"As you may remember, I have long searched for the paternal ancestorso f Reuben Berry, who had been born c.1745 in or near FrederickCounty, V irginia. In 1752 he was described by Thomas Ashby as his"cousin." In 1 754 he was identified as a "bastard" child and bound toRose Ashby, who m I now believe to have been the wife of this ThomasAshby and sister o f Henry Berry [III]. The child was surnamed Berrybecause his unmarrie d mother was the daughter of Henry Berry [III]and because his father's n ame had not been revealed....
It may be that after the daughter of Henry Berry [III] became pregnants he was sent to live with her aunt, Rose (Berry) Ashby and/or herbrothe r, Enoch Berry, in Frederick County, Virginia. Obviously,neither Reub en's father nor his mother were able to rear him after1754, when the F rederick County Court took responsibility for placinghim legally with h is aunt, the then-widowed Rose Ashby. EventuallyReuben was reared by S tephen Ashby, the son of Rose (Berry) Ashby."
