Died
24 July 1805
Aged 47
Born
c1758
Sources
North Western Evening Mail (source for painting)
Lancashire Parish Clerk online
Various websites (see pdf download)
Place
Walks
Themes
Major John Perryn
12th Regiment of Foot
An interesting but rather obscure roadside memorial cross just south of Aldingham on the A5087 (Coast Road), on the seaward side. If you stop to look, take great care: the road is fast. There is a small car park in Aldingham and it is a 3 minute walk to the cross.
Major Perryn is buried in the nave of the church, under the carpet close to the altar rail. Thanks to Mr Robert Wheatley for this information.
(In the circle above the cross)
MDCCCV
IN MEMORY OF MAJOR PERRYN WHO MET HIS DEATH BY AN ACCIDENT NEAR THIS PLACE
JULY 24TH 1805 IN THE 48TH YEAR OF HIS AGE AND IS BURIED IN ALDINGHAM CHURCH
PAINTING: Major John Perryn by Samuel Shelley, signed, circa 1790. (NWEM 1st March 2010)
This painting may be the John Perryn who became a Lt-Col and is commemorated in St Margaret’s Church, next to Westminster Abbey, i.e. not the one buried at Aldingham.
Dictionary of National Biography
John Perryn’s father, Sir Richard Perryn (1723 – 1803), has an entry in the Dictionary of National Biography: son of Benjamin Perryn of Flint, merchant, by his wife, Jane, eldest daughter of Richard Adams, town clerk of Chester, was baptised in the parish church of Flint on 16 August 1723. He was educated at Ruthin Grammar School and Queen’s College Oxford, where he matriculated on 13 March 1741, but did not take any degree. He was admitted a student at Lincoln’s Inn on 6 Nov 1740, and on 27 April 1746 migrated to the Inner Temple, where he was called to the bar on 3 July 1747. Perryn commenced practice in the court of chancery, and gradually acquired such a reputation there as to be employed during the latter years of his practice in almost every cause. On 20 July 1770 he became vice-chamberlain of Chester and in the same year was made a king’s counsel and a bencher of the Inner Temple. On 6 April 1776 he kissed hands on his appointment as baron of the exchequer in the place of Sir John Burland, and was knighted on the same day. He was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law and sworn into office on the 26th of the same month. Perryn retired from the bench in the long vacation of 1799, and died at his house at Twickenham on 2 Jan. 1803, aged 79. He was buried on the 10th of the same month in ‘the new burial-ground’ at Twickenham, and a tablet was erected to his memory in the south chancel wall of the old parish church.
Perryn married Mary, eldest daughter of Henry Browne of Skelbrooke in the West Riding of Yorkshire, by whom he had several children. His wife died on 19 April 1795, aged 73. An engraved portrait of Perryn by Dupont, after Gainsborough, was published in 1779. Some remarks on Perryn’s charge to the grand jury of Sussex at the Lent Assizes in 1785 are appended to ‘Thoughts on Executive Justice with respect to our Criminal Laws, particularly on the Circuits.’
Lancashire Online Parish Clerks tells us:
Burial: 24 Jul 1805 St Cuthbert, Aldingham, Lancs. John Perryn, Esqre. - [Child] of Richard Perryn, Knight & Mary
Died: 21 Jul 1805
Age: in the 48th year of his age
Occupation: Brevet Major in the Army, late Captain in the 12th Regt. Of Foot
Notes: Third son of the late Sir Richard Perryn Knt, one of the Barons of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer by Dame Mary, eldest Daughter of Henry Browne of Skelbrooke Park in the County of York, Esqre.
Ancestry
Ancestry says: John Perryn buried in Lancashire 24 July 1805. Parents Richard Perryn and Mary Browne Perryn. There is a will proved on 1 October 1805. (See below)
The Gentleman’s Magazine 1805
The Gentleman’s Magazine 1805 Volume 75 part 2 ‘[July 21st] At Ulverstone, co. Lancaster, Major John Perryn, formerly captain of the 12th regiment of Foot, and third son of the late Sir Richard Perryn, knt. one of the barons of the Exchequer. His death was occasioned by being thrown out of his chaise two days before, by which his leg was fractured, and a mortification ensued.
John Perryn’s Will (from Ancestry – extracts only)
This is the last Will and testament of Mr John Perryn of Twickenham in the County of Middlesex Esquire Brevet Major in the Army and late of the Twelfth Regiment of Foot made on the fifth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and five. That is to say I xxxx and xxx that I may be buried in a private manner within the Church of the parish whereof? I may happen to be and if at Twickenham within my family vault xxxx or if at London or Westminster within a vault wherein xxx remains of my late xxxx xxxx Lieutenant Colonel John Perryn our deposited? And that the exposxxx of my xxmoral may not serve? the sum of one hundred pounds sterling I give and xxx all my messuage? or? rainment? with the officers various and appoint situate lying and being at Twickenham aforesaid part whereof our freehold? and other part copyhold which I have surrendered to the rest of my will and also my right xxx and interest in or to two bows or boats in the parish church of Twickenham aforesaid unto my sister Mary Hatfield the wife of Alexander Hatfield of Twickenham aforesaid Esquire for and xxxx the term of her natural life according to the xxxxx xxxxx of the said premises and from and immediately after her decease unto all and every the child and children of my said sister Mary Hatfield now born and to be born whether daughter or son to be equally divided xxxxxxx or among them if more than one share and share alike and they to have as tenants in common Of their infant children namely Johnxxxx, ffrances …. And Mary xxxx by my late? Sister ffrances xxxx of the fifth part I am entitled for and xxx the life of my said mother Mary Perryn Brownein our? Equal fourth part of the xxx residue of the xxx and profits of all the various messuages xxxx tenements and xxxx in the county of York which by the last will of my late uncle Henry? Browne Esquire xxxxx my said mother
A note is added to the Will, saying ‘On the 1st October 1832 situation? (with the Will xxxxx of the Goods Chattels and Credits of John Perryn late of Twickenham in the County of Middlesex Esquire Brevit Major in the Army and late of the 12th Regiment of Foot decesd. Left xxxxxxxxxxx by the Reverend Richard Perryn Clerk the Brother and Alexander Hatfield Esq. the Executors named in the said Will (both since decesd) was granted to Frances Lovibond (Wife of George Brudenell Michelsen Lovibond Esq) formerly Hatfield Spinster the niece and the Residuary legatee named in the said Will having been first sworn duly to administer. The said Alexander Hatfield survived the said Reverend Richard Perryn and made his Will and appointed Richard Gerard Perryn Esquire sole Executor who announced the Probate and Execution of his Will (and by Acts of Court appears).
Register of Employees of the East India Company and the India Office
There is a note in the Register of Employees of the East India Company and the India Office saying that in 1794 a Major John Perryn worked for them.
An Account of the Campaign in the West Indies in the Year 1794 by Cooper Willyams, mentions Major Perryn, Great George Street, in a list of subscribers. Which John Perryn is this?
