John Perry was born November 25, 1754 in Nash Co., North Carolina; died September 28, 1828 in Perryville, Perry Co., Alabama. He was the son of William W. Perry and Martha Hollowell, some researchers have found evidence she may have been Martha Marshall, which is very possible as Marshall has been used as a given name for generations. He married Sarah Ferrell around 1783 in North Carolina. She was the daughter of William Ferrell and ___Perry, some believe her name to be Martha, daughter of Willis Perry.
After John Perry’s death Sarah moved to Tallapoosa County, Alabama to live with their daughter Martha Patsy Perry and Naaman Shropshire. She was found in the 1850 Tallapoosa County Census in the home of Patsy and Naaman Shropshire at the age of 89.
So I assume she died in Tallapoosa County, Alabama. After 1850 the Shropshire family moved to Blanco County, Texas.
John and Sarah Perry, along with their eight children started a move westward, two of their sons Benjamin and William Marshall settled in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, as well as their daughter Martha Patsy Perry Shropshire. They lived along the way in Jones County, Georgia, Hancock County, Georgia and Putman County, Georgia. Some of the children were born during their travels in the different counties. The family came with seven wagons pulled by oxen, along with their slaves and farm animals. They first camped at the present day site of Ocmulgee Baptist Church in Perryville, Perry County, Alabama until their homes could be built. The old Perry Cemetery and home place was where Julian White lives today. He bought the land in the early 1940’s and found a tombstone against a fence with the name John Perry inscribed. The cemetery was destroyed in early 1900.
John and Sarah had the following children: Julia 1784-1897 married William McLemore; died possibly Montgomery Co or Prattville, Al., Britton 1786-1831married Mary Dennis died Perryville, Perry Co., Al., Betsy 1788-1790 died in Putnam Co., Ga., Sarah Rebecca 1790-1816 died in Georgia, married Thomas Curry, Martha Patsy 1798-1866 married Naaman Shropshire; died in Texas, William Marshall 1800-1883 married Mary Indiana Shropshire; died in Driftwood, Texas, Benjamin 1801-1891 married Eliza Kimbrough; died in Williamson Co., Texas, Bolling (Balan) Houston 1805-1854 married (1) Rebecca Ferguson (2) Eliza Ferguson; died Winston Co., Ms. (?)
NOTE: Mary Dennis was the daughter of Joseph Dennis and the sister of Rev. John Dennis who was a well known minister in the Perry County area.