Phillip Perry, Sr.
During the second quarter of the 17th century Phillip Perry, Sr., came to America from old England and settled within the boundaries of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. This county was one of the eight original shires of Virginia, as the counties were then called, and embraced the territory of Southampton County, Virginia, up to 1748, and bordered on the North Carolina line.
Phillip Perry represented some of the most sterling and worthy families of the Old Country who grew tired and weary with the tyranny, oppression and cruel wars of England, to gratify the bloody ambitions of dishonorable schemers to gain power that they might revel in disgrace and crime.
He became a large landowner and prominent and respected citizen of Isle of Wight County. He served with honor his county and province in several important official positions. He was the uncle of the old London merchant, Micajah Perry. Phillip was a cherished family name, as shown by the persistency of the family in retaining it through generations.
Among the old records of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, we find the will of Phillip Perry, dated November 20, 1667, and probated October 9, 1669. He gives his age as “70 years or thereabouts,” and mentions his wife, Grace, and sons Phillip and John, under age. In July, 1686, Thomas Green, of Isle of Wight County, consigns his tobacco to Micajah Perry and Thomas Lane, London, for sale. In 1693 John Perry, of the same county, son of Phillip Perry, deceased, conveyed a tract of land in that county to Col. Joseph Bridger, lying in Whitemarsh. Captain John Perry, of Westmoreland County, Virginia, was a prominent man in his section prior to 1661. Whether he was the brother of Phillip Perry can not be ascertained, nor can we trace the relationship, if any, between them. Phillip Perry, Sr., had other sons than Phillip and John. James Perry, Jacob Perry, and Joseph Perry were also his sons.
After the 17th century many of the well-to-do families of Virginia left the colony and moved to the more attractive lands and homes in the old Albemarle section of North Carolina. Among those who were attracted by the rich soil. Beautiful homes, delightful climate and good government were several of the members of the Perrys of southwestern Virginia, as it will now appear.
In the old records in Edenton, North Carolina, we find a grant of land from Jeremiah Perry and wife, Jane, to Christian Blount, dated October 8, 1694.
Francis and Jeremiah Perry are familiar names in the Virginia and North Carolina families. Captain Henry Perry, of Northampton County, Virginia, was closely connected with Captain Francis Pott’s family, and Captain Perry and wife are mentioned in the will of Captain Pott, which is dated in October 1658.
The Francis Perry, the Jeremiah Perry and the John Perry to whom the Earl of Granville granted lands in Franklin County, North Carolina, about the middle of the 18th century, were from Chowan and Perquimans Counties, North Carolina. The Perrys of Virginia were also connected by marriage with the leading Virginia family of Kennons, who intermarried with the Bullocks of Granville County, North Carolina. They were also connected by marriage with the old Broadnax family of the Old Dominion.
In 1707 Daniel Pugh, of Nansemond, conveyed a tract of land to Samuel Smith lying on Middle Swamp, adjoining the lands of John Perry and others. Several of the Perrys owned land on this swamp. In 1719 James Perry and wife, Patience, of Nansemond County, conveyed land on Middle Swamp, that runs out of Bennett’s Creek in Chowan County, North Carolina, to his brother, John Perry, of Nansemond County, Virginia and Jacob Perry is one of the witnesses to the deed. In 1715 Francis West, of Nansemond County, in his will speaks of Judith and Thomas Perry. Judith Perry married Abram Hill, of Nansemond County, Virginia, and they moved to North Carolina. On July 26, 1740, they conveyed to John Perry, of Bertie, 100 acres of land, and in 1756 they conveyed to Josiah Granberry a tract of land in Bertie (now Hertford) on Meherrin Swamp, which was purchased from John Perry, of Bertie County.
In 1728 Benjamin Perry conveyed to Thomas Lane, the old London merchant, 140 acres of land lying on Chowan River and Deep Run. Susannah Perry, his sister, is a witness to the deed. Thomas Speight, of Nansemond, in 1700 conveyed land in North Carolina to John Perry. I have been unable to locate this land, but it was in the Albemarle section.
In 1734, 1735 and 1736 we find William Perry signing as witness to deeds for lands in Chowan and Bertie counties. Several of the children of Phillip Perry, Sr., of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and several of his brothers moved to Perquimans County, North Carolina. His grandson, Phillip, died in Perquimans in 1751, leaving a will in which he speaks of his son Jesse, and Phillip, brothers John and Joseph and Jacob Perry, son of his brother Joseph. In 1759 Joseph and Benjamin
