Data Analysis - William A. Purvis, 1860 to 1872

For 36 years I have searched for the parents of my Great Great Grandfather William A. Purvis. Not a single shred of evidence has been found for William A. Purvis prior to 1860. He is listed in the 1860 census for Anson County, NC [1] with wife Sarah Jane and another couple by the name of Joseph & Laura [Brock] White. No record of a marriage date has been found for his marriage to Sarah  In 1863 their only child - William James was born (23 Sept. 1863).

The next record is dated 6 Dec 1866 is William A. Purvis is purchasing 36 acreage of  land from Joseph P. Smith (DB 8: 284-286).[2]  William A. Purvis then sells this same acreage to William J. Purvis on this same date - 6 Dec. 1866 (DB 8: 421-423).[3]

For years I thought he was selling the land to his son William James until it hit me while writing this blog post that this William J. Purvis CANNOT be his son because his son is only 3 years old. (more research required) [4]

             Such misstep as this one is why we need to sit down and write out our thought on individual facts and sources for those we are researching. When you start to put you information in a narrative form you realize when  the data just does not add up - a light bulb comes on just as it did while writing this article.

Land Deeds indicate my My Great Great Grandfather bought and sold the land and a lawsuit brought in Anson County, Spring term 1867 [5] by the heirs of Joseph P. Smith sought damages for the non-payment of this debt. My Great Great Grandfather William A. Purvis lost in court  with the following decision:


"continued from said Term until fall Term 1867 when judgment final by default was rendered in favor of said plaintiff against said Defendant for the sum of $150, and $73 damages for the detention thereof beside the further sum of $12 for costs in that behalf expended that the record thereof was lodged in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Law for the County aforesaid and that the said office containing the said record was destroyed by fire on the 2nd day of April, A.D. 1868." 

Then we have the 1870 Census for Anson County, NC [6] followed by this document in 1871:

TRUST DEED – W. A. Purvis to James L. Edwards

and then in 1872 by this document:
DB 21 Pages 404-405 [7]


In this brief document we have documented the public life of William A. and Sarah Jane, as we know it,  for the past 12 years. No document has been found to indicate where William A. Purvis resided prior to his appearance in the 1860 Anson County, NC census.

Your comments and suggestions greatly appreciated on a suggested course of action for future research on William A. Purvis.


Other related postings: 

http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/11/mystery-monday-parents-of-william-purvis.html

http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-brickwall-william-purvis.html 

http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-brickwall-william-purvis-part-2.html 

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** You can Google "trust deeds" and get a lot of definitions but here is mine: A Trust Deed is in essence a promissory note or mortgage.
[1] 1860 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 300, line 34, Dwelling 1238, Family 1188, Household of William A. Purvis; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 887.
[2] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Book 8: Page 284-286, Land Deed - Joseph P. Smith to William A. Purvis; 6 December 1866, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[3] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Book 8: Page 421-423, William A. Purvis to William James Purvis; 6 December 1866, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[4] http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/assorted/assorted_2/idea_light_bulb.png.html
[5] Wadesboro, Anson County, NC, Minute Docket, Superior Court, 1868-1884 C.005. 30003, Abram Conlin to the use of W. G. Smith & Saml. Smith Jr., Exc. of J. P. Smith Dec’d VS William A. Purvis, William A. Purvis, Spring Term 1867; NS State Archives, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.

[6] 1870 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 403A, line 38, Dwelling 178; Family 178, Household of William A. Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archive Microfilm M593, Roll 1122.

[7] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 21: Page 404-405, W. P. Brantley to Wm. Purvis; 21 December 1872, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

Treasure Chest Thursday–Grandma’s Broom

I grew up  in the 1950’s  and graduated from high school in 1960. We lived on a farm in North Carolina about 3 miles from the nearest town. There was not  any cousins, aunt, uncles or other relatives living nearby.
My grandparents, except for my paternal Grandmother, had all passed away before I was born in the early 1940’s.
Grandma Pearly, as she was known, was my Dad's mother. She lived with my aunts. Back in those days there was no grass for a lawn. Where I lived the area in front of the house was just plain old bare earth. That was our lawn and while we didn't mow our lawn you can sure bet that it was “clean” at all times. That area was special and it was swept every day to ensure it’s cleanliness.

The broom:
The broom that was used was a special broom. We didn't have money to splurge on store bought brooms. Grandma Pearly (born 17 Jan 1885)  went out into the field and gathered broom straw to make her own brooms. Most brooms that  she used were hand made by her; she very seldom used a store-bought broom.

Grandma Pearly died in 1970. Before she passed away she had made one of her brooms which is in my possession. The overall length of the broom is 50 inches. The base of the broom is about 2 inches in diameter. The broom is wrapped in saran wrap to keep the straws from bring broken.

Workday Wednesday–Catherine Davis Civil War Pension Application

Catherine Brock was born in March 1837 to Squire H. Brock and Rachel Parker. On 2 March 1857 she married William L. Davis in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.[1]

In 1869 William and Catherine moved South to Duval County, Florida. William and Catherine had seven children, five (5) sons and 2 daughters.

On 3 July 1892, William L. Davis was killed by lightning about 10 miles South of Jacksonville near Woodtown  on the St. Johns Rivers.

On 27 July 1909, Catherine applied to the State of Florida for a Widows pension based on the service of her husband, William L. Davis in the Civil War. William L. Davis, age 27, enlisted into Capt. James C. Coit’s Company on 25 August 1861. [2]  He was discharged 26 February 1862.




The CSA Government issued a certificate if Disability which stated that William had been sick for the past 60 days with an attack of pneumonia which had affected his health and rendered him unfit for Service.[3]




Catherine's Pension Application (#A03212) was approved on 9 Sept 1909 with pay from 1 July 1909 for a total of $120.00 per annum.














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[1] Division of Library & Information Services, "Florida Civil War Pension; Confederate Pension Applications," digital images, floridamemory.com (http://www.floridamemory.com : viewed March 2012), Catherine B. Davis, Application #A03212; citing for service in the Civil War of Her husband William L. Davis; J. C. Coit's Chesterfield Light Artillery.
[2] http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|77193666
[3] http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|77193723

Tombstone Tuesday - James W. Huneycutt

James W. Huneycutt

Birth: Apr. 26, 1833

Cabarrus County, NC

Death: Nov. 19, 1896

Chesterfield County, SC

Tombstone Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

Tombstone Photo Courtesy of William Poplin

James married Sarah Elizabeth Page on 20 May 1855 in Stanly County, North Carolina; Sarah Elizabeth was the daughter of Sion Page and Nancy Almond.

They had 5 children, 4 daughters and a son and were married 41 years when James died in 1896.

James is buried in Hopewell Baptist Church cemetery in Chesterfield, SC. Sarah Elizabeth moved back to Stanly County and died there in 1915. She is buried in Palestine Methodist Church Cemetery.  

James W. and Sara Elizabeth Page Huneycutt are my 2^nd Great Grand Parents.

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[1] Find A Grave Memorial# 43661890

[2] Find A Grave Memorial# 62256257

Secretary of Treasury, Cash, Pistols and a Death

As genealogists and family historians we are very familiar with the history of the area we are researching.

During my youth, we were taught in school about the history of this nation, the American Revolution and the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.

Briefly, the Hamilton-Burr Duel occurred on 11 July 1804 at Weehawken, NJ. Both of these men were very prominent men of the era. Alexander Hamilton was a former Secretary of Treasury and Aaron Burr was a sitting Vice President. For years animosity had existed between the two men. Tensions between the two exploded during the 1804 New York Governor Race with Hamilton's defamation of Burr's character. This action resulted in the duel in which Alexander Hamilton was fatally wounded.  Hamilton died the next day.   

By 1804, duels were a common practice in the United States. The first recorded duel on American soil was fought in 1621.[1] For the most part dueling is a “gentlemen” sport. The first duel in the Americas was between two servants - Edward Doty and Edward Lester, of the Massachusetts colony. The weapon of choice was Swords – both sustained minor wounds.

The Last Duel fought in South Carolina and most likely the United States occurred on 5 July 1880 in Lee County, South Carolina.[2] The duel was between Col. Ellerbe Boggan Crawford Cash (challenger) and Col. William M. Shannon of Camden.  Their duel was the result of a “cat fight” between the wives of the two men over property division.  Their weapons of choice were pistols. Col. Shannon lost the duel and died on that day in Lee County.  

SC Historical Marker 31-1 marks the site and reads:[3]

CASH-SHANNON DUEL This was the site of the last fatal duel fought in S.C., in which Col. E.B.C. Cash of Cash's Depot killed Col. Wm. M. Shannon of Camden on July 5, 1880. This tragedy influenced the S.C. legislature to enact a law in December, 1880, making dueling a crime and requiring public officers, until 1954, to swear they had not been in a duel./ Erected by the Lee County Historical Commission, 1963 [18 June 1964] County: Lee Location: Hartsville Hwy. (U.S. Hwy. 15), just W of entrance to Lee State Park at Lee State Park Rd., Bishopville vicinity Marker ID: 31-1

 

The outcry, after the duel, was so vehement that the SC Legislative passed the anti-dueling law thus treating any future duelist as a common murderer.  He was tried for his actions in Court, October term 1880 and on 21 June 1881 he was acquitted. [4][5]

The Rock Hill Herald - Feb 9, 1943. Page 6, col 3

Col. E. B. C. Cash was born 1 July 1823 in Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

He was highly educated and as a Colonel in the state militia he commanded the 8^th SC Regiment at the 1^st Battle of Bull Run.

He lived in the community of Cash’s Depot just south of Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

I found a conflict in the death date of Col. Ellerbe Boggan Crawford Cash. A posting on this webpage  purported to be from the New York Times, is dateline Columbia, S. C. Feb. 27 and states that Col. Cash was buried yesterday (26 Feb. 1888, Sunday) and died on Saturday (25 Feb. 1888).[6]

FindAGrave Memorial #45618060 shows he died on 10 March 1888. [7]

He was a well educated man, lived an exciting life and was very generous. Augustus Dickert in his book[8] "History of the Kershaw's Brigade: with Complete Roll of Companies, Biographical Sketches, Incidents, Anecdotes, etc." sums up the life of Col. Cash with this statement and I quote "Colonel Cash was a man of strong character, fearless, brave, generous and true, a good friend and patriot." Enough said.  

---

[1] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/sfeature/dueling.html

[2] http://www.scaet.org/markers/display.cfm?id=526

[3] Ibid.

[4] The Rock Hill Herald – Feb. 9, 1943, page 6, col 3. 
[5] The Rock Hill Herald - Jan 22, 1908. Page 7, Last Duel Fought In South Carolina

[6] Col. Cash Dead, The Man Who Fought The Last South Carolina Duel; The New York Times - February 28, 1888, transcribed by Dena Whitesell,    < http://genealogytrails.com/scar/chesterfield/obits_chesterfield.htm> 

[7] Find A Grave Memorial# 45618060
[8] D. Augustus Dickert, History of the Kershaw's Brigade: with Complete Roll of Companies, Biographical Sketches, Incidents, Anecdotes, etc. (Newberry, SC: Elbert H. Aull Company, 1899, page 104.

Sunday’s Obituary - Elizabeth [Smith] Sellers

Elizabeth [Smith] Sellers

b. 24 June 1949

d. 12 February 1922

bu. Shiloh United Methodist Church Cemetery

The whole community has been saddened by the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Sellers on February 12, 1922. She was born on the 24th day of June, 1849; married to Hardy J. Sellers March 16, 1871. By this union were two children, a boy and a girl; the little girl having died at eight years of age. Mr. Sellers died September 19, 1910. Mrs. Sellers joined Bethel church in Marlboro county at a very young age, later moving her membership to Mt. Oliver Church in this county and afterwards Shiloh. Entering into God's fold at an early age, she remained a faithful worker until she was called to receive her just reward. She was a type of ideal American womanhood, being a faithful wife, mother and Christian. She will be greatly missed by not only the family and intimate friends, but by everyone who knew her. Truly, "to know her was to love her." Surviving Mrs. Sellers are one son, a daughter-in-law and five grandchildren.<sup>1 2

Elizabeth's husband Hardy J. Sellers was my 1st cousin 4 time removed.</sup> 



















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[1] James C. Pigg, Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1926; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 2001. Obituary of Mrs. Elizabeth [Smith] Sellers;The Chesterfield Advertiser,2 March 1922, page 1, col. 2, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[2] Mrs. Elizabeth [Smith] Sellers obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 2 March 1922, page 1, col. 2.

Technology and Genealogy = Mind Maps

Wikipedia defines Mind Map as a diagram used to visually outline information.¹ Basically, Mind mapping software is brainstorming software that graphically projects the problem and it’s multifaceted interactions.
The Mind Map below is a work-in-progress that I have created to prove:

• The parents of William A. Purvis
• That William was twice married

There are a lot of tools out there for creating Mind Maps. Some are free and some will cost you.
Mind maps have not made much of an impact in the genealogy communities yet; but, I believe that in the future Mind Maps will become an essential tool for documenting and graphical displaying the interrelationships within families. I think a graphic depiction of families in a Kinship Determination Project (KDP) would add value to the overall project and better displayed the relationships of families within the project. I am of the opinion that it is now a necessary tool for documenting  and displaying these relationships. 

The software used for the above graphical display is called Freeplane and it is a free open-source program.
There are other programs available that can be purchased, used or downloaded free.

• EDraw Mind Map - http://www.edrawsoft.com/download.php --- (Free); the EDraw program cost $$ but the mind map portion is free
• Freeplane -- http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Home – (Free)
• Open Mind -- http://openmind.1freehosting.net/ – (Free)
• Blumind -- http://blumind.org/ – (Free)
• Mindmeister -- http://www.mindmeister.com/ – Mindmeister gives you 3 free maps then if you need more you have have to pay.
• There are other out there; if interested you will have to decide what best fits your needs. I use the top 2 on this list.

Some of the major features I like about Freeplane are:

• Once your map is created you can export it as as outline.
• You can attached documents  and web links to any node on the map
• Node content structuring (text, icon, image and hyperlink) and presentation area (details, notes, attributes and images);
• password protect
• Built-in note panel
• Can be exported as text file, outline mode

There have been previous genealogy bloggers that have posted about Mind Maps and you may like to take a look at:

• http://www.thearmchairgenealogist.com/2012/05/mind-mapping-for-genealogists.html
• http://www.jgen.ws/jlog/organize/mind-mapping-a-research-toolbox/
• http://ewgs-spokane.blogspot.com/2008/04/mind-map-for-genealogical-research.html

Finally, Mark Spencer used Mind Mapping software to create his Genealogy Research Map a Mind Map of the Genealogical Proof Standard.
Every genealogist's and family historian needs a copy of this document which can be downloaded here (http://www.thinkgenealogy.com/wp-content/uploads/Genealogy%20Research%20Map%20v2.pdf).

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map

Thankful Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving 

I would like to wish all my friends, family and readers a very Happy Thanksgiving  Relax and enjoy your time with Family and friends.  Thanks for all you comments and suggestions. 


Charlie

Wordless Wednesday - Give me your DNA!

Tombstone Tuesday–British Soldiers Buried in Cheraw, SC

Old Saint David’s Episcopal Church Cemetery

This is the last Anglican or "State" church built (c.1770) in South Carolina under King George III. This historic church was used by the Americans and the British during the American Revolution and later by both the Confederate and Union armies. There are soldiers from almost every American War buried in the cemetery.

Francis Asbury (1745-1816) pioneer bishop of American Methodism came to Cheraw in 1785, on his first visit to South Carolina.[1]

The first Confederate monument ever built is located in the cemetery, erected (c.1867) in memory of those who had fallen in the Civil War. The original inscription did not mention Confederate soldiers directly because Union forces still occupied the area.

Also in the cemetery are the graves of Alexander Gregg and famous steamboat commander Moses Rogers. The steeple and vestibule were added to the church in 1826.[2]

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

Inscription:
Grave of [unknown] British Soldier who died during the Revolutionary War when using St. David's Church as a hospital in the summer of 1780. This is a mass grave; containing at least four soldiers.
Colonel Campbell, Commander of the 71st Regiment is also buried here.

Note: This could not be Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell who started with the 71st because he was sent back to Scotland in the winter 1778-79. It could be Captain Charles Campbell who died in the Battle of Fishing Creek August 17, 1780.[3]

The soldiers who perish more than 230 years ago were memorialized last year in a special ceremony on November 13, 2011 at the Old St. David’s Episcopal Church, Cheraw, South Carolina. Attempts to identify the soldiers who died at St. David’s in the summer of 1780 were unsuccessful. Searches were made in the British Public Records Office and in USA Archives.

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[1]  http://www.scaet.org/markers/display.cfm?id=1363 - South Carolina Historical Marker 13-11
[2] http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/products/3436.aspx
[3] Find A Grave Memorial #45292017 – Grave Photo and “NOTE” info and transcription courtesy of Julious Burr

Mystery Monday – The Parents of William A. Purvis

This posting is meant to be a public summary of my brick wall and a public acknowledgement that I need your help to solve this puzzle.

The parents of William A. Purvis have been my brick wall and have stumped me for 35 of the 36 years I have been researching. At the time I started researching I was in the Air Force and away from home. Telephone calls and letters home resulted in no useful information.

William A. Purvis was born between 1824 and 1827 according to the three censuses that he has been listed within.

YEAR	CO/ST	NAME	AGE	BIRTH/STATE	COMMENTS
1860[1]	Anson,NC	William A. Purvis	34	1826-NC
1870[2]	Anson,NC	W. A. Perris	46	1824-NC
1880[3]	Anson,NC	William A. Purvice	57	1827-SC

1860 CENSUS: Morven, Anson County, North Carolina; Roll: M653_887; Image: 160; Family History Library Film: 803887; Page: 300; Line 34, Dwelling 1238, Family 1188; William A. PURVIS, age 34, Shoemaker, born in NC; Sarah PURVIS, female, age 26, born in SC; Joseph WHITE, age 33, Cooper, born in NC and Laura WHITE, age 30, born in NC.

1870 CENSUS: Morven, Anson County, North Carolina. Series: M593_1122, Image: 223; Family History Library Film: 552621, Page 403A, Line 38, Dwelling 178; Family 178. W. A. PURVIS, age 46, Farmer, born in NC, Sarah J. PURVIS, age 37, Keeps House, born in NC and William J. PURVIS, age 6, At Home, born in NC. [Spelled Perris on Ancestry]

1880 CENSUS: 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).

William A. Purvis married Sarah Jane Grave of Chesterfield, South Carolina before the 1860 Census were enumerated. They had one known child my Great Grand Father William James Purvis, born 23 September 1863.

Sarah Jane died 30 December 1893 in McFarland, Anson County, North Carolina. William and his son William James own property about 2 miles SW of McFarland.

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][4]

An Anson County Land Deed (DB 33, page 370) dated 23 September 1899 does two things. One it showed that William A. Purvis is still living on 23 September 1899 and two that he most probable remarried after the death of his first Wife Sarah Jane Grave in September 1893. [5]

An interesting part of this puzzle is that I believe that Elizabeth Purvis mentioned in this deed is Betsey Purvis living with Sarah Jane and William A. Purvice in the 1880 Census.

Another interesting piece of information is that every document and there are many that William A. Purvis signed his name is listed as William A. Purvis, he marks with an X. I only have one document where William every attempted to sign his name to the document; but, he was always William A. Purvis.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Purvis (1849-18 Oct 1926) according to a document provided by the Social Security Administration was Betty Prevett. She had two daughters Mary Jane Purvis and Ella Frances Purvis.

• Mary Jane Purvis, born 1873 – died abt Mar 1895; First child born in 1889 last child born Mar 1895; had 4 children; married Charles Franklin Lang (3 Apr. 1868-28 Aug 1948).
• Ella Frances Purvis, born 25 Sept 1881, died 27 Nov 1971; married Thomas T. Tarlton (20 Nov. 1870-15 May 1964).

Note: The father of these two children is unknown to me. Are they William A. Purvis children; I don’t know. 

Betsy Prevett Purvis died in Rockingham, Richmond County, North Carolina on 18 Oct 1926.[6] She is buried in Mizpah Cemetery, Rockingham, NC. There is no tombstone marking her grave.

Her Obituary as seen here was no help.

Mrs. Betsy Purvis
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] [7]

William A. Purvis is not listed in the 1900 Census for Anson County, North Carolina. Betsey is listed with her daughter Ella Frances Purvis[8]

1900 CENSUS: Morven Twp, Anson Co., NC; Series: T623, Roll: 1181, Page: 145, Line 20, Dwelling 337, Family 338; Elizabeth PURVIS, age 40, Wd., born Oct 1869 in NC; Ella PURVIS, daughter, age 13, born Dec 1886 in NC.

The 1900 Census for Anson County, Morven Township, were enumerated on 28 June 1900 by Thomas E. Dabbs.

Therefore, William A. Purvis died between 23 September 1899 (signing of Deed 33:370) and 28 June 1900 (C1900 Census enumerated). No Obituary or tombstone has been found for William A. Purvis.

On 20 September 1900, Betsy Purvis sold the remaining 18 acres of my Great Great Grandfather William A. Purvis’ land to Jefferson D. Rhyne retaining 6 acres and a home as a life estate. [9]

She abandons these 6 acres by 1910 and is living with her daughter Ella and her husband Tom T. Tarlton in the Gulledge Township. Thus Jefferson D. (J. D.) Rhyme ultimately acquired the entire 60 acres that Great Great grandfather William A. Purvis owned and farmed while living on this good earth.

Action Taken:
The only large contingency of Purvis near Anson County was the Purvis of Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Over the years I have built an extensive database on these Purvis but have found no connection. This group of Purvis’ is descendants of John Purvis and Sarah Johnson and their sons Gilbert, James and Joseph.

There is a William A. Purvis in Nelson County, Virginia but he has a family there and there is no indication that he abandoned that family and moved to North Carolina. There is a William A. Purvis also that listed in a Mississippi census.

There a large contingency of Purvis in the eastern part of North Carolina. Those also have been looked at with no positive results.

Other posting that may be interesting and helpful:
http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-brickwall-william-purvis.html
http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-brickwall-william-purvis-part-2.html

Thank you for reading my blog and for your comments and suggestions.

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[1] 1860 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 300, line 34, Dwelling 1238, Family 1188, Household of William A. Purvis; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 887.
[2] 1870 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 403A, line 38, Dwelling 178; Family 178, Household of William A. Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archive Microfilm M593, Roll 1122.
[3] 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.
[4] Sarah Jane Graves Purvis obituary, Messenger-Intelligencer, Wadesboro, North Carolina, 4 January 1894, page 3, McFarlan News.
[5] 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.
[6] Betsy Purvis, death certificate #351 (1926), Register of Deeds, Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina.
[7] Mrs. Betsy Purvis obituary, The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Rockingham, Richmond County, NC, 21 October 1926, Page 6, Column 2. Deaths.
[8] 1900 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #7, page 145, line 20, dwelling 337, family 338, Household of Elizabeth Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1181.
[9] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 34: pages 491-492, Betsy Purvis to J. D. Rhyne; 30 September 1900, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

Obituary Sunday – Mr. W. F. Ballard

William Franklin Ballard

b. 17 Dec. 1852

d. 11 Feb. 1928

Mr. W. F. Ballard
Mr. W. F. Ballard died last Saturday at his home near Ruby, S.C., heart disease being the cause. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon by Rev.Joel Tyson, and interment was at Elisabeth Church, Chesterfield County.
Mr. Ballard was a native of Anson County, having been born in Lilesville township about 75 years ago. He was twice married, first to Miss Sallie Lewis and second to Miss Mary Wilkes, who survives him. Surviving also are four sons and one daughter by his first wife,who are: C. F. Ballard of Peachland; W. J. Ballard, of Chesterfield; E. W. Ballard of Richmond, Va.; J. B. Ballard of Wadesboro; Mrs. J. A. Rivers, of Chesterfield. Surviving also is one daughter by his second wife, Miss Annette Ballard of Ruby.
Mr. Ballard was an excellent citizen, and had many friends and relatives in Anson. He was a Baptist by faith and a sawyer <sic> by trade.[1] [The Messenger and Intelligencer, February 16, 1928].

Mr. W. F. Ballard died at his home at Ruby, SC, last Saturday evening in the 75th year of his age. His death was a shock to his relatives and friends, as he was sick only a short time before his death. Mr. Ballard was a man of splendid qualities and had for years been a consistent member of the Baptist church. He is survived by his wife and the following children: Messrs. G. E. Ballard, Peachland, NC; W.J. Ballard, Chesterfield, SC; E. W. Ballard, Richmond, Va., and J. B. Ballard, of Wadesboro, NC; Mrs. J. A. Rivers, of Chesterfield, SC and Miss Annette Ballard, of Ruby. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. S. Tyson at Elizabeth church Sunday afternoon in the presence of a large number of friends. Mr. Ballard died as he had lived a Christian gentleman unafraid, and his beautiful Christian life will live on through the coming years. [2] [The Chesterfield Advertiser, February 16, 1928, page 1, col. 2].
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[1] Mr. W. F. Ballard obituary, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, USA, 16 February 1928.
[2] Mr. W. F. Ballard obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 16 February 1928, page 1, col 2.

Surname Saturday - John William Purvis

John William Purvis was born on 31 Dec 1880 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.¹ He is listed in the 1900 – 1940 Census for Anson County, North Carolina.^{2 3 5 6} John registered for the World War I Draft in 1917.⁴  John died on 10 Aug 1956 at the age of 75 and was buried on 12 August 1956 in the Morven Cemetery, Morven, Anson, North Carolina.^{7–8 9 10 11}

John William Purvis and Nancy Elizabeth Wallace were married on 25 Aug 1901 in McFarlan, Anson,  North Carolina.¹² They celebrated their 50th anniversary on 23 Apr 1951 in Wadesboro, Anson, North Carolina. ¹³ Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, daughter of Henry Hampton Wallace and Sarah Ann Ross, was born on 21 Apr 1881 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.^{14 15 16 17 18} She died on 19 Jul 1968 at the age of 87 in Morven, Anson, North Carolina and was buried on 22 Jul 1968 in Morven, Anson, North Carolina.^{19–20 21 22 23}

John William Purvis and Nancy Elizabeth Wallace had the following children:

              i. Sarah Kelson Purvis, born 22 Jun 1902, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married James Edward Gathings Sr., 24 Nov 1927; died 15 Mar 1979, Wadesboro, Anson, North Carolina.

             ii. Maude Purvis, born 12 Jul 1904, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married Lonnie Messenheimer Watts, 6 Jun 1922; died 18 Sep 1962, Morven, Anson, North Carolina.

            iii. John William Purvis Jr., born 20 May 1906, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married Elma Davis, 23 Apr 1927, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina; died 11 Aug 1985, Wadesboro, Anson, North Carolina.

            iv. Ross Jethro Purvis, born 11 Dec 1908, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married Lela Janie Lee, 19 Aug 1936, North Carolina; died 11 Oct 1978, Morven, Anson, North Carolina.

             v. Violet Hulda Purvis, born 19 Jan 1912, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married Welton O. Derrick, 26 Jun 1937; died 27 Jul 1986, Union, Union County, South Carolina, USA.

John William Purvis and his wife Nancy are my Grand Uncle and Aunt. 

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1. William J. Purvis Family Family Bible Holy Bible, (n.p.: n.p., n.d.), J. W. PERVIS; Birth - 31 December 1880,  Obtained from Tammy Gathings Swearengin, Wadesboro, North Carolina.

        2. 1900 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 7, Page 145B; Line 63, Dwelling 345, Family 346, Household of John PURVIS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 25 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1181.

        3. 1910 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #0011, Page 158B, Line 87, Dwelling 96, Family 97, Household of John W. PURVIS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 October 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1096.

        4. "World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," on-line digital images, ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 26 August 2012), John William Purvis; citing World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, FHL Roll Number: 1765559; Birth Date: 30 Dec 1880.

        5. 1920  U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #13, Page 192A, Line 13, Dwelling 109, Family 109, Household of  John W. PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 October 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm Series: T625, Roll: 1283.

        6. 1930 U. S. Census, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #18, Page 27B; Line 99, Dwelling 118, Family 119, Household of John W. PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 11 October 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_Roll: 1672.

        7. John William Purvis, The Anson Record, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, 10 August 1956, Page 1, Col 4. Full Citation.

        8. John William Purvis, death certificate (Long Form) 19243 (10 August 1956), SC State Board of Health, Department of Health & Human Services, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.

        9. Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for John William Purvis; (31 December 1880–10 August 1956); Memorial # 38311293; Record of the Morven Cemetery; Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, USA; Accessed on 25 November 2100.

        10. John William Purvis obituary, The Anson Record, Wadesboro, North Carolina, 14 August 1956, Page 1, Col 4.

        11. Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Accessed on 25 November 2100; Headstone for John William Purvis;  Memorial # 38311293.

        12. William J. Purvis Family Family Bible, Marriage - 25 August 1901, John William Purvis & Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.

        13. The Anson Record, 23 April 1951.

        14. Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Accessed on 3 January 2010; Headstone for Elizabeth Nancy Wallace Purvis;  Memorial # 38311302.

        15. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #21, Page 101B/20B; Line 61, Dwelling 372, Family 379, Household of Hampton A. WALLACE; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 12 May 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1523.

        16. 1910 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, ED #0011, Page 158B, Line 87, Dwelling 96, Family 97, Household of John W. PURVIS.

        17. 1920  U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, ED #13, Page 192A, Line 13, Dwelling 109, Family 109, Household of  John W. PURVIS.

        18. 1930 U. S. Census, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, ED #18, Page 27B; Line 99, Dwelling 118, Family 119, Household of John W. PURVIS.

        19. Mrs.Purvis  Succumbs In Hospital, The Anson Record, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, 23 July 1968, Page 1, Col. 2.

        20. State of North Carolina, death certificate no. 22254 (19 July 1968), Nancy Elizabeth Purvis; https://www.ancestry.com, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

        21. The Anson Record, 23 July 1968.

        22. Ibid.

        23. Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Accessed on 3 January 2010; Headstone for Elizabeth Nancy Wallace Purvis;  Memorial # 38311302.