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Henry Berry

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Henry Berry

Birth	:	13 Jan 1796
Death	:	9 Jul 1876
Burial	:	Saint Peters Cemetery, Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.0547218, -70.1922226
Inscription	:	Erected to the memory of Henry Berry Son of Stephen and Sarah Berry who was born the 13th of January 1796 and died the 9th of July 1876 and by his special request his body was cremated the 11th of July.
Description	:	He was the son of Stephen and Sarah Berry, and was the husband of Charity Crawford Berry. --------- Cremation Created a Stir At Berry's Crossroads Berry's Crossroads - While this territory was still a part of Marion County in 1876, a rather unusual event reportedly occurred in the southwest area of what is now Dillon County. A man was cremated. The event, which occurred about 14 miles from Berry's Crossroads according ot one of two accounts, was held in July of 1876. The funeral service was for Henry Berry, an aged and highly respected citizen of the area. Years earlier, the story goes, Berry was attmpting... Read More	He was the son of Stephen and Sarah Berry, and was the husband of Charity Crawford Berry. --------- Cremation Created a Stir At Berry's Crossroads Berry's Crossroads - While this territory was still a part of Marion County in 1876, a rather unusual event reportedly occurred in the southwest area of what is now Dillon County. A man was cremated. The event, which occurred about 14 miles from Berry's Crossroads according ot one of two accounts, was held in July of 1876. The funeral service was for Henry Berry, an aged and highly respected citizen of the area. Years earlier, the story goes, Berry was attmpting to remove the remains of a relative from the spot where he had lain for some time. "He encountered a sight which created in his mind an unconquerable aversion to being buried," one report stated. He thus had his heirs promise to see that his body was burned after death. "He was careful to designate the spot where the ceremony should take place adn teh lightwood tree that should bed used as fuel on the occasion," the account says. His wishes were carried out. On the morning of July 11, 1876, two days after his death, Berry's body was placed in a square box. According to his directions, the box was line, inside and out, with black velvet. The box was placed on three large lightwood logs, and lightwood pieces were piled around the coffin to a height of seven or eight feet. A torch was applied at the corners of the pile, "and in a few minutes the raging fire resembled the burning of a large building." The fire died out several times and had to be restarted. The burning took six hours, it is recorded. About 100 people witnessed the cremation. Another account says Berry, for whom Berry's Crossroads was named, wrote in his will that his 20,000 acres of land and between $15,000 and $20,000 in the bank would be divided among his children providing that his body be burned. In case the body was not burned, a church nearby would inheriti the whole of his estate. He proveded that $500 be paid to William Hureling, "to whom Berry was much attached," for supervsign the burning. The second account says lightwood was piled 10 or 12 feet high before the torches were set to the corneres. "The old man had directed that his ashes should mingle with those of the wood, and all be blown away together," the account says. (Florence Morning News - Sunday, October 4, 1970)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Henry Berry's memorial?
Henry Berry's memorial is located at: Saint Peters Cemetery, Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA.
When did Henry Berry death?
Henry Berry death on 9 Jul 1876 in
Where are the coordinates of the Henry Berry's memorial?
Latitude: 42.0547218
Longitude: -70.1922226

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Siblings

Andrew Stephen Berry

(1802 - 1891)

Children

Gewood Berry

(1821 - 1885)

Elihu Berry

(1824 - 1894)

Verzilla J. Berry Mace

(1830 - 1859)

James Berry

(1833 - 1905)

David Berry

(1837 - 1839)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Peters Cemetery
Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0547218, -70.1922226

2. Provincetown Cemetery
Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0557300, -70.1893400

3. Gifford Cemetery
Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0550800, -70.1871200

4. Hamilton Cemetery
Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0557500, -70.1869300

5. Winthrop Street Cemetery
Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0501100, -70.1937200

6. Provincetown Smallpox Cemetery
Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0566200, -70.1989900

7. Saint Mary of the Harbor
Provincetown, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0577910, -70.1761320

8. Old North Cemetery
Truro, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0234985, -70.0738983

9. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Truro, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0018200, -70.0539700

10. Methodist Cemetery
Truro, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0009400, -70.0545600

11. Snow Cemetery
Truro, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9975300, -70.0554000

12. Truro Congregational Church Cemetery
Truro, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9992010, -70.0478090

13. New South Cemetery
Truro, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9721700, -70.0686500

14. Pine Grove Cemetery
Truro, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9766998, -70.0597000

15. Lombard Family Cemetery
Wellfleet, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9532500, -70.0573600

16. Hezekiah Doane Gravesite
Truro, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9752300, -70.0308900

17. Chequessett Cemetery
Wellfleet, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9341888, -70.0411835

18. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Wellfleet, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9447500, -70.0258700

19. Oak Dale Cemetery
Wellfleet, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9447500, -70.0248000

20. Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery
Wellfleet, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9366455, -70.0207596

21. Duck Creek Cemetery
Wellfleet, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9356995, -70.0206985

22. French Catholic Cemetery
Wellfleet, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9282500, -70.0205000

23. South Wellfleet Cemetery
South Wellfleet, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9082985, -69.9852982

24. Evergreen Cemetery
Eastham, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8417015, -69.9832993