John and Judith (Gator) Perkins and their five children arrived in the New World in 1630, settling in Boston for two years where the sixth Perkins child was born. The family relocated to Ipswich, where John Perkins became an esteemed member of the community and a significant landholder.
John and Judith Perkins Home, Site of
80 East Street, Ipswich, MA, USA
80 East Street, Ipswich, MA, USA
More About John and Judith Perkins Home, Site of
Daughter Mary was around 15 years old when the family arrived in Massachusetts. In 1636, she married Thomas Bradbury in Ipswich. The couple moved to Salisbury, on the coast, in 1639. They were among the earliest settlers there, appearing on the “first division” list granted house lots. They had eleven children together over the next two decades.
By 1692 Thomas and Mary Bradbury were wealthy, well-respected, and God-fearing. Nevertheless, Mary was accused of witchcraft in late May, arrested in late June, tried, and convicted by September. Over 100 neighbors signed a petition on her behalf, vouching for her character and innocence. Among the signers were Salisbury luminaries Reverend James Allen and Major Robert Pike, but the petition did not help. Mary was sentenced to death on September 10. Fortunately, with the help of her friends and her wealth, Mary Bradbury escaped from jail and lived as a fugitive until the trials were over. She returned to Salisbury after sanity was restored. She lived to her mid-80s, dying in Salisbury in 1700.
For more on Mary Perkins Bradbury, see Mary and Thomas Bradbury Home, Site of
The original Perkins family home was located on East Street, where East Street, Newmarch Street, and Jeffrey’s Neck Road meet. The house that stands today at 80 East Street is known as the Jacob Perkins House, and was built by Jacob Perkins around 1690 or by his son Elisha about 1720, according to Historic Ipswich. The present owner is a descendant of the original owner of the lot, John Perkins. Private Residence. Not Open to the Public.
