JAMES PERRY
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT.
We believe that James Perry was born between
1780/90 in North Carolina. We do not know who his
parents were yet. During a recent visit to Robertson
County Tennessee I found there many Perry's
who had been given land grants in Tennessee for their
Revolutionary service to North Carolina.
James was definitely in Robertson County and an
adult by 1808, when he was granted guardian ship noted
below. Some of the Perry men from North
Carolina who may have been related to James are:
1. Robert Perry,
a Private in NC was granted 600 acres on May 20, 1793 or
95 (couldn't read number)
He was selling land on Brush Creek
April 30, 1810, Robertson
Ct. Deed Book H, page 152
He was in Robertson County
Militia Feb. 23, 1801 Red River Settlers by Edythe Rucher Whitley
The court records Minute Book 1,
1796-1807 has multiple references to Robert Perry
2. William Perry,
for service in NC on Dec 2, 1797 granted 428 acres
on the south
fork of the Red River.
It was recorded May 29,
1809 Robertson
Ct Deed Book B, page 138. Deed book E, page
214 was recorded a grant of 151 acres
The court records Minute Book 1, 1796-1807 has
multiple references to William
Perry
3. Joseph Perry
in 1808 Robertson
County Deed Book B, page 345 rewarded 320 acres,
page346, 100
acres and page 347,
200 acres.
then between 1813 he received 4
more grants for smaller amounts, 70 acres, 30 acres, 8
acres and 6+ acres, Book H, pages 683 & 709
4. Other
Perrys mentioned in the Court
records 1800 - 1808.
David
Josiah
Norfleet & Roundtree were sons of
William. Their mother died before their majority
and in court they chose the guardianship of their father
William,
Nathan
Thomas
Penenah
Our James Perry
did not own land in Robertson county. He was
assigned in Jan 1808 to a road work, Robertson County Minute Book
2, page 7
I was told that the Overseer of a road crew was a
property owner along the road. The crew who kept the
road in working order were non-land owners who lived along
the road. The specific area was "from Springfield
one half of the wasy to Thomas Harrisons" I
looked up Thomas Harrison's property and that
placed the road to be along present day Rt 49 that
goes southwest out of Springfield. The Brush
Creek is along their also. I've guess they were north of Mt. Zion
road east of rt. 49 along Brush creek. It
is still a lovely gentle stream valley with good farm land
on both sides of the creek.
James Perry
served on a number of juries of "good and lawful
men. The last time Feb. 1814, Book 3 page 385.
His son John was
born in Ky in 1814, so he must have left soon after that
jury duty.
He continued his civic service in Caldwell county,
He was sworn in as Constable of Caldwell Ct by the July
1818 County court, Book C, pg 10
There is a rather lengthy biography of the Perry
family in The Princeton Art Guild 1987 Year Book
Caldwell Ct, KY. It states that "James and
Penelope Perry came to Caldwell County from
Robertson County, TN. James died in 1834…."
James Perry married Penelope
(very likely Jenkins) about 1805 probably in
North Carolina.
The Perry children were listed in the article with their
spouse. Birth dates are added as deduced from census
records.
1. Hardy M, born 1805 in Tenn or NC,
married Sarah Cook, March 12, 1829
2. William, born 1807 in Tenn or
NC. married Irena Hubbard Feb. 18, 1839, Caldwell Marriage Book 2,
page 1.
3. Patsy or Betsy born 1810-1820
married Butler Hubbard Nov. 21, 1833, Caldwell Marriage Book 1,
page 166. She died before 1870
4. James J. born 1810-1820
5. John (known later as Wyley) born
1814 in Kentucky
6. Sarah born 1820 in
Kentucky, married Nathaniel
Hubbard Jan 10, 1845, Caldwell Marriage Book 2, page 58.
7. Littleton..born 1826 in Caldwell Ct.
KY wed Eliza Nichols on Sept
29, 1846. The
Caldwell Year Book story on the Perry's is about
Littleton's family.
8. Whitnell
was listed as their 7th child, but in fact the Perry's
were his guardian. His name was actually Whitnell Jenkins.
From Robertson County
Tn Archives, County Court Oct Term 1808 Minute Book 2,
page 87. Where it states and I quote in
full "James Perry
appointed guardian for Whitnell
Jenkins came into court and gave bond in the sum
of five hundred dollars, with William Crocket and Jonathan Dirdd"
The last name I'm not sure of.
The 1820 Census of Caldwell County lists
James Perry as head of household age 26-45. His
wife 16 - 26. There were 2 boys 10-16, 3 boys under 10 and
2 girls under 2. That seems like a lot of children for a
26-year-old. However, the 1830 Census states that
James is 40 - 50 and his wife is also 40-50. The
children are as follows: 1 male 20-30, 1 male 15 - 20, 2
males 10 -15, 1 male 5 -10, and 1 male under 5, females 1
female 15 - 20, and 1 female 5-10. We believe
Penny "his wife" would have been 26- 45 in
the 1820 Census.
Records of Revolutionary War Pension Papers of Soldiers who Settled Caldwell County say that James Perry gave a good neighbor testimony for Walter McChesney in 1832.
Tracking all the siblings of Sarah Perry through the
Census, I discovered that the 1850 Caldwell Census
stated that William Perry was born in
NC. and then the 1880 Census had the
following:
Wyley Perry age 66 Farmer born KY, both
parents born NC
Sallie Hubbard, age 59, sister, born KY,
both parents born NC
I have a copy of a court document of Caldwell county
surveying the track of land that would be passed on to the
"heirs and in-laws of said James Perry,
deceased". It is dated July 1833.
I have a copy of a court document naming Penelope Perry guardian for John, Sally, Whitnell and Littleton Perry, infants of James Perry deceased. It is dated November 1836. Why this took 3 years I don't know.
The Princeton Art Guild 1987 Year Book Caldwell Ct, KY state that Penelope Perry married William Rhodes in 1840. She died before 1850.
There is a Perry Cemetery north of Princeton Kentucky. Some of their children are buried there and it is possible this cemetery also holds the grave of James Perry, but I have no record of his burial place.
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Doc; ghper020.html
Date created: 10/26/2006
File edited :7/31/2010
File edited: 8/3/2013
File edited 12/10/2022
Dae edited 6/27/2023