John William Perdieu, Sr

Perdew Family History
Thanks to Mike Canter… ( rabowles153 originally shared this on 25 Oct 2013 @ ancestry.com)

Perdew Family History

The name Perdew, (which is also spelled Perdue, Perdieu, Purdue, Pardoe etc, etc.) is first seen in recorded entries in 1237 in England. However, as most European names, it is highly likely that the name originated with the Norsemen as did most of the other members of the white race. The name is associated with the family who invented the “bell” and the design “fleur de lis”. It was also associated with the people who “had a right to bear arms”.

There are are at least two theories as to how the Perdue family arrived here in the USA..and I will tell you both. First let me say this……there are those who say the Perdues were among the first Hugenots and those who say there were NO Hugenots in the Perdue line…I’ll let you decide. I think it is obvious to all that the name as spelled Perdieu…is of French origin…by way of the Norsemen of very early times. As in a lot of cases families moved from the mainland of Europe to the British Isles for tolerance of their beliefs and then on to America for what they thought would be complete freedom to do as they please. HA !!

The first version is the romantic one and probably close to the truth until the family arrives in England . The second version is not so glamorous, but is probably what happens after the England arrival.

Version I

Pierre Perdeux ( born circa 1583 ) was a native of Angers of Anjou and for many years served as advocate to the Parliament of Paris, Master of request to the Duke of Anjou, and chief magistrate of the Criminal Court of Angers.
It is believed in this version that the Perdues were Hugenots and they left France for England and Ireland before coming to America.
An elaborate manuscript compiled and emblazoned in the College of Arms containing “ Sundrie Ancient Remembrance of Arms, Genealogies, and other notes of Gentility belonging to the worshipful name and families of surname of Perduex, and that they were of like noble lineage or offspring of “ The Dutchy of Normandy”.
Pierre married Anne de Jardins ( born 1585) and they had offspring of
Rene Perdeux in 1610
Henri Perdeux in 1625
Henri was the Bell (as in ding-dong) Founder and was the progenitor of the Perdue family in America.
He married Marie Loisson, herself a descendant of a noble French family.
With a desire to worship according to the faith of the Hugenots, he left France leaving behind considerable wealth and property, like a chateau in the country, and a mansion in what is now called Rue 3t, Honore in Paris.
He arrived in Bristol, England in 1655 and became associated with the Indies Company.
His first child , Dean was born 9/6/1656. In 1657 Henri was appointed Residant factor for the Indies Company for Martinique and moved there on the brig boat, Thistle with Capt. William Stackpool at the helm.
At Fort de France, Martinique, his 2nd son Rene was born 6/12/1658 and then a daughter, Marie 11/7/1660.
Now here is the hole in this theory…..No one knows how or why Henri moved to Maryland…..BUT it does NOT mean it didn’t happen.
SO…in Worcester, Maryland Henri’s last child, John William Perdeux, Sr. is born in 1673.
Thus starts the chain of Perdues that match the other theory from this point forward. The big difference is that this theory puts John as a person of wealth and standards immediately upon arriving. The other is quite different posing him as illiterate and an indentured servant. The truth is probably somewhere in-between.

Version Two

The first Perdieu to come to the USA was John Perdieu and most research points to him being transported here by Edmund Jennings from England along with many others as indentured servants in Maryland/Virginia…circa 1690.

This John Perdieu could not read nor write, but made sure his offspring was educated and that paid off for his descendants. His children and grandchildren became rather large property holders and owned many slaves in Henrico, Chesterfield, Giles counties of Va. and much later in Franklin County, Virginia.

THE REST OF THE STORY

From this point forward…both sides pretty much agree that the following is accurate and true to their best recollection and records.

John Perdieu fathered 3 children with Sarah Burke, they were William Uriah Sr, George and John Jr.

William Uriah Perdue, Sr married Mary Hatchet( Nanticoke Indian Connection) and fathered William Uriah, Jr, four unknown daughters, Ezekiel, James, and Francis.

William Uriah Jr. married Edith Powell ( supposed Indian whose name was Morning Hale) and fathered at least 13 children who are listed in the Perdew Tree a little later. He settled in the far west part of Henrico County near Skinquarteron land adjacent to his father. He and a group of settlers then migrated through Wood Gap into Floyd County and on down the Little and New Rivers, settling on Wolf Creek about 1750. He owned the mill on Mill Creek in what is now the Narrows about 1755-1760.
During the Indian uprising of 1774, many settlers went to the Black River settlement in Franklin County, Va., but William Jr. stayed and served in the Montgomery County Militia during the Revolutionary War under the command of Captain John Taylor. Evidence exists that after 1785, William left Wolf Creek after a run-in with George Pearis and built a mill on the Mill branch of Bluestone Creek.
Among his 13 children was the first…Meshack born about 1750.
Meshack , was to become a very wealthy man and fathered at least 12 children….one wife is unknown..the one we know of is Eleanor Nellie Dillon born about 1760. Meshack served with his father, William, during the Indian uprising of 1774. His huge family farm was located south of the Blackwater River in Franklin County, Va. Meshack was the owner of approximately 40 slaves, a lumber mill, a gristmill, and two liquor stills .There is much more about this colorful Perdue man in the bios in the big Canter History book.( still in progress)

After this there is not much history available. Most of the Perdues remained in Franklin County for a long time. Quite a number of the offspring did move southward into most of the deeper southern states.
Just a few decided to move north into what is now W.Va. Meshack’s son Zachariah started the move into southern W.Va and then Thomas, son of Zachariah moved on into Boone County, where these families flourished as farmers and eventually miners, Isaac Sr, was one of Thomas’s children and he fathered Isaac Jr.

Isaac Jr first married Arminta Green and they had three children…..Lola 1895, Letha 1897 ( Gram Canter) and Elbert 1898. It appears as though Arminta passed away shortly after Elbert’s birth and Isaac Jr re-married to Margaret Jane Estep and they had one child, Eliza.

This family stayed in Boone county until sometime after 1910.

In 1920 the family shows up in Kanawha County, Dunbar, W.Va….minus Lola and Letha. We know that Letha married at 17 to Lester Canter somewhere near Cabin Creek which is in Kanawha County and it is believed that Lola married Evermont Ferrell. Eliza married an A. Garrett in Dunbar in Kanawha County. We understand that Letha was very close to Eliza and eventually Eliza moved to Florida. Elbert is shown in 1920 as married and a female, Ora, is living with them as a daughter-in-law and she is only 15. This must be one of the times that Elbert got into a fix. He probably got this young girl pregnant. I remember Gram saying that Elbert once asked her if he could come to stay with her for a while..as he had a few problems( she said NO). It is said that Elbert ALWAYS had a few problems.

The Perdew Tree as it relates to my line is below.

1. William Perdieu born in Closworth, England
Mary Amphlett
Marriage 12/26/1684
Children :
John Perdieu born circa 1685 in England
John was transported to America as a very young child by Edmund Jennings as an indentured servant until of age when he would be given land for his service. The exact place is unknown, but I have a census from 1800 showing a John Perdue living in Worcester, Md on the Boquetenort Hundred.

2. John Perdieu 1685-1773 died in Henrico County, Va.
Sarah Burke circa 1685
Marriage circa 1704
Children :
William Uriah 1705 in Henrico
Thomas 1707
John 1711
Richard ??

3. William Uriah Perdue 1705-1788 died in Chesterfield County, Va.
Mary Hatchett
Marriage circa 1730
Children :
William Uriah II 1730 born in Chesterfield County, Va.
Daughter unknown 1732
Daughter unknown 1734
Daughter unknown 1736
Daughter unknown 1738
Ezekiel 1740
James 1742
Francis 1745

4. William Uriah Perdue II 1730-1820 died in Montgomery Cty, Va.
Edith Powell 1730
Marriage 1751
Children :
James 1752
Isaiah 1755
Meshack 1756 in Chesterfield County
Jemima 1757
Daniel 1762 Montgomery County, Va.
Edith 1761
Jesse 1765
Zachariah 1769
Martha “Patsy” 1768
Phoebe 1771
William sold his land in Chesterfield County in 1761 and moved to Montgomery County, Va. His son DANIEL served in the REV WAR.

5 . Meshack Perdue 1756-1838 died in Franklin County, Va.
Eleanor Nellie Dillon 1755
Marriage circa 1770
Children :
Zachariah 1773 in Augusta County , Va.
John Otis 1776 in Franklin County, Va.
Asa 1785
Daniel 1786
Elizabeth 1788
Mark 1788
Eli 1790
Jesse 1790
Isaiah 1793
Obediah ??
Luke 1797
Matthew ??
Meshack moved the family along with his parents and several brothers to Franklin County where most remained for some time. Later on the migration continued to all points south except for a few who came north. Meshack was a wealthy man owning much property and many slaves. He was the owner of a farm, grist mill, saw mill, and two liquor stills.