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- William Peryam was born son of a frankyn from Broadclyst in Exeter
He was a capper by trade who obviously had considerable business acumen since he flourished and made an early fortune from tin. He was admitted to the freedom of the City of Exeter in 1504 and his second son, John, followed him into the business. In 1563 and 1572 John was elected mayor of the City of Exeter an important position and a huge success for a man from a humble background.
William was a zealous protestant and was involved with Lord Russell during the Prayerbook Rebellion of 1547- Because of this he fled abroad during the reign of the Catholic Mary Tudor.
William Peryam was not a likeable man, he remained a peasant for all his wealth and business acumen. and becoming wealthy did not change him. Plain dealing with a quick temper he was however regarded as a ‘worthy’ man. He was it seems loyal and caring of his friends and harsh with ‘wicked’ persons , all of which made him mayor in 1532.
William was a great believer in education and he left a fund of £30 for the Exeter University . He sent his eldest son William to the High School in Exeter and then to Oxford where the young man studied law. William the son eventually became a judge and sat on a commission for the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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