Permelia Adkins

  General Notes:

The 1850 and 1860 Federal Census for Museville, Pittsylvania Co., Va. records Permillia living with her children in the home of her father, Owen Adkins, Sr. Permillia continues to have children and neither census lists a husband. Desmond Kendrick, Archivist of Henry Co., Va. relates that Permillia, his great great grand mother, never married and he believes the father of the children is a Napier.

The census records from 1850 on never list a husband for Permelia, however, she continues to live with or next to her father (or father-in-law) and continues to have children born as late as 1869. It has been proposed that William Napier is the father of her children ... see below for comments from an email from Desmond Kendrick.

The 1860 Federal Census for the North Districts, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia, Museville P. O., page 189, dated July 10, 1860 records Permillia Adkins (35) living with her father Owen Adkins Sr. (67). Owen is a farmer, with real estate valued at $3,000 and personal property at $3,000 including 2 slaves. Living in this household are the children of Permillia Adkins: Arbele (18), Ballard (17), William T. (15), Isabella (12), Pompey (9), Virginia (8), Ellen (7), Elvira C. (5), and Keen (1/12). Nearby is Owen's son, Jackson (45) [page 189], and his family as well as Owen's brother, Henry Adkins, Sr. (77) [page 190] and Henry's son, Henry Jr. (36) [page 190]. Interestingly, Owen's wife (former?), Fanney Adkins (67) is living nearby [page 190] with their son, Samuel Adkins (33).

The 1880 Federal Census for Callands, Pittsylvania Co., Virginia (ED#164, page 50A) records Permillia as widowed and spells her last name as "Adkinds". The census records the household of Permillia (55) with children Isabelle (30), Ellen F. (23), Alice K. (19), Charley M. (17), and Fillmore (11). Next door is Owen Adkinds, Sr. (90).

The 1900 Federal Census for Callands, Pittsylvania Co., VA (ED#71, Sheet 5B, page 228B), dated June 7, 1900 records Permillia Adkins (Jan 1825) having 12 children of which 11 are still alive. Living with their mother are: Isabella (April 1849), Elnor (Nov 1859), Alice K. (June 1863), and grand daughter Cora M. Adkins (Feb 1884). For Permelia, an "S" [single] is placed in the column to indicate married or single and it is marked through and replaced with a "Wd" [widowed]. Permelia reports having had 12 children of whom 11 are still living.

The 1910 Federal Census for Callands, Pittsylvania Co., Va. (ED#89, page 74A) records Permillia Adkins, a widow, living near her son and his family, Ballard P. and Martha A. Adkins. Permillia (83) has two daughters living with her, Isabella M. (60) and Alice K. Adkins (49).


In an email from Desmond Kendrick, Archivist, Henry County, Virginia dated December 14, 2009:
... Isabel [Harris, wife of Owen S. Adkins Sr.] died in 1825, from complications with the birth of Grandma Permelia. Permelia's children were supposedly fathered by William Napier, a nearby farmer. He was supposedly part Indian.

Permelia married.