Department of Archives,
State House,
Boston. Mass.

Gentleman:

For many years the Cody Family Assn has been trying to get information about the marriage of the first Cody in America - namely Philip Cody (Code, LeCody,LeCaudey,Micody, etc.).

The first definite record we have of this Philip is when he purchased his home in Beverly, Mass. in the year 1698. He sold this home in 1723 and moved to Hopkinton,Mass., where he died; will filed for probate Feb.3, 1743. From church, baptism and death records, we have ascertained that his wife's name was Martha, but nothing to indicate what her maiden name was or where she came from.

Just recently we discovered Mr. Perley's book "History of Salem", and have read a copy of an article in the SALEM NEWS, around 1927, quoting Mr. Perley as follows:

"on Sept.24, 1687, there arrived in the harbor of Salem from France, the ship THOMAS, commanded by James Thomas. *** Philip LeCody probably came with the passengers on this vessel, and perhaps the 'Martha' who later became his wife. This vessel came without papers, thus showing that it cleared the foreign port without the knowlege of the authorities. *** They lived on the place they called 'home' in Beverly for 25 years, and in 1723 removed to Hopkinton."

"LeCody turned to Beverly and secured work. Farm work and the chopping of wood were equally desired, but at length he learned weaving, and after six years he married, his native thrift enabling him to save money even from his scanty earnings."

Anxious to find out where Mr. Perley got this information, we wrote his daughter Eleanor S. Perley, 21 Fairmount St., Salem, Mass., telling her that Mr. Roger W. Hanners, Box 113, Prides Crossing, Mass. wrote us, in answer to our inquiry, that he could find no record of any marriage of Philip Cody in the Beverly Town Records, but did find a record of the birth of the, first son John LeCody, born Jan.1, 1695-6 (Beverly Vital Records, Vol.1, page 202), son of Philip and Martha, and and asking her if perhaps in her father's book or records she could find this definite information. Miss Perley answered on Feb.12, saying she found no reference to Philip Cody in any of the 3 volumes, and she thought he must have gone directly to Beverly. She further said that very likely her father obtained his information about Philip Cody at the Archives in the State House in Boston, as he went there often to get material for his books.

Any information you might be able to give us about this Philip LeCody, where he came from, whom he married, and where, will be greatly appreciated. We would gladly pay for any transcripts of records pertaining to this man.            Sincerely yours,