Early “Perkins Men” in Chesterfield County, South Carolina

There is no doubt that John Henry Perkins, Sr., born 1 February 1818 was one of the early Perkins men in Chesterfield County. But, after many years of research his parents have yet to be identified. Many say his parents were James Perkins and Lucy Stanley of Virginia. The problem with this is there is no proof.

Census shows that the first Perkins to moved into Chesterfield County were David and John Perkins and they are the only PERKINS enumerated in the 1800-1810 Census. 

By 1820, the only Perkins enumerated in Chesterfield County is DAVID PERKINS.

Remember above I said “many say his (John Henry, b. 1818) parents are James Perkins and Lucy Stanley of Virginia. This does not seem possible since there was no James Perkins in Chesterfield County between 1800-1830. It appears to me that John Henry Perkins must be either a son of David Perkins or John Perkins.

In  1830, the ONLY Perkins listed is Bilsey Perkins. Bilsey Perkins is the wife of Stringer Perkins, son of David or John Perkins. Bilsey is a misnomer; her real name is Bilzer (Stringer) Perkins.

Search of early newspapers for this county has the following listings:

• 333. Charles Evans, 450 acres of land in Chesterfield County, Cheraw district, bounded by land of David Perkins and others. [City Gazette, March 19, 1800] This may be David Perkins, Jr. 

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• State of South Carolina.
In the Senate
December 18, 1809
Carolina Gazette, August 31, 1810
For Chesterfield – At the court house, managers, Erasmus Powe, Joseph Ellerby and William Chapman. At the house of John Bailes, Hugh Blakeney, John Perkins and Henry Jackson. The managers to meet the third day, at Chesterfield court-house, count over the votes and declare the election. One senator and one representative to be elected.

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ELECTIONS.

In the House of Representative
December 18, 1822
Southern Chronicle, August 7. 1822, Column 3
For Chesterfield – At the court house, managers, Hugh Craig, John Chapman, jun. and Oliver Spencer. … At Welsh’s store, managers, Jacob Mangum, John Wadsworth and Hugh A. Welsh. At Benjamin Outlaw’s, managers Stringer Perkins, John Middleton and John Horton.

Stinger Perkins Esquire was mentioned several times along with Levi Pate in the Court martial of Brig. General James Blair, 5th Brigade. [City Gazette, Charleston, SC, 20 November 1826]

John Henry Perkins married Nancy Jane Davis, daughter of William Davis and Julia Thurman.
To this union was born 14 children.

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

Chesterfield County SC Estates~Estate Folder #450~John Henry Perkins, Sr.

 

This is a new series of posting, appearing every Sunday, on selected Estate Folders from the Estate files of Chesterfield County. 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 resources if you are looking for ancestors in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Today we will be looking at the following Estate folders:

Folder #450

John H. Perkins, Sr.

This estate folder begins at image #1381 and ends with image #1405. (images 1381-1405)

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19420-62985-48?cc=1911928

John H. Perkins, Sr., son of James Perkins and Lucy Stanley was born on 1 February 1818.

About 1849, John Henry married Nancy Jane Davis, the 18 year old daughter of William Davis and Julia Thurman.  

John Henry and Nancy Jane raised a family of 14 children; 9 sons and 5 daughters.
On 8 November 1885, John Henry, age 67 passed away leaving surviving his wife Nancy Jane and 7-10 children. Four of the children are known to have passed away before 1885.
On 10 November 1885, Nancy Jane Perkins petitioned the Court to issue her Letters of Administration on the estate of her deceased husband, John H. Perkins, Sr. 


Transcription:
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 he late Husband John H. Perkins departed this life intestate on the 8^th 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 minors 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 said John H. Perkins Deceased and your Petitioner will ever Pray &c.
Townsend, McLauren & Pollock
Atty for Petitioner Nancy J. Perkins
 
On the 13th November 1885, Judge Barrentine granted Nancy Letters of Administration on her husband’s estate. 
 
Then in the midst of settling the Estate, Nancy Jane passed away on 17 September 1887 resulting in their son, John H. Perkins, Jr. being granted Administrator de bonis non of the estate. 

The personal estate was inventoried by C. A. Brock, Isaac S. Huntley and (illegible name) showing $330.61 in accounts payable and $113.35 in notes outstanding.  A total of $443.96. In addition to the accounts and notes there were also some personal items sold.
Nancy also left a Will and estate (#161) to be settle at her death. Now the children had two estates to settle. 

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19384-33972-13?cc=1911928 

Both of these Estates are very interesting and contains other information not shown here. The links have been included in this document to view each estate by clicking on the hyper-link.

John Henry Perkins, Sr. was the husband of my 1st Cousin 4 times removed, Nancy Jane Davis.

Chesterfield County SC Estates~Estate Folder #205–A. D. Perkins

This is a new series of posting, appearing every Sunday, on selected Estate Folders from the Estate files of Chesterfield County. 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 resources if you are looking for ancestors in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 

Today we will be looking at the following Estate folders:
 
Folder #205
Alfred Davis Perkins¹

This estate folder begins at image #1155 and ends with image #1181. (images 1155-1181) 

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19384-38675-57?cc=1911928
 
Alfred Davis Perkins’ estate folder was a real surprise. For many years Alfred had languished within my data base with no death date and an assumption that he died while very young and single. While I was correct about his death at a young age it was his probate record that revealed a wife called Anna and a young son under the age of fourteen. From a practical point, the son may have been much younger that 14 because in the 1880 census Alfred was a single man age 19 and working as a store clerk.  It is not known when or where Alfred married Anna; nor have I determined what her maiden name is at this point. 

 

Image #1180 within Probate Folder #29505 is a request by Anna Perkins, widow of A. D. Perkins, to be appointed “Guardian ad Litem“ for her young under aged son. ²

Image 1180

Image 1180 -  Transcription

State of South Carolina}
County of Chesterfield} In Probate Court
Ex Parte
Anna Perkins
The petition of Anna Perkins shows that she is the Widow of A. D. Perkins, decd and she has one child the son of A. D. Perkins, decd who is an infant under the age of fourteen years and has no guardian testamentary or otherwise
That A. D. Perkins left no will and was Owner in fee of a certain tract of land, in this County and state which however he had agreed in writing to sell and it is necessary for action to be taken to carry out the said contract and it is advantageous to the said infant that said contract be enforces and she is desirous of being appointed his guardian ad litem and prays that she may be appointed Guardian ad litem and she will ever pray &c.         Prince & Stevenson
                                                                                                            Petitioners Attorneys
 
Alfred Davis Perkins was born about 1861, a son of John Henry Perkins and Nancy Janet Davis. He was the seventh of fourteen children.  I almost certain that the Alford Perkins and Anna Lee Perkins buried in Swift Creek Cemetery is the correct couple. The on-line tombstone photo for Alford Perkins is illegible. If you visit Swift Creek cemetery please keep me in mind and send me a readable photo and/or update FAG Memorial #101053950.  

Alfred Davis Perkins is my 2nd Cousin 3 times removed.



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[1]  "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19384-38675-57?cc=1911928 : accessed 2 April 2016), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0153-0227 > image 1155 of 1550; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
[2] Guardian Ad Litem - A guardian appointed by the court to represent the interests of Infants, the unborn, or incompetent persons in legal actions.[Source: http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/guardian+ad+litem]
[3] FAG Memorial #101053950 and Find A Grave Memorial# 101053926.

Chesterfield County Military Veterans~Pvt. John Henry Perkins

Pvt. John Henry Perkins

Company "L", 2 SC Infantry

Spanish American War

18 Aug. 1898-19 Apr. 1899

At the age of 20, John Henry Perkins III, son of John Henry Perkins, Jr. and his wife  Margaret E. Griggs enlisted in serve in the Spanish-America War.^{1 2} 

After the War, John Henry, III married Jerusha Ann Sellers, daughter of Samuel Joseph Sellers, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Hurst. ³

Between 1914 and Sept. 1918, John Henry and Jerusha Ann moved their family from Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Fulton County, Georgia. Then between 1920 and 1930 they moved again to Cobb County, Georgia. 

John Henry Perkins and Jerusha Ann Sellers had the following children:

        i.    Joyce Myrtle Perkins, born 15 Sep 1905, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married Clester Merritt Cobb; died 24 Dec 1986, Cobb County, Georgia. ⁴        ii.    Maggie Perkins was born about 1908 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Died Young. ⁵        iii.    Charles Henry Perkins was born on 22 Oct 1913 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He died on 22 Sep 1992 at the age of 78 in Fulton County, Georgia.⁶       iv.     John Robert Perkins was born on 11 Dec 1918 in Buckhead, Fulton, Georgia. He died on 11 Nov 1999 at the age of 80. ⁷


John Henry Perkins is my 3rd Cousin twice removed. Our common ancestor is Thomas Davis and Nancy Rivers.




 
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[1] http://www.spanamwar.com/2ndsouthcarolinaroster.html
[2] http://www.fold3.com/image/1/309186895/
[3] 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0036, Page: 3A/106 (stamped); Line 39, Dwelling 48, Family 49, Household of John H. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm T624_1455.
[4] Ibid.
[5] 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0036, Page: 3A/106 (stamped); Line 39, Dwelling 48, Family 49, Household of John H. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm T624_1455.
[6] 1920 U. S. Census, Fulton County, Georgia, population schedule, Buckhead, Fulton, Georgia, enumeration district (ED) 157, Page: 11A/253 (stamped); Line 9, Dwelling 192, Family 224, Household of John H. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2015); citing NARA publication Roll: T625_253.
[7] Ibid.