General Notes

REFN: 3249
EDWARD PERRY, a native of Devonshire, England, born about 1630, and oneof the first members of the Society of Friends in America, came toPlymouth Colony and settled in Sandwich, in the province ofMassachusetts, at that time the headquarters of the Friends.  He married,about 1653, Mary, daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth Freeman, EdmundFreeman being lieutenant-governor of the colony.  Mr. Perry was aprominent speaker in the Society nf Friends and an earnest defender ofits doctrines.  He is of record as a grand jilryman in 1653, a surveyorof highways in 1658-68-74, and in the latter year also as recorder ofdeeds.  He was first clerk of the first monthly meeting of the Society ofFriends held at Sandwich, Massacliusetts.  The issue of this marriage wasnine children, among them Samuel and Benjamin, who settled in SouthKingston, Rhode Island, and were, it is believed, the progenitors ofpractically all of the Washington county Perrys.  From Benjamin Perrydescended the two brothers, Commodores Oliver H. and Matthew C. Perry, ofLake Erie and Japan Treaty fame, respectively, who have given distinctionto the Perry name in their native town of South Kingston, Rhode Island.Edward Perry published a book of addresses as early as 1689, said to bethe first book published in this country.


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