George Perry and Elizabeth Smith

Photo © Bikeboy (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Mary's church, Shudy Camps, Saturday, 28 June, 2014

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

George Perry (b. 2 Jun 1802, bap. 1 Aug 1802 at St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow, Essex), son of John Perry and his 2nd wife Mary, married Elizabeth Smith (b. 19 Jul 1808 in Winchmore Hill, bap. 9 Sep 1808 at All Saints' Church, Edmonton), daughter of Samuel Smith and Catherine Thomas on 22 Feb 1832 at St Giles' Church, Camberwell (although it will have been in the previous church that was destroyed in a fire in 1841). The marriage service was conducted by Samuel Smith, Chaplain, Elizabeth's brother, There were also a huge number of witnesses to the marriage, which included Samuel Smith (Elizabeth's father); Richard Perry (George's brother); Haskett Smith (Elizabeth's brother); Catherine Smith (Elizabeth's mother); Mary Ann Perry (George's sister); Amelia Perry (George's sister) and two or three other Smiths who I've yet to identify. They must have had their own reasons for creating this extremely useful record, which given the surname Smith, they might otherwise have been hard to identify. Other records tell us that Elizabeth's father, Samuel Smith, was a Gentleman, a Merchant, more precisely, a Fishmonger of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers.

George and Elizabeth Perry had 10 children:

1. Mary Catherine Perry b. 13 Jan 1833 at Arlsey Vicarage daughter of George Perry, Clergyman, bap. 18 Feb 1833 at St Peter, Arlesey
2. George Perry b. 17 Jan 1835 at Arlsey Vicarage son of George Perry, Clergyman & Elizabeth, bap. 24 Feb 1835 at St Peter, Arlesey
3. Richard Philip Perry b. 7 Mar 1837 at Arlsey Vicarage son of George Perry, Clergyman & Elizabeth, bap. 13 Apr 1837 at St Peter, Arlesey
4. Charles Smith Perry b. 1 May 1839 (1839 J Quarter in LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 97), bap. 19 Jun 1839 at St Mary's Church, Shudy Camps, by his father, George Perry, the Vicar.
5. Elizabeth Smith Perry b. 17 Jan 1842 (1842 M Quarter in THE LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 83), bap. 2 Mar 1842 at St Mary's Church, Shudy Camps. Announced in the press: Elizabeth Smith, died at North Terrace, Camberwell [her grandparents' home?], aged 3½, on 14 Oct 1845 (1845 D Quarter in CAMBERWELL Volume 04 Page 28) one of twin daughters of Rev. George Perry of Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire, and was buried on 21 Oct 1845 at St Mary's, Shudy Camps
6. Louisa Perry b. 17 Jan 1824 (1842 M Quarter in THE LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 83), bap. 2 Mar 1842 at St Mary's, Shudy Camps
7. Amelia Perry b. 15 May 1844 (1844 J Quarter in LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 91), bap. 8 Jul 1844 at St Mary's, Shudy Camps. 
8. Henry Perry b. 17 Mar 1846 (1846 J Quarter in LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 101), bap. 9 Jul 1846 at St Mary's Church, Shudy Camps
9. Fanny Melbourne Perry b. 31 Dec 1847 (1848 M Quarter in LINTON UNION Vol 14 Page 97), bap. 27 Apr 1848 at St Mary's, Shudy Camps
10. John Perry b. 17 Apr 1850 (1850 J Quarter in LINTON UNION Volume 14 Page 101), bap. 29 Jun 1850 at St Mary's Church, Shudy Camps

It was already obvious that Elizabeth and Louisa were twins, however this is confirmed again in The Cambridge Chronicle of 22 Jan 1842, which carried the following notice, "On the 17th Inst., at The Vicarage, Shudy Camps, in this County, the lady of the Reverent George Perry, of twin daughters."

George Perry, who was vicar of Shudy Camps from 1838 until his death in 1858, held two Sunday services weekly. In 1851 Perry had an average attendance of 140, besides 60 Sunday-school children, and although resident employed a curate. [The 'living'] "stood at £146 c. 1830, and had not apparently risen by 1851, despite the tithe commutation and a gift of £200 from Queen Anne's Bounty in 1838 to match £600 given by the Revd. Charles and Mrs. Perry, relatives of the then vicar." [Source: Parishes: Shudy Camps] (Charles Perry, later Bishop of Melbourne, was George Perry's brother.)

In 1841, Elizabeth Perry (~30) was in the household of her father, Samuel Smith (~60) Merchant at Union House, High Street, Camberwell, London, with Mary Catherine Perry (8), George Perry (6), Richard Philip Perry (4) and Charles Smith Perry (2). George Perry (listed as 35) Cl [Clerk in Holy Orders] was at the Vicarage, Shudy Camps, with one male and two female servants.

In 1851, at Tiddy Green, Shudy Camps, Linton, Cambridgeshire, were George Perry (48) Vicar of Shudy Camps, birthplace Moor Hall, Essex; Elizabeth Perry (42) Clergyman's wife, birthplace Winchmore Hill, Middlesex; Mary C Perry (18), Louisa Perry (9), Amelia Perry (6), Henry Perry (5), Fanny M Perry (3) and John Perry (0). There were five female servants in the household: a Governess, Nurse, Cook, Housemaid and an Under Nurse. The older three boys were, as expected, away at school: George Perry (16) from Arlsey, Bedforshire was a Pupil at Clapham Grammar School, Clapham, Wandsworth, London; Richard Perry (14) was a pupil at the boys Preparatory School run by Reverend Henry Laing at 11, Sussex Square, Brighthelmstone, Brighton, Sussex. His birthplace was listed as Cambridgeshire, then crossed out and wrongly listed as Ansley, Cumberland, but it's clear it was meant to be Arlsey; and Charles Perry (12) appears to be a Pupil at a school run by William Adams, School Master, at 25, Burlington Street, Brighton, Sussex. 

Photo © David960 (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Leapale House and Stoke House, Guildford, Saturday, 9 August, 2014

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Reverend George Perry, Vicar of Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire, was admitted to Leapale House, Guildford, Surrey, a private Mental Asylum, on 24 April 1858 and died there on 27 May 1858 (1858 J Quarter in GUILDFORD Volume 02A Page 34), aged 55. Contrary to what one might imagine, he died from "Exhaustion following an attack of vomiting consequent on chronic disease of the bladder and bowels. Certified." He was buried on 5 Jun 1858 at St Mary, Shudy Camps, with the burial service conducted by Samuel Smith, Incumbent of St George's, Camberwell (Elizabeth's brother). The death announcement in the Hearts Guardian of 19 Jun 1858 read, "On the 27th ult., in his 56th year, the Rev. George Perry, vicar of Shudy Camps, Cambridge, second surviving son of the late John Perry Esq., of Moor Hall." 

On 29 Jul 1858, the Will of the Reverend George Perry late of Shudy Camps in the County of Cambridge Clerk deceased who died 27 May 1858 at Guildford in the County of Surrey was proved at the Principal Registry by the oath of John Watlington Perry-Watlington of Moor Hall Harlow in the County of Essex Esquire the Nephew and one of the Executors. George Perry left effects under £3000 (a mere £480K today). It was a poor living.

In 1861, Elizabeth Perry (52) Widow was living in Bartlow, Linton, Cambridgeshire with Louisa Perry (19), Amelia Perry (16), Henry Perry (15), Fanny Perry (13), John Perry (12), Hermitage Charles Day (26) Son-in-law, Clergyman of the Church of England from Rochester, Kent; Mary Catherine Day (22); Francis Hermitage Day (0); Alice Harriet Day (26) Visitor (Hermitage Charles Day's sister); with five female servants.

In 1871, living in Bartlow were Elizabeth Perry (62) Annuitant; Fanny Perry (23) Annuitant; and John Perry (20) Colonial Broker. They were reduced to managing with three female servants: a nurse, a cook and a housemaid.

In 1881, Elizabeth Perry (72) Widow and Fanny M Perry (32) were visitors in the household then headed by Rudolph S E Doll (33) at 79, Sloane Street, Chelsea. Also there was her youngest son, John Perry (30) Wallpaper manufacturer (Cole & Son), married to Emily Mary Doll, Rudolph's sister.

In 1891, at The Cottage, Camps Road, Bartlow, were Elizabeth Perry (82) Living on her own means; Fanny M Perry (46), Francis H Day (30) Grandson, Solicitor; three of her granddaughters: Beatrice M Perry (37), Minnie O Perry (23) and Constance A Perry (11) and two visitors: Dorothy Jarvis (10) and Violet C Jarvis (6), with just two servants, a cook and a parlour maid.

Elizabeth Perry of the Dower House, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire widow died, aged 89, on 23 Apr 1898 (1898 J Quarter in LINTON Volume 03B Page 297) and was buried on 28 Apr 1896 at Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire. Her burial service was conducted by her grandson, Ernest Hermitage Day, vicar of Abbey-Cwmhir. Probate was granted in London on 16 Jul 1898 to the Reverend Hermitage Charles Day clerk and John Perry gentleman. After recalculations, she left effects of £7598 4s 6d. (Approx £1.2M today.)

A tablet was erected by their children and grandchildren in memory of the Reverend George Perry and Elizabeth Perry at St Mary's Church, Bartlow, where Elizabeth was a member of the congregation for nearly forty years.

Of their offspring who didn't marry:

• On 30 Aug 1855, Richard Philip Perry joined the British Army as a Gentleman Cadet and appeared in a list of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, having been made Lieutenant on 7 Apr 1856. However, he resigned his commission on 3 Jul 1861. On 21 Jun 1872, Richard Philip Perry was admitted to Munster House, "a private lunatic asylum for gentlemen" (Lunacy Patients Admission Registers). It was one of four lunatic asylums belonging to private individuals in Fulham, the principal of which was Dr. Elliot's, Munster House, once a hunting-seat of Charles II. Richard Philip Perry died there, aged 38, on 6 Aug 1875 (1875 S Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 141) and was buried on 12 Aug 1875 at Bartlow, Cambridgeshire. Administration on his estate, of under £2000, was granted to his mother, Elizabeth Perry.
• Amelia Perry died, aged 29, on 9 Oct 1873 (1873 D Quarter in LINTON Volume 03B Page 319). The newspaper announcement confirms, "October 9 at Bartlow, Cambs, AMELIA, fourth daughter of the late Rev. G. Perry, Vicar of Shudy Camps." Amelia was buried on 15 Oct 1873 at St Mary, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire.
• Fanny Melbourne Perry of the Dower House, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire, Spinster, died, aged 72, on 11 Feb 1920 (1920 M Quarter in LINTON Volume 03B Page 571) and was buried on 14 Feb 1920 at St Mary, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire. Probate on her estate was granted in London on 13 July 1920 to John Pearson manufacturer and Francis Hermitage Day solicitor. She left effects totalling £15445 7s 11d, which would be almost £900K today.