Name/Title
Berry Family DiariesEntry/Object ID
ARC94Scope and Content
Two black leather-bound 1861 pocket diaries, three cartes de visites (CDVs) from 1863 to 1865, and a bill from 1860.
In old museum records, the diaries are incorrectly attributed to Anne Berry. Because she was not born until 1861, she could not have been an author.
It appears that the diaries may have at least two authors, who may be writing back and forth in the two books. At least one of the authors is Anne Field Berry's father, John Stoddert Berry (1829-1870), who notes the death of his wife Fanny (Frances Field Berry) on July 27, 1862, in one diary. The next day, July 28, 1862, in the other diary, the author (perhaps the father) notes that he took Anne to "pay this last - sad tribute to her mother." The earlier part of one diary might have been written by Anne's mother, as she refers to Mr. Berry's travels and to Anne. However, it may also have been written by another member of the household.
Without more careful reading of the diaries and analysis of handwriting, it will remain unclear who the other author or authors are and when they were writing, that is, in 1861 or 1862. Although both diaries are embossed on the outside with "1861," it appears that some entries were made in 1861 and others in 1862. In some cases, the author marks through the "1" in 1861 and replaces it with a "2". For example, at the date August 9, 1861, an author writes: "Anne Field Berry born at one o'clock in the afternoon weighed 10 pounds." Penciled in just above the entry in "1861." Earlier in that same diary, at February 10, 1862 (with a slash through "1"), an author notes that "Anne is six months old today."
These diaries may have been handed down from John Stoddert Berry (1829-1870) to his daughter Anne Field Berry (1861-1954) and then to her daughter Anne Price Craighill (1886-1966). Anne Field Berry married James Morsell Craighill. They had one child Anne Price Craighill, who had no children. Because she had family in Charles Town, the Craighills and Perrys, she came to Charles Town to live when she was older.
Anne Field Berry and James Morsell Craighill were the aunt and uncle of Mary Duffield Shutt Perry's (the donor's) husband, William Price Craighill Perry. According to Roger Perry, son of Mary Duffield Shutt Perry and W. P. C Perry, it is quite likely that Anne Price Craighill, lacking heirs, gave her family diaries to her cousins, the Perrys, and Mary Duffield Shutt Perry gave the diaries to the museum.
Diary entries comment on, among other items, the weather, travels, Civil War happenings, relatives, guests, illnesses and death.
In the back pocket of one diary was an 1860 bill to J. S. Berry and wife to pay (by J.P. Kelly) to the Clerk of Culpeper County Court a fee for recording marriage settlement. J.S. Berry and his wife are probably John Stoddert Berry and Frances Field Berry, respectively.
In the back pocket of one diary were three CDVs of Anne: at 2 years and 2 months (date on back, Oct 1863), at 3 years and 4 months (date on back, Dec 1864), and at 3 years, 4 months, and 2 weeks (date on back, Jan 1865). On the back of the second photograph is stamped "Gen Craighill," likely Anne Berry's father-in-law General William Price Craighill.Acquisition
Accession
80Source or Donor
Perry, Mary Duffield Shutt (Mrs. W.P.C.)Acquisition Method
GiftArchive Details
Date(s) of Creation
1860 - 1865Archive Size/Extent
Each diary measures 6 1/8" x 4" x 3/8" and has a leather clasp, a pocket and opening for a pencil (no pencil) in the back, and "DIARY, 1861" embossed in gold-colored ink on the outside near the clasp. One diary contained in a back pocket an 1860 bill (6 3/16" x 1 13/16") for recording a marriage settlement for J.S. Berry and his wife. Also enclosed in a back pocket were three cartes de visites (CDVs) of Anne Berry as a child (1863 to 1865,): two CDVs (2 5/16" x 3 15/16") and one CDV (2 7/16" x 4")Archive Notes
Date(s) Created: 1860 to 1865