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Timothy Perkins and his brother Joseph Perkins married two sisters in New Haven, CT sometime before 1776. They are reputed to have been tax collectors in New Haven. By the time Abel Sperry wrote his will in 1776, Timothy and Joseph, with their wives and a brother-in-law, William Sperry, had moved to Wilkes County, NC. There they settled in the Old Fields section. Some researchers believe that Timothy and Joseph's parents also moved to Wilkes Co., NC. With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Timothy and Joseph may have joined a loyalist militia company commanded by a Captain Benjamin Perkins. In 1784, a guardian was appointed for one of Timothy's sons, Jabez, and an executor was named for William Sperry. This indicates that Timothy Perkins may have been dead by 1784 and William Sperry was dead by 1784. Dow Perkins wrote that Timothy Perkins left Wilkes Co., and went to Grayson Co., VA and married a Mrs Ann Sturgill and had a daughter in Grayson Co., VA after the Revolutionary War. This writer knows of no documentation to support that statement.
Several anecdotes on the family relate that Col. Cleveland was captured by some Tories at the Old Fields and held on the Perkins' property. The Perkins' womenfolk supposedly let him escape before he could be executed. The family was Methodist. Genealogical details follow below.
Notes on Sources
I first began family research at age 11 when my Mother died. At the time, three of my Grandparents were alive. Had I known to ask them, many of my present dead lines might have been solved. Instead, like many young children, I haphazardly worked at the research in high school and the Army and returned to it in college. I seriously started working on it in 1979 when I was studying for the bar exam. By then I had gotten to the family of Timothy Perkins and knew of Jacobus' sketch of the Perkins Family of New Haven, but I did not have evidence of the connection between my Timothy and the one from New Haven. I got the lead for that link at a birthday party for my maternal Uncle, Arnold Ball. There I was directed to relatives on both sides of my family who had done genealogical research.
I contacted Orville and Gloria Manning Perkins who referred me to Judge Paul M. Perkins and to Donald Perkins. Donald Perkins had commissioned work which found the will of Abel Sperry which mentions the marriage of Timothy Perkins with Mariam Sperry and their removal to North Carolina. With that and the work of Paul M. Perkins, I started to fill out the rest of the tree. I have done so by searching for contemporary records about the persons discovered in my research. At this time, I am concentrating on the following records: military records; wills and administrations; church records; marriage records; and population census records. Further research will extend to land records; court records and the farm and manufacturing censuses. I have cited secondary records where they appear to be based on primary record sources.
Additions and corrections are welcome. Please send them to Steven C. Perkins at [email protected].
Timothy Perkins (Joseph). Born in New Haven, New Haven Co., CT. Died, durin or after 1783. Baptism: 27 June 1736, in New haven, New Haven Co., CT (New haven First Cong. Church Records 1:38) . Occupation: farmer-loyalist.
In 1784, George Morris was appointed Guardian to Gebas Perkins, (Wilkes Co., NC Will Bk 1, p. 123) this would indicate that Timothy Perkins was dead. Dow Perkins wrote that Timothy lived into the 1830's in Grayson Co., Virginia and that he married (2) Ann Sturgill and had one daughter. This writer knows of no documentation to support that statement.
Timothy and his brother, Joseph, may have been privates in Capt. Benjamin Perkins' Company of Col. John Phillips' Regiment, Jackson's Creek Militia, Camden District SC. This unit served under Lord Rawdon during June and July, 1781. They may have served under Capt. Joseph McDaniel in Capt. Thomas Pearson's Regiment, Little River Militia, Ninety Six Brigade, for 34 days, sometime between 6 May and 5 August, 1782 (Murtie June Clark, LOYALISTS IN THE SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, vol.1, pp. 164,168,313).
He married 1765?, Miriam Sperry. Born, 19 Feb 1741/2, in Wallingford, New Haven Co., CT. Died, circa 1784(?), in Old Fields, Ashe Co., NC, or Grayson Co., VA. Occupation: housewife.
Children:
i. Jared Perkins. Born, 28 Jan 1766, in New Haven, New Haven
Co., CT. Died, 30 Jan 1851, in Grayson Co., VA. He married Phebe
Russell.
ii. Jabez Perkins.
iii. Lutheral Perkins. Born in New Haven, New Haven Co., CT.
iv. Aarod Perkins. Born, circa 1769, in New Haven, New Haven Co.,
CT. Resided, 1827, in Grayson Co., VA. He married Mary Polly
Pennington.
v. Timothy Perkins. Born, 25 Jun 1771, in New Haven, New Haven Co.,
CT. Died, 8 Mar 1851, in Helton Creek, Ashe Co., NC. He married
Tabitha Anderson, 15 May 1795.
vi. Levi Perkins. Born, circa 1772, in Ashe Co., NC. He married
Minnie Hale ?.
vii. Gordon Perkins. Born, 15 Nov 1773, in Ashe Co., NC. Died, circa
1850, in Grayson Co., VA. He married Joannah Stamper, 1801.
viii. Stephen Perkins. Born, 1774, in Wilkes Co., NC, or Grayson Co.,
VA. Died, Aug 1844, in Grayson Co., VA. He married Ruth
Hitchcock.
ix. Lucy Perkins. Born, 2 Feb 1776, in Wilkes Co., NC, or Grayson
Co., VA. Died, 28 Nov 1848, in Grayson Co., VA. Occupation:
housewife. She married Joseph Young, 20 Oct 1796.
x. William Perkins. Born 1783, married Margaret Hitchcock.
There is some question as to the birthdate of William Perkins.
The 1840 US Census of Johnson Co., MO, indicates his birth
year as between 1770 and 1780. A family bible record has 1783.
2. Jared Perkins. Born, 28 Jan 1766, in New Haven, New Haven Co., CT. Died, 30 Jan 1851, bur. in Little Wilson Cem., in Volney, Grayson Co., VA. He married Phebe Russell, b. 1777, d. 1845, bur. Volney, VA. Children:
i. Joseph Perkins, b. 1793. Married Mary -----.
ii. William Perkins, b. 1796, Grayson Co., VA. d. aft 1860. Married 8 Jul
1819, Catherine Mitchell, b. ~1800.
iii. Temperance Perkins, b. ~1800, d. 1837.
iv. Rev. Phillip Perkins, b. ~1806, 23 Mar 1888, bu. Little Wilson Cem.,
Volney, Grayson Co., VA. He was a Baptist Minister and a Cabinetmaker.
Married 7 Oct 1825 to Rebecca McGrady, b. 2 Oct 1804, d. 21 Jan 1876.
v. Hezekiah Perkins, b. 1808, Grayson Co., VA, d. aft 1880. He was a
blacksmith. He married Letitia -----, b. ~1822.
vi. Aarod Perkins, b. ~1814, d. 27 Sept 1837, bur Little Wilson Cem. Volney,
Grayson Co., VA. He married Elizabeth Anderson. She later married
Joseph Perkins.
vii. Tripheny Perkins. She married (1) ----- McGrady and (2) 26 June 1823
Peter Hackler.
viii. Joannah Perkins was engaged to Benjamin Phipps. On a trip to get her
wedding dress she was thrown and killed by her horse.
ix. Parzaid Perkins.
3. Jabez2 Perkins (Timothy, 2). Born, 6 Nov 1766, in New Haven, New Haven Co., CT. Died, circa 1836, in Whitley Co., KY. Occupation: farmer.
I find Jabez an interesting ancestor. Born in New Haven, CT, before the American Revolution, he was raised in a Loyalist household in the North Carolina back country. As a child he saw his Father, Timothy, and paternal Uncle, Joseph, join the Loyalist forces against the Americans. According to contemporary accounts, his Father and Uncle were, "notorious Tories" who one time captured Col. Cleveland, an American commander and virtual warlord in the New River settlements. While being held for trial by the Loyalists, Cleveland was able to escape, supposedly with the help of one of the women of the household. The family were early Methodists.
By 1784 a guardian was appointed for Jabez in Wilkes Co., NC. Normally, one would assume this to mean that his father was dead. However, there is some evidence that Timothy Perkins was alive and living in Grayson Co., VA. Shortly after the guardian was appointed, Jabez appears to have married and moved to Grayson Co., VA, where several of his children were born. In 1789, he was appointed administrator to the estate of his maternal Uncle, William Sperry, in Wilkes Co., NC. It is not yet known if William Sperry was a Loyalist or if he supported the Americans in the Revolution.
By 1813 he was in the Knox/Whitley Co. KY, area. Sometime after 1830, already 65 years old, he moved his family to the Bureau/Putnam Co. Illinois area. He and his sons purchased land in 1835 and 1836. By December of 1835 he had returned to Whitley Co., KY, where he made his will and died before February 13, 1836. Jabez' son William returned to Whitley Co. and remained there the rest of his life. The rest of Jabez' children remained in Illinois or moved further West.
Some researchers have identified Jabez' wife as Nancy Ann Creekmore. I am not convinced that this is correct. I am also not convinced that his wife at the time he made his will is the mother of his children. Hopefully, further research in NC or VA will turn up a marriage certificate to settle the question.
In 1784, George Morris was appointed Guardian to Gebas Perkins (Wilkes Co., NC, Will Bk 1, p.123). In 1784, Wm. Smith was the Administrator of W. Sperry (Wilkes Co., NC Will Bk 1, p. 122). In 1789, Jabish Perkins was administrator of William Sperry, dec'd. (Wilkes Co., NC, Will Bk 1, p. 254). Inventory of the Estate of William Sperry is in Wilkes Co., NC Will Bk 1, p. 262 dated 1789.
Between 1784 and 1813, Jabez was in Grayson Co. VA, before removing to Knox Co., KY.
Jabez Perkins received Knox Co. Circuit Court Certificate No. 160 for 200 acres of land on 5 Oct. 1813. This is now called Tellico Grant No. 575. It was surveyed on 24 August 1821 and was in the new county of Whitley on the Gelico River. He paid off his mortgage for the full price of $20.00 to the Commonwealth of Kentucky on 22 January 1828. See, Tellico Grants, No. 575, Book 2, page 1, Land Office, Kentucky Secretary of State.
Sometime after 1830 Jabez and his family moved to the Bureau/Putnam Co., area of Illinois. Jabez purchased 80 acres of land in Bureau Co., on 13 July 1835 (IL Pub. Dom. Land Tract Sales, Arch. vol. 708, p. 119). Jesse and William also purchased 80 acres of land on the same day in the same township as Jabez. Timothy had purchased two 80 acre tracts in the same township on 20 and 25 June 1835. Jesse purchased additional tracts of 40, 160 and 80 acres on 7 Sept 1835, and 14 Jan 1836.
Jabez' son Solomon Perkins may have been the Solomon Perkins who purchased land in Adams Co., IL, on 27 June 1818. This was a Military land bounty (IL Pub. Dom. Land Tract Sales, Arch. vol. 808, p. 481).
WILL of JABUS PERKINS, of Whitley Co., KY was made 27 Dec 1835, and probated February Term, 1836. I Jabus Perkins of the County of Whitley and State of Kentucky being sick and low in boddy but of Sound Mind and disposing memory and Calling to mind the mortality of man and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die I make and ordain this my last will and testament in the followung manner, To wit, first of all I will my sole to God that gave it and my body to be buried in a decent and Christian like maner and Touching on my Worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to bles me with I dispose of in the maner following, To wit,
I give and bequeath to my Son Timothy Perkins One Dollar
I give and Bequeath to my Son Jesse Perkins One Dollar
I give and bequeath to my Son Jabes Perkins One Dollar
I Give and Bequeath to My Daughter Lucy Cox one Dollar
I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Patty ah One Dollar
I Give and Bequeath to my two Daughters Amy White and Nancy White one Note of Land on Demcey White to be Eaqually devided between them
I give and bequeath to my Son William Perkins all of my land in the State of Illinois and all my land in the State of Kentucky and all of my waggons and oxen and horses and stock of Every kind and farming tools and all of my house hold and kitching furniture and my ----- hanner and my Will is that together with the rest that William Perkins Support and Take Care of my Wife Nancy Perkins So long as she lives
I give and Bequeath to the heirs of Sollomon Perkins
----- Ratify and Confirming this to be my Last Will and Testament in witness I have here unto set my hand and seal this 27th of December 1835
Jabes (X) Perkins Atest: B.B. Creekmore, John Moses, Wm. B. Creekmore
State of Ky Whitley County CT Feby Term 1836 The last will & testament of Jabes Perkins Decd was produced in and proven by the oaths of B.B. Creekmore & John Moses & Wm B. Creekmore Subscribing Witnesses which is ordered by the Court to be recorded. A coppy test: ----------------
The inventory was recorded 3 Mar 1836.
He married unknown, circa 1783 (?), in Grayson Co., VA, or,
Ashe Co., NC. Occupation: housewife.
Children:
i. Timothy. Born, 1784, in VA/NC. Died, after 1836, in Gentry Co.,
MO. He married Mary Ann unknown.
ii. Jesse Alvin. Born, 10 May 1787, in Grayson Co., VA. Died 7 March
1856 in IL. He was a Methodist Minister. He married, 25 Nov 1819
in Whitley Co., KY, to Amy Girton.
iii. Lucy. Born 31 Mar 1792, in Grayson Co., VA. Died, after 1835. She
married Nathan Coxe, 21 Jul 1812, in Whitley Co., KY. He was a
Methodist Class Leader.
iv. Sarah Patty. Born, 1795, in Grayson Co., VA. Died, after 1835,
in Bureau Co., IL. She married Joseph Screech.
v. Jabus/Jabez. Born, 1796, in Grayson Co., VA. Died 13 Jan 1859 in
Kennemers Cove, Marshall Co., AL. He married, first, 1822,
Marshall Co., AL, Rachel Wright. He married, second, 30 Nov 1839,
Marshall Co., AL, Sarah Kirby Justice, widow of Thomas Justice.
See, The Perkins Family Then and Now by Charles R.
Wells.
vi. Amy. Born, 1798, in Grayson Co., VA. Died 1 Aug 1862. She
married Harrison White, 30 Nov 1815 in Whitley Co., KY.
vii. William. Born, 1801, in VA. Died, Feb 1864, in KY. Occupation:
blacksmith. He married, first, Margaret Peggy McKee, 15 Mar
1821, in Whitley Co., KY. He married, second, Rebecca Shepard,
daughter of Nimrod Shepard and Jemimah Smith, 1832 (?).
viii. Solomon. Born 27 Aug 1786(?) VA/NC. A Solomon Perkins was paid
$3.60 on 23 Sept 1811 for guarding a prisoner (Grayson Co., VA
Court Order Book 1811). Died, 1824, in Whitley Co., KY. Will.
He married Nancy Freeman on 12 May 1814 in Whitley Co., KY.
ix. Nancy. Born, 1803, in Grayson Co., VA. Died, after 1835. She
married Dempsey White, on 28 Jan 1819 in Whitley Co., KY. He
was a member of the KY Legislature.
He married second to Nancy White, 27 Dec 1835 (same date as the will)
in Whitley Co., KY. Nancy Perkins renounced the will on 13 Feb 1836.
4. Lutheral Perkins. Born ~1765 in New Haven, New Haven Co., CT. Went west. He was last in the 1810 NC Census. Had land in Wilkes/Ashe Co., NC in 1805.
5. Aarod Perkins. Born, circa 1769, in New Haven, New Haven Co., CT. Resided, 1827, in Grayson Co., VA. He married Mary Polly Pennington. Will probated as "Aris" Perkins, Jan 1828 in Grayson Co., VA. Children in will: David, Christopher L., William M., Matilda, Linnia M.(,) Daniel and Morrison. Children: i. Christopher Lewis Perkins married Rosa Hale and moved to TN. ii. Matilda Perkins married Jonathan Roberts. iii. Linnian or Lighteral Perkins. (not named in will). iv. Pamelia or Linnia Perkins. v. David or David Levi Perkins, b ~1798 Grayson Co., VA, married Millie Hale. vi. William Morrison Perkins. (might be two people, Wm. M., and Morrison?) vii. Daniel Perkins.
6. Timothy Perkins. Born, 25 Jun 1771, in New Haven, New Haven Co., CT. Died, 8 Mar 1851, in Helton Creek, Ashe Co., NC. He married Tabitha Anderson, 15 May 1795. Children: i. Rebecca Perkins, b. Ashe Co., NC married Stephen Thomas and moved to Creston, NC. ii. Stephen Perkins, b. 31 Mar 1798, Ashe Co., NC, d. 1834 Bureau Co., IL. He married 29 Jan 1819 to Margaret Hanna Woods. iii. Elizabeth Perkins, b. ~1800, married Jacob Wagoner. Moved to TN. iv. Susannah Perkins, b. 1802, married Martin Hale. v. Allen Perkins, b. 1805, married (1) Rebecca Maxwell and (2) Sabrina Maxwell (sisters). vi. Lucy Perkins, b. 1810 Ashe Co., NC married William Wright. vii. Celia Perkins, b. 1812 Ashe Co., NC married David Wagner or Wagoner. Moved to TN. Viii. Johnson Perkins, b. 1815 Ashe Co., NC d. 1884 NC, married Catherine Johnson. ix. Mary Ann Perkins, b. 1817, married 25 Aug 1836 to Abraham Faw/Pfau/Faugh b. 28 Dec 1814, d. 30 May 1879. x. Stralia Perkins married ----- Brown moved to TN. xi. Calvin Perkins, married Elizabeth Hale. xii. Jennie Perkins, married ----- Waugh. xiii. Phebe Perkins, died young. xiv. Mattie Perkins, married William Hamilton.
7. Levi Perkins. Born, circa 1772, in Ashe Co., NC. He married Minnie Hale ?. Children: i. daughter married ------ Philander. ii. Marvin Perkins.
8. Gordon Perkins. Born, 15 Nov 1773, in Ashe Co., NC. Died, circa 1851, in Grayson Co., VA. He married in 1801 to Joannah Stamper, b 5 Nov 17781, d. Jul 1861 Grayson Co., VA. Children: i. Sarah Perkins, b. 22 Feb 1802, Grayson Co., VA, d. aft 1866. Married 29 Dec 1825 to (1) Stephen Anderson, b. 10 Aug 1802, d. 1 Sept 1834, (2) on 14 Apr 1836 in Hawkins Co., TN to George Swimpfield Anderson, b. 28 Nov 1782, d. 7 May 1866, Hawkins Co., TN. ii. Alexander Perkins, b. 22 Nov 1803 Grayson Co., VA, d. 1881, Grayson Co., VA. Was a doctor. Married 12 Oct 1826 in Grayson Co., VA to Melinda Wells. iii. Phebe Perkins, b. 20 Aug 1805 Grayson Co., VA, married 20 Jan 1831 to Reazen Plummer. iv. Rev. Elijah Perkins, b. 11 Jul 1809 Grayson Co., VA, d ~1852 Green Co., MO. He married on 23 Oct 1833 in Grayson Co., VA to Elizabeth Winton. v. Eli W. Perkins, b. 12 Sept 1809 Grayson Co., VA, d. ~1876 Grayson Co., VA. He married 28 Oct 1830 to (1) Parzade Pugh, d bef 1850; married (2) ~1850 Rhoda Clark, d bef 1868; married 4 May 1868 (3) Catherine Tucker. vi. Lucinda Perkins, b. 17 Oct 1811, married 28 Aug 1823(?) to Joseph M. Wood. vii. Ada Perkins, b ~1814, married 3 Jul 1835 William/Wilborn Ross. viii. Miriam Perkins, b. 28 Feb 1817, married 21 May 1840 to Jacob Anderson Hash. ix. Timothy Fletcher Perkins, b. ~1823, d. btwn 1860-1870, married 3 Oct 1843 to Elizabeth M. Sturges, b. 1826.
9. Stephen Perkins. Born, 1774, in Wilkes Co., NC, or Grayson Co., VA. Died, Aug 1844, in Grayson Co., VA. He married Ruth Hitchcock. Will probated Aug 1844 in Grayson Co., VA. Children named in will: Samuel, Isaac, Timothy, John H., Amy, Lucy, Rebecca, Linton and Stephen; named son-in-law James Thomas. Children: i. Samuel Perkins, married on 31 Mar 1825, Grayson Co., VA to Caroline Woods. ii. Linton Perkins. iii. Issac Perkins, married ----- Camay. iv. Timothy Perkins, d. ~1850, Grayson Co., VA, married Susannah -----, d. bef 1849. Children of Timothy named in his Father's will: John Wesley, Mary Ann, Amy, Joshua, Lucy, Kinsey (children of son Timothy); v. John H. Perkins, d. aft 1876, married 1842 to Lucy Young. vi. Stephen Perkins, married unknown. vii. Lucy Perkins, married ----- Russell. Children of Lucy named in her Father's will: Stephen C. Russell, Phillip Francis Russell, and James Fleming Russell; viii. Amy Perkins, married James Thomas. ix. Rebecca Perkins. x. Matilda Perkins, married ----- Roberts.
10. Lucy Perkins. Born, 2 Feb 1776, in Wilkes Co., NC, or Grayson Co., VA. Died, 28 Nov 1848, in Grayson Co., VA. Occupation: housewife. She married 20 Oct 1796 to Joseph Young, b. 1771, d. 1857. Children:(from Donald Perkins by way of Pat Kratz) i. William Young, b. 1797, d. 1865, married Jane Baker, b. 1797. ii. Timothy Young, b. 1801, married Elizabeth Baker, b. 1808, d. 1892. iii. Fielden Young, b. 1804, d. 1877, married Irena Phipps, b. 1814, d. 1889. iv. Ezekiel Young, b. 1806, d. 1887, married Evaline McMillian, b. 1812, d. 1887. v. Elizabeth Young, b. 1807, d. 1890, married John Wesley Baker, b. 1801, d. 1882. vi. Jesse Young, b. 1811, d. 1889, married Amazie Marion "Mazy" McMillian, b. 1816, d. 1891. vii. Eli Young, b. 1815, d. 1860, married Mary "Polly" McMillian, b. 1819. viii. Jestin Young, b. 1818, d. 1894, married William Madison Baldwin, b. 1820, d. 1898.
11. William Perkins. Born 1770-1783?, married 11 Feb 1802 to Margaret Hitchcock, born 14 Feb 1785. This information is from a scan of a Family Record page from the bible of William Perkins or Zachariah Perkins and has a birthdate of 1 Jan 1783 for William. Material contributed by Janice VanNatta, "[email protected]". Children: i. Sarah Perkins, b. 4 May 1804. ii. Rachel Perkins, b. 14 Mar 1806. iii. Polly Perkins, b. 27 Sept 1808. iv. Calvin Perkins, b. 30 Sept 1811. v. Ruth Perkins, b. 12 May 1813. vi. Phebe Perkins, b. 20 June 1816. vii. Timothy Perkins, b. 7 Jan 1818. viii. Jesse Perkins, b. 26? Nov? 1820. ix. Zachariah M. Perkins, b. 23 July 1822. x. Alia K/R? Perkins, b. 14 Oct 1826. xi. Elizabeth S. Perkins, b. 3 Dec 1828.