Samuel and Mary Ann Perry
Information comes from research done by Margaret S Hartman and is on file at the Campbell County Historical Society
Samuel Perry was born in Virginia and he and his brother
David Perry came
into Campbell County in the early 1790s to settle his 1000 acres of land on Treasury Warrant No. 5174, known by
a survey bearing date the 3rd day of June 1785 "lying in the County of Campbell
on the Ohio River opposite the mouth of the Little Miami on the lower side."
This land was granted to Samuel by patent dated the 6th September 1787 signed by Beverly Randolph, Lt.-Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Samuel and Mary were married in Virginia about 1778 and were in Campbell County by 1795 showing up on the first tax list taken in July 1795, with the 1000 acres near the Ohio, 3 horses and 8 cattle.
Children of Samuel Perry and Mary Ann
1. John Perry-born about 1780 in Virginia m-Maria
2. William Perry-born about 1783 in Virginia
3. David Perry-born about 1785 in Virginia m-Susan Baxter 8 Sep 1816
4. Samuel Perry Jr. born about 1788 in Virginia m-Eliza d-Switzerland Co. Indiana
5. Robert Perry-born about 1790 in Virginia moved to St. Martin Louisiana
6. Margaret "Peggy" Perry-born about 1792 in Virginia m-James Walton 13 Jan 1814
7. Ann Perry-born about 1794 in Virginia m-William C Baxter 8 Sep 1816 (no children)
died by 1825
By November 1795 though, Samuel had died for there is a record at this time. "Jacob Barrickman, Nathan Kelly and Jacob Mills being first sworn to view and mark out the nearest and best way from Newport to the Widow Perry's on the Ohio." The widow Mary Perry, was granted a license on April 4, 1796 for "her to keep a ferry from the lands of her late husband on the Ohio to the opposite shore." It is believed she was the first woman to obtain such a license in Northern Kentucky.
The requirements for holders of ferries was established that the boats were to be not less than thirty-six feet long by nine feet wide and the ferry operator had to furnish two boats; one boat was for stock, loaded wagons or other four wheel carriages and their teams, empty wagons, buggies and two-horse wagon carts, and the other boat for foot passengers. In this manner, Widow Perry supported herself and her family of seven children; two daughters and five sons.
On December 23, 1801 she married Captain Rees Gaddis. It was on September 3, 1816 that the 1000 acres was divided up among the heirs and an Article of Agreement was entered into by the legal representatives of Samuel Perry.
Mary Ann Perry Gaddis died 16 Dec 1836.