Father: William Perkins
Mother: Katherine *****
Spouse: Elizabeth Wooton - b: ~1607
m: 30/Aug/1636 - Roxbury Twp., Mass. Bay Col.
Child-1: William - b: 12/Oct/1639 - Roxbury Twp., Mass.
Bay Col.
d: 23/Dec/1639 - Roxbury Twp., Mass. Bay Col.
2: William
- b: 25/Feb/1641(1642) - Roxbury Twp., Mass. Bay Col.
d: 30/Oct/1695 - Roxbury Twp., Suffolk Co., MA
m: Elizabeth Clarke - 24/Oct/1669 - Topsfield Twp., Essex
Co., MA
3: Elizabeth
- b: 18/Jun/1643 - Weymouth Twp., Suffolk Co., MA
m: John Ramsdell - 31/May/1671
4: Tobijah
- b: 26/Oct/1646 - Weymouth Twp., Suffolk Co., MA
d: 30/Apr/1723 - Topsfield Twp., Essex Co., MA
m: Sarah Denison - 4/Nov/1680 - Topsfield Twp., Essex
Co., MA
5: Katherine
- b: 29/Oct/1648 - Weymouth Twp., Suffolk Co., MA
m: John Baker, Jr. - 13/May/1667 - Ipswich Twp., Essex
Co., MA
6: Mary
- b: 17/Feb/1650(1651) - Gloucester Twp., Essex Co., MA
m: Oliver Purchase - 17/Sep/1672 - Topsfield Twp., Essex
Co., MA
7: John
- b: 2/Apr/1655 - Topsfield Twp., Essex Co., MA
d: 12/Jan/1711(1712) - Lynnfield Twp., Essex Co., MA
m: Anna Hutchinson - 29/Aug/1695 - Topsfield Twp., Essex
Co., MA
8: Sarah
- b: 2/Mar/1656(1657) - Topsfield Twp., Essex Co.,
MA
d: 11/Jan/1717(1718) - Topsfield Twp., Essex Co., MA
m: John Bradstreet, Sr. - 17/Jun/1677 - Topsfield Twp.,
Essex Co., MA
9: Timothy
- b: 11/Aug/1658 - Topsfield Twp., Essex Co., MA
m: Edna Hazen - 2/Aug/1686 - Rowley Twp., Essex Co.,
MA
10: Rebeckah - b:
4/May/1662 - Topsfield Twp., Essex Co., MA
m: Thomas Fiske, Jr. - 3/Nov/1678 - Topsfield Twp., Essex
Co., MA
Biographical Details:
A short biography of Rev. William Perkins was published in 1856 in which he was identified as the son of William and Catherine (Katherine) Perkins and born in London on August 25, 1607.1 Subsequent research has revealed that he was probably baptized in the Parish of All Hallows in Bread Street. This location corresponds to a neighborhood a few hundred yards east of St. Paul's Cathedral. Nothing is known of his childhood, however, according to Venn, he attended schools in London and Colchester, was admitted to Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, in 1624, migrated to Christ's College November 15, 1626, and received a B. A. degree the following year.2 There is strong circumstantial evidence that William's father was a Puritan and, moreover, that he was an investor in the Massachusetts Bay Company. Commonly, company shareholders who did not immigrate to New England themselves were represented in the colony by adult children. Accordingly, the younger William emigrated from England to Massachusetts. He embarked at London on March 9, 1631 (1632 N. S.) with about sixty others on the ship "William and Francis", Captain Thomas, master.3,4 They arrived in New England the following June 5th. William was first mentioned in March or April of 1633 as an associate of John Winthrop, Jr., in the settlement of the town of Ipswich (the area of the town was first called by the Native American name "Agawam").5 Subsequently, he served in the local militia. Of course, in present society the view of Puritans as staid and serious persons of extreme religious piety is prevalent. However, historians generally dispute this as a distortion and, in any case, the Puritans were if anything else, ordinary persons having the same motivations and desires common to all people. Within this context, as a young man William appears to have been somewhat impetuous and indiscrete, perhaps, even what could be called "wild". Indeed, colony records indicate that he was disciplined for drunkeness not long after his arrival and, again, a few years later. In the first incident, his behavior is perhaps understandable, being so far from home and in a wilderness. This may have also been the opinion of the General Court since William was made a freeman and promoted to ensign on September 3, 1634, afterward settling at Roxbury. However, in the second incident in 1636, the authorities were clearly unhappy with him since he was demoted in rank and made to stand for public ridicule (a particularly Puritan form of punishment). Davis, in his Ancestry of Dudley Wildes, has attributed some of these incidents to John Perkins, who also settled at Ipswich. However, he was a much older married man and, furthermore, the confluence of chronology indicates that all of these records apply to William Perkins. Moreover, Morison aptly describes him as "[v]ersatile and restless as boy and man".6 Nevertheless, William was eventually forgiven of his early indiscretions and restored to his military duties as a member of the colony militia in 1638. Moreover, in 1644, while serving as a deputy to the General Court, he was called "Lieutenant" and soon after must have been further elevated in rank, being called "Captain" in 1645. Accordingly, William held this rank when he was later called to be the minister at Gloucester. As noted in the short biography, very few men served at his level in civil, military, academic, and ecclesiastical positions.Source Notes and Citations:On August 30, 1636, William Perkins and Elizabeth Wooton were married at Roxbury. It seems that he had been admitted to church membership shortly before their wedding (as member number 114). They were the parents of ten known children, nine of whom survived to adulthood. It is further recorded in town records (counties were not organized in Massachusetts until 1643) that in 1639 or 1640 William Perkins bought land at Roxbury from Robert Mason and Gregory Baxter.7 Subsequently, in 1641 he was granted four hundred acres by the colony in exchange for fifty pounds given by his father in London for support of the recently established Harvard College, of course, the predecessor of the present day University. Nevertheless, in 1643, civil records indicate that William and his family relocated to Weymouth and, subsequently, he represented the town to the General Court in 1644.8,9 Because William Perkins had been educated at Cambridge, he was emminently qualified to serve as a clergyman, which he did at Gloucester beginning in 1650 or 1651.10 Nevertheless, it seems that his tenure in the pulpit was not without controversy. This is documented by copious records of the Essex County Quarterly Court (this was an inferior court having jurisdiction in a single county rather than over the whole colony), which began even while he was living in Weymouth. In particular, William came into conflict with Mr. and Mrs. John Holgrave, who accused him of defamation and causing dissention within the church.11 The details remain obscure, but it is clear that they were not the only dissatisfied members of the Gloucester congregation. By 1655, William had moved from Gloucester to Topsfield, again, to be minister. Apparently, controversy followed him and he remained in the pulpit only a few years, then retiring to farming. Even so, in March of 1666, he once more became involved in controversy and brought a twenty-seven point charge against Topsfield's minister, Mr. Thomas Gilbert (apparently William's successor in the pulpit), regarding "reproachful preaching against the King's Majesty". The court records suggest that William was quite argumentative since he was still opposing Mr. Gilbert in September of 1671. In March of 1666, William Perkins was fined by the quarterly court of Essex County for excessive drinking, which suggests that this was, perhaps, something that plagued him his entire life. Of course, it is impossible to be certain, but it is known that William's father made his younger son, i.e., William's half-brother, Edward, executor of his will, which would seem to be indicative that he had doubts regarding his older son. (Mr. Mansfield Parkyns suggests as much in his commentary.) Even so, William was chosen as guardian by several of his children, probably in connection with legacies left to them by their grandfather in London, which, nonetheless, suggests a close family relationship. In passing, additional civil records identify "Mrs. Jane Perkins, widow, dwelling in the Three Cocks upon Ludgate Hill near to the west end of St Paul's church in London" as William's mother, i.e., stepmother and his father's third wife.12 It also seems that William took several trips back to England and maintained a close relationship with his father's family.13 Rev. William Perkins died at Topsfield in Essex County, Massacusetts, on May 21, 1682.
1. New England Genealogical and Historical Register, Vol. 10, pgs. 211-2, 1856.
"The Rev. William Perkins, of Topsfield, Mass., was an early ancestor of this name.
He was the son of William and Catherine Perkins, of London, England, where he was born Aug. 25, 1607, and the grandson of George and Catherine Perkins of Abbots Salford, in the County Warwick, Eng.
The first mention made of him, is in March, 1633, when, with the illustrious John Winthrop, Jr., and eleven others, he began the settlement of Ipswich. He was admitted freeman Sept. 30, 1634, and removed to Roxbury, where he married Elizabeth Wooton, Aug. 30, 1636. In 1643 he removed to Weymouth, which town he represented in the General Court in 1644. He was also a commissioner to settle small debts, leader of a military company, and one of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. In 1641 he had a grant of land in Roxbury, his father having advanced the sum of £50 to Harvard College. From 1650 to 1655, he was preaching to the inhabitants of Gloucester. From that place he came to Topsfield, and after preaching a few years, spent the remainder of his life in the calm pursuits of husbandry. He was probably one of the most accomplished persons among the early settlers of Topsfield. A scholar and a man of business, -- a farmer, a clergyman, a soldier, and a legislator. In each of these relations, so unlike, and according to present notions so incompatible, he bore himself, so far as we can learn, with ability and discretion. One of his daughters married a son of Gov. Bradstreet, and one of his sons, a relative of Maj. Gen. Denison. He left an interesting written account of the births, baptisms, marriages, &c., of his children, which was copied into the Topsfield town records, by the late Jacob Town, an excellent man and a good antiquary. He often revisited his native country, and died at Topsfield, May 21, 1682, aged 75 ..."
back to bio.2a. John Venn and John Archibald Venn (comp.), Alumni Cantabrigienses: a biographical list of all known students, graduates and holders of office at the University of Cambridge, from the earliest times to 1900 (10 vols.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1922-54: Vol. 3, pg. 337.
"Adm. at EMMANUEL, 1624. S. of William, merchant tailor, of London. B. there, Aug. 25, 1607. Schools, London and Colchester (Mr Danes). Matric. Michs. 1625. Migrated to Christ's, Nov. 15, 1626. B.A. 1627-8. Went to New England, 1632. Resided at Roxbury, Mass., adm. a freeman of the Massachusetts Colony, 1634. Moved to Weymouth, Mass., 1643. Sent as deputy to the General Court, 1644; lieutenant, 1644, and captain, 1645, of the local military company; served as schoolmaster and preached occasionally. Removed to Gloucester, Mass., and taught school there, 1651-5. Retired to Topsfield, Mass., 1655. Died there, May 21, 1682. (Peile, I. 378; J. G. Bartlett.)""Authorities Consulted ... Peile, Thomas. Biographical Register of Christ's College, 1910."
"Emigrants to New England. Every one knows how keen is the interest, felt amongst Americans, in family history, especially as regards their forefathers in the old country. But the results of their enquiries are often difficult to secure, being scattered amongst many local antiquarian and genealogical journals, as well as in many separately published family histories. We are therefore peculiarly fortunate in having enjoyed the advice and assistance of Mr J. Gardner Bartlett, of Boston, Mass. He has supplied us with biographical accounts of upwards of a hundred Cambridge students who emigrated to New England prior to 1650. The information he has supplied about many of these will be entirely new to most readers."
back to bio.3. James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England - Vols. 1-4, Little, Brown and Co., Boston, MA, 1860-1862: Vol. 3, pgs. 397-8. (Reprint available from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD, 21202-3897)
"WILLIAM, Roxbury, a min. but where educ. is unheard, s. of William of London, a merch. tailor (wh. was s.of George of Co. Warwick), was b. 25 Aug. 1607, and his s. hav. giv. to the company of our planta. L50, was a member, and to this s. gr. of 400 acres was made. He came in the William and Francis, leav. London 9 Mar. 1632/1, was freem. 3 Sept. 1634, ar. co. 1638, m. 30 Aug. 1636, Elizabeth Wootton, had William, b. 12 Oct. 1639, d. in few wks.; William, again, 25 Feb. 1642; rem. in 1643 to Weymouth, there had Elizabeth 18 June 1643; Tobijah, 20 Oct. 1646; and Catharine, 29 Oct. 1648; was rep. 1644, a capt. 1645, rem. again, I suppose, to Gloucester, there had Mary, 17 May 1652; preach. 1651-5, and bec. sec. min. of Topsfield, there had John, 2 Apr. 1655; Sarah, 2 Mar. 1657; Timothy, 11 Aug. 1658; and Rebecca, 4 May 1662. He d. 21 May 1682, leav. these nine ch. wh. all were m. Eliz, m. 31 May 1671, John Ramsdell; Catharine m. 13 May 1667, John Baker; Mary m. 17 Sept. 1672, Oliver Purchis of Lynn, as his sec. w.; Sarah m. one report says 11 June 1677, or as ano. has it, 17 June 1679, John Bradstreet; and Rebecca m. 3 Nov. 1678, Thomas Fiske of Wenham. Dr. Bentley, the diligent antiq. of Salem, in a letter to me, conject. that he was the fellow-passeng. with Willaims; but Farmer gave that honor, with greater prob. to John, and I have since received from London, the custom h. certific. mak. his voyage begin there, more than a yr. later than Roger William's arr. here."
back to bio.4. John Camden Hotten (ed.), The Original Lists of Persons of Quality, Chatto and Windus, London, 1874: pg. 149. (Reprint available from Genealogical Publishing Co., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD, 21202-3897)
back to bio.5a. On April 1, 1633, "The Court of Assistants forbid any to reside in this place (Agawam, later renamed Ipswich), without their leave, except those already come." Then follows a list of them, viz., Mr. John Winthrop, Jr., Mr. William Clerk, Robert Coles, Thomas Howlet, John Biggs, John Gage, Thomas Hardy, William Perkins, Mr. John Thorndike, and William Serjeant. Some later authorities, in particular, Robert Charles Anderson, have suggested that inclusion of William Perkins in this list was an error and that it was actually John Perkins who was meant. Indeed, he was an early settler of Ipswich, so this is quite plausible. Nevertheless, it has been accepted at least since the eighteenth century that Rev. William Perkins was with John Winthrop at the settling of Agawam. Indeed, this assertion appeared in print as early as 1834 with the publication of Felt's history. Therefore, the presumption of an error in the records must remain a debatable proposition. (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 1, pg. 107. (reprinted in Nathaniel Bradstreet Shurtleff (ed.), Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, 1628-1686 (5 orig. vols. in 6 vols.), W. White, printer, Boston, MA, 1853-4.))
b. On October 1, 1633, it was "ordered that Sergeant Perkins shall carry 40 turves to the fort, as a punishment for drunkenness by him committed". On April 5, 1636, it was "ordered that Will[ia]m Perkins shall (for drunkenness & other misdemeanors by him committed) stand at the next General Court one hour in public view, with a white sheet of paper on his breast, having a great D made upon it, & shall attend the pleasure of the Court till he be dismissed". (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 1, pgs. 108 & 172. (reprinted ibid.))
c. William Perkins was admitted as a freeman of the colony September 3, 1634 (last in a sequence of seven Roxbury men). (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 1, pg. 369. (reprinted ibid.))
d. On September 3, 1634, "Sergeant Perkins is chosen ensign to the company at Rocksbury, & Mr. Pinchon is desired to give him possession thereof". On March 3, 1635 (1636 N. S.), "Ensign Perkins is discharged of his office of ensign". (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 1, pgs. 127 & 165. (reprinted ibid.))
e. On October 10, 1638, William Perkins signed his name as a member of the surveying party led by Nathaniel Woodward which attempted to measure the latitude of the most southerly part of the Charles River, as part of the determination of the line between Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Colony. (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 1, pg. 133. (reprinted ibid.))
f. On October 7, 1641, "Mr. Will[am] Perkins, for his father's £50, is granted 400 acres of land". This is undoubtedly the land grant mentioned above, said to have been given in exchange for the elder William's support of Harvard College. (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 1, pg. 338. (reprinted ibid.))
g. William Perkins was appointed Deputy to the General Court for Weymouth (as "Lieutenant W[illia]m Perkins"), May 29, 1644, but given permission to leave this post on June 4, 1644. (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 2, pg. 66 & Bk. 3, pg. 1. (reprinted ibid.))
h. On May 29, 1644, and, again, on May 14, 1645, William Perkins was appointed Commissioner to end small causes at Weymouth (as "Mr. Willi[am] Perkins"). Also, on May 30, 1644, he was appointed to a Committee to "consider what power is to be given to the Major General, & to draw up his commission accordingly" (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 2, pgs. 73 & 97 & Bk. 3, pg. 12. (reprinted ibid.))
i. On May 14, 1645, "Captain W[illia]m Perkins is granted his 400 acres of land next to Roxbury & Captain Keayne's farms". This land (along with other grants from the General Court to individuals) had not been surveyed by November 4, 1646, when provisions were made for doing so. (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 2, pgs. 98 & 184. (reprinted ibid.))
j. On May 30, 1679, in "answer to a petition of Mr. W[illia]m Perkins Sr., the Court judgeth it meet to grant the petitioner one hundred acres of land, as an addition to what was formerly granted, where it is to be had, provided it be not formerly granted, nor hindering a plantation". (Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Bk. 5, pg. 233. (reprinted ibid.))
back to bio.6. Samuel Eliot Morison, The Founding of Harvard College (Appendix B, "English University Men Who Emigrated to New England Before 1646"), Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1935: pg. 394.
back to bio.7. On March 16, 1639 (1640 N. S.), Robert Mason sold to William Perkins two and one half acres of broken ground in the calves' pasture. At about the same time Gregory Baxter sold to William Perkins his house and buildings, with seven parcels of land, "namely three acres of broken up ground ... two acres and a half a rood in the calves' pasture ... six acres of fresh marsh ... four acres upon the meeting house hill and eight acres of salt marsh... seven acres at Stony River and nine acres at the great pond". (Roxbury Book of Probate, pgs. 1 & 2. (cited in Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33 (3 vols.), New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1995.))
back to bio.8a. On April 2, 1645, Zaccheus Gould of Ipswich sold a tenement in Weymouth to "Capt. William Perkins". (Suffolk County Land Records, Bk. 1, pg. 58. (reprinted in Suffolk Deeds (14 vols.), Rockwell and Churchill, printers, Boston, MA, 1880-1906.))
b. On October 5, 1647, "Capt. William Perkins of Waymouth" mortgaged his house and land in Weymouth to Thomas Fowle of Boston, indicating that he might pay the mortgage in England; the mortgage was paid in England by William's father and was released by Thomas Fowle on April 6, 1652. (Suffolk County Land Records, Bk. 1, pgs. 85 & 318. (reprinted ibid.))
back to bio.9a. The town of Weymouth levied a rate to raise six months' pay for "our late schoolmaster Capt. Perkins" in 1651. (Weymouth Town Records, pg. 12. (op. cit. (Robert Charles Anderson)))
b. On November 26, 1660, it was reported that Mr. James Parker had (at some time in the past) sold fifty acres of land to Capt. Perkins, and Perkins had then conveyed it to Sgt. Ephraim Hunt. (Weymouth Town Records, pg. 51. (op. cit. (Robert Charles Anderson)))
back to bio.10. Malcolm Freiberg (ed.), Winthrop Papers, Vol. 6, 1650-1654, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA, 1992: pg. 98.
As a postscript to his letter of February 24, 1650 (1651 N. S.) to John Winthrop Jr., Emmanuel Downing appended "[m]y service to Mr. Blynman and his wife; his church at Gloster is calling Captain Perkins into office."
back to bio.11a. At court July of 1645 Zacheus Gould sued William Perkins of Weymouth for debt. (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 1, pg. 79. (reprinted in Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686, 9 vols., Essex Institute, Salem, MA, 1911-1975.))
b. At court June 29, 1652, Mr. John Holgrave sued Mr. William Perkins for defamations "charging him to hunt up all occasions of disturbing the church of Gloster, whereby the church had been in danger of being rent in pieces by his cunning insinuations into the hands of several; also for saying that he was a plague to the town and now the plague was going away." The first case was thrown out and the second continued. The enmity continued and Mr. Will. Perkins sued John Holgrave for slander September 28, 1652, but withdrew his action. Holgrave, who was suing Perkins at the same time, also withdrew his charge of defamation. (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 1, pgs. 254, 261, & 262. (reprinted ibid.))
c. At court December of 1652 Mrs. Holgrave was presented for reproachful and unbecoming speeches against Mr. William Perkins, an officer of the church, "if it were not for the law, she would never come to the meeting, the teacher was so dead, and accordingly she did seldom come and withal persuaded Goodwife Vincent to come to her house on the Sabbath day and read good books, affirming that the teacher was fitter to be a lady's chamberman, then to be in the pulpit". (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 1, pg. 275. (reprinted ibid.))
d. By September of 1653 the dissatisfaction had spread and Robert Dutch and Robert Tucker were brought to court for speaking against Mr. Perkins "and discouraging men from contributing to his maintenance". (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 1, pg. 306. (reprinted ibid.))
e. After just two years in Topsfield, Mr. William Perkins at court in March of 1657 sued Jacob Towne for "detaining his maintenance" as a minister. Three years later, at court March 27, 1660, Mr. Perkins was still suing people for support, in this case the defendant was William Evans. (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 2, pgs. 30 & 195. (reprinted ibid.))
f. On November 27, 1660, the court allowed "William Perkins, aged between nineteen and twenty years, Tobias Perkins, aged about fourteen years, and Elizabeth Perkins, aged about seventeen years, all children of Mr. William Perkins of Topsfield," to choose their father as their guardian. (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 2, pg. 255. (reprinted ibid.))
g. At court September of 1665 Edward Richards told the magistrates that Mr. William Perkins had answered the question where are you going with "to hell for aught he knew." Perkins appeared and denied it. In March of 1666 Mr. William Perkins was fined for excessive drinking. (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 3, pgs. 273 & 309. (reprinted ibid.))
h. At court March of 1666, Mr. William Perkins brought a twenty-seven point charge against Topsfield's minister, Mr. Thomas Gilbert, regarding reproachful preaching against the King's Majesty. Many of his neighbors came to testify that Perkins was correct. (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 3, pg. 310. (reprinted ibid.))
i. Wm. Perkins, aged about sixty-four years, deposed that August 29, 1669, when old Goodman Comins reproved Mr. Gilbert for the way he conducted the service, he said that if he did not like it he could sit by and be silent. "Mr. Gilbert ran out most bitterly, telling us that we were the basest & unworthiest people that ever he came amongst & that he would preach to us no more ... none interrupted him saving the Lt. Poebody with some vehemency rushed out of his seat & departed ... then he came down & reasoning at the table end with & complaining to Ens. Gould, brother John Reddington, & brother Tho: Baker, he would not be persuaded that he had prayed or offered to sing twice until his wife came at whose request he departed...." Perkins was still opposing Mr. Thomas Gilbert in September of 1671. (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 4, pg. 420. (reprinted ibid.))
j. Eleven years after the previous, in September of 1671 John Perkins, aged sixteen years, and Sarah Perkins, aged between fourteen and fifteen years, also chose their father as guardian. These and the preceding guardianships were very probably occasioned by legacies left to the children in the will of William's father. (Essex County Quarterly Court, Bk. 4, pg. 425. (reprinted ibid.))
back to bio.12a. On October 4, 1655, William Perkins of Topsfield, with the consent of "Mrs. Elizabeth Perkins the wife of the above named William Perkins" sold "my dwelling house in Gloucester with lands and appurtenances" to Mr. Thomas Millett of Gloucester. (Ipswich Land Records, Bk. 2, Essex Co., Salem, MA: pg. 17.)
b. On October 13, 1664, Mr. William Perkins of Topsfield purchased from William Acie of Rowley thirty-two acres at Bushy Hill in Topsfield and eight acres of meadow at Snooke-hole. (Ipswich Land Records, Bk. 5, Essex Co., Salem, MA: pg. 37.)
c. On January 20, 1671, William Perkins of Topsfield "preacher" mortgaged "my dwelling house, barn, and home lot containing seven acres, one of which is an orchard" to Thomas Clark, late of Plymouth, now of Boston, merchant, regarding a shipment of goods on the vessel Blessing drawn upon Perkins' mother, "Mrs. Jane Perkins, widow, dwelling in the Three Cocks upon Ludgate Hill near to the west end of St Paul's church in London". (Ipswich Land Records, Bk. 3, Essex Co., Salem, MA: pg. 202; Ipswich Land Records, Bk. 4, Essex Co., Salem, MA: pg. 78.)
d. On October 26, 1678, William Perkins of Topsfield, gentleman, mortgaged to Capt. Richard Woody of Boston, soapboiler, twenty acres of upland and meadow in Topsfield. (Ipswich Land Records, Bk. 4, Essex Co., Salem, MA: pgs. 200-1.)
e. On July 2, 1681, William Perkins of Topsfield and Elizabeth his wife deeded to "their loving sons John Perkins and Timothy Perkins" twenty acres in Topsfield. (Ipswich Land Records, Bk. 4, Essex Co., Salem, MA: pg. 432.)
back to bio.13. Historical Collections of the Topsfield (Massachusetts) Historical Society, 1897-1933, Vol. 18, pgs. 1-3.
The Towne Family Papers, selections from which were published in 1913, include "The Lineage of Rev. William Perkins of Topsfield," which contains detailed information on William Perkins himself and on his immediate ancestry. This document was drafted by the immigrant, and several of the significant events in his family are dated in reference to the many return trips to England made by the immigrant.
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
14. Walter Goodwin Davis, The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes 1759-1820 of Topsfield, Massachusetts, The Anthoensen Press, Portland, ME, 1959: pg. 89; Walter Goodwin Davis (with an introduction by Gary Boyd Roberts), Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis (1885-1966), Genealogical Pub. Co., Baltimore, MD, 1996: Vol. 3, pg. 168. (Reprint, in Alphabetical Order by Surname, of the Sixteen Multi-Ancestor Compendia (plus Thomas Haley of Winter Harbor and His Descendants) compiled by Walter Goodwin Davis, 1916-1963.)15. Joseph Barlow Felt, History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton, C. Folsom, printer, Cambridge, MA, 1834: pgs. 10 & 72. (Available online at john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/IpswichHistory/)
16. Roxbury Church Records, 1632-1775, pub. unk., Boston, MA, 1881: pg. 80.
17. Oliver Ayer Roberts, History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts, 1637-1888 (4 vols.), A. Mudge & son, printers, Boston, MA, 1895-1901: Vol. 1, pg. 75.
18. Zachariah G. Whitman, The History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, 2nd. ed., J.H. Eastburn, printer, Boston, MA, 1842: pgs. 147 & 314.
19. D. W. Perkins (ed), The Perkins Family in ye Olden Times - The Contents of a Series of Letters by the Late Mansfield Parkyns, Esq., privately published, Utica, NY, 1916: pgs. 58-59. (Reprint available from the Higginson Book Co., 148 Wash. St., P. O. B. 778, Salem, MA, 01970)
20. New England Genealogical and Historical Register, Vol. 76, pg. 232, 1922.
21. Paula Perkins Mortensen, English Origin of Six Early Colonists by the Name Perkins, Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, 1998.