Guide to the Raymond Henry Jones Perry Papers

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 18 Guide to the Raymond Henry Jones Perry Papers Lippitt Road Kingston, RI archives@etal.uri.edu Website: Published in 2009 University of Rhode Island Library

2 Page 2 of 18 Collection overview Title: Raymond Henry Jones Perry Papers Date range: Creator: Perry, Raymond Henry Jones, Extent: Abstract: Language of materials: Repository: 1.75 linear feet 5 box(es) This collection contains the papers of Raymond Henry Jones Perry. Perry was born in Bristol, Rhode Island in 1836 to parents James DeWolf Perry and Julia Sophia Jones. As an adult Perry had an active career as a farmer, soldier, and perhaps most importantly as U.S. commercial attaché in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic during the debate over U.S. annexation of the country. English Collection number: Mss. Gr. 4 Scope & content The papers of Raymond Perry have been divided into four series: those dealing with Raymond Perry's life in the Military, those involving his personal life, and those concerning his position as U.S. Commercial Agent to Santa Domingo during the Ulysses S. Grant Administration. The final series contains copies and transcriptions of information within the first three series, as well as some other research materials. Series I, Military, , contains various commissions, assignments to and releases from various duties, letters from Major General Phil Sheridan, and a diary relating the accounts of killings of freed African-Americans by white men in Texas. Series II, Personal, , contains family correspondence, letters of character reference and documents relating to the settlement of his estate in Bristol, Rhode Island.

3 Page 3 of 18 Series III, Santa Domingo, , contains copies (and some originals) of letters from Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, and M.M.Gautier, Minister of Foreign Relations, as well as other documents related to Perry's position as U.S. Commercial Agent to Santa Domingo during the attempted annexation to the United States as a territory. Series IV, Research Materials, , contains copies and transcriptions of documents in Series I-III. It also contains miscellaneous research notes and photocopies from books, some of which are in the Rhode Island collection. Arrangement The collection is arranged in four series. 1. Military 2. Personal 3. Santa Domingo 4. Research Materials Biographical note Raymond Henry Jones Perry was born on October 2, 1836, son of James DeWolf Perry and Julia Sophia Jones. Up until 1861 he spent many years farming the family property in Bristol, Rhode Island. He led a very active life in the military, serving from 1858 to 1870 in various capacities under various men. In 1858 he was an officer at sea, making several voyages to China and California. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the army and in 1865 became an officer in command of Artillery and Cavalry. After the Civil War he served with Major General Phil Sheridan in New Orleans, Texas and Mexico. In 1866 he was appointed Chief of Police of Galveston, Texas. In the next two years he was Chief of Indian and Mexican scouts in Mexico, Texas and Kansas under General Sheridan. In 1869 Perry was appointed Consul and U.S. Commercial Agent in Santa Domingo. His duties were to act as U.S. representative between President Baez of Santa Domingo and President Grant of the United States in the signing of the Treaty of Annexation of the Island of Santa Domingo and in leasing the Samana Bay or a U.S. Naval Station. Perry was somewhat hot-headed and reactionary. His words to President Grant in 1869 are exemplary of his character and outlook: "When you have any rough work to do that requires

4 Page 4 of 18 nerve and activity and a man that will do his duty regardless of anything or anybody, I can do it and am ready anytime to undertake it." He was an honest man who felt obliged to perform his duty for his country without personal gain. It was because of his brazen character that some questioned the appropriateness of his appointment to such a delicate post. And it was due, in large part, to his extreme honesty of character that the treaty for the annexation of Santa Domingo was not signed. Characteristic of the Grant Administration in general, the annexation attempt was deeply involved in corruption on the part of many of the principals. Perry, finding this out, revealed the facts to the U.S. Senate, which was split over annexation, because of racist attitudes toward the black population in Santa Domingo. Efforts to silence Perry included an attempted extradition to Texas on false charges and, this failing, an attempted kidnapping. This corruption, along with the confinement in Santa Domingo of Davis Hatch (an agent of a salt mining company who opposed annexation) led the Senate to oppose ratification, 28-28, with 16 abstentions. A written account of the historical details on the annexation and Perry's involvement in it appears in Hamilton Fish : The Inner History of the Grant Administration, by Allan Nevins (E664 F52 N44). After his termination as U.S. Commercial Agent, Perry was commissioned as Brigadier General of the Fifth Brigade of the Rhode Island Militia on March 23, 1871, which commission he resigned on June 13, He then retired to Rhode Island to farm and raise animals until his death in Access & use Access to the collection: Use of materials: Open for research. Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication. Preferred citation: Raymond Henry Jones Perry Papers, Mss. Gr. 4, Contact information:

5 Page 5 of 18 Administrative information About the collection Aquisition: About the finding aid 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI archives@etal.uri.edu Website: Author: Finding aid prepared by David C. Maslyn. Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Hailie D. Posey 2009 July 01 Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Search terms Names: Perry, Raymond Henry Jones, Subjects: Annexation (International law) Real property -- Rhode Island Decedents' estates -- Rhode Island African Americans -- Texas Freedmen -- Texas Diplomatic and consular service, American -- Dominican Republic Dominican Republic -- History Dominican Republic -- History -- Annexation to the United States Dominican Republic -- Foreign relations -- United States United States -- Foreign relations United States -- Foreign relations -- Dominican Republic Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), Sheridan, Philip Henry, Correspondence Fish, Hamilton, Correspondence

6 Page 6 of 18 United States. Army. Rhode Island Cavalry Regiment, 3rd ( )

7 Page 7 of 18 Inventory Series 1, Military, Box 1 Folder 1-31 The majority of the documents in this series deal with the years Perry spent in the Rhode Island Cavalry ( ). The series contains Perry's commissions as Captain and Major in the Rhode Island Cavalry and his commission as Brigadier General in the Rhode Island Militia in 1863, 1864, and 1871 respectively; letters from Major General Phil Sheridan; assignments to and releases from various duties; a travel ledger and a diary relating the accounts of killings of freed African-Americans by white men in Texas; and his military assignment as Chief of Police, Galveston, Texas, in Container Description Date 1 Assignments to duty 1968, Bond to keep the peace -- Notes on back by RHP, signature of W. Sherman [Brig Gen?] Brigadier General, R.I. Militia, Appointment and Resignation Chief of Police, Galveston, Texas, documents related to employment 1865 Feb Mar 3, 1971 Jun Mar 28, 1867 Nov 11 5 Commission as Captain, R.I. Cavalry 1863 Oct 22 6 Commission as Major, R.I. Cavalry 1968 Sep 17 7 Court of Inquiry 1862 Oct 6 8 Court Martial Dates of Events

8 Page 8 of Deposition -- Sale of Horses 1865 Feb 6 Discharge 1861 Aug 6 12 Enlisted Men in R.I. Cavalry, List of Absentees 13 Issuance of Equipment 1868 Mar Leave of Absence, Ill Health Letter of Introduction, to Major Gen Banks from Gov. Smith 1868 Apr 14, 1868 May Dec Letters, Incoming 1867 Oct Letters, Incoming, Sheridan, Major General Phil Money ($800) Stolen from Raymond Perry Allegedly by Mexican Officials, Statements and Correspondence re. Muster-in-roll "Our glorious little state" - note May Jan 28, 1864 Oct 1 21 Pension 1900

9 Page 9 of Petition for Relief, blank 23 Order to Arrest James Morgan 1867 Jul Releases from Duty Remembrances by Raymond Perry Rhodes, Joseph A., Proof of Disability 1864 Jun 14, 1864 Aug 5, 1864 Sep 22, 1864 Dec Apr 23, 1900 Apr Salary 1868 Jun 9, 1869 Nov 30 Special Orders Testimony, re: Captain Borries and selling of Gov. property horses Transferral Recommendation to Regular Army from Volunteers Travel ledger and Diary (of the killing of "Freed Negroes by white men") 1862 Apr 27, 1862 Apr Series 2, Personal, Box 2-3 Folder 32-72

10 Page 10 of 18 This series contains family correspondence; letters of character reference; copies of mortgage deeds to the Perry Estate in Bristol, Rhode Island; correspondence and miscellaneous material relating to the settlement of Raymond Perry's estate in Bristol; and two account book/diaries, and Container Description Date Account Book and Diary Account Book and Diary Composition on Labor Correspondence: Mott, M.F Mar 8, 1878 Apr 29, 36 Correspondence: Perry, Ellen [wife] 1869 Nov 4, Correspondence: Perry, James DeWolf [brother] 1899 May 20, 1902 Apr 26, 38 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Bills 1902 Sep 1, Estate of Raymond Perry -- corres. Estate of Raymond Perry corres.: Perry, William with Perry, James DeWolf 1904 Jun Aug May Aug 30,

11 Page 11 of Estate of Raymond Perry -- Indenture between Seth Paull and heirs of Raymond Perry establishing boundary lines for adjoining prope Estate of Raymond Perry -- Indenture of lease -- Land and House in Bristol, R.I.: Perry, James DeWolf and Perry, Calbraith to Perry, William Estate of Raymond Perry -- Letter: Perry, William to Reynolds, John P., Probate Judge Estate of Raymond Perry -- Letters: Manchester, C.H., Administrator to Perry, William Estate of Raymond Perry -- Memos copies: re: Agreement between brothers about Bristol property Estate of Raymond Perry -- Miscellaneous Estate of Raymond Perry -- Notes: Perry, William Estate of Raymond Perry -- Power of Attorney of James DeWolf Perry [copy] Estate of Raymond Perry -- Promissory note :[Raymond Perry?] to Julia S. Perry Estate of Raymond Perry -- Sanitarium care of Raymond Perry 1880 Dec May Apr Sep Jun Aug Sep Jan 15

12 Page 12 of Estate of Raymond Perry -- Will leaving Silver Creek Property to William Perry Letter, Outgoing, Grant, U.S., Pres. of U.S. [draft] Letter, Hope [?] Letter, Outgoing, Hubbard, Rupert, Tradesman National Bank, Phila. Letter, Incoming, Perry, Calbraith [brother] Letter, Outgoing, Perry, James DeWolf and Perry, Julia S. [parents] Letter, Incoming, Perry, William [brother] Letter, Outgoing, Pierce, Dr.R.V. (contains biographical information) Letter recommending employment of Raymond Perry in U.S. Post Office 1901 Sep Sep Jun Oct Letters, Incoming, Misc , Letters of Character Reference Morris, Owen, pardon by Governor of New York, letter dealing with case Mortgage Deed; Perry, Raymond H. to Perry, Julia S. [mother] 1877 Nov 28, Aug 17

13 Page 13 of Mortgage Deed; Perry, Raymond H. to Perry, James DeWolf Newport Marine Society, Certificate of Membership 1899 Aug Apr 5 66 Newspaper Clippings, Misc , 67 Notes- misc. reminders 68 Obituary -- copy 1903 Mar Perry, Ellen M., Last Will and Testament Perry, Ellen M., Probate Decree of Will [copy] 1898 Jul Jul Receipts 1895, 1902, 72 The Soldier of The Great Republic Correspondence 1903 Mar 27, 1903 Mar 28, Series 3, Santa Domingo, Box 4 Folder This series contains material dating largely , including letters from Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State during the U.S. Grant Administration; letters from M.M. Gautier, Minister of Foreign Relations, Santa Domingo; a letter from William Cazneau; a requisition of extradition of Raymond Perry to Texas; a transcript of Perry's testimony to the U.S. Senate (1870) concerning the events surrounding the proposed annexation of Santa Domingo to the United States as a territory; a bound volume containing Perry's handwritten copies of correspondence and other material directly relating to the annexation of Santa Domingo; and newspaper clippings relating the events of Santa Domingo and annexation.

14 Page 14 of 18 Container Description Date 73 Capture of Salnave deposition Commission by U.S. Grant as U.S. Commercial Agent to Santa Domingo [copy] 1869 Nov Expense Account, Abstract 1870 Letter, Incoming, Cazneau, William 1870 May Letter, Incoming, Garrida, Pedro With Translation Letter, Incoming, Unidentified, 2nd. Assist, Sec. of State Letters, Incoming, Davis, J.G.B., Assist. Sec. of State Letters, Incoming, Fish, Hamilton, U.S. Secretary of State Letters, Incoming, Gautier, M.M., Minister of Foreign Relations, Santa Domingo, Some Translations Letter, Outgoing, to the Prevaricator Conversation with Del Monte re: Annexation of Santa Domingo and Principals involved 1870 May Jun Oct 20, 1870 Mar 3, 1870 Mar Nov 6, 1870 May Nov Jun 7

15 Page 15 of Newspaper Articles 1899 Jul 10, 1899 Aug Newspaper Clipping Order for Prisoners Pay Records, U.S. Commercial Agent Petition to Santa Domingan Senate for hotel construction Proclamation Indemnifying all Property Taken for Military Purposes within the Military Zone Record Book -- handwritten copies of correspondence and related material re: annexation of Santa Domingo, also newspaper clippings (see oversize) Requisition of Extradition of R.H.P. from Rhode Island to Texas [certified true copy] Statement by R.H.P. to the U.S. Senate, relating events from 1861 until the time of appointment as U.S. Commercial Agent Testimony re: Santa Domingo and Davis Hatch before U.S. Senate [printed copy] 1869 Nov Nov 30, 1870 Mar 22, 1870 May 1970 Jan Dec Nov Jun Jun 9

16 Page 16 of Unidentified Document in Spanish (authorization document or order to appear? for Pedro Benites generated by the commerce department, Republic of Santa Domingo?) 1870? Series 4, Research Materials, Box 5 Folder The materials in this series are mostly copies or transcriptions of documents that can be found in Series I-III, cross-referenced with the original documents. One notable exception to this is the copy of the report of the select committee appointed to investigate the memorial of Davis Hatch (1870), which is not included any where else in the collection. The series also contains miscellaneous research notes and photocopies from books, some of which are in the Rhode Island collection. Their call numbers are included. Container Description Date Account Book and Diary [transcription of some pages, see box 2, folder 32) Babcock, Orville E. -- biographical note by Charles Ramsdell Lingley in [source?] p. 460 Biographical notes from Mount Hope: A New England Chronicle by George Howe, p (see R.I. Coll F89 B8 H84) Biographical notes from The Perrys of Rhode Island and Tales of Silver Creek by Rev. Calbraith Perry, p and 2 illustrations (see R.I. Coll CS71 P ) Chronological File -- transcriptions of letters and documents from Record Aug Sep 9

17 Page 17 of Book and Series II and III arranged chronologically Civil War Newspaper articles -- research notes Correspondence -- personal [transcriptions of letters] (see box 2, folders 35-37, 45, 50-52, 54, 56) Correspondence -- Santa Domingo [transcriptions of letters] (see box 4, folders 79-82) Fabens, Joseph Warren -- biographical notes in The National Cyclopedia, p. 178 n.d. 82 Hatch Committee Report Dispatch #12 [transcription of page from Testimony] (see box 4, folder 92] Hatch Committee Report Dispatch #12 [transcription of page from Testimony] (see box 4, folder 92] History of Battery B by John H. Rhodes, contents and index (see R.I. Coll E stB) Military career -- research notes Newspaper articles in Record Book [transcriptions] (see oversize) Newspaper clippings [copies] (see box 3, folder 67) Record Book [transcription] (see oversize) Mar

18 Page 18 of Remembrances [transcription] (see box 1 folder 25) Report of the Select Committee appointed to investigate the memorial of Davis Hatch [copy] Testimony re: Santa Domingo and Davis Hatch before U.S. Senate [copy] (see box 4, folder 92) Travel Ledger and Diary [transcription] (see box 1, folder 31) 1870 Jun Feb