A BAD NIGHT AT JOHN PERKINS' TAVERN CONCLUSION

Finishing up with the testimonies about another incident at Quartermaster John Perkins' tavern. The conclusion seems to have been that Obediah Bridges and John Clarke were fine fellows but Andrew Peters, ummm...not so much.:

Edward Chapman, constable, deposed that sometime the last winter Obadiah Bridges came to his house and asked him to go to the quartermaster's, where they found many persons in a hubbub, blood being drawn and the peace broken. Deponent called for silence and some then said that Bridges held Perkins while Peeters beat him or cuffed him and pulled his hair. The quartermaster said "carry Goodman Peeters to the stocks," and among them it was said if it had not been for John Clark, Perkins would have been injured. Deponent went with Peeters to the Major, but he was not at home, so he charged them to appear before Mr. Symonds in the morning, which they did, having Josiah Linden and Sander as witnesses. Sworn in court.

 Andrew Peters and Obadiah Bridges affirmed that the quartermaster agreed to bear John Clarke harmless, and so the latter had reason to speak well of him. 

Obadiah Bridges testified that he had some business with Goodman Peters at his house, and after they had finished, the latter invited him to drink part of a pint of wine and they went to the quartermaster's, etc. 

Martha Huggins, aged sixteen years, deposed that the evening that the trouble between her master, Quartermaster John Perkins and the others took place, they were all "in the new chamber which wee commonly call the Kings nrmes." Mr. Matoone and Samll. Clarke of Portsmouth, and Serg. Thomas Waite being present with them were "in the lower roome where the family commonly keepeth." Deponent drew two pots of beer for them in the lower room. Sworn, May 2, 1672, before Daniel Denison.* 

Thomas Smith, aged about twenty-four years, deposed that the quartermaster told him that Bridges was not to blame and did all he could for peace, and that he was as good a conditioned man as ever came to his house.

Saml. Smith, aged about twenty-three years, deposed concerning hearing the quarrel from the highway as he was going out of town, etc. *-pp 34-35

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts: Volume V 1672-1674  Essex Institute, Salem Ma. 1916

A BAD NIGHT AT JOHN PERKINS' TAVERN PT3

Another case involving Quartermaster John Perkins and his tavern was presented at that Essex County Quarterly Courtn session of 1May 1672. This one involved an assault on Perkins himself, and there was a different cast of characters from the previous brawl.

From the court records:

Andrews Peeters was fined upon his presentment, and was bound in five pounds that he shall come no more to Quartermaster Perkins' house except at court times.t

 tAlexander Orbort deposed that Quartermaster Perkins desiring him to attend in the room where Obadiah Bridges, and Andrew Peters were, he saw said Bridges take Perkins by the shoulders, "Andrew Peters in y* meantime pulling Quat'master by y* hair & John Clarke sitting att y* end off the table arose up & sayd unto Obadiah why doe you abuse the Quatrmastr thus, shall he not be master off his owne house: Obadiah Answered Noe he shall not: then John Clarke Answered yea but he shall thereupon John Clarke went to obadiah Bridges & struck up his heeles & held him downe." Samll. Clarke was not present when this happened. Sworn in court. 

John Clark's bill of cost. 

Joseph Fauwler, aged about nineteen years, testified that he was at his grandfather Kimbol's barn, and "I heard a ster in quartermasters new hauwse: and knowing my master was there I went In to quartermasters hauwse and when I kaeme in I asked the mayd what was the matter she told me she could not Tell I made to the Chamber where my master was: and in goyng I met with Jo Clark: I asked him what was the matter the sayd Clark told me that my master and the quartermaster was a quarreling: and sayd that obadyah stept in betweene: but I layd Obadyah soone at my foote: and I went op into the Chamber: and they where all Comming down into the lower Roome: and my master went out at the dore and in goyng out: the quartermaster took my master By the Coller: and stroke him: and my master did not lift op his hand agaynst the quartermaster." -pp33-34


Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts: Volume V 1672-1674  Essex Institute, Salem Ma. 1916

The rest of the testimony will be in the next post.

To be continued

A BAD NIGHT AT JOHN PERKINS' TAVERN PT2

Continuing the story of a chaotic night at Quartermaster John Perkins' tavern, we hear from the victim Mark Quilter:

Mark Quilter, aged about forty-two years, deposed that he went to the quartermaster's to talk with Mr. Jno. Burr upon business. "when I told them I did not care for drinking, some answered & sayd you must kiss the cup then. . . . And I goeing to follow the Quartermaster was stopt by those that satt on eachside of mee: Mr Dudly Broadstreet & Mr Sam1 Jacob on one side; & Elihu wardell & mr Thomas wade on the other side, and goeing to creep under the table was stopt by some holding my Coat behind; till watching my oppertunity gott from behind the Table & makeing Towards the door, it was clapt too, & some Cryed, here is the man, here is the man," etc.-p33

 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts: Volume V 1672-1674  Essex Institute, Salem Ma. 1916

That is all the testimony about the incident. I found the description by John Edwards of the behsavior of the men chilling, especially the part about the men  snapping their empty pistols at Mark Quilter as they walked out of the room. It does seem like the behavior of Wild West outlaws or of a biker gang in a bad 1950's movie rather than that of Puritans.

What the heck had Mark Quilter done to deserve being ganged up on by his fellow citizens?

This was not the only raucous night at John Perkins' house. There was another case presented at the same court session dealing with another incident. I'll give the details in my next post.

To be continued...

A BAD NIGHT AT JOHN PERKINS' TAVERN PT1

A drunken  crowd shooting  off their pistols inside a barroom, one shooting his off underneath the table.Then the light goes uut, more shots are fired, and when the light is restored, a man lies bleeding on the barroom floor.

A bad night in Dodge City in the 1870s?

Nope.

A bad night in Ipswich, Ma in 1672at the "ordinary" run by my 9x great granduncle "Quartermaster" John Perkins.

From the Essex County Quarterly Court Records:

Mr. Dudly Broadstreet, Mr. Nathl. Wade, Mr. Tho. Wade, Mr. Samuel Jacobs, Jno. Wainwrite, Thomas Bishop, Elihu Wardell, Jno. Cogswell, Mr. Nath. Rogers, Mr. Samll Rogers, Mr. Ezk. Rogers, Mr. Jno. Burr, Jno. Lee, Edward Nealand, Mark Quilter were presented for disorder in Quartermaster Perkins' house upon training day in shooting pistols in the house after the colors were lodged and for breach of the peace. 

Jno. Edwards, aged about forty years, deposed that "upon a trayning day Last sumer at this Towne I was attending at Quartermaster perkins” house drawing bear &c: for his Guests and being too & fro in severall Roomes of the House, I saw in one Roome these psons: viz* Mr Dudly Broadstreet, mr Nath1 Wade, mr Samuell Jacobs, Jn* Wainewright, mr Tho. Wade, Thomas Bishop, Elihu Wardell, Jn* Cogswell, mr Nath1 Rogers, mr Samuel Rodgers, mr Ezk. Rogers, Jn* Lee, Edward Nealand, mr Jn* Burr, Mark Quilter: In which Roome there was much disturbance & offence given to the master of the House by shooting of pistols in the Roome In soe much that the Quartermaster & his wife often went & sent to bid them Cease fireing in yo Roome:who not w"standing their earnest chardg & intreaties was Littl regarded soe that yo Quartrmaster was forced to throw open the Cagements, and bad them. If they would shoot to shoot out there. Butt his words were little Regarded: for as I past I saw them shoot in the Roome: & soe much that soome in the Roome Complained: and after this one in the Roome cald for one doz" of bear for Mark Quilter & I seeming to take noe notice without Mark had caled for it himself: Mr Samuell Jacobs sayd Bring half a doz° of bear & we will have noe more, & If Mark Quilter will not pay for it I will. Soe I went & fetcht it for him that cald for it & sayd this is for you And then Mark Quilter Came downe to the barr, & ask' If any thing was chardgd to his Acet, I answered Noe: He Replyed, & sayd nor chardg none woout I call for it my self: only sayer hee give mee a pint of wine to drink wth them then Came up after the wine was Carried up. And many drank to him & I took Notice that Mark had two Cups full before him & another drunk to him, & he took the cup, but would drink little: & presently Thomas Bishop shooting under the Table: Mark complained & sayd is this the kindness you pretended in drinking to mee: &c. lle stay noe longer with you, and about this time the light was putt out, soe I went to light it & the Quarter Master comeing up sayd sir* depart the Roome, for I will have noe such dessorder here; all being in a Tumult, & Mark very Angry, his cloathes were burnt with shooting under the Table. And Qur Master sayd Mark gett you gon for they will doe you mischeif; and I being lighting the light as the Qurmaster went downe still it was blowne out, as I did light it & Mark Goeing to Follow y* QuarTnaster two psons clapt too the door, & the Rest pressing about him: a pistoll was shott by some, but who I know not did the execution among the severall pistolls then shott. And Mark sayd you have lamed mee: I then did light the light, and Cryed out you have kild the man, and all the persons were hustling, and gon out of the Roome only two, that as they went presented & snapt their pistols at Mark as they went, he lying by the door & Bleeding: I vewing his wound saw a wadd sticking which I took out, it being on fire, & I Cryed againe, you have kild the man, for he lay speechless & Ready to dy away: Help comeing up presently Laboured to stanch the blood, & Qurmaster took care the Doctor might be sent for presently: I Goeing downe saw not any one of these psons mentioned but Mark left in any Roome of the house all being gon soe he was Carried away by those the Qurmaster desired to his owne house."pp31-32

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts: Volume V 1672-1674  Essex Institute, Salem Ma. 1916

To be continued...

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2019 WEEK 17 :MARK PERKINS OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER, MA.

My 6x great grandfather Mark Perkins was born in Beverly, Ma on 30Apr 1699. He was a blacksmith like his father and moved around a bit too. He married Dorothy Whipple in Ipswich on 4Jun 1721. Eventually they moved to North Bridgewater, which is now Brockton, Ma. Bradford Kingman gives this list of their children in his book,  History of North Bridgewater: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time, with Family Registers :

1 MARK PERKINS was son of Luke; came from Ipswich, Mass., to
North Bridgewater in 1741; married Dorothy Whipple. Children : —

2 Dorothy, b. Feb. 4, 1721 ; married Jacob Packard.

3 Matthew, b. June 25, 1723; died June 25, 1724.

4 Sarah, b. March 27, 1725; married Ebenezer Packard.

5 Josiah, b. Jan. 4, 1727 [13]; married Abigail Edson, Aug. 17, 1755.

6 Jonathan, b. Jan. 5, 1720 [23]; married Abigail Packard, 1752.

7 Isaac, b. April 27, 1731 [36]; married Joanna Edson, May 2, 1754.

8 Martha, b. Dec. 30, 1733; married Nathan Packard, 1763.

9 Ebenezir, b. May 7,1736; died Nov. 9.1736.

10 Jemima, b. Feb. 17, 1738; married Levi Keith, Nov. 8, 1759.

11 Mary, b. Feb. 16, 1739; married Simeon Packard, July 6, 1761.

12 Jesse, b. Dec. 6, 1742 [41]; married Susanna Field, June 5, 1769.

The father died Dec. 20, 1756, aged 58. The widow married Solomon Packard, May 1, 1782.
-p619

History of North Bridgewater: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time, with Family Registers ,  Innes and Niles, Printers, Brockton, Ma 1866

Notice that the children married members of the Packard, Keith and Edson families. I'm descended from daughter Anne Perkins who married Reuben Packard,

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2019 WEEK 16 :LUKE PERKINS JR OF PLYMPTON, MA.

 My 7x great grandfather moved around a bit. He was a blacksmith and farmer, and he had the
great good sense to marry the daughter of Roger Conant, one of the founding fathers of Salem, Ma.
Here's a brief biographical sketch from Volume 3 of Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts :


(III) Luke Perkins (2), son of Luke, was born March 18, 1667. He married May 31, 1688, Martha, born Aug. 16, 1664, daughter of Lot and Elizabeth (Walton) Conant. Mr. Perkins lived in Marbleh£ad, Beverly, Wenham, Ipswich and Plympton. The family went to Plympton, Mass., about 1714. Mr. Perkias was a blacksmith, and it is said that a lot of eighteen acres of land was deeded him at Rock Run in Plympton as an inducement to settle there as a blacksmith. He received from his uncle David Perkins, of Bridgewater, the latter's lands in Abington—one third of the Solomon Leonard purchase and two thirds of the John Robbin purchase. Mr. Perkins died in Plympton Dec. 27, 1748, in his eightysecond year. His widow died Jan. 2, 1754, in her ninetieth year. Their children were: John, born April 5, 1689, at Marblehead; Martha, born Sept. 19, 1691; Hannah, born March 12, 1693; Luke, born Sept. 17, 1695; Mark, baptized April 30, 1699, in Beverly, Mass., and Josiah, born in 1700. pp1721'1722

Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts Vol III
J.H. Beers & Company, Chicago, Il,, 1912

I was surprised to learn Luke had owned land here in the town of Abington.

Luke Perkins Jr.'s son Mark Perkins was my 6x great grandfather.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2019 WEEK 15 :LUKE PERKINS SR. OF CHARLESTOWN, MA.

 My 8x great grandfather Luke Perkins Sr. left Hampton NH  at an early age to follow a trade:
  
(II) Luke Perkins, born in 1640-41, married March 9, 1663, Hannah, widow of Henry Cookery, and daughter of Robert Long, Sr. As a boy of about fourteen, in 1654, he apprenticed himself with the consent of his parents to Samuel Carter, a shoemaker of Charlestown, Mass. Mrs. Perkins was admitted to the First Church in 1668. Luke Perkins died March 20, 1709-10, and his wife died Nov. 16, 1715. Their children wtere: Henry; John, born May 10, 1664; Luke, born March 14, 1665, who died when young; Luke (2), born March 18, 1667; Elizabeth, born April 15, 1670; John, born April 15, 1670; Abraham, baptized 28th of 5th month, 1672; Hannah,born Dec. 9, 1673; and Mary, born April 5, 1676.-pp1600-1601

Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts: Containing Historical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families Vol III ... J.H. Beers & Company,  Chicago, IL 1912

Luke was a respected citizen of Charlestown but his most important act was his marriage to Hannah Long, the daughter of Robert Long, the owner of the Three Cranes tavern. I am descended from Luke and Hannah's son Luke Perkins, Jr.

ABRAHAM PERKINS: "...HE HAS SOLD THE KETCH AT BARBADOES..." CONCLUSION

The rest of the record of Abraham Perkins' lawsuit against John Cutt for the unauthorized sale of the ketch Dove is a bit frustrating in that while there are people listed who testified about the case, some of those testimonies are not detailed. But a few are and apparently there was enough evidence to give Abraham a victory in court:

Bond, dated July 19, 1673, of Abraham Perkins* and John Burnum* for the payment of the cost of building the ketch

Wit: Benjamin Marshall* and Edmond Marshall.* Benjamin Marshall deposed that being at the house of Abraham Perkins the evening before he intended to go out with the Dove, he heard Mr. Huberd ask said Perkins whether he would sell his part of the ketch. Perkins answered that he built her for his own use and had put himself out of his other employment to go in her, and therefore would not sell, though he could have more than she was worth for he liked her so well. Sworn, June 29, 1674, before Daniel Denison.* 

Edmond Marshal and Benjamin Marshall, aged respectively twenty-six and twenty-four years, deposed. Sworn, June 24, 1674, before Daniel Denison.* 

John Burnam, aged about twenty-seven years, deposed. Sworn, June 25, 1674, before Daniel Denison.* 

Francis Wainwright deposed that Perkins said he would sell his half for 80li., Jno. Burnum, jr., having sold his half to Hubbard for 70li. Sworn, June 29, 1674, before Daniel Denison.* 

Daniel Hovey deposed that in his own house and in Abraham Perkins' house, he heard said Perkins say that he was not pleased  with the sale of his ketch. Sworn, June 30, 1674, before Daniel Denison.* 

John Rennerrik deposed that at his house, etc. Sworn, June 30, 1674, before Daniel Denison.* 

Artor Arbit, aged about thirty-five years, deposed. Sworn, June 16, 1674, before Daniel Denison.* 

Luk Perkins, aged about twenty-five years, deposed that he was at Porchmouth when his brother Abraham Perkins demanded the ketch of John Cutt, who said that Mr. Hubard gave him order to sell her at Barbadus, etc. Sworn, June 29, 1674, before Daniel Denison.f

John Perkins and Elizabeth, his wife, deposed that Mr. Hubbard wrote Cutt a letter, etc. Sworn, June 27, 1674, before Daniel Denison pp341-342

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts:  Vol V 1672-1674 Massachusetts. County Court (Essex County) Essex Institute, 1916

So while John Cutt was ordered to pay damages to my ancestor Abraham Perkins, he was still out of a ketch. I haven't found sny record yet if he ever built another one.

ABRAHAM PERKINS: "...HE HAS SOLD THE KETCH AT BARBADOES..." PT3

The cargo list of the Dove was entered as evidence in the lawsuit filed by Apraham Perkins against John Cutt:

Wit: Thomas Harney* and John Cutt.* Account, dated Barbados, Feb. 14, 1673-4, of freight sent to Barbados in the ketch Dove of Ipswich upon account of Mr. William Hubbard and Mr. Abraham Parkings of Ipswich, signed by John Cutt*: Dr. `to wages for myself in the Dove from Nov. 21 to Feb. 16, at 4li. per month, is 10li., in sugar at 8s. 4d. p, 2,400li.; to wages paid Jos. Sharbron from Nov. 21 to Jan. 29, at 35s. p month, 3li. 15s., in sugar 906li.; to wages paid Lewes Colle from Nov. 24 to Jan. 29 at 34s. per month, 3li. 12s., in sugar 864li.; to wages paid Christopher Cose from Nov. 21 to Jan. 29, at 35s. per month, 3li. 15s., in sugar, 906li.; to boat hire for lading the ketch, 1s. 8d., in sugar 216li.; to entering in the Secretary and Navy office, 12s. 6d., in sugar 150li.; to gunpowder, 14 pounds, at 1s. 6d. p., in sugar 252li.; to abatement of your freight for damage of fish by defect in the ketch's deck, in sugar 600li.; to my expense and charge, in sugar 500li.; to 2 hhds. sugar, 1,670li.; to the duty of your sugar at 4 1-2 per cent., 75li.; to him. for sugar, 250li.; total, 8,789li. sugar; to wages for myself from Feb. 16, 1673 to Apr. 16, at 4li. per month, 8li. Cr., by freight of 8 hhs. 34 quintals of fish in bulk being consigned to Mr. John Johnson at the rate of 600li. sugar per ton, in sugar 2,230li.; by freight of 8 hs. consigned to Mr. Tho. Stockom at 600li. sugar per ton, 1,200li.; by freight of sundry goods sent to Mr. Parret at 600li. sugar per ton, 2,700li.; by freight of 10 quintals of fish consigned to Mr. John Vaux at 600 p ton, 300li.; by freight of 30 quintals of fish in bulk con-signed to Mr. John Johnson at 600li. sugar per ton, 900li.; by freight of 30 quintals of fish in bulk consigned to Mr. Strowed, at 600li. of sugar per ton, 900li.; by freight of one bb. of oyle, 3-4 C. of hgd. staves, 55 pipe staves, 100li.; by freight of 4 him. consigned to Mr. Banster, 600li.; total, 8,930li. sugar. Due to balance, 141li. -pp340-341

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts:  Vol V 1672-1674 Massachusetts. County Court (Essex County) Essex Institute, 1916

A few thoughts:

-The contract with Mt Martin mentioned a deadline of 31 October to load his cargo of fish and leave Portsmouth. But the details in the freight list after the ketch arrived in Barbados

-It looks like payment for the goods was made in sugar and that the crew of the ship received sugar as part of their pay. Sugar was a very valuable commodity in New England amd was used in the manufcture of rum. It became part of the Triangle Trade which brought slaves to the colonies.

-A quintal is a unit of measurement equal to 100 pounds.
To be continued...

ABRAHAM PERKINS: "...HE HAS SOLD THE KETCH AT BARBADOES..." PT2

The following document was introduced into evidence in the lawsuit of Abraham Perkins against John Cutt for unlawfully selling the ketch Dove without Abraham's permission. It's called a "charter party" but in effect it's a contract between Abraham, his partner John Burnham, and a merchant named Richard Martyn to transport cargo to Barbadoes. I've added some thoughts after it:

Charter party, dated, Portsmouth, Sept. 7, 1673, between Abraham Perkins, owner of the ketch Dove of Ipswich, 29 tons, and Richard Martyn f of Portsmouth, merchant, the said owner have "fraight letten" to the said merchant the ketch "for a voyage wth her to bee made by gods grace in manner & forme following (That is to say) The said owner Covenanteth granteth & agreeth to & wth the said merchant his factors & Assignee by these psents: That y* said ketch shall bee compleatly fitted w” all her tackell & Apparrill & wt ever is convenient for her for such A voyage w” an able master & three sufficient Seamen more for her and all such puision as shall bee needfull for her: And shall bee readie in the Riuer of Pascataque to take in such loading of fish in casque: packt casque mackrill & oyle, as the said Mercht. Shall See meet to load her with at or before the last day of October next ensuing the date hereof And that the sd ketch shall as soone as shee is loaden by sd merch* his Factors or Assignes wth the first faire wind & weather make sayle from thence towards & vnto the Island of Berbados vnto Carlisle bay where shee shall bee won all convenient speed discharged from her said service & Imploym*," and the said owner was to receive 600li. of Muscovadoe sugar for every ton carried for said merchant to be paid within ten days after she be unloaded, also he was to have liberty of two tons freight, and the owner and merchant bound themselves in 200li. to have the covenant fulfilled. John Burnum,* part owner, also agreed to the indenture. -p.340

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts:  Vol V 1672-1674 Massachusetts. County Court (Essex County) Essex Institute, 1916

 So, on 7 Sep 1673 Abraham Perkins and his partner John Burnham contracted to carry freight from Portsmouth to Barbados in the Carribean for a merchant named Richard Martyn.
-The cargo was to be kegs of mackerel packed in oil.
-The cargo was to be loaded by 31 Oct.
-The crew would consist of a master and three seamen.
-The ketch would deliver the cargo at Carlisle Bay in Barbados.
-Abraham was to be paid "600li of Moscavadoe sugar for every ton carried..." within ten days after delivery.

Some thoughts;
-The delivery was probably being made to the port of Bridgetown which is the modern capital of Barbados. It's located on the southwest corner of the island.
-I'd never heard of "Moscavadoe sugar" until now. Sugar was apparently a very valuable commodity in 17th century New England as the freight list will show.

To be continued

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2019 WEEK 14: ABRAHAM PERKINS SR. OF HAMPTON, N.H. PT. 2

I found a transcription of my ancestor Abraham Perkins' will online at Google Books. His son Abraham Jr. had been killed by Indians at Hampton six years earlier, so he is not mentioned. I am descended from another son, Luke, who is mentioned  near the end of the will:

ABRAHAM PERKINS 1683 HAMPTON

In the name of God Amen. I Abraham Perkins of Hampton in the Province of New Hampshire in New England being weak in body but sound in understanding and of a disposing mind Do make this my last Will & Testament, as followeth.

ffirst, I commit my soul to Almighty God ye ffather of Spirits, who gave me life and being, and my body to the earth from whence it was taken, that after my dissolution to be buried in Hampton burying place in a Christian & decent manner as my Executors shall appoint. And for what worldly goods God hath given me, my Will is as follows

Item, I give unto my beloved Wife during her life the new end of my house, with the chamber above: And give her hereby liberty to make use of ye other back house as she shall have need. And I give unto her two cows & their increase wholly to dispose of them as she shall please. And for as much as I do by this my Will give unto my sons Jonathan & Humphry all my land & cattell excepting them two above menc’oned deviding all things equally betwixt them as hereafter shall be declared. And my Will is, that they do both of them carefully provide comfortable relief for their mother, & to provide three lods of hay & to put it into the barn for to winter her two cows, except they do agree otherwise. And further my two sons Jonathan & Humphry shall provide for their mother sufiicient fire wood so much as she shall need making it fit for her use, And to give her yearly sixteen bushel of corn Twelv of lndian Two of wheat & Two of barly or rye. And they shall provide for her a well fatted hog or shot to kill, 8 : half a hundred of good beef yearly. And I do give unto my Wife all my houshold stuff to be at her disposing excepting carpentars tools & military implements & husbandry. And I give unto her 4 sheep & my sons to maintain them for her & the thirds of ye apples in ye orchard. And in case my two sons Jonathan & Humphry do neglect their duty to their mother in providing things necessary for her comfortable being & not attending to my Will, then this is my Will; She shall have ye thirds of all I have And furthermore this is my Will, That I give unto my two sons (Jonathan Perkins and Humphry Perkins all my lands I have in Hampton, both meadow and Upland, viz; My house Lots & planting Lot North hill Lot and Asbrook Lot and the North devision towards Greenland And the New plantac’on with three shares of the Cow com’ons and one in ye Ox com’on. With all my tools for Carpentars, All implements for husbandry, as Ploughs, carts, harrows, yokes, chains. And likewise all implements belonging to military discipline; Guns, swords, pikes, ammunition, 8: what els. And my Will is, That my son Jonathan shall have ye whole Lot that I bought of Isack Cole w°“ is about four or five acres, lying between my old house Lot & ye street way which he hath now built upon. All these particulars above menc’oned I do give to him & his heirs for ever, paying out such legacies as hereafter shall be expressed. And I do give unto my son Humphry my House y‘ I now live in. With all ye building belonging to it, With ye Orchards belonging & being that this Lot is bigger than Jonathans, the Lot being about ten acres & much building, my son Humphry shall pay to my daughter Sarah twenty pounds for a legacy, Shall pay it in four years after my decease, To pay it in currant merchantable pay at currant price. And I do give unto my Granddaughter Mary ffifield now dwelling with me, fiive pound. And I give unto my daughter Abigail ffive pound. And I give unto my son James Perkins fiive pound. And I give unto my Grandson John Perkins ffive pound. And I give unto my son David ffive shillings. And I give unto my son Luke ffive shillings ; for these two sons have had their share already, These six last legacies which is twenty pound ten shillings shall be paid by both my sons Jonathan & Humphry equally alike every year ffive pound to them abovenamed after one another as they are set down to be paid in currant marchantable pay at curra’t price: And my son Jonathan & Humphry shall equally devide all my cattel excepting that cow he had with his wife. And to all these abovemenc’oned I set my hand & seal
Hampton August 22. 1683. Abraham Perkins [seal]

Signed & Sealed in y° p'sence of us Witnesses
Seaborn Cotton
John Tucke
[Proved Sept. 18, 1683.]
[Deeds, vol. 4, p. 63.]

[Inventory of the estate of Abraham Perkins of Hampton, who died Aug. 31, 1683; taken Oct. 4, 1683; amount, £361.2.6; attested before Edward Cranfield by Jonathan Perkins and Humphrey Perkins Oct. 5, 1683.]

-pp 263-265

Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire ... 1635-[1771], Volume 31   Rumford Printing Company, Concord, N.H. 1907

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2019 WEEK 14: ABRAHAM PERKINS SR. OF HAMPTON, N.H.

Turning now to the family of my 5x great grandmother Ann (Perkins) Packard, I can trace the line back to my immigrant ancestor and 9x great grandfather Abraham Perkins Sr. Abraham was one of the first settlers of the seacoast town of Hampton, N.H. and William Richard Cutter has this brief biography:

(I) Abraham Perkins, born in 1611, came from England to America, and appears of record in New England in 1638, as one of the first settlers of Hampton, where he was made a freeman, May 31, 1640. A man of good education, and an excellent penman, he was much employed in the town's affairs. He died August 31, 1683, at the age of seventy-two years, his widow, Mary, surviving him until May 29, 1706, when she passed away at the age of eighty-eight years. His daughter Mary married Giles Fifield, and was grandmother of Mary Adams, mother of the patriot, Samuel Adams. His will dated August 22, 1683. and probated September 18,1683. mentions his wife Mary, and sons, Jonathan, Humphrey, James, Luke and David. An old family Bible still preserved among his descendants gives the birth dates of eleven of his thirteen children, which were as follows: Mary, born September 2, 1639; Abraham Jr., September 2, 1639; Luke, 1640-41 ; Humphrey, January 22, 1642; James, April 11, 1644; Timothy, October 5, 1646; James (2), October 5, 1647; Jonathan, May 30, 1650; David, mentioned below; Abigail, April 2, 1655; Timothy (2), June 26, 1657; Sarah, July 26, 1659; Humphrey (2), May 17, 1661.-p1304

New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 3  Lewis historical publishing Company,  N.Y., N.Y.    1914

One surprise in that is the information that I may be distantly related to Samuel Adams!

Hampton was part of Essex County Massachusetts during Abraham's lifetime. He was involved in several lawsuits in the Court there and I've found those records, I've also found a transcription of his will. I will be sharing them here in the following posts.

To be continued...

MT. PROSPECT CEMETERY, BRIDGEWATER, MA.

I have relatives buried in many of the cemeteries in the three Bridgewaters. I visited one of them, Mt. Prospect Cemetery in Bridgewater, seven years ago in April 2012. It's built on a hillside so I got a workout climbing up the hill but I found quite a few relatives, mostly from the Keith family but a few from the Fobes and Perkins families as well.

Here's a few of them:

MY PERKINS LINE

Here is the Perkins family line of my 4x great grandmother Cynthia (Packard) Dunham, daughter of Reuben Packard and Anne Perkins.  It goes back to immigrant ancestor John Perkins, but also includes the Conant, Long, Walton and Whipple families.

MY PACKARD LINE

Starting next week in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks series I'll be writing about  the family of my 4x great grandmother Cynthia (Packard)Dunham, wife of James Thomas Dunham. Cynthia is one of my ancestors who has relatives from both Plymouth and Essex Counties. On her father Reuben Packard's side she is descended from some of the founders of all three Bridgewater towns:Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, and West Bridgewater. These are towns only about ten miles away from where I live. In fact, I graduated from Bridgewater State College nearly fifty years ago.

On her mother Anne Perkins' side she is descended from prominent citizens of Ipswich, Beverley, and Salem.

Here's Cynthia's Packard line

The associated families are Edson, Fobes, Hayward, Howard,  and Keith who arrived in Massachusetts after the Great Migration so the line isn't as long as some of my other families.















I'll discuss the Perkins line in the next post.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #9: LUKE PERKINS

Fellow geneablogger Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued the 52
Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. Basically, we have to post something every week
on a different ancestor, whether a story, picture, or research problem. This week my
subject is 7x great grandfather Luke Perkins.


I do daily posts on Facebook about births, deaths, and marriages  of ancestors on
that date. Whenever I do that I double check to see if the event is sourced in my
database and if it isn't, to confirm my information. Today I was trying to confirm
an unsourced marriage  date for John Perkins and Ablgail Williams without any
success. What was puzzling me was that I had John Perkins and Abigail in my
database but no children. Why were they even there in the first place?

 I posted about my frustration on Facebook. And that led to a discussion
with fellow geneablogger  Midge Frazel about our Perkins lines, and it turns out
we are cousins. I mentioned that the furthest back I had gotten so far on my
Perkins line was Luke Perkins and his wife Martha Conant, and Midge kindly has
shared some information that pushed that further back another two generations
to Abraham Perkins and his wife Mary. Googling Luke Perkin's name today I found this:

(III) Luke (2), son of Luke (1) Perkins, was born March 18, 1667. He lived in Marblehead, Beverly, Wenham, Ipswich, 1704, and Plympton, and recorded on the 
town records of all these places are his marriage and the births of his children. On November 24, 1704, he and his wife, of Ipswich, sold John Filmore a house and barn
with about two acres of land on the road from Wenham to Beverly near Wenham Pond 
in Beverly. About November, 1714, he moved to Plympton. His uncle, David Perkins,
of Bridgewater, for love and good-will, gave him all his land in Abington. Luke 
Perkins was a blacksmith by trade. He died in Plympton, December 27, 1748, aged eighty-two years. He married, May 31, 1688, Martha, daughter of Lot and Elizabeth (Walton) Conant; Elizabeth Walton was daughter of Rev. William Walton, of 
Marblehead. The marriage was recorded in Salem and Topsfield. Martha (Conant) Perkins, was born at Beverly, August 15, 1664, and she owned the covenant for 
herself and children, July 30, 1691. She died January 2, 1754, aged eighty-nine years. Children: John, born at Marblehead, April 5, 1689; Martha, September 19, 1691, 
died young; Hannah, March 12, 1693; Luke, mentioned below; Mark, baptized in 
Beverly, April 30, 1699; Josiah, born November 9, 1701, in Beverly; Martha, August 
14, 1707, in Beverly.
- William Richard Cutter, New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record
of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding
of a Nation, Volume 2 (Google eBook)  (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1914 ) p824.

A few things: I've been to the Hillcrest Cemetery in Plympton and I may have a shot of Luke Perkin's headstone. I'll check later. Also, I've seen several headstones over at the
Mt. Vernon Cemetery here in Abington and wondered if they were related to me. Seeing the mention of David Perkins owning land here it's quite possible they are. I'll have to
get a closer look at them once there's less snow on the ground. And Luke is yet another
of my ancestors who worked as a blacksmith!

I'll be posting more on the Perkins family after I've done a bit more research.