Sarah (Gant) Perkins, daughter of William Gant

Sarah (Sally) was born on April 22, 1760 in Granville Co., NC to William and Ann (Wood) Gant before the family made their moves to the Rowan/Burke/Lincoln County Area of NC and Abbeville, SC. We have been fortunate in corresponding with several members of the Perkins family who are descendants of Sarah and her husband Ute Perkins. Ute joined the Mormon Church and became a very active member despite his years. As a matter of family legend, Ute became the most elderly member of the Church when he joined it shortly after he arrived in Illinois in 1837. Therefore, records abound for this man and his family.

Ute Perkins was born on July 15, 1761 to Robert Biggans and Elizabeth (Lollar Perkins in Blanden Co., NC. His Perkins line in America goes back to Richard Perkins 1 who was born about 1665 in Plymouth, England where he was a "cooper" before he and his wife, Mary, settled in 1683 on 100 acres of land at the head of Mosquito Creek in Baltimore Co., MD where he died in 1705.

Richard Perkins oldest son, Richard 2, was born in 1689 in Maryland and settled on 175 acres of land on the west side of the Susquehannah River. This area was very close to Lancaster Co., Susquehannah River. This area was very close to Lancaster Co., PA where Richard 2 may have lived before or after the birth of his son, Richard 3, in 1713. Records of the Sherrill family who were also in Baltimore Co., MD at the time the Perkins family lived there record marriages between the families and indicate that the Perkins and Sherrill families may have moved form Maryland to North Carolina together.

Richard Perkins 2 and wife Mary Sherrill moved to Lincoln Co NC where he died. Apparently, it was Richard 3 who moved with his wife, Elizabeth McCutcheon, to Bladen Co., NC (an area which would become Anson in 1750, Rowan in 1753, Burke in 1777 and, by petition from residents, Lincoln Co. NC in 1778) where his son, Robert Biggan Perkins, the father of Ute, was born on March 16, 1736.

Sarah married Ute in 1781 in Lincoln Co., NC before moving on to Abbeville Co., SC with members of their families about 1787. Sarah's brother, John, married Ute's sister, Hannah, and their story follows. Ute was a Revolutionary War soldier in 1778 and served with Capt. John McDowell's company and later in Capt. David McFall's company. His application for a pension, filed in Hancock Co., IL was signed by lawyer, Abraham Lincoln.


They lived in SC for about 15 years before moving to White Co., TN where they lived for about 25 years. Their last move was to the Ft. Green Township of Illinois in 1827. They traveled by oxen team with all of their children except Levi and his wife, Lucy (Rhea), who remained behind.

Sarah and Ute were the first white family to settle in Ft. Green Township in what is now Hancock Co., IL where Ute became very active in civic as well as religious affairs around Carthage and Nauvoo, IL until his death March 11, 1844. Sarah died June 6, 1845; both Ute and Ute Perkins lie in Webster Cemetery in Webster, Hancock Co., IL.

The children of Sarah and Ute were:

1. Reuben was born March 4, 1783 in Lincoln Co., NC and died in Bountiful, UT on October 22, 1871. He married three time: (1) Elizabeth Petillo on June 15, 1802, (2) Katherine Sinsbury and (3) Mary Glen East. His children were:

(1) Ephriam Petillo, born 1803, married Elizabeth (Betsy) Whitson and died in 1834. Children were (a) Wilson, born 1829; John Calvin, born 1830; Elizabeth Lenora, born 1833, married Newman Biship Williams and (2) Charles Curtin Parke and (d) Jemina Adeline, born 1834, married James McCormkick.

(2) Wilson Gardner, born 1807, married Diana Anderson, children were (a) William Anderson, born 1831, married Mary Summers; (b) James Monroe, born 1832, married Eliza Summers; (c) John Preston, born 1834; (d) Marion Columbis, born 1834; (e) Mary Ann, born 1837; (f) Elizabeth Jane, born 1837; (g) Harvey Huston, born 1840, married Helen Ann Coltrin, Sarah A. Simons and Annie Meredith; (h) Louise Caroline, born 1842 and (i) Joseph Newton, born 1845, died 1931, married Lucia Marie Garrett. 

(3) Andrew Huston, born 1809, died 1851, married Jemima Whitson (apparently his cousin, see above).

(4) John Henderson, born 1813, married Louisa A. Cook.

(5) James Byron, born 1815, died 1819.

(6) Jesse Nelson, born 1819, married Maria (Tuttle) Perkins (his sister-in-law, see below), died in 1883. Children were (a) John Henderson, born 1842, married Louisa Deseret Perkins; (b) Littleton Lytle, born 1847, married Carrie Elizabeth Wood; (c) Brigham Young, born 1850, married Melissa Wallace; (d) Heber Kimball, born 1852; (e) Jesse Nelson, born 1854, married Mary Levina Plumb and (f) Reuben Josiah, born 1856, married Eliza Jane Hancock. (7) Franklin Monroe, born 1827, married Maria Tuttle, died 1800.

2. Lavina, born 1785 in Lincoln Co., NC, married her cousin John Lollar, a son of her Aunt Elizabeth (see below for children, etc.).

3. Levi was born in Lincoln Co., NC on October 15, 1787, married (1) Lucy Rhea(Ray) on July 19, 1808 in White Co., TN and (2) Mrs. Elinor (Burgess) Bowman, a widow with seven children on August 24, 1854, who married William Ferris after the death of Levi and outlived him also.

Levi served in the War of 1812 with the Fourth Tennessee militia of West Tennessee under Co. Robert Steele and was discharged at Fayetteville on March 23, 1814. He became a minister in the Church of Christ and traveled from place to place by horse and buggy preaching and marrying couples usually accompanied by his daughter Martha Jane. They would often stay at the homes of people in the communities they visited for two or three days. Ute died July 12, 1876 near Cookville, Putnam Co., IL.

Children of Levi and Lucy (Rhea) were:

(1) Wesley, born in 1809 in White Co., TN, died in 1891.

(2) Cynthia Ann, born 1810 married John Miller, died 1856.

(3) Mary (Polly), born 1812, married Carter B. Whitefield and Andrew Davis, died 1896.

(4) La Vina, born 1813, married Reuben Cooper, died 1896.

(5) Reuben, born 1816, married Mariah Rhea, died 1896, children were (a) Louia F., born 1836, died 1837; (b) Jesse Licurgis, born 1838, married Kate Burk, died 1896; (c) Nancy Ann, born 1840, married Francis M. McKee, died 1902; (d) James Birch, born 1842, married francies A. Clark, died 1912; (e) Lucy Mundain, born 1844, died 1845; (f) Amanda Cook, born 1846, married John Mullins, died 1903; (g) Levi Feilden, born 1848, married annie Crumse, died 1932; (h) Cynthia (Samantha?) Elizabeth, born 1850, married James D. Coombs, died 1923; (I) Margaret Jane, born 1852, married William N. Squires, died 1932; (j) Mary Adelia, born 1855, married Samuel L. Bushong, died 1900; (k) Dicy Mariah, born 1857, married William H. Milner, died 1922; (l) Almeda Mable, born 1860, married James Deleal Clark and (m) Susan Amelia, born 1862, married Perry Bushong, died 1896.

(6) Jesse, born 1818, married Rhoda Condra McClelland, died 1837.

(7) Michal (Michelle?), born 1819, married William P. (or Isaac S.) Campbell, died 1890.

(8) Dicy, born 1820, married Josiah Whitefield, died 1898.

(9) William Jordan, born 1825, married Elizabeth J. Mills and Malvina Gabbert, died 1898.

(10) Martha Jane, born 1827, unmarried.

(11) Levi A., born 1833 (not proven).

Child by Elinor (Burgess) Bowman was:

(12) Elizabeth Jane, born 1835, married George W. Spears.

4. Robert Biggan born 1789, married Sarah Norris, died 1863 in Barry, MO. Nothing further known.

5. Ephriam born February 25, 1791, married Edna Job, died March 2, 1886 in Hancock, IL. Children were:

(1) Anna, born 1814; nothing further known.

(2) William Job, born 1815; nothing further known.

(3) Sarah, born 1817; nothing further known.

(4) Avery Allen, born 1819; nothing further known.

(5) Permilia A., born 1823, married William Moore.

(6) Levina, born 1825, married Robert Moore.

(7) Ephriam, born 1827.

(8) Zilfa, born 1829, married William G. McCurrin.

(9) Iraby Stone, born 1832., nothing further known.

(10) James J., born 1835; nothing further known.

(11) Elting T., born 1837, nothing further known.

6. Dicey, born 1793 in Abbeville, SC; nothing further known.

7. Sarah Gant born in about 1795 in Abbeville, SC, married John Alma Vance February 10, 1817 in Jackson, TN, died December 18, 1836 in McDonough, IL. Children were:

(1) Isaac Young, born 1818, married (1) Martha Ellen A. Yager and (2) Anna C. Johansen, died 1898. Children b Martha were (a) Sarah Jane, born 1841, married David Wlaker Sanders, died 1973; (b) Eleanor Mary, born 1842; (c) Mary Frances, born 1844, married James Martin Allred, died 1928; (d) John Alma, born 1847, married Maria Forbush, died 1886; (e) George Hardin, born 1849, married Mary Cashman Wakefield, died 1916; (f) Isaac Willard, born 1852, married Elizabeth Ann Garlick, died 1928; (g) Stephen Joseph, born 1853; (h) Hyrum Moroni, born 1857, married Edith Eleanor Garlick, died 1942. (i) Jedediah Grant, born 1866, died 1867 and (j) Eleanor Mary, born 1843. Children by Anna were (k) Martha Malissa, born 1867, died 1878; (l) Isaac Wilford, born 1869, married Conelia Marinda Jones, died 1939; (m) Margaret, born 1870, died 1876; (n) Boletta, born 1871, married Benjamin Franklin Kelsey, died 1920; (o) James Alvin, born 1873, married Amelia Charlotte Dryer, died 1896 and Annie Deseret, born 1875, married George Arthur Wheeler, died 1928.

(2) Margaret M., born 1820, died 1906.

(3) William Perkins, born 1822, died 1925.

(4) Nancy Ann, born 1824, married William Shin Wordsworth, died 1851.

(5) James, born 1826, died 1900.

(6) Ute Perkins, born 1828, died 1834.

(7) Lewis Perkins, born 1831, died 1834.

(8) John F., born 1834, died 1853.

(9) Son, born 1835, nothing further known.

8. Elizabeth Lollar, born December 21, 1796 in Abbeville Co., SC, married James Fleming Welch on September 18, 1813 in White Co. TN, died November 6, 1850 in Hancock, IL. Children were:

(1) Andrew Bryan, born 1814, married Elizabeth Adeline Owens, died 1895.

(2) Sarah Mira, born 1816, married Monroe J. Wallace, died 1896.

(3) Matilda Ann, born 1818, married Henry McElvain, died 1847.

(4) John Preston, born 1821, married Elizabeth Ward Butler, died 1893.

(5) William Carol, born 1823, died 1846.

(6) James Madison, born 1823, married ? Bishop.

(7) Mary Jane, born 1830, married Thomas White, died 1879.

(8) Elizabeth Elvira, born 1833, married John M. Cox, died 1901.

(9) Jasper Newton, born 1835, married Mary Jane White, died 1884.

(10) Clarinda Maria, born 1837, died in infancy.

(11) Louisa Ellen, born 1840, married Neri C. Campbell.

9. Absolom born October 22, 1797 in Abbeville, SC, married Nancy Martin in White Co., TN about 1815, died January 18, 1850 at Salt Lake City, UT. Children were:

(1) Ute, born 1816, married Annie Warren.

(2) Sarah, born 1817, married John Tidence Shipley.

(3) William Lewis, nothing further known.

(5) Hyrum, born 1821, nothing further known.

(6) Levi, born 1824, married Susan Booth.

(7) James Caffrely, born 1827, nothing further known.

(8) John Calvin, born 1828, nothing further known.

(9) Susanna, born 1830, married Louis Whitesides.

(10) Nancy Adeline, born 1831, married Isaac Carpenter.

(11) Francis Marion, born 1833, married Alice Mellon.

(12) George Washington, born 1836, married Alice Mellon.

(13) Christopher C., born 1838, nothing further known.

10. William Gant, born January 11, 1801 (twin) in Abbeville, SC, married Dicey Ray February 16, 1818 in TN and Hannah Gold, died November 16, 1886 at St George, Washington Co., UT; nothing further known.

11. Anna Woods, born January 11, 1801 (twin) in Abbeville, SC, married William Pryor, died December 18, 1836; nothing further known.

12. Hannah, born about 1808, married Tidence Shipley (Shirley?), died after 1846. Children included:

(1) Daughter, born about 1825; name unknown.

(2) Daughter, born about 1827; name unknown.

(3) Daughter, born about 1829; name unknown.

(4) Rebecca A., born 1831.

(5) John P., born 1833.

(6) Louisa, born 1835.

(7) Edward T., born 1837.

(8) William S., born 1839.

(9) Ut A., born 1841.

(10) Iozadoc, born 1846.

Elizabeth (Gant) Lollar, daughter of William Gant

Elizabeth (Betty) was born in Granville Co., NC about 1762 and married Jacob Lollar in Lincoln Co., NC before their families moved to Abbeville Co, SC. Jacob Lollar inherited the plantation of his wife's father, William Gant in Abbeville Co, SC after William's death in 1809 and later, they settled in Walker County, AL. Elizabeth died there in 1845. Their children were:

1. William was born in Lincoln Co., NC in 1778, married Elizabeth Tribble and died in 1848. Nothing further known.

2. Hugh Gant was probably born in Abbeville Co., SC in 1786 and married (1) his cousin, the youngest daughter of his mother's oldest brother, Cilon, and whose name we believe was Margaret and (2) Catherine?. Hugh died before 1870.

The only known child of Hugh and Margaret (Gant) Lollar was:

(1) Hugh Gant, Jr. Born in 1817, married Nancy Bagwel and they had Nancy Elizabeth, born 1860, married John Adkin Corley, died 1869. Hugh Gant, Jr. died before 1880.

3. James, born 1790. Nothing further known.

4. Elizabeth was born in 1793, married Daniel Townley, the son of her aunt Levina and John Henry Townley (see above for a list of their children and other particulars).

5. Martha was born in 1794, married James Patmon Conner and died in 1856. Nothing further known.

6. Mary Ruby was born in 1798, married Richmond P Townley on May 22, 1822 in St. Clair Co., AL and died after 1868. Richmond was Mary's cousin, the son of John Henry Townley and Mary's aunt, Levinia (see above for a list of their children and other particulars).

7. Sarah was born January 20, 1810, married David Garrison and died 1866. Nothing further known.

8. Isaac, born about 1812. Nothing further known.

9. John, was born about 1814, married La Vina Perkins who was the daughter of his aunt Elizabeth (Gant) Perkins (see above). Nothing further known.