Chesterfield County SC~Estate Folder #450 – John H. Perkins

Each week, on Sunday, I will select an Estate Folders from the Estate files of Chesterfield County and discuss its contents. No known estates exist for the period before the Civil War. They were destroyed with the burning of the Courthouse. There are a few “Equity Records” in the State Archives. Do not overlook this valuable resource if you are looking for ancestors in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Today we will be looking at the following Estate folder:

Folder #450
Image 1381
John H. Perkins ¹

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZSC-1F?i=1380&cc=1911928



Petition for Letters ²

State of South Carolina}  In the probate
County of Chesterfield}   Court
Ex Parte}
     Nancy J. Perkins} Petition for Letters of Administration
To the Hon. Daniel M. Barrentine Judge of probate for the County of Chesterfield.
Your petitioner Nancy J. Perkins Respectfully Represents
1. That She was Lately the Wife of John H. Perkins and is now his Widow.
2. That her Late Husband John H. Perkins Departed this Life intestate on the 8th Day of November 1885 leaving Surviving him your petitioner Nancy J. Perkins his Widow and the following named children viz W. J. Perkins, L. V. Perkins, J. H. Perkins, A. W. Perkins, A. D.  Perkins, B. T. Perkins, R. S. Perkins, R. R. Perkins, and G. C. Perkins, the last two named being minor under the age of twenty one years.
3. That the said John H. Perkins died intestate leaving no Real Estate but leaving a small Personal Estate consisting of notes and accounts of the Estimated value of about Five Hundred Dollars.
Wherefore your Petitioner prays that Letters of Administration be granted unto her of all and singular the goods and Chattel Rights and Credits of the said John H. Perkins Deceased and Your Petitioner will ever pray &c.
                                                        Townsend, McLendan & Pollack
                                                  Atty for Petitioner Nancy J. Perkins

John was 67 years old when he passed away leaving his wife Nancy J. and 9 children two of which were under the age of twenty-one.

Nancy was widowed at age 54; sadly she passed away at age 56 on 1 October 1887. Her surviving children are listed in the above Petition.

The wife of John H. Perkins, Nancy Jane Davis Perkins, is my 1st Cousin 4 times removed. 

_____________________________
[1] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZSC-1F?cc=1911928&wc=MPP1-PTL%3A190567401%2C190561002%2C190567402%2C190970801 : 21 May 2014), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0384-0469 > image 1381 of 1665; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
[2] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZSC-RF?cc=1911928&wc=MPP1-PTL%3A190567401%2C190561002%2C190567402%2C190970801 : 21 May 2014), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0384-0469 > image 1390 of 1665; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.

Probate Folder #161~Nancy Janet Davis Perkins

Nancy Janet Davis Perkins died October 1st 1887 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She was a daughter of William Davis and Julie Thurman. She married John H. Perkins sometime prior to the 1850 census most likely around 1849.

Her husband John H. Perkins died  8 November 1885 preceding her in death by almost two years. Her estate can be found on FamilySearch.org at:

• South Carolina, Probate Records and Loose Papers, 1732-1964, Chesterfield, Probate Court, Estate records, 1865-1927, Cases 0153-0227, Image 283-304 of 1550 [1]

Nancy and her husband John had 14 children. Her son, John Henry Perkins qualified as her estate administrator.


State of South Carolina} In Court of
County of Chesterfield} Probate

Ex Parte John H. }    Petition of to obtain
Perkins in re}            letters of
Estate of Nancy}       Administration
Jane Perkins}

The humble Petition of your Petitioner shows to this honorable court:
1. That Nancy Jane Perkins late of Chesterfield County died testate therein on or about the 1^st
day of October A.D. 1887.
2. That previous to her death she made her last will and testament of which she left of force wherein she made, constitute and appointed Henry D Malloy in this sole executor of said Will
3. That said will was duly admitted to Probate and the executor thereof before named duly qualified thereon, but who has since his qualifications decline to act as such executor.
4. That said Nancy Jane Perkins left an estate both real and personal in Chesterfield County the personal amounting to about to about five hundred dollars.
5. That said estate is wholly un- administered and has no personal representative
6. That your Petitioner is a son of the said Nancy Jane Perkins Wherefore your Petitioner Prays that letters of Administration Cum Testamento annexo may be granted him in order that said estate may be settled up and your Humble Petitioner will ever Pray
                                                                                   John H Perkins
John H Perkins being}
duly sworn does state}
the above petitioner is there}
of his own knowledge}
Sworn to before me the}
28^th day of Feb. AD 1888}
W. W. Hursey}
Trial Justice}
 

 
 
State of South Carolina}
County of Chesterfield}
I do solemnly swear that the annex paper purporting to be the will of Nancy J. Perkins is her last will and Testament so far as I know or believe and that I will well and truly administer the same all and singular the goods chattels rights and credits of the said deceased and pray all pay all her just debts as far as the same will extend and the law charge me and that I will make a true and perfect inventory of all the said goods and chattels rights and credits and return a just account thereof when require so help me God
Sworn to before me
this 22^nd them March 1888}                    John H Perkins
D. M. Barentine}
Judge of Probate}

Nancy Janet Davis Perkins is my 1st Cousin 4 times removed. 

_______________________
[1] https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19384-33972-13?cc=1911928&wc=MMBR-QRW:2087306444

Surname Saturday – PERKINS

Today's surname is Perkins. The Perkins moved down from Virginia into the Carolina's and settles in Chesterfield County. The progenitor of this family was James Perkins and his wife Lucy Stanley. James had two sons – John H. and James Franklin. These two men married into my Davis line. James Franklin Perkins married Margaret Emeline Davis and John H. Perkins married Nancy Janet Davis.

Today's focus is on John H. and Nancy Janet Davis Perkins.  

John H. Perkins was born on 1 Feb 1818 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.1 He appeared in the 1850 -1880 Censuses for Chesterfield, County, South Carolina.^{2 3 4 5} John died on 8 Nov 1885 at the age of 67 in Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina and was buried in St. David's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Cheraw, South Carolina.^{6 7}

John H. Perkins and Nancy Janet Davis were married about 1849 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Nancy Janet Davis, daughter of William Davis and Julia Thurman, was born on 27 Oct 1830 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.^{8 9 10 11 12} Nancy died on 1 Oct 1887 at the age of 56 in Chesterfield County and was buried in St David's Episcopal Church Cemetery. ^{13 14 15} Her WILL and estate (Probate File #161) was probated on 14 Oct 1887.^{16 17 18}

John H. Perkins and Nancy Janet Davis had the following children:

        i. Lucy Jane Perkins was born in 1850 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She died in 1851 at the age of 1.

       ii. Julia Ann Perkins was born in 1851 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She died in 1855 at the age of 4. ¹⁹

      iii. William James Perkins, born 7 Apr 1853, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Ida C. Mulloy, abt 1873; died abt 1905.

      iv. Laura Virginia Perkins, born 5 May 1856, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Benjamin H. Thurman; died 10 Dec 1943, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

       v. John Henry Perkins, born 12 Jul 1856, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Margaret E. Griggs; died 28 Sep 1905, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

      vi. Anna Wilson Perkins was born on 29 Jul 1859 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^{20 21 22} She died on 30 Apr 1932 at the age of 72 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

     vii. Alfred Davis Perkins was born on 26 Dec 1860 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He died after 1880 at the age of 20.

     viii. Benjamin Thomas Perkins, born 1 Jan 1863, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Hannah Streater; died 26 Jun 1935, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

      ix. Richard Stanley Perkins was born on 29 Nov 1865 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ^{23 24}

       x. Joseph Johnson Perkins was born on 22 Dec 1866 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ²⁵

      xi. Rufus Randolph Perkins was born in 1868 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ²⁶ He died on 10 Dec 1915 at the age of 47 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

      xii. Washington Blakeney Perkins was born in 1870 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He died before 1880 at the age of 10.

      xiii. Charles M. Perkins was born in 1872 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He died in 1873 at the age of 1. ²⁷

      xiv. Gertrude Covington Perkins was born in 1878 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. ²⁸

Let me add one caveat or explanation. Nancy Janet Davis Perkins tombstone at St. David's Episcopal Church in Cheraw shows that Nancy Perkins died Sep. 17, 1887

(See tombstone by clicking on this link).

Her estate folder #161 on FamilySearch shows that she died 1 Oct 1887. I use the estate record date because it's a primary source document created at the time of the event.I believe the tombstone contains the wrong date.

__________________________________________

        1. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 85. Tombstone of John H. PERKINS; 1 February 1818–8 November 1885, St. David's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
        2. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 128A; Line 30, Dwelling 481, Family 461, Household of John H. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851

        3. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 145, Line 7, Dwelling 726, Family 724, Household of John H. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.          

        4. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 308B; Line 25, Dwelling 407, Family 407, Household of John H. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : Viewed 13 July 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M593_1491

        5. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 005, Page 331D; Line 3, Dwelling 385, Family 385, Household of John H. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T9-1225.

        6. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of John H. PERKINS.  

        7. Ibid.

        8. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of Nancy Janet Davis Perkins.  

        9. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 128A; Line 30, Dwelling 481, Family 461, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        10. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 145, Line 7, Dwelling 726, Family 724, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        11. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 308B; Line 25, Dwelling 407, Family 407, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        12. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 005, Page 331D; Line 3, Dwelling 385, Family 385, Household of John H. PERKINS

        13. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of Nancy Janet Davis Perkins.  

        14. Ibid.

        15. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, Nancy Janet Davis Perkins; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: viewed 13 July 2012); Probate Case File #161. [http://bit.ly/LlYDq5].

        16. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Nancy Jane Davis PERKINS, Probate Case File #161. [http://bit.ly/LlYDq5].

        17. Ibid.

        18. Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: n.p., 1927), page 54.

        19. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 128A; Line 30, Dwelling 481, Family 461, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        20. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 145, Line 7, Dwelling 726, Family 724, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        21. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 308B; Line 25, Dwelling 407, Family 407, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        22. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 005, Page 331D; Line 3, Dwelling 385, Family 385, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        23. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 308B; Line 25, Dwelling 407, Family 407, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        24. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 005, Page 331D; Line 3, Dwelling 385, Family 385, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        25. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 308B; Line 25, Dwelling 407, Family 407, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        26. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 005, Page 331D; Line 3, Dwelling 385, Family 385, Household of John H. PERKINS

        27. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 308B; Line 25, Dwelling 407, Family 407, Household of John H. PERKINS.

        28. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 005, Page 331D; Line 3, Dwelling 385, Family 385, Household of John H. PERKINS