Spartanburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 14: The Barry Family, 1900

This family was originally from Ireland, but first settled in Pennsylvania, coming from there to South Carolina about 1760 to 1764. Tradition says that the family in Pennsylvania consisted of five sons and five daughters. Three sons came to Spartanburg with Charles Moore, viz., Andrew, Richard, and John, while one son - James, probably - settled in York county, S. C. When the family first landed in Pennsylvania is not known, nor how long they remained there. They were originally from Scotland.

Captain Andrew Barry married Margaret Moore, daughter of Charles Moore. Dr. Howe, in his "History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina," says he was born in Pennsylvania in 1832, and received before he came here a liberal English education. He is in error as to the date of his birth, for his tombstone in the Moore cemetery shows he died on June 17th, 181 1, aged 65 years, which would have made him born in 1746. Dr. Howe, page 544, describes him as six feet one inch high, and of powerful muscular strength, and that he married in 1767 or 1768. He was a magistrate under George II., and continued to exercise the office until the Revolution. He held the office of captain from the same power. He was captain of a company during the Revolution, and was at Musgrove's and Cowpens, and probably in several skirmishes, as at Cedar Springs and elsewhere. He was one of the first elders elected by Naza-

I. John Barry, who married a Miss Watson of York county, S. C. 2. Charles Barry. 3. Andrew Barry, who lived and died in Spartanburg county. 4. Hughey, who married Malinda Kilgore and went to Mississippi. 5. Richard, who married Margaret Kilgore and went to Mississippi. 6. Polly, who married Thomson Lawson. 7. Violet, who married James Hanna of York county, S. C. 8. Peggy, who married David Thomas, son of Colonel Jno. Thomas, Sr. 9. Katy, who married Jesse Crook. 10. Alice, who married De Forest Allgood of Laurens county, S. C.

All these moved westward except Katy, who married Jesse Crook, and Andrew Barry, known as "Major Barry," who located near the home of his father, one mile north of Moore, S. C, on Tyger River, dying there December i8th, i860, aged ']2^ years, 3 months and 23 days. He married Sarah P. Harrison, who was born January 21st, 1791, and died November 30th, 1843. They were married 19th September, 18 15.

The first child, Mrs. Hoy, died in 1840, leaving one son, Albert A., who, serving the Confederacy as a soldier, sealed the cause with his life.

Florida, her husband having preceded her a short time. Their children were : (i) Louisa, born 1845, now Mrs. Phillips, with no children ; (2) Samuel, born 1847, "^^^^^ married a Miss Gwin of IMobile, Alabama, but died early leaving four children - Gwin (now dead), Wofford, Emmie, and Samuel, all of Sanford, Florida; (3) Howard, born 1848, unmarried.

Henry Patillo Barry's wife was of Chesterfield county. South Carolina, where her kindred now reside. They moved about 1857 or 1858 to Dardanelle, Arkansas, and had several children, viz. : Thomas Jefferson 1848, Andrew Evans 1850, Robert Edward 1853, Henry Patillo 1856 (died 1856), Kolb 1857, William - . He married a second time, and died in 1898.

(2) Emily Carolina married Charles Hill of Greenville, S. C, June 2ist, 1888, where she now resides, children, as follows : Charles, Barry, Sarah Joyce,

(3) Virginia Major married June 21st, 1888, to Jesse K. Brockman, now living in Birmingham, Ala., with children as follows, viz. : ]\Iary Barry, Virginia, and Jesse K.

(4) Richard Hugh married Henrietta Buist Anderson, who died in early life, leaving one child, John Charles, born 28th August, 1892. He lives with his father.

Charles A. Barry, who was the head of the family, now residing in Spartanburg county, played an important part both in Church and State. Bereft of a mother's care in early life, he grew up a wayward youth, leading a wild life till marriage, when, touched by God's grace, he became a Christian, under many adverse circumstances , c o n - necting himself with the Nazareth Presbyterian Church, in which he soon became an elder, as was his father and grandfather before him. He often represented his church in Presbytery, and was twice Presbytery's representative in the General Assembly. He was an elder of Center Point Church, being one of its founders. He died January, 1900.

In State affairs, he was a soldier in the Spartan Rifle Company while they were State troops, going to Charleston when F'ort Sumter fell. Afterwards he was a member of the 2 2d Regiment, S. C. V., the Charleston Battalion, and of Company E, i8th Regiment S. C. V., from which last he was discharged. Later he was a member of Co. A, Holcombe Legion, in which he served as a private till the close of the war, surrendering at Appomattox. He served on the County Board of Equalization for sixteen years, and was chairman the most of the time. He was county commissioner for twelve years, and most of the time chairman of the board.

He served three terms in the Legislature, and was a part of the time chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. During the third term, on account of failing health, he resigned. He was a member of the State convention which framed the present constitution. Almost blind and worn out, he laid down the burdens of life.

Richard Barry, brother of Andrew and John, was born in 1751 ; died July 29th, 1816, aged 65 years. Coming here with Charles Moore, he married his daughter Rosa, who survived him and went west with some of her children, where she died. He is buried in the Moore cemetery. What part he took in the Revolution is not known. He stuttered in conversation, but it is related that in his public prayers, in which he was fluent, he never did so.

His children by Rosa Moore are : Richard Barry, familiarly known as "Devil Dick"; Katy, married a Sloan and lived about Rome, Ga.; Polly, married Colonel Isaac Smith. There may have been other children.

From Colonel Isaac Smith, who was a prominent man in his day, descended some families about Gaffney, S. C. The late Colonel Sam Smith was his son.

Of John Barry, brother of Andrew and Richard, nothing is now known here, as he left no descendants in this county, further than that he lived in the fork of the Middle and North Tyger Rivers. His son, William Taylor Barry, was given a college education, and became a statesman from Kentucky, serving as President Andrew Jackson's postmaster -general, besides filling other high positions.