Gleaned from internet 11/2001 from a file Davis Marvin Family2.

Biography: Sketch onGranvill Berkshire, including notes on Joseph Berkshire and Robert Berkshire, who was one of the pioneers of Tuscarawas County, where he was a farmer, and both he and his wife remained residents of the Buckeye State until their deaths. They became the parents of 5 sons and 2 daughters, Joseph being the youngest.

Marriage: No record for 1st wife, vital records for wife #2 and #3. We now have a total of 17 children from the frist two wifes.

Census: 1820 Census in Kikland Twp., OH shows one boy and two girls; 1830 Census shows five males and two females, one having been born to Robert and new wife, Aseneath who were married 3/12/1829 in Belmont Co, OH. Therefore there are 4 males and 2 females in the first family.

1840 Census Tuscarawas Co., OH
1850 Census Tuscarawas Co., OH

First 5 children and Joseph by first wife are accounted for in Census records.

Burieal. Cemetery Reocrd at West Union WS177 Headstone states 84y 9m 29d with two wives along side of him.

Robert Berkshire, Sr. (1795-1880)
A short sketch of his life and reunion of his family after 30 years of separation.

Robert Bershire Sr. was born near the southern boundary of Pennsylvania, east of the Allegheny Mountains on October 17, 1795. He was married to Letitia Schritchfield of the same state in 1814. AFter their marriage they remained in Pennsylvania until the winter of 1820. During this time three children were born: Henry, Emily, Nancy. In January 1820 he, his wife and three children started west across the mountains on horseback and landed in Belmont Co, OH in February 1820, with only 37 and 1/2 cents in his pocket. There they worked by days and on a lease. 3 more children were born to them. Anson, Isarel and Joseph, When care and toil brought on disease the mother died in July 1828. The children were then scattered about with different families.

Two days after the mother's death he gathered up the children together and said, "If we starve, we are all together."


After 13 months of sinle life he married Seneath Medley, to whom 13 children were born. In 1830 he sold all his property and entered 80 acres of timerland in Tuscarawas, OH being one of the first settlers of that county. IN 1932 he moved to his claim in Tuscarawas Co, where he lived until his death in April 16, 1880, age 84 years, 6 months. He united with the M.e. Church in 1825 and remained an active member until his death. His grandfather was a native of England and his grandmother a native of Germany. Seven of his sons and grandsons served in the late war, all of whom arrived safe and sound except one who died of disease. From him are descended 20 children, 63 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren - total 129. Henry Bershire was married 1/25/1837 and in 1853 moved his family to Lawrence Co., Illionois.
Emily Berkshire was married 12/27/1836 and resided in Ohio until her death in 1876.
Nancy Berkshire was married to Isaac Schooly 04/1839 and resided in Ohio until 1866 when they moved to Marion Co, Indiana from which they went to Omega, Marion Co, Illinois.
Anson Berkshire was married in Ohio November 1845 and still resides in Ohio.
Joseph Berkshire was married in 1846 and in 1855 emigrated his family to Richland Co, Wisconsin where he still resides.
After 30 years of separation the 4 brothers and 1 sister met at the residence of D.B. Schooly near Kinmundyon, Sunday, November 8, 1885.
This gleaned from a copy of a newspaper article of November 1885 republished 11/9/1935.

• Married: 1814 in Bedford, Pennsylvania

1. Henry BERKSHIRE b: 25 Dec 1815 in Bedford, PA
2. Anson BERKSHIRE b: 28 Dec 1821 in Kirkwood Twp, Belmont, OH
3. Israel BERKSHIRE b: 23 Sep 1823 in Belmont, OH
4. Emily BERKSHIRE
5. Nancy BERKSHIRE b: in Tuscarawas, OH
6. Joseph BERKSHIRE b: 7 Feb 1826 in Belmont, OH
7. William BERKSHIRE

• Married: 12 Mar 1829 in Belmont, OH

1. Letitia BERKSHIRE b: 1833 in Perry Twp, Tuscarawas, OH
2. Francis R. BERKSHIRE b: 1840
3. Lucretia BERKSHIRE b: 1841 in Ohio
4. Maria C. BERKSHIRE b: 1843 in Tuscarawas, OH
5. Mary C. BERKSHIRE
6. Elazer BERKSHIRE b: 1846 in Tuscarawas, OH
7. Bethel J. BERKSHIRE b: 4 Jun 1847 in Tuscarawas, OH
8. Jacob W. BERKSHIRE b: Sep 1849 in Perry Twp, Tuscarawas, OH
9. Johnsey BERKSHIRE b: Sep 1849 in Perry Twp, Tuscarawas, OH
10. Robert L. BERKSHIRE b: 27 Mar 1830 in Washington Twp, Tuscarawas, OH

• Married: 11 Aug 1865 in Tuscarawas, OH