Showing posts with label Wise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wise. Show all posts

Saturday, July 22, 2017

My 8th Great Grandfather: "Slayne by ye Indians"

In Abraham Perkins of Hampton, New Hampshire, I introduced you to Abraham and Mary's large family. One of his sons was Abraham, Jr., who was born in 1639 in Hampton. 

This Abraham married Elizabeth Sleeper in 1668. They had three daughters, and then the unthinkable happened: Abraham was killed by Indians. 

King Philip's War had been underway since 1675. Here is a brief explanation of what was happening: 

King Philip’s War of 1675-1676 (also known as Metacom’s Rebellion) marked the last major effort by the Indians of southern New England to drive out the English settlers. Led by Metacom, the Pokunoket chief called ‘King Philip’ by the English, the bands known today as Wampanoag Indians joined with the Nipmucks, Pocumtucks, and Narragansetts in a bloody uprising. It lasted fourteen months and destroyed twelve frontier towns. (1)

In southern New Hampshire, there had been attacks on settlers in Oyster River, Exeter, and Greenland. Then, in 1677 in Hampton (2):



Abraham: Death Record (6)

This was a tragedy for everyone involved on both sides of the conflict, leading both to greater enmity and expanded warfare. 

For Abraham's widow, Elizabeth, it had to have been a terrible loss. It must have been emotionally crushing and economically devastating as well. Elizabeth was 31, and her daughters Mercy, Mary, and Elizabeth were five, three, and one. The town was on edge, every household was to have loaded arms at the ready, men were standing guard against further attacks, there was an evacuation plan in place, and the local militia was training and marching.(2) 

Elizabeth had a farm to run and small children to raise. 

I am reminded of how carefully Abraham, Senior had provided for his wife, Mary Wise Perkins, in his will--making sure that she had a place to live, food to eat, firewood to keep her warm, and a means of income. It is doubtful if the younger Abraham, only 37, would have made a will. 

Apparently, the fathers of both Abraham, Jr. and Elizabeth stepped in to take guardianship of the little family. In this document, they set out a plan for the education and future of the children. (3) 







You will note that both Elizabeth and an Alexander Denham (or Dennum, spelling varies) make their mark on this document. After Abraham died in June, later that same year, on December 24, 1677,  Elizabeth Sleeper Perkins married Alexander Denham. At 57, he was much older than she. They had two daughters, Sarah and Abial.

Elizabeth Sleeper Perkins, now Denham, was widowed yet again and married for a third time. This time it was to Richard Smith. in 1685. Some family trees on Ancestry.com show that Elizabeth lived until 1713, but I have yet to find any  documentation for a death date. I hope that her later years, at least, were peaceful ones. 


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Sources


1. King Philip's War. The History Channel: http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/king-philips-war

2. History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire, from its settlement in 1638 to the autumn of 1892, by Joseph Dow. Salem Press, 1893. Page 221: play.google.com/books/reader?printsec=frontcover&output=reader&id=iZU3N3rAtlQC&pg=GBS.PA221

3. Abraham Perkins, Jr.; Inventory of Estate, June 1677. New Hampshire Probate Files. Ancestry.com

4. New Hampshire Marriage Records Index, 1637-1947. Ancestry.com

5. Descendants of Isaac Perkins, Generation Three. www.genealogy.com/ftm/n/e/l/Valerie-F-Nelson/GENE3-0003.html

6. New Hampshire, Death and Disinterment Records, 1754-1947. Ancestry.com.


How I am related to Abraham Perkins, Jr.:



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Friday, July 21, 2017

Abraham Perkins' Will: "Ye Apples in ye Orchard"


Previous post: Abraham Perkins of Hampton, New Hampshire  

I find it touching that Abraham Perkins (1613-1683) thought so carefully about his wife's well-being after his death. Through his will, he provided a place for her to live, an income from "two cows & their increase," firewood after "making it fit for her use," feed for the animals, food for herself, four sheep, and a third of "ye apples in ye orchard" which would provide both sustenance and income.

He also remembered each family member in some way, including his grandchildren, in the pages (not shown here) of the will that follow the passages below.

The will was dated August 22, 1683. Abraham died August 31, 1683. His wife Mary Wise Perkins lived until 1706, hopefully in the good care of her sons.

This is the part of the will where he provides for his wife:





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Source

1. New Hampshire Wills and Probate Records, 1643-1982, All Counties, Volume 31, pages 263-265. Ancestry.com




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Thursday, July 20, 2017

Abraham Perkins of Hampton, New Hampshire

I was surprised and pleased to find that my great great great grandmother, Joanna Perkins Rankins (who we previously met in From Rome to Cherokee, Part 2 when she trundled off in a covered wagon for hundreds and hundreds of miles at age 70) was descended from the one of the early settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire.

After all, my own immediate family had lived in New Hampshire for over twenty years, and I had always felt very much at home there even though I didn't know about my connection.

Layout of Founders Park in Hampton, New Hampshire
showing the placement of memorial stones.
Several of the names here (Perkins, Sleeper, Dow, Fogg, Moulton, and Sanborn, so far)
are in my family tree. From the Founders Park website 

Abraham Perkins, born in 1613 in Hilmorton, Warwickshire, England, was my 9th great-grandfather. Or perhaps he was born in 1603, or 1605, or 1608--accounts vary. His parents were Isaac Perkins and Alice [Unknown]; or they might have been John Perkins and Judith Gater. It's so hard to tell at this distance.

He came to America with his wife Mary Wise (or Wyeth) around 1639. Abraham was 26 (or not, depending on which birth date you choose), and Mary was 21. They stayed for a short while in Plymouth Colony before moving to Hampton, New Hampshire.

From The Find a Grave memorial for Abraham Perkins: Abraham Perkins was among the first settlers [in Hampton]. He is described as being superior in point of education to the most of his contemporaries, writing a beautiful hand, and was often employed as an appraiser of estates, etc.  He was town marshal in 1654, and selectman between 1650 and 1683.

In addition to his duties with the town and the development of his homestead and land, Abraham was a good family man. His children numbered thirteen, and they were named Abraham, Mary, Luke, Humphrey I (died young), James I (died young), Timothy I (died young), James II, Jonathan, David, Abigail, Timothy II, Sarah, and Humphrey II. All were born in New Hampshire. 

How do I know that he was a good family man? I believe that it shines through in his will, which I will share with you in the next post. 


*****
Sources

1. U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889/1970. Ancestry.com

2. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. Ancestry.com

3. Millennium File, Ancestry.com


5. U.S. and Canada Passenger and Immigration Lists, 1500s to 1900s. Ancestry.com

6. U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Ancestry.com

My relationship to Abraham Perkins:





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