Land Deed Reveals 2nd Wife

TEXT OF DEED BETWEEN W. A. PURVIS,WIFE ELIZABETH PURVIS AND J. D. RHYNE. RECORDED IN BOOK 33, PAGE 370, ANSON COUNTY,N.C.AND GRANTOR INDEX TO DEEDS, Page 97. GRANTORI NDEX ON FILM # 018131 AND TEXT OF DEED FOUND ON FILM #296743, FOR ANSON COUNTY, N.C. AT LDS GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY, SLC, UTAH.

W. A. PURVIS AND WIFE ELIZABETH PURVIS
TO
J. D. RHYNE DEED

NORTH CAROLINA} This deed made this 23rd day of September, Anson County, 1899 by W. A. Purvis and wife Elizabeth Purvis of Anson County and State of North Carolina of the first part and J. D. Rhyne of said county and state of the second part witnesseth that said W. A. Purvis and wife in consideration of fifty four dollars to them paid by J. D. Rhyne. The receipt of which is hereby acknowledged has bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain, sell and convey to said J. D. Rhyne and his heirs a certain tract or parcel of land in Morven Township, Anson County, State of North Carolina. Adjoining the lands of Jms. Davis, Jms. McGugan, Dr. W.J. McLendon and J.D. Rhyne. Bounded to follows. Beginning at McGugan's corner in McLendon line and running east six chains to Rhyne's corner. Then with Rhyne's line south to a corner in his line 392 yds. Thence west to Davis line 7 1/2 chains. Thence direct to the beginning corner containing twelve acres more or less. To have and to hold the aforesaid tract of land and all privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging to the said J.D. Rhyne, his heirs and assigns to their only use and behalf forever and the said W.A. Purvis and wife covenants that they are seized of said premises in fee and has a right to convey to same in fee simple that the same are free and clear from all incumbrances and that they will warrant and defend the said title to the same against the claims of all persons whomsoever. In testimony whereof the said W. A. Purvis and wife have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above mentioned.
In presence of
W. E. Pennington
                                                                                        W. A. Purvis {Seal}
                                                                                                    her
                                                                                        Elizabeth X Purvis {Seal}
                                                                                                     mark

NORTH CAROLINA} I, W. E. Pennington, Justice of the Peace for Anson County hereby certify that W. A. Purvis and his wife Elizabeth Purvis personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the within deed of conveyance and the said Elizabeth Purvis being by me privately examined separate and apart from her said husband touching her voluntary execution of the same tract state that she signed the said freely and voluntarily without fear or compulsion of her said husband or any other person and that she doth still voluntarily agree here to witness my hand and private seal this 23rd day of September 1899.
                                                                                         W. E Pennington, J.P. {Seal}

State of North Carolina}
Anson County} The foregoing certificate of W. E. Pennington a Justice of the Peace of Anson County is adjudged to be in dire form and according to law. Let the deed of conveyance with the certificate be registered this October 2nd 1899.
                                                                                            John C. McLancklin
                                                                                            Clerk of Superior Court

September 2nd 1899. S PM. Then the foregoing deed of conveyance and certificate be
registered.
                                                                                            S.A. Benton
                                                                                            Register of Deeds


William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves are my second great grandparents.

This land deed [1]was a real shocker when it was first found. William A. Purvis married Sarah Jane Graves about 1859 and had one son William James Purvis in 1863. All the older generation claim no knowledge of a second wife for William. Mystery still surrounds this woman. Her social security Form SS_5 shows that she was Elizabeth Privett. She had two daughters, father unknown, Ella Frances Purvis (b. 25 Sept 1881) and Mary Jane Purvis. (b. abt 1873).

Elizabeth Purvis is in same household with William A. and wife Sarah Jane in 1880.

1880 CENSUS[2]: Morven, Anson County, North Carolina; Roll: 951; Family History Film: 1254951; Enumeration District: 2; Image: 0493; Page 350B, Line 36, Dwelling 233, Family 251; William A. PURVIS, age 53, Farmer, born in SC, father born in SC, mother born in NC; Sarah J. PURVIS, Wife, age 48, born in NC, parents born in NC. Dwelling 223, Family 252, Betsy PURVIS, age 30, born in NC, parents born in NC; Mary J. PURVIS, age 7, born in NC, parents born in NC. (Spelled PURVICE on Ancestry).

Sarah Jane Graves wife of William Purvis died 30 December 1893.

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][3]

Now on 30 December 1899 William A. Purvis and his wife Elizabeth are selling land that William A. Purvis and his Wife Sarah Jane Graves purchased.

This is the last known document that shows William A. Purvis name/mark. In May 1900, Elizabeth is listed as a widower. No death certificate, obituary or tombstone has been found for William A. Purvis. But, it obvious that William A. Purvis died between 30 Dec 1899 and May 1900.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Previtt Purvis died 18 Oct 1928 in Rockingham, Richmond County, North Carolina.[4] She was buried in the Mizpah Cemetery but no tombstone has been found.

Mrs. Betsy Purvis[5]
Mrs. Betsy Purvis, aged 90, died Oct. 18th in Great Falls village. The interment was at Mizpah the same day.
[The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Richmond County, NC, Thursday, October 21, 1926, Page 6, Column 2 - Deaths]

William A. Purvis has been "My Brickwall" for 38 years. 

Your comments are welcomed.

Related articles

• MY BRICKWALL -- WILLIAM A. PURVIS(carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com)

---

[1] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 33: page 370, W. A. Purvis and wife Elizabeth Purvis to J. D. Rhyne; 23 September 1899, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[2] 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. Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 951.

[3] Sarah Jane Graves Purvis obituary, Messenger-Intelligencer, Wadesboro, North Carolina, 4 January 1894, page 3, McFarlan News.

[4] Betsy Purvis, death certificate #351 (1926), Register of Deeds, Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina

[5] Mrs. Betsy Purvis obituary, The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Rockingham, Richmond County, NC, 21 October 1926, Page 6, Column 2. Deaths.