Ann Perkins

Background

Ann Kinnock was married to Samuel Perkins.

Family

Mr Samuel Perkins, a pioneer of Ballarat, died at his residence, at Sebastopol, on December 29. Deceased, who was 89 years of age, was a native of the North of England, and arrived at Point Henry, Geelong, as a sailor on an emigrant ship in 1852. He is said to have taken part in the fight at the Eureka Stockade. In later years Mr Perkins had been connected with deep mining.

Ann Perkin's son, W.H. Perkins (possible originally named Moses Perkins) was born on the site of the Eureka Stockade and was a few weeks old when the battle took place. His mother, Ann Perkins, hid herself and her baby from the bullets by hiding down a shaft.

The children of Samuel and Ann Perkins were:

• Moses Perkins (B.1854, Ballarat)
• Margaret Ann Perkins (b.1856, Magpie) (Reg. 4282)
• George Perkins (b.1856, Ballarat) (Reg 14720)
• Samuel Perkins (d. 1859, Magpie, aged 3)
• Mary Ann Perkins (b. 1859, Magpie. d. 1862, aged 1)
• Mary Ann Perkins (B. 1862, Ballarat)
• Charles Perkins (B. 1964, Ballarat)
• John James Perkins (B. 1964, Ballarat)
• William Perkins (b. 1866, Sebastopol); died 1869, Sebastopol, aged 3)
• Robert Perkins (b.1868, Sebastopol)

Also See

Eyewitnesses

Samuel Perkins

Women of Eureka

Notes

Obituary. Mr. W. H. Perkins. Expressions of regret were general and sincere when it was learned that Mr. William H. Perkins, senr., had passed away at his home in Wilson street, Horsham, on the evening of Easter Monday. The deceased gentleman had been in failing health, for a considerable time, and for a short period he was an inmate of the Horsham District Hospital. While in that institution his condition showed some improvement, and he was removed to his home. The recovery, however, was only temporary and the patient gradually sank and died as stated. The late Mr. Perkins, who was 60 years of age, was born on the site of the Eureka Stockade, and was a few weeks old at the time of the riot. His mother (who survives him) only escaped the police bullets by hiding herself and the child in a shaft. His father, Mr. Samuel Perkins, was one of the pioneers of mining in Sebastopol. In his early days deceased was employed as a mechanical engineer in the Phoenix Foundry, where he occupied a position of great trust. When still a very young man he was appointed in charge of Messrs. Fishburn and Morton's rolling stock on the construction of the Beechworth and other railway lines. Subsequently he had charge of a large diamond drilling plant for the Government, and carried out many important works. At a later period he, entered the service of the Ballarat Gas Co., and qualified as a gas engineer, rising speedily to the position of foreman. His ability was great, but indifferent eyesight handicapped him a good deal in his work. About 15 years ago he accepted the position of manager of the Horsham United Gas Co., a post which he filled with credit until about two and a half years ago, when the works were taken over by the Colonial Gas Association. He then went into the plumbing business with his sons in Firebrace-street. When the late Mr. Perkins came to Horsham the gas works were in a rather backward state, but his practical knowledge and close attention to duty brought about a great improvement in their efficiency. He was a man who worked exceedingly hard, and to that fact can be attributed the breakdown in, health which was the forerunner of his death. About six years ago he was personally at-tending to a leak in a gas main when he was overcome by the fumnes. That experience undermined his constitution, and a further setback was received when a lamppost fell across his shoulder and injured him internally. Of a quiet, unassuming disposition, the deceased was liked and respected by all with whom he came in contact, and his death is deeply regretted. A widow, two sons and five daughters are left to mourn his demise. The funeral took place on Wednesday at the Horsham cemetery, and was largely attended, the funeral service being conducted by the Rev. S. A. Beveridge, of the Church of England. Messrs. J. Scudamore, P. Piozza, J. Morrison, R. Newton, L. J. Heald, and A. E. Carthew acted as pall-bearers, and Mr. A. F. Weight carried out the funeral arrangements.

Further Reading

Dorothy Wickham, Women in 'Ballarat' 1851-1871: A Case Study in Agency, PhD. School of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Ballarat, March 2008.

Dorothy Wickham, Blood, Sweat and Tears: Women of Eureka in Journal of Australian Colonial History, 10, No, 1, 2008, pp. 99-115.

Dorothy Wickham, Women of the Diggings: Ballarat 1854, BHSPublishing, 2009.

http://www.eurekapedia.org/Blood,_Sweat_and_Tears:_Women_at_Eureka

Clare Wright, The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, Text Publishing, 2013.

Dorothy Wickham, Not just a Pretty Face: Women on the Goldfields, in Pay Dirt: Ballarat & Other Gold Towns, BHSPublishing, 2019, pp. 25-36.