Burrell Perry is the youngest of the seven Perry brothers who 
purportedly migrated from Isle of Wight county, Virginia to Bute
and Franklin counties, North Carolina;  however,it should be 
noted that that this claim, so oft repeated, is largely 
unsubstantiated by written documentation and is based upon 
evidence, tradition and the work of researchers long since dead.  
As Virginia was an English colony and practiced primogeniture it
isn't unreasonable to assume that an older, eldest brother 
remained in Virginia to inherit their father's property.  The 
brothers who moved to NC are Jeremiah, Burrell, Francis, Joshua,
John, William and Nathaniel.  Their given names are frequently 
repeated in subsequent generations. As far as is known Burrell 
is the first Perry so named. ( Burrell is also Burwell.) He and
at least two of his brothers named sons Burrell or Burwell and 
they, in turn, named sons Burrell, too.


And therein lies the difficulty of determining which of the many 
Burrell Perrys is our own. Many talented and skilled researchers
have attempted to determine his parentage with either limited or 
erroneous results. My own determination of his being the son of
the first or "old" Burrell Perry and his wife, Elizabeth Massey,
is wrong; he isn't. But I do think he belongs to these Perrys. 
It is my hope to ascertain his correct lineage, prove his 
marriage to Mary Ann, and identify his children with their 
correct mother.  Also, I desire to verify if Mary Ann actually 
is a Rainwater. With that in mind, I welcome any and all 
information from others.

Several of Burwell's descendants have organized a research group 
and we invite anyone researching these Perrys to join. 
Cooperation and diligence are the tools of genealogists! 


Our Burwell Perry is not the son of the first Burwell. He was 
born circa 1772 in NC and died between May 25 and December 25, 
1840 in Washington county, Texas.  He married first before 1790
to Mary Ann Rainwater, possible daughter of James Rainwater of 
Surry county, NC, and secondly, Jane Batts or Botts on January 
5,1838 in Washington county, Texas. He was an active participant
in the formation of the American South,yet,is unknown to history.
He witnessed the American Revolution and the birth of America; 
he was numbered among the earliest residents of such places as 
Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and, perhaps, Tennessee. 
His residences predated statehood in all but Georgia. He rubbed
shoulders with history but left few tracks in her wake. What he
did leave arouses the desire in his descendants to know more of 
him.  What we have learned already will be added to these pages 
with the fervent hope that someone may have or will find the 
information we seek. 

Perry and Related Surname Links
Perry Timeline:  Delineates Perry migrations, especially for Burwell Perry

      England: 
      Virginia and North Carolina: 
      Georgia and Tennessee:
      Mississippi and Louisiana:
      Texas:

A Barrel of Burrells :Identifying Some of The Numerous Burrell Perrys 
Perry Confused? : So Many Burrell And Burwell Perrys 
A Possible Tennessee Connection: A Family For Our Burrell Perry???
Personal Perry Lines of Perry Research Group Members:
Perry  Documents : Wills, etc.
The Seven Perry Brothers:A Word Of Caution 
Virginia Grants :Perry Land Grants 
Leila's Genealogy Page:All My Families 
Mary Ann Rainwater Perry:Rainwater/Perry Connection
Some News On Newsome Rainwater:A family For Mary Ann?
Perry and Rainwater:Database
permace Database-
Burrell Perry& Elizabeth Massey or
Perry : Lineage of Southern Perrys
Jan Romine: Perry in Texas
Judy and David Spiers: Spiers/Perry in Mississippi
Patty's Pad:Perry from Arkansas and South Carolina
Hancock County, Mississippi:
Pearl River County, Mississippi:
Washington County, Texas:
The Rainwater Collection: Rainwater Research
Rainwater Family Association:Queries
Perry Queries:
The SurnameWeb

LUCK OF THE IRISHTO YOU

Credits, Rings and Awards 
 

                                                
    These pages are the personal domain of myself and of the Burwell Perry 
    Research Group.  We are pleased to share  information with others for 
    their own personal use;  however, these pages may not be reproduced, 
    duplicated or used for profit  without our permission.
  
Wednesday, 21 October, 1998   
updated Friday, December 8,2000  

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