Friday, May 10, 2013

Many clues, but still no conclusion


I’m continuing to collect circumstantial evidence that indicates Johnson J. Purvis is a son of Gilbert Purvis and the father of James Purdee Purvis. 

James Purdee J. Purvis married Elizabeth Rose Campbell on January 19, 1832.

Obit -Eliz. Miller

She was twice married, first to James Purdee Purvis, on the 19th of January 1832. By this marriage, she had three children, James, who died at ten years of age; Mary Anna, widow of the late Alexander Campbell, who survives her,and William R. Purvis, who died at Roseland, La. in January, 1882. [1]

First, there is DAR application 115797, submitted by Mary Virginia Hagerman Watson. Mary Virginia is a 3rd great granddaughter of Gilbert Purvis. This is the only known application submitted for Gilbert Purvis service in the Revolutionary War. It was submitted in 1915.[2]

DAR-Johnson Purvis

When Mary Virginia submitted her application she said that James P. J. Purvis was a son of Johnson Purvis,  a son of Gilbert Purvis

In 1831 and 1832 we find Johnson J. Purvis located in the tax list for Simpson County, Mississippi.  Gilbert Gilbert, Sr. and his wife Effica Howell had migrated from Chesterfield County, SC about 1818, down through Georgia into Clarke County, Alabama and finally settling in and around Rankin, Hinds, Smith and Simpson Counties.

1831 Simpson County, Ms Tax List [3]
1831 Simpson

1832 Simpson County, Ms Tax List [4]
1832-Simpson-Purvis

Another clue is the Will of Gilbert Johnson Purvis. Gilbert Johnson Purvis, son of Gilbert Purvis, stated in his will[1] that “the estate of my deceased parents to which I am entitled insisting upon the advance made by my deceased father the said Gilbert Purvis to James Purvis the father of the said James P. J. Purvis in the lifetime of them both,".[5]

Gilbert Johnson Purvis Will

In the DAR Application we have James P. J. Purvis father named as   Johnson Purvis.
But, in Gilbert Johnson Will the same man is named as James Purvis.

Now we have the Father of James P. J. Purvis  listed as Johnson Purvis and James Purvis. We also have the 1831 and 1832 Simpson County Tax list where James P. J. Purvis is listed along with Johnson/Johnston J. Purvis.

Is this Father and Son; I think so and I think Johnson/Johnston  J. Purvis is Johnson Purvis and also James Purvis.

There are other clues but so far I have not accumulated enough data to say without doubt that James P. J. Purvis is the son of Johnson J. Purvis. Just circumstantial evidence connecting these two men.

I welcome your comments and suggestions on how to proceed with proving or disproving that James P. J. Purvis is the son of Johnson J. Purvis.

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[1] Obituary found in a Bethany College Scrapbook by Janice Garrison Shepherd. This is a KEY Document in the research of the Campbell-Purvis-Miller line; credit for it’s  find is attributed to Janice Garrison Shepherd. Printed here with their approval; not to be used without approval. ©2012.
[2] "DAR Ancestor Search," Application Files, DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS) (http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/?Tab_ID=1 : accessed on-line 9 May 2013), DAR Application: 115797; Mary Virginia Hagerman Watson.
[3] Mississippi State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, *FamilySearch*, (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 13 January 2012), Simpson,County Tax Rolls; 1831, Box 3764, Image 57 of 276, entry for Johnson J. Purvis. <http://bit.ly/HjD1pp>
[4] Mississippi State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, *FamilySearch*, (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 13 January 2012), Simpson,County Tax Rolls; 1832, Box 3764, Image 70 of 276, entry for Johnson J. Purvis. <http://bit.ly/IMCs66>
[5] Hinds County, Mississippi, Will Book 1: page 48, Gilbert Johnson Purvis; Family History Library, Film #878728, Salt Lake City, Utah.



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