Thomas PERRY [ 006 ]
Elizabeth HARVEY [ 007 ]
Elizabeth HARVEY [ 007 ]
==================================
These are the parents of Lucy Perry who
married James Puplett in Reading Berks in 1840.
This is the source file for "The Quaker Who Loved God And Rocks".
This is the source file for "The Quaker Who Loved God And Rocks".
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
17/2/1767 to 16/2/1768
- Thomas Perry (the father of Lucy Perry) born. [e] [f]
(This is acc to a note in
the front of Lucy’s notebook, “...who departed this life ... 16th February 1847
in his 79th year...”, but this must have been added in old age, as she has the
month wrong (really January) and he was really only 69. And, if she’d entered
this at the time of his death she would have used “Second Month”. Also, in her
1848 Diary, she wrote in Jan 16th space “This day year 1847 my dear
father died in London in his 78th year...”, right date but again
wrong age).
March 1776 – Twin
sisters born to Thomas’s parents in St Marys parish Whitechapel, but they died
at one and five days [p]
19/2/1777 - Thomas
Perry (the father of Lucy Perry) born at Stepney Msx [g]
Thomas was a Quaker, as was his
parents [j]
His parents were Daniel Perry and
Elizabeth ....... [j]
He had had at least one sister Hannah, age
unknown [j]
19/2/1777 – Thomas
Perry was born at “Road Side” in St Marys parish Whitechapel Msx, to Daniel
Perry (a biscuit baker) and his wife Elizabeth (nee Heming) [p]
(“Road Side” was a section of
Mile End Rd around No 139 on the north side, and between today’s Cephus Ave and
Globe Rd. The usage existed to at least the 1871 Census but is no longer on
current maps).
1778 to 1786 – Eight
more children born to Thomas’s parents at “Road Side” in the St Mary’s parish
in Whitechapel, four dying soon after birth, the other four living from three
months to four years, dying of such things as “convulsions” and measles [p]
1784 - The Elizabeth
Harvey (who mar Thomas Perry) was born in the West Ham area of London, parents
John Harvey and Ann ..... [g] [n]
pre 1785 - As a child
Thomas often visited his great-uncle William in Mile End Rd, London, the
"black sheep" [j]
1785
- Thomas remembers his great-Uncle William very well, also his wife Sarah, and
had often been at their house, before he went to Gildersome school in the year
1785, but does not remember (their) daughter Sarah [d]
(This school was on “fifty
acres of land, and a large commodious house in a fine airy and healthy
situation, about four miles from Leeds [NW on A660], and half a mile from
Gildersome Meeting”, opened Sept 1772, closed c 1815 – see .pdf on file)
(Nothing much known of Eliz’s origins, except that she had a sister
Margaret, and that in 1809 at the time of her marriage her father was described
as “…late of West Ham in the county of Essex, Calico Printer, deceased, and Ann
his wife surviving…”)
[n]
1785 - Aged 8, Thomas
went to Gildersome (on the A58 Leeds to Halifax road?) School, a boarding
school near Leeds, visiting his grandfather Stephen Perry (in London ?) before
leaving. His grandfather said he would
"not live to see me return".
[j]
6/6/1785 - Thomas's
grandfather Stephen Perry died [j]
19/7/1788 – Thomas’s
sister Elizabeth born in St Marys Whitechapel
[p]
1788/89 – The family
moved from Whitechapel to Stepney Green, their parents still in the
biscuit-baking business [p]
8/10/1789 – Another sister
born, in Stepney Green in Stepney, but died of “convulsions” at 9 months [p]
23/2/1791 – Thomas’s
sister Hannah born at Stepney Green, Stepney
[c] [p]
abt March 1791 – His
paternal granmother Eliz (nee Sims) died in Stepney Green [p]
1791 to 1793 – When
Thomas was abt 14-15, the family moved to Woodbridge in Suffolk but continued
in the biscuit business [p]
25/1/1793 – Thomas’s
brother Joseph (the last of 15 births in total) was born in Woodbridge
Suffolk [c] [p]
abt 1800? – Thomas
moved to Southampton and became involved in the Iron industry [gg]
(Thomas probably took an apprenticeship,
starting say age 13-14, about 1790/91, possibly with Robert Ransomes big new
foundry at Ipswich, as Ransome was a Quaker, and Thomas bought one of their
ploughs for his son Alfred in later life)
[r]
by 1809 – Thomas became
a half partner with a Henry Pritchett in the Iron Foundry firm of Pritchett
& Perry at Millbrook in Southampton, Hampshire [p]
1809 - Thomas's father
Daniel died (aged 59) in Woodbridge (bur FBG)
[j]
15/3/1809 – Thomas’s
father died. A James Jenkins wrote, on this date “…died my old friend and
relation (by marriage) Daniel Perry, at Woodbridge, baker. He exercised that
trade during several years in London, but the want o sufficient success caused
him to remove into the country, where he became prosperous and died in
comfortable circumstances.” [p]
-----------------------
MARRIED ----------------------
21/12/1809 - Thomas
Perry and Elizabeth Harvey marriage certificate [n]
On the twenty first day
of the twelth month one thousand eight hundred and nine, Thomas Perry of
Millbrook in the county of Hants, Iron Founder, son of Daniel Perry late of
Woodbridge in the county of Suffolk, Baker deceased, and Elizabeth his wife
surviving, and Elizabeth Harvey daughter of John Harvey late of West Ham in the
county of Essex, Calico Printer, deceased, and Ann his wife surviving, took
each other in marriage in a publick Assembly of the people called Quakers and
others in Barking in the county of Essex in the presence of us,
Thomas Theobald of Bromley Msx, Calico
Printer
W Darton of Gracechurch St London,
Bookseller
Moses Deane, Stratford ?, Essex ?, Baker
This marriage was solemnized between
us, (both signed)
Thomas Perry
Elizabeth Harvey
26/4/1810 – Elizabeth’s
sister Margaret married (her certificate)
[n]
On the twenty sixth day of the fourth
month one thousand eight hundred and ten, John Maw Jnr of Gainsborough in the
county of Lincoln, Merchant, son of John Maw of the same place, Merchant, and
Mary his wife, and Margaret Harvey daughter of John Harvey late of West Ham in
the county of Essex, Calico Printer, deceased and Ann his wife, took each other
in marriage in a publick assembly of the people called Quakers in Barking, in
the presence of us,
Thomas Theobald, Bromley Msx, Calico Printer
John Lloyd of Lombard Street, London, Banker
William Darton, 58 Holborn Hill London,
[secondhand bookseller ?]
This marriage was solemnized between us,
John Maw Jnr
Margaret Harvey
Aug 1810 – “The Mill
Place Foundry” in Foundry Lane Millbrook Southampton was taken over by C&H
Tickell, as the firm of Pritchett & Perry became insolvent, and both
partners were disowned by the Quaker Monthly Meeting [p]
(From T.A.B. Corley, "Iron Works at Reading: The Partnership
Era" in Berkshire Archaeological Journal, (Vol.67) -
“A mould board was
manufactured by Pritchett & Perry of Millbrook in 1809… The partners were
both Quakers, Henry Pritchett and Thomas Perry (1777-1840)… Pritchett came from
a local family while Perry was the son of a London baker .... The Millbrook
firm very soon collapsed, for in 1810 the partners were reported as having
‘absconded and not paid their just debts’, and the Quaker Monthly Meeting sent
a deputation to interview them. Perry thereupon accused Pritchett of having
failed to pay in the additional capital he had promised, but was himself
charged with having taken a ‘considerable’ sum out of the business for his own
private use. In the circumstances the Monthly Meeting judged both equally
culpable and disowned them.") [p]
8/9/1810 – Thomas and
Eliz’s first child, a son Alfred was born at Four Posts, Millbrook,
Southampton. Thomas described as an Ironfounder. Witns on the birth certificate
are W H Downer (Surgeon), Sarah Barratt, and Ann Pace. [p] [s]
during 1811 ? – The
family moved to the Channel Island of Jersey
[gg]
25/9/1812 – Their son Edward was born at Grange Walk,
St Mary Magdalene, Jersey. At the time Thomas was a Clerk in Grange Walk [p]
abt 1813 – The family
moved from Jersey to Bermondsey (?? – see below) [gg]
31/3/1812 to 30/3/1813
- Son Edward Perry born at Bermondsey
Sry. (Date range is right but this is from the 1851 Census, at odds with the
Quaker records of the time. [b] [g]
8/9/1813 - Son Alfred
born (mar Eleanor Clark 1848, died 1889 in Noarlunga) [g]
by late 1814 – The
family moved from Jersy (or Bermondsey??) to Bethnal Green [gg]
c 1814 - Son John
Harvey Perry born (mar Priscilla Browett 1846 at Stoke Newington, died Mt
Barker 1853) [g]
12/9/I814 – Their son
John Harvey Perry was born, At the time Thomas was an Accountant of Bath St (St
Matthews parish), Bethnal Green, Middlesex
[p]
13/11/1814 – Thomas’s
mum died aged 63 in Woodbridge (bur in FBG)
[p]
31/3/1817 to 30/3/1818
- Daughter Margaret Thresher Perry born at Hackney Msx [b] [g]
21/8/1817 – Their
daughter Margaret Thresher Perry was born in St Matthew parish, Bethnal Green
Msx [p]
abt 1817 – The family
moved from Bethnal Green to Reading in Berkshire [gg]
15/9/1818 – Thomas’s
brother Joseph married Martha White (of Winchester) at St Thomas, Winchester in
Hampshire [p]
abt 1818 - With his
brother Joseph (abt 25), Thomas (abt 40) started an iron foundry in
Reading. [p]
According to T.A.B. Corley -
"After holding a clerk's job for some years Thomas Perry and his brother
Joseph moved to Reading and together set up a new foundry situated at the
corner of Horn Street and Katesgrove Lane." [p]
Another’s recollection was
that it was “…the largest manufactory in the town at that time… became Perry
& Barrett, then Perry, Barrett & Exall… then Reading Iron Works… Joseph
Perry suffered from some mental malady in his later years…” [p]
24/8/1818 – The date on
cut out bits stuck in his "geology" notebook in Ipswich, something
about Woodbridge graves inc his parents, which it appears he visited at that
time [j]
1819 – Thomas’s sister
Hannah married James Poulter, a brewer of Dover in Kent [p]
6/5/1819 – Thomas’s
sister Elizabeth married William Greenwood at Rochester Kent, a silversmith of
Rochester [p]
26/9/1819 – Their fifth
and last child, dau Lucy was born “…at Seven Bridges in the parish of St Giles
in Reading Berks, to Thomas Perry, an Iron Founder, and his wife Elizabeth.” [k]
21/12/1819 - Her birth
certificate signed at the Reading & Warborough Monthly Meeting (of
Quakers), witnessed by John Hooper (Accoucheur) and Elizabeth Gaston (Nurse),
and signed by Nichs Albright (Clerk) and Thos Paine(?) [k]
1820 – Thomas had a
business as a Biscuit baker in Market place, Reading, Berkshire.
According to T.A.B. Corley
"In 1820 Thomas Perry ran into further financial trouble, connected with
either his previous or a new bankruptcy.... [and] he became a biscuit baker in
Reading Market Place; his biscuits earned the commendation of the novelist Mary
Russell Mitford."
[p]
Thomas makes several letter references to
"the old shop in London St Reading"
[j]
1820 - Thomas &
Elizabeth Perry started a popular biscuit bakery in the market place in
Reading. According to Mary Russell Mitford [a local literary identity] they
were “…a Quaker couple, so alert, so
intelligent, so accurately and delicately clean in all their looks, and ways,
and wares, that the very sight of their bright counter, and its simple but
tempting cakes, gave their customers an appetite. They were the fashion, too...
nothing could go down for luncheon in any family of gentility but [the Quaker]
biscuits.” [p]
1823 – His brother
Joseph was an Ironfounder in Horn Street Reading [p]
c 1825/30? – When eldest son Alfred was
about mid-teens, Thomas and he walked together from Stratford (nr West Ham in
East End, on rlwy line) to Chelmsford (35kms!), going to Brentwood Hill on the
way, and talked “…with an old Soldier who had been encamped on Warley Common
there…” (both places adjt to rlwy line at Brentwood, half way) [d]
(while living at Reading??)
Nov 1825 – Thomas
copied a lengthy article “Remarks on Geological Antiquities from the British
Review” about concern that some people
“seem to fear that something injurious to the credit of Scriptures will be the
result…” (followed by what looks like his own thoughts and observations) [j]
1/6/1826 – Brother
Joseph still an Ironfounder living in Horn St Reading [p]
3/9/1826 – Date on an
“Isle of Wight” entry in his geology book, “Church of St Lawrence, about 10
feet long, 5 feet wide, 8 feet high inside”
(??) [j]
June 1826 – Thomas
Perry, Market Place, biscuit baker, and Joseph Perry, Horn Street, Ironfounder,
both listed as voters for Borough of Reading
[p]
25/9/1828 – “Abury”
(Avebury?) entry in his geol book “One stone 16 feet high, 16 feet wide, 5-6 in
thick, computed to weight 98 tons. Another 15 feet high, 11 do wide, 5-6 in
thick” [j]
12/11/1828 - An entry
in his "geology" journal, in Birmingham [j]
15/5/1829 – (and again
15/6?) “Read” a paper (by the Revd WD Conibeare) “On the Hydrographical Basin
of the River Thames…” (to “Geological Society” ?) [j]
5/6/1829 – Read another
(by Roderick Murchison) [j]
19/6/1829 – Read a
paper to a Geol Society [j]
(This was followed in his notes by a
transcript of “Instructions for a Collection of Geological Specimens” issued by
the Geol Soc)
23/1/1830 – Copied an
article “From the Mirror” re Aug 1829 storm and flood on the River Don is
Scotland (interested in movement of large stones by water) [j]
30/1/1830 – His brother
Joseph made out his will in Reading, leaving everything to his wife Martha [p]
about 1830 – Wm. White
(a relative) recollected (in 1895) that "Thos. Perry ... had a very nice
looking Biscuit shop and for years following in the Market Place and afterwards
in Duke Street" [p]
25/3/1831 – Joseph
admitted to Radcliffe Asylum Warneford, Headington, Oxfordshire as he possibly
“suffered from some mental malady in his later years…” [p]
5/5/1831 – Thomas’s
brother Joseph died at Radcliffe Asylum two months after being admitted [p]
22/6/1832 – Copied a
Table-type article by W Smith of Oxford (that struggles with the concept of
“The Deluge” in geology ?) [j]
(This is surely William
Smith of “The Map That Changed The World” ?)
1835 – "In the
Spring" Thomas visited his sister Hannah (mar to Jas Poulter) at Dover,
and while there compiled substantial notes on his family history from the
"Ancient Book of Records of the Society of Friends." (From then
through to 1841, he added more from personal recollection and family
information) [j]
abt 1837 – Thomas’s
health is poor [d]
11/2/1838 - Thomas's
wife Elizabeth died (aged 53 or 54) at Reading [g] [p]
1838 – Alfred emigrated
to SA, “having previously resigned his membership to the Society” (presumably
the Quakers?) [p]
Abt 1839 – Thomas (aged
abt early 60s and probably already suffering the health problems that would dog
his last ten years) retired from the biscuit bakery in Reading and moved to
Finsbury in London (where his son John already lived?). [p]
21/6/1839 - Thomas' son
Alfred left for Sth Aust on the "Dumfries" (arr Oct 1839) [q]
30/1/1840 - Dau Lucy
(aged 20, living at 8 London Street Reading, father Thomas Perry, late biscuit
baker) married James Puplett (batchelor of 4 Duke St Reading) at the Warborough
Friends Meeting in Reading [m] [p]
20/8/1840
– His son Alfred’s previous letter recd from SA [d]
8/9/1840 - Son Edward
mar Louisa Bartlett at Reading [g]
(She was born there c1818)
3/12/1840 - Dau
Margaret mar Charles Wickens in Reading
[g]
(they emigrated to SA,
she died 1861 Coromandel Vly)
1/1
and 6/3 /1841 – dates of SA newspapers Alf sent to his dad in Reading [d]
abt Dec? 1840 – The whole family seems to have gone through a period of
some kind of financial and domestic turmoil, with James Puplett at the centre
of it, and James & Lucy (and the whole family?) gave up
their biscuit business at Reading, Thomas later said James “…acted so unwisely…”, owed between ₤60 and ₤70 and apparently permanently damaged
their reputations with many in the town.
Thomas was to write “…Lucy is in very low
spirits… her lot was very rough…James has been a fool to himself and others…”
(even though he was said by many to have made the best biscuits in town) and
that “…their trade is lost as neither Hobbs (Wm Hobbs, a Grocer of Castle St
and a town constable) or Huntleys (big wholesale biscuit makers) have been
benefitted at all by his leaving…” [d]
abt
June 1841 – Lucy’s sister Margt and her husb Charles Wickens, taking Thomas
with them, left Reading and went to live in B’ham (why B’ham??), renting
premises in Edgbaston and setting up another biscuit business, getting into
“good connection among the wealthy families”, although the “general Trade of
Birmingham is now & has for a long time been excessive bad &
discouraging, tends to preclude the Gentry from spending”.
Lucy’s health (she was pregnant) had very poor for some time, and she
went with them for a while. [d]
abt
June 1841 – Thomas wrote to Alf from B’ham, sent to “Alfred Perry, Late of
Reading, To be left at the Post Office, City of Adelaide, South Australia”.
(Thomas uses the “Old Personal” language full of thees and thous and thines and
thys, but none of his kids do) [d]
21/6/1841 – Thomas
presented a paper on The Valley of the Thames to the Geological Section of the
B'ham Philosophical Society [j]
July
1841 – James (unemployed) left Reading for nearby Newbury to wind up the
affairs of a Mrs Botham (presumably a relative), and Lucy left B’ham and joined
him there. [d]
late
July 1841 – News that Lucy miscarried with a still born 6 month boy [d]
(Margt later wrote “…she always would have
it that the babe would not live…”, and an indication of the family’s emotional
condition Margt also later wrote “…It was a great trial to all of us and as for
myself as I said at the time I should as soon a thought of myself as her doing
so. I used to call occasionally and about 2 weeks before Father and I called
and had not the slightest idea of anything of the kind at first I would not
believe it I am happy to say the little [baby?] is dead…”
c
Aug? 1841 – C + M had a visit from George Edward White (a tailor of Castle St,
and a town constable) for little more than a day, expressed himself pleased and
satisfied with the fittings up & whole appearance of the shop &
bakehouse (has a business in Reading? is financing them?). He sells a
considerable quantity of biscuits at Reading for them, many of their old
customers quite regret the thing being given up there (so why did they?). [d]
11/9/1841 - By this
time (aged abt 63) he had been living in B'ham for about 6-9 months with dau
Peggy (Margaret) and son-in-law Charles Wickens, who are in the biscuit
business and struggling to get established C & M do without a female
servant, keep expenses down, Thomas helps out as he can, comfortable and happy,
minds shop, writes their letters, all missing Alfred, Thomas suffering off and
on from asthmatic bronchitis. [d]
abt
Oct? 1841 – James and Lucy go to Rayne in Essex to try to resurrect their
lives, and with the help of James’s parents and friends (pres the Whiteheads)
set up a “…little country shop about 3 miles from W Whiteheads, bakers as well
as Grocers…” [d]
At this time Edw is living at Wroughton,
employed on the Great Western Line in nearby Swindon, and John is working at
the Finsbury Sawmills as an accountant.
[d]
10/10/1841
– Lucy writes to her father, sends a detailed drawing of the place (forgets the
chimneys) and a pressed rose (from her new garden?), says her health is good
(after her illness at Newbury) [d]
Oct
1841 – Old friend (B Cowderoy from Reading) calls in to see Thomas and they
walk over to Dudley together to visit some Iron Works and the Limestone
Caverns, both enjoyed it, caught in the rain in Dudley Park. Also Mrs White
(pres wife of George Edw White, who apparently helped them financially with the
B’ham shop) paid a short visit of a few days, satisfied that the business here
is progressing after slack for some weeks, many wealthy families returned from
hols, buying [d]
15/10/1841
– Thomas writes to Lucy in Rayne (which he says he’s been thru many times but
doesn’t remember it), pleased her &
James likely to be comfortably settled again, that they are in a “little
country situation”, a prospect of again rising in the world over recent
difficulties, that their old family dog Dash happy and comfortable, he never
was so well off even at Reading, that they dont like the Birmingham flour and
have had more from Henry Simons (an alderman and JP, of 50 Broad St, possibly
worked at Whites) [d]
12/12/1841
– Margt writes to Alf in SA, says trade here is dreadful, general distress,
thousands starving or living on less than 1/- a week. Seems C+M would like to
join him in SA but too much in debt, but still want emigration details and his
views on it [d]
9/1/1842
– Margt in Bham writes to Alf in SA, business still not as good as Reading, a
little story of them sending biscuits back to Reading (to be sold by the
Whites?), a gentleman there asked for “Perry’s Biscuits” told were same but
came from Birmingham, he didn’t care as long as “…they were the same as Perry’s
used to be…”
- first floor rented out, help pays ¾ of
the rent
- their Quaker Meeting is Lady Wood (area
just above Broad St) [d]
12/6/1842
– Margt writes to Alf in SA (she refers to John as “Harvey” - his middle name -
and Edward as “Ned”), pleased she can provide for her father in his old age, he
looks after his own clothes, getting good at needlework, made himself a pair of
trousers, John very kind to their dad, sends him London papers, Lucy’s letters
cheerful (at last?), James now steady and attentive to business, all think it
the best thing they could possibly have done for them [d]
9/7/1842
– Thomas decides to visit Lucy at Rayne for a few weeks, John sent money for
seat by Railway to London, stayed a week with son John, & Saml Barter,
spent one day with Henry Deane & his Mother & Sister (Henry Deane Esq,
alderman and JP of 24 Friar St), talked to Deane about coloured flints, similar
to what Thomas and Alf used to collect, took him several specimens polished,
discuss them, studied them with Deane’s “excellent Microscope”, Doctor Mantle
the great Geologist lives near him, and they sometimes exchange ideas.
- another day (“our”) Cousin Charlotte
walked with Thomas down to Peckham (5km SW of Isle of Dogs) to see Lucy
Reynolds who they had not met since she was at Reading to attend the funeral of
Thomas’s wife, stayed with her for dinner and tea,
- also visited his niece Anne Rosling,
Thomas’s Cousin John Perry & Jacob Barter & wife (an Alfred Rosling had
a sawmill in London and Jacob Barter worked for him)
- while at John’s, John received Alfs
letter asking him to send by first vessel two ploughs etc, John & Thomas
wrote Ipswich (Ransomes), knowing they could supply better than the Reading
foundry now can, as Thomas had once been in the Trade would only charge the
wholesale price. [d]
Sat
16 July 1842 – In morning Thomas left London by the Eastern Counties Railway
for Brentwood, Thomas walked along the line to Chelmsford 12 miles, wishing to
see what the strata was in some (rlwy?) cutting “on the right of the Turnpike
Road”, reached it at tea, kindly received by Dan Puplett & his wife (in
Chelmsford) [d]
Sun
17 July 1842 – James & Lucy joined him for dinner at the Pupletts, took
Thomas with them to Rayne in the evening (for 5 weeks), writes he’s glad to
once more get among the corn fields & other rural scenes, pleased with
their setup, a “…pretty trade as Country Grocers, bake 40 or more 4 lb loaves 3
or 4 times a week…”, James much “mended”, not so much alive & striving as
would like to see him, doesn’t go about his work in a business like manner, yet
has “many good points” and Thomas thought was in good standing with his Millers
& his Grocer, Lucy very industrious, keeps no female servant, helps James
with the bread, sets in for him & neighbours that bring their dough to be baked,
they live very close and frugal, and seem happy [d]
17/7
to abt 21/8/1842 – In Rayne Thomas remarks on a beautiful and abundant harvest,
weather good, visits Whiteheads about 3 miles
awayoff, the two families (ie J+L and W’hds) are on good terms & often
assist each other
- Thomas wanted to go (walk?) to Sudbury
(N of Rayne) 16 miles to see someone, but on a Sunday James & Lucy drove
him in their pony cart, kindly recd by Wm Bass, stayed overnight, next day
walked to Ipswich (30 kms?), met his cousin Stephen Perry (prob the son of
Thomas’s father’s brother John Perry of Ipswich, who probably worked for James
and Robt Ransome at the big Ransome’s Ironworks in Ipswich), offerred him a
[his?] horse to ride to Stephen’s cottage at Rushmere (St Andrews) 2 miles
(NE), but Thomas “afraid to ride”
- on reaching [the cottage?], a fine &
warm evening, had the tea table set out on his Lawn under the weeping willows,
joint of meat & a bottle of Cider, sat and chatted & enjoyed themselves
till dusk
- enjoyed Stephen’s hospitality [for
about?] two weeks, twice drove Thomas in his Chaise down along the Suffolk
Coast, taking provisions with them, late tea, picked up many curious pebbles,
cornelians, rode with him to Ipswich [to work?], saw several old friends, went
over the Ransomes Works, very extensive, employing abt 400, making ploughs,
plough shares & Agricultural implements, also at their lower works, cast
[iron in an ?] immense amount for the Dover Railway, never saw work turned out
better, the Reading Works (whose? Thomass old one?) sink into insignificance to
them
- James & Robert Ransome great
hospitality, Thomas visited them several times.
- wanted to see Woodbridge 5 miles from
Stephen’s, walked over, kindly received by old friends
– at Meeting there [W’bridge] one Sunday,
visited his father and mother’s grave, walked round the beautiful old church, a
building he always admired, visited many other parts of the town “he used to
once frequent, all with great pleasure”
– visited the Sea Coast at Aldborough, 18
miles, walked there one afternoon (and back?? to Rushmere??)
- next morning was wet, hazy thick fog all
day forced to keep in doors & be patient
- next day fine after breakfast walked 8
miles on the beach to Orford Lighthouse, “a pleasant ramble, collected many
good pebbles principally flints, by then 4 o’clk & had 14 miles to
Woodbridge, did not reach till after[tea?]…”, and next morning walked back to
Stephens [at Rushmere?]
- later wrote that he enjoyed himself in
Suffolk, had a great desire to see it one more time, may never see it again
- left Stephen’s(?), [something…] 5 miles
from Ipswich on way back to Sudbury, in time for tea, again welcomed by Wm
Bass, invited Thomas to stay a few days, and from Sudbury Thomas walked back to
Rayne, tea with Lucy, “glad to get back to them” [d]
abt
mid Aug 1842 - Thomas remained with Lucy, taking walks & examining their
gravel beds, collecting stones [d]
abt
mid Sept 1842 – (Fri) Thomas left Rayne “not wishing to be out till the cold
weather set in”, lodged the night at Chelmsford, (Saturday) walked to Brentwood
Station (rail - why walk?) & reached John’s for tea in evening,
(Monday) again went to see the Deanes but
on getting back to Finsbury found a letter from Margaret to say Charles was
very ill, wants Thomas to hurry home, (Tuesday) in morning made some calls,
left London by the 5 o’clk train, at 10 at night arrived at Broad Street safe
& well, glad to see them all again & also to find Charles much better [d]
late
in 1842 – the weather changed to severe cold with driving snow, Thomas took
cold, brought on Influenza & attacked lungs with a violent Asthmatic Cough
& loss of appetite after he’d felt “…so well whilst in Essex &
Suffolk…” even seemed to have lost shortness of breath [d]
abt
Nov? 1842 – Edward’s work on the Bristol & Gloucester Line has suddenly
stopped, he and Louisa visited B’ham, stayed near 3 weeks while Thomas was ill,
Edward useful to Margaret in minding shop
[d]
14/12/1842
– Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA, the letter addressed to “Alfred Perry, Mr
T Stacy’s Baker & Confectioner, Hindley St Ad” (recd June 1843) [d]
– Louisa in poor health but Edward well,
in Reading intending to stay till after Xmas, Edw almost tired of Railway work
& wishes to get into a fixed place (Thomas wrote to the Ransomes for him,
check for a job for Edw, James Ransome’s couldn’t help)
– not pleased with Lucy not writing,
because she now has got “settled in a snug little concern”, aught to find time
-
and the usual round of news from all over
[d]
c
1843 ? – His son John applies to Reading Friends to be reinstated into
membership, as his intended Priscilla Browett’s family had objection to their
being married anywhere but at a Friends Meeting [d]
abt
late Jan/early Feb 1843 – Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA…
- about this time was the death of a
relative Sarah Perry (the unm daughter of Thomas’s great Uncle William Perry
formerly of Mile End Road London) who lived the greater part of her life in
Southwark, but for the last 12 years lived in a room at Kensington, on the
little property she had saved from time to time during servitude. She was well
known to friends in that quarter and very highly esteemed, possessed about “₤23
per ann invested in the Funds on which she lived”, but not knowing who were her
nearest relations did not make a Will.
(Thomas nor his two sisters, or either of
his cousins at Ipswich (the children of John Perry, inc Stephen) ever knew that
they had any relation of the Perry family left, “nor ever remember to have
heard any of our Parents speak of her, altho’ they must have known her in early
life”
– at length relatives heard of Thomas
living in Bham and got his address, Thomas was contacted, summoned up to London
to administer to her effects, invited by Thomas’s cousins Joseph and Deborah
Sterry to stay at their house at Kensington.
- by the time Thomas paid all the expenses
he (and four other living grandchildren of Stephen Perry) had ₤36-5-0 left to
divide equally among them, a “very convenient windfall”, as Thomas could buy
some clothes and other things he needed
[d]
abt
June/July? 1843 - After Thomas returned home, Margaret was confined in the
fifth month, put to bed with a still born boy, she “suffered very much and for
a long while after, was exceedingly weak and poorly”
- George White came from Reading for a few
days and took Margaret back with him for about 5 wks, health improved, saw a
great number of old friends and acquaintances who were pleased to see her, had
the pleasure of waiting on some of Thomas’s old customers for Gingerbread,
several wished they would go back and open shop there, Mr & Mrs White urge
their going back [d]
30/10/1843
– Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA, says his plough is on ‘Elizabeth Buckham’
-
Thomas “should not be surprised if they [return to Reading] next
year” [d]
abt
April 1844 – Just before Edw and Louisa move to Bristol with railways, they have
a son, “…the first grandchild [of Thomas’s] to live…” (J Edward Perry born Reading 31/3/1844 to
30/3/1845 [b] ) [d]
17/5/1844 – Thomas in Bham writes to Alf
in SA with the usual array of family news…
- Thomas proud of Alfred’s hard work and
achievements in SA
- Thomas has had a good summer and is
feeling better and stronger than 7 years ago (c.1837?) but can’t take heavy
manual labour any more [d]
30/5/1844
– Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA, they have sent (with help of John) waggon
axle set plus other useful “settler in an uncivilised country” things, on ship
- says “…James has since their residence
at Rayne shown every wish to render himself pleasing and agreeable to the whole
family…” (doing well) “…they have their pony and cart and Lucy seems to enjoy
to have it out and drive over to Sister Mary (whose sister??) and sometimes the
two ladies go to Chelmsford and Maldon etc …”
[d]
1844
?? – Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA…
- Thomas pleased Alfred is progressing
well in “…new occupation as farmer in the Wilderness…”, says Henry Deane is
sending seeds and fruit trees
- Thomas received some “Numbers of Mainzers[?] Musical Times”, given to
him by Br Cowderoy late of Reading in turn for some Geological service he did
(and that Mainzer was a German who had done some “…instructing the working
classes in Singing, reading and understanding music…”
- Thomas also sent to Alfred a book of
Eliza Cooks poems (ref file ElizaCook.doc)
- how he (out of the small Sarah Perry
legacy) “… bought 6 blue pocket kerchiefs, one each for each of my sons and
sons-in-law and one for myself – I now send thine – it has been washed once –
and a box of steel pens with some holders also some polished winkle shells …”
- writes of his intended daughter
(-in-law), John Harvey’s friend [d]
31/5/1844
– Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA…
- missing him, Bham much colder than
Reading, Five Ways near where they live is the highest and most exposed part of
it, Charles & Margaret often wish they were out with Alf in Australia, the
time may come when they do, but not while Charles’ mother lives, (who also
wants them to return to Reading), and they never liked Bham anyway.
- Thomas wants Charles to talk to people
re the wholesale trade but he won’t, but Thomas hopes that one of his other
sons will come in to exploit the potential if Charles leaves.
- Thomas looked after the shop and
business “…Mrs White gave me (some clothes and silk) last year for my care and
attention to the shop during thy sister’s confinement and her absence from home
afterwards to regain her health…”
- news of Edwards & Louisa, John’s and
fiancee Priscilla
- Edward “employed by Brotherhood(?) on
the Great Western Line overseeing the workmen doing repairs, his ground is from
Swindon Station to Didcott near Wantage about 20 miles,
- he visited James and Lucy at Rayne
- ends with a short summary of the cost
of the axle set and springs totalling
₤2-12-0
– sent Alfs box of gear, directed to E. J.
Wheller, Shipping Agent for the ‘John Hayes’ (ar SA Oct 11 1844) [d]
4/6/1844
– (probably like all of their letters, this one must have been started before
the box was sent on the 31st May, and was added to over a period of
many days, even a week or two, and the date on it must be as at time of final
posting?)
- Thomas in Bham writes to Lucy in Rayne,
re the box going to Alfred, Thomas to buy something and enclose in it as a
present from James and Lucy, also Thomas packs two boxes of polished Winkle
shells as a present for Thomass [upcoming?] daughter in law
- Thomas and C+M would have liked James to
have come to see them but Thomas didn’t expect it, possible he could see John
and them too in one journey, hope some future time he may be able to [d]
22/7/1844
– Henry Deane writes to Thomas advising will be sending Alf fruit trees etc in
Nov, but in the meantime Alf writes to them in Bham, discouraged with short
crops & low prices, nursery packed trees badly, death of a number, interest
in news of a copper find near Willunga
[d]
12/1/1845
– Alfred writes from Willunga to Thomas and Margt in Bham… [d]
- much obliged for kind presents, he wrote
to Harvey, sorry to say still single, the reasons explained to Harvey, letters
to him had better be to the Post Office Adelaide, for inland postage not
reliable
- the biscuits in the case came very good,
only tasted rather of the pitch, they were not at all rank and not soft.
- glad to hear of the welfare of [Mr] G.
E. White, would much enjoy a glass of his home brewed beer with him, “this
afternoon the therm standing at 980 in the shade not far from me”
- Alf is “quite a teatotaller by necessity
having only had two glasses of beer for some months”
- very much obliged to Thomas for his
presents, the Political Pamphlets were well worth reading, that by Dr Wade a
clever work, would like to see Mainzer's other work “Singing for the
Million", the polished Winkle shells greatly admired
- hopes ”by this time” John Bartlett [in
England] has been more lucky than himself
- sees by the Berkshire Almanac that Emma
Pollard has taken to the old shop in London Street, sorry that “H (female)
Williams is so tight”, thought better of her
- sees by the advertizements many changes
in Reading since he left, would like to see it again, often wishes he was
nearer to them all, such a long time between sending and receipt of letters
- very much surprised to bear that Joshua
and Louisa had emigrated to America, she not suitable for the hardshirps of a
settlers life in a new country with all its privations, will wish herself in
England again unless emigration to America is a different thing than it is to
Australia
- not surprised at the death of his Aunt
Margaret, often wondered she lingered so long
- George Deane (of Dover) is going to
return to England, this season he has done very badly
- sorry to hear of the illness of Uncle
James Poulter
- received the illustrated London News,
also the despatches containing O'Connels Trial (Daniel O’Connell the Irish
patriot)
- Thomas wished to know if Alf has a pond
or stream of water on his land, sorry to say NO, all land that had anything of
the kind was eagerly caught up long before he arrived, can assure them that
water, that is, a stream or ponds, are a great curiosity and are like Angels
Visits, Alf gets water at about 9 feet deep, which then rises 4 feet, so that
it is only 5 feet from the surface which is better than most, many of the wells
are 80, 90 to 180 feet deep
- Thomas also wished to know how they get their flour ground, have to
“take it to Noarlunga about 6 miles off, these is a steam mill. Nearer Adelaide
is another steam mill, and in the neighbourhood there are other steam mills and
4 windmills one of which has a handsome brick tower mill 80 feet high. Soon
after it was erected a whirlwind took one of her sails completely off.”
- a comet visible, seems to be travelling
from south to north, they will most likely see it before his letter
arrives [d]
early
April 1845 – Margaret is near the end of her pregnancy and the (ever-hovering?)
Mrs White came to be with her for the birth
[d]
(Did Whites have kids? Acted like parents?
grparents? to Thomass kids?)
30/4/1845
- early in the morning Margt safely put to bed, about at forenoon had a
daughter (Charlotte Eliz), both seem to do well, soon after Baby was first
dressed Thomas was “invited upstairs to see my little Granddaughter, and we
were all well pleased to behold so sweet & lovely a little creature”
– Mrs White stopped with them near 6 weeks
- Baby improved in health & strength,
Margt not so well, became very anxious about her, fearing she might go into a
decline, change of air was recommended
[d]
18/6/1845
– Thomas in Bham writes to Lucy in Rayne, John says Alfred talks of returning
home, appears to be down in spirits, poor second harvest, low price of wheat,
Thomas says Alf should remember the land is his own, no heavy rental to meet,
hopes of being married “but that hope had fled, at least for a time”, that this
would discourage him, but recognises that Charles and Margaret differ from his
opinion, are prepared to see him back again, at least after a time [d]
early
July 1845 - George White came to stay a few days, took Margaret & Baby back
with him to Reading for 6 weeks [d]
mid
Aug 1845 – Margt returned home much improved in health (after) return by the
Western Railway, stop 2 days with Edward & Louisa (not able to see them
since their Marriage), Mrs White left to take her up at the station and assist
in the care of Baby, Margt went by way of Gloucester Line, stopped a few days
with Thomas & returned to Reading
[d]
28/11/1845
– Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA, nearly a year passed since last wrote
& uncertainty if Alfred returning, cold winter in England, bad crops [d]
before
Dec 1845 – James out of work, Lucy struggling again [d]
3/12/1845 – Thomas gave
Lucy a "Memorandum Book" at B'ham. First 5 pages contain notes on
weather and other seasonal factors, on water purification. Also notes fromBerks Chronicle 7/1/1844 [e]
3/12/1845
– Wickens wedding (5th anniv ??), Margt “…could not part with Lucy
until it was over, we all dined together with our next door neighbours very
pleasantly and comfortably probably never to meet thus again, the last time was
at Lucy’s wedding we were all present but thyself and on Edward’s wedding John
Harvey was absent…” [d]
early
Dec? /1845 – Thomas has a violent attack of Asthma, Doctor ordered him to bed,
afraid of the consequences, advise two Sons & Lucy, had not seen them for
more than two years, they came without delay, all reached there on the 15th, by this time much better, Edw & John
stopped 3 days, “much talk at times”, Lucy is still with him, having left home
with determined to stay two weeks, Thomas feels “as though younger again” [d]
early?
mid? Dec 1845 ? – Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA…
- Margts baby now 7 months old, very
healthy child, named her Charlotte Elizabeth after her two Grandmothers
- constantly & daily “with my little
Charlotte, and observed her litle engaging ways, that I have seemed to live my
time over again, & many many incidents have been brought to my recollection
that took place when thy Mother had the care of her infant charge, but which
had been obliterated from my memory by time and many troubles, but now has
returned again after many days with peculiar sweetness and delight.”
- Edward lives at Shrivenham (NE of
Swindon), nearly opposite the White Horse (Uffington) of Ancient day, has part
of a house, he and Louisa live very comfortably & happy, little Grandson
gets a fine strong & nice boy, full of mischief, Thomas hopes to see him
next summer “if Life & health be permitted”.
- new projected lines of Railway, “more
than I have patience to read, the country seems Railway Mad, those for which
Acts of Parliament can be got will furnish abundance of work for years to come
& for persons of various descriptions – one great thing is accomplished,
people can travel quick, cheap & in covered carriages 2nd Class
from here to London in 5 hours 17/- & by the Luggage Train in 6 or 7 hours
for a penny a mile in covered carriages”
– Edward looking well & healthy,
expects to be moved into South Wales near Swansea but he doesn’t want that,
John is far from comfortable where he is, has been so ever since Saml Barter
left the Millhouse to live more in the country, John ordered to live at the
yard & confine himself there, to see to “what passes after working hours”
without being paid for it, seems to Thomas “Sam has the pay & John the
work”
– John now keen to marry & would if
things could be better, “his Friend’s name is Priscilla Browett, daughter of
Thos Browett who was for many years Ironmonger of Northampton, but events
obliged him to give up & removed to Stoke Newington where he now carries on
the same kind of trade on a small scale”
– Priscilla is the second of four
daughters, thought to be nice girls by Thomas when there 2 years ago, but John
“did not introduce me to the family exactly in good style, I was at first left
to conjecture what was in the wind, and even now don’t think I should know one
from the other, but suppose he does”
- Lucys visit to Thomas pleasant to one
& all, sorry to say her health and constitution seems to me broken,
evidently had a greater proportion of hard work & care at Rayne than aught
to have fallen to her lot, her spirits have carried her beyond her strength,
Margaret spoke to Doctor, has administered to her relief, hopes James can get
some employ for his pen & Lucy would bring in her part by her ingenuity
– Danl Puplett is quite blind & has
been for some time, he seems never to have got the better of that sad illness
he had about the time Alf left England.
[d]
abt
end of 1845 - John reunited with Friends (soon after he had been to see Thomas
“on my first illness” wrote to request a certificate of consent) [d]
mid
Jan 1846 – Thomas writes …
- Lucy & James obliged to leave Rayne,
for the last year of being there James got into the sad practice of going of an
evening to Braintree and perhaps not returning home till 12 or 1 o’clk, leaving
Lucy alone, when next morning he was not fit for work leaving Lucy to struggle
on as she could
- her health & strength gave way, nor
would she say a word of it to us, Thomas informed of it by a young woman who
was living near and was a friend of Lucys
- many of the Puplett family seem willing
to excuse James and heap the blame on Lucy which is unfair
– they left Rayne about the middle of last
January, so happened that John Harvey wanted help in the arrangement of his
household affairs, Lucy directly went up to him near 6 weeks, afterwards she
went down to Edward & Louisa to pay a long promised visit, then spent 2
days with Mrs White at Reading, returned to London, soon engaged to be housekeeper
to Jacob Barter (a widower) & take care of his children for a few months,
from letters recd she seems to be very comfortable
- Jacob has for some time been working for
Alfred Rosling in his Saw Mill, and I believe is again looking towards taking
another wife after a while
– as to James, on his leaving Rayne, he
went to supply his Brother Charles’ place in a Lawyers Office at Epping,
Charles being ill at the time, and went to Chelmsford to his father’s –
Cahrles’ complaint proved to be a rapid consumption, he soon was much worse and
died rather suddenly
– Charles Puplett was very clever in the
office at Epping, much esteemed as a Law Writer, but James not being capable to
fill his Brother’s place, left in a few weeks, came up to London, then went to
Edward to try for a job on the Line, after two or three weeks returned to
London, where he now is not known [d]
12/2/1846 – Son John
Harvey (an Accountant of 21 New North St, Finsbury Msx) married Priscilla
Browett at the Quaker Mtg at Stoke Newington, Msx [p]
12/2/1846
– Thomas writes…
- John and Priscilla married, (they could
not attend, Thomas afraid to venture out on account of the cold weather)
– they stayed with C+M+Thomas 3 days, the
next morning left by Rail for Coventry, stopping a few hours with their
relatives, went on to London, returned home found Lucy and one of Priscilla’s
Sisters waiting for them [d]
8/6/1846
– Thomas in Bham writes to Alf in SA…
- comments on Alf out in the Bush
attending his herd of cattle etc,
account gave them great pleasure, feared he might not do so well, or
suffer from privation of comforts he had at Willunga, his “engagement for 3
years will now soon be half over, when
I anticipate thou will be able again to settle on thy own plot of 40 acres”
- Thomas happy the fruit trees took root,
also the garden seeds, regret so many trees should have been lost for want of
proper packing
- Charles & Margaret still dislike
Birmingham, wish to return to Reading, that also the desire of GE White &
Mrs White, early part of this year C+M went to Reading to look for premises,
difficult to find a Bakehouse, after their return home this business was
advertised to be disposed of
– Grand daughter now turned a year old,
bonnie, full of life and activity
- Thomas has not as yet seen his Grandson John Edward, but
hope soon to, when pay Edward a visit of perhaps a month this summer, after
something is settled about their premises
- Edward continues in his employ on the
Great Western Railway under Brotherhood and I think is likely to continue there
for a long time yet [d]
16/1/1847 – Thomas
Perry, abt 69 yrs, of 22 New North St, Finsbury, late baker of Reading (not in
Quaker membership at the time) died at Finsbury Middlesex [g] [p]
16/1/1847 - "This
day (16 Jan) 1847 my dear Father died in London in his 70th year burried at
Bunhill Fields" [f]
21/1/1847 – Thomas
Perry was buried in Bunhill Fields Msx
[p]
16/2/1847 - Thomas
"died in his 79th year surrounded by his family and was buried in Bunnel
Row Fields Friends Ground London [e]
=================================
SOURCES ...
[a] St Caths Index - SAGHS
[b] 1851 Census
[c] LDS data
[d] Perry family letters collection [on file]
[e] Lucy's 1845/6 Memo/Diary - EHE originals
[f] Lucy's 1848 Memo/Diary - EHE originals
[g] Perry Family data (by Ray Perry WA) - SAGHS
[h] Directories - online
[j] Thomas Perry's notes - EHE originals
[k] Lucy's birth certif - EHE originals
[m] Lucy's marriage certif - EHE originals
[n] BMD Registers (online)
[p] Peter Perry in Surrey (email), taken mostly
from Quaker records
[q] Shipping records online
[r] Graces Guide to Brit Industrial Hist
website
[s] Alfred Perry birth Certif (ex Bob Perry)
[gg] Guess based on other facts
[xx] Ex file notes & prior generation's data
================================================