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Nimrod Perkins (1740 - 1832)

Nimrod Perkins
Born in Accomack, Virginiamap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at about age 92 in Virginia, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 12 Jul 2010
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Biography

Nimrod Perkins filed for a Revolutionary War pension in Accomack County Virginia in 1832. http://revwarapps.org/s5904.pdf In the application, Nimrod swears "that he was born in the County of Accomack, was a resident in that county when he was enlisted & when discharged & never has been a Resident of any other County."

This is what Paul Heinegg had to say about Nimrod: "ii. Nimrod, born say 1755, bound an apprentice shoemaker to William Sacker James in Accomack County on 28 August 1765 [Orders 1764-65, 489]. He was taxable in Accomack County in 1785 and 1790 [PPTL, 1782-1814, frames 154, 347], a "Mulatto" taxable in Northampton County in 1787 and 1788 [PPTL, 1782-1823, frames 74, 81], and head of an Accomack County household of 2 "other free" and a white woman in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 2:13]. Zadock Bayley testified in Accomack County court on 1 July 1830 that he frequently went on board the Navy vessel Accomac and saw Nimrod Perkins ("b.m") serving as a drummer [Revolutionary War Bounty Warrants; Perkins, Nimrod, Digital Collections, LVA]. Nimrod was about 72 years old on 31 July 1832 when he testified in Accomack County court that he enlisted as a drummer on board the galley Diligence from 1777 until 1781 and that he had received a Virginia military land warrant for 100 acres." http://freeafricanamericans.com/Nash_Peters.htm

Nimrod was originally listed by Heinegg as the child of Dorcas Darky Perkins, however, it is impossible for Dorcas to have been his mother because she was dead at the time of his birth. An action of debt brought by Accomack County church wardens against Dorcas Perkins was dismissed on 27 Jan 1747 because she had died (probably in childbirth or shortly after the birth of her son Jacob in Dec 1746). I’ve discussed this issue with Paul Heinegg and he agreed that, given their dates of birth, none of the children he attributed to Dorcas could have been her children.

Heinegg now speculates Nimrod and the others were children of Esther Perkins daughter Keziah. On the other hand, the author of the MilesFiles speculates Nimrod was the son of a speculative daughter of Esther Perkins who was also named Esther. http://espl-genealogy.org/milesfiles/site/p496.htm#i49545

Bottom line: There was a Nimrod Perkins in Accomack County who may be related to Esther Perkins [Perkins-5531] but, if he was related, the nature of that relationship is unknown.

Whether Nimrod married and had children is also unknown. There is no evidence he did.

There are countless trees that claim Nimrod Perkins’ wife was Betsy Laughing Water. However, I have never found a single actual record that gives the name of Nimrod Perkins wife. There is no marriage record, she isn’t mentioned in his Revolutionary War pension application, and Nimrod Perkins died before the names of wives and children were listed in census records. There are no records anywhere for anyone named Betsy Laughing Water. At least two people claim this was a joke name someone made up for Nimrod's wife.

Bottom line: There is no evidence that a person named Betsy Laughing Water ever existed, much less that she was Nimrod's wife. She appears to be plum made up.





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Perkins-5537 and Perkins-65 appear to represent the same person because: same person
posted by [Living McQueen]

P  >  Perkins  >  Nimrod Perkins