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View Tree for John (Spec) PerryJohn (Spec) Perry (b. June 18, 1769, d. December 12, 1859)

John (Spec) Perry (son of Jeremiah Perry and Jane or Elizabeth) was born June 18, 1769 in Franklin Co. NC, and died December 12, 1859 in Russell Co. Alabama. He married Ruth Strickland on 1797 in Bute Co., North Carolina, daughter of Mathew Strickland and Mary Polly Perry.

 Includes NotesNotes for John (Spec) Perry:
Some information from WFT CD
Names of wives of children from will of John Perry of Russell Co, AL -probated January Term 1860.
Also some information from book by Benjamin Pery
Some marriages from marriage records Franklin Co, NC

From book on Perrys by Carolyn Fleetwood and Joan Fortune.

John Perry was nicknamed "Speck" because he had freckles. He, likeBurrell, sowed quite a few wild oats, and it was he who it was said drank a rival under the table, and by so doing won the hand of Ruth. Mr. Strickland, Ruth's father, had quite a lot of cider on hand, and proposed a contest between John and his rival as who could drink the most without becoming tipsy. The winner was to be able to walk up thestairs without staggering, which John managed to do, and the rivalcould have probably done so too, but decided to take a stroll first.The longer he walked, the sleepier he became, and sat down by a fence and fell asleep. The next morning the rival was observed making his way toward the house, and was apparently the worse for wear. John said, "Now, Miss Ruth, would you, or any other young lady, marry such a thing as that?" Her answer was an emphatic no. It leaked out that John was able to hold his drinks so well, as the contest was held onthe balcony, and the contents of some glasses were thrown undetected into the yard below, but it has been said, "All is fair in love and war."
All of John's children were born in Jasper Co, GA before he moved to Muscogee Co, GA in 1828. In 1834 he moved to Russell Co, AL. Problems with the Indians became so bad John sent his wife and children to safety, but he remained, locking everything up at night and sleeping in the woods. Finally, some friends from Georgia prevailed on John to move too, which he did so under protest, saying it was the first cowardly act of his life. Howver, John, now sixty-six, remained away only a few days and awaited the return of his family and neighbors.
John claimed he inherited his personal courage from his mother,and narrated the following tale to prove it. Jeremiah was a Whig,living in the midst of Tories. One day, three went to his house to rob him, one remaining outside to hold the horses. Jeremiah was attacked, and his wife, fearing he was to be killed as well as robbed,pushed him into another room, and proceeded to toss the would be robbers out the window. They hit the hard ground with such force they were injured or stunned and easily captured. The robber waiting outside did get away with two of Jeremiah's fine horses though, andJeremiah himself didn't come out of the set to unscathed. His wife,when she pushed him into another room, had slammed the door on his fingers.
John was eccentric, having a beautiful polished coffin made seven years before he died, and this he kept under his bed. He stored his tobacco in it, saying it was the safest place to put it, as no Negro was going to open a coffin to steal tobacco.
Uncle Spec, as he came to be called, was buried with the square and compass symbol of the Masonic Fraternity resting on his chest. Hehad requested before he died that he wanted nothing black around his grave site, as he had never commtted a black deed. He is in the Perry burying ground, five miles south of Salem, AL and there is no monument, but his and Ruth's graves are surrounded by a roofed picket.

Birth: 18 JUN 1769 in Bute Co, NC
Death: 12 DEC 1859 in Russell Co, AL



More About John (Spec) Perry and Ruth Strickland:
Marriage: 1797, Bute Co., North Carolina.

Children of John (Spec) Perry and Ruth Strickland are:
  1. +John Madison Perry, b. December 12, 1812, Franklin County North Carolina, d. March 04, 1888, Cabot ,near Mt. Tabor, Prairie County Arkansas.
  2. +Strickland Perry, b. Abt. 1800, Salem , North Carolina, d. date unknown.
  3. +Willis Perry, b. 1797, Franklin NC, d. 1850, on way to Cal. gold rush, bur. at sea.
  4. +Elizabeth Perry, b. 1803, Wake Co. NC, d. 1890, Lee Co. Alabama.
  5. Mary Perry, d. date unknown.
  6. Patience Perry, d. date unknown.
  7. Amaryllis Perry, d. 1863, Opelika, Al..
  8. Francis Perry, d. date unknown.
  9. Ruth Perry, d. date unknown.
  10. Ann J. Perry, d. date unknown.
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