p. - 1604

John Perley¹

• Father: Samuel Perley¹ b. March 10, 1712/13, d. April 10, 1753
• Mother: Ruth How¹ b. April 19, 1722

• Relationship: 3rd cousin 7 times removed of Steven George Levine

• Reference: 3846bcgb

• John Perley was born on November 22, 1743 in Linebrook Parish, Ipswich, Massachusetts.²
• He was the son of Samuel Perley and Ruth How.¹
• He was called captain. He might have been a sea captain, as a brother and son were.²
• John married Lucy Holland on May 2, 1765 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.²
• John Perley, blacksmith, when of Ipswich, 5 Jan 1769, purchased of Abel, Betty and Hannah (widow) Cresey of Rowley a third of an acre of land "with a dwelling house and barn thereon" for £37 6s. 8d. The premises were bounded southeasterly by the county road, northerly by land of Hon. John Hobson, northeasterly by land of Nathaniel Barker, southwesterly by land of Samuel Bailey, in Rowley.—Reg., 128:36.
  
  John "Parley," blacksmith, sold (mortgaged ?) for £22 a messuage and third part of an acre of land to John Fowler and Ezekiel Potter, "yeomans," of Ipswich, 18 Jun 1770.—Reg., 128:37. He signed his name "Parley."
  
  John Perley, Jr., of Rowley, blacksmith, and his wife Hannah, bought of Ebenezer Boynton and wife Jane of Rowley, 16 Sep 1807, for $245, land in the First Parish, with dwelling house, bounded westerly 55½ feet by land of Daniel Foster, northerly by said Foster's land, easterly by land of Amos Daniels 76 feet, and southerly by the county road.
  
  John Perley, who was "Jr." 11 Dec 1797, was called "gentleman" 28 Jan 1808.³
• Shortly after 3 Jan 1769, John Perley moved to Rowley, Massachusetts.²
• John married Hannah Mighill of Rowley on September 21, 1769.²
• It is said that Mr. Perley's residence was located at the southern corner of the Common, on the right going south, and that the house located there as of 1906 was the same. It has a curb roof, and in Mr. Perley's day had an immense chimney in the center, which, it is said, his son Nathaniel removed when he thoroughly repaired the old mansion, running through it from front to rear door a wide and attractive hall, after the English pattern, erecting the two chimneys and covering its frame entirely new. The following from the pen of Miss F. Ellen Moody Dole in relation to this house will be found very interesting:—
  
  "A few years ago, before new buildings had crowded into the fields by Rowley Common, there could not be found a more charming country scene. From beneath the heavy branches of a giant elm at the parting of the ways, was seen our old homestead set among trees and shrubbery at the farther end of the Common, against the beautiful background of Prospect Hill. At a comfortable angle, to take in all the sunshine of a winter's day, and with a pleasant slope of grass before its broad front door, the house was built about 1730, by Nathaniel Mighill. His father, Capt. Nathaniel Mighill, gave each of his sons a farm in his own life-time, and the story runs that trees were selected in the woods for the frame of this house, there being no joint from the ground at the back to the ridge-pole. When the house was finished— it was several years in building—Nathaniel was married to Elizabeth, the young widow of Mr. David Payson, and daughter of Mr. Samuel Appleton, 3d, and Elizabeth Whitting- ham of Ipswich. To visit her must have come a goodly company of relatives, and the second marriage of her mother with Rev. Edward Payson, the third of the Rowley ministers, brought this household into intimate relations with the large family of Paysons.
  
  "Of the stirring days of the Revolution the old house could tell many a tale, for Nathaniel Mighill was chosen to represent the town in the Provincial Congress, immediately after the opposition to Gen. Gage, and he continued prominent in public life.
  
  "Hannah, the only child who survived Nathaniel and Elizabeth Mighill, married Capt. John Perley of Linebrook, and inherited the farm where were born their many children. Many of the fine elms along the roadside and on the Common are said to have been set out by this John Perley; and his son John was also a tree lover, and raised here the Southern Lady apple and other fruits rare in Rowley. By the wall on the northern boundary of the field, a row of trees he planted still stands; but the gnarled old cherry trees that dropped flowers and fruit upon the rumbling stage-coaches, like them are gone. The field opposite belonged to this estate, and there, well back from the road, stood the ample barn— a fine play-house, we may imagine, for the Perley children.
  
  "Not all of them found homes near by. Priscilla went to Boston on her marriage, and at her home died her young sister, Mehitable, from a cold caught at a ball. Her grave is in King's Chapel yard. John remained in the old home and cultivated his ancestral acres, while his sons traveled far. With him lived his sister Hannah, whose wheel and loom were busy in the eastern upper chamber, from which could be seen Plum Island and the ocean. Wonderful was the store of linen of many patterns that she wove, and some of it is treasured still in the family. To her mother's early home came for her golden wedding, the daughter of Elizabeth Perley Khvell-, Mrs. Jamin. She had had the unusual experience of visiting the princely home of her husband's kindred in the Isle of France, with her little daughter Hannah, who died before marriage. A long poem was written of the child's departure from her village home by a local celebrity, the talented Mr. Frederick Knight —
  
  qwcenterwq"But go- we claim not all thy worth;qwbrwqA gem of native growth,qwbrwqWhose stem was of exotic birth,qwbrwqIt must remember voth."qw/centerwq
  
  "The graves ot the Jamin family are marked by a cross of red sandstone in Rowley graveyard.
  
  "It was the daughter of John Perley, Mrs. Lucy Ann Kilham, who made the old house so attractive in our time. Many will remember the lady at the open door, the wide hall through the house with a curious East Indian chair by the stairs, and graceful statues gleaming white against the rich red of the walls. All the woodwork was finished like old wood, and the front rooms opening from the crimson hall were restful in soft tints, and most interesting with wainscot and cornice and shutters, low mantels and cheerful fireplaces. The kitchen and other room at the back had large closets, and very high mantels with paneled cupboards above. In the parlor were many books in arched alcoves, fine pictures, quaint foreign cabinets, richly colored glass, and most effective of all, over the dark polished door used to hang one of the curtains embroidered by Sarah Phillips, daughter of Rev. Samuel Phillips, the second minister of the town, and grandmother of the builder of the house. More than two hundred years ago the Puritan maiden set the many patient stitches in the flowers and vines and the peacock, still gorgeous, upon that length of homespun. A spindle-backed chair is another treasure, marked 'not to be taken from the house,' and a large china punch-bowl, an heirloom of the Perleys. And hidden away in the long low room under the roof, a child once found what were to her very curiously wrought pieces of metal with names on them— the coffin plates of some of her ancestors.
  
  "To one wandering alone through the deserted rooms, or plucking cinnamon roses from bushes long ago planted, or sitting there in the shadow of the lilacs, looking off upon the hills, the brooding silence is alive with memories, and the mystic bond of kinship strengthens with those who have lived and died here. Truly this is one of the
  qwcenterwq"Old homesteads sacred to all that canqwbrwqGladden or sadden the heart of man."qw/centerwq
  
  The estate of which the house pictured here is an interesting part was owned by Nathaniel Mighill, Esq., at the time of his death, 26 March, 1788, aged 73, and by inheritance became the property of his daughter, Mrs. Hannah Perley, who was his only surviving heir. She occupied it many years with her husband, and disposed of it in her will.
  
  On 6 May 1817, Daniel Todd, Jr., and Hannah his wife, sold to Hannah Perley, Anstis Perley and Susan Perley, all of Rowley, singlewomen, for $2000, a certain piece of land, about six acres, near the Common in said Rowley, with the buildings thereon, bounded easterly by the highway leading to Ipswich; also another parcel of land near tne Common with the buildings thereon, about four and a quarter acres, bounded westerly by the highway leading to Ipswich.— Reg. 215:98.
  
  By this deed the title to this property returned to the Perley family, with whose descendants it remained, at least until 1906, the owner then making it her summer home.
  
  This house was one of the most attractive and interesting relics of "ye auld lang sine" to be found in the town.
  
  It is said that in this house Capt. Nathaniel Mighill Perley secreted, for twenty-four hours, a British officer who for some cause was a fugitive from British authority. During some part of that time the British diligently searched the house in vain. Tradition does not name his crime or speak of his ultimate fate.⁴
  

  Mighill-Perley House, near Rowley Common
• He drowned on November 28, 1811 at age 68. Though Mr. Perley died in 1811, the settlement of his estate was not begun till 5 May 1813 (after the death of his widow), when his son John of Rowley, yeoman, filed a bond, No. 21,486, with John Manning, Esq., and Joseph Lakeman Ross, blacksmith, both of Ipswich, as sureties. Nothing further appears of record.²

• Last Edited: 1 Sep 2009

John Pearley¹

• Father: Jacob Perley Jr.² b. September 19, 1700, d. November, 1750
• Mother: Sarah Morse² b. March, 1708, d. after 1763

• Relationship: 3rd cousin 7 times removed of Steven George Levine

• Reference: 3846cbbe

• John Pearley was born on December 7, 1746 in Boxford, Massachusetts. He was of Haverhill previous to his marriage. He was a tailor and doubtless practiced the art from house to house, as was the custom of the time. He owned a small farm and had at the time of his death a horse and two cows.
  
  He was a member of Capt. Daniel Hill's company of militia in Col. Johnson's regiment; was at the battle of Lexington and in the famous retreat to Cambridge, serving four days. By the muster roll, he marched seventy miles. In Jun 1778, the selectmen of Haverhill gave him an order on the town treasurer for £3 15s.³
• He was the son of Jacob Perley Jr. and Sarah Morse.²
• John married Hannah Green of Haverhill before 1771 in Haverhill, Massachusetts.⁴
• John died on December 2, 1778 at age 31 of small-pox. His widow became administratrix of his estate 2 Jan 1779. The appraisers were Samuel Souther, David Marsh and Ebenezer Gage, Jr. The inventory, presented 4 Jul 1780, amounted to £l094 15s. 8d. Two items were "a brown Coat crimson Jacket & everlasting Breeches £10," and "a Velvet Jacket & Leather Breeches £5" Benj. Perley of Boxford, his brother, was appointed the guardian of his children 4 Jan 1779.³

• Last Edited: 13 Dec 2015

John Perley¹

• Father: Nathan Perley¹ b. November 17, 1703, d. late in the fall of 1738
• Mother: Lydia Hale¹ b. March 23, 1710/11, d. June 6, 1803

• Relationship: 1st cousin 7 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born on November 17, 1734 in Boxford, Massachusetts.²
• He was the son of Nathan Perley and Lydia Hale.¹
• John died on September 24, 1736 in Boxford, Massachusetts, at age 1, during the prevalence of a terrible "pestilential distemper" from which "over 200 children under ten years of age died, in Haverhill alone, between Jan. 1, 1736 and Dec. 31, 1737."^3,4

• Last Edited: 7 Oct 2015

John Perley¹

• Father: Allen Perley¹ b. May 9, 1718, d. October 14, 1804
• Mother: Martha Fowler¹ b. November 1, 1738, d. September 3, 1819

• Relationship: 3rd cousin 7 times removed of Steven George Levine

• Reference: 3846fbbe

• John Perley was born on February 6, 1768 in Linebrook Parish, Ipswich, Massachusetts.²
• He was the son of Allen Perley and Martha Fowler.¹
• John married Mehitable Dwinnells on January 2, 1799 in Rowley, Massachusetts.³
• Upon his marriage he located in Rowley, Massachusetts, where he purchased a house a little distance north of the first site of the Linebrook meeting house or Rev. George Lesslie's estate, and removed it over frozen meadows to just east of his birthplace. He doubled the size of it by building to the west end. His son Silas added as much more to the east end, upon his marriage, and entered upon the cultivation of the farm, occupying the part of the house he built and two rooms which were relinquished by his father. The middle portion of this house was, in 1906, among the few oldest houses in the town.
  
  The farm proper contained about seventy-five acres, but Mr. Perley's possessions were much greater, and, too, were much greater than appears by the probate inventory of his estate, he having settled estates upon some of his children before his death.
  
  In his old age he occasionally spoke of "going after old Shays," referring to his enlistment in January, 1787, for thirty days, for the suppression of Shays' Rebellion. He had proceeded beyond Boston, when news was received that the Shays' Rebellion had collapsed, as later collapsed the "Deacon's one-horse chaise."⁴
  

  JOHN PERLEY.
  He couldn't have been as nasty as he looks.
  

  RESIDENCE OF JOHN PERLEY AND HIS SON SILAS.
• John married Susannah Pearson on July 6, 1841.³
• John died on August 20, 1858 at age 90. A notice of his death in the Salem Gazette said: "Mr. Perley listened to the booming cannon on Bunker Hill in 1775 with trembling anxiety for the vanquishing of the British; and was afterwards active to overcome that rebellious people led on by Shays. He devoted his after life to agriculture, and was ever opposed to every form of oppression."⁵
• He was buried in Linebrook Cemetery, Ipswich, Massachusetts, qwcenterwqJOHN PERLEY,
  DIED
  Aug. 20, 1858,
  Æt. 90 yrs. 6 mos
  & 14 days.qw/centerwq.⁶

• Last Edited: 13 Sep 2009

John Perley¹

• Father: John Perley¹ b. April 7, 1737 or April 1, 1737, d. November 30, 1822
• Mother: Lydia Perley¹ b. May 13, 1741, d. August 10, 1804

• Relationship: 4th cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• His nephew John, says of him: " My Uncle John, my namesake, being the youngest of the family and of delicate constitution, was regarded by my grandfather with a more favorable eye than the rest of the boys, therefore at the age of eighteen years he gave him a piece of property of about $2000 in value. Naturally shrewd and calculating, he, no doubt, turned the gift to good account. His delicate health precluded farm labor, and he learned the trade of shoe-making. He set up a small shop in Linebrook Parish where he sold groceries, etc., at intervals, while shoemaking. He continued thus but a few years. He next located in Danvers, where he set up quite a large grocery. There he remained a number of years and accumulated quite a fortune. He remained in Danvers, I think, till 1835 or '7, when from failing health he removed to New York, but I have never learned that he engaged in any business there besides speculating. He spent there the remainder of his life, making occasional visits to his relatives in Georgetown, and on account of his delicate health spending many summer months at Saratoga. He was a heavy holder of real estate in Georgetown and vicinity. I have never heard anything remarkable of him besides his excellent business ability. He always seemed to me very reserved and taciturn, a walking statue, composed of mortgages, bank-notes, checks and deeds."
  
  Becoming of age, he became a member of the family of his Uncle Philemon Foster, in Linebrook Parish, Ipswich. The house stood on the Newburyport turnpike, where it had been removed about the time the building of that highway was begun. There our subject worked at his trade, cordwaining or shoemaking, and run a grocery for the accommodation of the road builders. His work and business were successful, and laid the foundation of his business career. When that section of the turnpike was completed and trade in consequence fell off, he removed to Danvers where he opened a store at
  "the Plains" which has probably continued in the Perley name to the present day (1906). Charles N. Perley was, in 1906, the owner.
  
  In 1835, "Johnny" Perley, the storekeeper at the little village which was springing up at Porter's Plains, petitioned for a fire engine, to be located near Berry's Tavern. It was provided later.²
• John Perley was born on September 3, 1782. The farm whereon Mr. Perley was born was established as a home by Samuel Perley, the grandson of the immigrant Allan. Samuel probably built the farm house during the period of 1690-1694, and had it ready furnished for the business of housekeeping when he married Miss Cummings, at the latter date. The farm was, in 1906, owned by David Eri Perley and had been in the Perley name for about 200 years. Upon it were born Sergt. David Perley in 1702; his son John, in 1737; David, the father of David Eri, in 1776; Moses the father of Sarah, in 1779; and John the subject of this family, in 1782.
  
  Twenty years and more ago there were two old houses on this original farm, standing about a mile apart, one of which was the birthplace of this John. The picture shown here was sketched only a few days before the building was razed in 1884. It has been called John Perley's birthplace upon the authority of Humphrey Perley, born in 1808, who was, in his boyhood and youth, familiar with the family living there. He later lived there himself, and said that John often visited him and spoke of the place as his birthplace. Apropos this claim, Miss Eva Perley, upon the authority of her father David Eri, born in 1816 on the premises, says concerning her great uncle John, the philanthropist: "He was not born in the house near the Georgetown line. He was born on this place in the old house which stood where the present one does. His father moved from this place when John was sixteen years old or thereabouts. No Perley was ever born in that house, unless Moses Perley's daughter Sarah was." We may, then, regard the old house shown in the picture to be, at least the home of the philanthropist's youth.³
  

  EARLY HOME OF JOHN PERLEY.
• He was the son of John Perley and Lydia Perley.¹
• John Perley was six feet tall, a man of wonderful activity, and a natural arithmetician. It is related that he would add double columns of figures with accuracy and more rapidly than others could single columns. He worked for John Perley , his third cousin once removed, as clerk, and was the marvel of the customers the country round, by the rapidity with which he would figure the totals of bills of many items. As clerk he excelled; he was gentlemanly, honest, accurate and active.⁴
  

  So hed signed a receipt at his store in Danvers in 1819.
• John died on May 11, 1860 in New York at age 77, where he spent the last years of his life.
  
  . He was a sagacious, honest and judicious business man, and had he lived in these days would probably have been a millionaire.
  
  He exercised the same discretion and good judgment in the disposal of his large estate, and divided most of it to charitable, religious and educational purposes. David Pingree of Salem, Moses Dorman of Boxford and John Killam and Geo. W. Chaplin of Georgetown, were the executors and trustees of his will. After providing for family connections, it continues:—
  
  "All the rest and residue of my estate real, personal or mixed, of which I shall die seized or possessed, or to which I shall be entitled at my decease, I give, bequeath and devise unto my aforesaid trustees, David Pingree, Moses Dorman, John Killam .and George W. Chaplin, their survivors and successors, in fee simple, in trust, and upon the special trusts following; that is to say:—
  
  "1. That my said Trustees shall sell at public auction, at such times and places as they shall deem expedient, all the real estate, except my burial place in Harmony Cemetery, which is to be retained and kept in repair from the trust fund, and reduce the same and my personal estate to money hereby authorized and empowering said trustees to sell and convey any and all of said estate to the purchaser or purchasers by good and sufficient deeds and instrument, no purchaser from them to be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, and after payment of their just and proper expenses and charges, invest the proceeds thereof, and all unappropriated income that shall from time to time accrue therefrom, in the bonds, scrip, or other securities of some of the states and cities following viz: the states of Pennsylvania, New York; Massachusetts and Maine, and the cities of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, New York and Albany in New York, Boston in Massachusetts, and Portland in Maine; or if from any cause this should become impracticable and unadvisable, then in such securities as shall in the judgment of said trustees be equally safe and productive, that the same may be safely kept and accumulated to accomplish the object of these trusts."
  
  [The second item refers to private bequests.]
  
  "3rd. That my said trustees shall set apart thirty-five hundred dollars from said trust funds, as a perpetual fund, the income of which they shall on the first Monday in every January of every year after my decease, distribute among the poor of good habits of said Georgetown in such manner as my said trustees shall think judicious.
  
  "4th. That my said trustees shall set apart seven thousand dollars of said trust funds as a perpetual fund, the income of which they shall pay to the Orthodox Congregational society in said Georgetown, where I now worship, for the support of preaching, and a sabbath school in said society annually, while said society has a settled minister, the same to be paid to George W. Chaplin and Sylvanus Merrill for the purposes above specified during the lives of them and the survivor of them, and after their decease to such persons as said society may appoint, and in case said Orthodox Congregational society shall for any period cease to have a settled minister, or be dissolved then I direct my said trustees to appropriate the income of said fund for such period as said society shall have no minister, or in case of dissolution the whole income to the uses and purposes of the Free School, hereinafter provided for.
  
  "5th. That my said trustees shall set apart another sum of seven thousand dollars of said trust funds as a perpetual fund, the income of which they shall pay to the Orthodox Congregational society in Linebrook parish, in the towns of Ipswich and Rowley, for the support of preaching and a sabbath school in said society annually, while said society has a settled minister, the same to be paid to William F. Conant and such other person as said society shall appoint for the purposes above specified, during the lives of them and the survivorof them, and after their decease to such persons as said Society may appoint, and in case said society shall for any period cease to have a settled minister, or be dissolved, then I direct my said trustees to pay the income of said fund for such period as said society shall have no settled minister, or in case of dissolution, the whole income to the uses and purposes of the Free School hereinafter provided for.
  
  "6th. That my said trustees shall invest all said trust funds and income not hereinbefore appropriated, in the securities aforesaid, and cause the same to accumulate until the same shall in their judgment constitute a fund adequate to the purchase of a site, erection of buildings, and the endowment and maintenance in said Georgetown of a Free School to be called the Perley Free School, for the instruction of children and youth in such branches of science and learning as they shall deem most useful, and the purchase of a Library and scientific apparatus for said school, and when said fund shall be by them deemed adequate for said purposes, that they shall obtain an Act of incorporation, with such provisions for securing succession and otherwise as they shall determine, from the legislature of Massachusetts, by the name of the Trustees of the Perley Free School, and shall convey to said corporation all said Fund and Endowment, together with my said burial place, upon such conditions, statutes and trusts as they shall in furtherance of the objects of this trust prescribe for the erection, foundation, maintenance, administration and government of said Perley Free School, and the privileges and funds thereof, providing especially that in the enjoyment of the privileges of said school the preference shall in all cases be given to pupils belonging to said Georgetown, and those of them who may be in indigent circumstances, and further providing that the said school shall not be put in operation until the income accruing from said fund shall have accumulated to a sum sufficient to pay for the site, and erect all the buildings required for the same, that the principal sum may be preserved entire forever.
  
  "7th. That my said trustees shall after the establishment of said corporation, further convey unto said corporation the three several funds hereinbefore provided for, viz: the fund for the Orthodox Congregational Society in Georgetown, the fund for the Orthodox Congregational Society in Linebrook parish, and the fund for the poor of said Georgetown, upon the same trusts as I have herein devised, the same to them, and devolve all said duties and trusts on said corporation forever, prescribing in such conveyance such conditions and rules as shall secure the fulfilment of said trusts."
  
  Mr. Perley's will is dated 22 Aug 1857, about three years before his death, and was witnessed by Amos B. Merrill, Henry B. Graves and Andrew Harnden. Two years later a codicil was added affecting slightly the private bequests.⁵
• He was buried in Harmony Cemetery, Georgetown, Massachusetts. This cemetery was instituted by him. It is a circular plot of ground, and has leading from the street a driveway which is bordered on each side by a row of beautiful evergreen trees, and which enters into the grounds and extends round the entire outer border. In the center is a mound from which radiate paths that connect with the outer driveway. The mound is about two feet in height and three rods in diameter, and in its center stands Mr. Perley's monument. This memorial is constructed of the finest marble in beautiful symmetry and taste, enhancing much the general beauty of the surroundings. It has the following inscriptions on the four faces:—
  
  qwcenterwqJOHN PERLEY,
  DIED MAY 11, 1860.
  AGED 78.
  qwhrwq
  He Devoted and Secured
  nearly all the accumulated wealth of a life of
  Frugality and Sobriety
  to the good of those who should come after him.
  qwhrwq
  He made a liberal Donation for the use of
  The Orthodox Congregational Society of Georgetown,
  and also for
  The Orthodox Congregational Society in Linebrook Parish.
  qwhrwq
  He established a permanent fund for the relief of
  The Poor of Good Habits;
  And provided for the liberal endowment of a Free School
  in this, his native Town.qw/centerwq
  
  The fond hope of this public benefactor is now a realization. "The Perley Free School" building was dedicated, Saturday afternoon, 15 Sep 1900, "in the presence of a large assemblage. The interior of the building was tastefully decorated with ferns, palms and flowers, and after the exercises, was thrown open to the public, who were given an opportunity to go through the building.
  
  "The exterior walls of the building are constructed of selected water struck brick. All of the trimmings are of Indiana limestone and terra cotta. The three entrances on the front and either end, are handsomely treated with terra cotta pilasters, carrying heavy carved entablatures. The name, 'Perley Free School,' is cut in classic letters in granite over the main front entrance.
  
  "Opening from this corridor, on either side, are the principal's and teachers' rooms, which are connected with the recitation rooms in either front corner of the building. On the back corners are two class rooms, lighted by seven large windows, and between the class rooms are two large coat rooms, supplied with set bowls.
  
  "On the second floor are the chemical and physical laboratories, two supply and apparatus rooms, and in the front a drawing room and the library and trustees' room. The central position of this floor is occupied by an assembly hall, with stage and dressing rooms.
  
  "On the third floor are the tank and storage rooms, which are lighted and ventilated by three large dormer windows in the front.
  
  "The entire building is heated by steam and lighted by gas. Electric bells are in every room. The system of ventilation is of the best and applies to every room in the building.
  
  "The dedication exercises were held in a large tent on the campus in the rear of the building. The first regiment band of Boston rendered a concert from 2 to 2.30 P. M., after which the dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev. De Witt S. Clark of Salem. This was followed by a short address by the president of the trustees, Ubert A. Killam of Haverhill, who dwelt on the exemplary life of the donor of the school, John Perley.
  
  "The next speaker was Joseph H. Towne of Salem, treasurer of the board of trustees, who gave a brief history of the trust.
  
  "The principal address of the afternoon was delivered by Prof. George H. Palmer of Harvard University.
  
  "In the evening the building was thrown open and the band gave a concert on the grounds in front of the building. The building was completely equipped and furnished, and the school was opened on the following Monday."⁶
  

  THE PERLEY FREE SCHOOL BUILDING, GEORGETOWN, MASS.

• Last Edited: 15 Sep 2009

John Perley¹

• Father: John Perley¹ b. November 22, 1743, d. November 28, 1811
• Mother: Hannah Mighill of Rowley¹ b. 1752 or 1753, d. September 8, 1812

• Relationship: 4th cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born on March 21, 1791 in Rowley, Massachusetts, and inherited with his brother Nathaniel M. the residue of the parental estate.²
  

  So he indorsed the petition of Ebenezer P. Perley, as guardian, to sell real estate of his ward, 6 Feb 1816.
• He was the son of John Perley and Hannah Mighill of Rowley.¹
• John married Ann D. Haskell of Newburyport on December 4, 1817.²
• John died on February 24, 1861 at age 69 of cancer of the throat.²

• Last Edited: 19 Sep 2009

John Perley¹

• Father: Enoch Perley¹ b. May 19, 1749, d. December 23, 1829
• Mother: Anna Flint¹ b. July 20, 1753, d. April 15, 1823

• Relationship: 4th cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born perhaps 1779.
• He was the son of Enoch Perley and Anna Flint.¹

• Last Edited: 7 Apr 2010

John Perley¹

• Father: Aaron Perley¹ b. September 18, 1755, d. December 10, 1831 or January 10, 1832
• Mother: Mehitable Wood¹ b. November 26, 1761, d. March 15, 1853

• Relationship: 4th cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born perhaps 1788.
• He was the son of Aaron Perley and Mehitable Wood.¹

• Last Edited: 5 Apr 2010

John Perley¹

• Father: Isaac Perley¹ b. September 5, 1730
• Mother: Hannah Lakeman¹ b. April 4, 1731

• Relationship: 4th cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born on October 5, 1766 or November 5, 1766.¹
• He was the son of Isaac Perley and Hannah Lakeman.¹

• Last Edited: 5 Sep 2009

John Perley¹

• Father: Benjamin Perley¹ b. February 10, 1735, d. 1816
• Mother: Apphia Andrews of Danvers¹ b. perhaps 1745, d. June 20, 1825

• Relationship: 4th cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born perhaps 1779 in Boxford, Massachusetts.¹
• He was the son of Benjamin Perley and Apphia Andrews of Danvers.¹

• Last Edited: 31 Mar 2010

John Perley¹

• Father: Nathan Perley¹ b. 1737, d. about 1816
• Mother: Mehitable Mitchell¹ b. perhaps 1737, d. November 24, 1773

• Relationship: 2nd cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born perhaps 1756.
• He was the son of Nathan Perley and Mehitable Mitchell.¹

• Last Edited: 31 Mar 2010

John Perley¹

• Father: John Perley¹ b. February 6, 1768, d. August 20, 1858
• Mother: Mehitable Dwinnells¹ b. April 3, 1775, d. November 26, 1836

• Relationship: 4th cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born on April 27, 1804 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.²
• He was the son of John Perley and Mehitable Dwinnells.¹

• Last Edited: 20 Apr 2022

John Perley¹

• Father: Moses Perley¹ b. June 5, 1779, d. May 24, 1857
• Mother: Sarah Morse¹ b. 1800, d. September 12, 1888

• Relationship: 5th cousin 5 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Perley was born perhaps 1826.
• He was the son of Moses Perley and Sarah Morse.¹

• Last Edited: 20 Apr 2010

John Arthur Perley¹

• Father: John Quincy Adams Perley¹ b. February 11, 1828
• Mother: Hephzibath Woodbury¹ b. August 19, 1833

• Relationship: 4th cousin 2 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Arthur Perley was born on January 22, 1875. In 1905, he was unmarried, and in Goffstown.¹
• He was the son of John Quincy Adams Perley and Hephzibath Woodbury.¹

• Last Edited: 28 Jul 2016

John Hodge Perley¹

• Father: Ebenezer Perley¹ b. July 25, 1773
• Mother: Hannah Currier¹ b. perhaps 1775

• Relationship: 5th cousin 5 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Hodge Perley was born about 1802 in Salisbury, Massachusetts.¹
• He was the son of Ebenezer Perley and Hannah Currier.¹
• As of from 1818 to 1820, John Hodge Perley lived at Baltimore, Maryland.²

• Last Edited: 19 Sep 2009

John Humphrey Perley¹

• Father: Abraham Perley¹ b. May 26, 1777
• Mother: Rebecca Humphrey¹ b. April 21, 1780, d. August 21, 1816

• Relationship: 5th cousin 5 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Humphrey Perley was born perhaps 1808.
• He was the son of Abraham Perley and Rebecca Humphrey.¹
• John married Mary Susan Starbird.²

• Last Edited: 5 Apr 2010

John Langdon Perley¹

• Father: Stephen Perley¹ b. October 7, 1770, d. April 13, 1855
• Mother: Mehitable Ladd¹ b. April 5, 1783, d. October 25, 1834

• Relationship: 4th cousin 6 times removed of Steven George Levine

• John Langdon Perley was born perhaps 1804.
• He was the son of Stephen Perley and Mehitable Ladd.¹

• Last Edited: 20 Apr 2010