Emily Austin Perry Explained

Emily Austin Bryan Perry (June 22, 1795 – 1851) was the sister of Stephen F. Austin and an early settler of Texas.[1] She was an heir to Austin's estate when he died in 1836.[2] She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women were often not treated equal to men.

Education

Perry was born in Austinville, Virginia. She attended Mrs. Beck's Boarding School[3] in Lexington, Kentucky from October 1804 until December 1808,[4] [5] then two years at the Hermitage Academy[6] located on the Hudson River to further her education.[7]

First marriage and children

Perry married James Bryan (1788–1822) in Potosi, also known as "Mine á Breton"[8] or "Mine au Breton."[9] The two lived with Emily’s parents at their home called Durham Hall, in Missouri, from 1813–1814. In 1815, they moved to Hazel Run, Missouri, and also later to Herculaneum, Missouri. Emily and James Bryan had five children:

James Bryan (Emily’s first husband) died on July 16, 1822, in Potosi, Missouri. Perry supported her family by taking in boarders[4] [10] and teaching at a school in Hazel Run, Missouri.

Second marriage and children

On September 23, 1824, Perry married her second husband, James Franklin Perry. Emily and James Franklin Perry had six children:

Of her eleven total children, six would live to adulthood. On June 7, 1831, the family, composed of Emily and James Perry, four Bryan children, and Stephen Perry, began the long move from Potosi, Missouri, to Texas.

First year in Texas: San Felipe de Austin and Chocolate Bayou

Emily and most of her family (including Samuel Stephen and Eliza Margaret) arrived at San Felipe de Austin, Texas, on August 14, 1831.[5] Her son, Moses Austin Bryan, had arrived in Texas some months before his parents, on January 2, 1831.[17] [18] Emily and the younger children remained in San Felipe de Austin for several months, and then the family lived for about one year on the Chocolate Bayou producing sugar and cotton.[19]

Remaining years in Texas: Peach Point Plantation

Perry, her husband, and her children settled in Jones Creek, Texas, in present day Brazoria County, Texas and developed Peach Point Plantation also known as "Peach Point"; she lived at Peach Point until she died in 1851.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Perry interacted with Rutherford B. Hayes during his visit to Peach Point Plantation in 1848. Hayes wrote in a letter that Perry was, "an excellent motherly sort of woman, whose happiness consists in making others happy."[20] Hayes also wrote in a letter to his mother that, "instead of having the care of one family, [Emily] is the nurse, physician, and spiritual adviser of a whole settlement of careless slaves. She feels it is her duty to see to their comfort when sick or hurt."[21] Some historians argue that Perry's relatively/comparatively favorable treatment of slaves can be generalized to other holders of the time period, while others question whether this generalization is reasonable.

Though they may not themselves have known when they met, Perry was also, via shared descent from Anthony Austin and Esther Huggins, a third cousin once removed of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes.[22]

Sole heir to Stephen F. Austin

Perry was the sole heir to Stephen Fuller Austin following his death.[2] [23] Half the estate went to her immediately and half the "entire estate reverted to Emily" in 1837 upon the death of Brown Austin's eight-year-old son, who happened to be named Stephen F. Austin, Jr.[23] Everything was bequeathed not in James Perry's name and not to her sons, but to Perry, a woman, in 1836.[2] Transferred by bequest, all of Stephen F. Austin's possessions, property and land became Perry's separate property, and not community property. In fact, Perry was meticulous to ensure the Austin estate proceeds, books, and operations were not commingled, thus maintaining their legal characterization as her separate property, rather than community property with her husband (even though her husband, James F. Perry, was executor of Austin's estate).[23]

Wealth

Accordingly, Perry was one of the largest Texas individual landholders and irrefutably the wealthiest woman in Texas. She was actively involved in management of the Austin estate, including investments and land, actively involved in a time where male signatures were still required on contracts and women could not vote.[24]

Support of land planning, railroads, and industry

Perry was very involved in the urban planning and settling land. For example, she was one of the founders of the San Luis Company, which managed the development of San Luis, including the initial sale of 450 lots, development of streets, building a bridge, and construction of a lighthouse.

Perry raised capital and invested in the first attempt to build a railroad in Texas: The Brazos and Galveston Railroad Company, chartered by the Congress of the Republic of Texas, on May 24, 1838.[25] The rail was initially to go from Galveston Bay to the Brazos River, and later plans were for the rail to go from San Luis Island instead of Galveston Bay.[26] She was the largest shareholder of the first railroad company in Texas. Perry was at the helm of the development and planning of San Luis.

Perry not only owned the league of land which contained Dollar Point, she also managed the development of the town of Austinia, located within that league.[25] Austinia is known in the present day as Texas City.

Perry loaned money to Gail Borden (as in the founder/pioneer of Borden Milk Products) to buy his first herd of cows.

Support of religion

Perry played a key role in founding the first Episcopal Church in Texas. In 1848, she donated to a visitor to Peach Point, Episcopal Bishop George Washington Freeman of Arkansas, in order to help launch the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. In addition, she paid to underwrite Leonidas Polk's trip to Texas from Louisiana. Polk was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and later served as a General in the American Civil War, ultimately having Fort Polk named in his honor. Perry also donated the land on which the Union Church Building was originally built; this one structure served as a prayer center for Methodists, the Episcopalians, and the Presbyterians.[27]

Support of education

Perry paid Thomas J. Pilgrim to teach her children;[28] Pilgrim started the all-boys school, Austin Academy,[29] in 1829, which was the first school in Texas. Austin Academy had about 40 students.[29]

Perry deeded 1500acres of land for the support and founding of Austin College. In addition, she directed monies owed by the State of Texas to the Austin estate to Austin College. Perry agreed to support her family friend and Austin College Founder Reverend Daniel Baker (who had been Pastor of the Washington, DC Presbyterian church attended by Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams); she supported Baker in his pursuit of expanding religious foundations and education in Texas.

Geographic names

Perry's children and their progeny also played important roles in Texas history and the development of the State.[30] The surnames of Emily's first husband, James Bryan, and her second husband, James Perry, are each geographic names in Texas. For example, Bryan, Texas is the location of Texas A&M University; Perry's Landing[31] [32] [33] is located in Brazoria County.

James and Emily Perry Papers

Professor of History, Light Townsend Cummins, of Austin College, the official Historian of the State of Texas at the time of this writing, points out that despite her important participation in and contributions to Texas history, there is no collection of letters archived under Emily's name; rather, the collection archived in the 1930s was titled for her husband and son, "the James F. and Stephen S. Perry Papers." Cummins, who has reviewed the papers housed at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, notes that this collection includes "as much of Emily's letters, documents, and papers as those of her husband and son." Cummins points out that the archive was named in the 1930s, and were they named under archiving standards in 2009, they would very likely instead have been called, "The James and Emily Austin Perry Papers."

Death

Perry is buried at Gulf Prairie Cemetery at the site of the present day historical marker in her honor,[34] and beside her brother, Stephen F. Austin.[35] (Stephen F. Austin's remains were moved to Austin, Texas in 1910).[36] An obituary at the time reflects that "Funeral services wereperformed by the Rev. Mr. Phillips, of the Methodist Episcopal church."[35]

Historical marker

In 1986, as part of the Texas Sesquicentennial, an historical marker was commissioned in recognition of Perry's contribution to Texas history.[37]

Austin-Bryan-Perry family reunion

Each year, descendants of the Austin, Bryan, and Perry families from across the country gather in Jones Creek for reunion in celebration of Perry's life and her birthday.[5] The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Volume 1, states that on her birthday more than 200 met to "rise up and call her blessed",[4] (applying to Perry the language from the poem, Eishes Chayil (אשת חיל), "A Woman of Valor",[38] with which King Solomon concludes the Book of Proverbs). Stephen F. Austin, himself, had no children.

Name variations

Perry is recorded in history by a variety of names which encompass her maiden name, her first marriage name, her second marriage name, a middle initial, and her mother's maiden name. These include:

In addition to the above, there are still other references to Emily by just her first name, as well as references without use of her given, marital or personal name, i.e. "and wife" or "his wife," "Miss", "Mrs." and "Ms." all of which are not here provided.

Penmanship style

Perry had a unique penmanship style. Her penmanship style from letters and writings were reduced to a single typeset font for word processing purposes. The Emily Austin font has been used in actual published literature.[93]

Past family

Perry and her brother, Stephen F. Austin, themselves descended from several noteworthy people including: Moses Austin (father—biography published by Trinity University Press),[94] Abia Brown (grandfather), Joseph Sharp (great grandfather), Isaac Sharp (great, great grandfather), Anthony Sharp (great, great, great grandfather—biography published by Stanford University Press).[95] Accordingly, history records noteworthy social contribution in each generation of Perry's family dating back to the early 17th century.

Some additional background, Perry's father, Moses was the son of Elias Austin & Eunice Phelps; Elias was the son of Richard Austin & Dorothy Adams; Richard was the son of Anthony Austin & Esther Huggins, Jacob Adams & Anna Allen; Richard Austin & Elizabeth Betsy Austin (born 1610),[96] John Huggins & Bridget Green (gave birth to Esther Huggins),[96] Robert Adams & Eleanor ___, Nicholas Allen & Martha Allen (gave birth to Anna Allen).[22]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Austin College film makers . 5 May 2009 . 22 February 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110711163441/http://www.heralddemocrat.com/hd/AC-film-makers-present-work-on-Emily-Austin . 11 July 2011.
  2. Web site: Austin College Magazine . 2010-02-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719141806/http://magazine.austincollege.edu/sep08/emilyaustin.htm . 2011-07-19 . dead .
  3. "The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley", Ohio archaeological and historical quarterly, Volume 25, By Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, p. 3
  4. Daughters of Republic of Texas, Volume 1 By Turner Publishing Company, p. 218
  5. Web site: Perry, Emily Margaret Austin. Handbook of Texas Online. 11 February 2010.
  6. The colonizer: a sage of Stephen F. Austin By Milton Cook Tracy, Richard Havelock-Bailie, p. 255
  7. Web site: Austin College Magazine. McCoy. Dara. Sep 2008. A Frontier Woman for Modern Times. 11 February 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719141806/http://magazine.austincollege.edu/sep08/emilyaustin.htm. 19 July 2011. dead.
  8. Foley, William E., The Genesis of Missouri: From Wilderness Outpost to Statehood, p. 90
  9. Web site: Mine Au Breton Historical Society . washington.mogenweb.org . May 19, 2010.
  10. Web site: Perry, Emily Margaret Brown Austin Bryan . Texas Settlement Region . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081205042436/http://tsr.4101.org/markers/brazoria/78.html . 2008-12-05.
  11. Web site: Stephen Samuel Perry. 28 February 2010. Brazoria County Historical Museum. https://web.archive.org/web/20010225210720/http://www.bchm.org/Gene/d0002/g0010030.html#I547. 25 February 2001. dead.
  12. Web site: Emily Rossana Perry. 28 February 2010. Brazoria County Historical Museum. https://web.archive.org/web/20110308212030/http://www.bchm.org/Gene/d0001/g0009970.html#I548. 8 March 2011. dead.
  13. Web site: Eliza Margaret Perry. 28 February 2010. Brazoria County Historical Museum. https://web.archive.org/web/20110308212022/http://www.bchm.org/Gene/d0001/g0009965.html#I549. 8 March 2011. dead.
  14. Web site: James Elijah Brown Perry. 28 February 2010. Brazoria County Historical Museum. https://web.archive.org/web/20110308212042/http://www.bchm.org/Gene/d0001/g0009984.html#I550. 8 March 2011. dead.
  15. Web site: Henry Austin Perry. 28 February 2010. Brazoria County Historical Museum. https://web.archive.org/web/20110308212037/http://www.bchm.org/Gene/d0001/g0009976.html#I551. 8 March 2011. dead.
  16. Web site: Cecilia Perry. 28 February 2010. Brazoria County Historical Museum. https://web.archive.org/web/20110308212109/http://www.bchm.org/Gene/d0001/g0009955.html#I552. 8 March 2011. dead.
  17. Book: Cummins , Light Townsend . Emily Austin of Texas, 1795–1851. 2009. TCU Press. 978-0-87565-351-8.
  18. Web site: Biographies . 2010-02-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716143933/http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/Herzstein_Library/Veteran_Biographies/San_Jacinto_Bios/biographies/default.asp?action=bio&id=2948 . 2011-07-16 . dead .
  19. Web site: TSHA | Chocolate Bayou, TX.
  20. The Trip to Texas p. 248 http://www.ohiohistory.org/onlinedoc/hayes/chapteriv.html
  21. The Trip to Texas, January 1, 1849, (p. 255) http://www.ohiohistory.org/onlinedoc/hayes/chapteriv.html .
  22. Web site: NEHGS - Articles . 2010-03-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081013082234/http://www.newenglandancestors.org/research/services/articles_4362.asp . 2008-10-13 . dead .
  23. Cantrell, Gregg (2001), Stephen F. Austin: Empresario of Texas, p. 381, Yale University Press,
  24. Web site: WOW Museum: Western Women's Suffrage - Texas . 2010-03-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100713213448/http://theautry.org/explore/exhibits/suffrage/minnie_full.html . 2010-07-13 . dead .
  25. Web site: TSHA | Austinia, TX.
  26. "Railroad Enterprise in Texas, 1836–1841," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 47 (April 1944).
  27. Web site: First United Methodist Church of Brazoria. www.brazoriafumc.org.
  28. Web site: Guy Morrison Bryan [401].
  29. Web site: Residents-Gonzales Town-Surnames O-Z 2 . 2010-02-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100729095322/http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/innerresidents3o-z2.htm . 2010-07-29 . dead .
  30. Web site: TSR: Historical Markers Guide: Brazoria County: Perry, Emily Margaret Brown Austin Bryan . 2010-02-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081205042436/http://tsr.4101.org/markers/brazoria/78.html . 2008-12-05 .
  31. Web site: TSHA | Perry Landing, TX.
  32. Web site: Perry Landing Populated Place Profile / Brazoria County, Texas Data. texas.hometownlocator.com.
  33. Web site: A Guide to the James F. and Stephen S. Perry papers, 1785-1942. James F. and Stephen S.. Perry. lib.utexas.edu.
  34. Web site: Texas State Historical Marker for Emily Margaret Brown Austin Bryan Perry, Gulf Prairie cemetery, Jones Creek; December 1988 . 2010-02-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607234044/http://www.bchm.org/Photos/p2327.html . 2011-06-07 .
  35. The Weekly News, Sept. 2, 1851, Galveston http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/brazoria/obits/perry-emily.txt Retrieved on March 1, 2010
  36. Web site: Brazosport Area Chamber of Commerce . 2010-02-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100409100735/http://www.brazosport.org/index.asp?pg=bpis . 2010-04-09 . dead .
  37. Web site: This domain was registered by Youdot.io.
  38. [Proverbs 31:28]
  39. Book: 978-0875653518. Emily Austin of Texas, 1795-1851. Cummins. Light Townsend. 2009. TCU Press .
  40. Web site: Austin College Historian and Student Film Maker Premiere New Book and Documentary Film about Stephen F. Austin's Sister . 2010-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090507172653/http://www.kxii.com/community/headlines/44324287.html . 2009-05-07 . dead .
  41. http://supreme.justia.com/us/113/179/ Bryan v. Kennett, 113 U.S. 179 (1885)
  42. Web site: BRAZORIA County Texas.
  43. Web site: Map of oil and gas properties available for leasing - Donner Properties.
  44. Burlage, John and Hollingsworth, John Brian. (1859) Abstract of valid land claims: compiled from the records of the General Land Office, Court of Claims,, Printed by John Marshall and Company at the State Gazette Office, Austin, Texas, p. 649.
  45. Web site: Ancestor Surnames: A . Daughters of the Republic of Texas . 10 February 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100118202826/http://www.drt-inc.org/ancestors/anc-a.htm . January 18, 2010 .
  46. Web site: I539: Emily Margaret Austin (22 Jun 1795 - 25 Aug 1851) . 2010-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110307232700/http://www.bchm.org/Gene/d0000/g0000615.html . 2011-03-07 . dead .
  47. Tracy, Milton Cook and Havelock-Braile, Milton, The Colonizer: a Sage of Stephen F. Austin, 1941, p. 254
  48. Web site: San Jacinto Museum of History - Finding Aids | Refine your search to more easily find your materials.
  49. Web site: TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions.
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  52. Web site: 2002.009p.0001 Print, Photographic . 2010-03-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607234522/http://www.bchm.org/holdings/collections/collectiononline/exhibit2/e25213a.htm . 2011-06-07 . dead .
  53. Lost Plantations of the South, Marc Matrana, p.246)
  54. Web site: Cemetery . 2010-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726135012/http://www.gulf-prairie.org/Cemetery.htm . 2011-07-26 . dead .
  55. The Filson Club History Quarterly, Volume 30, (1956) Page 323.
  56. Web site: Peachpoint . 2010-03-03.
  57. Tomerlin, Jacqueline Beretta, (1981), Fugitive letters, 1829–1836: Stephen F. Austin to David G. Burnet,Trinity University Press (San Antonio, Texas) p. 62
  58. Web site: TSHA | Bryan, Moses Austin.
  59. Web site: San Jacinto Museum of History - Finding Aids | Refine your search to more easily find your materials.
  60. Web site: Perry Cemetery . 2010-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100408010405/http://carrollscorner.net/SitesWashCo_PerryCemetery.htm . 2010-04-08 . dead .
  61. The County Jails of Texas, Edward J. Blackburn, 2006 p. 44.
  62. Haley, James L. (2002) Stephen F. Austin and the Founding of Texas, p. 36,
  63. Texas cattle brands: a catalog of the Texas centennial exposition exhibit, 1936 By Dallas. Texas centennial central exposition, 1936, Gus L. Ford, p. 7
  64. Gregory S., Jack and Strickland, Rennard, Sam Houston with the Cherokees: 1829–1833, 1995, University of Oklahoma Press, p.5
  65. Web site: Gulf Prairie Cemetery . 2010-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081204182510/http://sanbernardriver.com/2008/20080520.htm . 2008-12-04 . dead .
  66. Web site: Area Museums and Landmarks . 2010-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120304004115/http://www.gulf-prairie.org/Areamuseums.htm . 2012-03-04 . dead .
  67. Wilhelm, Stephen R., Cavalcade of Hooves and Horns, (1958), p. 29
  68. Endorsement of the Letter from Emily Margaret Perry, Peach Point, to Mr. James F. Perry, Care of Miller & Sumerville, St. Fillip De Austin, May 26, 1835. (sic)
  69. The Austin Papers, (1928) Volume II, p. 217
  70. Letter from Emily Margaret Perry, located in Peach Point, to Mr. James F. Perry, Care of Miller & Sumerville, St. Fillip De Austin, May 26, 1835. (sic)
  71. Cantrell, Gregg (2001), Stephen F. Austin: Empresario of Texas, p. 398, Yale University Press,
  72. Gregory, Jack and Strickland, Rennard, Sam Houston with the Cherokees: 1829–1833, 1995, University of Oklahoma Press, p. 5 footnote 11 refers to letter from Emily Drennen to Emily Perry, 1829 which was referenced in Friend, Llerena B., Sam Houston: The Great Designer, p.22
  73. Web site: Site of Austinia - Texas Historical Markers on Waymarking.com. www.waymarking.com.
  74. Web site: 2002.009p.0003 Print, Photographic image . 2010-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607234552/http://www.bchm.org/holdings/collections/collectiononline/exhibit2/e25215b.htm . 2011-06-07 . dead .
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  77. Web site: Correspondence Concerning Slavery in Texas . 2010-03-03 . 2010-07-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100703152656/http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/slaveryletters.htm#austinemily . dead .
  78. Web site: TSHA | Bryan, William Joel.
  79. Web site: Oath sworn by Guy M. Bryan, Moses Austin Perry, when recording the last will and testament of Emily M. Perry . 2010-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607234607/http://www.bchm.org/Documents/d3775.html . 2011-06-07 . dead .
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  81. Texas: a guide to the Lone Star State By Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Texas, (1969) pp. 570 and 707
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  91. Web site: Portrait of Emily Margaret Austin Bryan Perry, sister of Stephen F. Austin . 2010-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607234448/http://www.bchm.org/Photos/p1368.html . 2011-06-07 . dead .
  92. Web site: Historical Marker for Emily Margaret Brown Austin Bryan Perry in Gulf Prairie cemetery at Peach Point . 2010-03-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607234529/http://www.bchm.org/Photos/p4235.html . 2011-06-07 . dead .
  93. McCourt, Richard M. and Spame, Earle E., (2004) Jefferson's Botanists: Lewis and Clark Discover the Plants of the West, Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, p. 25
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