Karla Mattila inquired about an "Israel PERKINS" in West Springfield, MA in the early-mid 1800's: Karla: As a possibility, I have an Israel PERKINS b. 16 Oct 1727 Enfield MA/CT, d. abt 1793 Enfield. He had a son Israel, Jr., b. 24 Sep 1757 also in Enfield. This town "seceded" from MA in the mid-1700's and joined CT, with one or more other towns. It is only 10-15 miles from Springfield, MA, on the east side of the Connecticut River. I don't have any further records of Israel, Jr., as my interest was in a sibling; the younger Israel apparently left Enfield before marrying or dying. If you are looking for an Israel PERKINS to be in W. Springfield in the 1860's, he is an unlikely (but just barely possible) candidate; but a nephew, for example, could easily have been named after him. If this looks interesting, I'll put together more info on the family of Israel, Sr. Darrell Darrell A. Martin formerly of Springfield, Vermont currently in exile in Addison, Illinois darrellm@sprynet.com