PERRY, MARY MARTHA LEE (1854~1947) The following is a biography for Mary Martha Lee Perry, a Confederate widow. The biography was provided by a descendant.
"Mary Martha Lee (Mattie) was born June 30, 1854 in Cockrum, DeSoto Co., MS. She was the daughter of Ransom Lee of Johnston Co., NC and Mary Underhill of Wake Co., NC. She married William Wiley Perry of Macon Co., TN on April 1, 1874 in DeSoto Co., MS. They had no children. They moved to Ft. Worth in 1905 and lived near Mattie's older brother, Josiah A. Lee. After her husband died in 1926, Mattie entered The Confederate Woman's Home in Austin on May 4, 1947 where at age 93, she fell out of bed and broke her hip which caused her death on August 29, 1947. At the time of her death, Mattie was survived by three nieces, one nephew, and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
During the War Between the States, Mattie's mother, Mary Underhill Lee heard that a Union patrol was coming into Cockrum and hid all the valuables, livestock, and food. When the Union soldiers came to the door and demanded food, Mary told them that they had very little food, hardly enough to feed a family of seven (four sons were away fighting under General Lee's command) but she would share what they had with them. She cooked some chickens and the soldiers ate and left without harming the family or their home. While the soldiers were in their home, Mattie hid under her mother's skirt until they left.
Mattie entered The Confederate Woman's Home as a widow of a Confederate veteran. William W. Perry enlisted in Co. F, 1st MS Cavalry at Oxford, MS on August 1, 1863 at age 15. At one time Perry was under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest."
Further information is available through the Texas State Cemetery research department. |
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