MY BRICKWALL -- WILLIAM A. PURVIS

2012 - this is my 36 year researching and documenting my family history. William A. Purvis has been my "brickwall" for 35 years. I haven't found a single document relating to William, his wife Sarah Jane Graves or their only son for many, many years.

One of my favorite blog is the "We Tree Genealogy Blog". On 30 November 2011, the blog owner, Amy Coffin posted a blog entitled "The Hypothetical Ancestor Trade-Off".
On 1 December I commented on her blog with this response:

Here a good challenge that has stumped me for 36 years.

William A. Purvis, b. 1823-1827 either in NC or SC is enumerated in 3 Census - 1860-1870-1880 Census, Anson County, NC. Last name is spelled Purvis, Purvice and Purris. He married Sarah Jane Graves of Chesterfield, SC and they had one Child - William James Purvis, b. 25 Sept 1863. William James is married to Mary Hulda Previtte in 1880 Census - Anson County.
I have a lawsuit naming William A. Purvis as defendant and numerous land deeds from Anson County. He signed a land deed in Sept 1899 and is not listed in the 1900 Census. His wife Sarah Jane Graves died Dec 1893 and William along with wife Betsey/Elizabeth are selling land in 1899.

This indicates that William remarried after the death of Sarah Jane Graves.

I would love to find parents for my William A. Purvis; My Great-Great-Grandfather.

Purvis Timeline

6 August 1860	William A. Purvis	1860 Census, Anson Co., NC, Page 300B William A. Purvis, age 34, M, Shoemaker, born on North Carolina; Sarah Purvis, age 26, born in North Carolina; Joseph White, age 33, M, Cooper, born in North Carolina, Laura White, age 30, F, born in North Carolina
6 Dec. 1866	William A. Purvis	Land Deed - Joseph P. Smith to William A. Purvis Chesterfield Co., SC, Deed Book 8, Page 284-286 refers to this purchase.
6 Dec 1866	William A. Purvis	Land Deed - William A. Purvis to William James Purvis, Chesterfield Co., SC, Book 8, Page 421-423.
Spring Term 1867	William A. Purvis	Court Case - Abram Conlin to the use of W. G. Smith & Saml. Smith Jr., Exc. of J. P. Smith Dec’d VS William A. Purvis.
2 April 1868	William A. Purvis	Heirs of J. P. Smith vs William A. Purvis, Writ of Debt for purchase of Land
23 Aug 1870	W. A. Pervis	1870 Census, Anson Co., NC, Page 403A - W. A. Pervis, age 46, M, Farmer, born on North Carolina; Sarah J. Pervis, age 37, born in North Carolina; William J. Pervis, age 6, M, born in North Carolina
21 Dec 1871	W. A. Purvis	Land Deed - James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis, Anson Co., NC, Book 22, Page 531-532.
21 Dec 1872	Wm. Purvis	Land Deed - W. P. Brantley to Wm. Purvis, Anson County, NC, Book 21, Page 404-405.
21 Dec 1871	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to James L. Edwards, Anson Co., NC, Book 2, Pages 363-365.
2 Feb 1876	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. C. Marshall & Co., Anson Co., NC, Book 6, Pages 416-418.
30 June 1876	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. C. Marshall & Co., Anson Co., NC, Book 7, Pages 462-464.
12 Mar 1877	William A. Pervis	Trust Deed - William A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 8, Pages 276-278.
1 Mar 1878	W. A. Pervis	Trust Deed - W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 9, Page 347.
1 Mar 1878	W. A. Pervis	Trust Deed - W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 9, Pages 351-352.
3 Mar 1879	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 10, Pages 431-432.
23 July 1879	W. A. Purvis	Land Deed, 25 Acres, Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to W. A. Purvis (DB 20, Pages 584-585)
2 Aug 1879	Wm. A. Purvis	Bond of Title - Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to Wm. A. Purvis, Anson Co., NC, Book 20, Pages 584-585.
1880	Wm. A. Purvice	1880 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) # 2, Page 350B, Line 36, Dwelling 233, Family 251, Household of William A. Purvice; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 951. William A. PURVICE, age 53, Farmer, Born in South Carolina, father born in South Carolina, mother born in North Carolina; Sarah J. PURVICE, Wife, age 48, born in NC, Fa: NC, Mo: NC. Dwelling 223, Family 252, Betsy PURVIS, age 30; Mary J. PURVIS, age 7.
1880	William J. Purvis	1880 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, Population Schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, ED #2, page 350B, line 40, Dwelling 234, Family 253, Household of William J. Purvis. William is a 16-year-old “LABOURER” living with his wife Mary, age 19.
13 Feb 1880	W. A. Purvis W. J. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis & W. J. Purvis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 11, Page 529.
3 Mar 1881	Wm. A. Purvis & wife	Land Deed, Anson Co., DB 21, Page 401, Wm. A. Purvis & Wife to James C. Marshall et al
3 Mar 1881	William A. Purvis	Land Deed - William. A. Purvis and wife [Sarah J. Purvis] to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 21, Page 401.
3 Mar 1881	W. A. Pervis	Trust Deed - W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 13, Pages 107.
3 Mar 1881	W. J. Pervis	Trust Deed - W. J. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 13, Pages 109.
16 Jan 1882	W. A. Pervis & Others	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis & others to J. D. Harden, Anson Co., NC, Book 15, Pages 23-24. [Others are William J, Sarah J, and Mary H. Purvis]
18 Apr 1882	W. J. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. J. Purvis to J. D. Harden, Anson Co., NC Book 15, Pages 155-156,
18 Apr 1882	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. D. Harden, Anson Co., NC, Book 15, Page 157.
9 July 1882	W. J. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. J. Purvis to Singers Manufacturing Co. Anson Co., NC, Book 14, Pages 174.[William James mortgaged the Farm to buy Mary a sewing machine].
7 Mar 1883	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 16, Page 158.
28 Sep 1883	Wm. A. Purvis & Wife	Land Deed, Anson Co., DB 22, Page 532-533, Wm. A. Purvis and wife [Sarah J. Purvis] to Jefferson D. Rhyne.
28 Sept 1883	Jefferson D. Rhyne	Trust Deed - Jefferson D. Rhine to Wm. A. Purvis, Anson Co., NC, Book 16, Page 428.
15 Jan 1884	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 16, Pages 561-562.
25 Feb 1884	W. J. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. J. Purvis to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 17, Pages 284-285.
2 July 1884	W. A. Purvis & Wife [Sarah]	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis & wife to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 18, Pages 63-65.
3 Dec 1884	W. A. Purvis & Wife [Sarah]	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis & wife to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 18, Pages 202-203.
16 Feb 1885	W. J. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. J. Purvis to C. C. Moore & Co., Anson Co.,NC, Book 18, Page 466.
24 Feb 1885	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to C. C. Moore & Co., Anson Co., NC, Book 18, Pages 546-547.
22 Apr 1886	W. A. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. T. Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 20, Page 611.
8 May 1886	W. J. Purvis	Trust Deed - W. J. Purvis to C. C. Moore & Co., Anson Co., NC, Book 21, Page 82.
6 Jan 1888	W. J. Purvis	SALE OF LAND FOR TAXES - W. J. Purvis, 30 acres for delinquent taxes for 1885, $3.28; 1886, $2.50 & 1887, $2.00; a total of $7.78 for the three years. (Newspaper clipping).
7 Jan 1888	William J. Purvis	Land Deed - William James Purvis to T. F. Misenheimer, Chesterfield Co., SC, Book 9, Page 284-286.
30 Dec 1893	Sarah Jane Graves Purvis	DEATH: Messenger-Intelligencer issue of January 4, 1894, page 3, McFarlan News - The funeral of the wife of Mr. Wm. Pervis was preached by this writer in the M. E. Church of this place last Sunday [31 Dec. 1893]. She was a good old woman. She had suffered intensely for fifteen months from cancer. She was a member of the M. E. church about 20 years. [Source: Steve Bailey]
23 Sep 1899	William A. Purvis & wife, Elizabeth	Land Deed, Anson Co., DB 33, Page 370, W. A. Purvis and wife Elizabeth Purvis to J. D. Rhyne, Anson Co., NC, Book 33, Page 370.
Sept 1899 - June 1900		Wm. A. Purvis DIED
28 June 1900	Elizabeth Purvis	1900 Census, Anson Co. NC - Elizabeth PURVIS, born Oct 1860, age 39, is living in Anson County N.C. with her daughter Ella, age 13, born Dec 1886. Elizabeth is listed as a widow, age 39 with Oct 1860 as her birth month and year. (Film # 1241181, Family 337/337, Morven Twsp., Page 145A.
June 1900	Wm. J. Purvis	1900- NC Census, Anson Co., Microfilm #1247131 & 1241181, Page 163, Line 15, ED #8. LDS FHL, SLC, Utah.
30 Sept 1900	Betsy Purvis	Land Deed - Betsy Purvis to J. D. Rhyne, Anson Co., NC, Book 34, Page 491-492.
	Ella P. Tarlton daughter of Elizabeth (Betsy) Purvis	Social Security SS-5 shows name to be Ella P. Tarlton, Father Billie Purvis, mother as Betty Prevett and date of birth as 25 September 1881. SSAN 251-86-7071.
1910	Wm. J. Purvis	1910 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven Twsp., Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #012, page 184, line 64-67, dwelling 65, family 65, Household of William Purvis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1096.:
1920	Wm. J. Purvis	1920 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 13, Page 197B, Line 72, dwelling 209, family 209, Household of William J. PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed June 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm Series: T625, Roll: 1283. William J. and Mary Purvis.
18 Oct 1926	Elizabeth (Betsy) Purvis	Elizabeth (Betsy) Purvis died. NC Death Certificate #248, Richmond County, North Carolina. Buried at Mizpah Cemetery. Death certificate lists husband as Billie Purvis.
8 June 1941	Wm. J. Purvis	William James Purvis died 8 June 1941, Death recorded on Film #296687, Page 261, Anson County Book 28, Page 165. Copy of William James Purvis death certificate in possession of Charles L. Purvis. Parents listed as William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves.