James St Lawrence Perry

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KG3Q-J8B/james-st.-lawrence-p...

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~perryfamily/genealogy/jamesperryofp...

There isn't very much information on James Perry due to many of the Irish records being lost to fire. James was a Protestant Christian. His family may have come from County Tyrone, where other Protestant Perry families lived. It is not known when James was born, but it seems that he was born between 1660 and 1675, probably in County Down, Tyrone, or Antrim, Ireland. He may also have been born in England or Wales. Many researchers list his birth as 16691. He may have been born March 6, 1669 in Wales. If true, then his parents were James and Jane (This information comes from a birth registry in Wales).

James was practicing as an attorney in Lisburn, Antrim, Ireland in 1698. Lisburn was about six miles from Belfast on the border of Counties Down and Antrim. No Perry families were in County Down until around 1663 when a James Peery was there in Ballee Parish2. It is unknown if Peery was connected to James’ family. Perry’s in other parts of Ulster were living in Counties Tyrone & Antrim according to the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663. Sometime after the devastating fire of 1707 in Lisburn, James and family moved to Belfast, Antrim, Ireland where James continued his law practice3. By this time, James had married Anne Swift and had several children. Six are known and at least one was born in Belfast (the older ones were born in Lisburn). James and Anne may have had other children, but nothing has been found. 

By 1719, James and family had moved to the countryside in Donaghcloney Parish near Waringtown close to Gortmoria in County Down, Ireland and named their homestead Perrymount. James is listed in a “Lease and Release” Deed in 1719/204. He is listed in a will in 17225 and as a churchwarden in 1728 and still as such in 17316. James was selling (Lease & Release) a leasehold farm with 100 acres of land in Annaghclare, County Armagh, just to the west of County Down, to his son Swift Perry in 1750. After two wills, James is then listed in the Dublin Registry of Deeds on November 20, 17517. According to the deed, Perrymount was to go to James Arnold and his new wife Elinor along with most of the goods and chattels. James Arnold was the son of Martha, daughter of James and Anne Perry. James' third and final will was dated March 24, 1753 and was proved 21 May 17568. Martha Perry Arnold probably died before this will was written, as she was not mentioned. Another possibility is that she was not included due to her son had been given so much already. Anne Swift Perry was also not mentioned and is presumed deceased at the time.

Children of James and Anne Perry

Swift Perry

Adam Perry

Martha Perry

Joseph Perry

Jane Perry

John Perry