Charles Wilkins was a planter in Perquimans Precinct, North Carolina by 1709. In 1720 Wilkins was acting as the local constable. In April of that year, he was instructed to arrest Cush and Sambo, two enslaved men residing at Paul Palmer's plantation. Though he had Sambo in custody briefly, Sambo escaped from Wilkins with the assistance of Paul Palmer's wife Joanna. Any further information about Wilkins has not been located.