Hon. Judge Freeman Perry was born January
23, 1732 in South Kingston, Rhode Island. On January 25,
1756, at the age of 24, he married Mercy Hazard of Kingston,
Rhode Island. Freeman resided on the homestead in South
Kingstown left by his father, Benjamin Perry.
Served in the Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War, was a physician and surgeon as well
as a Judge. He was elected Chief Justice of the Court
of Common Pleas, Washington County, Rhode Island and for
many years was President of the Town Council of South
Kingstown.
His most famous descendent was his grandson,
the gallant Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819)
who earned the title "Hero of Lake Erie" for
leading American forces in a decisive naval victory at
the Battle of Lake Erie. Also remembered is a famous line
from his battle report; "We have met the enemy and
they are ours".
Freeman Perry died in South Kingston on
October 15, 1813 at the age of 83 and is buried in the
Perry Family Burying Grounds, South Kingston.
Note: Death notice for Perry was published
in The Troy Post on November 16, 1813.