Father: Jabez Perkins
Mother: Nancy Ann Creekmore?

Spouse: Nancy Freeman - b: 14/May/1798 - NC
  d: 19/Aug/1870 - Whitley Co., KY - bur: William B. Siler Cem, Rockholds
  m: 12/May/1814 - Knox Co., KY

Child-1: Jesse - b: ~1814 - Knox Co., KY
          2: Mary (Polly) - b: 7/Feb/1815? - Knox Co., KY
                                     d: 24/Jun/1896 - bur: Old Brown Family Plot, Whitley Co., KY
                                    m: Henry Perrow Brown
          3: John Felix - b: 2/Nov/1817 - Knox Co., KY
                                 d: 22/May/1886 - Whitley Co., KY - bur: Felix Perkins Cem.
                                m: Nancy McKeehan
                                m: Lucretia (Lucreasie) Engle - 10/Apr/1857 - Knox Co., KY
          4: Solomon - b: - Mar/1819 - Whitley Co., KY
                               d: - Nov/1881 - bur: Brair Creek Cem., Whitley Co., KY
                               m: Anna B. Creekmore - 23/Jan/1849 - Campbell Co., TN
          5: Owen - b: ~1820 - Whitley Co., KY
          6: Martha (Patsy) - b: ~1821 - KY
          7: Timothy - b: 21/Jul/1823 - Whitley Co., KY
                              d: 22/Mar/1908 - bur: Wofford Cem., Whitley Co., KY
                             m: Martha Brummett - ~1860

Biographical Details:

It is thought that Solomon was the oldest surviving son of Jabez Perkins, but his position in the family actually remains quite uncertain and it is possible that he was a younger son.  Indeed, his birthdate has been given consistently as August 27, but both 1785 and 1786 have variously been given as the year.  However, there is strong evidence that his brothers, Timothy and Jesse, were born in January of 1786 and May of 1787, respectively.  As such, this implies that it would simply not have been possible for Solomon to have been born in August of the years, 1785, 1786, or 1787.  Therefore, it is likely that he was born in 1784, probably in either Wilkes County, North Carolina, or Montgomery County, Virginia, although the years, 1788, 1789, and 1790 are also possible, in which case he would almost certainly have been born in Virginia.  Evidently, Solomon grew up in Grayson County and was mentioned in October of 1811 as having been paid three dollars and sixty cents for "guarding Sullivan three miles to jail".  Subsequently, he accompanied his family on their emigration to Knox County, Kentucky, about 1812 and he and Nancy Freeman were married in Knox County on May 12, 1814, by M. Foley.  The name of Solomon Perkins appears a number of times in the civil records of Whitley, formerly Knox, County between the years 1818 and 1821.  In particular, in October of 1818 he was appointed  by the county court as "surveyor of the road leading from the dividing ridge between the waters of Meadow Creek, and Maple Creek, to the County line".¹  This location can be identified as roughly eight to twelve miles east of the town of Williamsburg on the north side of the Cumberland River.  Several later court orders concerning road construction and maintenance also refer to this same area.  Concomitantly, Solomon Perkins was issued four land patents for a total of three hundred and ten acres in the drainage of Meadow Creek.²  The four corresponding surveys were returned between March of 1819 and March of 1823.  Clearly, these all consistently indicate the vicinity of Meadow Creek as the location for the residence of Solomon and Nancy Freeman Perkins.  Furthermore, there yet exists a locality called "Perkins" near the head of Maple Creek, which lies just below a ridge dividing the watersheds of Maple, Meadow, and Whetstone Creeks, and is about six to ten miles east to northeast of Williamsburg.  It is not known if this name relates to Solomon Perkins or any of his relatives, but such a presumption is quite plausible since names of settlements and landscape features often derive from the names of early settlers.  In addition, in February and March of 1820 Solomon Perkins was apparently plaintiff in a lawsuit against Clabourne and Joel A. Watkins, which he seems to have lost on appeal.  He also served on a jury later in the same year.³

The household of Solomon Perkins appeared in the population schedule of the 1820 US Census for Whitley County and included an adult male and female both between twenty-six and forty-five years of age and three children, two boys and a girl, less than ten years old.  The girl can probably be identified as a daughter, Mary; however, various researchers have proposed that Solomon and Nancy had as many as four sons, by 1820.  Obviously, the census record implies that either two of these sons have been attributed spuriously by later researchers or that they died as young children.  Within this context, John Felix and Solomon both evidently survived to adulthood, therefore, the identification of Jesse and Owen as sons of Solomon and Nancy Freeman Perkins seems problematical and remains a debatable proposition.

Solomon Perkins died on June 17, 1824, presumably in Whitley County and, concomitantly, there remains in the William B. Siler Cemetery a grave marker for J. S. Perkins who died on this date and whose corresponding date of birth was given as August 27, 1786.⁴  Therefore, notwithstanding any confusion surrounding the precise year Solomon was born, it would seem that in all likelihood, J. S. and Solomon Perkins were the same individual.  Even so, it is not known what relationship might have existed between the Perkins and Siler families, but in any case Solomon was evidently the first burial at this location.  Subsequently, the household of his widow, Nancy Perkins, appeared in the 1830 Whitley County population schedule and consisted of an adult female, thirty to forty years of age, i.e., Nancy herself, a male child from five to ten, two males and a female between ten and fifteen, and one female between fifteen and twenty years old.  It seems very likely that the three males should be identified as her sons, John Felix, Solomon, and Timothy.⁵  Likewise, the two remaining females were probably Nancy's daughters, Mary and Martha.  Within this context, some researchers and even cemetery records state Mary's birthdate as February 7, 1814; however, this precedes her parents' marriage and, thus, seems hardly likely and should not be accepted uncritically.   Nevertheless, it is probable that she was born about 1815.  The household of Nancy Perkins was, again, listed in the Whitley County population schedule in 1840 and, in addition, to Nancy, i.e., an adult female forty to fifty years of age, the household also contained a male, between twenty and thirty years, and a male and a female both between fifteen and twenty years old.  Since, Nancy's son, Felix, was apparently already married and listed separately on the same page of the population schedule, the older male almost certainly corresponds to Solomon.  Similarly, the younger two individuals can confidently be identified as Timothy and Martha.  Nancy Freeman Perkins is reported to have survived until 1870 and is buried with her husband in the William J. Siler Cemetery.

1. "June Term, 1818  Court having met agreeable to adjournment on monday the 15th Day of June 1818."
     "Ordered that James Mahen Senr be appointed Surveyor of the Road from the Lower Corner of G.W. Craigs field to the County line and he together with the hands on Meadow Creek so as ['to'] include Watkins & Perkins & to include Joseph Comstock & Hatfield on the head of Lyncamp keep the same in repair."  (Minute Bk. 1, 1818-1822, Whitley Co., KY, pg. 13.)

"October Term, 1818  At a County Court Held for Whitley County at the House of Samuel Cox, On Monday the 19th day of October 1818"
     "Ordered that Solomon Perkins be appointed surveyor of the road leading from the dividing ridge between the waters of Meadow Creek, and Maple Creek, to the County line, with the old road, cut out by order of the Knox County Court in the direction of Reuben Hatfields and he together with the hands to be allotted him by John Berry, Samuel Cox, and Joel A.Watkins do Keep the same in repair as the law directs.
     Ordered that John Berry, Samuel Cox and, Joel A. Watkins be appointed to allot the hands to work on the road where Jesse Rapier, and Solomon Perkins are surveyors, and make report thereof to this next court."
     "Ordered that the hands residing in the following bounds do work on the road where of Solomon Perkins is Surveyor to wit, all the hands from the Mouth of Meadow Creek and its waters including the Findleys waters up to Benjamin Mahan inclusive, and all the hands on the North side of the river from the Mouth of Meadow Creek to the Mouth of Whetstone; and up Whetstone to its source."  (ibid., pgs. 34-5.)

"December Term, 1819  At a County Court holden for the body of Whitley County on Monday the 20th day of December 1819."
     "Ordered by the Court that Joel A. Watkins be appointed surveyor of a road in the room [in place] of Solomon Purkins resigned and to keep the sd road that Purkins worked on in good repair."  (ibid., pg. 79.)

"November Term, 1820  At a county court holden for the body of Whitley County on Monday the 20 day of November 1820."
     "Ordered by the court that N. Freman, J. Berry, J. N. Brown, G. Reynolds, S. Perkins, A. Stanley, C. Watkins, L. Brown & son, T. Sharp, & W. Cumstock be alloted to J. Watkins presenct and exempt from working on the Mahans & Tilletsens roads."  (ibid., pg. 119.)

February Term, 1821  "At a county court holden for the Body of Whitley County on Monday the 19th day of February 1821."
     "Ordered by the court that William Tillotson have the Following hands attached to his precinct for two month John Bery, George W. Reynold, John N. Brown, Nathan Freeman, Solomon Purkins, William Cumstock, Andrew Stanley, Lewis Brown & his hands & Thomas Sharp."  (ibid., pg. 124.)
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2a. Kentucky Land Grant;  Grantee: Perkins, Solomon; 160 acres; County: Whitley; Water Course: Meadow Cr.;  Survey Date: 25/Mar/1819: Grant Bk. 25.  (Willard Rouse Jillson, The Kentucky Land Grants - Vol. I, Part 1, Chap. IV, Filson Club Pub., Louisville, KY, 1925: pg. 383.)

b. Kentucky Land Grant;  Grantee: Perkins, Solomon; 50 acres; County: Whitley; Water Course: Meadow Cr.;  Survey Date: 5/Jun/1822: Grant Bk. M.  (Willard Rouse Jillson, The Kentucky Land Grants - Vol. I, Part 1, Chap. VI, Filson Club Pub., Louisville, KY, 1925: pg. 680.)

c. Kentucky Land Grant;  Grantee: Perkins, Solomon; 50 acres; County: Whitley; Water Course: Meadow Cr.;  Survey Date: 5/Jun/1822: Grant Bk. M.  (ibid.)

d. Kentucky Land Grant;  Grantee: Perkins, Solomon; 50 acres; County: Whitley; Water Course: Meadow Cr.;  Survey Date: 25/Mar/1823: Grant Bk. O.  (ibid.)
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3a. "February Term, 1820  At a County Court holden for the body of Whitley County on monday the 21st of February 1820."
      "Solomon Purkins
          vs.                                   } Continued for Purkins
      Clabourn & Joel A. Watkins    (Minute Bk. 1, 1818-1822, Whitley Co., KY, pg. 86.)

"March Term, 1820  At a county court holden for the boddy of Whitley county on monday the 20th day of March 1820."
      "Solomon Perkins....Appilant
          against                                                  }  on An Appeal
      Clabourn & Joel A. Watkins .... Appilees
      This day came the Defendent Joel A. Watkins by his attorney as well as the plaintiff in his proper person And upon consideration it is ordered by the court that the Judgt.  Given by John Berry Esqr. be confirmed & the Appilees recover of the Appilant their Debt and all their costs about their suit in this behalf expended & the said Appilant May goe &c."  (ibid., pg. 89.)

b. "June Term, 1820  At a county court Holden for the Body of Whitley Count on Monday the 19th day of June A.D. 1820"
      "Commonwealth ..... plaintiff
        vs.                                        }  on a charge of Vagrancy
      Solomon Bunch .... Defendant
      The said Defendant appearing and he himself in discharge of his recognisance and the attorney for the commonwealth appearing also; whereupon by order of the Court there came a Jury to wit, John Wills, Thomas Adkins, Charles Wilson, William Hicky, Solomon Purkins  Thomas Mahan, Daniel Neil, Jacob Sexson, Lamma Clark, Joel Stoe, Andrew Roads, Richard White, who being Elected tried and sworn well and truly to try and determine the cause upon their oath do say that we of the Jury find for the Deft. and he may go &c."  (Minute Bk. 1, 1818-1822, Whitley Co., KY, pgs. 105-6.)
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4. Charley Maynard Cornelius, Whitley County Cemeteries, privately published, Abuquerque, NM, 1981: Vol. 2, pg. 37.
      "SILER, WM. B. CEMETERY.  Near Tyes Ferry (Page 1)  Source: Mae Smith & Nancy Bondurant, mid 1970's"
      "Perkins J. S.       27 Aug 1786       17 Jun 1824"  (Becky and Gary Earls (tr), "Whitley County Kentucky Cemetery Books Online", Whitley County KYGenWeb Archives, 2003.)
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5. "Timothy Perkins was in many respects a remarkable man.  He had a strong vigorous mind and fine judgment which he retained unimpaired to the last moments of his life.  He was an honest, just man, of a kindly and charitable nature; and it is said of him that he never profanely swore nor told a lie, not even in a joke, in all his life.  He was peculair in that he would never consult a doctor nor take medicine, rarely came to town and when he did it was upon urgent business, and he could nearly always be found at home.  He never was a candidate for any office and never engaged in politics.  For a great many years he was a consistent member of the Methodist church and he died a sincere Christian man.  His death was due to pneumonia fever, in both lungs, developed from a severe cold.  He was buried in the old Brown graveyard near Wofford Tuesday the 24th.  He had the respect of all who knew him, and are the warm personal friends who sympathize with the bereaved wife and children who survive him.  Several years before his death he divided a considerable property which he had accumulated in his long life of industry, among his children."  This Timothy was the youngest son of Solomon Perkins and appears to have lived his entire life in Whitley County.  (obituary: newspaper unk.  (Jan Hollon and Heather Terrell; databases - :951156 and :529396; worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com, 2001-2003.))
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Additional Citations:

6. 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Whitley County, Kentucky, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 121, (microfilm roll - M33_28; img. 132).

7. 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Whitley County, Kentucky, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 270, (microfilm roll - M19_42; img. 530).

8. 1840 US Census Population Schedule for Whitley County, Kentucky, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 208, (microfilm roll - M704_126; img. 131).

9. Order Bk., 1811-1819, Grayson Co., VA, pg. unk., Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA,  (microfilm: roll - City and County Records #13).  (JJeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.)

10. Dodd, Jordan R., Kentucky Marriages to 1850, Ancestry.com, Provo, UT, 1997.  (Available online at www.ancestry.com)

11. William B. Siler Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2372243&CScn=William&CScntry=4&CSst=19&CScnty=1106&, continuously updated).

12. Briar Creek Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1960773&CScn=Briar+Creek&CScntry=4&CSst=19&CScnty=1106&, continuously updated).

13. Wofford Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2226557&CScn=Wofford&CScntry=4&CSst=19&CScnty=1106&, continuously updated).

14. Steven Curtis Perkins, "Ancestry of Jabez Perkins, 1766-1836, of New Haven, CT., Ashe/Wilkes Co., NC, Grayson Co., VA, Bureau/Putnam Co., IL, and Knox/Whitley Co., KY", freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~scperkins/jabez.html, 1989-2001.

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