John Perry and Ann Watlington

Entrance to St Giles' Church, Reading
Bill Nicholls (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/3278759

John Perry (b. 13 Dec 1712), son of Philip Perry and Elizabeth Flemming, married Ann Watlington (bap. 26 Apr 1716 at St Giles, Reading), daughter of Samuel Watlington and Ann Monke, at St Giles, Reading on 2 Jun 1737.

There are records for the following children of John and Ann Perry:

1. Philip Perry b. Monday, 18 Dec 1738, bap. 23 Dec 1738 (at 5 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard lists Philip's birth year as 1739, but I don't see this as an inconsistency, as it was probably calculated from age. Philip Perry, eldest son of the late Mr. Perry, died (unmarried) at the age of thirty-seven, in 1776 (purportedly on 5 Jul 1776) and buried on 10 Jul 1776, at St Dunstan's, Stepney
2. Ann Perry b. Friday, 16 May 1740, bap. 6 Jun 1740 (at 21 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney
3. John Perry b. Sunday, 12 Sep 1742, bap. 14 Oct 1742 (at 32 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Reputedly died on 23 Nov 1742
4. John Perry b. Tuesday, 4 Jan 1743, bap. 25 Jan 1743 at St Dunstan's, Stepney (at 21 Days Old). This clearly doesn't agree with the birth date of 6 Apr 1743 on John's burial in 1810. Could this discrepancy be confusion from the change from the Julian to Gregorian calendar? *
5. Thomas Perry b. Tuesday, 2 Apr 1745, bap. 23 Apr 1745 (at 21 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Presume died in infancy.
6. Samuel Perry b. Wednesday, 6 May 1747, bap. 2 Jun 1747 (at 27 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. Presume died in infancy.
7. Elizabeth Perry b. Monday, 15 Aug 1748, bap. 8 Sep 1748 (at 24 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney. (This child must have died as an infant: there is a potential burial on 3 Dec 1748 in Whitechapel)
8. Elizabeth Perry b. Monday, 28 Aug 1749, bap. 15 Sep 1749 (at 18 days old) at St Dunstan's, Stepney.

All baptisms list the parents as John Perry, Shipwright, and Ann of Poplar.

* At first there appears not to be enough time between John b. 1742 and John b. 1743 for them to have been of the same mother, however, the second John - the only one of these births falling in the first part of the year - was born in 1743 to him, but 1744 in our modern (Gregorian) calendar. The year difference before 1752 is due to the use of the Julian calendar, where the year began on March 25th, not January 1st. Thus entries between January 1st and March 24th of a given year would be one year behind our calendar. 

Ann Perry is reputed to have died on 6 Aug 1752 in Reading, Berkshire.

John Perry married Catherine Gibson on 3 Dec 1754 at St Dunstan-in-the-West. The marriage record reads: "John Perry of Blackwall in the Parish of Saint Dunstan Stepney Widower in the County of Middlesex and Catherine Gibson of this Parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Licence this Third day of December, in the year One Thousand and seven hundred fifty four, by leave of the Vicar by me John Gibson Clerk." The Reverend John Gibson, was Catherine's elder brother. Witnesses were Bartholomew Gibson and William Gibson, her other two brothers. Catherine Gibson (bap. 11 May 1720 at St Paul's, Covent Garden) was the daughter of John Gibson and Dorcas Shower (m. 4 Sep 1716 at St John the Baptist, Pinner.)

John Gibson senior was until about 1720 a jeweller in Bow Street. In 1718 he inherited property at Bury Pond Hill in Pinner from an aunt, Elizabeth Darden, and in 1720 his wife inherited Islips Manor Farm in Northolt, and property at Pinner Hill. She was Dorcas, only daughter and heiress of William Shower, and, through him, of her uncle, Sir Bartholemew Shower, recorder of London. [Source] "one of the most vilified and despised Tories of his generation."

Mrs Catherine Perry was buried on 20 Dec 1766 on St John the Baptist, Pinner, Harrow, Middlesex. The Will of Katherine Perry formerly Gibson states that she was the wife of Mr John Perry of Blackwall, Shipwright. It mentions her house at Pinner: she left "the house, called the White House and all the land surrounding the house to my husband, John Perry, together with the furniture that is mine." The rest of my fortune that my father John Gibson left me and all that has been left me or given to me by other friends Mr Perry has given me the Liberty to Dispose of it at my Death ..." These included bequeaths to her brothers William Gibson, Barth[olemew] Gibson and John Gibson and to her sisters Elizabeth Gibson and Dorcas Gibson. 

The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard (PDF) says, ''John Perry died [listed in various locations as on 20 Jan 1771] at Blackwall, and was buried with his wife and father in the grounds of Poplar Chapel (St Matthias Old Church)." His grandson, Mr. Richard Perry, writes of this:—"My grandfather was of a very religious turn, and was supposed by the family to have passed away while engaged in his devotions ('Beatus ille!'). He had retired to his chamber one evening for that purpose, and was found dead upon the floor; the candle had fallen from his hand, and had providentially become extinguished." Mr. Perry left two sons and several daughters. His eldest son Philip died shortly afterwards, and his second son John succeeded him in business. By his will, dated 1772, "Mr. John Perry, of Blackwall, shipbuilder, left the interest of £200 to be given half-yearly in bread to the poor of the hamlet."

Probate was granted on 1 Feb 1771. In his will John Perry of Walthamstow in the County of Essex Esq, indeed states that "it is my will and desire to be buried in my vault in Poplar Church Yard." John Perry left his eldest son "Philip Perry the sum of five thousand pounds part of my four percent consolidated bank annuities and the five thousand pounds part of my three percent consolidated bank annuities to and for his own use which sums I direct shall be transferred within two months after my decease in the names of my two sons Philip and John Perry and of my sister Sarah Seehl wife of Mr Ephraim Rinhold Seehl." He left his share of the partnership trade of a shipwright in the Great Yard at Blackwall to his son John. He also gave John his share of the capital stock in the trade of Ropemaker. To his daughter Ann Hankey (wife of Joseph Hankey), "I give to my said daughter Ann my best Tea Equipage at Walthamstow ... the Carved Rosewood Table and the set of China Tea Chest Spoons and Cannisters belonging to the same and the Silver Tea Kettle Lamp ... used therewith and also the large case of silver spoons." The will lists his three sisters Sarah Seehl, Susanna Gilbert and Elizabeth Brown.

The statement that "Mr. Perry left two sons and several daughters" suggests that Thomas and Samuel had predeceased him, or died as infants (not found evidence). They were certainly not mentioned in their father's will either. The Chronicles of the Blackwall Yard also suggests his wife (which one?) was buried at Poplar Chapel, but I can find no record substantiating this. And "several daughters" would also suggest there were more than the two I've found records for, but only Ann was mentioned by name in his will.

Elnathan Ayres and Elizabeth Perry

St Mary Matfelon's footprint, Whitechapel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff - geograph.org.uk/p/1278357

Elnathan Ayres (b. 17 Jul 1752) Bachelor, son of Elnathan Ayres and Martha Travally, married Elizabeth Perry (b. 28 Aug 1749) Spinster, daughter of John Perry and Ann Watlington, at St Mary's, Whitechapel (St Mary Matfelon), Whitechapel High Street, on 3 Oct 1771. Witnesses were William Dalton and Sarah Dalton; Esther Travally (Elnathan's aunt or cousin) and Ann Perry. 

(Sarah Dalton (née Travally) and her sister Elizabeth Travally, who was my 5x great-grandmother, were Elnathan Ayres' first cousins, daughters of Winnall Travally and Elizabeth Benbow. Winnall Travally, my 6th great-grandfather, thus was Elnathan's uncle; his mother's brother. As both Elnathan and his father were shipwrights and since the Daltons later lived in a house built by John Perry (shipbuilder), the founder of the Blackwall Yard, which built ships for the East India Company, I was certain Elizabeth Perry was related - she was John Perry's youngest sister. Elnathan Ayres was my 1st cousin seven times removed, as our nearest common ancestors were Thomas Travally and Rachel Winnall - his grandparents and my 7x great-grandparents.)

Elnathan Ayres had at least eight children with Elizabeth Perry:

1. Elnathan Boulton Ayres b. Saturday, 5 Dec 1772, son of Elnathan, Shipwright of Queen Street and Elizabeth, bap. 30 Dec 1772 at St Anne, Limehouse (at 25 days old). Elnathan Ayres of Queen St, aged 2 years, 6 months, was buried at St Anne, Limehouse on 4 Jun 1775
2. Elizabeth Ayres b. ~Jul 1774. Elizabeth Ayres of Queen Street was buried at St Anne, Limehouse on 21 May 1775, aged 10 months.
3. Elizabeth Ayres b. Friday, 25 Sep 1778, bap. 18 Oct 1778 (at 23 days old), as Betsey Ayres daughter of Elnathan Ayres (Shipwright, Ropemakers Fields) & Eliz, at St Anne's Limehouse 
4. Martha Travally Ayres bap. 8 Oct 1780 at St Mary, Redcliffe, Bristol
5. George Ayres bap. 31 Mar 1782 at St Mary, Redcliffe, Bristol
6. Charlotte Ayres bap. 9 Jun 1784 at St Mary's Church, Rotherhithe
7. Sage Boulton Ayres bap. 2 Jun 1786 at St Mary's, Rotherhithe
8. Martha Ayres b. Sunday, 4 Sep 1796, bap. 9 Oct 1796 at St Dunstan's, Stepney (baptism specifies that she was 35 days old)

For the last child in 1796 to be also named Martha, it's clear that Martha Travally Ayres born in 1780 must have died (not found record) and makes sense of the order the children are later listed on Elnathan Ayres' will.

Eldest son and daughter Sage, were given the middle name Boulton, which had to be significant. Richard Boulton was one of four partners - all retired sea captains who had worked for the East India Company and were members of London's shipping community - who had owned the Blackwall Yard (The Ownership of Blackwall Yard, 1724–79). Boulton, was a London merchant and an important figure in the East India Company, of which he was a director from 1718 to 1736 and on the Committee for Shipping from 1723 until 1726. He was a member of the Honourable Company of Shipwrights. During the 1720s Elizabeth's grandfather, Philip Perry, worked as manager for John Kirby and was later employed in a similar capacity by Collett and Boulton. (Blackwall Yard: Development, to c.1819). And her brother, John Perry, purchased the yard from Boulton, Gosfreight and partners. 

Elnathan Ayres was listed among European inhabitants in Bengal, excluding those in the service of the East India Company or the Crown 1805.

The will of Elnathan Ayres is a real eyebrow-raiser and probably creates more mysteries than questions it answers, but its highlights include:

In the Name of God: Amen: I Elnathan Ayres, Ship Wright of the Town of Calcutta Bengal being in bodily Health, and of sound and disposing memory; and considering the Evil, Dangers and other Uncertainties of this transitory life, do (for avoiding Controversies after my Decease) make, publish and declare this My last Will and Testament, in manner following:- that is to say, first I recommend my Soul to God, who gave it; and my body I commit to the Earth, or Sea, as it shall please God to order; and for and concerning all my Worldly Estate, I give bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth; that is to say; First I Will, that all my just Debts and funeral Charges be paid and discharged by my Executors hereinafter named and Secondly that my House and all my Effects be turned into ready money as soon as conveniently may be and Disposed in the manner following, Viz, I leave and bequeath to my son James Ayres, born in Calcutta the Sum of Sicca Rupees [1] three thousand five hundred to be laid out by my Executors, at Interest on good Security, for his Education (which is not to be under the charge of his mother), the principal not to be given to him untill (sic) he becomes of Age the remainder of my property I leave to my Wife Elizabeth Ayres of the parish of St Mary's Rotherhiethe (sic) London and in case of her Death to be equally Divided between my four children in England, Viz: George Ayres, Charlotte Ayres, Sage Ayres and Martha Ayres, of the parish Aforesaid and to my Oldest Daughter Elizabeth Ayres, I only leave one Rupee and in case of the Death of my son James born in this country before he becomes of age, then the property left him to go to my Children in England, to be equally Divided as above, and I do hereby nominate and appoint James Horsburgh and George Watson of the Town of Calcutta to be Guardians of my Son James and Executors of this my last Will and Testament ... dated 7 Jul 1808.

From the will, I'm reading that Elnathan Ayres was acknowledging a - clearly illegitimate - child he fathered in India with someone other than his wife. Even without the details of his estate, we had to know he was wealthy enough to do so. There is a transcript of the baptism record of James Ayres, son of Elnathan Ayres, born on 3 Feb 1809 and baptised on 26 Feb 1809, in Bengal, India. The record doesn't say who the mother was. The Will must have been drawn up as soon as Elnathan knew she was carrying the child. Alas, there's also a transcript of a burial record for James Ayres described as "Poor Boy From Free School", Race: White (if one were to speculate, I'd bet his mother was a western woman and more than likely someone else's wife, hence Ayres was taking responsibility for the child's upbringing), on 1 Dec 1812 at Fort William, West Bengal, India. Sadly, I'm sure this was the same child.

[1] Sicca Rupee - a rupee issued in Bengal before 1836 weighing more than the rupee of the British East India Company.

One wonders what eldest daughter Elizabeth had done to deserve the indignity of being left only 1 Rupee!

Elnathan Ayres was buried on 25 Apr 1812, in Fort William, West Bengal, India. On the original record of 'Burials at Calcutta Fort William in Bengal A.D. 1812', it lists, "Mr E Ayres Ship Builder at Sulkea Shot Himself." One assumes this was not accidentally. Was it because of the scandal and shame of his indiscretion, or was there some other reason? I'm sure we'll never know.

(Sulkea (now Salkia), is a neighbourhood in Howrah of Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal, opposite Calcutta (now Kolkata). It is located on the west bank of Hooghly River, the westernmost distributary of the Ganges. Sulkea, originally a place where salt was brought and stored in warehouses, was one in a long list of shipyard locations on the Hooghly River in the early 19th century. The area was of truly global significance, enduring for centuries. Because of the rich textiles like muslin and silk, it attracted merchants, missionaries, mercenaries, statesmen, labourers and others from Europe and beyond, making it a mini 'Europe on the Hooghly'!)

His Executors presented his will before the Honourable Sir Henry Russell Knight Chief Justice at the Supreme Court in Fort William on 29 Apr 1812. The Executors produced an immensely detailed inventory of his possessions, dated 9 May 1812, right down to teaspoons and six pairs of cotton stockings and even 'a bag with salt'. It also showed that Elnathan Ayres' estate totalled £8282 3s 6d (well over a million pounds now), of which almost £5,000 was to be paid to the Ayres Family in England. Clearly he was no ordinary shipwright. Probate was granted in England on 2 Apr 1816.

It appears Elizabeth Ayres (née Perry) died, age listed as 61, and was buried on 6 Feb 1815 at St Anne, Limehouse, so probate followed her death.

Even with this detail, I'm sure there's a much bigger story yet to uncover.