Caspar Byerley, my 5th Great Grandfather, was born in Germany and made his way to America before the Revolutionary war aboard the Ship Caledonia. To get to the new world he would have made his way up the Rhine to Rotterdam and then over to England and on to the new world. The ship arrived in Charleston in late October 1752. He petitioned for his 50 acres of land shortly after that circa 3 November 1752 under the name John Caspar Byrle.
His will was presented in Newberry County, South Carolina on 12 March 1804 indicating that he had died sometime before that date. He would leave behind nine children to carry on his legacy. Of these children, some would stay in Newberry County, South Carolina while others would make their way to Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas, pioneers and explorers in the new nation as their father was in 1752.
It is believed that Caspar Byerley was married twice, first to a woman whose name is not known at this time, second to Mary Easter of Fairfield County, South Carolina. Marriage records have not been found at this time. The marriage to Mary Easter is supported via the information in O’Neals “Annals of Newberry” and a deed gift issued from Caspar to Mary in 1777.
The known children of Caspar Byerley and his first wife, as named in his will and estate records include the following:
Jasper Byerley Jr. born either in Germany or South Carolina between 1746 and 1756. He married Mary Moore in South Carolina and migrated to Tennessee after his father’s death. He died in Knox County, Tennessee sometime in the June – December time frame in 1850. He is buried in Louisville, Tennessee. The known children of Jasper and Mary include:
- David Byerley born circa 1790 in South Carolina who married Mary M. Johnston on 22 May 1817 in Knox County, Tennessee. David died 23 October 1873 and is buried in Knox County, Tennessee.
- Daughter Byerley born circa 1794 in South Carolina.
- Michael Byerley born circa 1798 in South Carolina who married Sarah Smith on 22 August 1828 in Blount County, Tennessee. Michael died in October of 1881 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
- Jacob Byerley born circa 1800 in South Carolina who married Sarah Brown on 3 November 1824 in Knox County, Tennessee. Jacob died in September of 1880 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
- Lucy Byerley born circa 1804 married Samuel S. Watkins the 18th of March 1826 in Knox County, Tennessee.
- Issac Byerley born in May 1807 married twice, first to Mary Hobbs on the 25th of February 1834 in Knox County, Tennessee and second to Malinda French on the 18th of October 1840 in Blount County, Tennessee. Issac died on the 18th of March 1875.
- James E. Byerley was born on the 12th of June 1809 in Sevier County, Tennessee. James married twice, first to Hallelujah Yarnell and second to Elizabeth Scaggs. James died in July of 1881 and is buried in Knox County, Tennessee.
- Margaret Byerley was born on the 27th of April 1811. She married William Watkins on the 21 March 1827 in Blount County, Tennessee. Margaret died on the 21st of January 1898.
- Mary Ann Byerley born circa 1812 in Tennessee.
- Martin Byerley was born on the 10th of March 1816 in Knox County, Tennessee. On the 6th of December 1836 in Knox County, Tennessee he married Mary M. Roop. Martin died on 23 September 1891 in Goodrich, Linn County, Kansas.
Sibert Byerley was born circa 1756 in South Carolina. His married Margaret Hipp and migrated to Perry County, Alabama after his father’s death and resided there at the time of his death. The known children of Sibert and Margaret include:
- Elizabeth Byerley was born circa 1800 in South Carolina. She married Abel Duncan. Abel and Elizabeth migrated to Perry County, Alabama where she died.
- Catherine Byerley was born circa 1801 in South Carolina. She married David Duncan. David and Catherine migrated to Perry County, Alabama.
Martin Byerley was born circa 1770 in South Carolina. He married Margaret (last name unknown) and migrated to Jasper County, Texas where he died in 1848. The known children of Martin and Margaret Byerley include:
- George Byerley was born circa 1795 in South Carolina. George married Rebecca Andrews. George died before 1848 in Jasper County, Texas.
- Adam Byerley was born circa 1800 in South Carolina. He married three times, first to Nancy Ann Andrews on 30 January 1837 in Amite, Mississippi, second to Martha Chapman on 22 July 1852 in Jasper County, Texas and third to Penelope Eliza Wiggins on 7 October 1868 in Jasper County, Texas.
- William Byerley was born circa 1805 in South Carolina. He married first, Edith Stephenson circa 1836. He maried second Martha Green on 25 September 1859 in Jasper County, Texas. William died in Texas on 8 April 1884.
- Sarah Byerley born in South Carolina married a Jones.
- Thomas Claiborne Byerley born circa 1810 in South Carolina married twice, first to Matilda Haygood and then second to Sarah Jane Jordan. Thomas died 26 November 1861 in Newton County, Texas.
- Mary Byerley born around 1810 in South Carolina married James Delaney.
Harmon Byerley was born circa 1776 in South Carolina and married a woman named Edie. He migrated to Knox County, Kentucky by way of Tennessee and resided there at the time of his death. The known children of Harmon and Edie Byerley include:
- Rachel Byerley who married Westley Bennett.
- John Byerley who married Martha Renfro.
- Elizabeth Byerley who married Harrison Payne.
- Rebecca Byerley who married Jacob Grindstaff and migrated to Worth County, Missouri.
- Martin Byerley who married Emily Bennett.
- Mary Anny Byerley who married John Fisher.
- Pleasant Byerley who married Eleanor Harrison
- Jesse Taylor Byerley who married Mary Dizney (Disney).
- William Byerlry who married Lydia Harrison.
The children of Caspar Byerley and his second wife Mary Easter, as named in the will and estate records of Caspar Byerley include the following:
Elizabeth Berley was born in 1782 in South Carolina. She died on the 4th of May 1841 in Newberry County, South Carolina. She married a Watts.
Margaretta Berley was born circa 1784 in South Carolina. Nothing more is known about her.
John Berley was born in 1788 in South Carolina. He married Barbara Werts, daughter of John Werts and Anne Hair. John died on the 15th of June 1855 in Newberry County, South Carolina. The known children of John and Barbara include:
- William Berley was born 25 December 1810 and died on 17 April 1873. He was buried in Saint Stephens Lutheran Church Cemetery in Lexington, South Carolina. William married Elizabeth Caroline Maffett on 12 September 1843.
- Elizabeth Berley was born on 21 January 1815 and died on 18 August 1873. Elizabeth married William Riser.
- Sara Susan Berley was born 19 February 1817 and died on 19 May 1852. She was married to Andrew Michael Bowers.
- Jane Berley was born 20 March 1820 and died 9 February 1903. Jane was married to Mathias Barre.
- Adam Berley was born 22 December 1812 and died 4 December 1837. Adam married Elizabeth Riser.
- Joel Anderson Berley married Laura L. Suber. Joel was born 5 April 1824 and died 16 December 1888.
- Mary Ann Berley was born circa 1826 and died on the 5th of July 1829.
Mary Magdelena Berley was born circa 1790 in South Carolina. Nothing more is known about her.
John Frederick Berley was born in South Carolina. Research by others indicate that he was born in 1794, however the estimated age of his father brings this into question – though it is possible as at the time of his father’s death he was a minor as guardians were appointed. John Frederick married Harriet Jane Yarbrough and migrated to Louisiana where he died circa 1853. The known children of Frederick and Harriet include:
- Benjamin Franklin Berley was born 17 June 1828 in South Carolina and died on 24 July 1904 in Red River Parish, Louisana. He married Catherine Ann Jones.
- John Berley married Sarah Jane Watson. He was born circa 1831 and died circa 1890.
- William W. Berley was born circa 1833 and married Frances Jane E. Jones on 8 Feb 1855.
- Richard Berley
- Ann Berley
- Mary F. Berley
- James Berley
