I am searching for the lineage of Elizabeth Messersmith, born 1745 Orange, North Carolina, died 1826 Orange, North cArolina. She is a daughter of Conrad Messesmith, and Rhette MNU. no further inforamtion known of her parents. Elizabeth married William CATE born bet 1734-41 in Virginia, died bef 1803 in Orange, North Carolina, We have within the family documents of his estate was settlment in Orange county, NC in 1803. Known children are : 1). Hannah Cate 1770-1858, Orange, NC m William Berry, 1774 Orange, NC - 1812, Williamson, Tennessee, had one known son: Thomas Person Berry 1808-1884 Orange, NC, possibly other children... William Berry is a son of Robert Berry 1726 Scotland - 1812 Henry Georgia, and Elizabeth C Cate 1737 Caswell, NC to Aug 1814 Henry, Georgia (dtr of John Cate and Margery MNU). 2). Sarah A Cate 1779 Orange, NC - 1875 Wayne, Tennessee m#1, Thomas Berry (another son of Robert Berry and Elizabeth Cate) 1764 Orange, NC - Dec 1803 Williamson Tennessee, family lore says killed by Indians while searching for land to purchase, 2 known children : David and Eleanor Berry. After Thomas' disapperance, Sarah m#2, John Pigg, and removed to Wayne co, Tennessee, where she died. 3). John Cate 1781 Orange, NC - 1850 Hickman, TN m arah Neely 1780 Orange, NC - bet 1840/50 Hickman, TN. They had four known sons, John Neely Cate, Elijah, James, and Lytle, of these James Cate is known to removed from Orange NC to Union, Illinois, the others are thought to have went to Hickman, TN. 4). Benjamin Cate b. 1784, Orange, NC m Racehl Holman, no further info on either of these. 5). Charity Cate 1784-1790 Orange, NC m James Ashley 15 Dec 1815, Orange, NC. no further info on either of these. Our brick wall is the Messersmith families ... We have for years been trying to locate information on Conrad Messersmith, and his daughter Elizabeth. Doing recent research in Indiana, I have found some Messersmith/Messerschmidt families, removed from VA to Indiana. I am wondering if anyone on this list could possibly have connections to these Berry, Cate, or Messesmith allies, or could point us to any possible leads ? Robert Berry, SR. and Elizabeth Cate, had 10 known children born between 1754-1777, namely, 1) Mary Berry m#1, George Waggoner m#2, James Kemp I do have SOME further info' on this family. 2) Robert Berry b. abt 1760 North Carolina, no further info 3) John Berry abt 1762 - 1812 nothing further 4) Thomas Berry married Sarah A Cate (above) 5) Joshua Berry abt 1768 -1838 NC, m Nancy Allison/Ellison son James removed to Tenn. 6) Isaac Berry abt 1768 Nothing further 7) Elizabeth Berry abt 1772 m Thomas Berry (nothing is known of this other Thomas BERRY family) 8) William Berry 1774 m Hannah Cate (above) 9) Henry Berry abt 1776, nothing further known 10) David Berry, Sr. 1777 Orange, NC - 1838 Fayette, Georgia m Mary Blalock (born abt 1777) and had 11 children. ALSO : Wondering if any of these BERRY descendant/families are of the Berry families being discussed on the Germanna site ? Any help or insight greatly appreciated, Tonnie