James Franklin Perry
Encyclopedia
James Franklin Perry was an early settler and prominent citizen of Texas
. James married Emily Austin Perry
, operated Peach Point Plantation
, and was involved in Texas land distribution.
, on September 19, 1790. He married Emily Austin Perry
on September 23, 1824. He was her second husband, and the two had six children together:
By marrying Emily Austin, James became owner of Peach Point Plantation
and was one of the first plantation owners to shift from cotton
to sugar
production. He also was involved in the earliest plans for a railroad in Texas. He was offered the position of Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic of Texas
in 1839, but declined. James was also the executor of the will
of Stephen F. Austin
(Emily Austin's brother), a distinction that directly involved him in land distribution, maps, and early Texas colonial affairs. A court case related to titles of land was at one time filed and even appealed by Sam Houston
against James Franklin Perry in his capacity as executor for Stephen F. Austin.
James Franklin Perry and his son Henry each died from yellow fever
on September 13, 1853.
There are obituary references to James in various newspapers.
, serve as significant records, frequently referenced as foundational in Texas history. They were archived in the 1930s and housed at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin
.
Perry's Landing
, located in Brazoria, Texas, is named for James Franklin Perry. There is an historical marker for James Franklin Perry at the Gulf Prairie Cemetery
. He is referenced as "James F. Perry" in the Supreme Court
decision Bryan v. Kennett
.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. James married Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry was an early settler of Texas and sole heir to Stephen F. Austin. She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women often were not equal to men.-Early life:...
, operated Peach Point Plantation
Peach Point Plantation
Peach Point Plantation was the homestead and domicile of early Texas settlers Emily Austin Perry, James Franklin Perry, William Joel Bryan Stephen F. Austin, and Guy Morrison Bryan...
, and was involved in Texas land distribution.
Life
James was born in Allegheny County, PennsylvaniaAllegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
, on September 19, 1790. He married Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry
Emily Austin Perry was an early settler of Texas and sole heir to Stephen F. Austin. She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women often were not equal to men.-Early life:...
on September 23, 1824. He was her second husband, and the two had six children together:
- Stephen Samuel Perry (Born June 24, 1825 in Potosi, Missouri; died September 5, 1874 in Brazoria, Texas).
- Emily Rosanna Perry (Born September 24, 1826 in Potosi, Missouri; died December 6, 1827 in Potosi, Missouri).
- Eliza Margaret Perry (Born January 3, 1828 in Potosi, Missouri; died January 3, 1862 in Austin, Texas.
- James Elijah Brown Perry (Born May 17, 1830 in Potosi, Missouri; died February 14, 1831 in Chocolate Bayou, Texas.
- Henry Austin Perry (Born November 17, 1831 at Chocolate Bayou, Texas; died September 10, 1853 in Biloxi, Mississippi).
- Cecilia Perry (Born December 10, 1835 at Peach Point Plantation; died June 8, 1836 at Peach Point Plantation
By marrying Emily Austin, James became owner of Peach Point Plantation
Peach Point Plantation
Peach Point Plantation was the homestead and domicile of early Texas settlers Emily Austin Perry, James Franklin Perry, William Joel Bryan Stephen F. Austin, and Guy Morrison Bryan...
and was one of the first plantation owners to shift from cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
to sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
production. He also was involved in the earliest plans for a railroad in Texas. He was offered the position of Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
in 1839, but declined. James was also the executor of the will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
of Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
(Emily Austin's brother), a distinction that directly involved him in land distribution, maps, and early Texas colonial affairs. A court case related to titles of land was at one time filed and even appealed by Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
against James Franklin Perry in his capacity as executor for Stephen F. Austin.
James Franklin Perry and his son Henry each died from yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
on September 13, 1853.
There are obituary references to James in various newspapers.
Legacy
Letters between James, his wife, and his son Stephen Samuel PerryStephen Samuel Perry
Stephen Samuel Perry managed Peach Point Plantation, and is credited with amassing and preserving significant historical manuscripts related to Texas history....
, serve as significant records, frequently referenced as foundational in Texas history. They were archived in the 1930s and housed at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
Perry's Landing
Perry's Landing
Perry's Landing, located in on the Brazos River in Jones Creek, Brazoria County, Texas, is named for James Franklin Perry. There is an Historical Marker for James Franklin Perry at the Gulf Prairie Cemetery.-Postal service and name change:...
, located in Brazoria, Texas, is named for James Franklin Perry. There is an historical marker for James Franklin Perry at the Gulf Prairie Cemetery
Gulf Prairie Cemetery
Gulf Prairie Cemetery is located in Jones Creek, Texas, off State Highway 36 and County Road 304 and was the original resting place of Stephen F. Austin. While Austin's remains were later moved to Austin, Texas, the ceremonies and details related to this transfer , are recorded in a book by Guy...
. He is referenced as "James F. Perry" in the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
decision Bryan v. Kennett
Bryan v. Kennett
Bryan v. Kennett, , concerns ownership of some land in the U.S. State of Missouri, where possession must be shown in excess of 30 years prior to February 27, 1874, and after April 10, 1803, as dated from the treaty by which the United States acquired the Louisiana Purchase.The incomplete title...
.