John Perkins was born on 23 Dec 1583 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England and baptized that day. He left in Feb 1630/31 from Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, arriving aboard the "Lyon". He took the oath of freeman on 18 May 1631 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. He signed the following will on 28 Mar 1654.

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.' 


He died on 26 Sep 1654 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Ipswich VRs say he was 64 when he died. His estate was probated on 26 Sep 1684.

He was married to Judith Gater on 9 Oct 1608 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England.

Judith Gater was baptized on 19 Mar 1588 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England. She died after 26 Sep 1654 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts when she was named in her husband's will. Children were:

i. Quartermaster John Perkins Jr. was born and baptized on 14 Sep 1609 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England. He took the oath of freeman on 17 May 1637 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. He died on 14 Dec 1686 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
ii. Elizabeth Perkins was born and baptized on 25 Mar 1611 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England. She either died before 18 Sep 1670 or about 1673 in Amesbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
iii. Mary Perkins was born and baptized on 3 Sep 1615 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England. She was accused of witchcraft in 1692 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died on 20 Dec 1700 in Salisbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
iv. Ann Perkins was born and baptized on 5 Sep 1617 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England.
v. Deacon Thomas Perkins was born and baptized on 28 Apr 1622 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England. He died on 7 May 1686 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
vi. Sgt. Jacob Perkins.
vii. Lydia Perkins was born on 3 Jun 1632 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts and was baptized on that day at Boston First Church. She died about 1672 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Perkins DNA Project