Thursday, April 5, 2012

William H. H. Purvis, Polk Co., TX

William H. H. Purvis was born about 1814 in SC. He is enumerated on the 1840 Census for Rankin County, Mississippi and the 1850 Census for Polk County, Texas.[1] He died after 2 Mar 1855 at the age of 41 in Polk County, Texas, USA.

William H. H. Purvis and Jemima Magee were married about 1830. Jemima Magee, daughter of Jonathan Magee and Rebecca James, was born about 1817 in MS.[2] She died in Oct 1870 at the age of 53 in Polk County, Texas, USA.

William H. H. Purvis and Jemima Magee had the following children:

           +2              i.   William J. Florney Purvis, born 15 Sep 1831, Lamar Co., MS; married Emma Susanna Hooker, 7 Oct 1852, Polk County, Texas, USA; died 25 Dec 1897, Polk County, Texas, USA.
           +3             ii.   Mary Ann Savilla Purvis, born 30 Aug 1835, MS; married Jesse Riggs Jones, 12 Nov 1853, Livingston, Polk Co., TX; died 11 Jun 1915, Corrigan, Polk Co., TX.
              4            iii.   Purdy Jasper S. Purvis was born about 1842 in MS.[3] 3 He died on 4 Jan 1858 at the age of 16 in Polk County, Texas, USA.
           +5            iv.   Gabrian E. Purvis, born abt 1847, Polk County, Texas, USA; married Marion Tullos; died 23 Jul 1864, Polk County, Texas, USA.
           +6             v.   Jemima Angelina Purvis, born 12 Dec 1850, Polk County, Texas, USA; married O. Alonso Boman Knox, 23 Jan 1872, Polk County, Texas, USA; married D. T. Gibbs, 24 Jan 1867, Polk County, Texas, USA; died 26 May 1919, Montague, Montague Co., TX.

William H. H. Purvis and his family migrated from Mississippi to Polk County, Texas about 1849 or early 1850. He is enumerated in the 1850 Census for Polk County, Texas. 

He first appeared on a Simpson County Tax List in 1836. He is listed on the tax list for this county from 1836 through 1843 with one exception; he was not listed in 1838.

In December 1841, William H. H. Purvis sold a slave that he most likely inherited from his grandparents.

Purvis to Gray[4]
Know all men by these presents that I, William ( there are two Initials, which appear to be H) Purvis in in consideration of four hundred dollars to me paid by Wesley Gray the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained sold and delivered and by these presents doth bargain sell - deliver to the said Gray one negro boy named Ellis (I'm not certain of this name due to faded writing) to have and to hold unto him the said Gray his heirs executors administrators & heirs (can't make out the word) forever and I  do covenant with the said Gray that I will warrant warrant (the word "warrant" appears twice) the said negro boy sound in mind & body & soul (can't make out word) for life and I will defend the said boy against against (the word "against" appears twice) the claims of of (the word "of" appears twice) all persons.

In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand & seal this seventeenth day of December, A.d. 1841.
                                                                            SIGNED: Wm. H. H. (two initials, which appear to be "H") (notation is made of his seal)

Filed and Recorded on the 7th day of December A.D. 1841
                                            Joseph Benett, Clerk
                                        By J. Langford, D. Clerk
[Source: Betty Eppes]

Shortly after arriving in Texas, William purchased a 100 acres tract[5] of land on 8 Dec 1851. He deeded this land and all his assets to his wife in a Land Deed dated 2 March 1855[6]. The 2 March 1855 is constructed and reads like a Will.
It's evident that William H. H. Purvis was in poor health and by his acts and deeds was preparing for his death. He left three (3) young children under the age of twenty-one.
  
Know all whom it may concern that I William H. H. Purvis of the County and state  above written for and in consideration of the love and affection I bear to my wife Jemima Purvis have this day given granted confirmed and confirmed and do by these presents give grant convey confirmed and set over  & deliver to my said wife in fee simple forever the following property to wit: First the following named Negroes slaves for life and now owned and held by me as my separate property to wit: Ann about seventeen years old. Camile about sixteen years old. Green about twelve years old. Suange about twenty-eight years old. Peter thirty-eight years old. Sam about ten years old. George about ten years old. Nathan about eight years old. Alfred about nineteen years old. Linza about fifteen years old. Erma about seven years old. Sanfin about nine years old. Dorcas about six years old. Ewing about eight years old. Maneruse about three years old. Carolin about two years old.


Second the following tract or parcel of land situated and being in said Polk County containing One Hundred acres more or less a part of the headright league of R. W. Russell and which 100 acres tract was conveyed to me by deed executed by Marshal Holcomb and Alfred Holcomb dated on the 8th day of December A.D. 1851 & …. which deed reference is here made for a more perfect description of the land here conveyed by its metes and bounds and which deed was recorded in the Office of the County Clerk of said County in Book C, Pages 105 & 6 on the 12th day of April 1852.


Jemima Magee Purvis, the wife of William H. H. Purvis died October 1870[8] in Polk County, Texas. William H. H. Purvis was born in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.  He migrated with his family to Clarke County, Alabama and finally to Rankin County, Mississippi where he lived until his final move to Texas.

Next we will discuss the parents of William H. H. Purvis.


[1]  1850 U. S. Census, Polk County, Texas, population schedule, Polk County, Texas, Page 188B, Line 3, Dwelling 178, Family 178, Household of W. H. H. PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed May 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432_914
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Rankin County, Mississippi, Rankin County Deed Books, Book 6, page 342, Purvis to Gray - Sale of negro boy named Ellis, 17 December 1841; Register of Deeds, Raymond, Rankin County, Mississippi.
[5] William H. H. Purvis, 18 October 1851; Texas Land Title Abstracts; Texas General Land Office, Austin, Texas.
[6] Polk County, Texas, Polk County Deed Records, BOOK E, Page 558 & 559, William H. H. Purvis to Jemima Purvis, 2 March 1855; Register of Deeds, Livingston, Polk County, Texas.
[8] 1870 U. S. Census, Jones County, Mississippi, mortality schedule, Subdivision 21, Polk County, Texas, Page 270, Line 27, Jemima Purvis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T1134_56.

2 comments:

  1. Such helpful information! Just a note that, if I am correct, Jonathan Magee (Jemima's father) was the brother of Phillip Magee, who married Jemima Morris Franklin. Jemima Morris Franklin was the grandmother of Elizabeth Rose Campbell who married James PJ Purvis (supposed brother of William HH Purvis) I also noticed that William HH Purvis and Beasley Campbell (father of Elizabeth Rose) were neighbors in Rankin County in 1840. I also noticed that William and James' mother, Sarah (Johnson) must have migrated to Texas with William, as the 1850 Polk County census shows an 80 year old Sarah living with them. Am I correct?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, You are correct. The Sarah Purvis with William H. H. is his Mother.

    ReplyDelete