I had previously thought John PERKINS (1583 – 1654) was the only triple ancestor in our family tree, but it turns out that the Henry Bennett that his daughter Lydia married was not the father of Henry BENNETT II.   Nonetheless, John was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather through his son John ; one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line and Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather through his daughter Elizabeth; another of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line.

John Perkins was born in Newent, Gloucestershire, England and was baptized on 23 Dec 1583 in Hillmorton, Warwick, England.  His parents were Henry PERKINS  and  Elizabeth SAWBRIDGE.    He married Judith GATER on 9 Oct 1608 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England.  He sailed with his wife and five children from Bristol on 5 Feb 1631 and arrived in Boston in May 1631  on the first trip of the Lyon after a “very tempestuous voyage.” where one seaman was lost. Roger Williams [religious dissenter and founder of Rhode Island, if you fell asleep during the Puritans unit in 2nd grade] was one of their fellow passengers.  The provisions with which the ship was loaded saved the colony from an approaching famine.  John died in 1654 in Ipwich, Essex, Mass. ( between 28 Mar 1654, when he wrote his will, and 26 Sep 1654, when his will was probated; he was 71)

Judith Gater was born 19 Mar 1588, Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England.  Her parents were Michael GATER and Isabel BAYLIE. Judith died in 1684 in Ipswch, Essex, Mass.

Children of John and Judith:

	Name	Born	Married	Departed
1.	Quarter master John PERKINS	14 Sep 1609 Hillmorton, Warwick, England	Eliazabeth EVELETH c.  1635 Ipswich or Amesbury, Mass.	14 Dec 1686 Ipswich, Mass
2.	Elizabeth PERKINS	25 Mar 1611 Hillmorton, Warwick, England	William SARGENT 18 Sep 1640 Amesbury, Mass.	18 Sep 1670 Salisbury, Mass
3.	Mary Perkins (Wikipedia – Salem Witch Trials)	3 Sep 1615 Hillmorton, Warwick, England	Thomas Bradbery c. 1636 Ipswich, Mass	1700 Amesbury, Mass
4.	Anne Perkins	5 Sep 1617 Hillmorton, Warwick, England	[__?__] Bradley 1635 in Mass, Suffolk, Mass.	28 Mar 1654 Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England
5.	Thomas Perkins	28 Apr 1622 Hillmorton, Warwick, England	Phebe Gould c. 1643 Topsfield, Mass.	7 May 1686 Topsfield, Mass
6.	Sgt. Jacob Perkins	12 July 1624 Hillmorton, Warwick, England	Elizabeth Whipple Lovell 1648 . Damaris Robinson 12 Feb 1685 in Salisbury,	29 Jan 1699/00 Ipswich, Mass
7.	Lydia Perkins	3 Jun 1632 Boston Mass	Henry Bennett  I 1651	c. 1672 Ipswich, Essex, MA

Perkins Passengers on the Lyon 1631

John Perkins, of Hilmorton, Warwick, bound for Boston
Mrs. Judith Perkins
John Perkins
Elizabeth Perkins
Mary Perkins
Thomas Perkins
Jacob Perkins

The Perkins family remained in Boston for over two years before joining the settlers who under the leadership of John Winthrop Jr. went up the coast in 1633 to found the town of Agawam, soon to be renamed Ipswich.  Having joined the Boston church, John was sworn freeman on 18 May 1631 and in 1632 served on a committee to fix the boundary between Roxbury and Dorchester.

John owned the large island at the mouth of Ipswich River, which was then, and nearly to the 1850’s, called Perkin’s Island.  His house stood near Manning’s Neck and close to the river. His will is dated March 28th, 1654, and he probably died not long after, as he then says he was “sick and weak in body.” It was proved Sept 1654, and his estate was valued at £250:05s

Today, Perkins Island is part of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary operated by the Massachusetts Audubon Society.  Their offices and the park headquarters are on Perkins Row. The park offers more than 10 miles of interconnecting trails that invite you to explore the forests, meadows, and wetlands.  The Sanctuary isn’t at the Ipswich River mouth, but a few miles inland in Topsfield.

Members canoe along eight miles of the Ipswich River that run through the sanctuary and camp on Perkins Island, located a half-mile up the river. Members can also rent a cabin that is conveniently located close to the sanctuary’s office and program facilities and sleeps four.

Early 1631 – “John Perkins and Judith his wife” were admitted to the Boston church as members #107 and #108.

18 May 1631 – John made Freeman in Boston, Suffolk co., MA

He first settled in Boston, Suffolk co., MA. John soon moved his family to moved to Ipswich, Essex, Mass. in 1633, where they were amongst the founders of the town. Robert Anderson notes: “…In the 1 April 1633 list of men authorized by the court to begin the settlement of Ipswich, the eighth name is ‘William Perkins’, which must be an error for this John Perkins, inasmuch as William Perkins was at Roxbury at this time and would not move to Essex County for nearly two decades more…”

His property is recorded in Ipswich’s records.

“Given and granted [in 1634] unto John Perkins the elder 40 acres of land, more or less, bounded on the east by Mr. Robert Coles his land, on the south by a small creek, on the west unto yet town side.  1635.  1635 Granted Jno. Perkins Sr. 3 acres of upland and 10 of meadow lying toward the head of Chebacco creek, also a little island called More’s point about 50 acres on the south side of ye town river.  In 1636 Also 10 acres on part whereof he hath built an house, having Wm Perkins on S.W. – Also  in 1639 6 acres of meadow and 6 upland joining to the former 10 acres, all 3 lying at east end of town having Wm White’s land on N.E. and a highway to Jeffries neck on N.W.  1636.  John Perkins Sr. was granted 40 acs of meadow and upland at Chebacco, which he sold to Tomas Howlet 1636.  1639.  Granted to John Perkins 6 acres planting ground on South side river.”. On 10 December 1644, “John Perkins of Ipswich in America” and Thomas Perkins exchanged land in Ipswich.

The word, lot, for a piece of land was derived from the Puritan practice of assigning land by lot to insure fairness.  Meadow, in England, meant grassland annually cut for hay, the colonists called this mowing ground and called fertile land for crops, meadows.  His home on the corner of East Street was on the way to Jeffrey’s Neck.  Today it is located today at 80 East Street, Ipswich and is only partially intact.  The floor and cellar are all that remains after the fire of 1668 when Jacob Perkins, his son  owned the home.  However, John Perkins’s silver-headed walking cane is displayed in the Whipple House in Ipswich.  Among his other possessions, John owned a Geneva (or Breeches) Bible, printed in London in 1599.

John fulfilled his duties to the fledgling town of Ipswich. He was appointed Deputy to the General Court for Ipswich on 25 May 1636.  In addition, he served on the Essex Grand Jury on 28 Dec 1641, 26 Sep 1648 and 28 Sep 1652. John apparently served in the local militia until 26 Mar 1650, when “John Perkins Sr., being above sixty years old, is freed from ordinary training.”

On 3 April 1632 a Court of Assistants ordered “that no person whatsoever shall shoot at fowl upon Pullen Poynte or Noddle’s Ileland, but that the said places shall be reserved for John Perkins to take fowl with nets”.    This is curious since Noddle’s Island at that time had been granted to Samuel Maverick.  Noddle’s Island is in East Boston.

“John Perkines”, John Tuttell, John Crosse, Thomas Howlett and Robert Mottley took inventory on the estate of Sarah Dillingham of Ipswich, Essex co., MA in 1636. It was a well-documented and contested case with many Brahmin ancestors involved…

Will of John Perkins, senior, of Ipswich.

28th of yee first mo called March, 1654. I John Perkins the elder of Ipswich being at this tyme sick and weake in body yet through the mercy and goodness of the Lord retaining my understanding and memory: doe thus dispose of and bequeath my temporall estate as Followeth.
First. I do give and bequeath unto my eldest sonn John Perkins a foale of my young mare being now with foale if it please the Lord she foale it well also I give and bequeath to my sonn John’s two sonnes John and Abraham to each of them one of my yearling heyfers: also I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Perkins one cow and one heyfer also I give and bequeath to his son John Perkins one ewe & to be delivered for his use at the next shearing time also I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Sargent one cow and an heyfer to be to her and her children after her decease as it may please ye Lord they may increase, the proffits or increase to be equally devided amongst the sayde children: also I do give to my daughter Mary Bradbury one cow and one heyfer or a young steere to remain to her and to her children in theyr increase or proffits as it shall please the Lord to bless them and to be equaly devided to ye children: also I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Lidia Bennitt one cow and one heyfer or steere to be equaly devided to her children in theyr increase or proffits after her decease; I doe also give unto my grandchilde Thomas Bradbury one ewe to be sett apart for his use at ye next shearing tyme: also I do give and bequeathe unto my sonn Jacob Perkins my dwelling house together with all the out-howseing and all my landes of one kinde and other together with all improvements thereupon to be his in full possession according to a former covenant after the decease of my wyfe and nott before and so to remaine to him and to his heires forever; all the rest of my estate of one kinde and other I do wholy leave my deare wife Judith Perkins apointing and ordaining my sade wyfe the sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament Desiring my sayde wife to dispose of the cattell above mentioned according to her discresion as they shall prove steeres or heyfers, also to dispose of some of the increase of the sheep to ye children of my sonn Thomas and of my three daughters at the Discresion of my sayde wife and this I doe ordaine as my Last will and Testament subscribed with my own hand this twenty eight day of ye first month 1654.

Signed in presence of John Perkins.
William Bartholmew
Thomas Harris
Proved in court held at Ipswich 27 (7) 1654 by the oath of William Bartholmew and  Thomas  Harris per me  Robert Lord,  cleric

John Perkin;s inventory taken by William Bartholomew and John Annable

the dwelling howse and barne wth out howseing, £40 60s.;
Land about the hoswe about eight acres, £12;
more Land unbroade up about fourteen acres, £21;
a pcell of marsh about six acres at 40s. p acres, £12;
a pcell of vpland and marsh being much broken about xx acres at 20s. p acre, £20;
12 acres of improved Land at 50s. p acres, £24;
one mare with a mare foale, £25;
six milch cowes, £30;
four yearling heyfers & a steere, £11 10s.;
six ewes at 35s. p, £10 10s.;
5 yewe Lambes, £5;
one yearling weather and two weather Lambs, £2;
one young calfe, 15s.;
one cow at the pasture, a sow & 3 piggs, all £8;
one feather bed with besteed & furniture, £4;
one coverlid with other small thinges being Linen most, £2 10s.;
Left in mony at his decease £10;
a cart, plowes, a harow with severall goodes of Lumber as caske, tubbes, cheares, axes, hoes, etc., £5;
severall ketles, pottes & dishes in the kitchen, £2;
his wearing aparell, £5;
total, £250 5s.

Children:

1. Quarter master John PERKINS (See his page)

3. Elizabeth PERKINS (See William SARGENT‘s page)

4. Mary Perkins

Mary’s husband Thomas Bradbery was born 28 Feb 1610 in Wicken Bonant, Essex, England. His parents were Wymond Bradbury and Elizabeth Whitgift. Thomas died 16 Mar 1695 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts

 Mary Perkins Bradbury (baptized 3 Sep 1615 – 20 Dec  1700) was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692.

In 1636 Mary married Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury, Massachusetts, considered one of its most distinguished citizens.

When she was in her late 70s Mary was accused of witchcraft at the Salem witch trials. Her accusers made some fascinating claims, such as, she would turn into a blue boar and chase around the yard and, she sold a ship’s captain 2 tubs of butter, but one of the tubs was bewitched.  In the notorious witch trials of 1692, Mary Bradbury was indicted for (among other charges):

“Certaine Detestable arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries Wickedly Mallitiously and felloniously hath used practiced and Exercised At and in the Township of Andivor in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon & against one Timothy Swann of Andivor In the County aforesaid Husbandman — by which said Wicked Acts the said Timothy Swann upon the 26th day of July Aforesaid and divers other days & times both before and after was and is Tortured Afflicted Consumed Pined Wasted and Tormented…“

Witnesses testified that she assumed animal forms; her most unusual metamorphosis was said to have been that of a blue boar.

Another allegation was that she cast spells upon ships.

Here is her testimony, transcribed from the original court records.

“The answer of Mary Bradbury to the charge of witchcraft or familiarity with the Devil.

“I do plead not guilty. – I am wholly innocent of such wickedness through the goodness of God that hath kept me hitherto. I am the servant of Jesus Christ and have given myself up to him as my only Lord and Saviour, and to the diligent attendance upon him in al holy ordinances, in utter contempt and defiance of the Devil & all his works as horrid and detestable; and have endeavored accordingly to frame my life & conversation according to the rules of his holy word, and in faith and practice resolve, by the help and assistance of God, to continue to my life’s end. For the truth of what I say as to matter of practice, I humbly refer myself to my brethren and neighbors that know me, and to the searcher of all hearts for the truth & uprightness of my heart therein, human frailties & unavoidable infirmaties expected, of which I bitterly complain every day.Mary Bradbury.”

Over a hundred of her neighbors and townspeople testified on her behalf, but to no avail and she was found guilty of practicing magic and sentenced to be executed.

Through the ongoing efforts of her friends, her execution was delayed. After the witch frenzy had passed, she was released. By some accounts she was allowed to escape. Others claim she bribed her jailer.

Another account claims that her husband bribed the jailer and took her away to Maine in a horse and cart. They returned to Massachusetts after the witch hysteria had died down.

Mary Bradbury died of natural causes in her own bed in 1700.

In 1711, the governor and council of Massachusetts authorized payment of £578.12s to the claimants representing twenty-three persons condemned at Salem, and the heirs of Mary Bradbury received £20. A petition to reverse the attainder of twenty-two of the thirty-one citizens convicted and condemned as a result of the trials was passed by the Massachusetts General Court in 1711, and in 1957 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts reversed the stigma placed on all those not covered by earlier orders.

5. Anne Perkins

Anne returned to England and died 28 Mar 1654 Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England.

6. Deacon Thomas Perkins

Thomas’ wife Phebe Gould was born 27 Sep 1620 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Her parents were Zaccheus Gould and Phebe Deacon.  Her grandparents were Richard GOULD and Mary COLDER.  Phebe died 7 May 1686 in Topsfield, Essex, Mass.

At Ipswich, Thomas owned Sagamore Hill, a tract of land 170 feet high surrounded by salt marsh and having Fox Creek on the east.  The hill was probably granted to him by the town.  He exchanged this property with his brother John for a lot and a house in town.

Thomas was made a Freeman in 1664 and was a grand juror in 1666 and 1667 and a selectman in  1668, 1676 and 1682.  He became a deacon in 1677 and was a tythingman that year and in 1678 he hauled Thomas Baker into court for laughing in church!

He served on several committees to deal with the men of Rowley Village (Boxford) as to their privileges and responsiblities in the Topsfield church wich they attended before organizing a church of their own.  In 1680 he was a member of a committee seeking to secur Mr. Danforth as minister, but apparently they were unsuccessful for in 1681 Perkins and the others were ordered to “discourse” with Mr,. Capen who came to an agreement with them and was a much loved and respected Topsfield person for many years.

Thomas and Phebe Perkins were among the guests at a Sunday dinne at the house of an earlier parson, Mr. Gilbert, in 1670.  Mr. Gilbert was a sick man, as good old Joanna Towne charitably realized,  But others believed him to have drunk too much wine.  The matter was aired in court and Phebe Perkins testified as follows: there was a cup with wine in it which was offered to Mr. Gilbert. He refused to take it at first, but afterward put the cup to his mouth.” but she did not know wheter he drank or not.  Three more had the cup beside himself and after he had dined he drank what was left in the cup.  Immediately after dinner he sang a psalm and in reading it she thought his voice was lower than it used to be.  As evidence of drunkenness this would seem to be negligible.

Phebe Perkin’s sister-in-law Sarah Gould, wife of Capt. John Gould, went farther, however.  She testified that she and Phebe went into another room after dinner, where Phebe said “I wonder my Husban would ask him to drinke for I think hee had noe need of it.  The first time hee toke the Cope I saw him drinke a good draft.”  In spite of his wife’s testimony that Mr. Gilbert was a sick man, the court admonished him.

Sarah Gould continued to gossip and Mr. Gilbert eventually sued her for slander.  In court he asked the judges to “compare her [Sarah’s] Oath with the Oath of Goodie Perkins taken at the same tym, and if they do not clash with one another, I am much mistaken. ”

Deacon Thomas’ son Zacheus must have been the cause of much sorrow.  To his credit he was a soldier under Captain Joseph Gardner of Salem in King Philip’s War and was at the Great Swamp Fight when the fortified village of the Narragansetts was destroyed in 1676.

In 1680 he was in serious trouble indeed.  According to his own confession, on an election day at Wenham he fell in with a Frenchman, one Nicholas Jennings (surely a much distorted version of a French name) whom he had known at Narragansett.  Jennings invited him to go to Salem to drink and they rode over in the evening and tied their horses to a tree in an orchard.  Jennings told Zacheus to remain there to look after the animals and went away, returning after two hours when they went to the shop of Mr. Thomas Maule.  The door was open and Jennings went in and brought out a bundle of goods which he gave to Zecheus , then going in again, he came out with a sak of goods which he laid on his horse.  “Soon they parted as they heard the watch coming.”  Zacheus reading to Topsfield and Jennings to Marblehead.

This was not Zacheus’ only offense.  He had stolen a silver cup from Mr. Joseph Whitting, a gold ring from Goodman Robinson of Topsfield, and goods and money from Mr. Batten.  Found guilty at his trial on May 4, 1680 he was sentenced to be branded on the forehead with the letter “B” and publically whipped which was carried out on May 6 “immediately after lecture.”  He was to pay Mr. Maule £250 and Mr. Batten £24 which presumably his father had to assume.

7. Sgt. Jacob Perkins

Jacob’s first wife Elizabeth Whipple Lovell 1629 in Bocking, Essex, England. Her parents were Matthew Whipple and Anne Hawkins. Elizabeth died 12 Feb 1685 in Ipswich, Essex, Mass.

Jacob’s second wife Damaris Robinson was born 1636 in Ipswich, Essex, Mass.  Her parents were Nathaniel Robinson and [__?__]. Damaris died in 1716 in Boston, Suffolk, Mass.

Jacob was sworn Freeman in 1668.  He was a sergeant in the Ipswich train-band and a very frequent choice as juryman.

Jacob bought his father’s house built on the south side of Jabaque (Ipswich) river near the falls, half of his farm called the Island (half of Sagamore Hill).  Jacob not only worked as a farmer, but made income from buying and selling land. Sometime around 1648, Jacob married Elizabeth Lovell Whipple.  Elizabeth died on 12 Feb 1685.  Soon thereafter, he married the widow Damaris Robinson.  At the time of his marriage, he made a promise to support her during her life.  On 20 Mar 1693, Jacob gave all his property in his possession to his sons.

Extract from deed given to sons Matthew and Jacob.

“ I, Sargt. Jacob Perkins, sen. Having grown old & decrepid and not able to manage my farm, I give the other portions of my land to my two sons, Jacob and Mathew, provided they support me & my now wife, with whom I made an agreement when we were married,”

After his father’s and mother’s death, Jacob came into possession of the family homestead.  The family home was occupied until August 7, 1668 when it was destroyed through the carelessness of a servant girl, Mehetable Brooks.

Early in an August afternoon Mehitable Brabrook, the sixteen-year old servant of Elizabeth Perkins, her master and mistress having gone to town, was alone in the house and was smoking a pipe.  Going outside she climbed to the top of the oven which projected from the back of the house “to looke if there were any hogs in the corn,” and knocked out her pipe on the thatch of the eaves.   When she looked back, she saw smoke and gave the alarm to Abraham Perkins wife.”   This was the end of the house build by old John Perkins and left by him to his son Jacob.  The efforts of the neighbors to save it were futile and it burned to the ground.  Mehitable was convicted of extreme carelessness, “if not willfully burning the house,” was severely whipped and ordered to pay £40 to her master.

The foundation and cellar survived the fire and Jacob built another house on its foundation.   By October a new house was being built.  The new house was struck by lightning on a Sunday, 18 May 1671 while many people were gathered there to repeat the sermon.  Jacob and the house survived, however.

“while many people were gathered there to repeat the sermon, when he and many others were struck down, and had his waistcoat pierced with many small holes, like goose‑shot, and was beaten down as if he had been dead for the present.”

Children of Jacob and Elizabeth

i. Elizabeth Perkins
ii. Sgt. John Perkins
iii. Judith Perkins
iv. Mary Perkins
v. Jacob Perkins
vi. Matthew Perkins
vii. Hannah Perkins
viii. Joseph Perkins
ix. Jabez Perkins b. 15 May 1677, Ipswich, Mass.; d. 15 Jan 1742 Norwich, CT; m. Hannah Lathrop b. 6 JAN 1676/77 Norwich, CT; d. 14 APR 1721 Norwich, CT; Her parents were Samuel Lathrop and Hannah Adgate. Her grandparents were Samuel LATHROP and Elizabeth SCUDDER.

8. Lydia Perkins (See Henry Bennett I‘s page)

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=2593635&st=1

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/b_p.htm

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbrennan/Bosworth/d0001/g0000031.html#I5675

http://kristinhall.org/fambly/Perkins/JohnPerkins.html – Includes Estate of John Perkins, Sr. of Ipswich and Inventory taken by William Bartholomew and John Annable

http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/cooke/d33.htm#P2283

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=2593635&st=1

http://www.one-barton-family.us/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I6256&tree=db

http://kristinhall.org/fambly/Perkins/JohnPerkins.html