Elizabeth PERKINS

HAIRSTON.org ID#27, b. 13 May 1759, d. 26 January 1819
Father*Nicholas Perkins1 b. a 1718, d. a Jun 1762
Mother*Bethenia Harding b. a 1718
Birth*Elizabeth PERKINS was born on 13 May 1759 in Halifax, Virginia.2,3,4,5 
She was the daughter of Nicholas Perkins and Bethenia Harding.1 
WillIn Nicholas Perkins's will dated 25 February 1762 in Halifax, Virginia, Elizabeth PERKINS was named as an heir; IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, Nicholas Perkins being in perfect mind and memory do make this my last will and testament revoking all others by me made. First I bequeath my soul to Almighty God relying on his mercy through Christ. Also after my just debts paid, my will and desire is to give to my son Charles Perkins two negroes named Harry and Jenney, also to my son Constant Perkins the upper part and half of my lands on the side of the river I now live after the same is equally divided together with one negro boy called Jacob, also give and bequeath to my loving daughter Bethenia two negroes named Dinah and Abraham, also to my daughter Susannah two negroes viz, Feby and Soloman and to my daughter Anna two negroes Barshuba and Dan, also to my daughter Mary two negroes named Simon and Ned and also to my beloved daughter Elizabeth two negroes viz, David and Ben, and also my will and desire is to give and bequeath to my sons Peter Perkins the one half of my lands lying on Dan River on the north side of the said River and the upper part of the same. Also to my son Nicholas the lower part of the said land together with the land and mill on Mobleys Creek I also give to my son Thomas Hardin Perkins the lower part and half of the land I now live on after being divided as before mentioned, and my will and desire is that all my lands lying on the waters of Cascade Creek shall be sold together with seven hundred acres in N. Carolina lying on Lenvins Creek, and the money so arising after my debts as before mentioned and funeral charges being paid the remainder to be equally divided between my beloved wife & children, and my desire is that all the residue and remainder of my estate real and personal to give and bequeath to my loving wife Bethenia during her natural life and after her decease to be equally divided amongst my surviving children. I also leave my beloved wife hole and sole Executrix as Witness my hand and seal February 25th 1762. Nicholas Perkins (seal)
Signed sealed & delivered in presence of James Roberts, Jr. Elizabeth Roberts (her mark)
Halifax Will Book 0, pages 142-143. FSL #7645117, image 74. 
DeedShe is mentioned in the property documents of Bethenia Harding on 18 September 1765 in Halifax, Virginia; On 18 September 1765, Bethenia Perkins, "for love and affection" gives slaves and other property to her children; Peter, Nicholas, Savannah, Thomas Hardin, Constant, Annie, Mary and Elizabeth. - Halifax Deed Book 5, pages 472-473. FSL #7898197, images 265-266. 
Marriage*Elizabeth PERKINS married Capt. William LETCHER, son of Giles LETCHER and Hannah HUGHES, on 20 November 1778 in Pittsylvania, Virginia. William's brother Stephen also married an Elizabeth Perkins, not the same one.3 
Death Spouse*Her husband, Capt. William Letcher, died on 2 August 1780. 
Probate*Her estate was probated on 21 September 1780 in Henry, Virginia; On 20 September 1780, at the Henry County Court, Elizabeth Letcher was appointed the Administrator of the Estate of William Letcher, deceased. John Man and Constant Perkins were her securities. - Henry County Court Order Book 2. FSL #7898572, image 63. 
Marriage*Elizabeth PERKINS married Gen. George Stovall Hairston, son of Robert Hairston and Ruth STOVALL, on 1 January 1781 in Virginia. Widow of William Letcher who was shot by Tories on 2 August 1780. HAIRSTON FAMILY BIBLE.6,7,4,5

 
ProbateHer estate was probated on 24 January 1782 in Henry, Virginia; On 24 January 1782, the inventory of the estate of William Letcher, deceased, taken on 25 November 1780, was recorded. Slaves David, Ben, Randolph Craft, Nann, Sook, Abraham, Will and Dick were mentioned. - Henry County Will Book 1, pages 48-49. FSL # 7645134, image 54. 
Death*Elizabeth PERKINS died on 26 January 1819 at age 59. "Died - At her residence in the County of Henry on Tuesday January 26th, Mrs. Elizabeth Hairston, consort of Col. George Hairston, in the 60th year of her age." Lynchburg Press and Public Advertiser, Thursday, February 25, 1819, p. 3, c. 4 - From the marriage and obituary citations compiled by Bernard J. Henley from Virginia newspapers on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. (Library of Virginia Film 137).2,7,4,5

 
Burial*She was buried in Beaver Creek Plantation Cemetery, Henry, Virginia;


Photo: Find A Grave by shakestheground.8 

Family 1

Capt. William LETCHER b. a 1741, d. 2 Aug 1780
Child

Family 2

Gen. George Stovall Hairston b. 20 Sep 1750, d. 5 Mar 1827
Children
ChartsDescendant Chart
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S24] Hall, Wm. Kearney 1918-2011. Descendants of Nicholas Perkins of Virginia. 1957 Ann Arbor, Michigan., Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  2. [S55] Harden Hairston Family Bible, 1750-1908. The Holy Bible containing The Old & New Testaments: Translated Out of the Original Tongues,.....J. Holbrook's Sterotype Copy., Eighth Edition, Brattleborough, (Vt.), 1817, Library of Virginia.
  3. [S113] Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications.
  4. [S249] George Hairston Family Bible - 1750-1916, Peter Hairston Bible - 1750-1928, The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated Out of the Original Greek: and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. Cooperstown, (N.Y.) Sterotyped, Printed and Published by H. & E. Phinney, 1829., Library of Virginia.
  5. [S3500] Bible - Marshall Hairston 1750, owned by Mrs. Anne Covington of "Beavercreek" transcribed by Mrs. Lillian Schwertz and printed in "Local History & Genealogical Society" Volume VII, March 1961, Number 1. (NOTE: There are several errors in this transcription.), Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  6. [S22] Hairston, Elizabeth Seawell, The Hairstons and the Penns and Their Relations, Roanoke, Virginia 1940., Ancestry.com.
  7. [S142] Peter Hairston Bible - 1750-1928, The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated Out of the Original Greek: and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. Boston, Published by C. Ewer, T. Bedlington, and J. H. A. Frost. 1828. State Archives, North Carolina .
  8. [S15] Beaver Creek Plantation Cemetery, Henry County, Virginia.
Last Edited19 May 2026