Sidney Perley

Sidney Perley
Born(1858-03-06)March 6, 1858
Boxford, Massachusetts
DiedJune 9, 1928(1928-06-09) (aged 70)
Boston, Massachusetts
EducationBoston University School of Law
OccupationsLawyer, writer
Spouse
Harriet Hood Spofford
​
​
(m. 1889)​
Children2

Sidney Perley (1858–1928) was an American lawyer, writer, poet, editor, and historian.

Early life

Sidney Perley, son of Humphrey and Eunice Perley, was born in Boxford, Massachusetts on March 6, 1858.

He went to school in Boxford and subsequently studied law at the Boston University School of Law, graduating with an LL. B. in 1886. On July 20, 1880, he was admitted to practice in the courts of Boston. The following September, he began his professional career in Salem.

As a historian

Since childhood, Perley had studied history and genealogy, and his History of Boxford was published when he was 21. He was a founder and editor of the Essex Antiquarian, a quarterly magazine devoted to the genealogy, biography, history, and antiquities of Essex County.

From 1877, Perley was a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and was also a member of the Essex Institute and various other professional and literary organizations.

Politics and official positions

From 1881 to 1886, he was the town auditor of Boxford. From 1900 to 1903, he was a member of the school committee of the city of Salem.

He was a Republican, and supported prohibition. At one point he was a key figure in the Prohibition Party in Essex County, and stood as its candidate for the office of attorney-general of Massachusetts, member of the governor's council, clerk of courts and Senator.

Personal life

On June 11, 1889, Sidney Perley married Harriet Hood Spofford, who was (born December 10, 1861). They had two children: Eleanor Spofford (born October 9, 1894) and Richard Hood (born October 17, 1898).

Sidney Perley died in Boston on June 9, 1928, soon after the publication of his 3 volume History of Salem, Massachusetts.[1]

Works

References

  1. ↑ "Former President of Essex Institute Dies". The Boston Globe. Salem. June 9, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved July 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Cutter, William Richard. Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston Volume 2, page 1065, Sidney Perley. Published by the Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1908.