John PERKINS
Biography

John Perkins
ORIGIN: Hillmorton, Warwickshire
MIGRATION: 1631 on first trip of the Lyon
FIRST RESIDENCE: Boston
REMOVES: Ipswich 1633

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: "John Perkins and Judith his wife" were admitted to Boston church as members #107 and #108 (this would be in early 1631) [ BChR 14].

FREEMAN: 18 May 1631 [ MBCR 1:366].

EDUCATION: He made his mark to his will.

OFFICES: Deputy to General Court for Ipswich, 25 May 1636 [ MBCR 1:174]. Committee to set the bounds of Roxbury and Dorchester, 7 November 1632 [ MBCR 1:102].

Essex grand jury, 28 [December] 1641, 26 September 1648, 28 September 1652 [ EQC 1:37, 145, 260].

On 26 March 1650 "John Perkins Sr., being above sixty years old, is freed from ordinary training" [ EQC 1:187].

ESTATE: He had Ipswich land grants: forty acres in 1634, three acres of upland; ten acres of meadow; an island at More's Point; ten acres where "he hath built a house"; six acres of meadow; six acres of upland in 1635, and forty acres at Chebacco in 1636, and six acres of plowland in 1639 [ Dudley Wildes Anc 88].

On 10 December 1644 "John Perkins of Ipswich in America" and Thomas Perkins exchanged land in Ipswich [ ILR 3:1, 4:268].

In his will, dated 28 March 1654 and proved 26 September 1654, "John Perkines the Elder of Ipswich being at this time sick and weak in body" bequeathed to "my eldest son John Perkines a foal ... also ... to my son John's two sons John and Abraham to each of them one of my yearling heifers"; to "my son Thomas Perkines one cow and one heifer also ... to his son John Perkines one ewe"; to "my daughter Elizabeth Sarjeant one cow and a heifer to be to her and her children after her decease"; to "my daughter Mary Bradbery one cow and one heifer or a young steer ... to her & to her children"; to "my daughter Lidia Bennitt one cow and one heifer or steer ... to her children"; to "my grandchild Thomas Bradbery one ewe"; to "my son Jacob Perkines my dwelling house together with all the outhousing and all my lands ... according to a former covenant, after the decease of my wife"; residue "to my dear wife Judeth Perkines" sole executrix, "as also to dispose of some of the increase to children of my son Thomas and of my three daughters" at her discretion [ EPR 1:190-91].

The inventory of John Perkins was undated but totalled £250 5s., including real estate valued at £132: "the dwelling house and barn with out housing," £40 60s. [sic]; "land about the house about eight acres," £12; "more land unbroke up about fourteen acres," £21; "a parcel of marsh about six acres," £12; "a parcel of upland and marsh being much broken about twenty acres," £20; "twelve acres of improved land," £24 [ EPR 1:191].

BIRTH: Baptized Hillmorton, Warwickshire, 23 December 1583, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Sawbridge) Perkins [ Dudley Wildes Anc 87].

DEATH: Ipswich "1654 aged sixty four years" between 28 March 1654 (date of will) and 26 September 1654 (probate of will).

MARRIAGE: Hillmorton 8 October 1608 Judith Gater, baptized Hillmorton 19 March 1588/ 9, daughter of Michael Gater

SOURCE: The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III -- NEHGS

John Perkins (son of Henry and Elizabeth Perkins) came on the Lyon, which left England on December 1, 1960, and arrived on February 5, 1631. Their voyage was described as tempestuous. John is listed as coming from Hilmorton, Warwickshire, England with his wife, Judith Gator.

Passenger listing:

John Perkins of Hilmorton, Warwick, going to Boston.
.....Mrs. Judith Perkins
.....John Perkins [b. 1614]*
.....Elizabeth Perkins [1610]
.....Mary Perkins [b. 1615]
.....Thomas Perkins [b. 1616]
.....Jacob Perkins [b. 1624]
(Passengers and Ships -1631)

John Perkins of Ipswich, Massachusetts was christened December 23, 1583 in Hillborough, Warwickshire, England. He emigrated from England to New England. John died on September 20, 1654, in Ipswich, Essex County, Massashusetts. John married Judith Gates/ Gator on October 9, 1608, in Hillmorton. Judith was born on March 19, 1588, in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England. Her parents were Michael Gater and Isabel Bailey. Judith Elizabeth died in 1684 in Ipswich. John and Judith's daughter, Mary Perkins, was accused as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. John was a freeman in May 1631. In 1633, he was a settler in Ipswich, MA. John's will was witnessed by William Bartholomew of Ipswich. John was a representative of the General Court in 1636. John owned a large island at the mouth of the Ipswich River, called "Perkin's Island." In 1856, this island was still owned by the Perkins Family. His house was near Manning's neck and close to the Ipswich river.

John's will was dated March 38, 1654, and was proven September 1654. His estate was valued at 250 pounds, 5 shillings.

SOURCE: www.angelfire.com/ mi4/ polcrt/ Perkins.html -- The Perkins Family -- Written and researched by Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewski, B.F.A.