Dewberry Family Tree

James Leon Dewberry
8645 Falmouth Way
Sacramento, CA 95823-7523
(916) 688-8993
Send email to preparer: James Dewberry
This page last updated October 18, 2004

Several years ago during a conversation with my cousin, Mazella Boulden, I learned that another cousin, Sylvia Raibon, had compiled family trees dating back to Squire Dewberry. When my career took Ven and I to Washington, DC, I found the National Archives and began using it and other resources to trace my family history. In addition to Mazella and Sylvia, my grandfather, C. D. Dewberry and cousins, Ulysses Harrison and Hartwell Menefee proved to be extremely helpful in gathering this data. Other cousins have sent e-mail or have called with corrections and additions. Without them, this would not be as complete.

Jeri Steele and her husband deserve special mention also. Although they are not a part of the Dewberry family, they provided pictures from the Dewberry Plantation and Burial Grounds in Tyler, Texas.

If you have any information about my family please send me e-mail or write me.

As near as I can ascertain, John Dewberry moved his slaves from Georgia to Texas around 1845. His wife Mary Ann passed and he married Mariah, ("a widow with two daughters after he arrived in Tyler, Texas. His... slaves showed their great love for their master by taking his name after they were freed." from Smith County, Texas: It's Background and History in Ante-Bellum Days, by Adele Henderson. Another mention of the family is found in An Economic History of Smith County, 1846-1860 by Edna L. Hatcher. Both of these books are in the Library of Congress.

According to the Chronicles of Smith County Texas, Volume14:1, one of the 33 historical markers in Smith County is the John Dewberry House located at FM No. 346, Teasleville community Medallion-1963.

Also in the Chronicles of Smith County Texas, Volume 12:1, summer 1973 is the following excerpted from the article entitled "Colonel" John Dewberry, His Life and Myrtle-Vale by Sharon Lee Stine, "One individual who played a significant roles in the development of Tyler and Smith County was Colonel John Dewberry, who lived in the southwest corner of Smith County on a plantation known to him as "Myrtle-Vale". John was born February 15, 1794, in Georgia. At the age of twenty, he entered the service of his country. During the War of 1812, he served from September 24, 1814, until March 2, 1815, in Captain Adam Heeth's Company of the Georgia Drafted Militia. Colonel Dewberry built the first cotton gin in Smith County.

For the 1850 Census, John, age 50, his wife Mary Ann, age 43, Cynthia Brindley, age 21 (born in Arkansas) and Nicholi Gregory (born in Norway) were living in Smith County along with 31 slaves. His real estate was valued at $15,000.00. John was still there with 47 slaves for the 1860 Census taken at the Mount Vernon Beat Post Office. He owned property worth $25,000.00 and was married to Mariah, age 27 who had two daughters, Eddie, age 9 and Emmer, age 7.

AND THEN THEY WERE FREE

Emancipation was a laborious affair. A joint resolution of the House and Senate was signed by President Lincoln stating that the government "would cooperate with any state adopting a plan of gradual emancipation together with satisfactory compensation of the owners† Slaves in the District of Columbia were freed in April of 1862 (with compensation not to exceed $300.00)† On June 19, 1862, Lincoln abolished slavery in the territories, and on July 17, 1862, all slaves coming from disloyal masters were free once they came into Union-held territory. Finally, on September 22, 1862, Lincoln declared that all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of the State, the people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free on January 1, 1863." I'm not sure how things occurred in Smith County but "Not until June 19, 1865† would freedom be acknowledged in Texas. Slaves in Rusk County faired even worse, because they were notified "sometime around September†the slaves in Harrison County turn loose right at freedom and them in Rusk County wasn't."

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Dewberry Family Tree

Table of Contents

Introduction

AND THEN THEY WERE FREE