Data Analysis - William A. Purvis, 1872 to 1880

William A. and Sarah Jane Purvis have made it through the past 12 years and now little William James has just turn eight (8) this past September. 

Just prior to Christmas 1871, William A. Purvis purchased a parcel of land in Anson County SW of McFarland, North Carolina with the lower portion of the land running with the North and South Carolina State borders. 

The parcel of land (60 acres) was purchased on December 21st, 1871 from James L. Edwards for a cost of $247.80.[1]

On that same day, William A. Purvis obtained a mortgage on this land from James L. Edwards for the exact same dollar value ($247.80) as the cost of the land; due on the first day of January 1873. [2]

Records indicate that James L. Edwards retained title to this land until 1883 even though William A. Purvis had purchased and then mortgaged the land in December 1871. 

On 21 December 1872, William A. Purvis purchased an additional parcel of land from W. P. Brantley consisting of 30 acres more or less for a sum of Sixty dollars ($60.00).[3]

At this point William A. Purvis now owns 90 acres of land in the central southern portion of Anson County just South West of McFarland, North Carolina.

Either the times between the 1870 to 1876 was pretty good for William A. Purvis or records have been misplaced but no activity was found in available records. 

Then on 2 February 1876, William A. Purvis entered into an agreement with J. C. Marshall & Co., Anson Co., NC  whereas:  

"J. C. Marshall & Co. of Anson County North Carolina have agreed to make advances to W. A. Purvis of the county of Anson and state aforesaid for purpose of agriculture during the year AD. 1876 to the value of one hundred dollars and such further amount as the said J. C. Marshall & Co. may deem necessary to be made and whereas the said W. A. Purvis desires to secure to the said J. C. Marshall & Co. prompt payment for the advances made in accordance with the provisions of the Acts of the General Assembly in such cases made and provided ratified on the first day of March 1867 and the Act to re-enact and amend the same ratified March 17, 1873" 

That's the money, $100.00; now what is it going to cost my Great Great Grandfather? My Great Great Grandfather

"shall create a lien in favor of the said J .C. Marshall & Co. to the extent of the advances made or to be made upon all crops. The said W. A. Purvis may raise during the present year and for further security the said W.A. Purvis bargains & sells one, one-horse wagon with the understanding that if the said W. A. Purvis shall will and truly pay the said J. C. Marshall & Co. for the advances as aforesaid on or before the 15th day of October the said lien shall be discharged and the said property shall revert to the said W. A. Purvis otherwise the said J. C. Marshall  & Co. shall have power to take into their possessions all of said property and crop on the farm or elsewhere if removed and sell the same or so much thereof for cash as may be necessary to pay for the advances aforesaid attorney's fees registration and any other expenses incurred in executing this provision first advertising said sale for ten days at three public places in the county. I the said W. A. Purvis do certify that no other lien or mortgage has been given upon said crop or property if this claim is not paid at maturity to bear interest at the rate of 8 per cent per annum from date hereof to the payment. In witnesseth whereof the said W. A. Purvis has hereunto set his hand and seal this 2nd day of Feby A.D. 1876." [4]

From this point on throughout the next four years William A. Purvis is put into a position whereby he must mortgage the "farm" in order to obtain cash to purchase crop seed for the following years.  

• 30 June 1976 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. C. Marshall & Co., Anson Co., NC, Book 7, Pages 462-464.[5]
• 12 Mar 1877 - Trust Deed - William A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 8, Pages 276-278.[6]
• 1 March 1878 - Trust Deed - W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 9, Page 347.[7]
• 1 March 1878 - Trust Deed - W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 9, Pages 351-352.[8]
• 3 March 1879 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 10, Pages 431-432.[9]

Then on 23 July 1879 William A. Purvis purchases another tract of land consisting of 25 acres more or less from sisters, Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner.[10]

This is the 4th tract of Land purchased by William A. Purvis; 3 parcels in Anson County, NC and one in Chesterfield, County, SC. 

• 1st - Land Deed (30) - Joseph P. Smith to William A. Purvis,  (This land in Chesterfield, SC and immediately sold to William James Purvis) [11]
• 2nd - Land Deed  (60 acres)- James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis, Deed Book 22, Page 531-532.[12]
• 3rd - Land Deed  (30 Acres) - W. P. Brantley to Wm. Purvis, Deed Book 21, Page 404-405.[13]
• 4th - Land Deed (25 Acres) - Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to W. A. Purvis (DB 20, Pages 584-585)[14]

This takes us through the 10 year period of 1870 to 1880 where William A. Purvis, Sarah Jane Graves Purvis, Betsy Purvis and Mary J. Purvis are living in the same household in the 1880 Census.   

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).[15]

But, who is Betsy and Mary Jane Purvis?  Later these two become wife and possibly step-daughter of William A. Purvis. 

Up to this point I have not found Betsy in prior censuses. I don't know who the father of Mary J. Purvis is but we will talk about her and her Mother later. Though no husband has been found for Besty, she would have another daughter Ella Frances Purvis in 1886. Is William A. Purvis the father of these children? I don't know. 

Keep all of this in mind as we covered the next 10 years. It's important and surprising.  

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[1] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 22: Pages 531-532, James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[2] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 2,: Pages 363-365., W. A. Purvis to James L. Edwards; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[3] 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.

[4] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 6: Pages 416-418, W. A. Purvis to J. C. Marshall & Co.; 2 February 1876, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[5] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 7: Pages 462-464, W. A. Purvis to J. C. Marshall & Co.; 30 June 1876, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[6] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 8: Pages 276-278, William A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson; 12 March 1877, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[7] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 9: Pages 347, W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson; 1 March 1878, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[8] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 9: Pages 351-352, W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson; 1 March 1878, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[9] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 10: Pages 431-432, W. A. Purvis to Marshall & Richardson; 3 March 1879, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[10] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 20: pages 584-585, Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to W. A. Purvis; 23 July 1879, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[11] 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.

[12] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 22: Pages 531-532, James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[13] 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.

[14] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 20: pages 584-585, Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to W. A. Purvis; 23 July 1879, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[15] 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.