Saturday, June 19, 2010

PERKINS ISLAND on the IPSWICH RIVER

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary 2010
"Canoe along eight miles of the Ipswich River that run through the sanctuary and camp on Perkins Island, located a half-mile up the river."

The family of John Perkins of Ipswich, Mass: Complete in three parts By George Augustus Perkins
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THE FAMILY OF JOHN PERKINS OF IPSWICH.
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BY GEORGE A. PERKINS, M.D.
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1 “John Perkins, senior,” as he is called on the records, the immigrant ancestor, some of whose descendants we propose to give below, was probably born, if the traditions of the family are correct, in Newent, Gloucestershire, England, in the year 1590. He was among the earliest emigrants from the mother country, sailing from Bristol, England, Dec. 1, 1630, the ship Lyon, William Pierce, master, bound for Boston in American, taking with him his entire family, consisting then of his wife and five children. His fellow passengers were, the afterward famous divine, Rev. Roger Williams, and others; twenty in all. After a stormy passage of sixty -seven days they arrived at Nantasket, Feb. 5, 1631, and on the 6th came to an anchor before Boston. The following extrac5t from “Prince’s Annals of New England” (Vol. I, p. 341) gives a graphic account of the condition of the colony at the time of their arrival and also of their stormy voyage.

“As the winter (1629-30) came on provisions are very scarce (in the Massachusetts Bay) and the people necessitated to feed on clams and muscles, and ground nuts and acorns; and these got with much difficulty in the winter season. Upon which people grew much tired and discouraged; especially when they hear that the governor himself has his last batch of bread in the oven. And many are the fears of the people that Mr. Pierce, who was sent to Ireland for Provisions, is either cast away or taken by the pirates. Upon this a day of fasting and prayer to God
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for relief is appointed (to be on the sixth of February). But God, who delights to appear in the greatest straits, works marvelously at this time; for on February 6, the very day before the appointed fast, in came the ship Lion, Mr. William Pierce master, now arriving at Nasntasket, laden with provisions. Upon which joyful occasion the day is changed, and ordered to be kept (on the 22d) as a day of thanksgiving.” 1

February 8. The governor goes aboard the Lion riding at Long Island; (next day) the ship comes to an anchor before Boston (to the great joy of the people) where she rides very well, notwithstanding the great drifts of ice. And the provisions are by the governor, distributed to the people proportionable to their necessities.”

“The Lion 2 (had) set sail from Bristol December first, brought about twenty passengers, and had a very stormy passage; yet through God’s mercy all the people came safe except one 3 of the sailors, who had not far from our shore, in a tempest having helped to take in the sprit sail, as he was coming down fell into the sea, where after long swimming was drowned, to the great dolour of those in the ship, who beheld so lamentable a spectacle, without being able to help him; the sea was so high and the ship drove so fast before the wind, though her sails were taken down.”

For about two years after their arrival in America the Perkins family resided in Boston, where the youngest child, Lydia, was born, her baptism being recorded upon the parish books of the First Church there, June 3, 1632.
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1 This may have been the beginning of that now general custom of keeping Thanksgiving day, which is observed not only in New England but throughout the country.
2 Sometimes written Lyon.
3 The Captain’s son, Way.


The Lyon left Bristol, England February, 1630/31 with her Master, William Peirce, arriving in Salem May 1630/31

Rev. Roger Williams, bound for Salem
Mrs. Mary Williams

John Throckmorton, bound for Salem
Mrs. Rebecca Throckmorton
John Throckmorton
Patience Throckmorton

John Perkins, of Hilmorton, Warwick, bound for Boston
Mrs. Judith Perkins
John Perkins
Elizabeth Perkins
Mary Perkins
Thomas Perkins
Jacob Perkins

Edmond Onge, of Lavenham, Suffolk, bound for Watertown
Mrs. Frances Onge
Simon Onge
Jacob Onge

William Parke, bound for Roxbury


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We are not able to determine with certainty just what employed the time of our ancestor during the two years heresided in Boston, but the record shows he was not idle, but engaged in the public business of the colony.

The following extract is from the Records of the General Court, Nov. 7, 1632.
“Capt Traske, Willm Cheeseboro, Mr. Conant and John Perkins are appointed by the Court to sett down the bounds betwixt Rocksbury and Dorchestr. Ralfe Sprague is chosen vmpire.” Records of Col. Mass. Bay, Vol. 1, p. 102.

We also find the following concession made to him by the “General Court,” April 3, 1632.

“It was ordered that noe pson wtsoeuer shall shoote att fowle vpon Pullen Poynte or Noddles Ileland, but that the 8 4 places shalbe reserved for John Perkins to take fowle wth netts.” Rec. of col. Of Mass. Bay, Vol. 1, p. 103.

On the 18th of May, 1631, he took the oath of freeman, admitting him to all the civil rights of the colony. He removed from Boston in 1633 to the colony then newly founded by John Winthrop and others at Ipswich. Here he was largely engaged in agriculture, and had several grants of land; the location of his house was near the river, at the entrance to Jeffries neck, on what is now East street, where he had considerable land granted him.

We copy the following from the Ipswich book of land Grants or “Commoner’s” records.”

1634. “Given and granted unto John Perkins the elder 40 acres of land, more or less, bounded on the east by Mr. Robert Coles his land, on the south by a small creek, on the west unto ye town side.”

1635. Granted Jno. Perkins Sr. 3 acres of upland and 10 of meadow laying toward the head of Chebacco
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Creek, also a little island 4 called More’s point about 50 acres on the south side of ye town river. Also 10 acres of part whereof he hath built an house, having Wm Perkins on S. W. --also 6 acres of meadow and 6 upland joining to the former 10 acres, all 3 lying at east end of the town having Wm White’s land on N. E. and a highway to Jeffries neck on N.W.”

1636. “John Perkins Sr. was granted 40 acres of meadow and upland at Chebacco, which he sold to Thomas Howlet 1637.”

1639. “Granted to John Perkins 6 acres planting ground on south side river.” Vol. 1, p.174.

He was a deputy to the General Court and was among those present at its session holden in Boston May 25, 1636.

John Perkins was on the Grand Jury in 1648 and 1652, and his name is also found on trial juries.

He was appraised to the estate of Sarah Dillingham in 1645, and his autograph, as such, is here given. 

John Perkins, sen., of Ipswich, being above 60 years of age, was freed from ordinary training by the Court in March, 1650.”

John Perkins, besides holding town offices and occupying other places of trust, appears to have been one of the leading men of Ipswich, and was highly esteemed by his fellow twonsmen. He died in 1654 at the age of 64 years. His will (which is of importance as settling the names of his wife and children and some of his grandchildren) and inventory are now on file in the Probate Office in Salem; a copy of each is given below, as also of his
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4 this island contains by measurement 30 acres, and upon it is now seen the celiar of a house. The Island has been lately (1882) purchased by a namesake and descendant of John Perkins, Sen., --Mr. John Perkins, shoe manufacturer of Ipswich.

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Autograph which is appended to an agreement with his neighbors concerning the fencing of their land. An indorsement on the back of this paper read thus:

“This Paper Dos signifi yt those prsons yt have land in ye nack are compeled to mack safisant fens acor Ding to yer proportions of land.:*
15 February, 1635.


[Will and Inventory follows]

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* This signature resembles that of Quartermaster John Perkins, and may have been his, when younger.

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The children of John Perkins and wife Judith were:
2 John, b. 1614; d. Dec. 14, 1686.
3 Thomas, b. 1616; d. May 7, 1686
4 Elizabeth, b. 1618; d. 1700. [m. William Sargent]
5 Mary, b. 1620; d. 1700.
6 Jacob, b. 1624; d. Jan. 29, 1700.
7 Lydia, b. 1632; d. ab’ 1672; bapt. 1st Ch., Boston, June 3, 1632

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4 Elizabeth (John 1) was born in England in 1618, And came to New England in the ship Lion with her parents in 1631. She lived in Ipswich, and probably married her husband, William Sargent, 6 there. The date of her marriage is not known. He was born in England in 1602, was one of the first settlers here, and went from Ipswich to settle in Newbury. He was also among the first to settle in Hampton; from that place he went to Amesbury, where he made a permanent settlement, and died there in 1677, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

The time of the death of his wife, Elizabeth, was in 1700. His will was made in 1671. The descendants or William and Elizabeth (Perkins) Sargent are now very numerous.

Children of William Sargent and Wife Elizabeth were:
[b] [Elizabeth b. about 1641]
[c] Thomas, b. June 11, 1643; m. Rachel Barnes; d. 1705-6.
[d] William, b. [1645] m. Mary Colby; d. [1721]
[a] Mary, b.[1636] m. Philip Chalis; d.
[e] Elizabeth, b.[1648] m. Samuel Colby; d.
[g] [Lydia b. about 1650]
[h] Sarah, b.[1651 m. Orlando Bagley [Orlando Bagley was the constable who arrested Susannah North Martin]
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6 in the history of Amesbury by Joseph Merrill, it is stated as believed that Wm. Sargent came to Virginia in 1608; that while there he married Judith Perkins daughter of John, who died before 1633, leaving him with three daughters. With these he came to Ipswich, Mass., and afterward removed to Amesbury, on its first settlement, and died there in 1677. This could hardly have been so, as John Perkins mentions no daughter Judith or her children in his in his will, but does mention “Elizabeth, the wife of Wm. Sargent,” and her children. This marriage with Judith rests on tradition, and was probably a mistake, though Mr. Merrill believes that Wm. Sargent married two sisters, who were daughters of john Perkins.

Ancestory Chain: 11th great-grandparents John PERKINS Immigrant b.1583 and his wife Judith GATER Immigrant b.abt 1587 / 10th great-grandparents Elizabeth PERKINS Immigrant b.1611 and her husband William SARGENT Immigrant b.1598 / William SARGENT Rev. b.1645 / Phillip SARGENT Sr. b.1672 / Philip SARGENT Jr. b.1703 / Martha SARGENT b.1725 / Moses QUIMBY b.1755 / Betsey QUIMBY b.1795 / Almeda Sophia ROUNDY b.1829 / Charles PARKER b.1853 / Laura Elizabeth PARKER b.1889 / Kirt DeMar WOOD b.1923 / Lark / TR.

7 comments:

Becky Thompson said...

Hi! I'm also a John Perkins descendant and I'd love to have this post printed out. I can't print it from the blog post here. Is it possible for you to email it to me? I'm at becky.jamison5@gmail.com. Thank you so much.

Alex said...

Dear,

George or any other Perkins who reads this... Are you a direct descendant of John's kids. I'm the the direct descendant of Thomas, John's son. If did my ancestry right I should be apart of the 22nd Perkins generation.
Here's my break down of my grandfathers - My father is Patrick R. Perkins, his father was Eugene Perkins jr., his father was Eugene sr., his father was James W. Perkins, his father was Thomas Perkins, his father was John M. Perkins, his father was Levi Perkins, his father was John Perkins, his father was Thomas W. Perkins Jr., his father was Thomas W. Perkins Sr., his father was Elisha Perkins, his father was Thomas Perkins, and then finally John Perkins.
Do you have any documents from Europe, of the family above John Perkins? I find it rather hard to believe that we are descended from French kings.

Best,
Alexander J. Perkins
USMC Ret.
Fewandproud@aol.com

Ed Perkins said...

Hello! Yes, I too am a John Perkins descendant. I am descended from his son, John, Jr.

My line looks like this, Myself. My father, MSgt Robert D. Perkins (USAF, Ret.) His father was Russell A. Perkins, Sr. His father was Dean R. Perkins, his father Warren F. Perkins (Civil War Vet.), his father Harlan D. Perkins, his father Leonard W. Perkins (Revolutionary War vet.), his father William Perkins, his father, Jacob Perkins, his father Jacob Perkins, his father Jacob Perkins, his father, John Perkins, Jr., and finally John Perkins, Sr.

I am very proud of my Perkins ancestry, and what we have given for this great country!

Edward Perkins
Clinton Township, MI

Anonymous said...

My name is Sheila Perkins Stewart

i also decend from John JR My Dad was Pearl Eugene Perkins son of Glen Monroe Perkins son of Cyrus Perkins Son of William son of William son of Abraham son of Abraham son of Isacc son of John son of John! :) Very cool history, i loved finding this book it was a great find my Grandfather is the only Glen, His mom was Irish first of her family born in the U.S>

kimluvsorlando said...

Hi, I am also a descendant of John Perkins through his daughter, Mary. Here is my direct line,

John Perkins Sr.--Mary Perkins Bradbury--Wymond Bradbury--Wymond Bradbury Jr.--Rowland Bradbury--Ann Bradbury Kirkpatrick--John Kirkpatrick Jr.--Abigail H. Kirkpatrick Drury--Charles Kingsbury Drury--Alfred Kingsbury Drury--Paul Hallett Drury--Judith Ann Drury Elder and then me.

I really enjoyed reading about my 10x Great Grandfather and what he did during his life time. :)

Thank you very much for posting this.

Sincerely


Kimberly Elder
kelder1320@gmail.com

Melanie said...

I descend from John Perkins Sr. through his daughter Elizabeth who married William Sargent. The Sargent line then takes over down through my grandmother, Marjorie Sargent Smith who passed away in 2010. (So obviously, my connection to the Perkins line goes WAY back!) I would be interested in knowing if any of you with Perkins connection through the Sargent line have done the AncestryDNA test.

Sincerely,
Melanie Young

melaniesueyoung@gmail.com

Unknown said...

John Perkins is my 10th great grandfather. I'd love to connect with others in our lineage.

Lorinda Perkins
lorisperkins@gmail.com