Surname Saturday~Sweat

John William Sweat was born in 1870 in South Carolina.¹ He and his wife Lugenia are documented in the population censuses from 1900 to 1940.^{2 3 4 5} He died in 1944 at the age of 74 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.⁶

John William Sweat and Lugenia Rivers were married on 26 Dec 1891 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.⁷ Lugenia Rivers, daughter of Doctor Wesley Rivers and Mary Eliza Davis, was born on 3 Jun 1871 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.^{8 9 10 11 12 13} She died on 30 Jun 1955 at the age of 84 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.¹⁴ She was buried on 1 Jul 1955 at Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery.<sup>15

Lugenia and John William had no known children.

Lugenia Rivers Sweat is my 1st Cousin 3 times removed.
 
 
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1. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 839. Tombstone of J. William SWEET; 1870–1944, Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
2. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 19, Page: 3A/61A(stamped); Line 41, Dwelling 52, Family 52, Household of John SWEAT; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 13 September 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1523.
3. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 37, Page: 1B/101B(stamped); Line 93, Dwelling 19, Family 19, Household of John W. SWEAT; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 13 September 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_1690.
4. 1930 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 13, Page: 5B/262B (stamped); Line 85, Dwelling 90, Family 93, House of John W. SWEAT; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 13 September 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_2192.
5. 1940 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 13-13, Page: 3B/172B (stamped); Line 51, Household #36, Household of John W. SWEAT; digital images, 1940 CENSUS (http://1940census.archives.gov : viewed 13 September 2011); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 3799.
6. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of J. William SWEET.
7. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 19, Page: 3A/61A(stamped); Line 41, Dwelling 52, Family 52, Household of John SWEAT.
8. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of Lou SWEET born 1871.
9. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #5, Page: 326B, Line 22, dwelling 287, family 287, Household of Doctor W. Rivers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 19 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T9-1225.
10. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 19, Page: 3A/61A(stamped); Line 41, Dwelling 52, Family 52, Household of John SWEAT.
11. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 37, Page: 1B/101B(stamped); Line 93, Dwelling 19, Family 19, Household of John W. SWEAT.
12. 1930 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 13, Page: 5B/262B (stamped); Line 85, Dwelling 90, Family 93, House of John W. SWEAT.
13. 1940 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 13-13, Page: 3B/172B (stamped); Line 51, Household #36, Household of John W. SWEAT.
14. Mrs Lou Rivers Sweat, death certificate 010139 (30 June 1955), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.
15. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of Lou SWEET born 1871.
 

Sarah Bynum~Frontier Wife and Mother

Today we going to take a small snapshot look at William Holyfield and his wife Sarah Bynum. There a connection here but no actual blood kin to William & Sarah Bynun Holyfield. William's  uncle Moses Holyfield married my 4th great grand Aunt Emilia “Millie” Rivers.

William and Sarah Bynum were married 8 March 1858 in Jones County,¹ Mississippi where they and their kinfolk like the Rivers and Musgrove's also lived.  William was the son of John W. Holyfield and Elizabeth Smith. he was born on 29 August 1838 in Jones County, Mississippi.

Sarah Bynum was born on 18 June 1836, a daughter of Mark Bynum, b. 1801 in SC.²

On October 18, 1861, William Holyfield  was called to duty with Company K, 8th Mississippi Infantry. The Civil War muster roll show that William was 22 years old.³ 

After the war, William and Sarah Bynum settled down and in 1866 and 1868 their sons, Leroy and Hannon were born. 



On 14 February 1893, William Holyfield filed for an “Invalid” pension for his Civil War Service, Application # 1146, 240. Certificate #885464. ⁴

William Holyfield died on 15 February 1911.⁵

On 10 April 1911, Sarah Bynun Holyfield made application for a “Widow” pension based on the Civil War service of her Husband William Holyfield, deceased; Application #962468, Certificate #729015.⁶



Sarah Bynum Holyfield died 8 Jan 1918; but, she was not found in the 1920 Census. The above document, where she states that she is 80 years old indicates she was alive in September 1916.
UPDATE: Sarah Bynum Holyfield died 8 Jan 1918. 7

I’m no expert on the Bynum’s and Holyfield’s but have done quite a bit of research on the Holyfield's due to their connection to my Rivers line.

Jones County, Mississippi during the Civil War was a “haven” for deserters with talk of creating the “Free State of Jones”. If you are interested in these surnames or the activities/history surrounding many of these men and the Free State of Jones I highly recommend you subscribe to the Renegade South blog.
You might also like to read these two postings:

• http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/tag/jasper-collins/
• http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/whats-in-a-marriage-bynums-on-both-sides-of-the-civil-war-divide/

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[Note: Holyfield, also spelled Holifield]
[1] U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, microfilm publication T288, 546 rolls. (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, ), Filed in Tyler County Texas 9 Jan 1909, CSA Pension File #885464 for Sarah Bynum Holyfield, wife of William Holyfield.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 29 August 2013), entry for William HOLYFIELD, Private; Eighth Infantry; Confederate.
[4] U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, microfilm publication T288, 546 rolls. (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, ), Roll #224, William Holyfield.
[5] William HOLYFIELD, death certificate  Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 (15 February 1911), Vital Records, Department of Health, Austin, Travis County, Texas.
[6] U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, microfilm publication T288, 546 rolls. (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, ), Filed in Tyler County Texas 9 Jan 1909, CSA Pension File #885464 for Sarah Bynum Holyfield, wife of William Holyfield.
[7] On March 6, 1918, the Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, listed Sarah as a "dropped pensioner" on account of her death on January 8, 1918. [Source: Vikki Bynum]

Martha Bradley~Civil War Widow

Martha J. Brown was born January 1839 in Mississippi. In late 1849, early 1850 her parents, John R. and Elizabeth Pigford Brown moved to Anderson County, Texas.¹ 

1850 Census, Anderson County, Texas

Her parents died suddenly leaving her and five (5) young siblings homeless and without a caretaker.

There’s a gap here (1850-1854) that have not been successfully documented. On 15 May 1854, Martha J. Brown married Andrew J. Bradley.
 
Lauderdale Republican Newspaper Issue of 16 May 1854 "Miss Martha Brown married to Andrew J. Bradley on 15 May". I do not find this marriage record in Lauderdale County, MS. [Source: Emma Lou Price]

I don’t know if Martha’s parents were dead at this time but I suspect that they were and that Martha and Andrew took care of the children at least for a short time. At the time of her marriage Martha was just 15 years old. As the oldest child, did she marry to care for the children or was it just coincidence.

By 1859, her sister, Nancy Adelaide Brown, age 17, marries Asa Boswell on 29 June 1859 in Lauderdale, County, Mississippi.²

Though I have found  no court record of guardianship for these children, I do know that by 1860 the other 4 siblings were split up with two of them with a uncle in Arkansas and two with a Uncle in Mississippi.  
Meanwhile Andrew and Martha are raising a family of their own. Their first born, a son, called John Thomas Bradley was born on 23 February 1855. The following year they had added another son, William Warren Bradley.

After two sons, along comes Olive Elizabeth Bradley on 7 December 1857.

By 1860, the four younger siblings of Martha has been dispersed to their Uncles. ^{3 4}

Timothy D. Brown was living with his Uncle Epps Rivers Brown, a brother to John R. Brown in El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas.

Enoch Timothy Brown was living with his Uncle Alfred D. Pigford, a brother to Elizabeth Pigford Brown in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

Mary Catherine “Kate” Brown was living with his Uncle Epps Rivers Brown, a brother to John R. Brown in El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas.

Mississippi Lurenia Brown was living with his Uncle Alfred D. Pigford, a brother to Elizabeth Pigford Brown in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

In 1861, we have the start of the Civil War. Andrew remains at home until   June 1863 at which time he enlisted into the 22nd Alabama.⁵

Meanwhile, another daughter has joined the family, little Martha A. “Mattie Bradley, born 27 Oct 1862. Andrew joins the 22nd Alabama in June 1863 and a year later on 20 June 1863 Andrew dies.⁶  I have the cause of death as “measles” but I don’t have a source document for this information.  

This is a lot of tragedy in one person life, loss of parents just a few years earlier, now the loss of her husband. There is no evidence showing that Martha ever re-married after the death of her husband Andrew. She raised her four (4) children on her own and through some difficult times.

While living in Alabama, she applied for a Widow’s Civil War Pension (3901). Alabama shows this pension transferred to Mississippi.⁷ In 1900 she was living with her brother, Enoch Timothy Pigford and his family in Lauderdale, Mississippi.⁸

It is not known when she died but most likely occurred between 1905 and 1910. On 19 July 1905 Martha J. Bradley had to certify to the court that she was a pensioner.



In the 1910 census, she is missing from the Enoch Timothy Pigford home. ⁹

If you have any information on Martha’s parents  or on Martha and her family, I would love to correspond with you about this family.





__________________
[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Anderson County, Texas, population schedule, Anderson County, Texas, Page 15B, Line 12,, Dwelling 101, Family 101, Household of John R. BROWN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing National Archives Microfilm M432_908.
[2] Asa Boswell & Nancy A. Brown, (29 June 1859), Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935: ; Chancery Court, , Mississippi.
[3] 1860 U. S. Census, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, population schedule, Marion, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Page: 261, Line 13,, Dwelling 131; Family 130, Household of A. D. PIGFORD; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 5 September 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_585.
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Union County, Arkansas, population schedule, Dorado, Union County, Arkansas, Page 316B, Line 17, Family/Dwelling 703/651, Household of Epps R. BROWN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 24 July 2011); citing NARA publication Roll: M653_51.
[5] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 11 August 2013), entry for Andrew S. Bradley, Private; 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry; Confederate.
[6] Confederate Pension Applications, microfilm publication Mississippi Confederate pension applications (Jackson, Mississippi: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 1905), Mrs. Martha J. Bradley, nee Brown, widow of Andrew S. Bradley, Co. E, 21st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, 2 pages.
[7]  Ibid.
[8] 1900 U. S. Census, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, population schedule, Hurricane Creek, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) #28, Page 307B, Line 62, Dwelling 144, family 144; Timothy BROWN, Household of Timothy BROWN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 7 August 2011); citing NARA publication T623_815.
[9] 1910 U. S. Census, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, population schedule, Hurricane Creek, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) #0061, Page: 301B; Line 98, Dwelling 215, Family 220, Household of Enoch T. BROWN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 7 August 2011); citing NARA publication T624_746.

Wordless Wednesday~Grazing Elk in Yellowstone

Technology Tuesday~Web Page not Found and The Wayback Machine

Over the years, as we do on-line genealogy research, we collect a lot of Web addresses pointing to the webpages where we acquired our information.

Have you ever gone back to look at these pages only to find they no longer exist? You get this instead of the webpage you was expecting.

 

If you have, there may be some hope of finding your missing webpage. Back in 1996, two brilliant guys by the names of Brewster Kahle and Bruce Gilliat developed software that would “crawl “ the internet and catalogued all webpage. This in turn led to the “Wayback Machine” or the Internet Archive.

The Internet Archive is a digital archive of the World Wide Web. It can be access here: WAYBACK MACHINE

http://archive.org/web/web.php



When the Wayback Machine portal comes up be aware that the “http://” is already in place.

As an example for this article, the website below no longer exists and it was a valuable resource in my genealogy research:

 http://www.eosdev.com/rivers/rivers.html

This is a site created by a distant cousin and it documents the family history of the Matthew and Mary Prince Rivers.

With this web page we want to enter > www.eosdev.com/rivers/rivers.html < into the line above at the top of the WAYBACK MACHINE webpage and then CLICK on “Take Me Back”.



After you click on “Take Me Back” you will get a page that looked like this.



This is the key to finding a copy of the webpage that you are looking for. The little strip that looks like a “Barcode” near the top of the page indicates when a  snapshot of the webpage was made.
The second indicator is that the date will be “BOLD” for any snapshot taken.

This particular image for Jan-Aug 2010 indicates that no snapshot was taken and no archives are available.
In the next image I clicked on  a dark section of the strip for 2005

 

Now you can see that 2005 is colored at the top and on the calendar “the blur bold date” indicates snapshots were taken on:
10 Mar 2005
12 Apr 2005
6 Sept. 2005
28 Dec 2005

The next action you want to take is to click on one of those highlighted dates.

I clicked on the 6 Sept date and my cousin’s webpage came up.



Once you get this page up, just click on any of the hyperlinks on the page and you should be taken to that link/page if it exist.

I do hope this tutorial was clear and helpful to your research.

If you have any questions leave me a message or send me an e-mail.





___________________
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Machine

Military Monday~Spanish American War-James A. Sellers

James Aaron Sellers was born 15 June 1872, a son of James Arnold Sellers and Sarah Jane Pittman Sellers.
James served as a  Private in Company D,  2nd Regiment S.C. Infantry Vol. Spanish American War.

“Company D, 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, was organized at Manning, South Carolina, and was mustered into service May 21st, 1898; completing the Independent Battalion. Was under the second call of the President, assigned to duty with the 2nd S.C.V.I.. Left Camp Lee, Columbia, South Carolina, for Camp Cuba Libre, September I5th, 1898, and was there assigned to duty with the 7th Army Corps, under General Lee. Left Camp Cuba Libre for Savannah, Georgia, October 21st, 1898. Left Savannah, Georgia, for Havana, Cuba, January 3rd, 1899, and remained at Camp Columbia, Cuba, until March 23rd, 1899, when the regiment was ordered to Augusta, Georgia, for muster-out. Was mustered out of service at Augusta, Georgia, April 19th, 1899, by Lieutenant Ellwood W. Evans, 8th United States Cavalry, mustering officer.”[1]

“The Spanish-America War was a short-lived conflict between The United States and Spain. Due to unrest in Cuba, President McKinney sent the U.S.S. Maine to Cuba to protect American citizens. He delayed notifying Spain and that upset the Spanish Government.

On the night of February 15, 1898 there was an explosion on-board the U.S.S. Maine and it sank in the bay killing 266 soldiers.

With the major newspaper (Hearst & Pulitzer) stirring the pot with their ”yellow journalism”  Congress passed a joint resolution which was signed by President McKinley on April 20, 1898. The United States gave Spain an ultimatum and Spain in return declared War on April 23, 1898. Thus began what is known as the Spanish-American War.” [2]

If you haven’t read much about the Spanish-American War, I highly recommend the article here: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War

By 15 June 1900 when the census was enumerated, James Aaron Sellers had been off to war in Cuba, returned home and married Louisa Watson, widow of Robert J. Vick. The 1900 census showed James and Louisa married in 1900; while the  FindAGrave Memorial shows they were married in June 1899. [3] 

James Aaron Sellers died Jun. 20, 1947 and is buried at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.


James Aaron Sellers is my 1st Cousin twice removed.





_____________________________
[1] http://www.spanamwar.com/2ndsouthcarolina.htm
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War
[3] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 16 June 2012); Headstone for James Aaron Sellers; (14 June 1872–20 June 1947); Records of the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

Obituary Sunday~Little Louise Rivers

Louise Rivers

b. 6 June 1912

d. 17 May 1916

Louise Rivers, the small daughter of Mr. R. E. Rivers of Chesterfield, died in the Baptist Hospital in Columbia last Wednesday. It was thought she had appendicitis, but at the hospital an examination proved this to be a mistake. [1]

Sarah Louise Rivers was the daughter of Robert Edward Rivers and Flora McRae Rivers.



SC Death Certificate #33242 shows that little Louise Rivers died from acute lymphatic infection. [2]
Form her tombstone we find that she was known as Sarah Louise Rivers, b. 6 June 1912; d. 17 May 1916.[3]

Photo courtesy of Julious Burr

She is buried in the Rivers Family Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.






________________________
[1] James C. Pigg, Death Notices from The Pageland Journal: Chesterfield County, South Carolina (1910-1935) (Tega Cay, SC 29715: Self-published, 1996), page 86.
[2] Louise Rivers, death certificate 033242 (17 May 1916), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.
[3] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 13 August 2011); Headstone for Sarah Louise Rivers; (6 June 1912–17 May 1916); Records of the Rivers Family Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

Expanding the Farm

 
This was the third parcel of land that my 2nd Great Grandfather William A. Purvis purchased. This parcel contained 30 acres more or less  and was land adjoining other land already owned by William A. Purvis. For informational purpose W. P. Brantley is William Pickney Brantley. One year earlier in 1871 William A. Purvis had purchased 60 acres from James L. Edwards.



W. P. BRANTLEY TO Wm. PURVIS

This indenture made this the twenty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between W. P. Brantley of the county of Chesterfield and State of South Carolina of the one part and Wm. Purvis of the county of Anson and State of North Carolina of the other part. Witnesseth, that the aforesaid W. P. Brantley for and in consideration of the sum of Sixty dollars good and lawful money to him in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged he the said W. P. Brantley hath this day bargains, sold and conveyed and by these presents to give, grant, bargain, sell and convey to the said William Purvis his heirs and assigns a certain piece or parcel of land situated in the county of Anson and state of North Carolina lying on the waters of Westfield Creek adjoining the lands of the aforesaid William Purvis & others and bounded as follows: Beginning at a rock in the State line the corner 0' the said Purvis N C. tract three pines pointer running with said state line to a white oak corner, to Gardner's line 3 pine pointers. Thence Northwest course with D. Gardner's line to a stake in McGugan line. Then with said line east to 3 pines in D. Gardner's line. Then a South course to a rock in the state line the beginning corner containing thirty acres more or less. It being the land sold and conveyed by John P. Ratliff to Mulholland and Brantley, with all and singular the woods ways watercourses minus minerals, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anyone appertaining. To have and to hold to him the said William Purvis his heirs and assigns forever, and I the said W. P. Brantley do for myself my heirs and assigns, disclaim, disown any right or title to the above described land and premises and further I will warrant and forever defend the same to the said William Purvis his heirs and assigns forever and that from the lawful claim or claims of any person whatsoever. In witness whereof the said W. P. Brantley have here unto set my hand and seal the 21st day of December 1872.
                                                                      W. P. Brantley {Seal}
Signed, Sealed & Sworn
in presence of
Tho. J. Hardison

State of North Carolina}
Anson County} I John C. McLancklin, Clerk of Superior Court for Anson County do hereby certify that the due execution of the foregoing deed of conveyance was proven before me this day by the oath and examination of Thomas J. Hardison the subscribing witness. Let the deed of conveyance with this certificate be registered this the 3rd day of March AD 1881.
                                                                      John C. McLancklin
                                                                  CSC and Judge of Probate

March 9th 1881 then the foregoing deed and certificate came unto my hands and were duly registered.
                                                                      P. J. Coppedge
                                                                      Register of Deeds
 
At this moment in time, 21 December 1872, my 2nd Great Grandfather owned 120 acres of land. I’m no farmer and I left home and joined the Air Force to get away from farming; but, 120 acres with a wife and a 9 year old son seems like a lot of land to cultivate. By September 1899, all the land had been sold off and sometime between  23 September 1899 and May 1900 Great Great Grandpa William A. Purvis passed away.




______________
[1] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 21: pages 404-405, W. P. Brantley to Wm. Purvis; 21 December 1872, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
[2] Anson County, North Carolina, Land Deed Book 22: Page 531-532, James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

Follow Friday~Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pensions

If you have an ancestor that lived in the South and fought in the Revolutionary War, I would recommend you take a look at:

Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements


The website is an alphabetical listing of Revolutionary War Pension Statements for southern soldiers that served in the Revolutionary War.

If you don’t have access to Fold3.com (paid site) I recommend you take a look on this website to see if your Revolutionary War ancestor is listed. The alphabetical listings makes it so simple.

In addition to a listing of the pension file, the site owner, Will Graves, has numerous hyperlink relevant to the Revolutionary War.

There are sections on:
Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Unit Rosters
SUBMISSIONS AND USEFUL RESOURCES
LEGISLATION
ORIGINAL APPLICATIONS
DUPLICATE FILE NUMBERS

A detailed table can be found that will explain the meaning of the letter designation and preceding annotation of these pension and land warrant. Those annotations consists of  by "S," "R,"   "W,   "BLWt." or "Dis. No Papers".

My Revolutionary War ancestors are Thomas Davis and Hardy Sellers. Their pension files are labeled:

Thomas Davis - W8655

Hardy Sellers - R9377

For Thomas Davis the “W” indicates a successful applications filed by the widow (or her heirs).
For Hardy Sellers the “R’ indicates that his application was ”rejected”  

How to Obtain Copies of War Record.
Information is provided listing 4 ways to obtain copies of your ancestors applications.  Just Click here:        
 
I highly recommend this website as a starting point in your search for your Revolutionary War ancestor.  





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[1] http://revwarapps.org/

Treasure Chest Thursday~Land Deed, July 1879 to Wm. A. Purvis

July 1879 purchase of 25 acres of land from The Gardner's Sisters by my 2nd Great Grandfather William A. Purvis.

Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to Wm. A. Purvis
Know all men by these present that we Mary Gardner, Sarah Gardner and Martha Gardner all of Chesterfield County and State of South Carolina are held and firmly bound unto Wm. A. Purvis of Anson County State of North Carolina in the sum five hundred dollars lawful money of the United States to be paid to the said Wm. A. Purvis his executors, administrators, or assigns, for which payment will and truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs executors administrators and each of them firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated the 23rd day of July 1879. Now the conditions of this obligation is such that whereas the said obligors contracted and agreed to sell and convey to the said Wm. A. Purvis and his heirs all that piece of their land in Anson County, NC East of Reedy Branch from the state line up to a direct line from mouth of Apple Mill Branch to corner of said Purvis fence in his line near the old Spring formerly Archibald McGugan's adjoining said Purvis land and their own land supposed to contain twenty-five acres, at three dollars per acre being the price of purchase money agreed on by said parties. Fifty dollars to be paid on or before the first day of January next, the balance to be paid on or before the first day December 1880 Now therefore if the said obligors on receiving said purchase money in full on or before the terms of payment as herein specified shall make execute and deliver to Wm. A. Purvis and his heirs a good conveyance in fee simple with the usual covenants of all that piece of said above described land. Then this obligation to be null and void otherwise to remain in full force and effect.
                                                              Mary Gardner Seal
                                                              Sarah X Gardner Seal
                                                              Martha X Gardner Seal

Signed, Sealed and Delivered,
in presence of
R.J. Northcutt
John C McGugan

State of North Carolina}
Anson County }S.S. The due execution of the foregoing Bond of Title was proven before me this day by the oath and examination of R. J. Northcutt a subscribing, witness. Let the same with this certificate be registered. This the 2nd day of August A.D. 1879.
                                                                 J.C. McLanchlin, CSC

August, 2nd day, 1879. Then the foregoing Bond of Title and certificate comes
into my hands and was duly registered.
                                                                           P. J. Coppedge
                                                                           Register of Deeds


______________________
[1] Text of deed between Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to Wm. A. Purvis recorded in Land Deed Book 20, pages 584 & 585, Anson County, NC. FHL GS Film # 296736.

Wordless Wednesday~Uluru

Tombstone Tuesday~Can You Really Trust That Tombstone

We should never rely on a single information source to documents facts about our ancestors. An “exhaustive search” of all available records should be made before we settle on a single concrete date for an event. Any  conflicting data must be resolved.

Birth and death dates from tombstones are often a major data source for genealogist and family historians. As genealogist we must be cautious when relying on the information chiseled in granite. Mistakes can and are often made either by the informant or sometimes by the headstone engraver.

Here are a few cases why you should be cautious of dates on tombstones.

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

James Paul Brock is my 1st cousin 4 time removed. His tombstone says that he was born on Feb 29, 1845. The problem here is that 1945 was not a leap year and February only had 28 days. His parents reported his age as 6 years old in 1850 Census.  If his birth date was in fact February 29 then his birth year must be 1844. [1]

This is a real ‘classic”. This tombstone was originally placed on the grave of Jacob Burr after his death on  23 June 1921. About 1926-1929 there was a big effort in Chesterfield County to acquire tombstones from the Veterans Administration  and mark the graves of every known Civil War soldier in the County. When Jacob Burr’s tombstone was received it was placed on his grave.

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His original tombstone was removed, engraved with  the words “WIFE OF” and then the tombstone was placed on the grave of his wife, Henrietta Jane Hancock Burr. Henrietta was actually born on August 17, 1843.

Another tombstone is that of my 1st Cousin who passed away from diphtheria at the very young age of 5. His name was Vinson Lee. His tombstone reads:



If you are using tombstone names and dates just be aware that mistakes are made, do an exhaustive search of all records and documents your family history as accurately as possible with existing records.

Good Luck in Your Research

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[1] Find A Grave Memorial# 32256021
[2] Find A Grave Memorial# 8774604
[3] Find A Grave Memorial# 8774623
[4] Find A Grave Memorial# 90735538

Military Monday~Hardy J. Sellers

Hardy J. Sellers was born 17 September 1831 to Elijah Sellers. His mother is not known; but, some researchers say that she was Sarah Purvis. [Note: no known source document exits to prove this fact]

Hardy J. Sellers has not been found in the 1850-1880 population Census. Hardy J. was inducted into the 4th South Carolina Cavalry (Rutledge Regiment) on 22 April 1862 by J,. C. Craig for the duration of the War. ¹

His muster card for Jan-Feb 1863 showed him absent without leave since 19 Feb 1863.

In March – April 1863 he was shown as present and was last paid on 1 March 1863.

The Card for Jan-Feb. 1864 showed him Sick in quarters.

The next card which covered the dates of 29 Feb. – Aug. 31, 1864 showed that Hardy was wounded at the ”Battle Of Cold Harbor” and sent to a Hospital at Raleigh, North Carolina. Hardy received a gun shot wound in his right hand and on 7 June 1864 he was granted a 60 day furlough to go home.

The muster card for Sept.- Oct. 1864 reported that Hardy had no horse since 20 Oct 1864

Hardy survived the War and returned home marrying Elizabeth Smith. They had one daughter and one son. The daughter, Maggie May died at age 5 and their son, William A. Sellers, died in 1959.

Hardy J. Sellers died on 19 September 1910 leaving a wife, Elizabeth Smith Sellers and a son, William A. Sellers. He is buried at Shiloh United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. His obituary appeared in the 21 September 1910 issue of ”The State.”

The next item was provided by a very dear friend and historian – Marie Gulledge Wiggins. Her death in 2001 left a big void in many lives. The document is from the estate File (#1114) for Hardy J. Sellers. The comments are by Marie, as indicated.

State of South Carolina }²
County of Chesterfield}
EX PARTE
Elizabeth Sellers }
In Re Estate of Hardy J. Sellers }
The Petition of Elizabeth Sellers
to the Court
That Hardy J. Sellers departed this life intestate on 19 day of Sept 1910 leaving his widow, the petitioner, and his son, W. A. Sellers as his sole heirs at law and distributee's. That in order to properly wind up his Estate and administration is necessary. That the said Hardy J. Sellers left personal property amounting to about $3,000.00. Wherefore your petitioner asks that she be appointed Administrix of said Estate.
Signed:    Elizabeth Sellers

“Not mentioned in the above petition were 2 tracts of land Hardy bought. One parcel was bought 20 November 1874. It was forfeited land and sold for 1869 and 1871 taxes. It was in the Cross Roads community and had been owned by James A. Atkinson. It was bounded by the lands of Howell Atkinson and William Watson and others. Hardy had also bought two other tracts of land from Stephen D. Purvis, and that was bounded by Roland Kite, Stephen and William Purvis.” Marie Wiggins.

Find A Grave Memorial# 34308662 ³

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[1] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 18 August 2013), entry for Hardy J. SELLERS, Private; Company A, 4th South Carolina Cavalry; Confederate.
[2] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, Hardy J. SELLERS; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: viewed 18 August 2013); Estate Folder #1114.
[3] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 18 August 2013); Headstone for Hardy J. SELLERS; (17 September 1831–19 September 1910); Records of the Shiloh United Methodist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

Church Record Sunday~Elizabeth Baptist Church

The Elizabeth Baptist Church was founded in 1825 by Elder Joel Gulledge and Samuel Timmons.

Elder Joel Gulledge and Samuel Timmons were dismissed from the Deep Creek Baptist Church in Anson County, North Carolina for the  sole purpose of establishing this church in Mount Croghan, South Carolina.

It’s one of the oldest churches in the County and is located just
north of Mount Croghan, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. “This Church is the oldest Baptist Church In the Chesterfield Baptist Association.”¹

In 1836, the church establish and built the Elizabeth Academy considered one of the finest schools in Chesterfield County. It was burnt to the ground by union forces under General Sherman and Johnston in March 1865. The school was rebuilt but never obtained it’s pre-civil War prestige. Eventually it was closed and torn down.  

Many early pioneers of the county buried in the Churchyard Cemetery. Most of the buried pioneers buried at Elizabeth Baptist Cemetery² can be found on this website. Click here for a listing of 550 burials within the cemetery.

Also assisting genealogist and family historians are the preservation and easy access to the early minutes of the Elizabeth Baptist Church. Minutes from the church with many names of former members  can be found here: Elizabeth Baptist Church Minutes³

Typical entries consists of:

• Aug 1854 - Brother Wilson Chambers from Mount Olive Church was present and requested our church to send delgates <sic> to meet in Convention at the Mount Olive church on Friday before the Third Sabbath September next to Consider the propriety of forming a new association on motion of Brother J Baker it was agreed to lay over for the consideration of the church till our next meeting.⁴
• Church met in Conference Saturday before the first Sunday in April 1855
• Members present Wiley Allen, Charles Hendrick, J B Timmons, W K King, Jesse Allen
• first  Brother Joel Baker stated as the Committee of the church that he had seen sister Sellers and that she satisfied him that absence from the Church was on account of her inability to attend and not from a want of desire to do so Report received and Committee Discharged ⁵
• July 1857 - first opened a door for the reception of members when Margaret Alsobrooks came forward and said that she had been Pardoned for her past conduct and in a full Confession of her guilt. She was unanimously restored to the fellowship of the Church ⁶
• 1859 - first Brother Joel Baker preferred <sic> a charge against sister Martha Hancock stating the fact that she was in a family way ⁷
• 1874 - Joel Baker reported Margaret Alsobrook not living as she should with her husband, abusing of him and causing him (as) her abusing Language to leave home for some days    On Motion she was Excluded ⁸
• A Protracted Meeting was held in August 1875 for ten days.  Persons joined and Baptized were: Sarah A Green, Frances Huntley, Elizabeth Steele, William H. Horne, James Horne, William Burch, Moultrie Burch, James Burch, & David J. Hendrick by letter from Cross Roads ⁹

This is an excellent resource if you have ancestors that were born and reared in the neighborhood of Mount Croghan, South Carolina between 1825 and 1884.












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[1] Marie Gulledge Wiggins, James Pigg, Pigg Genealogy (https://chesterfield.scgen.org/elizabeth-baptist-church/: viewed 2 January 2012), Minutes of Elizabeth Baptist Church, 1825-1919, Introduction, page 1 and https://chesterfield.scgen.org/elizabeth-baptist-church/
[2] http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=69938
[3] Marie Gulledge Wiggins, James Pigg, Pigg Genealogy (https://chesterfield.scgen.org/elizabeth-baptist-church/ : viewed 2 January 2012), Minutes of Elizabeth Baptist Church, 1825-1919, Various, Various.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.

Surname Saturday~Brock-Freeman Mystery

Benjamin Brock and Jane Freeman are the greatest mystery I have discovered in my research.

Benjamin was born about 1834 to Benjamin Brock and his wife Temperance. Jane was born  about 1934 to Jesse Freeman and his wife Sarah Jane Davis. Both Benjamin and Jane are distant cousins; one on my paternal lines and the other on my maternal lines.^{1 2} 

Benjamin Brock and Jane Freeman were married about 1854 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
This marriage year (1854) is based on the birth of their son James who passed away on 8 September 1858 and was buried at St. David's Church Cemetery. ³

Died: September 8, 1856, at the residents of the Parents in Cheraw, & in the Yard at St. David's Church, James [BROCK], infant son of Benjamin & Jane BROCK, aged 1 year. "St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832, Parish Register 1819-1924" by Brent H. Holcomb, 1991. Page 120.

This entry also provides circumstantial evidence of the marriage of Benjamin and Jane Freeman Brock.
Benjamin is enumerated with his parents in 1850 and Jane was found in her Father household in the 1850 Census; both are single. Beyond that they have not been found in any census after 1850. Two additional documents have been found that mention Benjamin Brock. Also in 1860, we find a Jane Brock, age 4 listed in the household of Jesse Freeman.⁴

1860 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1217;  Image 350; Family History Library Film: 805217, Page 173B; Line 27, Dwelling 1123, Family 1122; Jesse FREEMAN, age 54, farmer, born in SC; Jane FREEMAN, age 50, born in SC; Jesse FREEMAN, age 20, born in SC; John FREEMAN, age 18, born in SC; Effie FREEMAN, age 13, female, born in SC; Sarah FREEMAN, age 11, female, born in SC; Jane Brock, age 04, born in SC.

At this point we can say that the family composition is:
Benjamin Brock, Male, b. 1834 in SC [Head/Husband/Father]
Jane Freeman Brock, Female, b. 1834 in SC [Wife/Mother]
James Brock, Male, age 1, b. 1855, d. 8 September 1856 in SC [Son]
Jane Brock, Female, age 4, b. 1856 in SC [Daughter]

In February 1860, these two articles appeared in the local newspaper for Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina and was republished in the Darlington Flag, Vol. XV, No. 3 (Summer 2003). Wadesboro is approximately 20 miles north of the town of Chesterfield, South Carolina.⁵

MURDER - On Sunday morning last, the body of a free colored man, named Michael Knight, was found near Sandy Plains Church, in this county, under circumstances that lead to believe that he had been foully dealt with. He was entirely nude, excepting socks upon his feet and his body was horribly mangled, having been badly beaten with a stick and his neck dislocated. Coroner A. Niven held an inquest on Monday before whom evidence was brought to light pointing to two white men as the perpetrators of the deed. The evidence however is wholly circumstantial. We suppress the names of the accused for the present understanding warrants are in the hands of the proper officers for their arrest. So far as we understand there are no extenuating circumstances for the perpetration of this horrible deed...
[ARGUS (Anson County, NC), 16 February 1860, page 3]
THE MURDERS OF KNIGHT- So far as can we learn, the murders of Knight, are still at large. The probability is they have left the State. The two men charged with the crime, Robert Lewis and Ben Brock, are somewhat noted characters. The former it will be recollected was tried in Chesterfield District, South Carolina, last summer for homicide - it was said for causing the death of a man in Cheraw by striking him on the head with a bottle and the latter it is understood is a refugee from the State of Mississippi for causing or very near causing the death of a man by cutting him with a knife. It is presumed if the parties have left the State, the State authorities will take early and energetic measures to have them arrested and brought to justice. The majesty of the laws must be maintained and their strong arm should be felt no matter where the perpetrator of crime should seek to hide himself. We understand that parties in South Carolina say that the offer of sufficient reward they will produce one or both of the parties. Probability is they are hiding just over the State line and these parties know where they are hiding...
[ARGUS (Anson County, NC), 23 February 1860, page 3]

Now, I have no proof that this is in fact the same Ben Brock that married Jane Freeman and was the son of Benjamin and Temperance Brock. However, I believe enough evidence exists to warrant additional research.

Then in July 1881, Jesse Freeman, father of Jane Freeman and grandfather of the Brock children died. In September 1885, two of the heirs to Jesse Freeman brought suit against the remaining heirs.⁶
Mary Ann Wadsworth and her husband, Louis H. Wadsworth, Effie Purvis and her husband, Stephen D. Purvis.
PLAINTIFFS

Against

William Freeman
Louis Freeman
Mary Freeman (Wife of Jessie Freeman, Sr.)[Second Wife]
Sarah Ann Odom
Christine F. Tumage
Ann Hall
Temple Par
Elizabeth Poston
                            Defendants

Named within that suit was a young lady, called Temple PAR/PARR.

In another paragraph within the suit we find this statement: “One granddaughter named Temple Par, daughter of Jane Freeman who married Benjamin Brock, predeceased her said father, Jesse Freeman”⁷

In this one statement we know that:

• Jane Freeman married Ben Brock
• Jane Freeman is deceased (No known date)
• That Temple Par is Jesse Freeman Granddaughter
• That Temple Par is the daughter of Jane Freeman who married Ben Brock.

So now the family has grown and the family composition is composed of:
Benjamin Brock, Male, b. 1834 in SC [Head/Husband/Father]
Jane Freeman Brock, Female, b. 1834 in SC [Wife/Mother]
James Brock, Male, age 1, b. 1855, d. 8 September 1856 in SC [Son]
Jane Brock, Female, age 4, b. 1856 in SC [Daughter]
Temple Brock Parr, female, [Daughter]

A search on Ancestry for Temple Par did not reveal any data; but,  another search using PARR did turn up several documents.⁸

• Obituary
• Death Certificate
• Find A Grave
• Census

The South Carolina Death Certificate (#027309) Tempy A. Parr shows that she was born 10 August 1858 and died 20 November 1918 in Columbia, South Carolina. Her obituary in the local news on 21 Nov. 1918 states that “Mrs. Temple Parr, wife of Samuel Parr... and she died at home”.^{9 10}

 The family is now complete based on current evidence and consists of:

Benjamin Brock, Male, b. 1834 in SC [Head/Husband/Father]
Jane Freeman Brock, Female, b. 1834 in SC [Wife/Mother]
James Brock, Male, age 1, b. 1855, d. 8 September 1856 in SC [Son]
Jane Brock, Female, age 4, b. 1856 in SC [Daughter]
Temple Brock Parr, female, b. 10 August 1858; d. 20 November 1918[Daughter]

While we were able to identify and re-build this family, many unanswered questions remains.

1. When did Jane Freeman Brock die?
2. What happen to Benjamin Brock?
3. When died their daughter Jane Brock pass away?

 
The absence of Jane, b. 1834, from the 1860 Census suggests that she most likely died as the results of childbirth after the birth of her daughter Temple in August 1858.  That left Jane and Tempie to be cared for; Jane is with her grandfather in 1860; where is Tempie in 1860?

Tempie Brock Parr and her husband, Samuel M. Parr had 6 children:

1. Benjamin Franklin Parr, born abt 1884, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Nettie Hall, Jul 1914; died 24 Mar 1926, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. 
2. James Melton Parr, born 13 Sep 1885, Hartsville, Darlington, South Carolina; married Eunice Victoria Steen, 1904; died 24 Nov 1939, Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina.
3. Carrie A. Parr, born 23 Dec 1885, Bishopville, Sumter Co., SC; married Reuben Harvey Easler, 13 May 1906; died 24 Feb 1970, Columbia, Richland, South Carolina.
4. Luetta E. Parr was born in Jun 1888 in Bishopville, Sumter Co., SC. ¹⁰  
5. Arrie Lee Parr was born in Sep 1892 in Bishopville, Sumter Co., SC. ^11 12
6. Mary Parr was born in Sep 1892.

If you are a descendant of any of the named individuals in this article; please contact me, I would love to hear from you.




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[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 126B; Line 18, Dwelling 438, Family 438, Household of Benjamin Brock; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed March 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[2] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 134B/135A; Line 33, Dwelling 560, Family 560, Household of Jesse FREEMAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 12 June 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[3] Brent H. Holcomb C.A.L.S., St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832,: Parish Register 1819-1924 (Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1991), page 120.
[4] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 173B; Line 27, Dwelling 1123, Family 1122, Household of Jesse FREEMAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[5] Old Darlington District Chapter S.C.G.S., "Anson County, NC – Darlington District, SC Connections;," Darlington Flag, Vol. XV, No. 3 (Summer 2003): Murder of Michael Knight Free Man of Color.
[6] Charles Freeman, "COMPLAINT FOR RELIEF," Chesterfield District Chronicle, Vol. 5, No. 1, Winter 2002, Newsletter , Chesterfield County Genealogical Society (), Pages 21-23.
[7] Ibid
[8] http://www.ancestry.com
[9] Zimpie Parr, death certificate 027309 (20 November 1918), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.
[10] Mrs. Temple Parr obituary, The State, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, 21 November 1918, page 10, column 3. Aged Woman Passes.

Friend of Friends Friday~Slaves of Gilbert & Efficia Howell Purvis

Sometime around 1818 a large contingent of families left Chesterfield County, South Carolina and migrated to Georgia, on to Clarke County, Alabama and eventually settling in Hinds County area of Mississippi.

Beginning as early as 1824, their names can be found throughout the available records for this area. about 1829 or early 1830 Gilbert Purvis died, leaving his widow – Effica and several children. Also traveling with Gilbert on this migration were two brothers, James F. and Joseph Purvis.

Before Gilbert and James left South Carolina they owned over  3215 Acres of land.¹ While probate record has not been found for Gilbert’s estate; it’s safe to say that Effica and the children were left a substantial estate. Among the holding were at 8 or more slaves.

From the death of Gilbert forward tragedy struck this family time after time. A short 5 years later Effica Howell Purvis dies in August 1834. Her estate [Estate Folder #241]² can be found in the Courthouse at Raymond, Mississippi; on film at the Mississippi State Archives or at the Family History Library in Salt lake City. 

Among the documents within the estate folder are two documents related to the “Slaves” owned by the Family.

The first Document places a “Value” on each slave
Nancy and her two children – valued @ $1150.00
Milly and her two Children – valued @$1150.00
Frances and her Child – valued at $1000.00
Delilah – valued @$800.00
John – valued @ $950
Sandy – valued @100
Margaret and her Child – valued @ $750.00



The next document dwelt with the distribution of the “Slaves”

• Nancy and her children Delilah, Sandy, Margaret her child to William and John Purvis.
• Milly and her children John, Frances and her Child to J.P.J. Purvis and William Purvis. 

At Gilbert and Effica death they left two known Children – Gilbert Johnson Purvis and Sally Purvis; yet neither of these two children are mentioned in the division of the estate at the death of Effica Howell Purvis.
It’s known that shortly after the death of his Mother in August 1834, the only known living son, Gilbert Johnson Purvis died in November 1835. Then a few short months later, in February 1836, James P. J. Purvis, grandson of Gilbert & Effica Purvis died.  

Let’s talk about these two groups of men – William & John and the other group – JPJ and William
Gilbert only had 2 known living children when he died. A son, Gilbert Johnson and a daughter, Sally. We do know he lost a son, John, who died in 1824 in Clarke County, Alabama and we know he had a deceased son James who was the known Father of James P. J. Purvis and is believed to be the father of William H. H. Purvis.

The first two men mentioned above are William and John Purvis. After 35+ years of research I  believe these two men are brothers and are sons of James F. Purvis, brother of Gilbert Purvis. William Purvis married Millie Cook and John Purvis married Mary Parks.

The second group of men are James PJ Purvis and William Purvis. Again, I  believe these two men are brothers and are sons of a deceased James  Purvis, who was a son of Gilbert Purvis. James P. J. Purvis married Elizabeth Rose Campbell  and William H. H. Purvis married Jemima Magee.  









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[1] Land Plat for 3215 Acres - Gilbert Purvis & James Purvis, 15 August 1793; S213190, Volume: 0032, Page: 00255; Dept. of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina.
[2] Hinds County, MS, Probate Court Estates, Old Series, Raymond, MS, MDAH Microfilm #10392, Family History Library Film #1064400, Estate #321, Effica Purvis, Dec 1834.