Holbrook line: John Perrin, Immigrant

John Perrin's origins are sketchy, but intriguing.  Family stories say that he was of French Huguenot descent.  His parents (but possibly these are grandparents, based on the birth date of "father John Perryn") were John Perryn and Anne Brunneau.  His wife was Anne Hubert, daughter of Richard Hubert of France.  The dates here almost work to say these families had likely escaped the French persecution of the Huguenots(Protestants) by fleeing to England.  It's an exciting story, but one which seems to lack documentation at present.  '

The first thing we know about John is that he was in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1640.  Family experts dispute whether or not he came in the Safety in 1635, but he was in Braintree in 1640.  We don't know whether he had married Anne Hubert in England or whether they met on the ship or soon after arrival here.  We do know that their daughter Mary was born at Braintree February 22, 1640/1.  It's thought that she was the first born of their five known children, so that gives us an approximate marriage date of 1639, more or less. 

John must have been well thought of in Braintree because he was one of the first men chosen, or allowed, to settle in a new town, Rehoboth, Plymouth Colony, so close to what became Rhode Island that some of his land was actually located there.  He received several grants of land from the town, including home lot, woodland, fresh meadow, salt marsh, and new meadow.  At various times, he was surveyor of highways, constable, townsman, and juror, so I'm thinking he had freeman status. 

His estate was valued at 67 pounds in a 1643 settlement of town estates, but by the time of his death in 1674 his real estate was valued at 230 pounds and the total inventory at a little over 375 pounds.  John was apparently a hard worker and a thrifty man.  His will mentions his wife, two sons and two daughters.  The first of two "Mary's" born to the couple had probably died young. 

John died before King Philip's War, but the home he built in Rehoboth was apparently used as a garrison house during that conflict.  His son John lived there at the time it was needed.  A garrison house was generally built a little more stoutly than others in the vicinity, and usually had openings built into it that could be used to fire on any attackers.  It may also have had a cellar or other hiding place on the grounds.  I wonder if John built such a strong house with memories of the stories of his parents or grandparents and their trials in France in the back of his mind? 

I wish I had more to say about John.  Was he educated?  What church did he attend, if any?  Did he have a trade besides farming?  There are always more questions, no matter what we are able to learn of the lives of these ancestors!  Most of the material in this sketch came from Volume 96 of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, with bits and pieces found elsewhere.  And as always, some of it is speculation. 

The line of descent is:

John Perrin-Anne Hubert
John Perrin-Mary Polley
Samuel Perrin-Mehitable Child
John Perrin-Abigail Morris
Benjamin Perrin-Mary
Mary Perrin-David Fay
Luceba Fay-Libberus Stannard
Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants