Perkins Family Reunion / January 17-19, 2007
Dunedin / Reunion Newsletter
May 2006
John & Elizabeth Perkins married at St Anne's, Soho, London in 1772 / John Henry Perkins
Tables, published 1817 / Perkins Family concert 1860 / Token used in the Perkins Drapery, 1861-4 / Adah Perkins Birthday Book

Registrations for the Reunion have come in from all over the country aswell as from Australia & the UK. Many thanks to those who have offeredassistance and items for display.

For those who have already registered:
You should have received:
• a receipt either by email or with this newsletter,
• and a list of accommodation available within a 15 min walk or bus ride of the CBD for you to make your own arrangements. You can checkthese out further on the web or through maps & information from your local AA centre
We are doing our best to keep costs as low as possible. We will let you know about these later on & will be asking for your responses

Planning is well under way for:
• a chat-fest on the first evening, with time to look at wall photos, maps
• placing a memorial plaque on Catherine's grave in the Southern Cemetery.
• a walking tour around the streets of early Dunedin and the sites of the Perkins’ first houses and the drapery business.
• a display at the OtagoSettlersMuseum where we hope to show Perkins’ items from the Museum plus a number of artifacts owned by family members.
• a Reunion dinner - and of course, group photographs
• a visit to Mataura to John Henry's farm and barbeque
• launching The Perkins Story
You will be sent further details of the programme as it is finalised.

In the meantime whether you are registered or not, please complete this tear-off slip and return it to:

Perkins NZ Reunion

c/- LA Perkins

4 Katene Street

Palmerston North 5301

Or check out the website at

or e-mail to

Name ………………………………………………… Email……………………………………………

Address ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

I have already registered ……. Yes/No (delete one)

I'm hoping to come but cannot confirm just yet ……. Yes/No

Please send me another registration form ……. Yes/No

Sorry I won't be there but please keep me on the mailing list …Yes. OR please take me off the mailing list… Yes

For the following - this is not a firm order but helps us estimate how many copies to have printed

I would like ………. copies of our family history The Perkins Story

I would like ………. copies of the official Reunion record

Perkins Family / News 2006

A World Wide Family

Family detectives in their research have made connections with Perkins relatives in several countries including USA and Australia. We owe a great deal to Harry Perkins of the UK who produced our first Family Tree, beautifully illustrated, in 1976.
When his wife Emily saw what he had done she said - This isn’t a
family tree – it’s a family forest!

Major USA Branch
Emma Perkins, a sister of our George, married William Luke in Manchester. William became a Mormon and went off to Utah. Tragically, when he was traveling to meet his sons who were coming to join him, he was beset by a band of Indians and killed. His sons settled and raised families. Their descendants are having a Reunion in Manti, Utah, June 2006. Have a look at their website NZ will be represented by Melissa Nakaya, a great x 4 granddaughter of Catherine and George. Barry Mitchell may also get there.
The Latest Find
Adah Perkins, daughter of Catherine & William grew up in Greymouth. It was her Birthday Book that provided valuable information of family dates. She was a music teacher and performed in many operas and musicals. But she was also a keen climber and in 1903 was one of the first party of ladies to cross the CoplandPass from The Hermitage to the West Coast. The accounts of the journey make fascinating reading. The proper modest outfit for a lady was evidently very important.


The Aussie Connection
Since we have been compiling the family tree of the NZ Perkins, it has been amazing to find how many descendants live in Australia. At a rough count, there would have to be over 100. It has been delightful to have the chance to meet up with two lots recently.

Ena Miller (great granddaughter of Catherine & George) went to Western Australia nearly 100 years ago. Her twin daughters Pat and Pam still live in WA and are known to their family as the Gallopin’ Grannies. Horses, or palominos to be exact, have been their passion for the last 50 years and they are still involved with breeding.
…Another descendant, this time from the William Robinson Perkins branch, lives in South Australia. Alleyne Womersley was back in NZ recently to visit family and brought with her a real treasure. In December 1861, her great grandparents, William & Jessie Perkins were living in Dunedin. During one terrible week, they lost their three little boys aged 1, 3 and 5 to dysentery. The boys are buried up on the hill in the Southern Cemetery. Jessie had memorial brooches made using their hair intertwined. Alleyne brought one with her – this is the back inscribed with the boys initials and dates.
…And Narelle Miller was recently awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her help following the tropical cyclone in Far North Queensland
Otago Settlers Museum Collection
OSM holds Perkins photos, letters and notes of William R Perkins, Painting of Caversham Valley, Juliet Valpy, 1852, shows the stone cottage built by William R Perkins; William Herbert Perkins’ Log of Voyage on Clontarf (1859-1860) etc.

Who’s Who?

Ken & Beatrice Miller
Tel (3) 4394 604
miller@ / / Laurence & Patricia Perkins
Tel (6) 3574 623
/
/ Earle & Gay Brown
Tel (9) 3027 767
/ / Kath & Ian Young
Tel (4) 5628 622