Essex County, Massachusetts - Biographical sketches (2 of 8 so headed), 1888

Biographical sketches

General Josiah Newhall was born in Lynnfield June 6, 1794, and was a lineal descendant of Thomas Newhall, the first white person born in Lynn, who was himself the son of Thomas Newhall, who came from England in 1630, and was the progenitor of the Newhalls of Lynn.

General Newhall's occupation was a farmer and horticulturist, his interest in these pui-suits leading him to become one of the founders of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. During the war of 1812 he served in the American army. It was owing, perhaps, to his early experience in bearing arms that he became active in the State militia. In 1824 he commanded a regiment of nine companies which was among the forces reviewed on Boston Common by General Lafayette, at the time of his visit to Boston in 1824. Subsequently, he rose to the rank of Brigadier-general, and was six years in command of the First Brigade. He was also active in civil aft'airs.

Under the administration of General Jackson he was several years connected with the Boston customhouse. He was the first Representative elected to the General Court from Lynnfield after the incorporation of that town, and served in the Legislatures of 1826, 1827 and 1848. He was prominent in town affairs and served as chairman of school committee twentytwo years.

John Perkins

Captain Perkins was born in the northwesterly part of Lynnfield, on the 18th of July, 1806. His father and grandfather were respectable and thrifty farmers; and farming has been his own life-occupation.

The Perkins family probably settled here somewhere about the year 1650. It is found that Luke Perkins was a soldier in the King Philip War, and marched against the Indians in 1675. He was a pious man, and before departure requested Mr. Cobbet, then of Ipswich, but previously of Lynn, a minister famed for his fervency in prayer, to jiray for the safety of the detachment. And it is added, "they all returned in safety."

John Perkins, a later ancestor, married, August 29, 1695, Anna Hutchinson, and had five children, - Anna, John, Elizabeth, Mary and William. Elizabeth became the wife of Rev. Nathaniel Sparhawk, who graduated at Harvard in 1715, studied divinity and was settled over the Lynnfield Parish, as its first minister, August 17, 1720. He had four children, - Elizabeth, Nathaniel, Edward Perkins and John. Of these, Edward seems to have become somewhat noted, and was the first person appearing on the Lynn records with three names, the fashion of giving two baptismal names then just beginning. The son John became a physician in Philadelphia.

Another of the family was Dr. John Perkins, who was born in 1695, and lived to the age of eightyfive, having spent much of his lite in other homes. He was a skillful practitioner, but perhaps most widely known by his literary and scientific writings. He was well educated, having studied two years in London. And many years practice in Boston gave him an experience and reputation excelled by few physicians of the period. Some further notice of him ajjpears in the historical sketch of Lynnfield.

It is sufficient, in this connection, to add that the Perkins family of Lynnfield has all along maintained a most respectable position. With few exceptions they have been prosperous and highly regarded.

The present Captain John Perkins, whose portrait accompanies this brief sketch, and who gained his title many years since by being commander of a military company, has led a quiet, unostentatious, but useful life. He has been a selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor more than twenty years, and for several years town clerk. He has likewise held a commission as justice of the peace twenty-one years, and represented the town in the General Court. His good judgment and neighborly kindness has always been much in requisition for the guidance and assistance of his less qualified neighbors. And in the settlement of estates of deceased persons, and as guardian of minors, his services and sympathies have been highly appreciated.

Captain Perkins was joined in marriage April 22, 1830, with Catharine S. Sweetser, of South Reading (now Wakefield), and they became the parents of five children, - Catherine E., born May 16, 1832 ; John H., born December 8, 1833 ; Mary F., born November 14, 1837 ; Addia J., born September 13, 1845 ; and Clara A., born July 17, 184'J. All the children are now, 1887, living, excepting Mary Frances, the second daughter.