Berry, Robert Taylor

Berry, Robert Taylor a Presbyterian minister, was born July 6, 1812, at Berryplain, King George Co., Va. His classical education was obtained under the tuition of Thomas H. Hanson, in his celebrated school at Fredericksburg, Va. Leaving school at the age of seventeen, he spent about a year in a mercantile house in Shepherdstown, Va., and then entered the law office of his brother in Fredericksburg. After his admission to the bar, he removed to Baltimore, Md., and was there successfully engaged in the practice of his profession; but, turning his attention to the Christian ministry, he entered Princeton Seminary in 1835. Being received as a candidate by Winchester Presbytery, he was licensed May 30, 1838; and after laboring as a missionary in Warren and Rappahannock counties, Va., he was ordained April 18, 1840, and soon after dismissed to the Presbytery of the District of Columbia, having received a call to the Bridge-street Church, Georgetown, over which he was installed Oct. 3, 1841. His health becoming broken, he was compelled, Aug. 28, 1849, to relinquish work. In April, 1850, he returned to Winchester Presbytery, and was settled as stated supply in Martinsburg, Va. Here he remained until September, 1858, when his continued feeble health induced him to seek a home in a milder climate, and for eighteen months he supplied the Church at Canton, Miss.; but, declining its call, he returned to Virginia in April, 1860, and resumed his labors as his strength would permit in the field where his ministry began. In the spring of 1876 he removed to Winchester to reside with his youngest son, where he died, Nov. 2, 1877. See Necrological Report of Princeton Theol. Seminary, 1878, p. 38. (W. P. S.)