Peter Perkins alias Morley

Life

If Perkins originated in Brittany, the date of his move to England is unknown, but he undoubtedly settled in Shropshire where he served the powerful nobleman Hugh le Despencer, becoming Steward of the latter's Oxfordshire estate. The Despencer family has a notable history. Hugh's father the first Lord Despencer, also known as Hugh Despenser the Younger, was a favorite of King Edward II, but fell foul of Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, when they invaded the country and in 1326 was executed by them as a traitor. After this, the family name was spelt in various ways, including Despenser, Le Despencer, and Spenser. By the 15th century, the family was simply called "Spencer" and eventually produced Lady Diana Spencer, later Princess of Wales.

If Perkins was previously Pierre de Morlaix, it is possible that he knew members of the Despencer family from his days in Brittany, since the Despencer family had estates in the Morlaix region. This would also explain his rise to power within the Despencer household. A Seneschal, or Steward, was in effect a trusted estate manager. In surviving records, Perkins is referred to as "serviens" to Despencer. Various authors have described him as a "servus", "bailiff", or "sargent".

Peter Perkins or Morley married Agnes Taylor (c. 1352–1399), the daughter of John Taylor (c. 1327–1377) and Margaret Welmote (born c. 1328), and John and Margaret Taylor are the ancestors of nine U.S. Presidents.

Disputed origins

It has been claimed that Peter's earlier name was Pierre de Morlaix, and that he came to England from Brittany. Another name ascribed to him in a family pedigree is Peter Morley, which might be an anglicization of "Morlaix", while the name Pierrekin can mean "little Pierre", and Perkins can also denote a son of Peterkin.

An originator of the Pierre de Morlaix theory was an American called A. T. Perkins, in a book called: A PRIVATE PROOF printed in order to preserve certain matters connected with the Boston Branch of the PERKINS FAMILY intended only as an indication of the best points of further investigation (Boston: T. R. Marvin & Son, Printers, 1890). The book begins as follows:

In the latter part of the long reign of King Edward the First, 1272–1307, Pierre de Morlaix, the ancestor of this family so far as known, was born, whether in England or at Morlaix in France is not ascertained.

Later in his book Perkins makes the claim that “Henry, the son of Pierre de Morlaix by his wife Alice Taylor, who succeeded to the Stewardship of the estate of Despenser, is called Henry Pierrekins or Henry the son of Pierre.” However, there is no historical evidence that Henry ever called himself Pierrekins or even that he worked for the Despenser family. Since there is documentary evidence that both his father, Peter, and his son, John, worked for the Despensers, it is likely that Henry was also employed by them.

After his first book was published, Perkins acknowledged that the “Pierre de Morlaix” theory may be incorrect. This acknowledgement appears in a later work, The Perkins Family in ye Olden Times, at pages 67-68:

Boston, 14 March 1891

My Dear Mr. Perkins: Mr. Parkyns, Miss Sharp, Dr. George Perkins and you have certainly knocked some of my theories from under me with a vengeance, and I only wish you had done it some months earlier, before my book was printed, for I should certainly have called a halt had I had matters put before me as I see them now; but it is all right, for in our matters nothing is of great importance, even if it is true, but it is worse than nothing, much worse, if it is not true. (Signed) A. T. Perkins

An argument against the "Morlaix" theory is that the only historical record for Peter and Henry is the Pedigree, so this theory appears to be no more than speculation.

In her book on the history of the Perkins family and Ufton Court, A. Mary Sharp makes no mention of Morlaix, but she does claim that in the Pedigree "Morley" may be an error for "Moore", as the names of Moore and Perkins are found constantly together in Shropshire and Oxfordshire, but Morley is not otherwise found there.

Nevertheless, James Fulton Perkins has asserted:

"The last generation to use the original spelling of "Morlaix" in or around 1331 was the family of one Pierre de Morlaix of Shropshire, England. He appears to have been born 1312 in Bretagne, Morlaix, Normandy, France and died about 1384 in Shropshire, England. His name indicates that although originally from Morlaix, Normandy, France, he was part of the Celtic/Welsh group previously mentioned who migrated to England. During this time period surnames were not in common use. Everybody was known by some personal characteristic such as what they did, who their father was or where they came from, hence Pierre de Morlaix was from Morlaix, France. Attaining a high position within English society, Pierre became the High Steward of the Hugo de Spencer Estate of Oxfordshire, England (later known as the House of Spencer, of whom Princess Diana was a daughter).

"Pierre changed his name to the English translated version "Peter Morley" when Charles V of France renewed the Hundred Years War with England. This war was disrupting English shipping, compromising trade with Spain and the Netherlands and persecuting English subjects on the mainland in many ways. Because of the French victory at the Battle of Hastings, Frenchmen became persona-non-grata in England. To conceal his French origins Pierre changed his name to the English translation, Peter Morley (1312–1384).

"Unwilling to end the heritage of the de Morlaix name, when Peter Morley (or Pierre de Morlaix) married Agnes Taylor, daughter of John Taylor and Margaret Welmote of Madresfield, Worcestershire, England, they had a son named Henry Pierrekin (meaning "first son of Pierre"), born 1340 in Shropshire, England, and died in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England). The "kin" suffix indicates the eldest son in a family and any subsequent sons are simply called with the suffix "son", as in "Pierreson". Hence, the first son is Pierrekin and the second son of Peter (Pierre) Morley would be "Pierreson"."

Line of descendants

The line of descent for Thomas Perkins, husband of Alys — is as follows:

1. Peter Morley (Pierre de Morlaix), who married Agnes Taylor
2. Henry Perkins
3. John Perkins
4. William Perkins or Perkyns, lord of the manor of Ufton (c. 1380–1451), who married Margaret —
5. William Perkins, who married Joanna Read
6. Thomas Perkins, husband of Alys

There is disagreement about the earlier lineage of Peter Morley, but the Ford pedigree shows him as the son of a Perkin Morley. The Wenham pedigree gives the following line of descent:

1. Pierre de Morlaix (aka Peter Morley)
2. Pierre Dedruex of Brittany
3. Jean II, Duke of Brittany and Beatrice, Princess of England (daughter of King Henry III of England and Eleanor, Countess of Provence)
4. John Dedreux and Blanche of Navarre
5. Pierre I (Mauclerc) Dedreux Count of Brittany and Alice de Thouars
6. Count Robert II Dedreux and Mathilde of Burgundy

1. Perkin Morley, Abt 1300
2. Peter Perkins alias Morley, Abt 1325, m. Agnes Taylor, Abt 1330 -
3. Henry Perkins, Abt 1350
4. John Perkins, Abt 1375
5. William Perkins, Abt 1400-1449, m. Margaret (surname unknown) b. about 1405
6. Thomas Perkins, Abt 1425-1478, m. Alice Paynell, b. about 1430
7. William Perkins, Abt 1430-1495, m. Joanna Reade, 1434 -
8. From whom descend the Perkinses of Hillmorton, Warwickshire.

"Until about the year 1400, surnames were extremely uncommon in England, but since that time men were accustomed to add to their Christian names certain terminals, especially such as would the better distinguish them from their fathers. We find among these that of kin or kins, which Bardsley, a late English writer, thinks has all the significance of our junior, so that we have Wilkins, the son of Will; Jenkins, the son of James; Tomkins, the son of Tom; Pierrekins, the son of Pierre, etc. In the reign of Richard II. Pierre de Morlaix, or Morley, probably a Norman from the town of Morlaix, in France, was high steward of the estates of Hugo Despencer, who was at that time one of the richest and most powerful nobles of England. This Pierre de Morlaix had by his wife, Agnes Taylor, a son Henry, who, on the death of his father, was known as Henry Pierrekin, or Henry the son of Pierre. He succeeded to the stewardship, and had a son John who in time became steward and wrote his name John Perkins, and sometimes Perkyns, armiger. This John Perkins, esquire, was Lord of the manor of Madrasfield as well as steward of the Despencers, and it is believed that he was the first who bore for his arms, the fesse dancette between six billets. John Perkins, armiger, was living during the reign of Henry VI and held that position of high steward when the heiress of that famous family married the king-making Earl of Warwick. In the numerous transfers of land which he was called upon to make at the time, he sometimes signed his name Perkyns and sometimes Perkins, and some of his descendants, now living in England, sign themselves Parkyns or Parkins. This coat of arms of the Perkins family was taken from a deed of land in Ipswich, Mass., from Dr. John Perkins and wife to John Wainwright} of Ipswich, and bears date of 1725, and was of right used by Dr. Perkins and his family, who were then British subjects. This is the same arms as is found upon memorial tablets in churches in England at this day…"

Source: Perkins, George A., The Genealogy of John Perkins (Salem, MA: Salem Press Publishing & Printing Co., 1889)