# Hezekiah Perkins — The Maid of Sker character guide

> Hezekiah Perkins in The Maid of Sker by R. D. Blackmore.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** brother Hezekiah, crafty Perkins, dirty Hezekiah, Perkins

**First appearance:** 0001-the-maid-of-sker

## Snapshot

A greasy, crafty servant whose talent for sneaking through side doors makes him useful to powerful men and dangerous to the helpless.

## Who they are

Hezekiah Perkins serves as Parson Chowne's eyes and ears, a man whose nasty face and filthy dandling of children mark him as thoroughly untrustworthy. When he steals little Bardie out to show her the baby-corpse, Davy's fury nearly breaks him, yet he survives to inform on others. His petty cruelties and appetite for gain make him a persistent low-level menace throughout the early unraveling of the wreck.

## In the story

### [How to Sell Fish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xii-how-to-sell-fish)

A rival buyer who is tricked by Davy into paying a higher price for the fish, motivated by his desire to outdo Griffy of the Cat and Snuffers.

### [In Accordance with the Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xiv-in-accordance-with-the-evidence)

Manipulative juryman who delivers a long speech about sand encroachment; brings Bardie to the corpse against Davy's wishes.

### [A Verdict on the Jury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xv-a-verdict-on-the-jury)

A juror who initially scoffs at superstition but is later terrified by Davy's staged vision of funeral processions near Longlands.

### [XVI: Truth Lies Sometimes in a Well](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xvi-truth-lies-sometimes-in-a-well)

Hezekiah visits Davy to discuss a secret matter, using flattery and religious pretensions to try to extract information. He is manipulative, boastful about his education, and eager to partner with Davy for profit.

### [XVIII: Public Approbation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xviii-public-approbation)

Implied to be the author of the malicious second newspaper account; Davy fumes at his hypocrisy.

### [XXXIII: In a State of Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xxxiii-in-a-state-of-nature)

Head groom; shares information about Parson Chowne's past and his own upcoming marriage.

### [Two Poor Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xxxvii-two-poor-children)

Mentioned as a Nonconformist disturber who might cast up Drake's past against him.

### [XLIII: A Fine Price for Bardie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xliii-a-fine-price-for-bardie)

Visits Davy and outlines a fraudulent plan to pass Bardie off as Martha ap Rees for a reward, using religious pretense.

### [Beating Up for the Navy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/liii-beating-up-for-the-navy)

Impressed by Davy after being made drunk; he is given six dozen lashes and later becomes useful for his oiliness.

### [Taming of the Savages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/liv-taming-of-the-savages)

Hezekiah suffers severe seasickness, believes he is Jonah in the whale, and rages against his wife Hepzibah for not predicting his misfortunes.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/characters/hezekiah_perkins
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/characters