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Note: James Perkins was born in 1787 probably in North Carolina.(Jennifer A. Perkins, Perkins Press, Vol. 1 (pp. 24-25) & 12 (pp. 32-33),[Jennifer Perkins Publications, Feb. 1994]{Contributed by Wilma Darr Hays, Ventura, CA, and Mary Jane Stallworth}
Like his brother, Samuel, Census Records indicate his place of birth as NC, but the borders of North and South Carolina and the borders of VA and NC were in dispute for some time. It is possible they were born in a disputed area.
He married about 1811 Sarah "Sally" McManus Marsh, the widow of John Marsh. John was the brother of Elizabeth Marsh who married Samuel Perkins, James brother. Sarah was born about 1790 in NC. She had a daughter, Elizabeth "Betsy", by John Marsh. Elizabeth later received an inheritance from her grandfather Marsh.(Wilma Darr Hayes).
On Dec. 6, 1810, "it was ordered that passports be prepared for the following persons to travel through the Creek Nation of Indians, to wit, one for Mr. john Moore with his wife, five children and seven Negroes from Sumpter District, SC, and one for Mr. James Perkins with his wife and two children and Samuel Perkins with his wife and one Negro which was presented.(Dorothy Williams Potter, Passports of Southeastern Pioneers, 1770-1823, [Gateway Press: Baltimore, 192], p. 274. From Georgia Executive Proceedings of Dec. 6, 1810, p. 270, drawer 50, roll 47). This would appear to be James and his brother, Samuel. However, Samuel had three, possibly four children by then. And he was given a passport only for himself and his wife which probably means this is a different Samuel.
In 1813, James and Sarah Marsh Perkins sold land on the west side of Brown's Creek in Anson Co., NC, which was a dower from her first husband, John Marsh.(Itawamba Sampler, p. 83, sent by Neva McClain).
On Nov. 6, 1813, James Perkins and wife, Sarah sold to Thomas Barratt for $30, 28 1/4 acres of land on the west side of Brown's Creek in Anson Co., NC. William Shepherd and John Whitaker witnessed this deed. The acknowledgement of the deed explains that Sarah Perkins was the late widow of John Marsh and that this was her dower which she had received from her late husband.(Anson Co., NC, Deed Book O, p. 436).
This Perkins family moved to Giles Co., TN with James' brother, Samuel.
On April 15, 1818, Samuel Perkins sold 50 acres to Daniel Hankins. Within the metes and bounds described in the deed, mention is made of a conditional corner made by said Perkins and Hankins in the presence of James Perkins, John Hankins and William Pearce. Witnesses to the deed were John Hankins and William Ussery.(TN State Library & Archives, Giles Co., TN, DB D, p. 419).
They later moved to Monroe and Oktibbeha Counties, MS. On May 16, 1822, James received a land grant for eighty acres in Section 15, Township 12, Range 17, approximately four miles northwest of Splunge, Oktibbeha Co., MS. James is found in Census Records from 1820-1840 in Monroe Co., MS; in 1850 in Oktibbeha Co., and in 1870 in Monroe Co., MS living with his nephew, Aaron Pierce/Pearce.(Yvonne Spence Perkins).
James served as an Indian Scout.(Itawamba Sampler sent by Neva McClain). He was a mechanic.(Yvonne Spence Perkins).
"The three earliest pioneers to Smithville, Monroe Co., MS, were Pierce/Pearce, Perkins and Shannon."(W. B. Wilkes, Mother Monroe, [Aberdeen Examiner: 1936-1938], p. 52). Smithville was in Indian territory, north of Gaines' Trace. The Pierces settled at Pearce's School House, both well within the Indian lands. Perkins settled on Weaver's Creek south of the Trace.(Ibid).
In 1850, James Perkins was living with his son, James perry Perkins, in Oktibbeha Co., MS, and Sarah was living with son, Robert, in Itawamba Co., MS.(Itawamba Co. Census 1850,Sent by Wilma Darr Hays).
Sarah died in Aug. of 1865, age 75 years, at Starkville, Oktibbeha Co., MS. James died after 1870 for he was living with his nephew, Arron Pierce in 1870. Both James and Sarah are buried at Sand Creek Cemetery in Starkville, Oktibbeha Co., MS.(Membership of the Oktibbeha Co. Genealogical Society, Cemetery Records of Oktibbeha County, [The Oktibbeha Co., MS, Genealogical Society: 1969], p. 100.
"Miss Jessie Pierce wrote at age 90, "Granddad James Perkins always boasted of his Sir John Rolfe and Indian Princess Pocahontas blood." She stated 'after the treaty with the Indians, Grandshire Jim, as he was called, was appointed by the government to go as guide and interpreter to the Indians. He spent three years in Indian Territory.' Through the Bureau of Archives and History. I traced my two great-grandfathers, William Pierce and James Perkins, back to Brown's Creek, Anson Co., NC.(The History of Smithville. Note from Neva McClain, Houston, TX).
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