The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
The Big One!
Family History Research Report
Peryer/Perrier Family
Introduction - Bower/Collier Family Tree
When I set out to study the Bower/Collier Family Tree, my initial aim was to identify my 8 Great Grandparents (Bower) and my wife Chris’ 8 Great Grandparents (Collier). Though I have tended to study the Family History of the 16 Great Grandparents, I have also sought to find out the additional 16 Great Great Grandparents’ family names, and any 3 x Great Grandparents along the way!
The names that I have identified to date are:
Bower/Brecht Family Tree
Bower/Brecht Family Tree
Great Grandparents
Bower
Jones
Hayes
Gardner
Brecht
Walland/Worland
Saunders
Seabourne(e)/Saban
2 x Great Grandparents
Pitts (Bower)
Counter (Jones)
Bradbrook (Hayes)
Tunstell/Tunstill (Gardner)
Somes/Piper (Brecht)
Hutley (Walland/Worland)
Neville (Saunders)
Holbrook (Seabourn(e)/Saban)
3 x Great Grandparents
Pinnion (Pitts)
Spence (Jones)
Mason (Hayes)
Robinson (Bradbrook)
Shocke (Brecht)
Reynolds (Walland/Worland)
Hunt (Piper)
Howard (Seabourn(e)/Saban)
4 x Great Grandparents
Bates (Pitts)
Smithers (Pinion)
March (Jones)
Venice (Robinson)
Juliane (Brecht)
Adamson (Neville)
Siggins (Walland/Worland)
5 x Great Grandparents
Cook/Cock (Jones)
Wyat (Robinson)
Jahns (Brecht)
Odell (Walland/Worland)
6 x Great Grandparents
Amears (Robinson)
7 x Great Grandparents
Amore/Mills (Robinson)
Collier/Hunt Family Tree
Great Grandparents
Collier
Gardiner
Peryer/Perrier
Smith
Hunt
Farrow/Pharoah
Marjoram
Ransome(e)
2 x Great Grandparents
Adams (Collier)
Goodchild (Gardiner)
Mitchell (Peryer/Perrier)
Nye (Smith)
Sheldrake (Hunt)
Smith (Farrow)
Rookyard (Marjoram)
Aldous or Alhous/Ollis (Ransome(e))
3 x Great Grandparents
Mason (Collier)
Ridett (Adams)
Sly (Nye)
Snelling (Peryer/Perrier)
Spall (Hunt)
Shepherd (Farrow)
Allen (Ransome(e))
More (Aldous/Aldis or Alhous/Ollis)
4 x Great Grandparents
Trigg (Peryer/Perrier)
My research has included a One-Name Study into the name Brecht, my mother’s maiden name.
Names Index
The additional surnames in this Report have been listed in the Names Index below.
Peryer/Perrier Family
Great Grandparent: James Peryer
- His Parents: Henry Peryer and Sarah Mitchell
- His Grandparents: James Peryer and Sarah (Snelling?)
Mini Family Tree (Direct Ancestors)
The family tree to date may be summarised:
Peryer/Perrier Family
(?) John Peryer b c 1732
married (?) 29.10.1753
(?) Sarah Trigg b c 1730
James Peryer b 1755 (?) bp 31.8.1755
married (?) 4.4.1782
(?) Sarah Snelling b c 1760
Henry Peryer bp 20.05.1798
Married 8.03.1828
Sarah Mitchell b c 1805
James Peryer bp 09.03.1836
d 18.04.1907 (Age 72)
married West Clandon 14.11.1869 (Age 33)
Martha Smith b c 1850/1
Mary Peryer/Perrier b 02.12.1869
d 10.02.1949 (Age 79)
married St Luke’s, Hackney 13.05.1894
Walter James Collier b 09.06.1862
d 10.2.1942
Leonard Stanley Collier b 30.11.1909 d 9.5.1988
Married 6.06.1936
Phyllis Marjoram Hunt b 6.06.1912 Died 1991
Christine Elizabeth Collier
Married 15.10.1966
Colin Bower
Summary of research undertaken to date
Good progress was made through parish records provided by a correspondent.
We have made enjoyable visits to Cranleigh, Ewhurst, West Clandon and Send and Ripley where the Family lived.
Chris' great grandfather, James Peryer, was one of the labourers working on Lord Onslow's estate at Clandon Park, West Clandon.
In particular, we enjoyed taking Chris' father Len Collier to find the Butt and Ben Cottages near Clandon Park, where he stayed with his grandmother:
Progress 2000
To promote the research into the Peryer/Perrier/Smith Family, I published an article in the journal of the West Surrey History Society, which generated some very useful information.
Progress 2004
We made an enjoyable visit with friends, who knew the area, to the Guildford area including Cranleigh, Send & Ripley and Ewhurst (where the Peryer/Perrier Family lived) and West Clandon where both families lived.
Progress 2005/7
-
Progress 2008
A correspondent made contact via Genes Reunited. She was a descendant of Matilda Peryer, James Peryer's sister; James Peryer being Chris' great grandfather.
Entries in the 1861, 1871 and 1891 Censuses were added
Progress 2009
Entries in the 1911 were added
Another correspondent via Genes Reunited claimed that Henry Peryer's grandparents were John Peryer born 1732 who married Sarah Trigg (born c 1730) on 29.10.1753 at Alford Surrey.
Clandon Park a National Trust property in West Clandon, Surrey put together a small exhibition which was part of a series that had been running through the year under the umbrella 'Clandon Uncovered'.
The exhibition in question revolved around an album that many West Clandon residents signed in 1889. This album was Christmas greetings (signatures, poems, prayers and sketches) and sent to the 4th Earl of Onslow who was governor of New Zealand from 1889 to 1892.
Clandon Park researched some of the signatories (including James& Martha Peryer) to see if there were any interesting stories as part of the exhibition. We duly provided some information but unfortunately Chris and I were unable to visit Clandon Park. Clandon Park were kind enough to send an image of the page on which the signatures appear:
Progress 2010
This report was written as part of the Big One! project.Progress 2011
A correspondent contacted me to advise me that her ancestor James Peryer was a brother of Chris' ancestor Henry Peryer:
James Peryer
bp 23.3.1783 St Peter & St Paul Church, Ewhurst
(parents James Peryer& Sarah Snelling married 4.4.1782 Ewhurst)
James married in Surrey:
Holy Trinity, Albury, Surrey
James Peryer married 26.4.1814
Leah Hill
but by 1840 the couple had moved to Sussex:
Thakeham, Sussex
Leah Peryer died Jan 1840
1841 Census
Wiltsshires, Pulborough, Sussex
James Peryer (57) Famer Born in County - No
Henry Peryer (18) Ag Lab Born in County - No
John Peryer (16) Born in County - No
Harriet Peryer (14) Born in County - No
George Peryer (11) Born in County - No
Mary Peryer (7) Born in County - Yes
Jane Peryer (7) Born in County - Yes
After Leah's death James remarried:
Pulboorough/Thakeham, Sussex
James Peryer married 17.4.1843
Elizabeth Large
Things we wish we knew
- Confirmation that John Peryer married Sarah Trigg (1753 Alford)and son James was born 1755 Alford.
- Confirmation that James Peryer married Sarah Snelling (1782 Abinger)and had son Henry.
- Where Sarah Mitchell was born - difficult to read town in 1851 Census
Also see Summary of Records Held (Completed & To Do)
Summary of Records Held - Peryer/Perrier Family
Research Undertaken
The detail of the following research has been listed as Appendices to this report:
Birth Marriage & Death Certificates Held (see Appendices below)
- Births: 1 (Mary Perrier)
- Marriages: 2 (James Peryer, Mary Peryer)
- Deaths:
Census Records Obtained (see Appendices below)
- 1841 Henry & Sarah Peryer & family
- 1851 Henry & Sarah Peryer & family
- 1861 Henry Perryer staying with the Stedman family
- James Peryer with sister Hannah (Peryer) Stemp
- 1871 Henry Perreyer staying with Stemp family
- 1881 James & Martha (Smith) Purryer & family
- 1891 James & Martha (Smith) Perryer & family
- 1901 James & Martha (Smith) Perrier & family
Albert & Harriet Perrier& family
- 1911 Martha (Smith) Peryer, Widow & Family
Albert & Harriet Perrier & Family
- 1939 Register
Other Research Undertaken
- IGI - sheets for Surrey held including entries for Ewhurst:
Wills
- Businesses - nil
- Correspondence - We received some very useful information from West Surrey including extracts from Parish Records
- Visits - We made a number of visits to West Surrey including Clandon Park, West Clandon where James Peryer worked. Chris' Dad Len Collier remembered going to stay with his grandmother Martha Peryer nearby at the Butt and Ben Cottages at West Clandon:
- Photographs - Clandon Park & West Clandon
Three Generations - Len Collier, Chris and our son Steve - outside the Butt and Ben Cottages, West Clandon
Misc Information/Documents including the location of Moonhall, Ewhurst
Summaries
The information above has been summarised in the following formats:
Where they were & what they did
The attached table summarises the name of my ancestors, where they lived and their occupations:
Peryer/Perrier Family - Where they were & what they did
Family Tree Maker Sheets
The family details of James Peryer, Henry Peryer and his son James Peryer/Perrier have been summarised in the attached Family Tree Maker sheets which I may enter in to the relationship database, Family Tree Maker:
Family Tree Maker Sheet - James Peryer
Names Index
The following surnames appear in this Report in addition to the names at the start of this Report.
Ansell
Baigent
Batchelor
Bocking
Burckot
Bruch
Case
Etherington
Farmer
Frekert
Gardner
Gigney
Gravat
Hiller
Jerrad or Jerrard
Jobert or Jabert
Liddell
Michael (or Mitchell)
Mitchener
Moore
Morris
Norman
Philpott
Pick
Pike
Pullin
Rogers
Rose
Selmers
Spooner
Stedmen
Stemp
Stone
Stratford
Strudwick
Tickner
Tidy
Woodyer
Worsfold
Colin Bower
24 March 2024
Appendices
Certificates Held
Notes:
1. The asterisk * denotes one of our direct ancestors
2. The symbol # denotes unrelated certificate, it appears!
Full name: William Stemp (of: Cranley )
Occupation: Laborer (Age: Full)
Father: George Stemp, Laborer
Married at: St Nicholas Church, Cranley (Date: 5/9/1857)
Spouse: Hannah Peryer (of: Cranley )
Occupation: Servant (Age: 21)
Father: Henry Peryer*
Relevant Witnesses:
Full name: James Peryer* (of: West Clandon)
Occupation: Labourer (Age: 33)
Father: Henry Peryer*, Labourer
Married at: Parish Church, West Clandon (Date: 14/11/1869)
Spouse: Martha Smith* (of: West Clandon)
Occupation: (Age: 20)
Father: Elisha Smith*, Labourer
Relevant Witnesses: John Smith, Mary Smith
Full name: Mary Peryer*
Born at: West Clandon (Date: 2/12/1869)
Father: James Peryer* (Occupation: Labourer)
Mother: Martha Peryer* (Maiden Name: Smith)
Full name: Walter James Collier* (of: 28 Anderson Road )
Occupation: Labourer (Age: 31)
Father: Charles Collier*, Ropemaker
Married at: St Luke's Church, Hackney (Date: 1/5/1894)
Spouse: Mary Perrier* (of: 41 Sedgwick Street )
Occupation: (Age: 24)
Father: James Perrier*, Labourer
Relevant Witnesses: James Perrier, Ellen Perrier
Census Entries Obtained
1841 Census
Ewhurst
Henry Peryer (age 40)*
Sarah Peryer (age 40)*
John Peryer (age 10)*
Alfred Peryer (age 5)*
Matilda Peryer (age 5)*
James Peryer (age 4)
Hannah Peryer (age 2)
Ann Michael (age 15)*
Note:
* age to nearest 5 years
1851 Census
Cranleigh
Henry Peryer (age 51?) born Ewhurst
Sarah Peryer (age 51?) born Nth Welford
James Peryer (age 15) born Ewhurst
Hannah Peryer (age 11) born Ewhurst
Sarah Peryer (age 6) born Cranleigh
1861 Census
Three Hatches, Cranly, Surrey
Charles Stedman (74) Agricultural Labourer born Dunsfold, Surrey
Sarah Stedman (71) born Dunsfold, Surrey
Henry Perryer (63) Boarder born Ewhurst, Surrey
Little Garson, Cranly, Surrey
William Stemp (27) Agricultural Labourer born Cranly, Surrey
Hannah Stemp (23) born Ewhurst, Surrey
George Stemp (3) born Cranly, Surrey
Sarah Stemp (1) born Cranly, Surrey
James Peryer,(25) Brother in law born Ewhurst, Surrey
1871 Census
Smithwood Common, Cranleigh, Surrey
James Stemp (30) Agricultural Labourer born Cranleigh, Surrey
Sarah Stemp (26) born Cranleigh, Surrey
Henry Perreyer (77) Boarder Agricultural Labourer born Ewhurst, Surrey
1881 Census
Clandon Street, West Clandon
*James Purryer Head 48 Agricultural Labourer born Surrey, Ewhurst
Martha Purryer Wife 30 Agricultural Labourer born Surrey, West Clandon
Mary Purryer Daughter 11 Scholar born Surrey, West Clandon
Albert Purryer Son 9 Schloar born Surrey, Send
**Ellen Perrier Daughter 7 Scholar born Surrey, West Clandon
John Norman, Widower Lodger 65 Agricultural Labourer born Surrey, Albury
Henry Jerrad Lodger 38 Agricultural Labourer born Surrey, West Clandon
Notes:
**Should have been Sarah Ellen Perrier
1891 Census
Clandon Sreet, West Clandon
James Perryer Head 54 General Labourer born Cranleigh
Martha Perryer Wife 41 born West Clandon
Mary Perryer Daughter 21 Domestic Servant born West Clandon
Albert Perryer Son 19 Bricklayers Labourer born Send
Ellen Perryer Daughter 17 Domestic Servant born West Clandon
1901 Census
Lockinge(?) Cottages, Clandon Street, West Clandon
James Perrier Head 67 Ordinary Agricultural Labourer born Surrey, Ewhurst
Martha Perrier Wife 52 born Surrey, West Clandon
Sarah Ellen Perrier Daughter 27 Laundress born Surrey, West Clandon
Nest Hill Farm, Send, Surrey
Albert Perrin (should be Perrier) (29) Carter on Farm born Send
Harriet Perrier (29) wife born Woking
Lily Perrier (6) daughter born Send
George Perrier (4) son born Send
Charles Perrier(3) son born Send
Percy Perrier (11m) son born Send
1911 Census
3 Lockinge Cottages, West Clandon
Martha Peryer Head 61 born Surrey, West Clandon
Gladys May Pike Grandchild 7 School born Surrey, Wimbledon
George Stone Boarder Single 22 Railway Porter born Dorset, Gillingham
West Clandon, Surrey
Albert Perrier Head (39) Horseman on Farm born Surrey, Send
Harriet Perrier (38) wife born Surrey, Woking
George Perrier (15) son Farm Labourer born Surrey, Send near Woking
Charles Perrier(13) son Farm Labourer born Surrey, Send near Woking
Thomas Perrier (9) son Farm Labourer born Surrey, West Clandon
Perrier Ellenor (6) dau Farm Labourer born Surrey, Send near Woking
Frank Perrier (5) son Farm Labourer born Surrey, West Clandon
Elsie Perrier (3) dau born Surrey, West Clandon
Reginald Perrier (6 months) son born Surrey, West Clandon
Nora Perrier (6 months) dau born Surrey, West Clandon
Parish Records Held
St Nicholas, Alford, Surrey
(?)John Peryer b 1732
married (?) 29.10.1753
(?)Sarah Trigg b c 1730
St James, Abinger, Surrey
James Peryer of Parish of Ewhurst b 1755
married (?) 4.4.1782
(?)Sarah Snelling of this Parish b c 1769
St Peter & St Paul, Ewhurst, Surrey
Henry Peryer bp 20.5.1798
(Parents James & Sarah Peryer)
James Perryer bp 7 or 9.3.1836
(Parents Henry Perryer, Labourer & Sarah Peryer)
St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, Surrey
Henry Peryer of this Parish bp 20.05.1798
Married 8.03.1828
Sarah Mitchell of Parish of Dorking b c 1805
West Clandon, Surrey
James Peryer (Age 33) bp 09.03.1836
(Father Henry Peryer, Laboureer)
d 18.04.1907 (Age 72)
married West Clandon 14.11.1869
Martha Smith (Age 20) b c 1850/1
(Father: Elisha Smith, Labourer
Witnesses: John & Mary Smith
Parish Records - Ewhurst, West Surrey
Progress 2011
A correspondent contacted me to advise me that her ancestor James Peryer was a brother of Chris' ancestor Henry Peryer:
James Peryer
bp 23.3.1783 St Peter & St Paul Church, Ewhurst
(parents James Peryer& Sarah Snelling married 4.4.1782 Ewhurst)
James married in Surrey:
Holy Trinity, Albury, Surrey
James Peryer married 26.4.1814
Leah Hill
but by 1840 the couple had moved to Sussex:
Thakeham, Sussex
Leah Peryer died Jan 1840
1841 Census
Wiltsshires, Pulborough, Sussex
James Peryer (57) Famer Born in County - No
Henry Peryer (18) Ag Lab Born in County - No
John Peryer (16) Born in County - No
Harriet Peryer (14) Born in County - No
George Peryer (11) Born in County - No
Mary Peryer (7) Born in County - Yes
Jane Peryer (7) Born in County - Yes
After Leah's death James remarried:
Pulboorough/Thakeham, Sussex
James Peryer married 17.4.1843
Elizabeth Large
