Perkins
DESCRIPTION
NamePerkinsDescriptionPeter Perkins was born 1826 Sydney, the son of convicts, Peter Perkins and Elizabeth Smith (nee Overett).
In 1812, his mother, Elizabeth Overett was transported aboard ‘Indefatigable’ and ‘Minstrel’ (the ships sailed in company together) for feloniously stealing three dollars, the property of Edward Huggins, from his person. In 1817, his father Peter Perkins Snr was transported aboard ‘Larkins’ for larceny.
The 1828 Census states Elizabeth Overett, 35, housekeeper, was living at the residence of Peter Perkins in Clarence Street.
Australian Marriages 1788-1935 Index states that 19 January 1829, ‘Elizabeth Smith or Overett’, married Peter Perkins. Elizabeth’s age is listed as 37, and Peter’s 28.
Peter Perkins Snr died only 4 years later in 1833.
Elizabeth Perkins then married William Wilson at Dapto in 1837. Peter Perkins Jnr was about 11 years old at the time.
It is unclear who William Wilson was. There were two William Wilson’s living in the Albion Park area at the time.
The first William Wilson was a convict, transported for horse theft aboard ‘Fortune’, in 1813 This William was assigned to Colonel George Johnston, and worked for him at Appin and Illawarra (Johnston's Meadows). In 1821, Colonel Johnston provided a reference for William’s petition for conditional pardon. In the reference, Colonel Johnston described William as being in charge of his stock at Illawarra, and an ‘honest and faithful servant’.
The 1841 NSW Census records this William Wilson living at Johnston’s Meadows in a house owned by David Johnston Esq, in which three free people were living. These people are recorded as 1 married male 60 and upwards, 1 married female 45-60, and one single female 7-14. The ages of William and Elizabeth would fit with this, being about 69 and 48. Peter Perkins Jnr’s age would also fit, being about 14 at the time, however the child is recorded as female.
This William Wilson died at Johnston’s Meadows in 1852. His death notice in ‘Bells Life and Sporting Reviewer’ 9 October 1852 states he was in his 76th year. His death registration (Dapto) on the NSW Births Deaths and Marriages Index states he was 80.
William’s death notice in ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ 5 October 1852 states ‘One of the first who took stock with his master to the district in 1817. An old and faithful servant, having lived in the service of Mr. D Johnston 37 years.’
The second possible William Wilson is recorded on the 1855-1856 Electoral Roll lists a William Wilson living at Macquarie River (Albion Park). He is not recoded in the 1840 census. This William Wilson was the first chairman elected on the newly formed Municipality of Shellharbour in 1859.
Peter Perkins Jnr married Mary Jane Fraser at Terry’s Meadows (Albion Park) in 1845.
Mary was the daughter of William Fraser and Jane Craig, for whom Frazer’s (sic) Creek at Albion Park is named for. The Fraser family had arrived in Australia aboard ‘New York Packet’ in 1841. Mary Jane’s brother, William Fraser, married Margaret Torrens of Yellow Rock.
The 1860 Terry’s Meadows Estate Map shows Frazer and Perkins as both living on 52 acres of Lot 10. This Lot was owned and occupied by William Fraser, and included a house occupied by his daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Peter Perkins. The sites of these two properties can be seen in 1961 aerial photography maps. The same map shows neighbouring Lot 11 occupied by Wilson. Remarks associated with this map state –
‘Lot 10 Contains the dwelling house, dairy etc of William Frazer (sic). Extensive frontage to Frazer’s Creel. Large frontage to Shell Harbour Road. On the farm is the house occupied by Mr Perkins. About 13 acres cleared.’
‘Lot 11 Contains the dwelling house occupied by Mrs Wilson. Extensive frontage to Frazer’s Creek. About 15 acres cleared in paddock.’
If Mrs Wilson is living by herself by 1860, presumably Mr Wilson has died (possibly convict William who died in 1852).
Today, Lot 10 (Frazer and Perkins) is on the corner of Tongarra and Croom Roads, opposite ‘Ravensthorpe’. Lot 11 (Mrs Wilson) is the site recently associated with the Norris homestead and includes part of the Shellharbour Stadium.
An inquest into the death of Sarah Osborne in the Kiama Examiner 5 August 1862, state Peter Perkins was a labourer, working for Mr. Samuel Marks
Peter and Mary Perkins had -
Jane b. 1845 (married John Barber, died 1929, Lismore)
Mary b. 1847 (married John Hockey, died 1934, QLD)
Elizabeth b.1849 (married Charles Kemp, died 1920, Murrumburrah)
William b.1851 (married Elizabeth Hamilton and Margaret Knilands, died 1928, Coffs Harbour)
James b.1853 (died 1862, Shoalhaven)
John b.1855 (married Sarah Hamilton, died 1940, Murwillumbah)
Peter b.1858 (died 1861 Shellharbour)
Ann b.1862 (married George Blayney)
Frances b.1865 (married John Hockey - son of Samuel and Mary Ann Hockey)
Harriet b.1868 Shoalhaven (married George Thomas Piper, died 1947, Kyogle)
Emily b.1871 Shoalhaven (died 1900, Lismore)
Peter and Mary’s two youngest children were born at Shoalhaven (probably the Berry area).
Peter’s mother, Mrs Elizabeth Wilson (nee Overett) died at Shoalhaven in 1870, aged 88.
By the 1890’s Peter and Mary had moved north to Ballina.
Mary Perkins died there in 1898. Peter Perkins died at Murwillumbah in 1913.
Sources -
NSW BDM
Census Records
Ancestry.com - shipping and convict records
1860 Terry's Meadows Estate Map
External LinkAdvertisement The Rev Atchison 1846Four Dollars Reward 1827Strayed from the Halfway House 1827Sydney Quarter Session 1831Death William Wilson 1852Death William Wilson 1852Petition to Form Shellharbour Municipality 1859Municipality of Shellharbour Nomination for Candidate 1859Important Unreserved Sale 1860Inquests Sarah Osborne 1862Bankruptcy James Perkins 1894Death Emily Perkins 1900Coronors Inquest Emily Perkins 1900Death Peter Perkins Jnr 1913Death of Mrs C Kemp 1920Death Mr W Perkins 1928Funeral Jane Barber 1929Mr John Perkins 1940Obituary George Thomas Piper 1940
In 1812, his mother, Elizabeth Overett was transported aboard ‘Indefatigable’ and ‘Minstrel’ (the ships sailed in company together) for feloniously stealing three dollars, the property of Edward Huggins, from his person. In 1817, his father Peter Perkins Snr was transported aboard ‘Larkins’ for larceny.
The 1828 Census states Elizabeth Overett, 35, housekeeper, was living at the residence of Peter Perkins in Clarence Street.
Australian Marriages 1788-1935 Index states that 19 January 1829, ‘Elizabeth Smith or Overett’, married Peter Perkins. Elizabeth’s age is listed as 37, and Peter’s 28.
Peter Perkins Snr died only 4 years later in 1833.
Elizabeth Perkins then married William Wilson at Dapto in 1837. Peter Perkins Jnr was about 11 years old at the time.
It is unclear who William Wilson was. There were two William Wilson’s living in the Albion Park area at the time.
The first William Wilson was a convict, transported for horse theft aboard ‘Fortune’, in 1813 This William was assigned to Colonel George Johnston, and worked for him at Appin and Illawarra (Johnston's Meadows). In 1821, Colonel Johnston provided a reference for William’s petition for conditional pardon. In the reference, Colonel Johnston described William as being in charge of his stock at Illawarra, and an ‘honest and faithful servant’.
The 1841 NSW Census records this William Wilson living at Johnston’s Meadows in a house owned by David Johnston Esq, in which three free people were living. These people are recorded as 1 married male 60 and upwards, 1 married female 45-60, and one single female 7-14. The ages of William and Elizabeth would fit with this, being about 69 and 48. Peter Perkins Jnr’s age would also fit, being about 14 at the time, however the child is recorded as female.
This William Wilson died at Johnston’s Meadows in 1852. His death notice in ‘Bells Life and Sporting Reviewer’ 9 October 1852 states he was in his 76th year. His death registration (Dapto) on the NSW Births Deaths and Marriages Index states he was 80.
William’s death notice in ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ 5 October 1852 states ‘One of the first who took stock with his master to the district in 1817. An old and faithful servant, having lived in the service of Mr. D Johnston 37 years.’
The second possible William Wilson is recorded on the 1855-1856 Electoral Roll lists a William Wilson living at Macquarie River (Albion Park). He is not recoded in the 1840 census. This William Wilson was the first chairman elected on the newly formed Municipality of Shellharbour in 1859.
Peter Perkins Jnr married Mary Jane Fraser at Terry’s Meadows (Albion Park) in 1845.
Mary was the daughter of William Fraser and Jane Craig, for whom Frazer’s (sic) Creek at Albion Park is named for. The Fraser family had arrived in Australia aboard ‘New York Packet’ in 1841. Mary Jane’s brother, William Fraser, married Margaret Torrens of Yellow Rock.
The 1860 Terry’s Meadows Estate Map shows Frazer and Perkins as both living on 52 acres of Lot 10. This Lot was owned and occupied by William Fraser, and included a house occupied by his daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Peter Perkins. The sites of these two properties can be seen in 1961 aerial photography maps. The same map shows neighbouring Lot 11 occupied by Wilson. Remarks associated with this map state –
‘Lot 10 Contains the dwelling house, dairy etc of William Frazer (sic). Extensive frontage to Frazer’s Creel. Large frontage to Shell Harbour Road. On the farm is the house occupied by Mr Perkins. About 13 acres cleared.’
‘Lot 11 Contains the dwelling house occupied by Mrs Wilson. Extensive frontage to Frazer’s Creek. About 15 acres cleared in paddock.’
If Mrs Wilson is living by herself by 1860, presumably Mr Wilson has died (possibly convict William who died in 1852).
Today, Lot 10 (Frazer and Perkins) is on the corner of Tongarra and Croom Roads, opposite ‘Ravensthorpe’. Lot 11 (Mrs Wilson) is the site recently associated with the Norris homestead and includes part of the Shellharbour Stadium.
An inquest into the death of Sarah Osborne in the Kiama Examiner 5 August 1862, state Peter Perkins was a labourer, working for Mr. Samuel Marks
Peter and Mary Perkins had -
Jane b. 1845 (married John Barber, died 1929, Lismore)
Mary b. 1847 (married John Hockey, died 1934, QLD)
Elizabeth b.1849 (married Charles Kemp, died 1920, Murrumburrah)
William b.1851 (married Elizabeth Hamilton and Margaret Knilands, died 1928, Coffs Harbour)
James b.1853 (died 1862, Shoalhaven)
John b.1855 (married Sarah Hamilton, died 1940, Murwillumbah)
Peter b.1858 (died 1861 Shellharbour)
Ann b.1862 (married George Blayney)
Frances b.1865 (married John Hockey - son of Samuel and Mary Ann Hockey)
Harriet b.1868 Shoalhaven (married George Thomas Piper, died 1947, Kyogle)
Emily b.1871 Shoalhaven (died 1900, Lismore)
Peter and Mary’s two youngest children were born at Shoalhaven (probably the Berry area).
Peter’s mother, Mrs Elizabeth Wilson (nee Overett) died at Shoalhaven in 1870, aged 88.
By the 1890’s Peter and Mary had moved north to Ballina.
Mary Perkins died there in 1898. Peter Perkins died at Murwillumbah in 1913.
Sources -
NSW BDM
Census Records
Ancestry.com - shipping and convict records
1860 Terry's Meadows Estate Map
External LinkAdvertisement The Rev Atchison 1846Four Dollars Reward 1827Strayed from the Halfway House 1827Sydney Quarter Session 1831Death William Wilson 1852Death William Wilson 1852Petition to Form Shellharbour Municipality 1859Municipality of Shellharbour Nomination for Candidate 1859Important Unreserved Sale 1860Inquests Sarah Osborne 1862Bankruptcy James Perkins 1894Death Emily Perkins 1900Coronors Inquest Emily Perkins 1900Death Peter Perkins Jnr 1913Death of Mrs C Kemp 1920Death Mr W Perkins 1928Funeral Jane Barber 1929Mr John Perkins 1940Obituary George Thomas Piper 1940
Perkins. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 24/06/2026, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/18034