46. Documentation for George Perkins
(15 Oct 1808 to 20 Mar 1888)
father of Melissa Perkins
(25 Dec 1829 to 23 Jun 1891)
George Perkins, Third Great-Grandfather of Curtis Lynn Older:
1) Geoge Perkins, husband of Nora Agnes Allen, parents of Melissa Perkins
2) Melissa Perkins, wife of Isaiah James Harmeson, parents of Lucy Jane Harmison
3) Lucy Jane Harmison, wife of Chesterfield Worth, parents of Ethel Leona Worth
4) Ethel Leona Worth, wife of Roy Burton Older, parents of Truxton James Older
5) Truxton James Older, husband of Mavis Lorene Gouty, parents of Curtis Lynn Older
Download Adobe Acrobat File - 46. George Perkins - (The file has the following text plus images.)
The following information, recorded in the Perkins Family Bible by Melissa Perkins Clevenger and now owned by Alice Clevenger Call, the daughter of James E. Clevenger, was obtained from Lisa Brewer: "George, born in Greenbrier Co. West Virginia, moved settling in Knox Co Ohio. From there he settled near Cambridge, Wayne Co, Indiana, then located near Anderson Indiana, where he lived and reared a family of 7 girls and 5 boys. Then he moved to York County, Illinois, where he died at ripe old age of 81. Agnes Allen, his wife, was born in North Carolina and moved to Wayne County, Indiana, there they were married."(2)
Added May 11, 2019 - Regarding George Perkins: I believe his father was John Wesley Perkins 1772 to 1844. I say this because of his six children, including George, I have dna matches to ALL of them. 1. Mary Polly Perkins 1800-1870 m. John Hutchins Stanley : 7 matches in her line. 2. Elizabeth Perkins 1871-1875 m. Daniel stanley shows 6 dna matches. 4. Nancy Perkins m. Andrew Spencer. She was born 1805. Her line shows 11 dna matches. 4. There are 30 dna matches showing on George Perkins line...I would expect more dna matches on this line since it is my direct line 5. John WEsley Perkins, his younger brother 1812-1891, shows 10 dna matches. 6. Elijah Perkins, last son of John Wesley that I see, and younger brother to George, shows one dna match. That's 65 dna matches from John Wesley Perkins/Parkins! So I'm pretty confident he is the father of George Perkins, m. to Nora Agnes Allen. Now if we could only find that many on her! Rose – ammochester on Ancestry.com
Added May 11, 2019 - See Position Paper by Earl E. Parkins in Appendix A below that supports the conclusion John Wesley Parkins was the father of George Perkins, husband of Nora Agnes Allen.
George Perkins was born October 15, 1808, in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia).(1) George Perkins, his parents, brothers, sisters, probably cousins lived in Gallia County, Ohio, by about 1814 according to tax records. George's parents and family moved to Wayne County, Indiana by 1820. There is a fairly substantial amount of data to support these statements. His father just about had to be James Parkins Jr., son of James and Elizabeth Parkins Sr. of Greenbrier County, Virginia.
Mary "Polly" Perkins, probably a sister of George Perkins, married John Hutchins Stanley II in Gallia County, Ohio, on February 21, 1822. George Perkins and his wife lived very near to John and Mary Stanley in Madison County, Indiana, according to the 1840 Madison County, Indiana, census.
Elizabeth Perkins, also probably a sister of George Perkins, was born June 16, 1801, in Virginia. She married Daniel Stanley on February 14, 1821, in Gallia County, Ohio. Daniel and Elizabeth Stanley lived very near to George Perkins and his wife according to the 1840 Madison County, Indiana, census.
Both John and Daniel Stanley were sons of John Hutchins Stanley I, who was born September 19, 1776, in Surry County, North Carolina, and Anna Hoppes, who was born March 22, 1779 in Surry County, North Carolina. John Hutchins Stanley II was born July 16, 1797, in Surry County, North Carolina. Daniel Stanley was born October 10, 1799, in Surry County, North Carolina.
John Hutchins Stanley II died in 1848 in Madison County, Indiana. His wife, Mary "Polly" Perkins died February 17, 1870, in Madison County, Indiana. Daniel Stanley died September 11, 1877, in Madison County, Indiana, and his wife, Elizabeth Perkins, died March 14, 1875, in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.(HFB)
A posting on the GenForum of Genealogy.com on the Internet identifies perhaps another sister of George Perkins. "Seek parents of Nancy Perkins born September 5, 1805, Greenbrier County, Virginia. Married September 19, 1821, Gallia County, Ohio, to Andrew Spencer. Died March 7, 1886, Hamilton County Indiana. Buried in Spencer Cemetery. Children: Phenetta, Josiah, John, Charlotte, Nancy, Thomas, Andrew, Mariah, James, Wesley, Ellen, Lorenza."
A marriage in Wayne County, Indiana, on April 8, 1830, perhaps identifies another sister of George Perkins. Ann Perkins married a Jonathan Stanley on April 8, 1830.(GG) (Book A ; Page 259) Jonathan Stanley was born in 1798 in North Carolina and died before 1850 in Madison County, Indiana. He was a son of John Hutchins Stanley and his wife Edith Hutchins Strangeman.
Jonathan Stanley married a Polly Hartinger on April 19, 1818, in Gallia County, Ohio.(JSPHMGCO) Polly was born about 1800 and died in Madison County, Indiana. Jonathan Stanley apparently moved to Madison County, Indiana. George Perkins and his wife lived very near to a Jonathan Stanley in the 1840 Madison County, Indiana, census. It is possible the first wife of Jonathan Stanley, Polly Hartinger, died before 1830 and Jonathan married Ann Perkins in 1830 in Wayne County, Indiana.
A son of Jonathan Stanley and Ann Perkins, Edward Stanley, was born March 1, 1831, in Indiana, and died April 6, 1864, in Morgan County, Indiana, and was buried April 1864 in the Boston Cemetery, Boston, Wayne County, Indiana.
The connection of the Stanley family that went through Gallia County, Ohio, with the George Perkins is also highlighted by another Gallia County, Ohio, marriage. Elizabeth "Betsey" Stanley, a sister to John Hutchins Stanley II and Daniel Stanley, married a Jacob Moler Jr., on June 26, 1827, in Gallia County, Ohio. The Jacob Moler family lived very close to George Perkins in Madison County, Indiana, according to the 1840 census.(JMESGCO)
While reviewing your GEORGE PERKINS FILE, I wish to share with you some of my thinking. In a previous e-mail to you, I shared the possibility that GEORGE may have been named after his maternal grandfather, GEORGE NICHOLAS of Greenbrier. This was based on the assumption that your George was a son of JOHN PERKINS and ANNA ELIZABETH NICHOLAS.
In my previous e-mail to you, I outlined how we learned about this John Perkins who with his wife and family came to Raccoon Twp. in Gallia County in 1815. His census years of 1820, 1830 and 1840 while in Gallia Co. reveal that he and his wife had several children, most of whom were born in VA prior to their departure from Greenbrier.
As you would know better than I, the Stanley family arrived in Ohio in about 1802 (prior to statehood) from Surry Co., NC acquiring a patent for land in what would become Huntington Twp. which lies north of Raccoon and shares a common boundary.
When I learned that John Hutchins Stanley (the patriarch of the family) moved his family from Huntington Twp.to Raccoon Twp., the opportunity for the family members to meet was presented. It is my contention that in 1827, The Stanley Patriarch with his several families including some Perkins siblings, left Ohio headed for their future homes in Madsion County, IN.
1) I suggest that Elizabeth Perkins (who married Daniel Stanley) was named after her mother, Anna Elizabeth Nicholas.
2) I suggest that Anna Perkins (who would marry Jonathan Stanley) was named after her mother Anna Elizabeth Nicholas
3) I suggest that the Mary "Polly" name (who married John Hutchins Stanley II) was not an uncommon name in the Perkins line.
4) I repeat that George Perkins, (not a common name in the Perkins line) was named after his maternal grandfather, George Nicholas.
I think the key to this hypothesis is "two fold": first, both families resided in Raccoon Twp. during the same time period (they had an opportunity to become acquainted) and second, the years of birth and marriage are a "fit". As we know the John Perkins family took a different route upon leaving Gallia County sixteen (16) years later when they moved to Knox County, IL.in 1843.
I would appreciate your candid opinion of this theory.
Regards,
Earl Parkins
The earliest census records of a Perkins family in Wayne County, Indiana, are for a James Perkins in 1820. A William Perkins lived in Madison County, Indiana, in 1830. James Perkins might have been a brother or a son of William Perkins.
There is a good possibility that George Perkins was a son of the William Perkins who is listed in the 1830 Madison County, Indiana, census.
1830 U. S. Census for Indiana, Madison County, Township - Not Stated, Roll 26, Page 341, William Parkins household
males age 50 and under 60 - 1
females age 5 and under 10 - 2
females age 10 and under 15 - 2
females age 15 and under 20 - 2
females age 40 and under 50 - 1
William Perkins(Parkins) was a son of James Perkins and his wife Elizabeth.
A OneWorldTree source indicates the father of Elizabeth Perkins was Abraham Perkins who was born about 1778.
One of the families in Greenbrier County, Virginia, was that of a James Perkins who probably was born about 1770 in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia).(FG) He probably was the third child of James PERKINS and Elizabeth. They were married before 1773. James Perkins Sr. probably was born about 1745 - 1750. He died in May 1825 in Greenbrier County Virginia and is buried in Greenbrier County, Virginia(now WV).
( _UID: EAD01733A3DAD411BD2EBADCF74D112A666D *Change Date: 9 Oct 1999 at 01:00:00)
Name: James PARKINS 1
* Birth: ABT. 1756 1
* Death: ABT. 1825 in Greenbrier, WV 1
Father: PARKINS
Marriage 1 ELIZABETH
* Married: ABT. 1768 in Washington Co., VA 1
Children:
1. Andrew PARKINS b: 21 APR 1782 in Greenbrier, WV
2. Elizabeth PARKINS b: 15 SEP 1773 in Greenbrier, WV
3. James (Jr) PARKINS b: ABT. 1793 in Greenbrier, WV
4. Jeremiah Maston PARKINS b: 18 FEB 1789 in Greenbrier, WV
5. Levin PARKINS b: 19 JUL 1786 in Greenbrier, WV
6. Marian PARKINS b: ABT. 1783 in Greenbrier, WV
7. Samuel PARKINS b: ABT. 1778 in Greenbrier, WV
8. Sarah PARKINS b: ABT. 1779
9. Thomas PARKINS b: ABT. 1773 in Greenbrier, WV
10. Wiliam PARKINS b: ABT. 1784 in Greenbrier, WV
George Perkins married Agnes Allen on February 24, 1829, in Wayne County, Indiana.(yy) Agnes Allen probably was born in 1811 in North Carolina, according to census records. She probably was the daughter of Richard Allen and his wife, formerly Sally Johnston, of Surry County, North Carolina. Richard Allen and Sally Johnston were married April 8, 1805, in Surry County, North Carolina.
George Perkins and Agnes (Allen) Perkins were the parents of twelve children(TT):
1) Melissa Perkins was born December 25, 1829, or January 23, 1830, probably in Wayne County, Indiana. She married Isaiah Harmeson about 1848 or 1849, probably in Madison County, Indiana. Isaiah Harmeson was born May 13, 1825, in Belmont County, Ohio. He did December 9, 1887, in Casey, Clark County, Illinois, and is buried in the Macedonia Cemetery. Melissa died June 23, 1891, in Casey, Clark County, Illinois and is buried in the Macedonia Cemetery.(29)
2) Matilda Perkins was born January 21, 1831 and died November 7, 1921. She married John Harmeson on June 8, 1848, in Madison County, Indiana. John Harmeson was born April 8, 1827, in Saint Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio. He died July 30, 1910, in St. Joseph, Illinois. Matilda died November 7, 1921, in Rivera, Texas. John and Matilda Harmeson are buried in the Old Homer Cemetery, Champaign County, Illinois.(30)
3) Sarah Ann Perkins was born October 22, 1832, and died November 7, 1921, at Homer, Illinois. She married Thomas Harmeson, April 10, 1851, at her home in Madison County, Indiana. Thomas Harmeson was born April 10, 1829, in Marion County, Ohio, and died March 20, 1911.
4) Mary Jane Perkins was born March 19, 1834, and died January 10, 1916, in Shawnee County, Kansas. She was buried January 11, 1916, in Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas. She married Charles R. Fleming who was born February 8, 1816, in Ohio, and died June 11, 1888, in Kansas. (MJP death certificate #891014)
5) John Perkins was born October 17, 1838, in Madison County, Indiana. His occupation was that of farmer. He married Catherine Hicks on May 29, 1856, in Madison County, Indiana. Catherine Hicks was born April 16, 1835, in Pennsylvania.
6) William Burke Perkins was born August 19, 1837, or August 17, 1838. He died April 22, 1913, in Mound City, Linn County, Kansas. He married Elizabeth Betty "Polly" Bray December 27, 1858, in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. She was born September 27, 1841, in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana, and she died November 10, 1927, in Mound City, Linn County, Kansas. William and Elizabeth Perkins are buried in the Woodland Cemetery, Mound City, Linn County, Kansas.
The father of Elizabeth Betty Bray was Andrew Bray who was born March 20, 1804, in Surry County, North Carolina, and died March 26, 1865, in Madison County, Indiana. Andrew Bray is buried in Tucker Cemetery, Sly Fork, Adams Township, Madison County, Indiana. The mother of Elizabeth Betty Bray was Mary Polly Long who was born July 1, 1806, in Tennessee.
Andrew Bray and Mary Polly Long were married May 22, 1825, in Gallia County, Ohio. They were married by Elijah Moore, JP, according to Gallia County Marriage Records Volume 1, page 140. Andrew moved to Ohio with his parents in 1813 and moved from there to Madison County, Indiana. Andrew was a Justice of the Peace for thirteen years. He owned a farm of 740 acres on Fall Creek, a mile and a half east of New Columbus, Madison County, Indiana.(JJ)(Most of the Andrew Bray family descendants were furnished by Margaret Ferguson Maulin. Some sources she quoted for her data : William A. Johnson of Des Moines, IA; Marvin D. Headley, Blue Springs, MO; George W. Collins, Napolean, Ohio; Barry J. Henson; and the book "A Jones Family Genealogy" by Fern Bryant.)
The parents of Andrew Bray were William Bray Sr. who was born February 18, 1778, in Surry County, North Carolina, and his wife Elizabeth Denney who was born April 4, 1784, in Surry County, North Carolina.
7) Henry Perkins was born April 6, 1839. In the 1880 U. S. Census for Illinois, Clark County, Casey, Henry Perkins is listed as a farmer, age 40, and widowed.
8) Francis Perkins was born December 18, 1840.
9) Lucinda Perkins was born January 9, 1843, in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. She died January 1, 1923, in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. She married Francis M. Bray about 1859. Francis M. Bray was born June 7, 1833, in Madison County, Indiana, and died September 10, 1894, in Madison County, Indiana. Francis M. Bray was the son of Andrew Bray who was born March 20, 1804, in Surry County, North Carolina, and Mary Polly Long who was born July 1, 1806, in Tennessee.
The 1880 Madison County, Adams Township, IN census finds the family as Francis age 47, wife Lucinda age age 37; son Harry age 11; daughters Vellisoa age 19; Flora age 17; Maude age 13; Rettie age 9; Grace age age 5; Mary age 3; and Frances age 1.
10) Adam Perkins was born February 11, 1845.
11) Lydia Perkins was born January 11, 1847.
12) Elizabeth Susan Perkins was born June 11, 1851.
George Perkins died March 20, 1888, in Clark County, Illinois, and is buried in the Macedonia Cemetery northwest of Casey, Clark County, Illinois.(88) Agnes (Allen) Perkins died July 21, 1884, and is buried in the Macedonia Cemetery northwest of Casey, Clark County, Illinois.(89)
George Perkins first appears in the 1830 U. S. Census for Washington Township, Wayne County, Indiana. In the George Perkins household in 1830 were one male of age 20 and under 30, one female under 5 years of age, and one female age 15 and under 20. The three individual should be George, born in 1808; Agnes born in 1811; and Melissa born in 1829.(30)
George Parkins appears in the 1840 U. S. Census for Madison County, Indiana. The census lists three males under 5 years of age. These three males should be John born October 1835, William Burke born August 1837, and Henry born April 1839. One male age 30 and under 40 should represent George Perkins. Two females age 5 and under 10 years should represent Sarah Ann born October 1833 and Mary Jane born march 1834. The two females age 10 and under 15 should represent Melissa born December 1829 and Matilda born January 1831. The female age 20 and under 30 should be Anges (Allen) Perkins born in March 1805.(31)
The 1850 U. S. Census for Indiana, Madison County, Anderson Township, identifies the following members of the George Perkins household: George Perkins age 41, born in Virginia, cannot read or write; Agness Perkins, age 40, born in North Carolina; Sarah H. Perkins, age 18, born in Indiana; Mary J. Perkins, age 16, born in Indiana; John Perkins, age 14, born in Indiana; William Perkins, age 12, born in Indiana; Henry Perkins, age 10, born in Indiana; Francis M. Perkins, age 8, born in Indiana; Lydia Perkins, age 3, born in Indiana; Adam Perkins, age 3, born in Indiana; and Lucinda Perkins, age 6, born in Indiana.(32)
The 1860 U. S. Census for Indiana, Madison County, Anderson Township, lists George Perkins, age 52, born in Virginia, cannot read and write; Agnes Perkins, age 38, born in Ohio; Henry Perkins, age 21, farm hand, born in Indiana; Thomas Perkins, age 19, farm hand, born in Indiana; Adam Perkins, age 15, born in Indiana; Elizabeth Perkins, age 13, born in Indiana; and Susan Perkins, age 10, born in Indiana.(33)
The 1870 U. S. Census for Indiana, Madison County, Anderson Township, lists George Perkins, age 62, born in Virginia and Agnes Perkins, age 61, born in Kentucky, cannot write.(34)
The 1880 U. S. Census for Illinois, Clark County, Casey, lists George Perkins, age 71, married, farmer, born in Virginia, parents born in Virginia; Agnes Perkins, age 69, wife, married, keeping house, born in North Carolina, parents born in Virginia; and Henry Perkins, age 40, son, widowed or divorced, farming, born in Indiana, father born in Virginia, mother born in North Carolina. In an adjacent dwelling were Francis Perkins, age 35, married, farming, born in Indiana, father born in Virginia, mother born in North Carolina; Nancy Perkins, age 33, wife, married, keeping house, born in Indiana, father born in Virginia, mother born in North Carolina; and Frank Stinson, age 13, servant, single, born in Indiana, unknown where parents were born.(35)
Children (Perkins), born(36):
i. Mellisa, born January 23, 1830
ii. Matilda, born January 21, 1831
iii. Sarah Ann, born October 22, 1833
iv. Mary Jane, born March 19, 1834
v. John, born October 17, 1835
vi. William Burke, born August 17, 1838
vii. Henry, born April 6, 1839
viii. Francis, born December 18, 1840
ix. Lucinda, born January 9, 1843
x. Adam, born February 11, 1845
xi. Lydia, born January 11, 1847
REFERENCES
1. 1830 U. S. Census of Indiana, Wayne County, Washington Township, page 84, roll 29, George Perkins.
2. This information was recorded in the Perkins Family Bible by the wife of James E. Clevenger, Melissa Perkins Clevenger, and now owned by Elmer's daughter, Alice Clevenger Call.
(HFB) Family Bible of John Hutchins Stanley, published by A. J. Holman & Co., No. 930 Arch Street, Philadelphia,, 1880.
(JSPHMGCO) Marriage Records of Gallia County, Ohio, Volume 1, Page 75.
Married: 8 APR 1830 in Wayne, IN
(JMESGCO) Marriage 1 Jacob MOLER Jr. b: ABT. 1810 in Ohio Married: 26 Jun 1827 in Gallia Co., Ohio 2 Sources: Note: ABBR Census 1850 Page: Indiana, Madison Co., Monroe Twp., Family #315, Pg. 22 Note: ABBR Marriage Records of Gallia Co., OH Page: Book 1, Pg. 163
Descendants of Strangeman Hutchins, now published in three volumes, won the Donald Lines Jacobus Award for the best genealogy work published in 1980 from the American Society of Genealogists. (See the Strangeman Hutchins Stanley line.)
Hutchens-Hutchins: Descendants of Strangeman Hutchins, Born 1707, of the James River in Virginia and Surry (Yadkin) County, North Carolina, by Rita Hineman Townsend, is the only definitive and comprehensive genealogy of the Strangeman Hutchins line. For information on purchasing this outstanding reference source, contact Rita Hineman Townsend, 1606 North Third Street, Garden City, Kansas 67846-4506 (620-276-6713).
(TT) Family Tree Maker: CD #20, World Family Tree #1606.
30. 1830 U. S. Census for Indiana, Wayne County, Washington Township, Page 84, Roll 29, George Perkins household.
31. 1840 U. S. Census for Indiana, Madison County, George Perkins household.
32. 1850 U. S. Census for Indiana, Madison County, Anderson Township, enumerated October 12, 1850, by W. R. O'Neal, Dwelling 952, Family 952.
33. 1860 U. S. Census for Indiana, Madison County, Anderson Township, Post Office - Anderson, enumerated June 14, 1860, by Henry J. Pyle, Roll M653_277, Page 289, Dwelling 437, Family 437.
34. 1870 U. S. Census for Indiana, Madison County, Anderson Township, Post Office - Anderson, Page 34, Roll M593_336, Image 69, Dwelling 177, Family 177.
35. 1880 U. S. Census for Illinois, Clark County, Casey, Roll T9_181, Page 31B, Enumeration District 33, Image 0310, Family History Film 1254181, Dwelling 204, Family 210, George Perkins; Dwelling 205, Family 211, Francis Perkins.
36. (%%) Family Tree Maker: CD #20, World Family Tree #1606
Illinois State Archives - Land Purchases - Public Domain?
Detailed Information
Purchaser: PERKINS GEORGE
Residence of Purchaser: UNKNOWN
Social Status:
Legal Description:
Aliquot Parts or Lot: NW
Section Number: 05
Township: 02N
Range: 03W
Meridan: 4
County of Purchase: SCHUYLER
Details of Sale:
Acres: 149.85
Price per Acre: 1.25
Total Price: 187.31
Type of Sale: FD
Date of Purchase: 06/13/1835
Volume: 698
Page: 075
Champaign County official record #0401000201078
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: CHAMPAIGN COUNTY PROBATE COURT GUARDIANSHIP CASE 1078: IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF FANNIE, NOAH, AND LIDA HARMESON
Comments: DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 1891.
Name(s):
HARMESON, FANNIE
HARMESON, LIDA
HARMESON, NOAH
HARMESON, THOMAS
PERKINS, GEOREGE
APPENDIX A
The Lineage of George Perkins
1808-1888
(A Position Paper by Earl E. Parkins)
One is always hesitant to question the authenticity of family lore penned within the covers of the Holy Bible. The above quote was supposedly recorded by a Melissa Perkins Clevenger (1873-1862), a daughter of John Perkins (1835-1908) who was a son of George & Agnes Perkins. While Melissa would have been a teenager when her grandfather George died in 1888 and resided in a neighboring state at his death (IN vs. IL), it can be assumed that her father, John Perkins, served as her intermediary.
While one could “quibble” over minor issues such as: 1) West Virginia did not exist until 1863, or 2) York is not a county but an unincorporated community in Clark Co, or 3) that George had NOT attained the age of 81 at death. One cannot quibble, however, with the basic facts presented in this Perkins Family Bible, leaving for us, family historians to “connect the many dots”.
“George--------moved settling in Knox Co. Ohio.------“. It was not that “George” moved to Knox Co. but that his family moved. George was a number not a name within this family in 1820. Knox Co. census records reveal that only one Perkins family was residing there in 1820; the family of a John Perkins. Who was this John Perkins? A query posted by a George Perkins ancestor and family historian has provided an interesting insight for our consideration:
“I rec'd a copy of the 1820 census record from the Public Library of Mt. Vernon in Knox Co., OH just the other day. The researcher there wrote that the only PERKINS she could find in the 1820 census of Knox County was a JOHN PERKINS. There are two males between the ages of 10 and 16 in the household, who could fit GEORGE's age, being born in 1808. She sent me a copy of the census page: however, there is no township listed on it and it states in cursive on the side that it is GALLIA CO., OH, even though it's from KNOX CO. Was the county re-divided or renamed at that time? I'll have to check it out.”
Yes, GALLIA Co. OH, the county of this writer’s birth. John Perkins and his Greenbrier family located in Gallia Co in 1815 when he purchased a farm located in Raccoon Twp. from a John Mossbarger, a former resident of Greenbrier, VA. (John Mossbarger was this writer’s 2-g grandfather.) John Perkins represented the restless pioneer spirit of the time as he remained in Gallia Co. for only a brief period before moving westward for “greener pastures” first in Knox Co, OH, then on to Indiana and later to Illinois. Whether John Perkins established an Indiana residence in 1830 is not known by this writer. It is known, however, that his son, George Perkins, the focus of this paper, would meet his future wife, Nora “Agnes” Allen in Wayne Co, IN. They would wed February 24, 1829 in Wayne Co. George would participate in his first US census as a “head-of-household” in 1830 and their two eldest daughters, Melissa and Matilda are believed to have been born in Wayne Co. before the family would establish a residence in Anderson Twp., Madison Co., IN in the early 1830’s. Note: The gravestone of Matilda Perkins Harmeson provides an incorrect year-of-birth – 1841. Source: The 1850 Anderson Twp., Madison Co. census reported a Matilda Harmeson (19), spouse of John Harmeson, was residing at census property # 960. Residing next door at property # 959 was the Isiah Harmeson family. Matilda’s older sister, Melissa was the spouse of Isiah Harmeson. Matilda Perkins was born in 1831 not 1941 as recorded on her gravestone (Perkins sisters married Harmeson brothers).
One might ask, “What was the motivating force that prompted the family’s brief stay in Wayne Co. for Madison Co.”? The answer may lay with the experiences of his pre-teen years as a lad in Raccoon Twp. in Gallia Co., OH. In 1818 his father would sell the “John Mossbarger” property to his 1st cousin, Jeremiah Maston Parkins, the youngest of the seven sons of James Perkins Sr. d. 1825. The 1818 land transfer prompted the family’s move to Knox Co., OH. It was during this three year Gallia County venture that young George had the opportunity to meet sons of a Stanley family that had located in Raccoon Twp. from the Carolinas. In time there would be marriages involving sons of the Stanley line and daughters of the Perkins line. Some family historians would claim that the Perkins daughters were sisters of George Perkins. Others would suggest that they were daughters of cousins to George’s father. This would include James Perkins Jr., a 1st cousin of George’s father. There is documentation that daughters of James Perkins Jr. did wed and pass-thru Gallia Co, Ohio, a common practice of many of our colonial ancestors. A correct response as to the linage of the Perkins daughters is likely to remain mute forever. Where did the “new” Stanley families locate? Yes! Madison Co., Indiana.
The 1850 census file below is a copy of a George Perkins “data file” generated from the FamilySearch.org website. The information in the file may be questionable.
George Perkins M 41 Virginia
Agnes Perkins
F 40 North Carolina
Sarah H Perkins
F 18 Indiana
Mary J Perkins
F 16 Indiana
John Perkins
M 14 Indiana
William Perkins
M 12 Indiana
Henry Perkins
M 10 Indiana
Francis M Perkins
M 8 Indiana
Lydia Perkins
F 8 Indiana
Adam Perkins
M 5 Indiana
Lu* Perkins
F 6 Indiana Lucinda
A cursory review of the above information reveals a few obvious errors regarding the ages (year-of-birth) of some children. Note that Francis and Lydia (also called Elizabeth) appear to have been born in the same year – 1842 (not correct). Her gravestone reports her year-of-birth to be 1845. That is in error, also as 1845 places her in conflict with the same year-of-birth for her brother Adam. While the FAG memorial for Adam Perkins reports the year-of-birth to be unknown (apparently there is no gravestone), his obit reports that he died September 5, 1913 and was 68 years-of-age at death (1913-68 = 1845). This age is consistent with the age reported for Adam Perkins in both the 1850 census (age 5) and the 1860 census (age 15). In the 1860 census Lydia/Elizabeth is reported to have been 13 years-of-age, two years younger than Adam. The writer believes that Lydia Elizabeth Perkins was born in Abt. 1847.
Lucinda’s reported age in the 1850 census is probably off a year or so as her gravestone inscription reports her year of birth to have been 1842. A similar issue may pertain to Francis’ age. Based upon his age as reported in later census cycles, his year-of-birth was Abt. 1841.
At this juncture of our reporting we have introduced 11 of the 12 children born to the George & Agnes Perkins family - the two daughters who had married, establishing families of their own prior to 1850 and the nine introduced in the 1850 census above. The 1860 census will introduce us to the 12th and youngest member of the family – Susan Perkins, probably born in 1850 “after” the date of the census as she was reported to have been 10 years-of-age in the 1860 census.
The 1870 census finds the family continuing to reside in Madison Co, Indiana. George and Agnes are 62 and 61 years of age respectively, living alone on their farm valued for census purposes at $11,000. The value of an 1870 dollar to today’s dollar value is a ratio of about 28 to 1 or ($28.00 X $11,000 = $308,000.00). While rearing 12 children and acquiring real estate of this magnitude, the Blessings received by this George Perkins family cannot be ignored.
At some point in the 1870’s, George & Agnes would relinquish ownership and operation of their Indiana farm and establish a residence in Casey Twp. in Clark Co, IL. While the 1880 census data reports them residing in Clark Co., IL, their interment location was in the Macedonia Cemetery located in neighboring Cumberland County to the west. The area that defines the Cumberland County today was once a part of the larger Clark County during an earlier time. In the 1880 census their widowed sun, Henry Perkins (40) was residing in the household of his 71 year old father and 69 year old mother. Francis Perkins (a brother of Henry) and his wife Nancy were residing next door.
It would be appropriate to make reference to the names given to the three eldest sons of George Perkins. Is it unreasonable to suggest that JOHN (the eldest son) was named for his grandfather, John Perkins? Is it unreasonable to suggest that WILLIAM was named for his father’s brother, William Perkins? Is it unreasonable to suggest that HENRY was named for (1) his father’s brother, Henry Perkins Jr. and (2) his father’s grandfather, Henry Perkins Sr.?
George Perkins would have been about seven years of age when his parents located in Gallia County in 1815 from VA. Henry Sr. would die that same year which brings into question the extent of George’s memory of his grandfather Perkins. Both Henry Jr. and William, being younger brothers of George’s father, were the primary beneficiaries of their father’s estate. Both were tithables in their father’s estate which meant that they were under-age (16 under 21). In about 1818 Henry Jr. located in Gallia Co. with his new bride, Rebecca Watts, whose mother was a Parkins. Henry Jr. had not reached the legal age to purchase land at the Chillicothe Land Office. Being one of the primary beneficiaries of his father’s estate, financing a land purchase was a non-issue. His older brother, John Perkins, was there to intercede for him. Thus, Henry Perkins’ first patent in Gallia Co. carried the title name(s) J. Perkins and H. Perkins.
Unlike James Perkins Sr. who identified the names of ALL his children in his 1825 will, his brother Henry Perkins Sr. (like his father John Perkins before him) identified only those children who continued to reside in his household at his passing. A review of the Greenbrier Personal Property Tax lists according to Diana Cronhardt, a Greenbrier Perkins genealogist, four “unnamed” Tithes originating from the Henry Perkins Sr. household. That number could easily have been five if not for the astute work of a Perkins historian, Steve Jeffers, a nephew of this writer. The following statement is taken from another paper:
“Steve Jeffers, a Parkins family historian, identified a John Perkins in the 1814 Greenbrier Personal Property Tax list whose name was annotated, “son of Henry”. Jeffers also learned that a John Perkins married an “Anless” Nicholas on 21 AUG 1800 (Greenbrier marriage bonds) and in the 1805 tax record, a John Perkins was residing in the household of Geo. Nicholas, “father-in-law”. Jeffers believes that Anless Nicholas was meant to have been Ann Elizabeth Nicholas as recorded in the Nicholas Website, Elizabeth Nicholas, b. 4 NOV 1784, daughter of George Nicholas and Barbara Hoffman.”
Building of the Jeffers’ assumptions, John & Ann Elizabeth (Nicholas) Perkins would have been married about 15 years when they located in Gallia Co., OH. With George being born at the “half-way” period of the marriage, one could easily forecast a family of 7 or 8 children by 1815. In addition to George, census and marriage records provide only three additional siblings by name to the John Perkins family. A son named John would have been one of the three. His full name was John Wesley Perkins b. Abt. 1812. (Note: Some family historians claim that George’s father also shared the middle name Wesley). Reference was made earlier that John Perkins (George’s father) had sold his John Mossbarger farm to Jeremiah Maston Parkins. Among his several children was a daughter named Sibbinah Parkins b. Abt. 1816. Sibbinah and John Wesley Perkins would wed in Gallia Co. and would later move to Knox Co., IL in about 1843 with several other related families. Census data indicates that they may have had 10 or more children. Sibbinah, John’s 1st wife, died in 1882 (see FAG Memorial # 109714554) according to her interment record. John’s 2nd marriage as reported in a FamilySearch.org file provides the names of John’s parents as high-lighted below, supportive of the position advanced in this paper. (Optional spellings of surnames should not be troubling to family historians.)
Name: John Parkins
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 24 Oct 1882
Event Place: Knox, Illinois, United States
Age: 70
Birth Year (Estimated): 1812
Father's Name: John Parkins
Mother's Name: Elizabeth Nicholas
Spouse's Name: Matilda Wallingford Arie
Spouse's Age: 41
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1841
Spouse's Father's Name: Moses Wallingford
Spouse's Mother's Name: Martha Fowler
Reference ID: 6462 , GS Film number: 1412052 , Digital Folder Number: 005204716 , Image
The 2nd of the three known siblings of the John Perkins family was a daughter also named Sabina (a variable spelling). Sabina would also wed in Gallia County to an Alexander Stevens. In the 1850 Knox Co. census, this Alexander/Sabina family is presented under the name Stephenson. Residing with the family consisting of 4 children was an ANN E. PARKINS (65) b. in VA. As often happens within the Perkins line, many opt for Parkins spelling. The more important information revealed in the census, however, was the absence of a John Perkins, the father of George Perkins. While a death record for John Perkins has not been located, it can be assumed that he died after 1843. John Perkins would have been Abt. 71 years of age in 1850.
The Alexander Stephenson family would relocate to Sullivan County in MO. Their move necessitated the widow of John Perkins to reside with her son, Charles Perkins (Sabina’s brother), his spouse and their seven children. Ann E. (75) b. in VA was listed as a Perkins in the 1860 Knox Co. Census.
While this writer is comfortable in believing he has succeeded in connecting many of the “dots” regarding lineage issues concerning the George Perkins family and his ancestors, admitting that there are troubling issues to be resolved. We encourage readers of this position paper to make available both supporting and opposing points-of-view.
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FAG Memorial Index:
The Find-A-Grave website provides a valuable service for family historians seeking family connections, dates of birth and death, locations of interment and etc. The directions below provide a quick internet access to FAG Memorials of the George Perkins line.
Directions: (1) Google: Findagrave.com (2) Click: Find a Grave – Millions of Cemetery Records (3) Click: Search 116 million grave records (4) Enter:
Memorial “number” (from index) (5) Click: Search
Name Memorial “Number” Relationship
George Perkins 68306282 father
Nora “Agnes” Perkins 68306291 mother
Melissa Perkins Harmeson 68322554 daughter
Matilda Perkins Harmeson 21765238 daughter
Sarah Ann Perkins Harmeson 21765367 daughter
Mary Jane Perkins Fleming 14228835 daughter
John Perkins 107982833 son
William Burke Perkins 86790784 son
Henry Perkins (not located) son
Francis M. Perkins (not located) son
Lucinda Perkins Bray 41990636 daughter
Adam Perkins 74903212 son
Lydia Elizabeth Perkins Underwood 40525960 daughter
Susan Perkins (not located) daughter
Spouses to the above:
Isiah 68322532 spouse of Melissa
John 21765129 spouse of Matilda
Thomas 21765311 spouse of Sarah
Catherine 107982625 spouse of john
Elizabeth “Betty” 95565780 spouse of William
Francis 41990530 spouse of Lucinda
Thomas 16132819 spouse of Lydia
Melissa Perkins Clevenger 48977819 daughter of John Perkins
(a son of George Perkins)
A position paper
Prepared by Earl E. Parkins
August 14, 2014
eparkins2@tampabay.rr.com
Hello Curt, I have attempted to respond to your questions. Note that I have included an attachment showing the marriage record of the John Perkins marriage record to Anless (Ann Elizabeth) Nicholas. I have also included three paragraphs taken from my narrative pertaining to the marriage of your George Perkins parents. You should scroll down to my answers (in red) to your questions. Always pleased to respond to your questions. Earl
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“Steve Jeffers, a Parkins family historian, identified a John Perkins in the 1814 Greenbrier Personal Property Tax list whose name was annotated, “son of Henry”. Jeffers also learned that a John Perkins married an “Anless” Nicholas on 21 AUG 1800 (Greenbrier marriage bonds) and in the 1805 tax record, a John Perkins was residing in the household of Geo. Nicholas, “father-in-law”. Jeffers believes that Anless Nicholas was meant to have been Ann Elizabeth Nicholas as recorded in the Nicholas Website, Elizabeth Nicholas, b. 4 NOV 1784, daughter of George Nicholas and Barbara Hoffman.”
Building of the Jeffers’ assumptions, John & Ann Elizabeth (Nicholas) Perkins would have been married about 15 years when they located in Gallia Co., OH. With George being born at the “half-way” period of the marriage, one could easily forecast a family of 7 or 8 children by 1815. In addition to George, census and marriage records provide only three additional siblings by name to the John Perkins family. A son named John would have been one of the three. His full name was John Wesley Perkins b. Abt. 1812. (Note: Some family historians claim that George’s father also shared the middle name Wesley). “Steve Jeffers, a Parkins family historian, identified a John Perkins in the 1814 Greenbrier Personal Property Tax list whose name was annotated, “son of Henry”. Jeffers also learned that a John Perkins married an “Anless” Nicholas on 21 AUG 1800 (Greenbrier marriage bonds) and in the 1805 tax record, a John Perkins was residing in the household of Geo. Nicholas, “father-in-law”. Jeffers believes that Anless Nicholas was meant to have been Ann Elizabeth Nicholas as recorded in the Nicholas Website, Elizabeth Nicholas, b. 4 NOV 1784, daughter of George Nicholas and Barbara Hoffman.”
Building on the Jeffers’ assumptions, John & Ann Elizabeth (Nicholas) Perkins would have been married about 15 years when they located in Gallia Co., OH. With George being born at the “half-way” period of the marriage, one could easily forecast a family of 7 or 8 children by 1815. In addition to George, census and marriage records provide only three additional siblings by name to the John Perkins family. A son named John would have been one of the three. His full name was John Wesley Perkins b. Abt. 1812. (Note: Some family historians claim that George’s father also shared the middle name Wesley).
Earl,
Questions for you.
1. Who were the parents of John Perkins, your proposed father of my George Perkins? Henry Perkins/Parkins Sr. & Hannah (unknown). He was a brother to James Perkins Sr. and Elias Perkins Sr., born in MD. They were sons of John Perkins who died in MD in 1763.
2. Who were the maternal grandparents of my George Perkins, i.e., who were the parents of “Hannah” was George’s mother. Never knew her family name
ANNA ELIZABETH NICHOLAS ? Who was the wife of George Nicholas? Barbara Hoffman
3. Why or how do you rule out James Perkins in Wayne County, Indiana census of 1820 Because George was a 12 year old lad residing with his father, John and mother, Ann in Knox Co, OH in 1820. The “James Perkins” name was one of the most common names in Perkins genealogy.
as the father of George?
4. You are aware that a James N Parkins and a William Parkins were in Madison County, Yes, I am aware of William Parkins and his son James. I have written a paper on them. William was a brother to my James Jr. (my 3-g grandfather), sons of James Sr.
Indiana in 1830? How or are they related to my George Perkins/Parkins? William would be a 1st cousin to George’s father (John Perkins), the same for my James Jr., thus they would be a 1st cousin once removed to George Perkins Would they
have been the reason my George Perkins moved to Madison County, IN and separated
for a few years from the Richard Allen family that were in Fayette County, IN, the father
of Nora Agnes Allen? I have done no research on the Allen family. We know that your George Perkins was a very successful farmer and business man. Perhaps he had the opportunity to make a “good” land purchase.
Family Tree states:
10/9/1758 (date he wrote his will)
Person: David A. Macdonald
RIN: See Database. 3
