Perry, Mrs

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1904

Area: Somerset - Langport & Huish Episcopi

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Mrs Perry (1829-1910): her only song 'Lord Rendal' (FT350) was collected on 23/8/1904 and was then published in Folk Songs from Somerset vol1. The singer was very probably Mrs Jane Perry (née Fowler) born at Curry Rivel c1829, daughter of Stephen Fowler, labourer. She married James Perry, labourer at Kingstone church nr Dowlish Wake 28 Jan 1850.

In 1871 the couple were down at Branscombe in Devon - James was a shepherd, Jane with 2 teenage daughters. In 1881 in Drayton nr Langport her daughters were shirtmakers. In 1891 in Curry Rivel, James was 62, a cattle drover and Jane was a 'nurse'. Their daughter Mary Ann (baptised June 1858 Drayton) bore several illegitimate children but they all lived together as a big family. In 1901 census the Perry family was living in Bow St, Langport Eastover (south side). Sharp clearly wrote 'Mrs Perry', so we can rule out the unmarried Mary Ann. Jane Perry was buried at All Saints Langport on 8/1/1910 aged 81.