Record book
John Tillman Derryberry
John Green Derryberry
John Tillman Derryberry was born Aug 9, 1790 and died Nov 20, 1863 in McNairy County, TN, and is one of the first persons buried in Indian Creek Cemetery in the little community called Chewalla which used to be a bigger community on the Southern Railroad and close to the Alcorn County line. Derryberry is a very hard name to research because of the numerous spellings in the mid 1800's, mostly in the census records. Many census takers had a minimum education and therefore they spelled names the way they heard it. Three of John’s children died before him. Louisa Derryberry White died 1861 and Henry Carroll Derryberry before 1860. John G Derryberry died June 1866. McNairy County Court Minutes: July 2, 1866: J G Gooch held an inquest upon the body of John G Derryberry. Although John Tillman died in 1863, due to the Civil War legal actions were not taken until 1865. Men who died without a will left big problems. If the land could be divided between the children a group of men was appointed by the court to divide the land. If the heirs wanted the land sold a case had to be filed in Chancery Court. This did not always mean an argument between the heirs but one had to file a case against all the others. The complainant was usually the administrator of the estate. Often times there was dispute among the heirs. John Tillman Derryberry gave his children three names.
My notes concerning John Tillman Derryberry’s children: Children with first wife. Other genealogists say her name was Ann: 1. John Green Derryberry, died June 1866 McNairy County, TN. Burial unknown 2. Louisa Lilly Derryberry White, born Nov 14, 1814, died Aug 1, 1861. Buried Owen Cemetery, Polk Co, Ark. 3. Henry Carrol Derryberry born 1820 and died before 1860, probably McNairy Co, TN 4. Julia Ann P Derryberry Drewery Dunning, born ca 1824, died after 1900 in Ark. She was in Prairie Co, Ark in 1880 and 1900. 5. Elmina Green Derryberry Gatlin, born Sept 6, 1826, died Jan 3, 1897. Buried in Camp Ground Cemetery, Tippah Co, MS. Children with Keziah Frances ‘Kizzie’ Woodard, born Mar 3, 1906 died after 1900 in Lamar County, Texas: 6. Pitzer J Miller Derryberry born Feb 15, 1832, died Feb 9, 1916. Buried Methodist Cemetery, Prentiss Co, Ms. 7. Charlotte Elizabeth Derryberry Campbell born Aug 3, 1837, died 1897. Buried Dexter North Cemetery, Cooke Co, TX 8. Martha Caroline Derryberry McGuin, born Dec 10, 1839 and died Oct 21, 1904. Buried Dexter North, Cooke Co, TX 9. Christopher H William Derryberry born Feb 11, 1842, died Dec 2, 1926. Buried Dexter South, Cooke Co, TX 10. William Alexander Bradford Derryberry, born June 4, 1844, died Dec 12, 1914. Buried Henry Cemetery, Alcorn Co, MS 11. Hanna Christine Derryberry Hurley, born June 16, 1847 and died July 28, 1881 in McNairy Co, TN. Probably buried in Indian Creek Cemetery
John G Derryberry’s children are not always listed the same, my notes: 1. William - W G - William Green McLendon Derryberry born Feb 23, 1842 died July 4, 1893 Henry Co, Ind. 2. M A is probably Micijah Alexander but is always listed M A. 1850 census listed Micjah. !860, Alexander. List above as M E L. ???? There was a M A Derryberry married Mildred Abernathy in 1873 in Marshall County, Miss. Age matches but no proof correct person. They were in Van Buren Co, Ark in 1880. Last time found them. 3. Christina is often listed as C W Williams, her husband was W H Williams. She was born 1847 and died June 10, 1890 Paluski, Ark. She married W H Williams Jan 18, 1867 in Shelby Co, TN. In 1870 they were in Hardeman Co, TN and 1880 in Ark. 4. C D A - Corda or Candis (listed as Candy on 1860 census) born ca 1854. No information except at home 1860 and what is mentioned in the Chancery Court File 217. 5. Elmina can be spelled several ways. She married Frank E. Taylor, Aug 15, 1869. In 1850 census listed Elmira, in 1860 Elizabeth. Never found after their marriage 6. Martha C (in the census just Martha) was born ca 1849. Was at home 1850 and 1860. Only other info is what was in Chancery Court Case 217. 7. N F( is listed in 1860 census as Nashville). At home 1860. No information except what was in Case 217, Chancery Court. 8. Rosa - Rosa Anna Malinda . Was born Apr 21, 1851 and died Nov 23, 1943 in Green Co, MO. Burial Seymour Cemetery, Webster Co, MO. She married John Christian Koch in 1872, probably Tenn. Some of her children were born in Shelby Co, Tenn. They moved to Missouri co, MO by 1900. Their other children died before 1869: Cynthia born ca 1843 ; Harriet born ca 1857; Thomas born 1860
MCNAIRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE, HISTORY
P M DERRYBERRY vs W A DERRYBERRY
Chancery Court, 1869 #217
Transcribed by Nancy Wardlow Kennedy
Estate of John T Derryberry: Petition to sell lands
Any information in red is transcriber’s notes.
P M Derryberry, a citizen of McNairy County, Tenn, complainant
VS
Julia P Drury;
F G Gatlin and his wife Elmina;
H B Campbell and his wife Elizabeth;
W A Derryberry;
C W Derryberry;
Frank Taylor and his wife Elmina, who is a minor, who is the daughter of Jack Derryberry;
all of whom are all citizens of the State of Mississippi;
W G M Derryberry, who is a citizen of the State of Indiana;
George Hurley and his wife Hannah Hurley, citizens of Hardeman County, Tenn;
M E L Derryberry, a minor; (apparently this is Micajah Alexander ?)
Martha C Derryberry, minor;
N F Derryberry, minor; all citizens of Fayette County, Tenn;
Daniel McGuin and his wife Martha;
W Williams and his wife Christina;
Rosa Derryberry, minor;
Corda D Derryberry, minor;
John Derryberry, minor;
Mary E Derryberry, minor;
David Gibson and wife, a minor; all citizens of McNairy County;
Christopher White, a minor, citizen of the State of Arkansas.
P M Derryberry states: eleven Shares in the John T Derryberry estate:
1. William Derryberry, M A Derryberry, C W Williams, Elmina Taylor, Martha C Derryberry,
Rosa Derryberry, N F Derryberry, C D A Derryberry, heirs of John G (Jack) Derryberry,
deceased, (son of first wife Ann)
2. Angeline Owens, Isaac White, Martha C White, Pester M White, heirs of Louisa Lilly
Derryberry White. (Daughter of first wife Ann)
3. John W Derryberry, Louisa Gipson and Mary E Derryberry a minor, heirs of Henry Carroll
Derryberry, deceased, (son of first wife Ann)
4. Julia P Derryberry Drury, (daughter of first wife Ann) 5. Elmira G Gatlin, formerly Derryberry (Elmina Green Derryberry, is the daughter of the first wife Ann and she married F G Gatlin. 6.Charlotte Elizabeth Derryberry Campbell and her husband H B Campbell (daughter of second wife Kizza) 7. Martha C McGuin, formerly Derryberry (D L & Martha Caroline Derryberry McGuinn), (daughter of second wife Kizza) 8. H C Hurley, formerly Derryberry (G W and Hannah Christina Hurley)( daughter of second wife Kizza) 10. P M Derryberry (Pitzer J Miller Derryberry) (son of second wife Kizza) 11 W A Derryberry (William Alexander Bradford Derryberry) (son of second wife Kizza) 12 C W Derryberry (Christopher H William Derryberry) (son of second wife Kizza)
Eight tracts of land: 1. 112 acres - strip on the southern boundary line of McNairy Co. Mentions sale at Pontitoc Miss, so probably was in the part originally in Mississippi 2. 53 acres - same as No 1 3. 160 acres - same as No 1 4. 160 acres - same as No 1
5. 160 acres - same as No 1 6. 160 acres - same as No 1 7. 97 acres - (entry 1926) on the west boundary line of Alexander McGuin (entry no 735) ; east corner of J Redding (entry no 818) including and excluding 198 acres sold to R W Jones. 8. 313 acres - southeast corner of Daniel W Morgan (entry 1130) , NW corner of Sarah Jones
William Phelps sold to John Derryberry sold the following for $2,000 cash paid at the time of the sale on Sept 24, 1852: Both mills, one saw mill and one grist mill and all the appurtenances belong to said mills. Also several tracts of land subject to sale at Pontotac, Miss: A - 112 acres, 98 acres, 160 acres, 160 acres, 160, 160 B - 313 acres (some boundaries listed) at the SE corner of Entry 1130 in the name of Daniel W Morgan, North line of Entry 581 in the name of Sarah Jones, SW corner on the Winchester State Line, SE corner of entry 1218 in the name of David Young, SE corner of Entry 1341 in the name of William D Dunn, SW corner of Entry 1360 in the name of James P Dunn., C. 97 acres, mentions Entry 818 in the name of ? Redding, Entry 735 in the name of Alex McGuin excludes 98 acres sold to R W Jones D. 53 acres which excludes acres sold to Daniel Johnson, does not give total acreage, just assuming the balance was 53 acres. Total 1313 acres. Land owned at time of death 1215, leaves 98 acres un accounted for. There is a 98 ac tract included in the sale, I did not check it out for error or if it was sold. The 1867 and 69 tax records shows John Derryberry estate with 666 acres in Dist 1 and 600 acres in District 5.
Misc Notes concerning John G Derryberry’s children: Stated N F Derryberry in 1873 was in Jonesbrough, Miss.(I think this is Tippah County, MS)
On Oct 7, 1873, F G Galtin and P M Derryberry state the interests they have purchases. F G purchased entire interest of W A Derryberry, C W Derryberry and Elmina (Derryberry) Galtin, his wife. P M Derryberry purchased the entire interest of C E & H B Campbell, M C Derryberry, R A M Derryberry, Isaac H White, J M and Angelina Owens, Martha D White and Pitser M White; J W Derryberry, C W Williams & W H Williams, F E & Elminea Taylor, David and Louisa Gipson.