TAR Nelson made these abstracts from testimony and affidavits, and the numbering and page references are for those original papers. I do not know if they still exist, but I included the notation, just in case. Pam
NO. 7
David STOUT
PERKINS family reputed mulattoes and not Portuguese. John PERKINS had straight. p.3
H.H. RHEA.
Some 18 months ago, near BERRY's sawmill, J.J. WILSON said old Jock was a negro (?) very fully.
Lilburn C. BERRY
12 or 18 months ago at sawmill J.J. WILSON said he was a negro. Some years ago, heard DUGGER say he would not vote where a d----d negro sat as Judge. Joshua Perkins’s son took it up.
X exam. Free white.
NO. 7
p.5
Nicholas SMITH.
Heard Johnson HAMPTON say he heard old-man PERKINS and Nancy talk of Guineagree (?) - God love you Sally Honey - a joke. The PERKINS and GRAVES have voted for 25 years.
No.8
Nancy MILLER
Saw old Jock selling hats. He was a black negro.
X exam.
His wife with him. Did not see her face. He had a long face and long neck. Heard him called William. Saw him only twice. He said he was related to the PERKINS. No.8 p.3
Jesse H. WHITE
Has known PERKINS 8 years. Johnson HAMPTON as to talk between. Some of the PERKINS as to Guineagree (?).
No.8
p.4
Larkin L. WHITE.
Saw old Jake. As was as black as any common mulatto. Can't tell his features. Hair short and curled and kinky. He was a hatter. Darker than Joshua and Jake. He was father of Joshua and Jake.
NO.4
p.1
Celia GOODWIN
PERKINS called negroes. Immensely well acquainted with Jake. Nancy said the mixture on her side Portuguese and on her husband's negroes. Immensely well acquainted with the brothers. William PERKINS, brother of plaintiff married my granddaughter.
X exam.
Privileges. Can't tell as to hair. Lydia's hair amazing black. Amazing black.
No.4,
p.3
Dicey WHALEY.
Jacob PERKINS old and dark skinned. Mother would not let me go there as they were colored. Knew 5 brothers. When people mad, called them negroes. Not mad, dark skinned.
X exam.
Smelt them by being with their wives in having children. Lay with Evalina and smelt her.
NO.11
Mary WHITE.
Knew Jac PERKINS, father of Joshua. Colored and very dark. Always called negro or Guinea. Old Richard WHITE said he saw Jacob PERKINS' father on Peedee and he a negro. The smell.
X exam.
Has slept with them. The PERKINS always treated at our house as white people. John R. WHITE my son.
No.11
Jane GRIFFEY.
First knew them a year ago. Washed William PERKINS' clothes and they smelt like Jack HAMPTON's negro. William the brother of plaintiff. Clothes all washed together and knows the smell.
No.1
Dr. John E. COSSEN.
Knew the father and mother of plaintiff. His father a very black man and a genuine negro. His evidence set aside by J.P. TAYLOR. He said he knew his oath would not be taken. Joshua's mother said her connection opposed to her marriage and that she was not clear blood. Her skin swarthy. PERKINS' reputed as negroes. Can't say whether Jake PERKINS was full blooded. The nose African. I have seen Portuguese. They have long straight hair and keen black eyes. I practiced in all their families and never smelt anything. Jac, John & Lydia as dark as the darkest black man. Believe they were Africans.
X exam.
Can't tell who presided. The PERKINS family always claimed to be Portuguese. Joshua's mother very little mixed. His sisters as bright as the brightest mulattoes. Jacob, brother of Joshua taught school. All married white women. Wives third rate.
No. 9
John POTTER 42
Heard mother say old Jock was a kinky headed negro and as ugly as ever she saw and thick lipped. Always called negroes. Peter POTTER cursed them for a negro. Joseph's son Josh cousin of plaintiff. Benjamin GRAVES dark skinned. The GRAVES family called negroes. Called Jo a negro in a quarrel.
X exam.
Peter POTTER and Joshua quarrelled. Heard Mrs. PERKINS say the HOWELLS and HICKS called them negroes but they were Portuguese.
No. 10
Reuben BROOKS.
Knew old Jake 50 years ago on Doe (Creek). He was very black and a reverend negro. His features like any negro. My memory has not failed. Can't tell as to his being bald. His nose flat and hair kinky.
No.10
p.4
Ellen ANDERSON
Has seen Jacob and his sons. He was a black man and did not look like anything else but a negro. Always called negroes. Fight about drinking water. My uncle refused to make friends with Joshua a d---d negro son of a bitch. Johnson HAMPTON and family called them negroes.
No.10,
p.6.
Nancy LIPPS.
Knew Jac PERKINS 40 years ago. A great big dark skinned man with sheeps wool and flat nose and hip breeches. I refused to sleep with a d---d negro. Had broad feet and a big heel. Old folks said his father was a negro and came from Peedee. They all looked like negroes (Josh) and all. I cursed them to their face. Fight between uncle Henry and Josh.
No.3
John D. SHUFFIELD 65
Joshua's father and uncles of a dark color. The GRAVES dark. Heard my step grandfather say he knew the grandfather of plaintiff on Peedee in S.C. and he was called a free man in that place. Richard WHITE said he was a blue gum negro. Jacob PERKINS darker than Joshua. The mother of Joshua said the GRAVES were Portuguese and her brother Guineagree. Privileges.
p.3
Sarah OAKS 65
Has seen old Jake and Lewis. Lewis kinky hair. Jac not so dark. Old Jock said to be a negro. Ben GRAVES wife fair skinned and he dark. The GRAVES I think mixed blooded. My brother married one of them and his children dark. Lewis at my fathers.
p.5.
Goulder HICKS 69
Lewis dark and bushy headed. Jacob PERKINS. Knew Ben and Nancy GRAVES. My opinion is they are mixed blooded.
X exam.
I prosecuted the PERKINS in N.C. Hannah PERKINS cousin of the plaintiff was examined on oath. Old Jake and his boys have enjoyed the privileges of free white citizens.
p.9
Catherine WILCOX 55
Old Jake PERKINS a dark complected man. Hair cut close. Kinky around his neck.
no.12
Thomas CURTIS, 81-82.
I became acquainted with Jock PERKINS in N.C. 60 years ago. He was middling dark. Stayed all night and got his supper to himself, as father and mother said. They allowed he was a free negro. Brothers of Joshua. - Ben GRAVES.
X exam.
I saw old Jock several times and he said he was from S.C. Traveled on foot. Can't tell how old I was when I saw old Jock. I have not a point blank recollection as to his features. Not bald. Hair short. Can't describe his face as long or short. Saw him on Little Doe. I do not know what race he was of.
No. 12
Harmon HICKS p.4.Between 55 and 60
Saw Joshua's father once, when small, and was scared at him. The general report they were mixed with negro. Knew the GRAVES. Peggy GRAVES was my brother's wife. Brother's marriage objected to. Generally supposed to be mixed with negro.
X exam
I was only 10 when I saw Jacob PERKINS. John GRAVES treated as a white man. All GRAVES enjoyed privileges and associations.
p.7
William ROWLAND
The General report that the PERKINS and GRAVES were mixed. HICKS said old Jock was a negro. Objections. Hiram HICKS a son of GRAVES.
X exam.
I was very small. Associations. Fight at a horse race and old Daniel STOUT bit off CLAWSON's ear.
p.11
Joshua DAVIS
In Marlboro Dist. S.C.
Don't remember the PERKINS 60 or 70 years ago - Not generally.
Henry S. CRABB
Marlboro.
I have seen a full blooded Portuguese. A large, muscular, bony man, dark skin, & gray eyes, auburn hair. Mulattoes generally have kinky hair.
p.19
Elisha SMITH
Jacob PERKINS. Mrs. GRAVES considered mixed with negro. Not treated as white people.
p.23.
John NAVE 88.
I knew Jock PERKINS. He was a black man, hair nappy. Called negro PERKINS. Jacob PERKINS a relation of Jocks. Some called Jacob a Portuguese and some a negro. I called him black. GRAVES about color of MORAN. The GRAVES mixed.
X exam
I helped Jock shell corn. He was said to be a hatter. Don't remember Jacob's features. Feeble and burnt.
No.6
Mary THOMPSON. 66.
I saw a man named PERKINS who stayed at father's when I was 12. Mother not willing to receive him but cousin said he was respectable. It was said his father was a slave and saved his master from drowning and his wife, after his death, had a child by him.
No.12
p.28.
Isaac GWIN.
I worked with old Jacob, Joshua's father a great deal. They called themselves dark skinned or negroes and people called them so and they never got mad. Father said old Jock was a kinky headed negro. Nancy GRAVES was a dark red, like a Cherokee. Ben GRAVES described - Nancy GRAVES or PERKINS stayed with us 4 or 5 days and said her people Portuguese and her husbands negro. Names of sisters (?) of Joshua.
X exam.
White folks has as kinky or curly hair. John GRAVES wife a white woman.
No.12, p.31.
Isaac REESE.
The PERKINS more like black folks than white. Old Jake PERKINS about the color of my negro. J.F. PERKINS color. Jacob PERKINS wife dark. Her brother Ben 1/4 mixed. The GRAVES and PERKINS called negroes. Joshua's sister a mulatto. Has child by John J. WILSON. Jacob darker than Joshua.
X exam.
Privileges. File no.5
George P. STOUT. 87
Knew Jacob and brothers. Generally called mulattoes. Can't say as to GRAVES.
p.3.
James BRADLEY
Knew Jacob and 2 brothers. Jacob very dark black hair and very nappy. Generally called a negro. George PERKINS said his father a right black man in private conversation. Names of Jacob's children Joseph, Sally, Esther, Joshua, Amos, John, Susan, Keziah. Colors. Called a great many names by the people. John GRAVES was a colored man. MILLER and SHULL refused to lodge. Jacob PERKINS' hair. I have seen 4 Portuguese and described them. Joshua's privileges ever since I knew and those of his brothers. John R. WHITE and I are second cousins and my wife Aunt.
Abner DUNCAN 86
Knew old Jock in N.C. on Peedee as they came to this country and got acquainted with Jacob PERKINS, after I moved here. Old Jock right black or nearly so. Hair kinky. Jacob PERKINS a half-breed. Hair nappy. Called negroes. Joshua's children - knew the GRAVES. John called himself the big negro. Manure. Old Jock like a common negro. Can't tell his age. I saw him at several places on Peedee. I lived in Iredell when I first knew him, on Peedee. Can't tell as to hair of Joshua's brothers and sisters. The GRAVES - Big negro.
File no.2
John ESTESS aged 74
Has seen old Jock. He was a very dark man and said to be a negro. His hair kinky. I saw him buried. Jacob and family called mulattoes. Jacob PERKINS selling skins - asked peddler to take them as he was an old black man - One of the PERKINS not sworn - Reputation.
X exam.
I am akin to DUGGER, one of the defendants. Saw old Jock when dead. Remember his features but can't tell his features. Jacob PERKINS kink.
No.2 p.3
John RICHARDSON 76.
Nothing
No.2, p.3.
William OVERBY 72
Saw Jock PERKINS once. He was tolerable dark and his hair tolerable kinky. Called negroes. I was about 15 when I saw old Jock. Saw his wife a white woman. His nose flat. Can't say whether he was bald.
No.5 p.5.
William GARLAND. 75
Knew Jacob and George. Knew John GRAVES. The PERKINS reported to be mulattoes. John GRAVES, a constable.
No.5, p.6.
Thomas ELLIOT. 90
Knew Jacob PERKINS and brothers. Hair and kinks. Old John GRINDSTAFF said Jock was as black as his negro Jim. Never saw Jock. The further negro blood gets off the less hair kinks.
No.9, p.9.
Lewis LEWIS
Saw old Jake PERKINS, Joshua's father at mill. Guinea. God d---d negroes. Jack PERKINS hair was wooly as wool on a sheeps back. Report.
Elizabeth HEATHERLY
Knew Old Jock PERKINS who was sworn and said he had not passed the second generation. My memory not good. I always heard old Jock's father was a mulatto.
Catherine PATTERSON 38
William PERKINS' smell not different. I objected to his staying because he was too dark.
Perkins Trial Home
Trial Notes
For the Plaintiff
For the Defendant
Intstructions for the Jury
Verdict
Copyright 1998, 1999
Pamela R. Cresswell
