Raymond Henry Jones Perry Papers


University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: Raymond Henry Jones Perry Papers
Date range: 1836-1959
Creator: Perry, Raymond Henry Jones, 1836-1902
Extent: 1.75 linear feet
(5 boxes)
Abstract: 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.
Language of materials: English
Repository: University Archives and Special Collections
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, 1861-1869, 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, 1814-1908, contains family correspondence, letters of character reference and documents relating to the settlement of his estate in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Series III, Santa Domingo, 1863-1899, 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, 1867-1959, 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 into four series as follows:

  • 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 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, 1871. He then retired to Rhode Island to farm and raise animals until his death in 1902.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit.
Use of the materials: 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, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information: University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: No acquistions information is available.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by David C. Maslyn.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Hailie D. Posey 2009 July 01, updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2013 March 13, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 14
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory


Inventory

Series 1. Military
The majority of the documents in this series deal with the years Perry spent in the Rhode Island Cavalry (1861-1869). The series contains Perry’s commissions as Captain and Major in the Rhode Island Cavalry and his commission as Brifadier 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 1867.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Assignments to duty
1968, 1868
Box 1, Folder 2 Bond to keep the peace -- Notes on back by RHP, signature of W. Sherman [Brig Gen?]
1865 Feb 12
Box 1, Folder 3 Brigadier General, R.I. Militia, Appointment and Resignation
1871 Mar 3, 1971 Jun 3
Box 1, Folder 4 Chief of Police, Galveston, Texas, documents related to employment
1867 Mar 28, 1867 Nov 11
Box 1, Folder 5 Commission as Captain, R.I. Cavalry
1863 Oct 22
Box 1, Folder 6 Commission as Major, R.I. Cavalry
1968 Sep 17
Box 1, Folder 7 Court of Inquiry
1862 Oct 6
Box 1, Folder 8 Court Martial
1964-1865
Box 1, Folder 9 Dates of Events
1862-1871
Box 1, Folder 10 Deposition -- Sale of Horses
1865 Feb 6
Box 1, Folder 11 Discharge
1861 Aug 6
Box 1, Folder 12 Enlisted Men in R.I. Cavalry, List of Absentees
undated
Box 1, Folder 13 Issuance of Equipment
1868 Mar 13
Box 1, Folder 14 Leave of Absence, Ill Health
1868 Apr 14, 1868 May 16
Box 1, Folder 15 Letter of Introduction, to Major Gen Banks from Gov. Smith
1863 Dec 24
Box 1, Folder 16 Letters, Incoming
1867 Oct 24
Box 1, Folder 17 Letters, Incoming, Sheridan, Major General Phil
1867-1869
Box 1, Folder 18 Money ($800) Stolen from Raymond Perry Allegedly by Mexican Officials, Statements and Correspondence re.
1866 May 6
Box 1, Folder 19 Muster-in-roll
1864 Jan 28, 1864 Oct 1
Box 1, Folder 20 "Our glorious little state" - note
undated
Box 1, Folder 21 Pension
1900
Box 1, Folder 22 Petition for Relief, blank
undated
Box 1, Folder 23 Order to Arrest James Morgan
1867 Jul 11
Box 1, Folder 24 Releases from Duty
1864 Jun 14, 1864 Aug 5, 1864 Sep 22, 1864 Dec 13
Box 1, Folder 25 Remembrances by Raymond Perry
undated
Box 1, Folder 26 Rhodes, Joseph A., Proof of Disability
1900 Apr 23, 1900 Apr 30
Box 1, Folder 27 Salary
1868 Jun 9, 1869 Nov 30
Box 1, Folder 28 Special Orders
1863-1867
Box 1, Folder 29 Testimony, re: Captain Borries and selling of Gov. property horses
undated
Box 1, Folder 30 Transferral Recommendation to Regular Army from Volunteers
1862 Apr 27, 1862 Apr 29
Box 1, Folder 31 Travel ledger and Diary (of the killing of "Freed Negroes by white men")
1867

Series 2. Personal
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, 1874-1900 and 1875-1877.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 32 Account Book and Diary
1974-1900
Box 2, Folder 33 Account Book and Diary
1875-1877
Box 2, Folder 34 Composition on Labor
1852
Box 2, Folder 35 Correspondence: Mott, M.F.
1878 Mar 8, 1878 Apr 29, undated
Box 2, Folder 36 Correspondence: Perry, Ellen [wife]
1869 Nov 4, 1890
Box 2, Folder 37 Correspondence: Perry, James DeWolf [brother]
1899 May 20, 1902 Apr 26, undated
Box 2, Folder 38 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Bills
1902 Sep 1, undated
Box 2, Folder 39 Estate of Raymond Perry -- correspondence.
1904 Jun 11-1904 Aug 8
Box 2, Folder 40 Estate of Raymond Perry correspondence.: Perry, William with Perry, James DeWolf
1903 May 20-1905 Aug 30, undated
Box 2, Folder 41 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Indenture between Seth Paul and heirs of Raymond Perry­ establishing boundary lines for adjoining prope
1880 Dec 6
Box 2, Folder 42 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Indenture of lease -- Land and House in Bristol, R.I.: Perry, James DeWolf and Perry, Calbraith to Perry, William
1903 May 25
Box 2, Folder 43 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Letter: Perry, William to Reynolds, John P., Probate Judge
undated
Box 2, Folder 44 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Letters: Manchester, C.H., Administrator to Perry, William
1905 Apr 5-1908 Sep 28
Box 2, Folder 45 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Memos copies: re: Agreement between brothers about Bristol property
undated
Box 2, Folder 46 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Miscellaneous
undated
Box 2, Folder 47 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Notes: Perry, William
undated
Box 2, Folder 48 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Power of Attorney of James DeWolf Perry [copy]
1904 Jun 9
Box 2, Folder 49 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Promissory note :[Raymond Perry?] to Julia S. Perry
1877 Aug 17
Box 2, Folder 50 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Sanitarium care of Raymond Perry
1899 Sep 1/1904 Jan 15
Box 2, Folder 51 Estate of Raymond Perry -- Will leaving Silver Creek Property to William Perry
1901 Sep 6
Box 2, Folder 52 Letter, Outgoing, Grant, U.S., Pres. of U.S. [draft]
1869
Box 2, Folder 53 Letter, Hope [?]
undated
Box 2, Folder 54 Letter, Outgoing, Hubbard, Rupert, Tradesman National Bank, Phila.
1901 Sep 30
Box 2, Folder 55 Letter, Incoming, Perry, Calbraith [brother]
undated
Box 2, Folder 56 Letter, Outgoing, Perry, James DeWolf and Perry, Julia S. [parents]
1970 Jun 1
Box 2, Folder 57 Letter, Incoming, Perry, William [brother]
undated
Box 2, Folder 58 Letter, Outgoing, Pierce, Dr.R.V. (contains biographical information)
undated
Box 2, Folder 59 Letter recommending employment of Raymond Perry in U.S. Post Office
1869 Oct 19
Box 2, Folder 60 Letters, Incoming, Misc.
1867-1902, undated
Box 3, Folder 61 Letters of Character Reference
1877 Nov 28, undated
Box 3, Folder 62 Morris, Owen, pardon by Governor of New York, letter dealing with case
1867
Box 3, Folder 63 Mortgage Deed; Perry, Raymond H. to Perry, Julia S. [mother]
1877 Aug 17
Box 3, Folder 64 Mortgage Deed; Perry, Raymond H. to Perry, James DeWolf
1899 Aug 31
Box 3, Folder 65 Newport Marine Society, Certificate of Membership
1814 Apr 5
Box 3, Folder 66 Newspaper Clippings, Misc.
1877-1889, undated
Box 3, Folder 67 Notes- misc. reminders
undated
Box 3, Folder 68 Obituary -- copy
1903 Mar 24
Box 3, Folder 69 Perry, Ellen M., Last Will and Testament
1898 Jul 20
Box 3, Folder 70 Perry, Ellen M., Probate Decree of Will [copy]
1901 Jul 25
Box 3, Folder 71 Receipts
1895, 1902, undated
Box 3, Folder 72 The Soldier of The Great Republic Correspondence
1903 Mar 27, 1903 Mar 28, undated

Series 3. Santa Domingo
This series contains material dating largely 1869-1870, 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.

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 73 Capture of Salnave deposition
1869
Box 4, Folder 74 Commission by U.S. Grant as U.S. Commercial Agent to Santa Domingo [copy]
1869 Nov 6
Box 4, Folder 75 Expense Account, Abstract
1870
Box 4, Folder 76 Letter, Incoming, Cazneau, William
1870 May 4
Box 4, Folder 77 Letter, Incoming, Garrida, Pedro With Translation
1870 May 9
Box 4, Folder 78 Letter, Incoming, Unidentified, 2nd. Assist, Sec. of State
1870 Jun 9
Box 4, Folder 79 Letters, Incoming, Davis, J.G.B., Assist. Sec. of State
1869 Oct 20, 1870 Mar 3, 1870 Mar 31
Box 4, Folder 80 Letters, Incoming, Fish, Hamilton, U.S. Secretary of State
1869 Nov 6, 1870 May 3
Box 4, Folder 81 Letters, Incoming, Gautier, M.M., Minister of Foreign Relations, Santa Domingo, Some Translations
1869 Nov 16
Box 4, Folder 82 Letter, Outgoing, to the Prevaricator Conversation with Del Monte re: Annexation of Santa Domingo and Principals involved
1870 Jun 7
Box 4, Folder 83 Newspaper Articles
1899 Jul 10, 1899 Aug 7
Box 4, Folder 84 Newspaper Clipping
undated
Box 4, Folder 85 Order for Prisoners
1869 Nov 16
Box 4, Folder 86 Pay Records, U.S. Commercial Agent
1869 Nov 30, 1870 Mar 22, 1870 May
Box 4, Folder 87 Petition to Santa Domingan Senate for hotel construction
1970 Jan 12
Box 4, Folder 88 Proclamation Indemnifying all Property Taken for Military Purposes within the Military Zone
1863 Dec 7
Box 4, Folder 89 Record Book -- handwritten copies of correspondence and related material re: annexation of Santa Domingo, also newspaper clippings (see oversize)
1869-1870
Box 4, Folder 90 Requisition of Extradition of R.H.P. from Rhode Island to Texas [certified true copy]
1875 Nov 24
Box 4, Folder 91 Statement by R.H.P. to the U.S. Senate, relating events from 1861 until the time of appointment as U.S. Commercial Agent
1870 Jun 12
Box 4, Folder 92 Testimony re: Santa Domingo and Davis Hatch before U.S. Senate [printed copy]
1870 Jun 9
Box 4, Folder 93 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
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
Box 5, Folder 73 Account Book and Diary [transcription of some pages, see box 2, folder 32)
1974-1900
Box 5, Folder 74 Babcock, Orville E. -- biographical note by Charles Ramsdell Lingley in [source?] p. 460
undated
Box 5, Folder 75 Biographical notes from Mount Hope: A New England Chronicle by George Howe, p.253-255 (see R.I. Coll F89 B8 H84)
1959
Box 5, Folder 76 Biographical notes from The Perrys of Rhode Island and Tales of Silver Creek by Rev. Calbraith Perry, p. 95-99 and 2 illustrations (see R.I. Coll CS71 P462 1913)
1913
Box 5, Folder 77 Chronological File -- transcriptions of letters and documents from Record Book and Series II and III arranged chronologically
1867 Aug 7-1900 Sep 9
Box 5, Folder 78 Civil War Newspaper articles -- research notes
undated
Box 5, Folder 79 Correspondence -- personal [transcriptions of letters] (see box 2, folders 35-37, 45, 50-52, 54, 56)
1869-1904
Box 5, Folder 80 Correspondence -- Santa Domingo [transcriptions of letters] (see box 4, folders 79-82)
1869-1870
Box 5, Folder 81 Fabens, Joseph Warren -- biographical notes in The National Cyclopedia, p. 178 undated. 82 Hatch Committee Report Dispatch #12 [transcription of page from Testimony] (see box 4, folder 92]
undated
Box 5, Folder 82 Hatch Committee Report Dispatch #12 [transcription of page from Testimony] (see box 4, folder 92]
1870 Mar 12
Box 5, Folder 83 History of Battery B by John H. Rhodes, contents and index (see R.I. Coll E528.8 1stB)
1894
Box 5, Folder 84 Military career -- research notes
undated
Box 5, Folder 85 Newspaper articles in Record Book [transcriptions] (see oversize)
1870
Box 5, Folder 86 Newspaper clippings [copies] (see box 3, folder 67)
undated
Box 5, Folder 87 Record Book [transcription] (see oversize)
1869-1870
Box 5, Folder 88 Remembrances [transcription] (see box 1 folder 25)
undated
Box 5, Folder 89 Report of the Select Committee appointed to investigate the memorial of Davis Hatch [copy]
1870 Jun 25
Box 5, Folder 90 Testimony re: Santa Domingo and Davis Hatch before U.S. Senate [copy] (see box 4, folder 92)
1870 Feb 24
Box 5, Folder 91 Travel Ledger and Diary [transcription] (see box 1, folder 31)
1867