Father: Timothy Perkins, Sr.
Mother: Miriam Sperry
Spouse: Margaret Hitchcock - b: 14/Feb/1785 - Wilkes Co.,
NC
m: 11/Feb/1802
Child-1: Sarah - b: 4/May/1804
2: Rachel
- b: 14/Mar/1806 - Ashe Co., NC
d: 29/Jan/1871 - Ashe Co., NC
m: Andrew Goss - 14/Oct/1832 - Ashe Co., NC
3: Polly
- b: 27/Sep/1808
4: Calvin
- b: 30/Sep/1811
5: Ruth
- b: 12/May/1813 - Ashe Co., NC
d: 15/Jun/1886 - Ashe Co., NC
m: Enoch Osborne - ~1835
6: Phebe
- b: 20/Jun/1816
7: Timothy
- b: 7/Jan/1818
8: Jesse
Green - b: ~26/Nov/1820 - d: ~1853 - MO
m: Mary Ann Cook - 31/Mar/1842 - Cass Co., MO
9: Zachariah
Mitchel - b: 23/Jul/1822 - Ashe Co., NC
d: 7/Feb/1901 - Ashe Co., NC
m: Lucinda Wilson - 19/Mar/1846 - Cass Co., MO
10: Ailey -
b:
14/Oct/1826
11: Elizabeth
S. - b: 3/Dec/1828
Biographical Details:
It is generally believed that William Perkins was born in that part of Wilkes County, North Carolina, which was later organized as Ashe County. In addition, it has been reported that his birth date was recorded as January 1, 1783, in an early family Bible (owned by either William himself or his son, Zachariah Perkins). Even so, some Perkins family researchers have stated that Miriam Sperry Perkins died in 1777 or 1778, which obviously implies that if this birthdate is accepted, then she could not have been the mother of William. However, credible evidence exists that Miriam survived into the nineteenth century, which, at least, affords the possibility that he was her son. Likewise, there is strong evidence that Timothy Perkins, Sr., was killed in the Revolutionary War. However, this reportedly happened as late as the summer of 1782, therefore, it is still possible that Timothy could have been William's father, although evidently posthumous. In contrast, it is plausible, even likely, that the Bible record itself is in error and that William's birthdate was earlier, perhaps, before 1780. In any case, family tradition consistently indicates that William Perkins was the youngest son of Timothy, Sr., and Miriam Sperry Perkins.Source Notes and Citations:William Perkins married Margaret Hitchcock on February 11, 1802, almost certainly in Ashe County, North Carolina. She has been identified by many researchers as William's first cousin, a daughter of Joshua and Tryphena Perkins Hitchcock.1 In addition, it is also thought that her sister, Ruth, married William's older brother, Stephen. Subsequently, civil records of Ashe County reveal that William Perkins was called variously for petit and grand jury duty in 1806 and 1807 and that in 1808 he served on a "jury" to survey a new county road.2 Accordingly, the household of "W. Purkins" appeared in the 1810 US Census for Ashe County and included an adult male of twenty-six to forty-four years of age and an adult female of between sixteen and twenty-five years. Concomitantly, in 1810 William Perkins would have been at least twenty-seven years old and Margaret Hitchcock Perkins could have been as young as twenty-four, but was more likely twenty-five by the time the family was enumerated. In addition, three young females of less than ten years of age were also resident in the household. Clearly, these can be plausibly identified as William and Margaret's daugthers, Sarah, Rachel, and Polly; however, three unidentified male children, one between ten and fifteen years, and two less than ten, were also indicated by the population schedule. This likely indicates two sons that did not survive to adulthood and, thus, are unknown to history and possibly a hired hand living in the household in the case of the older male. Subsequent population schedules of 1820 and 1830 indicate that William Perkins and his family remained in Ashe County throughout the first three decades of the nineteenth century. Moreover, several of land grants were contemporaneously issued in the name of William Perkins for tracts in Ashe County. Accordingly, it is evident that William had become a substantial land owner by 1815 when he was assessed tax on nine hundred and seventy-eight acres in Captain Sutherland's district in the vicinity of Big Helton Creek. This land holding was further described as consisting of thirteen tracts. Geographically, Big Helton Creek arises in Virginia and flows southeastward across the North Carolina-Virginia boundary emptying into the North Fork of the New River. However, in contrast to his brother Timothy, it does not appear that William patented land in Virginia. Within this context, there has been considerable confusion among researchers of the Perkins family concerning the identities of William Perkins and his nephew of the same name, son of his brother Jared. Indeed, Catherine Mitchell is sometimes cited as William's second wife, whom he presumably married following the death of Margaret Hitchcock Perkins. However, the implied chronology is clearly inconsistent with the birthdates of William and Margaret's younger children. Accordingly, Catherine Mitchell can be readily identified as the wife of the younger William. Moreover, as attested by census and civil records, the household of William and Catherine Mitchell Perkins seems to have been continuously resident in Grayson County after 1820. In contrast, it appears that William and Margaret Hitchcock Perkins never lived in Virginia and remained resident in North Carolina. Furthermore, it cannot be doubted that the William Perkins mentioned in Dr. Mitchell's diary of his trip through the North Carolina back country in the summer of 1828 was this individual, who was in all probability the son of Timothy, Sr. and Miriam Sperry Perkins.3 Nevertheless, there is evidence that William Perkins and some of his younger children, in particular his two youngest surviving sons, Jesse Green and Zachariah Mitchel Perkins, emigrated to Missouri prior to 1840.4 This is supported by the population schedule of the 1840 US Census for Jackson County, Missouri, in which the household of William Perkins, aged between sixty and seventy years, appeared. In addition, two land patents were issued concurrently on May 1, 1843, to William Perkins for one hundred and twenty-two and ninety-four one hundredths acres in Jackson County.5 The location of this tract is a ten to fifteen miles southeast of metropolitan Kansas City and just west of the present suburban community of Lees Summit. Subsequently, William's sons Zachariah and Jesse, were granted patents for three hundred and twenty and approximately four hundred and eighty-one acres, respectively, located in close proximity to their father's original patent. It is believed by some researchers that William Perkins died in Missouri prior to 1850, perhaps, about 1847. Indeed, no listing for his household can be found in the 1850 census, although the households of his two sons did appear in the Jackson County population schedule. Thus, it is probable that William died in Jackson County, although neighboring Johnson County has been indicated by at least one researcher. His burial place is unknown.
1. "Joshua Hitchcock was drafted into the continental army twice between 1779 and 1781 while he lived in Guilford county, North Carolina. He says in his pension application that they were 3 month tours about 1 year apart. He also says that he continued to live in Guilford for years after the revolutionary war then he moved to Floyd county Kentucky then on to Whitley county and 3 or 4 years (1829-30) ago moved back to Floyd county. He was 91 when he applied for his pension 7 Dec. 1833 in Floyd county, Kentucky. He is on a list of Floyd County pensioners in 1835.
Joshua sold the last of his land on the Little Helton Creek to Timothy Perkins in 1811 and moved to Floyd county, Kentucky. Timothy's sons Stephen and William married Joshua's daughters Ruth and Margaret. Timothy is thought to be the brother of Tryphenia Perkins, Joshua's second wife." Here, it is asserted that Joshua Hitchcock sold his land on Little Helton Creek to Timothy Perkins, Sr., in 1811. However, additional research indicates that the Timothy, Sr., had died in the Revolutionary War and, hence, the Timothy Perkins that lived on Helton Creek and bought Joshua Hitchcock's land was actually his son, Timothy Perkins, Jr. The remaining assertions are likely correct. (Lena Dukes; database - :1661891; worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com, 2003.)
back to bio.2. "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 the Sheriff summon Jas. Bunyard, Elijah Pope, Wm. Powers, Jas. Flecher, Levy Jones, Wm. Sereth ?, Wm. Purkins, Wm. Henson, Thos. Testament, Jno. Henson, Ser., Adam Welker, Benjamin Hubbard, Jno. Hall, Jacob May, Gideon Lewis, [illegible] as a jury to view and [illegible] part of the wagon road upon old Field Creek From Jno. Halls to Elijah Pope's and Marke true. Return to next court." (Court Minutes - 1808, Ashe Co., NC, pgs. unk. (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.))
back to bio.3. 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.)
back to bio.4. "In speaking of his maternal grandparents, Wiley Winton Osborne often mentioned that his grandfather, William Perkins, and his grandmother, who was a Hitchcock, left Ashe Co., NC soon after his parents (Enoch and Ruth Perkins Osborne) were married and settled in Missouri. Other members of the family also moved to Missouri but some, not liking the new country, returned to Ashe Co., NC." (Constance Young; database - :3213334; worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com, 2006.)
back to bio.5a. The United States of America; Certificate No. 12937; To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas William Perkins of Jackson County Missouri has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Lexington whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said William Perkins according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands," for Lot number one of the North East quarter of Section three in Township forty seven of Range thirty two in the District of Lands subject to sale at Lexington Missouri, containing Eighty acres according to the official plat of the Survey of the said Lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tracts have been purchased by the said William Perkins; Now Know Ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress in such case made and provided, Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant, unto the said William Perkins and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, to the said William Perkins and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony Whereof, I, John Tyler, President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three and of the Independence of the United States the Sixty seventh. By The President: John Tyler; By R. Tyler Sec'y. J. Williamson Recorder of the General Land Office (US Land Patent Certificate No. 12937; Washington, DC, issued 1 May 1843.)
b. The United States of America; Certificate No. 21,157; To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas William Perkins of Jackson County, Missouri has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Lexington whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said William Perkins according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands," for the East half of Lot Number two of the North East quarter of Section three, in Township forty seven, of Range thirty two, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Lexington, Missouri, containing Forty two acres and ninety four hundredths of an acre according to the official plat of the Survey of the said Lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tracts have been purchased by the said William Perkins; Now Know Ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress in such case made and provided, Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant, unto the said William Perkins and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, to the said William Perkins and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony Whereof, I, John Tyler, President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three and of the Independence of the United States the Sixty Seventh. By The President: John Tyler; By R. Tyler Sec'y. J. Williamson Recorder of the General Land Office (US Land Patent Certificate No. 21157; Washington, DC, issued 1 May 1843.)
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
6. 1810 US Census Population Schedule for Ashe County, North Carolina, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 7B, (microfilm: roll M252_39; img. 11).7. 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Ashe County, North Carolina, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 22, (microfilm roll - M33_81; img. 21).
8. 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Ashe County, North Carolina, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 33, (microfilm roll - M19_118; img. 67).
9. 1840 US Census Population Schedule for Jackson County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 61, (microfilm roll - M704_224; img. 123).
10. Ashe County Land Tax List of 1815, Jefferson, NC. (Jeffrey Weaver (tr), New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/index.htm, 2015.)
11. Kim Barr (comp), Ashe County, North Carolina Land Grants 1799-1936, New River Notes, www.newrivernotes.com/nc/ashegrnt.htm, 2003.
12. 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.