This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cherry, Penelope (of Joseph?) Strickland, Garland Hall, Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/TcI.2ACIB/694.2 Message Board Post: Benjamin Cherry (birth info unknown), but he registered in Norfolk, Va. in 1740. He moved from Norfolk to VA to Chester County, PA. Benjamin II was born in 1744 in Norfolk and died in either Chester or Bedford Co., PA. He fought in the American Revolution. When Benjamin II died in 1789, his young son, (Ben II, age 22) took over as head of the family and reared his young sisters and cared for his mother. The 1790 Federal Census for PA lists young Ben III as having no young males in the family but 10 females of all ages in his home. They probably included an infant daughter, his mother and 7 sisters. Brother Peterson, who lived nearby, was listed as having one young male in his household. The brothers sold their inheritance in PA and moved to Rowan County, NC, later in 1790, in time to be picked up in that state's Federal Census, which lists them just as PA had. In a few years Ben and Peterson moved to Franklin Co., GA. This county was created from land just ceded by the Cherokee Nation. Each person was entitled to two draws for free land, after residing in the county one year, being married and the father of at least one child. However, they failed to win and so purchased 100 acres each at $1.00 per acre, adjoining land. Here Benjamin IV was born. In 1808 Ben and Peterson Cherry sold their plantations--as did neighboring William Cherry (perhaps a cousin?) and migrated across into Overton County, TN. Again, they purchased 100 acres each on the banks of Thistle Carrier Creek, all having mutual boundaries. When Benjamin III died in 1830, his heirs were: Benjamin IV (called Jr.); Peterson (a son born in TN); and Russell, presumably the husband of Ben's first child, the daughter (name not known). At the time very few females were permitted to own property so the daughter's portion would likely have gone to her husband. Benjamin IV fought with General Jackson in the War of 1812 but deserted in Florida along with many other Tennesseans in order to go home and get their crops in. After the harvest, they went down the Tennessee River to rejoin Jackson and fought in the Battle of New Orleans. In 1819 Benjamin IV decided to go to the new land opening up in Illinois, and with his bountyland grant, settled in Sangamon County, IL, on virgin land near Riverton, Illinois. After his father's death, he returned to Tennessee to bring his mother and a number of slaves to Sangamon County, where the slaves were given their freedom but continued to live on the farm. When he (Benjamin) was seventeen years old (1806), his parents moved to Overton County, Tennessee ... In the fall of 1819, he came to Sangamon County, IL, and soon after went to work for Edward Clark, who came about the same time. Sources: History of Early Settlers of Sangamon County by John Carroll Power, Vol. 1, pp. 197-198; Frieda Cherry Miller article from the Decatur Genealogical Society Winter 1980, No. 1, p. 7-8. Benjamin IV Cherry married Elizabeth Strickland who was born 12 May 1799 near the coast, south of Charlestown, SC. Another family that was found throughout history with the Cherrys, was the Garland Hall family. Garland Hall married Penelope Strickland, the sister of of Elizabeth; however, Penelope died in Robertson County, TN, and did not make the journey in 1830 to Macon County, IL, with her family. I have not been able to find her burial location, but it is said that she is the daughter of Joseph and Louisa Strickland. Any information anyone may have on these families would be greatly appreciated! Thank you. Jane Griffin jjjsg@aol.com