Family Notes - June 2014
This is a sample of the information provided to members of the P*rr*tt Society in the most recent edition of Family Notes. Family Notes is a 56-page printed magazine that is distributed to society members every quarter.
Captain Richard Edgecumbe Perrett, MC
I am indebted to Ruth Draycott (945) for the information on which this article is based. She writes, ”I came across the enclosed item from a World War 1 medal auction. Details of Richard’s brother Henry Perrett (Private, 97295) and his second cousin Frank William Henry Perrett (Private, 253866) appeared in the excellent ‘Lest we forget’ section of ‘Family Notes’. Ruth’s husband, Anthony Draycott, is related to each of these 3 soldiers; the relationship can be seen on the family tree diagram opposite.
The medal sale catalogue dated 2008 tells us a lot about Captain Perrett, and I quote: ‘A Great War ‘Western Front’ MC group of 4 medals awarded to Captain R.E.Perrett, 1/20th Battalion, London Regiment, formerly 16th (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment, who was wounded and taken prisoner of war during the German Spring Offensive of March 1918.‘ The value of these medals was estimated at between £800 and £1,000 and in the event sold for £1,000.
The catalogue gives details of the life and service of Captain Perrett, telling us that he was born in May 1890 and educated at Westminster City School. During the Great War he served first in the ranks of the 16th London Regiment before being commissioned in the 20th London Regiment on 20 December 1915. He was wounded (gunshot wound, left leg) and taken prisoner of war on 24 March 1918, before being repatriated on 20 January 1919. Whilst a prisoner of war his broken femur was reset on 5 occasions and a spike fitted through his knee. This caused infection resulting in the amputation of the leg. He died on 30 January 1980 in Dallington, East Sussex.
The following statement with regards to his wounding and capture was given by Perrett whilst convalescing at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Marylebone, London on 1 April 1919. ‘The battalion were holding a line of trenches in front of Rocquigny near Ypers (Cambrai area). Our right company and the 1/19th Battalion, London Regiment (on our right) were more heavily engaged than the remainder of the battalion and were subseqently broken. The enemy then got into some houses on our right and in rear bringing heavy enfilade fire on our position. The battalion on our left then retired. Orders were given for our battalion to retire to the left and I followed after the companies had passed with HQ, but only got a short distance when I was wounded and fell. There were no other officers captured with me.’
It's in the Papers...
Police Gazette, Wellington, Wednesday, Aug 11
1880.
Missing Friends
Information is requested respecting the whereabouts of Nathan Perrott, a carpenter, about twenty four years of age, about 5 feet 4 inches high, dark complexion, black curly hair. He left Plymouth about September, 1878, by the ship "Northern Monarch" for this colony, and before leaving England resided in Queen Street, Torquay. He was in Timaru, but left there in May, 1879, for Wellington, where he left soon after for the Wairarapa district. Inquiry is made for him at the instance of his brother-in-law, E. H. Green, 5, Malvern Place, Whitton Road, Hounslow, England.
The New Castle News, Pennsylvania 12 June 1895
FATALLY INJURED
Mrs. Michael Parrott run over by a Pittsburg and Western Virginia Locomotive near South Mill crossing. Mrs. Michael Parrott of the Fifth Ward was run over by a Pittsburg and Western Railroad locomotive Thursday morning. The accident occurred near the South Mill Street crossing and the locomotive was drawing the train arriving here from the West at 11.35 city time. Engineer Joseph Johnston who was in charge of the locomotive tells the story of the accident as follows:
“I noticed a woman standing beside the track as I crossed Mill Street. She was far enough away to be out of danger. A little boy was digging in the ground beside her and she carried a babe in her arms. The train was not running at more than 8 to 10 miles an hour. When we came within about 20 yards of her she moved towards the track with her back to the locomotive. I whistled sharply and reversed the locomotive as she stepped onto the track. The pilot (wheel) struck her and threw her partially off the track. She fell over the rail and the wheels passed over her legs, severing both. We stopped before the (driving wheels) touched her. The baby fell into the soft dirt beside the track and was laughing when picked up.“
The woman was taken immediately to hospital. The wheels had passed over her legs above the knees and she was sinking rapidly when the surgeons reached her. They say that nothing can save the woman and at half past 2 she was dying.
Manchester Evening News, 8 December 1890
HORSE THEFT AT STOCKPORT
James Haley, of respectable appearance, was indicted at Chester Assizes today for conspiring with Percy Foster to steal a horse from Robert Porritt, a Derbyshire farmer, at Stockport Fair by a clever scheme. The pair induced Porritt to sell his horse for £36, to be paid after a week’s trial and while they were taking the animal to the station, Foster rode it off and the horse was never seen again. He was found guilty and sentenced to 9 month’s imprisonment.
The OAKLAND TIMES,
Oakland California 23 August 1914
If you are out of work, write for our latest proposition. We want men in your section who can earn $3 a day. Perret Speciality Supply Company, Elsinore, California.
Manchester Courier 1 November 1887
THE AFFAIRS OF Messrs. PORRITT BROTHERS, BRADFORD
Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the creditors of Messrs. Porritt Brothers, Well Street, Bradford, was held in the offices of Messrs. Killick, Hutton and Vint, solicitors, Piece Hallyard, Bradford. The liabilities were stated to be £48,000 and the assets £29,000. (That’s about £2,874,720 and £1,736,810 in modern money ...Ed) An offer of 10 shillings in the pound was made by the debtors, but it was decided to appoint a committee to investigate the affairs of the firm and report thereon before any offer was accepted and the meeting was consequently adjourned til Friday night.
A
P*RR*TT PHOTO GALLERY
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This lady is Emma (Burden) Perrett, born 1860, who gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Kate Adelaide Burden in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset in 1879. Emma married Samuel Perrett (1847-1934) in Tollard Royal and Kate adopted the surname Perrett. In 1901 the family lived at Odstock, near Salisbury, Wiltshire. Emma and Samuel were great grandparents of member 996. |
| This distinguished looking gentleman is William Thompson Parrott, born 1812 Orange County, Virginia USA, died 1908 in Albermarle County. He was the son of Charles Hughlett Parrott and Sarah Brown. |  |
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John, Dan, Minnie and Conrad Perret photographed
(above) in about 1917 and Conrad, grand-daughter Ruth Maier and Minnie
in about 1933 (right). They lived all their lives in Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania where Conrad worked as a milk dealer (1900).
Conrad’s father Daniel, (1841-1902), a farmer, came from Bavaria, Germany in 1864 and married Maria Elisabetha Hussong in Pennsylania in 1868. She, too, originally came from Bavaria. Finding P*RR*TTS from Germany is a relatively rare occurrence and to the best of my knowledge no one in the P*RR*TT Society has German ancestry - or am I wrong? The car in this photo was presumably driven intentionally into the field (why, I wonder?) but it would be worth a small fortune now …. |
