Colonial European-African-Native American Perry Family Research History and Map of Warren County, North Carolina 

Below

1880 CENSUS

Burwell PERRY and Elizabeth MASSEY were married in 1752 in Pasquotank Co, NC.3,40 Elizabeth MASSEY37,38,39,43, daughter of Francis MASSEY and Mary Ann NEWBY, was born on 3 November 1736 in Pasquotank Co, NC. She died in 1828 at the age of 92 in Louisburg, Franklin Co., NC.3 She signed a will on 3 February 1828 in Franklin Co., NC. From Will Book B, Franklin County, NC: Elizabeth Perry’s will written February 3, 1828; filed March Court 1828: Elizabeth Perry, of Franklin co, NC, of sound mind and memory….. I give and recommend my soul Unto Almighty god…. I give: unto my son, Joshua Perry, two Negros, a woman, Barbary, and a man, Dempsey; unto my daughter, Rachel Jones, one feather bed and furniture; unto my son, Joshua, all the balance of my property of every description executors: my son, Joshua Perry, and my friend, Herbert H. Harris Witnesses: Green Ross, Jurat, and Guston Perry, jurat

Bute County, North Carolina Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1767-1779 9 August 1775

A Deed of Gift from John Massey to Burrell Perry & Elizabeth his wife was proved by the oath of James Perry a witness thereto and on Motion the same is ordered to be recorded.

Burwell PERRY and Elizabeth MASSEY had the following children:

+72. i. Capt. Joshua PERRY. 
+73. ii. Capt. John "Thicket" PERRY. 
+74. iii. Col. Jeremiah PERRY.
+75. iv. Burwell PERRY.
+76. v. Edith PERRY. 
+77. vi. Mary PERRY. 
+78. vii. Elizabeth PERRY. 
+79. viii. Rachel PERRY.^[1]

Macon, North Carolina (Warren County, NC) -Today

Birth place of grandfather Blair Boyd Perry

The Perry Family Story

The European/American Colonial Perry Families' Story is confusing, sometimes sad, emotional, enlighting, educational, thought-provoking, and in the end, an amazing story. The Perry Families that were engaged in the North American Slave Trade, the Settling of and Making of America, and in furthering the Plantation System are the same Perry Families that created many mulatto children, and in some cases, freed and helped their mixed race off-springs (African and Native Americans). This jouney of mine to document my Perry families stories has led me down a road that some family members did not want to go. Yet, this experience has brought clarity to my family's history and story, and most importantly, has made me whole. The narrative below and the links and documents on this page have helped in that understanding.

Above in the 1880 Census, we have Eugenia Ferrell listed as a servant in the Solomon W. Perry family along with our African American Great Grandmother (Bettie Perry) as a servant age 14. Bettie Perry was born in 1866. It is an assumption that Eugenia Ferrell is the mother of Bettie Perry because it would not make sense to have a 14 year-old girl as a servant in someone's household without a relative also being there.  (In further research it was determine that the Ferrell Plantation was next door to the Perry Plantation-) Also, it has been determine that Theodrick Ferrell was Eugenia Ferrel's (Mulatto) Slave Owner and Father) Please see Descendants of John Ferrell Document Item 11 Theodrick Ferrell-There is also information that the Ferrell Family Married into the Perry Plantation Family many times.)

Many times, it has been indicated that when African Americans were listed physically in the household of a slave master after the Civil War in the 1870 and 1880 Census, it is likely that the individuals had an unspoken bond with them or were an offspring of his family. Our Great Grandmother's name was listed as Bettie Perry, age 14-Servant, in the 1880's Census living in Six Pounds, Warren County, NC. Her offsprings have more than 100 DNA matches in the entire Perry and their extended family lines. Above are just a few.

My father told me that my grandfather’s white family members Joseph W. Perry of Norfolk, Virginia a wealthy business man in cotton factor and dry goods merchant gave him the money to attend what is now called Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. My grandfather finished in 1916 from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University). The White Perry Family (slave owners) in Franklin and Warren County during the 1800's were a family of plantation owners and medical doctors. So, it is not surprising that three generations of Bettie Perry's descendants graduated from college in Bio/Science fields, Lawyer, Business Owners, Military, and War Veterans. Even more, her line produced five generations of college graduates up to now.

Bettie Perry's son, Blair Boyd Perry, married into the Tidewater, Virginia (Portsmouth-Chesapeake area) "Henry Watts Family," and her daughter Sarah Perry, married into the Tidewater, Virginia (Money Point-South Norfolk area) "Joshua Watson Family."

The African side of our family came primarily from Angola, Africa and parts of other West Coast countries in Africa. Our European Perry side of the family came from England and Ireland. The PDF documents above document the European Perrys lives in England and Ireland and their move to Virginia and North Carolina--who they were, why they moved, and who were members of their families. Our family DNA, documents, and photos, show that our African American side of the family are close descendants of this Perry and extended family lines, and in particular, the information about the "Seven Perry Brothers" includes us. Our family story is very similar to the book and movie by Alex Haley, entitled "Queen."

Also, please read the Slave Narratives above about the Perrys' plantations, slave owners, and their lives. (Lily Perry, Valley Perry, Celia Robinson, and Annie Tate are all relatives of my family based on the plantation system).

Blair Boyd Perry

Bettie Perry's Other Off Springs Below