Welcome! I really enjoy exchanging information with people and love that this blog helps with that. I consider much of my research as a work in progress, so please let me know if you have conflicting information. Some of the surnames I'm researching:

Many old Cape families including Kelley, Eldredge/idge, Howes, Baker, Mayo, Bangs, Snow, Chase, Ryder/Rider, Freeman, Cole, Sears, Wixon, Nickerson.
Many old Plymouth County families including Washburn, Bumpus, Lucas, Cobb, Benson.
Johnson (England to MA)
Corey (Correia?) (Azores to MA)
Booth, Jones, Taylor, Heatherington (N. Ireland to Quebec)
O'Connor (Ireland to MA)
My male Mayflower ancestors (only first two have been submitted/approved by the Mayflower Society):
Francis Cooke, William Brewster, George Soule, Isaac Allerton, John Billington, Richard Warren, Peter Browne, Francis Eaton, Samuel Fuller, James Chilton, John Tilley, Stephen Hopkins, and John Howland.
Female Mayflower ancestors: Mary Norris Allerton, Eleanor Billington, Mary Brewster, Mrs. James Chilton, Sarah Eaton, and Joan Hurst Tilley.
Child Mayflower ancestors: Giles Hopkins, (possibly) Constance Hopkins, Mary Allerton, Francis Billington, Love Brewster, Mary Chilton, Samuel Eaton, and Elizabeth Tilley.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Ezra Perry abt. 1625-1689 and Elizabeth (Burgess) Perry


My 10th great-grandfather Ezra Perry was born circa 1625 (from age at death), likely in England. I’ve read his father’s name was John but without a source.

Ezra first appears in records in 1644 as one of the men contributing to the repair of the Sandwich meeting house. He pledged 9 shillings.

Ezra married Elizabeth Burgess on 12 February 1651/52 in Sandwich, Mass. She was born about 1629, the daughter of Thomas and Dorothy (Waynes) Burgess.

They had seven children, born Sandwich: Ezra, Deborah, John, Sarah, Samuel, Benjamin, Remembrance.

I descend from Deborah Perry who married Seth Pope.

In 1657 Ezra was listed as a lieutenant in the militia. In 1671 he was on a committee to view damage done by Indians to horses and hogs belonging to the English. In 1674 and 1677 he served on Grand Inquest juries. In 1679 he was appointed Constable.

On 10 July 1663 Thomas Burgess deeded land at Mannomett (Manamet) to his son-in-law Esra Perrey, planter. Thomas had purchased the land from Myles Standish who had in turn purchased it from Josias, a Nauset Sachem. The land adjoined land where Ezra already had his house. This area was also called Herring River Village in North Sandwich.

In his April 1684 will, Thomas Burgess bequeathed two lots of land to son Ezra Perry as well as additional land if his son Joseph Burgess declines the conditions of land left to him. Ezra and Joseph were co-executors.

Ezra conveyed land to his sons as gifts, probably as they reached age of majority. Each was also given a marriage portion of livestock and furniture.

In 1680 the Perry family purchased lands along the south bank of the Manomet (later Monument) River, in an area that is now the village of Bourne. Some descendants in that town say the family settled there much earlier, but the town records don't prove this. 

In 1627, the early Plymouth settlers opened the Aptucxet Trading Post in what is now Bourne. Thomas Burgess purchased the land and then it went to his daughter Elizabeth who was married to Ezra Perry. The property remained in the Perry family for more than 200 years.
Aptucxet Trading Post (reproduction), source: Bourne Historical Society

The four sons of Ezra Perry--Samuel, Ezra Jr., John and Benjamin--built their cabin in this area and many of the people residing at Bourne have seen the vestiges of this home (this was ca 1890). Tradition says these four sons traded at Herring River and when they returned home at night they would shelter themselves behind a large rock near their house and fire three or four bullets through the door to drive out any lurking Indians. The rock can be seen on land owned by Ordello R. Swift, near the flagstaff in his yard (1890).

Ezra died 16 October 1689 at age 64 in Sandwich, Mass. His gravestone is among the oldest surviving stones at the Old Town Cemetery in Sandwich and is engraved with a small winged skull. The inscription reads:

HERE LYES Ye BODY
OF EZRA PERRY
AGED 64 YEARS
DIED OCTo Ye 16
1689
Ezra Perry Gravestone source: Capecodgravestones.com

Elizabeth Burgess Perry died 26 September 1717 at age 88. She is buried next to her husband at the Old Town Cemetery.

HERE LYES Ye
BODY OF ELIZABETH
PERRY WIFE TO
EZERA PERRY
AGED 88 YEARS
DIED SEPT'R Ye
26th 1717
Elizabeth Burgess Perry Gravestone

The Mayflower Descendant published a transcription of Ezra Perry’s will which was written in on 16 October 1689, the day of his death:
The will of "Ezra Perry Snr of of manument and Towne of Sandwich" made 16 October, 1689, after providing that his body be buried "at ye ordinary place of burring," disposes of his estate as follows: "All my outward moveables, with out doars and with in doars to my truly and well beloved wife, as my true undoubted and Lawful Executrix .... to dispose of at her pleasure Excepting what I Leave and bequeath to my well beloved Son Samuel Perry that is two stiers of two and one heifer of four years, one mare Coult one Bed and furniture be Longing thereto one gun one Sword and Bandaleers one Iron pot, to my well beloved Son Benjamin Perry two Cowes two steeres about three years old one bed- and its ffurniture one gun one Sword To my Daughter Remember too Cows one bed and its ffurniture, one meare and all her Increse, also to my Son Ezra one Shilling To John Perry my Son one Shilling to Deborah my Daughter wife to Seth Pope one Shilling To Sarah wife to Epharim Swift one Shilling"
The will was signed by a mark. It was witnessed by Jacob Burge (who made his mark) and James Steuart, and probated 18 April 1690.

The inventory, taken 24 October 1689, by Elisha Bourne and Nathaniel Wing, was sworn to by "Elizabeth Perry ye Relict of ye above sd Ezra Perry" on 18 April 1690. The will and inventory were recorded 22 April 1690 by Joseph Lothrop, recorder.

Ezra’s inventory included steers, cows, a bull, horses, swine, tobacco, a sword, pewter and brass and totaled 78 pounds, 8 shillings. It did not included real estate, so perhaps Ezra had already deeded his land to his children.

Sources Not Mentioned Above:
RA Lowell, Jr., Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, 1984

Lydia B. Phinney Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, Ezra Perry of Sandwich, Mass, NEHGR vol. 115, April 1961

Jeremiah Diggs, Cape Cod Pilot, 1937

Simeon Deyo, History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1890

48 comments:

  1. This is fascinating! I'm glad I found your blog. I believe I, too, am descended from Deborah Perry Pope.
    Thank you for doing all this work!

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I wish you luck in your research! Chris

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  2. Thanks for the great info. I am a descendent of Edward Perry, brother to Ezra. He was my 9th Gr Grandfather! Im trying to gather as mauch info and stories/pictures of my family. Very happy to read all your info! Hope to get to MA someday to do more research. Holly Perry

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    1. Holly: it's nice to hear from a Perry. Until you get to MA, there's so many ways to research from a distance. Chris

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    2. As a descendant of Edward Perry, you're a closer relative of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and his brother, Commodore Matthew Perry.

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  3. Here's a link to some photos of the headstones- I too am a Perry descendant.
    http://flic.kr/p/8MQ2Jo
    http://flic.kr/p/8MQ2BU
    You don't get to appreciate the small size of the headstones until you're there- me with the two Perry headstones (now I'm not a little guy, but you get the idea-
    http://flic.kr/p/8MLXwr

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  4. Ezra and Elizabeth are my 8th great grandparents. Thank you so much for this information.
    Kimberly Eldredge Costa

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  5. My 9th Great Grandparents
    Edmund (Edward) Perry
    Birth 27 January 1587 in Bridford, Devonshire, England
    Death 1659 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States
    Birth 1592 in , , Devon, England
    Death 8 Jun 1659 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA
    One of their son's was Ezra. I've been trying to establish when and how the Perry's first came to the colonies.
    I'm pretty addicted to genealogy also.

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    1. Information I have found indicates Ezra's parents Edmund Perry and Sarah Crowell are the immigrants, apparently arriving at Plymouth about 1637 with their children. I have found two records of Ezra's arrival, but so far have not been able to find a document image or complete passenger list which would positively connect that Ezra to his parents and siblings.

      Edmund and Sarah are my 12th generation maternal ancestors, through Ezra's brother Anthony.

      The mention in the blog of Ezra's father being John is likely referring to his grandfather John Perry.

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    2. Thanks for commenting, Rod. I'd love to find a source on Ezra's parents being Edmund and Sarah. Is there anything you could share? Thank you, Chris

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    3. Yes! Were you ever able to find the source on Ezra's parents? I would love that!!!

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    4. My ancestor is Ezra Perry JR. Any relation to Rest Perry?

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    5. My Great grandmother was Bertha Mae Perry

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  6. That would be great if you uncovered when and how the Perry's came over. Chris

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  7. It appears that Ezra is my 9th great grandfather. I'm descended from his son John, John's son Elijah, and Elijah's daughter Martha who married Denison Robinson.

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  8. Edmund/Edward is my 9th mat. grt. grandfather and the Perry line goes for 11 generations from the time of the Perry emigration to Cape Cod.My mat. grandmother was the last Perry in our lineage.
    I'm absolutely hooked on genealogy.....it has shown me why I feel so at home whenever I get a chance to go to Cape Cod...I get to the Bourne Bridge and break out in tears as if I'm finally coming home. Add to that the fact that I have several Mayflowers passengers in my lineageand it all makes sense!
    CHERYL BISHOP 31 Aug. 2015

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  9. Hi Cheryl, I'm totally with you on the connection to places in our family history! Chris

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  10. Thank you for this interesting information. I am a proven Mayflower descendant of William White and Edward Doty from my maternal grandfather. I have just learned that my maternal grandmother was a William Brewster descendant through Era Perry, Jr, and Rebecca Freeman. This line connects with the Stephen Hopkins line in generation 7 when Samuel Perry (1761-1836) marries Jane Jenny Smith (1764-1834) in 1784 in Nova Scotia. Looks like my Perry Line were Loyalists and went to Nova Scotia for about 100 years before returning to Gloucester MA around 1849. My grandparents and my parents are buried at the Rounsevell cemetery in East Freetown, Massachusetts. I attend Mayflower Society meetings in Naples, FL.

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    1. Hi Ann, What an interesting family history. You've done an amazing job tracking them! Chris

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    2. My Perry family were Loyalist settling in shelburne, Roseway. Great grandfather James Perry moved to Bailey Island ME as a young fisherman in from a storm. Married my great grandmom Leeman. Family still in Roseway region. Still working on lineage

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  11. Excuse my typo. I am a descendant of Ezra Perry, Jr. (not Era Perry, Jr. as the typo above indicates.)

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  12. Hello everyone,
    My name is Jennea, I grew up in Massachusetts knowing that I had some "English" in me. I am a descendant of Edward Ezra Perry-Anthony Perry-Samuel Perry- Jasie Isiall Perry- Timothy Perry-Osborn Perry- Oscar Perry- Frederick Nichols Perry- Norma Perry.

    I am working on my Mayflower lines, and think that I may have Native American, that was thought to be Cape Verdean and Portuguese lineage, still trying to solve mysteries! This is new information that was only discovered two months ago.

    I appear to have Mayflower passenger lines, but have also discovered that my family was here prior to 1620 around Scituate. My father's Cape Verdean and Portuguese side had been present on Cape Code for centuries.

    Please forgive me, I am post concussion, typing with one working eyeball.

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    1. Hi Jennea, It is always interesting to work on the family mysteries! I'm not familiar with Anthony Perry. Best of luck, Chris

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  13. I am a descendant of Ezra Perry through his son John Perry. My grandmother's maiden name was Perry. Ezra Perry's g.g. son Zebedee Perry came to Maine and started a whole line of Perry's here in Maine. Mable

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    1. Mable, I don't know anything about Ezra's son John so that's interesting to know where his descendants settled. Love the name Zebedee! Chris

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    2. Mable ; I am a Zebedee descendant. Where are you in Maine ? I grew up near the Sweden homestead.

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    3. Anyone out there ? I'm a descendent of Zebedee

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  14. Thank you for this wonderful research. My grandfather was Perry Weed, descendant of Jonas Weed and Mahitable Perry (great granddaughter of your Ezra). Perry Weed came to CA in the early 1900s, was a pharmacist. Weed's Drugs. Mary

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    1. Hi Mary, Congratulations on tracing your Perry/Weed family of California back to Ezra. Interesting to know where the Perry's migrated to. Chris

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  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  16. Hi Chris -

    I just happened across this page looking for information on the area as I will be visiting early next week. I had not known about the Aptucxet Trading Post Museum and do want to see that! I believe it is closed on Sun-Mon so I guess we will come Tues.

    Ezra is my 8th gr-grandfather so it will be a real treat to see all this!

    I, too, am a genealogy nut. Something we share, cousin.....

    If you have any tips for our visit I would love to hear from you.

    bperry29@hotmail.com

    Sincerely,
    Beth Perry

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    1. Hi Beth, I haven't been to Aptucxet in years and not since I found the family connection. Were you able to visit? Chris

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  17. Nice blog! I am the 12th. G. Grandson of Ezra and Elizabeth Perry. I also have several Mayflower ancestors as well as being descended from one of the accused and hanged during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. (Susannah "Goody" North-Martin and husband George Martin are my 11th. G. Grandparents.) Brian E. Bailey nicewv@aol.com

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    1. Thanks, Brian. So sad about Susannah North Martin but must be fascinating to research. Chris

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  18. Hi my name is Rachel and I am working on my Husbands family. I found out that Ezera is his 11th or 12 Great Grandfather. I am huge on Genealogy and was able to go back to 960 AD in my family, when my husband found out, he asked me to do his. Its great to read your post about Ezra Perry and his wife. I was able to find out that his Father and mother were Edmond Perry and Sarah Betts, who came from England, Then the line goes John and Judith Perry and Johns parents were William and Dorthy Perry, Williams Father was also William Perry and Elizabeth Coney. Williams parents were Roger and Margery Perry and I was able to go 4 more generations past that. I have yet to get pictures of anyone in the Perry family, other than of grave stones. If anyone has any pictures of the Perry Family, I would SO LOVE to see them. Good luck to you all in your search.

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    1. Hi Rachel,
      If you could share source for where you found Ezra's parents, grandparents, etc. that would be great. Unfortunately, my Perry ancestors are too early for photography. Chris

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  19. Hello thank you for the info and research. Ezra would be my 8th great grandfather thru his son Benjamin. my grandmother was a Perry and her family went from Mass. to NY then to Pennsylvania where I am from. What is the Mayflower connection? I may have missed something.

    Rosanna Stephens

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    1. Hi Rosanna, As far as I know Ezra's son Samuel married Esther Taber who descended from Francis Cooke of the Mayflower. Chris

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  20. Hello,

    Thank you for making this blog post. I too am a descendant of Ezra Perry through his son Benjamin. My family is now settled around the Detroit, MI area as the Perry family headed west through NY and across Canada at some point.

    Regards,

    Thomas M. Perry

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    1. Hi Thomas, It's always interesting to find out where Perry descendant's settled. I admire their adventurous spirit! Chris

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  21. Hi there! This is great information. I’m also a descendant of Ezra Perry, being my 8th great grandfather. I’m trying to figure out the Mayflower connection, but I did manage to trace Ezra back to a descendant in Devon, England, his name was Christopher Perry and was born in 1359. Fascinating!

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    1. Hi Claire, Thanks for checking in. Sounds like you've been busy! Chris

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    2. Hello Claire & Chris my name is Ken I have a proven Mayflower line to Thomas Rogers which is my 9th. great-grandfather. My 3rd.great-grandmother is Hannah Perry b.16 Dec.1785 Sandwich Mass. d.17 Sept.1865 Sandwich Mass. M. Jabez Phinney b.27 Feb.1777 Barnstable, Mass.d.28 Feb. 1866 Sandwich, Mass. Ezra Perry b.abt.1625 d.1689 Sandwich Mass.is my 7th. great-grandfather . If you have Hannah Perry in your line I can help you with the line up to Thomas Rogers. The Thomas Rogers mayflower Silver book volume 19 page 112 has John Phinney b.2 Dec. 1748 b. Barnstable this John is Jabez's father & Jabez married Hannah Perry I hope this will help you if you need more info just ask . The Perry name goes into 2 of my lines then into the Bourne line my great-grandmother was a Bourne from Sandwich Mass.

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    3. Hi Ken, Thanks Ken for your message. I don't descend from Hannah but hopefully Claire sees your message to know that's one Perry with a Mayflower connection. Chris

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  22. hello- ezra perry is my 10x gg and i am decendant from his son ezra down through all the male perrys until Ida maywood perry married, jabish Doane, whom I am 2gg grand daughter. I’ve really enjoyed finding all my relatives and catching up with my dna matches!

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  23. Great information! I'm a little late in responding by the dates above. Ezra Perry was my 8th great grandfather. I come down through Benjamin Perry, the Nathaniels, Pliny Vandecius Perry, William, Frederick, Edwin and Martin Perry. I continue the Perry name with my son Braden and his two sons. It's been interesting to trace back to Edmund and his son Ezra coming to America in 1637 and settling in Sandwich. On my grandmother's side I have traced back to the Mayflower through the Spooners and Lydia Alden. Starting to get hooked on geneology!

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    1. Pliny Vandecius Perry is one amazing name! Glad you are getting hooked so you can pass on the family history!

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  24. I just started looking up my family history & traced it back to Ezra Perry. Very interesting!!!

    J. Perry (Texas)

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I'm now moderating comments on this blog. My apologies for any ensuing delays, but the large number of "spam" comments have made this necessary. ~Chris