Elizabeth PERKINS

Family/Spouse: William SARGENT. William was born about 1598; died about 1674. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
He sailed from Bristol, England, with his wife and five children, 1 Dec. 1630, in the ship "Lyon," William Pierce, Master. Rev. Roger Williams, the famous divine, came in the same ship. There were twenty passengers in all. After a stormy passage of sixty-seven days, they arrived at Nantasket on 5 Feb., 1631, and on the 6th came to anchor in Boston Harbor. Prince in his "Annals," says: "As the winter of 1629/30 came on, provisions were very scarce ... and the people grew discouraged. Many were the fears that Mr. Pierce, who had been sen to Ireland for provisions, had been cast away or taken by pirates. Upon this a day of fasting and prayer o God for relief was appointed, to be on the 6th February. On February 5th the very day before the appointed fast in came the ship "Lyon," William Pierce, Master, arriving at Nantasket laden with provisions, upon which joyful occasion the day was changed and ordered to be kept on the 22nd as a day of thanksgiving. This may have been the beginning of that now general custom throughout the country of keeping an annual Thanksgiving Day."
John Perkins resided in Boston about two years. The birth of his youngest child Lydia is recorded there on the parish books of the first Church. While in Boston he engaged in he public business of the Colony and was admitted freeman 18 May, 1631. In 1633 he removed from Boston to the settlement, then newly founded by John Winthrop and others, at Ipswich. The location of his house was near the river at the entrance to Jeffries Neck on what is now East Street, where he had considerable land granted him. He was Deputy to the General Court and was among those present at a session in Boston 25 May, 1636. He was on the Gand Jury in 1648 and 1652. Being above sixty years of age he was freed by the Court from ordinary training in March, 1650. Besides holding town offices and occupying other places of trust, he appears to have been one of the leading citizens of Ipswich and was highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen. His will, dated 28 Jan. 1654, proved 27 July, and his inventory, are now on file in the Probate office in Salem, Mass.

John married Judith ?. Judith was born in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]