Father: Timothy Perkins, Sr.
Mother: Miriam Sperry
Spouse: Tabitha Anderson - b: 20/Mar/1775 - NC or
VA
d: 4/Mar/1838 - Helton Creek, Ashe Co.,
NC - bur: Timothy Perkins Family Cem.
m: 15/May/1795 - Grayson Co., VA
Child-1: Rebecca - b: 7/Mar/1795 - Grayson Co., VA
d: 11/Jul/1861 - Ashe Co., NC - bur: Thomas-Worth-Stout Family
Cem.
m: Stephen Thomas - 28/Mar/1820 - Grayson Co., VA
2: Stephen
Thomas
3: Elizabeth
- b: 9/Sep/1800 - Ashe Co., NC
m: Jacob Wagoner
4: Susannah
or
Susan - b: 8/Dec/1802 - Ashe Co., NC
d: 6/Aug/1864 - Grayson Co., VA
m: Mastin Hale, Sr. - 25/Dec/1828 - Ashe Co., NC
5: Allen
L. - b: 11/Dec/1805 - Ashe Co., NC
d: 18/Jul/1868 - Ashe Co., NC - bur: Allen Perkins Family Cem.
m: Rebecca Maxwell - 15/Mar/1830 - Ashe Co., NC
m: Sabrina Maxwell - ~1835 - NC
6: Lucy
- b: 2/Jan/1810 - Ashe Co., NC
d: 24/Aug/1839
m: William Wright
7: Celia
- b: 29/May/1812 - Ashe Co., NC
m: David Wagoner
8: Johnson
T. - b: 1/May/1815 - Ashe Co., NC
d: 8/May/1884 - Ashe Co., NC - bur: Timothy Perkins Family Cem.
m: Catherine Johnson - 1844
9: Mary
Ann - b: 4/Oct/1817 - Ashe Co., NC
d: 4/Oct/1839 - Ashe Co., NC - bur: Timothy Perkins Family
Cem.
m: Abraham B. Faw - 25/Aug/1836 - NC
10: Stralia
- b: ~1820
m: ***** Brown
11: Phebe -
b/d:
~1820
12: Calvin
- b: ~1821
m: Elizabeth Hale
Biographical Details:
Timothy Perkins, Jr., son of Timothy, Sr., and Miriam Sperry Perkins was born on June 25, 1771. Moreover, according to Ms. Eleanor Baker Reeves he was probably born in Connecticut.1 This assertion is supported by his son, Johnson, who for the population schedule of the 1880 census stated that his father had been born in Connecticut. If this is the case, then Timothy, Jr., must have been born shortly before the extended Perkins-Sperry family left New England and, therefore, it is almost certain he grew up in Wilkes, later Ashe, County, North Carolina. Subsequently, there is evidence that both Timothy, Jr., and his uncle, Joseph, were living in Wythe, later Grayson, County, Virginia, during the 1790's. In particular, the 1793 Personal Property Tax List for Wythe County and the 1794 Personal Property Tax List for Grayson County included both the names of Timothy and Joseph Perkins. Subsequently, Timothy Perkins, Jr., married Tabitha Anderson on May 15, 1795. They were probably married in North Carolina since no record of their marriage has been found in Grayson County. Nevertheless, later census records indicate that their first two children were born in Virginia, probably Grayson County; however, census records further indicate that their younger children were born in North Carolina. This suggests that after their marriage, Timothy, Jr., and Tabitha Anderson Perkins lived in Grayson County for a time, but apparently moved back to North Carolina about 1799 or 1800. Evidently, Timothy, Jr., and Tabitha Anderson Perkins settled in Ashe County near Helton Creek. This is supported by family tradition and the appearance of the name of Timothy Perkins in the population schedule of the 1800 US Census for Ashe County. Moreover, this location is a very few miles south of the North Carolina-Virginia boundary and is, in fact, not far from Wilson Creek where Timothy's uncle, Joseph, was issued a land patent for more than five hundred acres in 1800. At this time, the Perkins household included an adult male between twenty-six and forty-five years of age and an adult female between sixteen and twenty-five years. It seems reasonable to identify these adults as Timothy, Jr., and Tabitha. Also resident in the household were three children less than ten years old, viz., two girls and a boy. Obviously, these should be identified as their oldest three children, Rebecca, Stephen, and Elizabeth. In addition, there was one other young male between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five living with the family. Although no definite identification of this individual can be made, it is plausible that he was Timothy's youngest brother, William. The household also appeared in the 1810 Ashe County population schedule and consisted of an adult male and an adult female both between twenty-six and forty-five years of age and four female and two male children. With the exception of the older boy, who the population schedule indicated was between sixteen and twenty-five years old, this is in close accord with the known family of Timothy and Tabitha Perkins. Within this context, the age discrepancy for the older son, i.e., Stephen Thomas Perkins, age twelve, was probably an error on the part of the census taker. Concomitantly, civil records of Ashe County reveal that Timothy Perkins was called variously for petit and grand jury duty in the years 1806, 1807, and 1808; that he was involved in a lawsuit with George Sells in 1806 during the August term of the court (the case may have been settled out of court since no verdict appears to have been recorded); and that he served as an overseer of county roads in the vicinity of Helton Creek.2Source Notes and Citations:It is apparent that as with other members of his family, Timothy Perkins, Jr., was eager to acquire land. Indeed, between 1799 and 1840 there were two dozen land grants issued in Ashe County to Timothy Perkins and in the 1815 Land Tax List for Ashe County, he was shown as the owner of nine hundred and forty-five acres in Captain Weaver's district, which included the area around Helton Creek. Within this context, corresponding civil records indicate that Timothy Perkins sold one hundred acres to John Burton of Guilford County in 1806 and bought one hundred and fifty acres from Isaac Holbrook in 1811.3 Subsequently, on February 4, 1815, Timothy Perkins patented twenty-eight acres in Grayson County, Virginia, on Little Helton Creek.4 Geographically, Helton Creek arises just below Whitetop Mountain and Mount Rogers (which rise to elevations of 5520 and 5729 feet, respectively, and are the highest and third highest peaks in the state of Virginia), flows southeastward crossing the North Carolina-Virginia boundary, and empties into the North Fork of the New River a few miles (perhaps five or six) above its confluence with the South Fork. Little Helton Creek is a tributary stream, which also arises in Virginia some miles to the east, just south of Haw Orchard Mountain (elevation 5080 feet), and flows southeastward into North Carolina to join the main branch about two miles above its mouth. Furthermore, there is a relatively broad valley of flat bottomland just where Little Helton Creek crosses from Virginia into North Carolina and it seems plausible that Timothy's patent land might have been in this area. Accordingly, the household of Timothy Perkins was listed in the population schedule of the 1820 US Census for Ashe County and in addition to Timothy and Tabitha, who obviously corresponded to the two adults listed as forty-five years of age or older, there were eight younger individuals, viz., five females and three males, also resident in the household. Of the five females, two were under ten, one was between ten and sixteen, and two were between sixteen and twenty-five years of age. Clearly, these correspond to Timothy and Tabitha's daughters, Elizabeth, Susannah, Lucy, Celia, and Mary Ann. Their oldest daughter, Rebecca had married in March of 1820 and, thus, was probably living elsewhere with her husband. Likewise, their oldest son, Stephen, had married in 1818. The single male child under ten indicated in the population schedule was almost certainly Johnson T. Perkins. However, there were also two adolescent males listed, only one of whom could have been Allen L. Perkins, son of Timothy, Jr., and Tabitha Anderson Perkins. Therefore, the other adolescent male remains unidentified. Of course, as later, more detailed census records show, it was common for young men and women to hire out as farmhands and domestics; hence as a prosperous farmer it would have not been unusual for Timothy to have had a young farmhand living in his household (especially, since at this time it appears that he had only two sons of sufficient age to be of much help with farm work). In the summer of 1828 the area of Helton Creek was visited by Dr. Elisha Mitchell who was at that time making a general geological survey of North Carolina. He documented his travels and observations in a series of letters written to his wife, which were then published in the form of a diary by the University of North Carolina in 1905.5 He arrived from the town of Jefferson on Friday, July 11, 1828, and appears to have remained in the vicinity of Helton Creek for about a week, during which time he also crossed over into Virginia and climbed to the top of Whitetop Mountain. In the course of this visit Dr. Mitchell met Timothy, Stephen, and William Perkins. They appear to have been early Methodists and, consequently, Dr. Mitchell was invited to and subsequently attended a local Methodist camp meeting, the emotional nature of which he expressed considerable disapproval; he being a strict Presbyterian. Within this context, a previous family researcher, Mr. Dow Perkins, as well as others have identified the Timothy Perkins mentioned in Mitchell's diary as Timothy Perkins, Sr., father of Timothy, Jr., and original immigrant to North Carolina from Connecticut. This identification is predicated on the presumption that the diary states that Timothy was a very old man living alone on Helton Creek at the time of Dr. Mitchell's tour. However, as asserted by Judge Paul M. Perkins in his unpublished manuscript available from the Ashe County Public Library in West Jefferson, North Carolina, the diary does not actually support this conclusion, but instead indicates that there was an "army of maidens" living with Timothy Perkins.6 Clearly, rather than Timothy, Sr., this description is much more consistent with the family of Timothy and Tabitha Perkins, who in 1828 may have had several daughters (perhaps, as many as six) living at home (and, possibly, some granddaughters as well). In addition, Stephen Perkins was almost certainly the son of Timothy, Jr., and, hence, the grandson of Timothy, Sr., who came from Connecticut just as Mitchell said. According to the account, he and his family were living on Little Helton Creek within half a mile of the North Carolina-Virginia boundary. William Perkins was not a son of Timothy, Jr., but probably his youngest brother. In general, Mitchell's diary provides a unique description of this community in the early nineteenth century and independently corroborates several aspects of family tradition.
The youngest children attributed to Timothy, Jr., and Tabitha Anderson Perkins have been poorly documented and some identifications may be suspect. Indeed, daughters, Mattie and Jennie, and a son, William, have been proposed by various researchers. However, careful interpretation of various sources reveals that these were probably children of Johnson T. Perkins and, instead, grandchildren of Timothy Perkins, Jr. In any case, the household of Timothy Perkins appeared in the 1830 Ashe County population schedule and, again, Timothy and Tabitha can be easily identified with an adult couple between fifty and sixty years of age. In addition, four adolescents, one male and three females, were present in the household. These individuals cannot be identified with any certainty, but it is likely that they were some of their younger children. It appears that in the late 1830's and early 1840's Timothy Perkins surveyed and claimed a considerable amount of land in the upper reaches of Helton Creek and elsewhere in the highlands of Grayson County, e.g., Orchard Mountain, Elk Garden, Razor's Ridge, etc. (One parcel actually lay along Little Helton Creek exactly at the boundary of Virginia and North Carolina.) These parcels were described in eleven land patents issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia between November 30, 1838, and May 30, 1843, which covered a total of one thousand two hundred and four acres.7 At this time, Timothy Perkins, Jr., would have been in his late sixties or early seventies, which may indicate that he was unusually able and fit even at this advanced age. Alternatively, some or all of these later land patents may have been issued to younger members of the Perkins family, possibly one of Timothy's namesake nephews, i.e., Timothy, son of his brother, Stephen; Timothy F., son of brother, Gordon; or Timothy, son of brother, William. Another nephew, Timothy, son of his brother, Jabez, had moved to Illinois by the time the patents were surveyed and issued and, hence, cannot have been the indicated grantee. In addition, in 1833 Timothy, Jr.'s son, Stephen Thomas Perkins, also moved to Illinois and with his family and settled in close proximity to his cousin, Timothy, Jabez' son. In any case, it seems clear that Timothy Perkins, Jr., must have owned as much as several thousand acres in North Carolina and probably in Virginia as well, by the time of his death. The household of Timothy Perkins was listed in the population schedule of the 1840 US Census for Ashe County and included only three individuals, one of which was an elderly man of between sixty and seventy years of age, who was undoubtedly Timothy, Jr., himself. The other two individuals, a young male and adolescent female were probably his children. By all accounts, Tabitha Anderson Perkins died in 1838, but it is thought that Timothy Perkins, Jr., survived until March 28, 1851; however, no listing for him has been found in the 1850 census. According to some family tradition, he was buried in the Zion Hill (Sturgill) Cemetery near the village of Sturgills in Ashe County. Alternatively, he may have been buried in a private family cemetery.8
1. Eleanor Baker Reeves, A Factual History of Early Ashe County, North Carolina -- Its People, Places and Events, privately published, P. O. B. 286, West Jefferson, NC; printed by Taylor Pub. Co., Dallas, TX, 1986: pgs. 172-3 & 180-1.
"(5) Timothy Jr b c 6/25/1771 probably Connecticut m Tabatha Anderson 5/15/1795 (not found Grayson marriage records but comes from Miss Stewart Whitley Co notes) d 1851 Ashe County N. C. (He was in Ashe County in 1800 and 1810 census) He had 12 children. (1) Rebecca b 1796 m Stephen Thomas settled Costant N. C. (2) Stephen b 1798 m 1818 Margaret Hannah Woods. They had nine children born in Ashe Co. In 1833 they moved to the Great Forest of Illinois where their cousin Timothy (Jabez son) in County had gone first. They had 5 more children, the youngest being Johnson Perkins the grandfather of the Dow Perkins whose work I found in two states (3) Elizabeth b 1800 m Jacob Wagoner moved to Tenn. they had da Victoria and son Wylie (4) Sussanah b 1802 m Martin Hale Sr Grayson Co (5) Allen b 1805 d 1805 They had many children and lived in Ashe County there are many descendants still there (6) Lucy m Wm Wright (7) Celia b 1812 m David Wagoner (8) Johnson b 1815 m Catherine Johnson. Clara and Alta Perkins (Dow Perkins article in Richmond archives) then still lived on Hilton Creek. (9) Mary Ann b 1817 m Abraham Farve (10) Stralie m Mr Brown. moved to Tenn. (10) Calvin m Elizabeth Hale. One died at birth." Several comments must be made: 1) census records indicate that Sussanah (or Susan) Perkins married Mastin Hale, not Martin; 2) the notation that Allen Perkins died in 1805 is an obvious typographical error as is: 3) "Hilton" instead of Helton Creek; 4) Mary Ann Perkins married Abraham Faw, rather than "Farve"; and 5) Calvin was the eleventh, not the tenth child. In addition, other researchers apparently name Phebe Perkins as the child that died at birth, however, the source of this identification remains unclear.
"Ancestors of Dow Perkins born 1901 Dixon Illinois (1) Timothy Perkins Sr (1736-1781) (2) Timothy Perkins Jr (1771-1851) (3) Stephen Perkins (1798- ) he moved to the Great Forest of Illinois in 1833 (4) Johnson Perkins who was the grandfather of Dow Perkins.""Perkins-Thomas-Lillard-Worth Family"
"Stephen Thomas was born May 29, 1796, son of Jonathan Thomas of Virginia. He was married on March 28, 1820 to Rebecca Perkins, daughter of Timothy Perkins. They were among the first settlers of the North Fork community.
Stephen Thomas lived at Helton for some time. In the meantime, he had bought a large boundary of land in the North Fork community and had built a home on the west side of Three Top Creek and about 1828 moved to this home. A post office was establihshed at North Fork on January 18, 1830, and Stephen Thomas was appointed Postmaster and served until 1835. In connection with his extensive farming, he ran a tavern and a small country store. He and his family played an important part in the community, and most all of them spent their entire lives in Ashe County.
Rebecca Perkins Thomas died July 11, 1861. Stephen Thomas died May 18, 1864. Both of them are buried in the family burying ground near North Fork (Creston), North Carolina.
Stephen Thomas had four brothers and four sisters. Two of the sisters married Pugh and Cox. Their descendants are still in Grayson County, Virginia. (1) Their oldest daughter was born January 18, 1821. She married David Worth. (2) Wiley Perkins Thomas (no date given) married Myra Horton of Wilkes. (3) Caroline married Colonel George Reeves. (4) Jennie married Colonel John Lillard. They had one son, Thomas J. Lillard. Both parents died in his infancy and he was reared by David and Elizabeth Worth. Wiley and Myra Thomas had six children; two died in childhood. Their eldest son Hamilton Vogler Thomas never married. Lizzie married Watt W. Martin. Callie married Tom Watson. John Dixie never married. George and Caroline Reeves had eight children. Wiley was an M. D. and lived in Texas. Alice at the age of 50 married a Mr. Hundley. Rebecca never married. Lizzie married John Bryan; they had two children, Beulah and Vesta. Edgar married Susie Buchanan; after her death he married Lizzie Waugh. They had several children.
The Perkins family is of English origin.
Timothy Perkins was born in 1771 and died in 1851. He was married to Tabitha Anderson and they had three sons and six daughters. The eldest daughter, Rebecca Perkins, married Stephen Thomas on March 28, 1820. Elizabeth Perkins married Stradley. Susan married Hale, Lucy married Wright, Celia married Wagner and Mary married Faw. Stephen's eldest son married E. Wood and moved to Illinois. Allen Perkins married Maxwell; descendants live in Ashe County, North Carolina. Johnson Perkins married Katy Johnson of Ashe County. Their eldest daughter married John Carson. She died at the birth of a daughter 'Bert' who was reared by her maternal grandmother. She married Dr. Montgomery Reece of Elkin, North Carolina. Mattie Perkins married Will Hamilton of Ashe County. Their eldest son Walter married Maude Wilcox, daughter of Dr. Joseph O. Wilcox. Their daughter Clyde married Will J. Price of Rogersville, Tennessee; they had five children. Joseph married Betty Blanton; they live in Atlanta, Georgia and have two sons. Annie Hamilton married Vernon Lillard. They now own the David Worth home in Ashe County. George Hamilton married Myrtle McMillan. They live in Maryland and have several children.
Jennie Perkins married a Waugh of Virginia. They had two sons, Dick and (unknown). Will Perkins married Lucy Jane Hale. They had five children, Arthur, Gertrude, Jim, and Kate. She married Maurice Hale. They have two children; Edwin who married Mazie Osborn, lives in Winston. Davis lives in Kingsport, Tennessee. Win Perkins married Mary Belle Ballard; they had five children; Ed married Zollie Bryant of Virginia; Stella married Ed Roe of Helton, North Carolina; Mattie married Hunter Jones-they live in Charlotte, North Carolina; Clara and Alta live in the old home at Helton. Betty Perkins married Charles Gwyn of Elkin. They had five children. Kate married Mason Lillard, Grace married Alex Chatham, Susie married Raymond Chatham (brother of Alex), Ernest died in young manhood, and Paul married Alice Harris-they live in Elkin, North Carolina. Celia Perkins, daughter of Timothy and Tabitha Perkins, married a Wagner of Shouns, Tennessee. They had five children. Wiley died in young manhood. Mollie married a Bourne of Virginia. Callie married Captain Roby Brown of Tennessee. They had two children, Wiley and May Belle. Wiley died in young manhood, unmarried. May married Barton Mount of Baltimore. They had two sons, Barton and Wiley, who live near Shouns, Tennessee. Addie Wagner married Steve Brown, brother of Roby. They had several children. Tallalah married Walter Wavley, a Baptist minister." There are several inconsistencies and obvious errors in this summary of the Perkins family. Perhaps, the most serious of these is the attribution of only nine, rather than twelve children to Timothy and Tabitha Anderson Perkins. In addition, Elizabeth Perkins is identified as having married Mr. Stradley, although elsewhere her husband is identified as Jacob Wagoner (or Wagner), and the statement, "Stephen's eldest son married E. Wood" should read, "Timothy's eldest son married E. Wood". Furthermore, the anecdotal and confusing arrangement of this account is probably the reason that Mattie, Jennie, and William have been commonly misattributed as children Timothy and Tabitha Perkins, nevertheless, it is probably correct in most particulars.
back to bio.2a. "State of North Carolina August Term 1807. Ashe County At a County Court begun and held for the county of Ashe on the second Monday being the 10th day of August A.D. 1807"
"The road cut out and finished from the Elijah Pope's to Horse Creek road ordered by the court that William Powers be overseer from the meeting house on Helton Creek to to Power's path on Old Field Creek to have the hands above Timothy Perkins on Helton and Giddeon Lewis be overseer from Powers Path to the end of the road at the North Fork Road to have five men out of William Henson's company and two out of Charles Francis' Company nearest the road.
Ordered by the Court that Jno. Hichcock be overseer of the road from Benjamin Pennington's clearing on Silas Creek to the Perkins line by James [illegible] the hands on Little Helton from Joseph Plummer's up likewise from Blevins' Mill from Big Helton Creek & up.
Ordered by the Court that James Lewis be overseer of the road from the intersection of [illegible] creek road up to [illegible] creek to Benajay Penington's improvements the hands on Silas Creek up and the remainder part of Timothy Perkins' Company." (Court Minutes - 1807, Ashe Co., NC, pgs. unk. (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.))b. "State of North Carolina Ashe County At a County Court begun and held for the County of Ashe on the second Monday of May being the 9th day of May A.D. 1808."
"Ordered by the Court that Wells Blevins be overseer of the road From the Virginia Line to the Mouth of Fina's Creek and Have the Hands that Timothy Purkins formerly had.""State of North Carolina At a County Court begun and held for the County of Ashe on the Second Monday Being the 8 day of August 1808."
"Ordered by the court that Wm. Cox have all the hands above Timothy Purkins and Blevins Below to work on the road." (Court Minutes - 1808, Ashe Co., NC, pgs. unk. (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.))
back to bio.3a. "State of North Carolina. August term 1806. At a county court begun and held for the County of Ashe on the second Monday being the 11th day of August A. D. 1806."
"A deed from Timothy Perkins to John Burton of Guilford for 100 acres was duly acknowledged in open court by Tim. Perkins." (Court Minutes - 1806, Ashe Co., NC, pg. unk. (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.))b. "State of North Carolina Ashe County At a court begun and held for the County of Ashe on the Second Monday of August A.D. 1811."
"A deed from Isaac Holbrook to Tim. Perkins for 150 acres proved by John Wagg." (Court Minutes - 1811, Ashe Co., NC, pg. unk. (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.))
back to bio.4. Wilson Cary Nicholas, Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: know ye, That in conformity with a survey made the 13th day of November, 1813; by virtue of a Land Office Treasury warrant, No 20812, issued the 19th of November 1783; there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto Timothy Perkins, a certain tract or parcel of Land, containing Twenty-eight acres; situate in the County of Grayson, on little Helton creeek, and bounded as followeth to wit, Beginning at two beeches by a branch, East twenty two poles crossing Little Helton Creek, to two white oaks on the side of a hill; North one hundred and thirty two poles to a white oak near a branch, South sixty seven degrees West forty four poles to a white oak in a flat, and thence crossing the creek South nine degrees, East one hundred and sixteen poles to the Beginning. with its appurtenances: To have and to hold the said Tract or Parcel of Land with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever. In withness whereof, the said Wilson Cary Nicholas, Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia hath hereunto set his hand, and caused the lesser seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond, on the fourth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen and the Commonwealth the thirty ninth /s/W. C. Nicholas (Land Office Grants, Bk. 64, pg. 380, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #130).)
back to bio.5. Elisha Mitchell, Diary of a Geological Tour, James Sprunt Historical Monograph No. 6, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 1905: pgs. 24-5. (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.) "Jefferson, Friday Evening
It is waxing late, but the dread of your wrath being more potent than the desire to sleep, I proceed to give you the rest of these idle and unprofitable days. Major Finley40, of Wilkes, came on Tuesday evening, and as he is going on a visit into a region which I wished to visit and offered me his company, I waited till the morning was far advanced before starting. Rode up through the gap between the Phoenix and little Phoenix Mountains. Crossed the North Fork. Gneiss, at about a distance of about nine miles from town, where a change in the country seemed to commence say 5 miles from the Virginia line. Stopped at Timothy Perkins41 on Helton's Creek, where there was an army of maidens. I proposed pushing on up Helton but was advised to stay and get information at a Methodist meeting which was to be held close by at 12.
It being the middle of the harvest, but few people attended, and if they had staid away it had, as it seems to me, been as well. After service a class meeting. I staid and heard a reasonable amount of female screaming and vociferation, returned to Perkins' determined some ores42 for Isaac McNab, dined rode up Helton 2 miles to William Perkins'43 then back and round to Stephen Perkins on little Helton within half a mile of the Virginia line. Found in the field two men from Wake cutting down wheat. Steven Perkins' grandfather came from Connecticut. He is a shrewd, intelligent young man and appears fully sensible of the disadvantage his children would labor under for want of a good education. His wife, a wonderfully busy little woman told men that one boy and girl of them were twins, and that since their birth there had been three instances of the like amongst their cousins in the neighborhood. The country swarms with children. Was well bitten by fleas at night. There are no ticks here, but abundance of these their brethren.
Thursday morning. John Weaver44 came in before I was up to have me determine some ore for him, and agreed to go with me to the Whitetop, an exceedingly high mountain, 3 miles north of the, say Northwestern most corner of N.Ca. of course in Virginia. Went out to see Perkins' ore bank which is extensive and then while breakfast was getting ready heard an amusing account of an old man who determined the locality of ores by the mineral rod, and by his own account is very busy in digging for gold and silver taken from the White by the Indians, and laid up in 'subteranium chambers.' Said he greased his books with dead men's tallow, and is prevented from getting the treasure out not by the little spirit with head not bigger than his two thumbs who come to blow the candle out, but by the great old two horned devil himself. After breakfast wound over the hills to William Perkins, then up Helton 2 miles along a new horse path and by an old plantation to John Weavers. He has a wonderfully romantic place by the side of the creek under the over-hanging rocks. He is a bachelor of 27. His sister keeps house for him. Another house appeared at the distance of two miles up the creek, and we were apprised of our approach by the rolling of drums which the boys kept to frighten away the cattle that are driven in here in great numbers from Washington county, and eat up the range. Being very wild the drum scares them so that they go heels over head down the sides of the mountain; and a 4 year old ox will clear a 2 year old ox at a single jump. Two or three miles more another house, and then a mile brought us to the top. Here a few trees (of Spruce I believe) but most of the top is fine pasture covered with white clover and cattle, and commanding an extensive prospect of the mountains of Carolina and of the rich country west upon Holston in Washington county, and looking from the height at which we stood like a garden separated into its different compartments. This mountain is evidently in the transition formation. I found grey rocks and grey rock slate around its base. The summit rocks are rather flinty, and I did not understand them well. But for the bleakness and cloudiness of the situation one does not see why there might not be a plantation on the very summit of the mountain. The soil is black, moist and fertile. A copious spring bursts out within a stones throw of the summit. Here the strawberries are just ripe, and I gathered and ate a number. Saw a number of plants which were new to me, but had neither the time nor the means for examining them. The Grandfather mountain, as I supposed it to be, with a craggy and irregular summit was seen at the south, and other ridges of Burke and Buncombe farther west and apparently as high as the Grandfather. Arrived at Weaver's again about the middle of the afternoon, exceedingly fatigued having walked according to Weaver, 10 but as I suppose 12 miles in my great heavy boots. Mounted my horse and rode to the north of Helton, 10 miles and fording that stream, as I was told, for I did not undertake to count, 32 times in the distance, and then down the North Fork to Col. Meredith Ballou's45. This ride was very pleasant. A craggy cliff occupied now one side, now the other side of the river, generally overhanging the stream. The other side presented a narrow strip of low ground, fertile, sometimes in a state of nature, sometimes cultivated--the cultivated land extending some distance up the hill side and sometimes and old field, but covered with clover, how different from the old fields of Lower Carolina. The soil of Ashe at least on this side of New River is certainly fertile as is proved by the size of the trees that spring up from it. A ride in the deep valleys of such a country with the blue tops of mountains appearing everywhere, then around a stream as clear as crystal dashing over its rocky bed close by you and reminding you of its existence, at least by its murmur, and a cloudless sky overhead, in a summer evening cannot be unpleasant except that those whom one loves may not be present to partake of the enjoyment. And it at least affords one an opportunity to fall into a reverie and think about them. The object of this day's labor was to ascertain the coming in of the transition rocks which I had supposed before I left home to occupy the whole of Ashe County, and which I soon find to occupy only a diminutive part of it. Near the Blue Ridge, as I traveled, the rocks appear to be chiefly mica slate, about here they are Horneblende slate and gneissoid Hornblende rocks. This is succeeded on the N. West by Gneiss proper and the gneiss gives place to an intermediate rock preparatory to the transition. The commencement of the change may be stated to occur at 9 miles north and 12 miles West from here as the road runs, but I found Gray wracke only at the foot of the White Top Mountain, and within 2 miles of Stone Mountain in the ridge containing the bed ore (in ditches). I did not find it at all on the road leading to Perkins'.
Col. Meredith Ballou, at whose house I put up on Thursday, is of French extraction, a native of Amherst County, in Virginia. He owns a forge--is a busy, active little man, still, though 61 years of age, and the father of eleven sons and two daughters by a wife 13 years younger than himself, and looks as if she might still bear a number of children more. Between the ages of his oldest and youngest daughter there is a difference of 30 years. Fell into a dispute with him about an ore of iron (the micaceous oxide) which he asserted to contain lead. He tells me the first forge erected in this country was built on Helton creek a little above where he lives about 20 years ago by one Tarbert. Shortly after another was built higher on the same creek; 14 years ago; that on Little River and 4 or 6 years ago that visited on Monday on the western road. Friday morning, rode down the river 3 or 4 miles to see his forge and the ore bank on Weaver's land, which has been taken by Zachariah Baker46, the last years representative from Ashe, for a silver mine from which he was to derive inexhaustible wealth. It proved to be a thin crust of Brown Hematite disseminated through a rock and in such small quantities that it can never be worth working. After dinner Ballou rode out with us two or three miles to see his order banks which are numerous and rich. Indeed, I judge the range of gneiss heretofore spoken of to be full of ore. Ballou inquired whether I was a professor of religion--said he was not himself, but of the two sects into which the country was divided is most inclined to the Baptist. He spoke of the Methodist camp meeting held annually near Timothy Perkins' where I attended meeting, said that at the last meeting two men, one of those a member of the Methodist church, were witnesses of the pranks of a distinguished preacher. He went into a hut in the dusk of the evening where there was a young woman, a sister in the Methodist communion. He threw one arm around her neck and put the other upon her bosom. She removed it and he replaced it. She removed it again and he replaced it again; then finding that he was observed he struck up a sort of Psalm, 'I wished to try her faith. Hallelujah, praise the Lord.' With this precious piece of scandal, I close my letter, observing only that I arrived here just at dark and have been eating, shaving and writing ever since."Relevant footnotes:
"41. Ancestor of a number of Perkinses on Helton Creek. All wealthy.
42. No mines of value on McNab's land.
43. The Perkins are not only on Helton Creek but in Grayson Co., Va."
back to bio.6. Paul M. Perkins, unpublished manuscript, Ashe County Public Library, West Jefferson, NC.
"A. Hypothesis that he lived to 1834 This is believed by Dow Perkins and others. Proof of this is said to be his grave[s]tone in the Sturgill Cemetery and reference to Timothy in the diary of Dr. Elisha Mitchel in 1828. 'Dr. Mitchell's diary records him as living as very old man alone in 1828.' (quote from Dow Perkins) Whether this hypothesis is proved by the above depends on the evidence.
The gravestone--Mr. Bryan Spencer of the First National Bank of West Jefferson N.C. has told me that the gravestone actually reads TP 1834. There is no independent evidence that this stands for Timothy Perkins. Mrs Eleanor Reeves, a genealogist of West Jefferson has written me that this could have been Pennington as well as Perkins, as both families were in the area.
The diary of Dr. Mitchell--Dr. Elisha Mitchell was a minister with a scientific bent who was employed by N C to make a mineral survey of the mountain counties. His complete diary was published by the Un[i]versity of North Carolina in 1905. I have a copy of the entire 85 page book. The only mention of a Timothy Perkins is on pages 24 and 25:
'Gneiss (a mineral) about a distance of 9 miles from town (Jefferson N C) where a change in the nature of the country seems to take place, say 5 miles from the Vir[gini]a line. Stopped at Timothy Perkins where there was an army of maidens. I proposed pushing up Helton Creek but was advised to stay and get information at a Methodist meeting nearby at 12. It being the middle of harvest but few attended, and if they had staid away, as it seems to me, been as well. (Mitchell was a disap[p]roving Presbyterian.) After the service a class meeting (an early institution in the Methodist Church by which a class leader kept moral tabs on the members between church services). I staid and heard a reasonable amount of female screaming and vociferation.'
The Timothy referred to in the diary is undoubtedly Timothy Jr, son of Timothy Sr. The clue is in the phrase 'an army of maidens'. Timothy Jr then had 8 daughters, ages 3 to 28. Note that the diary does not say 'he was living alone.'
It is clear to me that the evidence cited in proof of Timothy's death in 1834 is faulty."
back to bio.7a. DAVID CAMPBELL, ESQUIRE, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come, GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 27th day of May 1838 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No 14073 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing One hundred and ninety acres, situate in Grayson County on Helton Creek and bounded as follows--Beginning at a large pine on South side & near Helton Creek S 50º E 92 poles to two hickory saplins near the top of the East ridge, S 82º W 128 poles to two small ash saplins, N 84º W 180 poles to a chesnut, N 20º E 40 poles to a large sugar tree near a branch corner to Joseph Caldwells patent land & with a line of the same N 1º E 56 poles to 2 linns on a small branch, S 89º E 48 poles crossing Helton Creek to a maple, thence down the creek S 20º E 76 poles to a small locust on the bank of said creek, Thence down the creek binding thereon S 74º E 140 poles to the Beginning with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said DAVID CAMPBELL, ESQUIRE, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30 day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty 8 and of the Commonwealth the 63rd /s/ David Campbell (Land Office Grants, Bk. 89, pg. 269, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #155).)b. DAVID CAMPBELL, ESQUIRE, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come, GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 29th day of May 1838 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No 14073 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing Eighty five acres situate in Grayson County on the waters of Wilson Creek and bounded as follows--Beginning at a cucumber tree on the north side of the Orchard Mountain, S 32º W 52 poles to an ash tree in a hollow S 80º W 20 poles to a white walnut by a spring S 10º W 36 poles to a birch on the north side of the mountain S 60º W 76 poles to a chesnut tree on the mountain S 50º W 56 poles to a white oak North 110 poles to a boxelder on the north side of the mountain, N 50º W 54 poles to a maple N 80º W 28 poles to a maple & chesnut oak N 30º E 24 poles to a double maple at the foot of the mountain, S 70º E 240 poles to the Beginning, with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said DAVID CAMPBELL, ESQUIRE, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty 8 and of the Commonwealth the 63rd /s/ David Campbell (Land Office Grants, Bk. 89, pg. 270, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #155).)c. DAVID CAMPBELL, ESQUIRE, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come, GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 28th day of May 1838 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No: 14073 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing Two hundred acres, situate in Grayson County, on the head waters of Big Helton Creek and bounded as follows--Beginning at a white walnut and buckeye tree marked with the letters L. P. between two large rocks at the head of a branch & at the upper end of the Elk Garden & on the top of the ridge that divides the Holdsen (sic - Holston) & New river waters, N 47 E 340 poles to a beech and buckeye on the top of the Garden Mountain, S 60 E 30 poles to a beech on the East side of the mountain, S 10 E 52 poles to a cucumber tree in the fork of a branch, S 8 W 80 poles running on to a large branch & down the same to a beech and buckeye at the mouth of said branch on the bank of big Helton Creek, S 40 W 40 poles to an ash tree by a branch S 50 W 250 poles to a stake N 38 W 80 poles to the Beginning, with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said DAVID CAMPBELL, ESQUIRE, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty 8and of the Commonwealth the 63rd /s/ David Campbell (Land Office Grants, Bk. 89, pg. 302, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #155).)d. DAVID CAMPBELL, ESQUIRE, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come, GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 26th day of May 1838 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No 14073 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing One hundred acres situate in Grayson County on Little Helton Creek bounded as follows--Beginning at a white oak on a ridge S 15º E 136 poles to two chesnut trees on a ridge N 37º E 98 poles to two poplars on the side of a ridge, N 50º E 62 poles to a beech by a branch N 60º E 170 poles crossing little Helton Creek to two chesnut oaks, two spanish oaks & a white oak sapling on the point of a ridge in some rocks N 17º E 100 poles up the Creek binding thereon to two birch and two beech trees at the mouth of Jacobs branch on the bank of Little Helton Creek, N 85º W 220 poles to the Beginning, with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said DAVID CAMPBELL, ESQUIRE, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty 8 and of the Commonwealth the 63rd /s/ David Campbell (Land Office Grants, Bk. 89, pg. 400, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #155).)e. David Campbell Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come, GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 29th day of May 1838 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No. 14,073 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing one hundred acres, situate in Grayson County on the waters of big Helton Creek & bounded as follows--Beginning at two chesnut trees below this rock spring S 20º W 74 poles to a hickory N 85º W 40 poles to a hickory S 45º W 26 poles to a spanish oak on the side of the Brier ridge West 46 poles to a hickory on the Brier ridge N 5º E 56 poles to a servis & cucumber tree N 45º E 228 poles to a spanish oak S 35º E 66 poles to a spanish oak at the head of a branch S 50 W 100 poles to the beginning, with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said David Campbell Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty 8 and of the Commonwealth the 63rd /s/ David Campbell (Land Office Grants, Bk. 90, pg. 571, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #156).)f. David Campbell Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM these Presents shall come, GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 28th day of May 1838 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No. 14073 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing twenty five acres, situate in Grayson County on Cabin Creek, a branch of big Helton Creek & bounded as follows
Beginning at a double chesnut on this Cabin ridge, corner to Weaver's lines and running with his line S 50º E 54 poles to a cucumber tree on the point of a ridge, thence leaving Weaver's line N 15º E 104 poles to a chesnut & cherry tree on the point of a ridge N 30º E 16 poles crossing a branch to an ash tree in a hollow N 25º W 110 poles to a spanish oak in Spencer's line & with the same S 17º W 200 poles to the beginning with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said David Campbell Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30 day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty 8 and of the Commonwealth the 63d /s/ David Campbell (Land Office Grants, Bk. 90, pg. 572, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #156).)g. Thomas W. Gilmer Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME--GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 7th day of November 1839 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant Nos 12708 & 2750 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certian (sic - certain) Tract or Parcel of Land, containing One hundred acres, situate in Grayson County, on waters of Laurel Creek, bounded as follows--Beginning at a white oak in a line of his own land, S 83 W 148 poles to a maple on a flat ridge by a path S 62 W 155 poles to two locusts on the North side of the lower sharp knob, South 78 poles to a chesnut oak in a flat thence N 74 E 144 poles crossing of a branch to a spruce pine in a flat N 60 E 174 poles crossing of a branch to a white oak in the line of his patten (sic - patent) land again, thence N 11 W 50 poles to the beginning, with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Thomas W. Gilmer Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30 day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 40 and of the Commonwealth the 65th /s/ Thomas W Gilmer (Land Office Grants, Bk. 91, pg. 265, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #157).)h. Thomas W Gilmer Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME--GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 19th day of November 1839 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No 14201 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins Junior A certian (sic - certain) Tract or Parcel of Land, containing eighty four acres, situate in Grayson County, on waters of Laurel Creek, bounded as follows Beginning at a spruce pine on the bank of Laurel Creek, N 43 W 52 poles to a chesnut oak in a line of John Perkins' land S 37 W 94 poles running with said line to a white oak S 72 W 42 to a white oak S 40 W 102 poles to a dogwood & black gum S 42º E 60 poles to a spruce pine on the bank of Laurel Creek, thence up said Creek, binding thereon N 37 E 232 poles to the beginning, with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins Jr and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Thomas W Gilmer Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 40 and of the Commonwealth the 65th /s/ Thomas W Gilmer (Land Office Grants, Bk. 91, pg. 266, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #157).)i. Thomas W Gilmer Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME--GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 21st day of November 1839 by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No 14201 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins Junr A certian (sic - certain) Tract or Parcel of Land, containing forty five acres, situate in Grayson County, on waters of Guffy & Laurel Creeks, bounded as follows--Beginning at a white oak corner of a 200 acre survey of his own N 12 W 66 poles to a chesnut & chesnut oak in the line of a survey of Isaac Parkes: N 75 W 126 to three hickories & white oak S 27 W 40 poles to chesnut corner of his 200 acre survey, thence with a line of said survey S 54º E 166 -- to the beginning, with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins Junr and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Thomas W. Gilmer Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the 30th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 40 and of the Commonwealth the 65th /s/ Thomas W Gilmer (Land Office Grants, Bk. 91, pg. 267, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #157).)j. John Rutherford Esq Lieutenant Governor acting as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME--GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 15th day of November 1840, by virtue of Land Office Treasury Warrant No 14324 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing one hundred acres, situate in Grayson County, on the waters of Little Helton Creek and bounded as follows--Beginning at a small white oak by a branch in the N Carolina line and near the corner of a Survey of said Perkins, thence running with the lines of said Survey, North 86 poles to a dogwood in a bottom near the creek N 33 W 46 poles to a beech on the West bank of said Creek and in the line of another survey of said Perkins, thence with the lines of the last survey, S 60 W 84 poles to a beech by a spring, S 50 W 70 poles to a white oak on the top of a high ridge thence leaving said lines S 12 E 70 poles to two chesnuts and two chesnut oaks in the N Carolina line and running with the same East 156 poles to the beginning with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said John Rutherford Esq Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the thirtieth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one and of the Commonwealth the sixty sixth. /s/ J Rutherford (Land Office Grants, Bk. 92, pg. 180, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #158).)k. James McDowell Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME--GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a Survey, made on the 20th day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty two--By virtue of Land Office Treasury warrant No 14571 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Timothy Perkins A certain Tract or Parcel of Land, containing one hundred and seventy five acres, lying and being in Grayson County on waters of Guffyes creek and Laurel creek and bounded as follows, to wit--Beginning at a chesnut tree, two hickories and water oak saplins on aridge corner of a 45 acre survey of said Perkins S 11 W 214 poles to awhite oak & maple at the foot of Razor's ridge S 63 E 90 poles To apoplar in a hollow N 35 E 215 poles to awhite oak on aflat ridge corner of the aforesaid 45 acre survey thence with lines of said Survey N 58 W 194 poles to the beginning with its appurtenances TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract or Parcel of Land, with its appurtenances, to the said Timothy Perkins and his heirs forever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said James McDowell Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his Hand, and caused the Lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed, at Richmond, on the thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three and of the Commonwealth the Sixty Seventh /s/ Jas McDowell (Land Office Grants, Bk. 94, pg. 207, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Land Office Grants and Patents #160).)
back to bio.8. "'Maizie has ask me to reply to your letter of recent date re family history. The original Timothy Perkins came to Ashe County from England as a tax collector or torrie for the British Government. According to my mother, this original Timothy had eight sons, one of which was named Timothy. This Timothy was my great-great grandfather. He was born 6-25-1771 and married Tobitha Anderson of Grayson County 5-15-1795. Tobitha was born 3-20-1775 and died 3-28-1851. Timothy and Tobitha Perkins had several children, one of which was Johnson Perkins, who married Catherine Johnson. I do not have their dates of birth and death, however, they are burried at Helton in the old Perkins cenetary (sic - cemetery) on the property now owned by Clara and Alta Perkins. William E. Perkins who married Lucy Hale, daughter of Major Peyton G. Hale of Elk Creek, Va. was a son of Johnson Perkins and Cathrine Johnson. William E. Perkins was my grandfather. As to the Scott family I have delayed writing or answering your letter until I could visit my Uncle Scott Hale at Wytheville who has all the Hale and Scott history taken from tombstones and other authentic sources. Maurice Hale mentioned by the Rev. Goodridge Wilson was my father and I was raised at the ol Scott home place in Smyth County. My Grandfather Eli Hale married Frances Scott and she was a daughter of William Scott. When I can get more information I will be glad to send it on to you. Come to see us sometime. Edwin Perkins Hale' (Letter dated March 21, 1959 to Myrtle Greer Johnson from Edward Perkins Hale - President/Manager of Robinson and Hale, Inc., Sanitary Engineering, 716 W. 18th Street, P. O. Box 101, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; also on letterhead, James O. Hale - Secretary/Treasurer, Maizie O. Hale - Director.) (NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: Information about the 'original' Timothy Perkins is incorrect in that he came from England and was a tax collector; also, our records show that he had nine sons.)" The 1851 death date for Tabitha Anderson Perkins is in conflict with other sources. This citation as well as additional information was provided by Judia and Ralph Terry of Coleman, TX, 76834, on their website. (Judia and Ralph Terry, "Ancestors of Judia Faye Kemper", freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jrterry/jfk-anc/d2286.htm#P5950, 2000.)
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
9. 1800 US Census Population Schedule for Ashe County, North Carolina, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 85, (microfilm: roll M32_29; img. 50).10. 1810 US Census Population Schedule for Ashe County, North Carolina, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 12B, (microfilm: roll M252_39; img. 19).
11. 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Ashe County, North Carolina, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 24, (microfilm: roll M33_81; img. 22).
12. 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Ashe County, North Carolina, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 14, (microfilm: roll M19_118; imgs. 29-30).
13. 1840 US Census Population Schedule for Ashe County, North Carolina, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 20, (microfilm: roll M704_354; imgs. 44-5).
14. Wythe County Personal Property Tax List of 1793, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Personal Property Tax Records #350). (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.)
15. Grayson County Personal Property Tax List of 1794, Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA, (microfilm: roll - Personal Property Tax Records #139). (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.)
16. Ashe County Land Tax List of 1815, Jefferson, NC. (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.)
17. Timothy Perkins Family Cemetery, Ashe County, North Carolina (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2424303&CScn=Timothy&CScntry=4&CSst=29&CScnty=1655&, continuously updated).
18. Thomas-Worth-Stout Family Cemetery, Ashe County, North Carolina (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2488385&CScn=Thomas&CScntry=4&CSst=29&CScnty=1655&, continuously updated).
19. Greenfield Cemetery, Bureau County, Illinois (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1019885&CScn=Greenfield&CScntry=4&CSst=16&CScnty=695&, continuously updated).
20. Allen Perkins Family Cemetery, Ashe County, North Carolina (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2424295&CScn=Allen&CScntry=4&CSst=29&CScnty=1655&, continuously updated).
21. Kim Barr (comp), Ashe County, North Carolina Land Grants 1799-1936, Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.
22. Stephen C. Perkins, "Descendants of Timothy Perkins and Marian Sperry of New Haven, CT and Wilkes/Ashe Co., NC", freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~scperkins/tperkdesc.html, 2000.
23. Ancestral File: G90M-N5, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT, continuously updated.