John Peryam1

M, b. circa 1507, d. before 23 November 1573
FatherWilliam Peryam b. c 1483
MotherMiss _____ Blackalller b. c 1490
     John was born circa 1507 in Exeter, Devonshire, England.2 John married Margaret Hone, daughter of Robert Hone and Johane (?), in 1532 in Hackney, County Middlesex, England.3,4,2 In 1541 and again in 1552, he served as Bailiff for Exeter. Then in 1553, he served as sherriff. During the reign of Queen Mary, John fled to Antwerp to escape the assassinations of protestant leaders. Here, he took the position of Governor of English Merchants . He returned to England after the Queen's death, 17 November 1558. He and his father were amongst the Exeter merchants who refused to join the catholic rebels who had laid seige to the city in 1549. In 1563 and in 1672 he was chosen mayor of Exeter.5,6 John made his will on 1 November 1572 at Exeter, Devonshire, England.

Peryam, John of the City & Co. of Exeter, Merchant, whole of body.
Will dated 1 November 1572.
Proved 23 November 1573 by John Peryam
To my eldest son William Peryam my manor of pancraswekeals Wekepancras & my lands etc in Pancrasweke, Pewoorthie, Awtery St. Mary, & Pinhoo, & to his heirs in fee for ever.
To my youngest son John Peryam my mansion house which I now dwell in my lands etc. in Exeter, Mourton Hamsted, Estingmouth, Westingmouth, Dawlish & Dunsfords which is commonly called Halston, & to his heirs in fee simple for ever: also my lands in Overbarly & upon Alfington Cawsey & to his heirs in fee simple for ever, which I bought of late of the heir of the Kirkhams; also £1000.
To my eldesr son William Peryam £1400 on the condition he fulfills my will as he is bound to do by bond dated 16 September 4 & 1 Q. Mary & K. Philip in a sum of £1000: also to him & his wife, for black gowns.
To my eldest daughter Grace & Richard Sellwood her husband.
To my second daughter Margery & John Swete her husband.
To my third daughter Marie & Robert Lawsemore her husband.
To my fourth daughter Thomazin, unmarried, £200 etc.
To my sister Ellinor Horsey & her two daughters Marie & Elinor.
To Jasper Horsey to fynde him at one or the Universities £30.
To the poor of Exeter.
If the right heirs of William Cozen decd. Late of Exeterdo seek relief of John Peryam my second son & make further assurances of the lands etc purchased by me of the said William Cozen, he to give them £20 or £30.
My son John Peryam to be my executor. Chief debts: - In account between Mr. John Blackaller & me there resteth to Buckingham’s executors. By [. . . . . ] Blackaller’s ? direction at most £5, perhaps less.

To the heirs of John Duck’s wife being married to Bodleigh of Kirton 7s.
Be it known unto all men that Thomasine Periman my youngest daughter in the presence of Henry Paramour, John Tucker merchant & Richard Dorcester has promised to accept her legacy in lieu of any share due to her by the force of customs of P’tage used within this city of Exeter.
Witnesses: Thomas Raymond, Peter Harris, Henry Parramore, Johnn Aplyn & Nicolas Robyson.
Codicil: 14 May 1573
To my son John Peryam & his heirs for ever two closes of land in Overbarley & one little close upon Alfenton Cawsey which I bought of George Kirkeham in January last: also £800 in leiu of £1000.
To my daughter Thomazine Peryam £300 to her marriage in lieu of previous legacy.
Jasper Horsey only to have his legacy if he stand bound to be at one of the Universities there to study Divinity & so to be of the ministry.

This I wrote 22 May 1573. Forasmuch as Japsoer Horsey went from the house on Whitsunday morning very ungratefully & uncourteously not saying farewell to me or to any of all the household, Whereas he had been sufficiently brought up as O take it V or VI years, I having in rememberance this his ungratefulness give him only 40s. with his apparel & his books & nothing ells, so god blesses him.7

He wrote a codicil to his will on 14 May 1573. John departed this life before 23 November 1573 in Exeter, Devonshire, England. His will was probated on 23 November 1573.

Family

Margaret Hone b. c 1512
Children

Citations

  1. [S506] Note: John Periam, Sr. was a zealous Protestant and assisted Lord Russell during the Catholic Rebellion of 1549. He was Sheriff of Exeter, Devon, in 1553. As a consequence of his Protestant activities, he spent five years abroad during the reign of Queen Mary (1553-1558) as a governor of English merchants at Antwerp. On returning to England he settled at Gutton, Shobrooke, Devon, a village near Exeter where he lived out his remaining years as a country gentleman. He was the Mayor of Exeter in 1563 and 1572. His will dated 1 November 1572 and proved 23 November 1573 (PCC 37 Peter) by his son John Peryam, Jr., makes a bequest "to my second daughter Margery & John Swete her husband." [Westcountry Studies Library. Research by Stephen Coombes of Chudleigh, Devon, 2002] - Courtesy of Ben Swett.
  2. [S1660] J. L. Vivian, The visitations of the county of Devon: Comprising the herald's visitations of 1531, 1564, & 1620, page 603.
  3. [S1650] Sir William Pole, Collections towards a Description of Devon, page 149 - Robert Hone, a man of good estate, dwelled in this towne, & had Fayre possessions in the same, which he left unto twoe of his daughters, Elizabeth, married to John Periam of Exeter, & Mary, wief of Jeffrey Upton, of Welles. Sir William Peryam, Knt, Chief Baron of the Exchecquer, & George Upton, Esq. sonnes of Elizabeth & Mary, have sold that land unto Sir George Smyth. . .
  4. [S1651] Thomas Westcote, A View of Devonshire in MDCXXX, with a pedigree of most of its Gentry, page 538 - Robert Hone married and had issue Eleanor [married to William Horsey]; Margaret [to John Periam of Exeter]; Alice [to Harton of Barnstaple]; Elizabeth [to Wiilliam Chaplain of Ottery St. Mary]; Joan [to John Bodlegh of Exeter]; Mary [to Jeffry Upton, of Wells, Somerset].
  5. [S1665] Alexander Jenkins, The history and description of the city of Exeter, and its environs, pages 105-106. - Mayor and Bailiffs of Exeter during the reign of Henry VIII.

    1541 - John Peryam - Bailiff
    1547 - John Blackall - Bailiff

    page 121
    1552 - John Periam - Bailiff
    page 130
    1563 - John Peryam - Mayor
    1563 - George Peryam Bailiff
    page 131
    1572 - John Peryam - Mayor ob.
  6. [S1670] Exeter Memories: Sherriffs of Exeter - 1553: John Peryam - A position that derives from the ancient Anglo-Saxon Shire Reeve who was responsible for keeping the peace for the King and is a much older office than that of Mayor. The Sheriff was appointed to a county for the purpose of preventing a breach of the peace, suppress unlawful assembly, affray and riot which occurs in their presence. From Edward II, a sheriff became the Conservator of the Peace. Exeter acquired the right to have a Sheriff after Henry VIII granted the City, County status to become The City and County of the City of Exeter, in 1537. In 1550 an Act of Parliament regularised the boundaries and St David's and St Sidwell's were included in the city. County status was held until local government reorganisation in 1974. In total, Exeter had 436 Sheriffs between 1537 and 1973. - http://www.exetermemories.co.uk/em/sheriffs.php
  7. [S1661] COLLECTION OF WILLS, ABT. 1600-1800, by OSWYN MURRAY, John Periam of Exeter- 1573.