Category Archives: Perkins

Perkins

Henry Purkins & Mary (MNU) & Tabitha St. John, Old Rappahannock & Essex Counties, VA

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Congratulations if you have hung in here through all these Henry Purkinses in Essex County, Virginia. We have reached the earliest of the four Henry Purkins!

Henry Purkins was born c1660, probably in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia, the son of Humphrey and (Unknown) Purkins. He married (1) Mary (MNU), c1683 and (2) Tabitha St. John, c1708. Tabitha was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (MNU) St. John.

Henry Perkin is listed with 300 acres on “A True and Perfect Rent Roll of all the Lande held in Essex County this present year 1704.”

Henry Purkins died after 11 March 1734/35, the day he wrote his will, in Essex County, Virginia and before 15 February 1736/37, the day it was recorded in court records.

Will of Henry Purkins, 1736
Essex County, VA Will Book 6:46-47
Source: FamilySearch

In the Name of God amen I Henry Purkins Siner (Senior) of the County of Essex in the parish of South farnham do make ordain this my last will and Testament in mannor and forme following that is to say ffirst I bequeath my Soule to the hands of Almighty God believeing remission of sins and everlasting life after death by the merrits death and passion of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.

Item I give unto my son Griffing Purkins all my lands and plantations that I now live on to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give unto my Daughter Ailce Booaton the negro woman that she hath now in possession to her and heirs forever.

Item I give unto my daughter Tabitha Lumpkins one negro man named Taylor to be delivered to her at the end of one year after my decease and also one feather bed and furniture.

Item I give unto my son Griffing Purkins one negro named Dick and one negro named London to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give unto my grand daughter Mary Purkins Eight pounds current mony to be paid her at the day of her marage or at the age of twenty one years.

Item I give unto my grandson Henry Purkins Taylor one young heffer.

Item I give unto my grand Daughter Mary Taylor one young heffer.

Item I give unto my Daughter Anne Purkins one negro boy call’d Bristoll to be delivered to her at the day of her marage or at the age of twenty years and I also give her one negro girle named Lotto and her Increase but not to be delivered unto her untill my beloved wife’s death or day of her marage. Also one feather bed and furniture and one Cow and Calfe it is my will that if my said Daughter should die in her Minoritie and not married that the negro boy Bristoll shall return unto my daughter Tabitha Lumpkin and the rest of the Legaseyes given her to be Equally divided amongst the rest of my Children.

Item I lend unto my loving wife one negro girle named Lotte during her widowhood and then to returne to my daughter Ann as before given, Also I lend unto my said wife two other negroes named Golah and Judy and one trunk her riding Sadle and the moiety or halfe my Estate after my debts and legaseyes paid for and during her natural life and after her decease I give the two negrose before given her, and personall Estate (Excepting the trunk and Sadle) or what shall be remaining unto my son Henry Purkins and my daughter Mary deshazo Eaqually to be divided between them and theire heires for ever.

Item I give unto my son Griffing Purkins the other moiety or halfe of my personal Estate after my debts and legaseyes paid. If my said son shall die in his minoritie not married all his Estate before given be devided between my three Daughters hereafter named Ailce Booaton, Tabitha Lumpkin and Anne Purkins to them and theire heirs for ever.

Item It is my will and desire that my Executors hereafter named may not be obliged to give security for the performance of my Estate nor my Estate to be appraised.

Lastly I doe appoint my loving wife Tabitha Purkins and my son Griffing Purkins whole and sole Executors of this my last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hearunto set my hand and Seale this 11th day of March 1735/36″

Henry his(HP)mark Purkins (seal)

Signed Sealed & Published
in the presence of
Wm. Covington
ffrancis Brown
Thos. Covington

Children with Mary (MNU):

  1. Henry, born c1685; died before 15 November 1738, Essex County, Virginia; married Cary Ferguson, c1716. She was the widow of Class Caston.
  2. Daughter, married Mr. Taylor, but died before her father’s will was written. She had two children, Henry Purkins Taylor and Mary Taylor.
  3. Possible son who died before his father, but married and had one daughter, Mary Purkins. Henry Jr. didn’t name a daughter Mary in his 1738 will.

Children with Tabitha St. John:

4. Mary, born c1709; died after her father’s 1735 will, but not in her mother’s 1738 will; married Mr. DeShazo (Note: Mary must be a child of Tabitha, as Mary (MNU) St. John Billington, Tabitha’s mother, named granddaughter Mary DeShazo in her 1727 will.)
5. Tabitha, born c1711, died after her mother wrote her will; married John Lumpkin, c1729, probably Essex County, Virginia
6. Alice, born c1713; married Mr. Boughan, c1731, probably Essex County, Virginia
7. Griffin, born c1715; died after his mother wrote her will
8. Anne, born c1717; died after her mother wrote her will, in which she was the prime beneficiary and unmarried at the time

Tabitha (St. John) Purkins left a will, too, dated 29 April 1738 in Essex County, Virginia:


Will of Tabitha Purkins, 1738
Essex County, Virginia Will Book 6:247-248
Source: FamilySearch

In the name of God Amen I Tabitha Purkins of the County of Essex being sick and weak doe make this my Last will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say first I bequeath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God believing remission of sins and Everlasting Life by the merrits death and passion of Jesus Christ my Lord and only Saviour.

Item I give unto my son Griffing Purkins one Shiling.

Item I Give unto my Daughter Ailce Booaton one Shiling.

Item I give unto my Daughter Tabitha Lumpkin one Shiling.

Item I give unto my two Grand Daughters Elizabeth and Tabitha Lumpkin Each of them Ten Shilings to buy them Rings.

Item all the rest of my Estate let it [???] or quality [???] (after my Just debts paid) I give unto my Daughter Anna Purkins & her heirs forever to be [???] of the same Emediatly after my Death and also that my said Daughter be for her self to act and doe without the hindrance or Interuption of any person whatsover from the time of my death.

Lastly I doe appoint my Daughter Anna Purkins and John Lumpkin to be my Executors of this my last will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and find my Seale this 29th day of April 1738.

Tabitha X Purkins (Seal)
her mark

Signed Seald and declared in the presence of us
Wm Covington
Sarah her (X) mark Newbell
Margret her (EC) mark Clarke

Ferguson of VA, Perkins

Henry Purkins & Cary Farguson, Essex County, VA

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We’ve now moved back into the 17th century with the third Henry Perkins in this branch of the family tree.

Henry Purkins was born c1685, probably in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia, the son of Henry and Mary (MNU) Purkins.

An important piece to know about Virginia history – Old Rappahannock County was formed in 1656, but in 1692, it was abolished and divided into Essex and Richmond Counties. Therefore, it is likely that the Purkins family didn’t move – the county just changed named.

Henry Purkins married Cary Farguson, daughter of John and Ann Farguson, before 20 September 1720, when she was called Cary Purkins, administratrix of the estate of Class Caston, probably in Essex County, Virginia. She had previously been married to Class Caston, c1705, and who died in 1715 and with whom she had four children, John, Class, Cary and Elizabeth.

Henry and Cary were parents to four children before Henry’s untimely death in 1738, when he was only in his 50s. Henry survived his own father by only two years.

Will of Henry Purkins, 1738
Essex County, VA Will Book 6:171-172
Source: FamilySearch

In the name of God Amen I Henry Purkins of the County of Essex in P’ish of South farnham being sick & weak in body: but of perfect sence & memory thanks be to God Almighty; and Calling to mind the unsartain State of this Transitory Life & tis appointed for men one to dye do make this my Last will and Testament

Imprimis first I bequeath my Soul to God who Gave it me hoping through the Meritts & mercys of my blessed Saviour to have full pardon and Remission for all my sins; secondly I committ my body to th eEarth from whence it was first taken to be decently buried by my Executors Thirdly as toutching what Small Estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I give & dispose as follows Vize ——-

Item I give all my lands to my Son Henry Purkins and his Lawfull heirs for Ever & I will that my Loving wife Cary have as much of my Estate as by Law is allowed; and as toutching Slaves & other Estate Desire that it may be Equally devided among all my Child that hearafter mentioned to witt Henry Sarah & Tabitha provided my daughter Rachel Griggs dyeth without Lawfull Issue of her body; 7 if she hath Lawfull Issue of her body & liveth to be of full age that then that Issue have one fifth part of my Estate Except my land it is my will that all the negroes that my wife holds for her dower & their increase after her death Shall be divided as my other Estate is tis my will that whereas I have given an assignment to a Sartain person for one of my negroes that that assignment Shall be fully Complyed with: which assignment beareth date the Twelfth day of this Instant Lastly I do appoint my loveing wife Cary my son Henry Purkins my whole & Sole Executors of this my Last will & Testament Wittness my hand and Seale this 21 day of Semtpeber 1738

Item I give my Daughter Rachel Griggs one Shilling for her Share of my Estate
Henry Purkins Seal

Item I give to Joannah St. John the wife off John Sr all my & of an her Dower of the Land that I bought of our Sheriff at oction Witt my hand & Seale this 23 day of Septemr 1738 Henry Purkins Seal
Test
Frances X Griggs
John Griggs
Elebeth X (Hortine?)

Henry Purkins either died from the effects of an accident or else he quickly passed from a sudden illness if he was apparently renting out an enslaved person just two weeks before he wrote his will.

Children:

1. Henry, born c1718, probably Essex County, Virginia; died after 2 June 1780, when he wrote his will, in Essex, County, Virginia; married (1) Elizabeth Gatewood, c1740 (2) Mary (MNU), c1758
2. Rachel, born c1720; died after 18 November 1738; married Mr. Griggs, before 1738, probably Essex County, Virginia
3. Sarah, born c1722; died after 18 November 1738; unmarried at that time
4. Tabitha, born c1724; died after 18 November 1738; unmarried at that time

Tomorrow, we will look at the family of the fourth and final (yes!) Henry Purkins, the man who married (1) Mary (MNU) and (2) Tabitah St. John, daughter of Thomas and Mary (MNU) St. John, also of Essex County, Virginia.

 

Gatewood, Perkins

Henry Purkins & Elizabeth Gatewood, Essex County, Virginia

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As we have moved back in time with the Perkins family, the spelling of their surname has changed to Purkins.

Henry Purkins was born c1718, probably in South Farnham, Essex, Virginia, son of Henry Purkins and Cary Ferguson. He married Elizabeth Gatewood, c1740, and probably in Essex County, Virginia. (Note: Marriage records don’t begin in Essex County until 1814.) Elizabeth was the daughter of William Gatewood and Catherine Carter. Her father died in 1743 and called her Elizabeth Purkins in his will.

Henry married (2) Mary, c1758, probably also in Essex County, Virginia. There is some suspicion that her maiden name might be Dunn, as one of the executors of Henry’s will was a William Dunn.

He had children with both Elizabeth and Mary and it appears that his second set of children were all under legal age when Henry died in 1780.

Henry Purkins died after 2 June 1780, the day on which he wrote his will.

Will of Henry Purkins, 1780
Essex County, VA Will Book 13: 311-312
Source: FamilySearch

Will of Henry Purkins

In the name of God Amen, I Henry Purkins of Essex County being very sick & weak but of Perfect mind & memory, thanks be to god, Calling unto mind the Mortallity of my body, & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make & ordain this my last will & testament that is to say, principally & first of all, I give & recommend my soul into the hand of almighty God that gave it & my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Exors: nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again, by the mighty Power of God.

And as touching such worldly estate wherewith, it has pleased god to bless me in this life I give [???] demise, & dispose of the same in the following manner.

First, I give & bequeath to my son Will: Purkins & to his heirs Lawfully begotten forever, the Land that he has now in his possession, land of by Luke Covington Provided he pays the money with Interest according to agreement. if not the land to return back into my estate again: it is my will & desire that my son Will. shou’d have no more of my lands, except that land I give him in Buckingham County. Also it is my will & desire that my son Henry Purkins shou’d have no land only what I have Given him, in Buckingham County. As to the rest of my Land, all that I have in possession or have any right to I give to my six youngest sons & to their heirs Lawfully begotten forever, but if any of them should die before they come to age or marry that then their parts to be equally divided between their surviving Brothers.

Item I give to my son Gideon Purkins my horse Folly to be sold by my Executors & the money put into the loan office.

Item I give to my daughter Cary Purkins one Cow & Calf at the death of my wife or at the day of Marriage.

Item I give to my son Youngdimmach Purkins one Cow & calf, at the death of my wife or when he is of age.

As to the rest of my personal estate I lend to my loving wife Mary Purkins during her life or widowhood, & after her decease or marriage to be equally divided between the children she had by me it is my will & desire that my Exors bring suit against George Wright’s Executors for the Negroes I Pawn’d to him forty five pounds, and also suit against John Burke for the Negroe Girl [???] & her Increase that I lent to my Daughter Mary Burke to wait upon her when she married the Sd Burk which negroes when recovered with the rest of my Negroes I have in possession to be equally divided between all my children at the death of my wife or at the day of her marriage. It is my will & desire that my wife Mary Purkins shou’d have the Use of my Land, Negroes & personal estate except Legacies during her Life or widowhood for the support of my young children.

And Lastly I appoint Flem. Ranson, Will. Purkins, Will. Dunn (B) to be my Exors of this my last will & testament, as witness my hand & seal this 2nd Day of June one Thousand seven hundred & eighty.

Signed Sealed Published & declared to be the above Henry )
Purkins Last Will & Testament – in the presence of us )

Thos Wood
Jacob Shearwood
Lucy Dunn

Children, with Elizabeth Gatewood:

1. William, born c1742; died after 2 June 1780
2. Henry, born c1745, probably Essex County, Virginia; died before 25 July 1803, Halifax County, Virginia; married (1) Unknown (2) Mary Ransone, c1780, possibly in Buckingham County, Virginia
3. Mary, born c1747; died after 2 June 1780; married John Burke

Children with Mary (MNU)(Note: Birth years are estimates):

4. Gideon, born c1768
5. Youngdimmach, born c1770
6. Cary, born c1772; married Thomas L. Dunn. there is a Cary Dunn enumerated in Essex County in 1850, born c1794. This might be the (unmarried?) daughter of Thomas and Cary. If it is Cary Purkins Dunn, then her age is off by about 20 years.

Next in the Purkins trip back in time is Henry Purkins who married Cary Ferguson.