Swift Perry I

(Abt 1697 to 1783)

Swift was born in Lisburn, County Antrim, Ireland prior to 1700, probably abt 1697.  He has also been listed as being born in Cork of Belfast, Ireland.¹  He was the first son of James and Anne Perry.  Swift was an attorney, probably a “country attorney” as no records of him attending college have been found.  According to the "King's Inn Admission Papers", Swift was practicing as an attorney in the Dublin Court of Exchequer around 1734.²  He was living in Dromore in County Down by 1748.³  On July 9, 1748, Swift was a plaintiff in a Court of Exchequer bill.⁴  The defendants were James Perry, Martha Arnold, and Edward Arnold.  It was over land James had acquired from George McKindley as payment for a debt which Swift probably helped settle and thus likely figured should go to him instead of being a (somewhat late) dowry for Martha.⁵ It isn't known who won the case. This was before the settlement of James Perry's estate and shows that there was probable heated discussion about the subject.

In 1750, Swift's father James transferred a 100-acre farm to him in Annaghclare, County Armagh.  At this time we know that Swift had four sons named James, Adam, John, and Swift Jr.⁶  All but John was listed as "lives,” signed on as owners (in case of Swift Sr.'s death to assure family ownership).  It is not known why John was not included.  Perhaps he expressed a wanting to go to America or maybe he was not old enough yet.  All four sons were listed in James Perry's will of 1753.⁷ Swift again took family to court in 1751⁸ and this time it was over the marriage settlement of his sister Martha's son James Arnold and wife-to-be Elinor Gwyn. They were to receive Perrymount. This seems to have fallen in favor of the Arnold family as (James) Arnold Esq. is living on the estate of Perrymount in 1777.⁹ 

Many researchers list Swift’s wife as Isabella Perry.¹⁰  Tradition states that she was his first cousin. She was a possible daughter of William Perry of nearby Lurgan in County Down.  Nothing more is known of her and there is no proof showing the name of Swift Perry’s wife.  Another possibility for Swift’s wife is an Elizabeth who died in Dromore in 1793.¹¹  That Elizabeth Perry instead, may have been the wife of one of James Perry’s grandsons.  More research is needed with this subject. There is also a Martha¹² listed as a child of Swift by some researchers, but she is not included in James' will.  It isn't known why.

Swift was the attorney used for a deed in 1766 and one in 1773¹³ around Moira, County Down.  Both involved a William Bateman who supposedly married Martha Perry¹⁴, possible daughter of Swift Sr. After the deed in February of 1773, Swift appears again in records and often with William.  Swift worked for many years and is last seen in records working as an attorney in 1781.¹⁵ It seems that he stayed in Dromore for the rest of his life where he died sometime before 18 Nov 1783 when a house was sold of the “late” Swift Perry.¹⁶  Swift's sons Swift Perry Jr. and John moved to Frederick County, MD in the mid to late 1700's.  They may have been the only children that moved to the colonies of Swift Sr. They soon moved to Greenbrier¹⁷ County, VA (now in WV) and their families spread out from there. 

Children of Swift and Isabella? Perry

James Perry (II)

James Perry was born sometime between 1720 and 1726.  He is listed as one of three “lives” in 1750¹⁸ when James Perry (I) transferred land to Swift Perry.  Nothing more is known about him except that he is listed in his grandfather James Perry’s Will in 1753 as the eldest child of Swift.  It was proved in 1756.¹⁹  A James Peery is listed in Donaghcloney as a farmer in 1783.²⁰  Could this be Swift’s son James Perry or one of the Peery family members that may or may not have been related to them? James possibly was the father of James Swift Perry “of Dromore” who married Sarah Arnold, daughter of Hugh Arnold Sr. 8 Jul 1769.²¹

Adam Perry

Adam Perry was probably born sometime between 1722 and 1728.  He reportedly married Elizabeth Hare²²; daughter of James Hare Sr. who’s Will was proved 1782²³ in Moira, Down, Ireland.  Elizabeth was born about 1742 in Moira and died in 1810.  She was buried 20 Feb 1810 in Lisburn, Antrim, Ireland.²⁴  Adam and Elizabeth were probably married in the early 1760's or at least before 1772/3, when Adam died.²⁵ Adam was a merchant who traded just about everything, held stock, and even ran a grocery store! Records of his dealings appear between 1766²⁶ and when his Will was probated in 1773.²⁷ Some of his belongings, including a house used in the business, were sold at auction to pay debts from 1773 to 1775.²⁸

After Adam's death, Elizabeth continued running the business, opening the store back in November of 1773 and then married Anthony Hull, Esq. on 29 June 1778.²⁹ It isn't known if she continued the business after that time. Elizabeth and Anthony had ten children.  I cannot find any children for Elizabeth and Adam and it isn't known if Adam married someone before Elizabeth Hare since he was at least thirty when they married.  Anthony died on 25 August 1795³⁰ in Blaris, Down, Ireland.  Two records list a Mrs. Perry of Moira marrying a Rev. Miller in 1776. Could this have been Elizabeth?

Other dates for Adam are:  born abt 1722?; died abt 1802.  This is probably another Adam Perry, but who is he? Several different Adam Perry's pop up in records throughout the 1700's and into the early 1800's. Additional research is needed on the various Adam Perry’s.

John Perry

Coming Soon!!!

Martha Perry

Coming Soon!!!

Swift Perry II

Coming Soon!!!

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