The first record naming my 5x great grandfather, Nathaniel Berryman was on 20 October 1761 when the Surry County, Virginia Court ordered that the “Church Wardens of Southwark Parish bind out Nathaniel Berriman[1], a base born child of Ann Berriman, according to law.”[2] grandfather.   

A base … born … child …   

You can probably guess that it means he was born to an unwed mother. While we hardly take notice of such a thing today, in 1748 having a child outside of marriage was highly frowned upon. Fines, jail and whippings were not uncommon. Both secular and religious authorities were interested in ensuring that young Nathaniel Berryman did not become a financial burden on the community.  To “bind out” a child was to assign them to someone in the community as an apprentice to learn a trade so they could support themselves. Children were typically apprenticed at 12-14 years old and while the length of the term varied, they generally ended in young adulthood. In addition to teaching his apprentice a trade, he would have also been responsible for teaching the child to read and write and provide lodging, food, and clothing for his charge.   

Nathaniel’s mother, Ann Berryman, probably born between 1720-1730 in Surry County, was one of six children of Augustin Berryman (c.1690-c.1736) and Ann Hunnicutt (c.1695-1748). In his will dated 23 October 1735, Augustin Berryman left his wife Ann, household goods, son John, cattle, son Joseph, a mare and a gun, and son William, two cows and a gun. He directed the rest of his estate to be divided equally between his wife and his three sons and three unnamed daughters. His will was recorded on 21 April 1736.[3] Augustin owned no land nor any enslaved persons. He was very likely a tenant farmer. His estate was inventoried and appraised in May 1736 at just £52.5.[4] His wife Ann (Hunnicutt) Berryman lived another dozen years or so making her will on 11 August 1748 and dying before her will was recorded 15 November 1748. Fortunately, her will provides the names of the three daughters – Lucy, Ann [Nathaniel’s mother], and Margaret – none of whom were yet married.[5] Both Augustin and Ann were illiterate – making their mark – rather than signing their names. This was a family of modest means.    

Ann (Hunnicutt) Berryman lived just long enough to see her daughter Ann Berryman brought before the Surry County Court on charges of “having a bastard child.” She was one of seven women brought before the Court on 17 May 1748 for that offense. A Grand Jury found cause and the Surry Court ordered “that Prosecution on the several Presentments this Day made by the Grand Jury Returnable here &c.”[6] While not referred to by name, we know this was Nathaniel Berryman as this would have made him about 13 when he was bound out in 1761. 

Interestingly, while nearly all of the other women brought into court that day appear in court soon afterward on the charge, Ann Berryman doesn’t appear again at all until 15 November 1757 – 9 years later – for having another child out of wedlock! A month later on 20 December 1757, in the case King of England vs. Ann Berryman, the Court noted Ann had not been properly notified so it they ordered that she appear at the next court. While Court was held monthly, it was not until four months later on 19 April 1758 that Ann appears again at Court – when the case was simply dismissed.

It is unusual that Ann Berryman was not prosecuted in either case nor was any suit brought against the father or fathers of her children. Fornication and adultery were serious crimes back then. Women often named the father – either voluntarily or through coercion – so the authorities could go after him for support to ensure that the child did not become a financial burden on the community. Given Ann’s family was of limited means and social status, who pulled strings to have a pretty significant issue just go away?

Nathaniel Berryman would have finished is apprenticeship about 1769 when he turned 21. On 6 September of that year, Nathaniel witnessed the will of Robert Layland who left his wife’s wearing apparel [clothes] to Peggy Berriman.[7] Peggy [likely Margaret] may have been Nathaniel’s aunt of that name or an as yet unidentified Berryman – perhaps his sibling born on 1757 or maybe even his wife?             

He appears in the record a few times during the early 1770s – as the recipient of 10 shillings from the estate of William Taylor[8], a successful plaintiff against John Hay administrator of John Powers, deceased for a debt of three pounds, four shillings and three pence[9], an unsuccessful defendant in suit brought by Arthur Smith and Goodrich Wilson, surviving partners of Richard Baker, deceased brought for a debt of four pounds and 10 pence.[10] This was very typical given the credit and barter society of the day.

Then in 1777 when Nathaniel was about 29 years old things really changed for him. On 29 July, he paid £115 for a 300-acre tract called “Thorns” in Southwark Parish, Surry County, that he bought from Rodwell Delk, who had inherited the property in 1773 from his father Roger Delk.[11] The American Revolution had begun the previous year and on 26 August 1777, Nathaniel Berryman was recommended as Ensign in Captain Short’s Company of the Surry County Militia.[12] He took the required oath on 23 September 1777.[13] On 23 February 1779, he was recommended to be promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant[14] and on 24 April 1781, he was recommended as 1^st Lieutenant.[15].

How did an illegitimate child from a poor family go from being bound out in late 1761 to becoming a landowner and militia officer in 1777 – less than a decade after his indenture ended? Did he have a patron – perhaps his father – or his father’s family? Was it his master from his time as an apprentice? Or was Nathaniel just an extraordinary young man?

Surry County Land tax records indicate that Nathaniel Berryman lived on the 300 acres he purchased in 1777 where he and his unknown wife raised six children. He would sell 100 acres about 1804 and his sons Joseph and Nathaniel, Jr. would split the balance at his death. That might well have been the end of his story, but Nathaniel wasn’t quite finished yet.  

On 28 June 1791, Nathaniel Berryman appeared in Surry County Court and produced a license from, Francis Asbury, Bishop of the Methodist Church, authorizing him to officiate and perform the duties of Deacon in the said Church.[16] At some point he became a Methodist Minister and was often referred to as Reverend Nathaniel Berryman.  He would go on to officiate dozens of Surry County marriages until his death in late 1821 or early 1822.  

Reverend Nathaniel Berriman wrote his will on 24 November 1821, and it was presented at the Surry Court on 25 March 1822.  His wife is not named in the will nor left any bequest, suggesting she predeceased him.  His son, Nathaniel Berriman, Jr. was lent his father’s approximate 100 acre “land and plantation” for his lifetime and then the land was to go to two of Nathaniel, Jr.’s sons, Edward Thomas Berryman and Robert Wilkins Berryman.  He also made bequests of $20 each to the three youngest children of his deceased son, Joseph Berriman who died in 1820 and included Keziah [my ancestor], Lucy and George Berriman.  He directed these legacies to be held by his son Nathaniel, Jr. until these grandchildren reached the age of 21.  He also mentions his daughters Sally Rowell, Polly Cocks, Lucy Rowell and Ann Rowell and son-in-law Thomas Rowell.[17]           

Nathaniel Berriman, b.c. 1748, Surry County, Virginia, d. 1821/22, Surry County, Virginia, m. Unknown, issue:

Polly Berriman           b.c. 1770          m. 22 December 1789, Thomas Cocks

Sally Berriman           b.c. 1772          m. 24 Dec 1793, Samuel Rowell*

Joseph Berriman       b. 19 Oct 1774 m. 24 Aug 1796, Keziah Holt

Nathaniel Berriman b. 14 July 1778 m. (1) 14 May 1796, Martha Wilkins Judkins; m. (2) 25 October 1825, Sally Lane

Lucy Berriman           b.c. 1781          m. 22 Dec 1796, Robert Rowell*

Ann Berriman             b.c. 1782          m. 8 Feb 1809, Thomas Rowell*

* All three of Nathaniel Berryman’s daughters married brothers – all sons of Richard and Sarah (Warren) Rowell. Richard and Sarah (Warren) Rowell are also my ancestors – through another son also called Richard Rowell who married Sarah Gray.

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[1] The name Berryman/Berriman are both found regularly in the early Virginia record. Earlier records tend to use Berriman while more recent records tend to use the modern Berryman. I am using Berryman throughout this post.     

[2] Surry County, Virginia Order Book 1757-1763, p. 306

[3] Surry County, Virginia Deeds, Wills, Etc., No. 8, Part 2 1730-1738, p. 580

[4] Surry County, Virginia Deeds, Wills, Etc., No. 8, Part 2 1730-1738, p. 597

[5] Surry County, Virginia, Deeds, Wills, Etc., No. 9, 1738-1754, p. 590

[6] Surry County, Virginia Order Book 1744-49, p. 454

[7] Surry County, Virginia Wills’ Etc. No. 10 1768-1779, p. 56

[8] Surry County, Virginia Wills’ Etc. No. 10 1768-1779, p. 208

[9] Surry County, Virginia Order Book 1764-1774, p., 302  

[10] Surry County, Virginia Order Book 1764-1774, p., 355

[11] Surry County Deed Book 10 1769-1778, p. 528

[12] Surry County Order Book 1775-1785, p. 44

[13] Surry County Order Book 1775-1785, p. 45

[14] Surry County Order Book 1775-1785, p. 81

[15] Surry County Order Book 1775-1785

[16] Surry County, Virginia Order Book 1789-1794, p. 272

[17] Surry Co., VA, Will Book 1822-27, p. 5

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• Surry County Connections