If your name is Petry, you have an interesting family history. For centuries, most people used only one name to identify themselves. As the population began increasing, the need for more identification also became increasingly apparent, especially in small towns, clans, and villages where perhaps 1/3 of the males were named James or some other popular name.
And so to distinguish one James from another, a second name was desired. The four main sources for these names were: 1) a man's occupation or trade, such as Cook, Tanner, or Hunter. 2) his father's name, Robertson, Jackson, or Davidson. 3) his locale, such as Jesus of "Nazareth," Thomas "Uphill," or William "Groves." 4) even his characteristics or looks might be used, i.e. James Legg, William Redman, or John Fox.
Sometimes extra identification was needed for certain groups. The fighting men of the Middle Ages were known to wear a metal suit of armor for protection. More than likely, this same suit of armor included a helmet that completely covered the head, making the warrior unrecognizable.
To prevent a friend from attacking his ally during battle, it became very important for
each knight to somehow identify himself. Many fighters accomplished this by painting
colorful designs on their shields.
These same designs were also sewn into cloth surcoats which were placed over a fighter's
suit of armor, giving him his family crest or what is known as the "Coat of
Arms." The Petry's wore theirs into battles in which they engaged.
To prevent duplication of the patterns, records were kept that granted the privilege of wearing a certain crest to a particular fighter and this right was extended down to his family. Many times these patterns were recorded in ancient record books.
So where did the Petry family name come from? Let's begin at the beginning. From all of the records on hand, it would appear that the Petry family descended from Holland and Belgium with some of them from southern Belgium speaking in an old French dialect. Those particular families were known as the "Walloons".
The old Flemish and Dutch influence in Britain was shown to be somewhere around 1150 A.D; they were responsible for developing the British industrialization more than any other race. It was known that the Flemings were the Artisan industrialists of the low countries.
The Flemings were encouraged to develop the Scottish industry in Scotland. When they later migrated south to the areas of Wales and the western part of England, they created the weaving and the woolen industries. They were instrumental in paper making and erecting several fine paper mills in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Hertfordshire.
The research from many ancient manuscripts and documents shows the first recorded name of Petry to be found in the English Devon, where they were seated from early times. Their first records of names appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
The Petry family name emerged as a notable English family in Devon where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity and seated as Lords of the manor and estates in that shire. They settled in Devon from their original home in Antwerp and acquired the Castle and manor of Compton in Devonshire. They later branched out to Harlyn in Cornwall.
Sir William Petre of Torbrian in Devon became Secretary of State to Henry VIII. In 1603, Sir John Petre, his son, became Lord Petre, the Baron of Writtle. The spelling was interchangeable from Petre to Peters. Their family seat became Fidlers in Essex. Their present family seats are at Harefield and Chyverton. Notable in the family at this time was Baron of Writtle.
In England the Flemings started the trades of paper making, book publishing, glass blowing, clothiers, glove making, and more. Many of the Flemings rose to high office and became members of the Peerage, including the Earls of Radnor, and the Earls of Clancarty.
The Flemings were responsible in Ireland for the development of the fine linen trade, and for the Irish pottery. They also gave their name to such streets in Dublin as Combe, Pimlico, and Spitalfield.
In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, England and Scotland were ravaged by the religious and political conflict which brought about many injustices to the people. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. Religion was divided by the Church of State, the Roman Church and the Reform Church.
Each faction, in its time, imposed its influence, assessments, tithes and penalties on the rich and poor alike. The spirit of the people was broken forcing many to turn away from the church.
Loyalties were engineered, marriages were arranged to acquire greater possessions, estates and influence at court. Many families were encouraged to migrate to Ireland, or to the Colonies. Non believers and dissidents were banished, sometimes even hanged.
The unrest caused many to think seriously of migrating to distant lands. The rumors and stories of the attractions of the New World spread throughout the world. Many immigrants sailed aboard the armada of small sailing ships known as the "white sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic seas.
These overcrowded ships were pestilence ridden, with sometimes 30% to 40% of the passenger list never reaching their destination, decimated by illness and the elements.
Petry? Petre? Peters? Well, what's in a name? Whatever the variation in spelling we are all derived from the same family. In North America, migrants which could be considered kinsman of the family name of Petry included John Peter, settled in Virginia in1635; Matthew Peatross, settled in Virginia mid 1600; David Peters, settled in Georgia in 1733; Hans George Petre, settled in Pennsylvania in 1733; William Petry, settled in Florida between 1838-1844; Anthony, Catherine, Charles, George, Henry, John, Martin, Michael, Phillip, Simon and William Peter all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Arnold, Daniel, Edmund, George, Henry, Hugh, John, Joseph, Thomas, and William Peters all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.
As one researches the Petry family name, various spellings will emerge. Some of the surnames to be found were spelled Petry, Pettry, Petterey, Petre, Peter, Pettris, Petris, Peters, Pettress, Petross, Peatras, Peatrass, Peatross and others.
Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it would personally sound to them. There have been cases where a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a tombstone showing yet another. Spelling variations would change from father to son, or others would just decide to change the spelling to please themselves. Some were unable to read or write and needed help in recording their name next to the X on documents.
Our bloodline appears to come from a Matthew Peatross who settled in Virginia about the
mid 1600. The records on hand only show his marriage to Elizabeth Mayo Mach 4, 1678 and
the baptism of his 3 children. Children of Matthew and Elizabeth were;
1. John Peatross (our bloodline)
2. Elizabeth Peatross or Patris
3. Thomas Peatross
John Peatross Sr. was baptized on Dec. 7, 1679 in Middlesex Parish, Virginia. His
marriage to Ann was about 1700. He died in 1743 in Caroline County, Virginia. Children of
John and Ann were;
1. Elizabeth
2. Matthew
3. Thomas
4. John Peatross Jr. (our bloodline)
John Peatross Jr. was born sometime before 1715. He died in 1749, at the age of 34, in
Caroline County, Virginia. Children of John were:
1. Matthew Peatross (our bloodline)
2. Mary Peatross
Matthew Peatross was born about 1738 in Caroline Co., Virginia. His wife's name was
Jane. He died about 1797 in Montgomery Co., Virginia. In 1749 after his dad died,
Matthew's guardian was Bennett Beasley, who took him to Orange County. Beasley left a will
in 1758 in Orange County which specified that "Matthew Peatross and Mary Peatross
should be paid L. 6.3.0 each when they become of age which is their due from their
father's estate and for Matthew to be paid his due share of the rents from the land in
Caroline County which is at L 4.10.0 per year from the year 1756." In 1781 Matthew
appears as a titheable one in Botetourt County in an area which later became Montgomery
County. He lived his latter years on the south side of the Roanoke River. Children of
Matthew and Jane were:
1. Martin Pettry (our bloodline)
2. John Pettry
3. Nancy Peatross
4. Margaret "Peggy" Peatross
Martin Pettry was born on Jan 19, 1757 in Orange Co, Virginia. His wife's name was Ann
Raines. They were married in Rockingham Co. Virginia. He died between 1838 and 1840 in
Raleigh Co., WV. Martin lived in Rockingham Co. for few years after the revolutionary war.
About 1799-1800 he moved to Monroe Co. before it became Giles Co. in 1806 it became Mercer
Co. He lived in the Pipestem area then in 1824 moved to Coal River-Packsville-Marsh Fork
District. Children of Matthew and Ann were:
1. James Pettry
2. Sarah Pettry
3. Sally Pettry
4. John Pettry (our bloodline)
5. St. Clair Pettry
6. Samuel Pettry
7. Jacob Pettry
8. Elizabeth Pettry
John Pettry was born about 1790 in Rockingham or Montgomery County Virginia and married
Mary May born about 1801. John lived in Shumate Branch in Raleigh County as a farmer. It
appears that he moved there from the pipestem area in the 1820's along with his father.
John died sometime between 1872 and 1880 more than likely in Raleigh County.
1. St. Clair "Sink" Petry
2. Jacob Petry
3. William Pettry
4. Mary Petry
5. Celia Petry
6. Andrew Jackson "Jack" Pettry (twin)
7. George Washington Pettry (twin)
8. James Pettry (our bloodline)
9. Elizabeth Ann Petry
James Pettry was born April 1837 in Fayette County and married Lydia B. Higgonbotham
born March 1839 in Fayette County. Children of James and Lydia were;
1. Reuben Pettry
2. John Franklin Pettry
3. Samuel H. Pettry (our bloodline)
4. Celia Lorenia Pettry
5. George Summers Pettry
6. Mary M. Pettry
7. Martha Pettry
8. Salona F. Pettry
Samuel Pettry was born May 9, 1866 in Raleigh County and married (1) Mary Green born
about 1866 in Kanawha County (2) Mamie Ross in 1893 (3) Mary Blauche Martin born 1890. He
was a mine foreman and died August 16, 1945 in Rand, WV. Children of Samuel and Mary were;
1. Hillard Petry
2. George F. Petry (our bloodline)
Children of Samuel and Mamie were;
3. Icie Petry
4. Ray L. Petry
Children of Samuel and Mary were;
5. Emmett L. Petry
George F. Petry was born August 3, 1889 in Fayette County and married Eva Evelyn
Hambrick born June 27, 1900 in Mason County. He fought in WW I and was a merchant in Belva
for 27 years. He died December 10, 1960. Children of George and Eva were;
1. Virginia Petry
2. George Henry Petry (my bloodline)
3. Charles F. "Buddy" Petry
George Henry Petry was born April 5, 1926 in Belva, WV. He married Imelda Dexter born
May 5, 1928. He was an automobile dealer and died April 5, 1997.
Children of George and Imelda were;
1. Carolyn Kay Petry
2. Sharon Lynn Petry
3. Linda Marie Petry
This completes the Petry family records based on the information I have
collected to date. None of this is set in stone. Typos in names, spelling, and dates are
possible since several sources were used in creating this report. May you find this
information delightful, educational, and informative. Note: I will no longer do any more research nor answer any
inquiries as time will not allow me to do. Hope you understand.
website http://www.wildflowerswv.com
email wildflowerswv2000@yahoo.com
Carolyn (Petry) Rexroad
(copyrighted 1996)