Perkins, Elizabeth Peck (c. 1735–1807)

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Perkins, Elizabeth Peck (c. 1735–1807)

American businesswoman. Born Elizabeth Peck, Feb 14, 1735 or 1736, in Boston, MA; died May 24, 1807, in Boston, MA; dau. of Elizabeth (Spurrier?) Peck and Thomas Handasyd Peck (fur trader and hatter); m. James Perkins (general-store merchant and friend of Paul Revere), Dec 24, 1754 (died 1773); children: 9, including Thomas Handasyd Perkins (major China trade merchant, b. 1764).

Admired for her ability to support her large family after husband's death, established "grossary shop" business (1773), selling chinaware, glass, wine, and other imported goods; inherited real estate from parents' deaths (late 1770s); during war years, subscribed $1,000 for the Continental Army (1780); focused energies on civic and philanthropic endeavors after children married; was a friend of many religious leaders, including Jean de Cheverus, Boston's 1st Roman Catholic bishop; helped found and finance the 1st Boston female-founded charitable institution, the Boston Female Asylum (1800), of which she served as director and treasurer; owned a good deal of Boston real estate; esteemed as a great lady of character and a mother of prominent children who made significant civic and philanthropic contributions.