Surname Saturday~McMillian-Purvis

If you take a snapshot of the early Chesterfield County Censuses from 1790 to 1820 you will find a large contingent of Purvis’ in Chesterfield County.¹

One of these men was a John Purvis born about 1782. I was looking for the parents of my 2nd Great Grandfather William A. Purvis born between 1823 and 1826. This John Purvis happens to fit into the pool of men that needed research to see if there was a connection.

Typical of research in Chesterfield County is the fact I don’t have a clue who the parents of John Purvis are? Almost all records pre civil war were destroyed during the close of that War.

Census data indicate John Purvis was born 1782 in South Carolina.  There are printed trees that has him listed as John William Purvis though I have found no source for the middle name William.
John Purvis married Sarah McMillian about 1810. This date is based on the birth of their firstborn -  Charles G. Purvis about 1811. Sarah McMillian was born about 1785,a daughter of James McMillian and Rachel Chishlom.

Sarah’s father, James McMillian, served in the Revolutionary War (Pension #W-9559. GS Film #0971697). His pension file is a “treasure trove” of information.

John Purvis and Sarah McMillian had 6 known children; three sons and three daughters.

• Charles G. Purvis, b. ca. 1811; married Mary E. Douglass
• Mary Ann Purvis, b. ca. 1813; married William B. Dickson; after their marriage they migrated to Hinds County, Mississippi where William B. Dickson died and Mary brought the children back home to Chesterfield to live with her parents.
• Laura Sarah Purvis, b. ca. 1815; married Dr. James Chapman Craig
• John C. Purvis, b. ca. 1819; died 13 Oct. 1864
• Alexander J. Purvis, b. ca. 1828; died 3 July 1860
• Elizabeth Purvis, b. ca. 1832

John Purvis died in March 1854 and nine years later Sarah McMillian Purvis died in April 1863.
Source for some of this information can be found in SC Equity file #108

#108 Index and Genealogical Abstracts of the Chesterfield District Court of Common Pleas, Equity Side, 1823-1869, page 132-133 as recorded in "Cheraw/Chesterfield District Wills, 1750-1865 & Abstracts from the Court of Common Pleas 1823-1869, Published by James C. Pigg, Copyright 1995.
[#108] Craig, J.C. & wife vs. Charles G. Pervis & others - Bill for injunction & general relief 1866

John Purvis died intestate in March 1854, leaving his widow, Sarah Purvis and children: Mary A., widow of William B. Dickson; Charles G. Purvis; John C. Purvis; and Laura S. intermarried with James C. Craig. Additional information: The children of James C. and Laura Purvis Craig: Sallie P. Craig; John J. Craig; Alexander W. Craig; Laura E. Craig; Mollie A. Craig; Edgar Craig; Irene Craig; Leola Craig and James Craig who died at age 11. Alexander J. Purvis died 3 July 1860, leaving as his heir his mother and brothers & sisters; Sarah Purvis died intestate in April 1863; John C. Purvis died intestate 13 October 1864, leaving as his heirs Laura S. Craig, Mary A. Dickson and Charles G. Purvis.

I have found no proof that my William A. Purvis is connected to this line nor have I found any proof that he is not part of this lineage. One on-line tree has John's parents listed as Gilbert Purvis and Effica Howell. Gilbert & Effica had a son named John but my research showed that he died in Clarke County, Alabama in 1825. (John Purvis Probate File, Clarke County, Alabama
Estate Box 22 Folder 68, FHL Film #2229240 Frame 1365).



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[1] Purvis or Pervis