John PERKINS [289]

  General Notes:

In the 1841 Census of The Channel Islands, John is 15 years of age and an apprentice mason. Also is Henry Perkins 20 , Jane Perkins 20, Maria Perkins 2 and n.k. (presumably not known) aged 5 days.

The 1851 census of St Helier District 3 shows that John Perkins, head of the household, a bricklayer, aged 24, and his wife Elizabeth aged 36 along with Mary, John and Emma Barkell, step children aged 15, 6 and 2 respectively all lived at 2 Patriotic Place St. Helier. John was said to have been born at Jersey, whilst Elizabeth and children were said to have been born in England. It is unknown when Betsy moved to Jersey.

John Perkins and Elizabeth Berkell (Rowe) were married at the Church of England at St Helier. Witnesses to the marriage were George J Baudains and Mary Ann Jasper.

John's wife, Betsy (Elizabeth Rowe) previously married William Barkell, a miner on the 6/7/1833 at Tavistock. Presumably William Barkell had passed away sometime prior to Betsy moving to the Channel Islands.

The 1851 Census at Tavistock shows Betsy Rowe's parents, Benjamin Rowe, his wife Mary and children John, 40, Charity 21 John Addams 1 Grandson were living at 61 Banawell St Tavistock.
Research in England has found the birth of Mark Perkins at Stoke Damerel in the September quarter of 1857 but there is no entry for Eliza Perkins from 1853-1855.

John PERKINS 31, Betsy, 43, John 11, Emma 9, Eliza 3, Mark infant all from Jersey, England sailed to Australia on the ship "Victory" which sailed from Plymouth on 29 July, 1857 and arrived in Melbourne on 4 November, 1857. They left the ship on their own account in Melbourne. New information has shown that Betsy was John's wife and they married on Jersey. Betsy had been married before and had 3 other children. they were Elizabeth, b c 1833 England, Mary Ann b c 1835 England William b c 1837. According to Betsy's death certificate, John Perkins 2, is the son of Betsy's first husband and Emma, Eliza and Mark were the children of John PERKINS. The name of Betsy's first husband was researched in England and it was discovered that his name was BARKELL.

In the 1875 Post Office Directory, John Perkins is said to be a mason and farmer of Inverleigh Victoria.

No death registration can be found for John Perkins, however, his probate documents, held by the Public Record Office in Melbourne state that he died on 17 Jan 1895 at Swan Hill and that he was buried at Kerang.

John Perkins left his estate in trust for May Barkell (Clara May), the daughter of his stepson, John Barkell, Blanche Perkins, the daughter of his son Mark Perkins of Tragowell, and Betsy Nelson, the daughter of his son in law, Thomas Nelson of Cressy near Colac in equal shares upon attaining the age of 21 years.

He left a piece of Free hold land on the corner of Scoresby Street, and Boundary Street Kerang Vol 983, folio 196564 with a four roomed weatherboard house on it. For the purposes of probate this property was valued at 250 pounds. The house appears to have been rented out after John's death.

Kerang New Times (Vic. : 1901 - 1918) Tue 10 Apr 1906 Page 3 Advertising
....................... Under instructions from the executors in the estate of Mr John Perkins, deceased, the same auctioneer will offer for sale at his bazaar on Friday, 20th inst., immediately after the pig sale a valuable township allotment, having a frontage of 54 feet to Scoresby Street and
45 :feet to Boundary Street, on which is erected a four roomed house.

Kerang New Times (Vic. : 1901 - 1918) Tue 10 Apr 1906 Page 3 Advertising
IMPORTANT SALE
OF
TOWNSHIP ALLOTMENT.
AT KERANG
Friday, 20th April, 1906,
Immediately After the Pig Sale.
DONALD McDONALD, having received instructions from Mr J. Barkell, Executor in the Estate of John Perkins, deceased, will sell by public auction at his Bazaar on the above date, the following Valuable Township Allotment, Viz:_ Allot. 9, sec. 13, township of Kerang, having a frontage of 54 feet to Scoresby Street and 45 feet to Boundary street, on which is erected a 5-roomed W .B. House in fair order.
The above sale offers a splendid opportunity for speculators to acquire a Choice Block of Land in a part of the town that is sure to go ahead. For full particulars as to terms, etc , apply to the Auctioneer, Wellington Street, Kerang, or Mr Myles O'Brien, Solicitor, Kerang.

John married Elizabeth ROWE [288] [MRIN: 94], daughter of Benjamin ROWE [486] and Mary CRUSE [485], on 10 Jul 1850 in Saint Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.⁶⁵⁰ (Elizabeth ROWE [288] was born in 1814 in Tavistock, Devonshire, England, christened on 2 Feb 1814 in Tavistock, Devonshire, England,⁶⁵¹ died on 22 Jul 1887 in Macorna, Vic, Australia ⁶⁵² and was buried on 24 Jul 1887 in Kerang , Vic, Australia.)