Reference the first of this recent series of postings: "There is some confusion as to the first Perkins to arrive in America. Sources indicated that it may be Richard or Robert." The answer is probably both, depending on where they settled. There were Perkins in New England at an early date. My son-in-law has several connections to that family through his Lathrop/Lothrop line. They eventually migrated west through both Canada (the loyalists) and through New York. These are not my people so I leave that family to others. To the south we have Richard Perkins (my ancestor) who first appears in Baltimore (now Harford) County, Maryland in the 1680's. He was probably born between 1640 and 1660 in southwestern England. While many postings show that he was born in Baltimore County, I have yet to see any citation of an original document to support this claim. (There is also nothing to connect him to the New England Perkins.) Richard was probably transported sometime after 1685 when a Richard Perkins was convicted along with a hundred or more others: "8 Jul 1685. The following convicted before Chief Justice Jefferies at the Court of Oyer and Terminer for Dorset, Somerset and Devon for waging war against the King and sentenced to be transported to the Americas [sentence enrolled on 4 Feb 1691]: ... Richard Perkins ... " (PRO: C66/3339/1 & SP (Domestic) James II Vol.1 No.159). (Source: Peter Wilson Coldham, Complete Book of Immigrants 1661-1699, Genealogical Publishing Co, 1990, Pg 525.) Richard married a woman named Mary at about this time. There is no known record of her surname. There are again many postings that she was Mary Utie, daughter of George Utie and Susanna Gouldsmith and niece of Nathaniel Utie, the first representative of the crown who was sent to the upper Chesapeake as a warden to control the illegal fur trade. He settled Spesutia Island (now a part of the US Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland). This is absolutely incorrect since Mary Utie was married to Anthony Drew from before 1688 until Anthony died in May 1720. They had at least nine children during this period. This is well documented since her family was a significant presence in the area at the time. (One of her descendants did eventually marry a Perkins descendant in, I believe, Tennessee. Richard and Mary had at least three sons Richard, William and Elisha, and probably three daughters Mary, Sarah and Marsha. William (my ancestor) stayed in Baltimore County while Richard and his wife Mary Sherrill, Elisha and his wife Margaret Sherrill, Mary and her companion John Hutchison, and the rest of the Sherrill clan migrated south through Virginia to North Carolina where they settled on the Catawba River. At that time the Catawba was the western boundary of European settlement. Richard and Mary had a son Richard born in North Carolina, who had a son Richard, etc. Another early Perkins was Robert who died in Charles County, Maryland sometime after Aft. 30 Dec 1668. A number of postings claim Robert to be the father of Richard of Baltimore county. Their source citation is Roberts will. I can only say that the will in not proof. I obtained a copy of Roberts will from the Maryland Archives and there is no mention of any Perkins children. Will of Robert Perkins In the name of God amen. The thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and sixty eight. I Robert Perkins of ... in Charles County and Province of Maryland... being sick in body but of good and perfect mind and memory thanks be to God and calling ... of this transitory life and .. must yield unto death whom it shall please God to ... Make ... ordain and declare this my last Will & Testament in mannor and form of ... and first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my sins ... most humbly ... for the ... I give and commit my soul unto almighty god my saviour and redeemer in whom and by the merritts of of Jesus Christ I trust and believe .. to be saved and to have ... and forgive ... of all my sins and that my soul with my .. day of ... again with joy and through the ... of Christ ... the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for his ... and my body to be ... such place where it shall please my Executrix ... to appoint and ... and such good ... and Debts as it shall please God ... above my ... to enjoy the same forever... only such gifts and legacys as I shall ... in this my last will and testament. ... unto Wm. ... Way ... wife I give and bequoath unto my wife's son Patrick ... unto my loving wife Anne Perkins my sole executrix as above said to enjoy .. for ever. In witness where of I have here unto putt my hand and seal this 30th of December 1668. x Robert Perkins his mark Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us, Baetha Coates, Thomas Corker, clement Theobold I will be going back one of these days to see if I can finish the transcription, but right now the original copy from the archives is packed away somewhere. So we probably have at least three unrelated Perkins to America prior to 1700. (While I say unrelated, I mean that there is no documented connection.)