Emily Austin Perry

Emily Austin Bryan Perry (June 22, 1795 – 1851) was the sister of Stephen F. Austin and an early settler of Texas. She was an heir to Austin's estate when he died in 1836. She achieved significant political, economic and social status as a woman in Texas at a time when women were often not treated equal to men.

Emily Austin Perry, Courtesy of the Brazoria County Historical Museum. This is a photo of a canvas portrait of Emily Austin Perry. The location of the original canvas is presently uncertain.

Education Perry was born in Austinville, Virginia. She attended Mrs. Beck's Boarding School in Lexington, Kentucky from October 1804 until December 1808, then two years at the Hermitage Academy located on the Hudson River to further her education.

First marriage and children Perry married James Bryan (1788–1822) in Potosi, also known as "Mine á Breton" or "Mine au Breton." The two lived with Emily’s parents at their home called Durham Hall, in Missouri, from 1813–1814. In 1815, they moved to Hazel Run, Missouri, and also later to Herculaneum, Missouri. Emily and James Bryan had five children: Stephen Austin Bryan was born on July 17, 1814, in Durham Hall, Missouri. He died on August 12, 1814, in Durham Hall, Missouri. William Joel Bryan was born on December 14, 1815, in Hazel Run, Saint Genevieve, Missouri. He died on March 13, 1903. Moses Austin Bryan was born on September 25, 1817, in Herculaneum, Jefferson County, Missouri. He died on March 16, 1895, in Brenham, Texas. Guy Morrison Bryan was born on January 12, 1821, in Herculaneum, Jefferson County, Missouri. He died on June 4, 1901, in Austin, Travis County, Texas. Mary Elizabeth Bryan was born on July 5, 1822, in Herculaneum, Jefferson County, Missouri. She died on August 4, 1833.

James Bryan (Emily’s first husband) died on July 16, 1822, in Potosi, Missouri. Perry supported her family by taking in boarders and teaching at a school in Hazel Run, Missouri. Emily Rosanna Perry (Born September 24, 1826, in Potosi, Missouri; died December 6, 1827, in Potosi, Missouri). Eliza Margaret Perry (Born January 3, 1828, in Potosi, Missouri; died January 3, 1862, in Austin, Texas). James Elijah Brown Perry (Born May 17, 1830, in Potosi, Missouri; died February 14, 1831, in Chocolate Bayou, Texas). Henry Austin Perry (Born November 17, 1831, at Chocolate Bayou, Texas; died September 10, 1853, in Biloxi, Mississippi). Cecilia Perry (Born December 10, 1835, at Peach Point Plantation; died June 8, 1836, at Peach Point Plantation).

Of her eleven total children, six would live to adulthood. On June 7, 1831, the family, composed of Emily and James Perry, four Bryan children, and Stephen Perry, began the long move from Potosi, Missouri, to Texas. Emily and the younger children remained in San Felipe de Austin for several months, and then the family lived for about one year on the Chocolate Bayou producing sugar and cotton.

Remaining years in Texas: Peach Point Plantation Perry, her husband, and her children settled in Jones Creek, Texas, in present day Brazoria County, Texas and developed Peach Point Plantation also known as "Peach Point"; she lived at Peach Point until she died in 1851. Hayes also wrote in a letter to his mother that, "instead of having the care of one family, [Emily] is the nurse, physician, and spiritual adviser of a whole settlement of careless slaves. She feels it is her duty to see to their comfort when sick or hurt." Some historians argue that Perry's relatively/comparatively favorable treatment of slaves can be generalized to other holders of the time period, while others question whether this generalization is reasonable.

Though they may not themselves have known when they met, Perry was also, via shared descent from Anthony Austin and Esther Huggins, a third cousin once removed of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes.

Sole heir to Stephen F. Austin Perry was the sole heir to Stephen Fuller Austin following his death. Half the estate went to her immediately and half the "entire estate reverted to Emily" in 1837 upon the death of Brown Austin's eight-year-old son, who happened to be named Stephen F. Austin, Jr.

Support of land planning, railroads, and industry Perry was very involved in the urban planning and settling land. For example, she was one of the founders of the San Luis Company, which managed the development of San Luis, including the initial sale of 450 lots, development of streets, building a bridge, and construction of a lighthouse. The rail was initially to go from Galveston Bay to the Brazos River, and later plans were for the rail to go from San Luis Island instead of Galveston Bay. She was the largest shareholder of the first railroad company in Texas.

Support of education Perry paid Thomas J. Pilgrim to teach her children; Pilgrim started the all-boys school, Austin Academy, in 1829, which was the first school in Texas. Austin Academy had about 40 students. The surnames of Emily's first husband, James Bryan, and her second husband, James Perry, are each geographic names in Texas. For example, Bryan, Texas is the location of Texas A&M University; Perry's Landing is located in Brazoria County.

James and Emily Perry Papers Professor of History, Light Townsend Cummins, of Austin College, the official Historian of the State of Texas at the time of this writing, points out that despite her important participation in and contributions to Texas history, there is no collection of letters archived under Emily's name; rather, the collection archived in the 1930s was titled for her husband and son, "the James F. and Stephen S. Perry Papers." Cummins, who has reviewed the papers housed at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, notes that this collection includes "as much of Emily's letters, documents, and papers as those of her husband and son." and beside her brother, Stephen F. Austin. (Stephen F. Austin's remains were moved to Austin, Texas in 1910). An obituary at the time reflects that "Funeral services were performed by the Rev. Mr. Phillips, of the Methodist Episcopal church."

Austin-Bryan-Perry family reunion Each year, descendants of the Austin, Bryan, and Perry families from across the country gather in Jones Creek for reunion in celebration of Perry's life and her birthday. with which King Solomon concludes the Book of Proverbs). Stephen F. Austin, himself, had no children.

Name variations Perry is recorded in history by a variety of names which encompass her maiden name, her first marriage name, her second marriage name, a middle initial, and her mother's maiden name. These include:

Emily Austin Emily M. Austin E.M. Austin Emily Margaret Brown Austin Emily Brown Austin Emily Margaretta Brown Austin Emily M. Bryan Emily M. Austin Bryan Emily Margaret Bryan Emily Margaret Austin Bryan Emily A. Bryan Emily A. Perry Emily M. Bryan Perry Emily Austin Bryan Emily Austin Perry Emily M. Austin Perry E. M. P- Emily Perry Emily M. Perry Emily M. B. Austin Emily M. B. Perry Emily Bryan Emily Austin Bryan Perry Emily Margaret Austin Perry Bryan Emily Margaret Austin Bryan Perry Emily Margaret Brown Austin Bryan Perry

In addition to the above, there are still other references to Emily by just her first name, as well as references without use of her given, marital or personal name, i.e. "and wife" or "his wife," "Miss", "Mrs." and "Ms." all of which are not here provided.

Penmanship style Perry had a unique penmanship style. Her penmanship style from letters and writings were reduced to a single typeset font for word processing purposes. The Emily Austin font has been used in actual published literature.

Past family Perry and her brother, Stephen F. Austin, themselves descended from several noteworthy people including: Moses Austin (father—biography published by Trinity University Press), Abia Brown (grandfather), Joseph Sharp (great grandfather), Isaac Sharp (great, great grandfather), Anthony Sharp (great, great, great grandfather—biography published by Stanford University Press). Accordingly, history records noteworthy social contribution in each generation of Perry's family dating back to the early 17th century.

Some additional background, Perry's father, Moses was the son of Elias Austin & Eunice Phelps; Elias was the son of Richard Austin & Dorothy Adams; Richard was the son of Anthony Austin & Esther Huggins, Jacob Adams & Anna Allen; Richard Austin & Elizabeth Betsy Austin (born 1610), John Huggins & Bridget Green (gave birth to Esther Huggins), Robert Adams & Eleanor ___, Nicholas Allen & Martha Allen (gave birth to Anna Allen).