James Monroe Perrin was born January 8, 1822, in Abbeville District, South Carolina, son of Samuel and Eunice (Chiles) Perrin. He served as an officer in the Mexican War in 1846, then practiced law in Abbeville, which he represented in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He married on January 1, 1849, Mary Elizabeth Smith, who died on August 8, 1855. His second wife was Kitty Tillman, whom he married on January 21, 1858. Perrin served with the Palmetto regiment during the Mexican War and in 1861 he organized a military company that was first to enter service from Abbeville. He was promoted to colonel and was fatally wounded at Chancellorsville in 1863 while leading Orr's Regiment. He is buried in Abbeville.
Photo of James Perrin cropped from a photo found in the book, South Carolina Portraits, A Collection of Portraits of South Carolinians and Portraits in South Carolina, compiled by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina, edited by Christie Zimmerman Fant, Margaret Belser Hollis and Virginia Gurley Meynard, page 295.
Information Source: Findagrave Member rdsxfan, [email protected].

The 1850 census revealed they were living in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Household members:
James Perrin (28) Mary and Joel (0).

Their children: Joel S Perrin (b.1849)Son
Perrin (b.1850 d.1850
Thomas Chiles Perrin (b.1851 d.1852)
Mary E Perrin (b.1853)
Jane E Perrin (b.1855)

The 1860 census revealed James was an Attorney at Law. His property was valued at $27,000. Household members:
James Perrin (38),
Kitty C (28),
Joel S (10),
Mary E (7),
Jane E (4),
Irene (1)
Eunice C (5/12).

Their known children:
Irene W Perrin (b.1859)
Eunice Chiles Perrin (b.1860)
James S. Perrin (b.1861)
Kitty I. Perrin (b.1864)

The 1870 and 1880 census revealed after James died, Kitty's mother, Kitty Tillman was living with her.
Source: Findagrave member Susan Pantelias #47941093

Obituary: "I regret to announce the death of Colonel James M. Perrin, Orr's Rifle Regiment, who was mortally wounded while gallantly fighting his regiment at the breastworks, on Sunday, May 3. Colonel Perrin was one of the captains of my old regiment (First South Carolina Volunteers), and on duty with me in South Carolina previous to my coming to Virginia in 1861. Since then he has at various times been under my command. A more zealous or efficient officer could not have been found in this command. Noble, brave, and pious, he lived to win the admiration and esteem of his friends, and, we will trust, died to receive the reward of a life spent in the strict discharge of every duty." - D.H. Hamilton, Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade, Light Division. (Report of May 20, 1863, on the "Battle of Chancellorsville.")

The Abbeville Press and Banner, Friday, May 15, 1863.
Our community, district, state and country, are again called to mourn over her gallant dead. The great and decisive victory won over our enemy has been at the expense of some of our bravest and noblest men. The death of General Jackson casts a gloom over our entire country. His name and fame were household words around every fireside in our Southern Confederacy; every soldier loved and revered him. He is now at rest and in the enjoyment of a brighter sphere in a happier world.

Abbeville village and district has suffered much. The list of her illustrious dead has been swelled and the joy of the defeat of our foe is mingled with sorrow. The dispensations of Providence are many, the great, the good and the mighty must succumb to His will.

Among those who fell in the late battle was Col. James M. Perrin of the First Regiment Rifles, South Carolina Volunteers. He was a resident of this village; a gentleman of rare accomplishments in the legal profession; an active and efficient member of our State Legislature; high toned, dignified and lastly but not least, a true christian. At home mingling with his friends and constituents, he was gentlemanly, generous and courteous. On the field of conflict, he was brave and gallant. He not only had the respect and confidence of the officers and men under his command, but that of his superiors.

When the tocain of war first resounded on the coast of his native Carolina, he buckled on his armor and at the head of a company, repaired to the scene of action, Charleston. After Fort Sumter had fallen and the time for which his company had enlisted expired, he came home and arranging his business, again organized a company and was attached to Col. Orr's Regiment of Rifles, and since then, in the line of promotion, he became commander of the Regiment, at the head of which, after passing through several terrific battles, sacrificed his life in defense of his country. He was an old veteran of the Mexican War and and were inured on her bloody fields to the dispatching of the canonade, the rattling of musketry and the glittering swords. His brilliant career is ended, the muffled drum on the banks of the Rappahannock sounded his last march, when he yielded to Death, his acknowledged Commander in Chief.

Among those who are numbered among those slain on the Rappahannock are: J.D. Malone, Thos. C. Perrin, E.C. Riley, W.B. Riley, J.F. Martin, W.A. Montgomery.

All of these, of our village and district, belonging to Co. B, Col. Perrin's Regiment. It is a matter of regret to record the fall of the young, promising and brave. Some of the most gifted, talented and worthy young men of our community have already fallen and this list only adds to its members.