Biography of DAVID P. PERKINS of Manchester NH ----------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com/Manchester On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== Willey's semi-centennial book of Manchester, 1846-1896 : and Manchester edition of the Book of Nutfield : historic sketches of that part of New Hampshire comprised within the limits of the old Tyng Township, Nutfield, Harrytown, Derryfield, and Manchester, from the earliest settlements to the present time; by George Franklyn Willey; Manchester, N.H.: G.F. Willey, 1896 ------------------- page 33 DAVID P. PERKINS was born in Meredith, now Laconia [New Hampshire] January 29, 1810, a son of Deacon Josiah Perkins, a native of Newmarket, and Lydia (Sanborn) Perkins, born in Exeter February 17, 1775. He was descended from John Perkins Sr., who came to this country from Bristol, England, in 1631, in the same ship with Roger Williams, and settled in what is now Ipswich, Mass. His mother's emigrant ancestor was Rev. Stephen Bacheler, who came to America in 1632, and settled near what is now Hampton. In his boyhood he recited to Dudley Leavitt, the founder of Leavitt's Farmer's Almanac. In the spring of 1826 he entered the New Hampton Academy as a student, where he remained two terms. He then sough employment in Boston to secure means for further instruction, where he was introduced to Dr. Francis Wayland, who was about to enter upon the presidency of Brown University. He accompanied Dr. Wayland to Providence, lived in his family, and recited to him daily for six months. He then returned to New Hampshire in June 1827, teaching school during the winter months, and graduated in the fall of 1830. Subsequently he taught school in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachsetts, and finally settled in Manchester in June 1841. He was the first male teacher in town. Owing to impaired health, he finally gave up teaching and purchase a bookstore in connection with which he established a small circulating library. Meanwhile he studied law with Hon. George W. Morrison, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. He was special justice of the police court in 1848, and assistant clerk of the house of representatives in 1849, 1850 and 1851. He was a law partner in Manchester with Hon. Moses Norris, then United States senator from this state, from 1849 to 1853; was appointed to a clerkship in the pension office in Washingotn in the latter year, and remained in the government service ten years. He was for several terms Master of B.B. French Lodge of Masons. On leaving Washington he resided in Henniker until 1869, when he returned to Manchester and practiced law in company with his son until 1885, when he retired from active work. In Henniker he was Master of Aurora Lodge of Masons, and was a charter member and office of the Woods Chapter of that town. He won great favor in the government service by the skilful detection of forged bounty land claims, involving a large number of cases. He travelled extensively as a government agent through the south and southwest, as well as the northern and middle states, attending sessions of the United States court, in which, from first to last, he obtained thirty-six convictions and saved to the government about $3,000,000. Mr. Perkins was one of the original members of the first lodge of Odd Fellows organized in Manchester, Hillsborough Lodge No. 2., instituted Dec. 21, 1843. He was a pioneer in the matter of introducing vocal and instrumental music into the public schools. He married Lydia C., daughter of Ebenezer and Betsey (Green) Lane of Pittsfield, June 26, 1836, who died Oct. 13, 1838, leaving one son, David L. Perkins, born March 2, 1838. His second marriage was, April 16, 1839, to Mary Melissa, daughter of Col. Imri and Hannah (Patterson) woods of Henniker, who died in this city several years ago. His children by his second wife were Lydia Melissa, born Feb. 16, 1840, who died at the age of five years, and Mary Eliza, born May 24, 1841, who died in this city June 13, 1889. Mr. Perkins is a member of the People's Baptist Church. --------------- Additional Notes: In 1850 David P. Perkins, lawyer, was living in Manchester NH with wife Melissa, son David (age 13), and Maria Woods, age 32 (? sister to Melissa). In 1870 David Perkins, lawyer is living in Manchester NH with wife Mary (age 56), son David S. (age 32 a lawyer b NH), and dau Mary E. (age 26 b NH). In 1880 David P. Perkins lawyer living in Manchester on Concord Street, with wife Mary M., son David L. (age 42 unmarried, a lawyer), and dau Mary E. (age 39 music teacher, b. MA, oddly her place of birth and parent's place of birth is MA, is she adopted?) U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Manchester Ward 6 > District 105 Perkins, David Hea dW M Nov 1838 62 widow NH NH NH Detective Perkins, David W. son W M Jan 1862 38 married 4 yrs NH NH Maine Perkins, Grace P. dau in law W F July 1872 27 married 4 yrs 1 ch 1 living CT MA CT Stanley, Sophronia mother in law W F May 1817 83 widow 1 ch 1 living NH NH NH Stanley, Gertrude H. dau W F March 1866 34 single NH NH NH Mead, Minnie servant W F Oct 1871 28 married 9 yrs 2 ch 1 living NY NY NY PERKINS, Frederick P. son W M Oct 1897 2 single NH NH NH U.S. Census > 1910 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Hillsborough > Manchester Ward 6 > District 141 Perkins, David Head M W 72 widow NH -- -- Detective, Cotton mill [b abt 1838] Perkins, David W. son M W 48 m1x 13 yrs NH NH -- Lawyer/Attorney Perkins, Grace, dau in law F W 37 m1x 13 yrs 2 ch 2 liv CT MA CT Perkins, Frederick grandson M W 12 single NH NH CT Perkins, Annette grand dau F W 9 single NH NH CT Parker, Ella G. lodger F W 51 single PA MA CT McLeod, Christina servant F W 18 single Canada Holland Canada kitchen girl (end)