Capt Robert Perry, Sr.

Individual: Robert Perry fought with Butler's Loyal Rangers. More About Capt. Robert Perry, Corp. U.E.: September 15, 1772, moved to Rutland, Vermont July 14, 1777, enlisted with cousin David Shorey in QLR under Lt. Col. Peters August 17, 1777, fought at Battle of Bennington September 18, 1777, fought at Battle of Saratoga October 1777, fled to Canada after Burgoyne's surrender January 01, 1782, appointed Cpl. Jessup's Loyal Rangers From Pioneer Life on the Bay of Quint, published 1904: "An illustrious name in the annals of the United States and Canada is the name Perry. It was Commodore Perry who won the famous victory at Put-in-Bay and framed the historic despatch so often quoted: "We have met the enemy and they are ours." Another Commodore Perry opened Japan to the commerce of the world. The family is descended from one, David Perry, but it was his son Robert who came to Canada, and for the purposes of this history he is regarded as the ancestor or pioneer of the Perry family. He was born at Bristol, Massachusetts, March 2nd, 1751, and married Jemima Washburn, who was born at Attleborough, Massachusetts, April 13th, 1754. They were married March 19th, 1772, and their descendants have been numerous, and many of them prominent in the history of Ontario. David Perry built the first saw-mill in 1820 on the site of the present town of Newburgh. Rev. Robert Perry was famous in his day, and is still remembered as one of the builders of the Methodist church in Canada. His son, Ebenezer, was a man of remarkable talent and tireless industry. He sat for years in the council, was Reeve of Ernesttown and Warden of the county. Other members of the family have also taken an active part in public life, including Peter Perry, grandson of the Pioneer, who represented Lennox and Addington in the Legislature of Upper Canada. Daniel Perry, son of Daniel Perry and grandson of the Pioneer, was the father of Mrs. W.R. Gordonier.

Schedule of Losses sustained by Robert Perry of Rutland County of Charolotte and Province of New York but through loyalty and attachment to the government left the named place in May 1777 and joined the Kings Troops and served unti the reducement of the 84th Regiment of ?(Fost) and sustained the following losses Land and Tenement 272.10 L Horses and Cattle Sheep and Hogs 60.13 L Farming Utensils 108.17 442. Says resided at marshish in the Fall of 1783 and winter

Robert Perry, the U.E. Loyalist, was born in Rehoboth on March 2, 1751. He was familier with the story of the trials and troubles of his uncle, Daniel Walker, Sr. during and after the campaign for the conquest of Canada, including the battle of Quebec. He was just entering his teens when his uncle returned home after freezing his feet and spending a winter in Vermont. He was just twenty when this same Daniel Walker, his children, grandchildren and relatives made the long trek to the choice valleys of Vermont, which was not a colony, but still a disputed territory between New York and New Hampshire. Three year later, on Dec. 9, 1771, he married Jemima Washburn, the daughter of a neighbour, Simeon Washburn of nearby Attleboro, Mass. Jemima had been born on April 30, 1754, and was not yet our of her teens when the marriage ceremony took place. About a year before, Jemima's first cousin, Althea Gary, had married David Shorey. Now that they were married, the two young couples followed their Walker cousins to Vermont. Shortly after reaching the promised land, the two young men, who were also second cousins, united in the purchase of fifty acres of virgin land in Durham, a short distance north of Clarendon, where their Walker cousins were already located.

Here the two young families busied themselves clearing the virgin land, and creating a productive farm. They were still busy when the clouds of conflict darkened the skies. They were well aware of the activities of the Green Mountain Boys in their conflict with the New York authorities, and quietly avoided any attachment to either side since they were too involved with the daily activities at their own firesides. It was only when the first signes of the approaching revolution spread across the land that they became involved. They watched expectantly as the rebels attempted to take Quebec, and likely enjoyed their failure to do so. They must have been pleased to hear of the retreat of the rebels along Lake Champlain, knowing that a British force had at last arrived at Crown Point. But there were rumblings throughout Vermont when General Burgoyne reached Lake Champlain in the early summer of 1777. With many of their friends and relatives, both Robert Perry and David Shorey offered their services as the British Army approaced Fort Edward, on the Upper Hudson River. They became allied with the Queen's Loyal Rangers on July 15, 1777 at Fort Miller under the commond of Lieut.-Col. John Peters, who was also a Vermonter. They were both with their regiments at the Battle of Bennington on August 17. Both avoided capture, and were again with their regiment at the Battle of Saratoga on September 18. After the surrender of General Burgoyne in October 1777, Robert Perry, with many other loyal subjects of American birth, were forced to flee to Canada to avoid arrest an severe punishment.

According to the terms of surrender of General Burgoyne's army, those Americans who had joined the British were not to carry arms again during the course of the conflict. Those who had gone to Canada were employed at various duties. In a few years when the Americans had broken the terms of the surrender, they were reformed into regiments and used at full duty. Robert Perry and many others became members of Major Edward Jessup's Loyal Rangers.

The situation back in Vermont during these early years was an unhappy one for the Perry family, particulary after Robert had gone to Canada. His wife Jemima, had been left on the farm with her three small children. However, for company she had her cousin Althea Shorey, with her small family, but their quiet abandoned situation did not last. Early the following year the Vermont authorities seized their farm home and contents, as well as, their livestock, implements and paraphernalia, and sold them at auctions. Before the year was over, as records fond in the Haldimand Papers indicate, Mrs. Perry arrived at St. John, Quebec with her three children, Robert Jr., aged six, Amey aged five, and Patience aged two.

In the meantime, however, the Vermont auhtorities had been busy as their records indicate. It appears by one such item, namely a certificate, dated October 19, 1778, that one, James Claghorn had bought the farm of ninety-seven acres, formerly the property of Robert Perry and David Shorey, for the sum of 480 pounds currency. There is also a record that on February 10, 1778, one cart, fomerly belonging to them was sold for the sum of six pounds, eith shillings, and that a Brown cow oned by them was sold at Hartford in Windsor County (Vermont) in 1779, for five pounds, eight shillings.

There is also a record that in September 1778 of a payment of two pounds to Daniel Washburn for boarding the family of Robert Perry for five weeks. It is also on record that Gideon Cooley was paid one pound, one shilling in September for boarding and transporting the families of Perry and Shorey to the lake, meaning Lake Champlain, across which these families were carried by flag when on their way to their husbands in Canada.

It was also recorded that debts contracted by the Perry family prior to the confiscation of his estate was paid by the authorities and deducted from the sale of the property. It is of interest to note that Perry owed Dr. Jacob Rubach five pounds, thirteen shillings and six pence. The Shorey estate and similar debts totaled thirty-four pounds, five shillings. Of these Dr. Rubach received two pounds, eight shillings, while costly even in those early days.

Following the retreat of the Loyalists soldiers to Canada, Robert Perry is noted as belonging to Peters Queens Loyal Rangers and was employed at Sorel. In a Muster Roll of the Queen's Loyal Rangers, on December 4, 1789, Perry was recorded as on duty at Machiche in the King's Works. However, in 1781, the several regiments and companies who had served with Burgoyne in 1777 were united in one regiment, name Jessup's Loyal Rangers. Perry was appointed a corporal in this corps. On January 1, 1782, he was stationed at Vercheres, was 24 years of age, 5'6" tall, had been born in American and had served four years and seven months. A year later he was stationned at Riviere de Chene, a short distance down the river from Sorel. However, Mrs. Perry and her cousin, Mrs. Shorey and their families, became early residents in the refuge which was established at Machiche, several miles up the St. Lawrence from Three Rivers. Here they remained until the exodus to the Bay of Quinte area in 1784.

Peace finally arrived in the autumn of 1783 and preparations were begun for the settlement of the thousands of refugees and soldiers already resident in the Province of Quebec, as well as in New York and elsewhere. In Canada, General Haldimand planned wisely to settle these people by regiment for better administrative control and management. Land was to be settled by townships with each male more then twelve years of age being granted one hundred acres at no cost. Officers and N.C.O.s received additional land according to their rank. Provisions were to be issued for a further two-year period with seeds and tools available. The regiments were disbanded on Christmas Eve 1783 except for those stationed in the Upper Posts such as Oswego, Niagara, Carleton Island and Detroit.

Spring was slow in arriving in 1784. The ice blocked the St. Lawrence River until late April, and the journey up the river did not start in earnest until late May. Jessup's Loyal Rangers finally began the task of climbing the rapids to the Promised land. As it was not feasible to settle all the soldiers in one group it was divided into two. The first portion settled in the Prescott-Brockville area while the remainder while the rest amounting to four hundred souls continued on up the river to the second township above Cataraqui (Ernesttown Township).

Corporal (Sargent) Perry and family went with the second group, and arrived in the latter part of June 1784. Here Robert Perry drew the east half of Lot two of the second concession, and the east half of lot seven in the third concession. He established his family on the former lot which was situated a few miles north west of Bath Village. The family by that time had increased to six children with three children being born in the refugee camp at Machiche. In a list of the first settlers in the township dated October 6, 1784 it notes that Robert Perry and his wife and six children were settled with two acres cleared. He evidently remained on this lot until his death. His wife died on January 12, 1830 at age seventy-five, and lies buried in the Anglican Cemetary in Bath. Her husband survived an additional five years, but his burial place is unmarked. [Source: Paul Clark, 2001]

Event1: 14 Jul 1777 enlisted with cousin David Shorey in QLR under Lt. Col. Peters Event2: 17 Aug 1777 fought at Battle of Bennington Event3: 18 Sep 1777 fought at Battle of Saratoga Loyalist Link: 1 Jan 1782 appointed Cpl. Jessup's Loyal Rangers Comment 1: Oct 1777 fled to Canada after Burgoyne's surrender Comment 2: 15 Sep 1772 moved to Rutland, Vermont Burial: Feb 1835 St John's Cemetery, Bath, Lennox & Addington County, Ontario, Canada Bath (nmarked grave) 1 Reference: UE-006 Captain Robert Perry