Mary Elizabeth Dean was born in Kent Co., DE in 1839. She is listed with her family in the 1850 Kent County, DE Census records. She was the daughter of William Dean and his wife, (Mary) Ann Cork.

Mary Elizabeth married James PERKINS , the son of Mitchell Perkins and Sarah Becketts. James was born on 8 January, 1835 in Delaware.

Sometime between 1850 and 1860, Mary Elizabeth moved to Michigan. All of her children were born there.

The 1870 MI Census for Romulus Twp, Wayne lists:
James PERKINS , 35, Famer, born in DE
Elizabeth, 30, born in DE
John H, 8, born in MI
Mary A., 6, born in MI
Rebecca, 4, born in MI
William, 1 born in MI

The 1880 MI Census for Huron Twp., Wayne,
v29, ed255, s2, line 8 lists:
James PERKINS, Mu, M, 44, Farmer, born in DE, parents born in DE
Mary, Mu, F, 41, wife, keeping house, born in DE, parents born in DE
John H. , Mu, M, 18, son, works on farm, born in MI
Mary, Mu, F, 15, dau., born in MI
Rebecca, Mu, F, 15, dau., born in MI
William, Mu, M, 11, son, works on farm, born in MI
Wesley, Mu, M, 9, son, born in MI
Ellis, Mu, M, 5, son, born in MI
Sarah, Mu, F, 3, dau., born in MI

Children of Mary Elizabeth and James Perkins, were :

1. John H. Perkins (b.1862 in MI)

2. Mary A. Perkins (b. 1864 in MI- d. 1906 in MI)
   She is believed to have married a DEAN

3. Rebecca A. Perkins (b. 1866 in MI)

4. William Perkins (b. July 1, 1868 in Romulus Twp.,Wayne, MI)
   Wayne County Birth Records
   July 1, 1868 - William Perkins - Male - African - Romulus
   James and Mary Elizabeth Perkins (parents) - Romulus - (born) DE- Farmer ------Recorded May 28, 1869

5. Wesley Perkins (b.c. 1871 in MI) married Arvilla DEAN
   Arvilla was born March 21, 1867 and died March 18, 1903 according to her tombstone and death records in Romulus Twp., Wayne, MI. She is buried at Romulus with a child, unnamed. Arvilla was the daughter of James H. Dean and Elva Fargo according to her death record.

6. Ellis Perkins (b.c. 1875 in MI- d. 14 Feb. 1886 in MI)

7. Sarah Perkins (b. April 5, 1877 in MI and died February 2, 1886 in Huron Twp., Wayne, MI)
   Death Record - FHC microfilm 1377695, P. 195, book 7, record 1647
   17 Feb. 1886; Sally Perkins, fem, white, single, 8y 9m, 27d, Huron, Diptheria, MI...{parents} James Perkins MI and Elizabeth Perkins MI

According to the death record of a daughter, Mary Elizabeth died in Michigan sometime before 1906. James Perkins died on February 21, 1907 in Sumpter Twp., Wayne Co., MI.