Use the drop-down menu to access detailed geneologies of the Perry and Angus families.
The Perry Family
For the past 250 years the Perry family has lived, worked and died in a small area to the south west of Luton, Bedforshire, England. The small villages of Caddington, Slip End, Woodside, Pepperstock and Pepsal End have been and were the focos of their activities. Each of these villages has always been surrounded by agricultural land which was the source of work for each generation. The Perry males of the 18th and 19th century were farm labourers although James Perry in his later life worked as an assistant gardener. He and his family lived in Gibraltar Cottages which were part of the Luton Hoo Estate. It's almost certain, although not proven, that he worked in some capacity on the Estate.
The birth of Willam Perry in 1869 saw the gradual emergence of middle class occupations within the family which has continued to this day. Also from this time the geographical dispersion of the family began and literacy became universal. These trends were reflections of changes taking place in society generally.
The family chart includes 294 individuals with the average age at marriage being 26 years, death being 68 years and birth of the first child being 30 years with the average number of children being three.
The Angus Family
Family legend has it that James Angus (born 1840 in Aberdeen, Scotland to George Angus [born 1811] and Jessie Shand [born 1810] jumped ship (the “Hero” of Aberdeen mastered by Captain James Bowman) in Melbourne, Australia. The Hero arrived in Melbourne, November 1856; James was aged 15. There is some family story that James then went to the gold fields. After marriage to Ellen they lived at Steiglitz growing vegetables for gold miners and later moved to Connawaara to grow vegetables. James ended up living at Connawaara (Connewarre) near Geelong. When Jess’s dad, John Angus, was about four years old, the family set off for East Gippsland in horse and dray to settle land at Reedy Flat. At first attempt stopped by sand hills near Bairnsdale. Another attempt next year was successful. Ellen and younger children stayed behind in Bairnsdale for about six months while a dwelling was built at Marivale. Three blocks were balloted for, the one where the house was built was in James’s name and two more in the names of George and Mary. Selected in 1882 and brought family there in 1887/8. the road from Ensay to Reedy Flat was originally along Reedy Creek and was part of Ensay Station. There was a boundary rider’s hut on a little reedy flat on this creek, so Reedy Flat was named.
The “Hero” registered 12/3/1845;1 1/2 poop decks;3 masts;man figurehead;length 116’xbreadth 24.5’xdepth 6’;gross tonnage 288 tons;ship builder William Duthie;wood construction;sailing barque