Untangling Clues to James Purvis, Sr.

 
On 15 December 2012 I wrote a post about the elusive parents of James P. J. Purvis

http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-elusive-parents-of-james-p-j-purvis.html

In Clarke County, Alabama there is a Land Deed between the Gilbert J. Purvis and Grass Scruggs – Deed is dated 12 Jan 1829 and Can be found in Deed Book “G”, pages 366-367. Witnessing this deed are these two men:  James P. J. Purvis and James (his mark) Purvis.¹  



I believe these two men to be a brother & nephew of Gilbert Johnson Purvis. Gilbert Johnson Purvis is a son of Gilbert Purvis and Effica Howell.

Now a partial copy of another Land Deed between this James Purvis has been found in the Spencer Family papers of Chesterfield, South Carolina. ²



Transcription of Chesterfield County Land Deed:
Land deed between James Purvis and Haywood Todd
28 chs to a corner, thence S. E. 8-56 Chs to …. Thence N22-50 Chs to a Pine 38 thence NW 4 - 25 Chs to a corner thence SW 76-16 Chs to a corner  thence NW 14-33 Chs to the beginning Pine containing one thousand Eighty one [1081] acres.  Reference being had to the above Plat will more plainer Shew the shape and boundary of the Same, together and with all and singular the rights members hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining unto the Said Haywood Todd his heirs  and afsigns forever, and I do hereby bind myself my heirs executors and administrators  to warrant and forever defend against every other Person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Witnefs my hand and seal, this the 29th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and seventeen and in the forty seven year of the independence of the United States of America.


Assigned, Sealed  and … in presence of }                         
Hugh Craig
Phillip Sellers


The signatures of James Purvis

29 December 1817


12 January 1829


In Horry County, South Carolina we find an Administration Bonds stating that Gilbert Purvis was one of the administrators of the estate of James Purvis, 17 July 1818. ³

The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound John Johnston and Gilbert Purvis administrators of the goods, chattels and credits of James Purvis deceased do make a true and perfect inventory of all and singular, the goods, chattels, credits of the said deceased, which shall come into the hands of knowledge of the said John Johnston, Gilbert Purvis, …

Then we have this notice in The Camden Gazette, 28 January 1819. ⁴

CAUTION.
I FOREWARN all persons from trading for a note of hand given by me to James Purvis, Senr., late of Chesterfield district, for one hundred dollars dated the first day of January 1818 and payable the first day of January 1819, with conditions thereto providing I get sufficient titles to a tract of land purchased by me from the said Purvis, and as I have failed getting sufficient titles, I am determined not to pay the same unless compelled by Law.
                                                                                   Hayward Todd
Chesterfield C. H. Dec. 29, 1818 44-Y

I say that the same James Purvis signed both of these Land Deeds with his special mark – A Slanted E

These independent facts, by themselves, doesn’t mean so much; but; taken together as a composite they paint a picture of a man named James Purvis, Sr. who bought some land from Haywood Todd and shortly thereafter James Purvis, Senior passes away.

But, there's always a but. If James Purvis, Sr, signed the Deed in December 1817, passed away in 1818; who signed the Deed in January 1829. Did James Purvis, Jr. take his father mark as his own and sign the 1829 Land Deed in Alabama?

Your comments greatly appreciated.

______________________________
[1] Land Deed - Gilbert J. PURVIS to Grass Scruggs; 12 January 1829; Deed Book #G; Page(s) 366-367; Register of Deeds; Clarke County, Alabama; 10 January 2012.
[2] http://mobile.dc.statelibrary.sc.gov/handle/10827/8910?show=full
[3] Horry County South Carolina, Horry District Administration Bonds 1803-1818 (Conway, Horry County, South Carolina: Probate Office, n.d.), Administration Bond - Gilbert Purvis, page 71.
[4] “The Camden Gazette, Camden, South Carolina, 28 January 1819, page 2