gregory (1894 - 1983)
  
  Siblings:
  Sarah Elizabeth Gregory Poteet (1849 - 1915)
  John B Gregory (1854 - 1922)
  William Francis Gregory (1856 - 1934)
  Mary Florence Gregory Davis (1866 - 1949)
  
  Burial Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery, Collinsville, DeKalb County, Alabama, USA
  
  Created by Jessica Reed May 24, 2011
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #70329141, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70329141?ftm=1
  -------------------
  

Sources

• 1. Ancestry Trees
• 2. 1900 Federal Census, Cherokee County, Alabama
  • 9 June, Beat 11, District 126, page 6A, Hse/Fam #104
• 3. Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974
• 4. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 5. 1860 Federal Census, DeKalb County, Alabama
  • 13 June, Division 2, page 6 (scan 98), Hse #40, Fam #42
• 6. Alabama, Death Index, 1908-1959
• 7. 1940 Federal Census, Orleans County, Louisiana
  • 13 April, New Orleans Ward 1, District 36-8, page 7A, 1412 Terpsichore St, Hse #165, Rents $18
• 8. Gregory Family Genealogy
• 9. Alabama, Marriage Index, 1800-1969