Founding Families of South Carolina

In  April 1997, the Columbia Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society launched a project entitled “Founding Families of South Carolina”.The project served a two-fold purpose, 1) fund raising purposes, 2)  to celebrate the 210th anniversary of Statehood by recognizing ancestors who were in South Carolina on or before May 23, 1788 when we were granted statehood.
I participated in this project and submitted my application for qualification of my 4th Great Grandfather Thomas Davis (22 Mar 1760-20 March 1845),  a Revolutionary War Solider. ¹

.

A list of all the Foundling Families can be found here:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scccscgs/ffhomepage.htm

Also on the list is my 5th Great Grandfather Frederick Rivers, the father of my 3rd Great Grandmother, Hulda Rivers who married Michael Davis. 

The Columbia Chapter published of a two-part book containing a listing of all the ancestors and connecting families and a copy of the original descent charts submitted by participants to qualify as a “Founding Family”. ²



There are 276 men lists on the Founding Families website and within this book. There is an order form for the book on the Founding Family website listed within this postings. This was a 1997 project, I would suggest sending an e-mail to verify copies are still available if you desire a copy of this book.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scccscgs/ffhomepage.htm








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[1]  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scccscgs/ffhomepage.htm
[2] Columbia Chapter - SCGS, Founding Families of The State of South Carolina (Columbia, South Carolina: Columbia Chapter - SCGS, November 2000), Alphabetical listing,  Thomas Davis.

Treasure Chest Thursday~Death Date for William H. H. Purvis

I have written several post about William H. H. Purvis and his death in Polk County, Texas. One thing that has been a real puzzle is the death date of William H. H. Purvis. On-line trees at Ancestry lack any research and are mere copies of each other repeating the same erroneous information over and over.

This past summer I had the opportunity to visit my son in Utah and was able to do some research at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

At the top of my list was the death date for William H. H. Purvis and while I did not find the exact date he died, I did find the month and year. The death month and year is contained within Estate packet #139. ¹



No. 139
                                The State of Texas   Polk County in the County Court July Term 1855,
To his honor Wm. F. Gee chief justice Your petitioner Joseph McGee of Newton County of Texas shows that W. H. H. Purvis of said Polk County departed this life intestate on or about the    day of June last past, and that the nearest relative of said descendant have as yet failed and refused to administer on said estate that said Purvis had in pofefion [possession]  at the time of his death real and personal property to a large amount and is believed  to own it, that your petitioner is the owner and holder of large and bono fide claims against said estate and that he is unable to collect the same or have them litigated without and administrator  of said estate, wherefore, he prays your honor to cause the usual notice be given and at the July term 1855 of your honorable court appoint your petitioner  administrator of said estate as in duty bound & c.
                                                                                                Joseph McGee
Filed July 18, 1855
W. H. Dukes, Clk.
Record April 5th, A D 1856 on page 209
L. G. McNickin, Depty Clk c c P4

William H. H. Purvis died in June 1855 in Polk County, Texas.

Related Articles:

• http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-mysterious-death-of-william-h-h.html
• http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/04/clues-to-parents-of-william-h-h-purvis.html

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_______________________
[1] Estate #139, Page 209, FHL Film #1006872; Estate records found on pages 208-238, 344-346, 358-359 and page 388; FHL Film #1006872.

Oct. 29 – 52 Ancestors: #44, Louise Ellen (Sellers) Brock

 

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story To Small has started a challenge of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.

From her blog “The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.”

The focus of my blog post today is Louise Ellen (Sellers) Brock.

Louise Ellen Sellers was born in Jun 1850 in Madison County, Tennessee.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7} She was the daughter of William Eddins Sellers and Elizabeth (Parsons) Sellers.
Louise Ellen and her older sister Mary Abigail were siblings in a household with 3 brothers; William Riley, Andrew Washington, and James Arnold “Buck”  Sellers. Another brother, Alonzo W., passed away at age 6.

The children lost their father (William Eddins Sellers) at a very young age when he was killed in Madison County Tennessee about 1854. Family tradition says he was helping to build a church  when he fell from the rafters sustaining  fatal injuries. To date I have not been able to find any information on this accident.  

The family was enumerated in the 1850 census for Madison County, Tennessee
1850 CENSUS: District 10, Madison County, Tennessee;  Roll: M432_889;   Image: 187, Page 305B (Written 610); Line 1, Dwelling 244, Family 244; Wm. E. SELLERS, Male, age 30, born in SC; Elizabeth SELLERS, age 28, born in SC; William R. SELLERS, Son, age 8, born in SC;  Andrew W. SELLERS, Son, age 6, born in SC; James A. SELLERS, Son, age 4, born in TN; Mary A. SELLERS, Daughter, age 2, born in TN and Luellen SELLERS, Daughter, age 1/12, born in TN.

After the death of her husband, Elizabeth (Parsons) Sellers packed up her 6 children and moved them back to Chesterfield.  
1860 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1217;  Image: 264; Family History Library Film: 805217, Page 130B; Line 28, Dwelling 0522, Family 0521, Elizabeth SELLERS, age 36, born in SC; William R. SELLERS, Son, age 17, born in SC;  Andrew D. SELLERS, Son, age 14, born in SC; James A. SELLERS, Son, age 13, born in TN; Mary A. SELLERS, Daughter, age 11, born in TN; Loretta [Lou Ellen] SELLERS, Daughter, age 09, born in TN and Aley [Alonzo] W. SELLERS, Son, age 06, born in TN.

Louise Ellen Sellers and Benjamin Franklin Brock Sr. were married about 1871.

Benjamin Franklin Brock Sr., son of Hezekiah Brock and Sarah Morris, was born on 17 Jan 1849 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.⁸ He was born on 17 Jan 1851 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.^{9 10 11} Benjamin and Louise can be found in the censuses for 1880-1920 for Chesterfield County, South Carolina.^{12 13 14 15}

Benjamin Franklin Brock and Louise Ellen Sellers had the following children:

i. Charles Riley Brock, born 21 Apr 1878, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Minnie Elizabeth Brock, 1905, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Ada Louise Soles, 8 Sep 1918, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Etta Florence Pate, 6 Oct 1921, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 22 Feb 1946, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
ii. Sarah Annie Brock, born 14 Jul 1881, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Charles Washington Brock, 1907; died 18 Dec 1955, Concord, Cabarrus, North Carolina.
iii. John Hezekiah Brock, born 5 May 1884, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Mary Pauline Morris, 1905; died 2 Apr 1931, Norwood, Stanly, North Carolina.
iv. Mary Catherine "Mamie" Brock, born 21 Sep 1889, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Julius Johns, 16 Jun 1912, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 17 Jun 1938, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
v. Benjamin Franklin Brock Jr., born 29 Jan 1894, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Cora Jemima Brock, 31 Oct 1915, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 30 Mar 1964, Rock Hill, York, South Carolina.
Their daughter Mary Catherine “Mamie” is my Grandmother.
Benjamin died on 13 Jul 1924 at the age of 73  and was buried at Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery in Chesterfield, South Carolina.^{16 17 18}
Louise Ellen died on 15 Dec 1928 at the age of 78 and buried at Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield, South Carolina.^{19 20 21 22}

Louise Ellen (Sellers) Brock is my Great Grandmother.









^{_____________________________________}
1. 1850 U. S. Census, Madison County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 10, Madison County, Tennessee, Page 305B; Line 1, Dwelling 244, Family 244, Household of Wm. E. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.
2. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 21, Page 95B; Line 89, Dwelling 204, Family 209, Household of Benjamin F. BROCK; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 16 June 2013 ); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1523.
3. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 130B; Line 28, Dwelling 0522, Family 0521, Household of Elizabeth SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
4. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 005, Page 325C, Line 29, Dwelling 252, Family # 252, Household of Benj. F. BROCK; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archive Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.
5. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 21, Page 95B; Line 89, Dwelling 204, Family 209, Household of Benjamin F. BROCK.
6. 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0037, Page 143B; Line 71, Dwelling 305, Family 305, Household of Benn F. BROCK; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 16 June 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm  T624_1455.
7. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 40, Page: 18B/174(stamped), Dwelling 333, Family 43, Household of Benjamin BROCK; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 20 July 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_1690.
8. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Benjamin Franklin Brock (17 January 1849–13 July 1924), Memorial # 109662534.
9. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 21, Page 95B; Line 89, Dwelling 204, Family 209, Household of Benjamin F. BROCK.
10. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 117, Line 18, Dwelling 328, Family 327, Household of "Hugh" BROCK.
11. 1870 U. S. Census, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 289A, Line 33, Dwelling 33, family 33, Household of S[arah] BROCK; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2012); citing National Archive Microfilm M593, Roll 1491.
12. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 005, Page 325C, Line 29, Dwelling 252, Family # 252, Household of Benj. F. BROCK.
13. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 21, Page 95B; Line 89, Dwelling 204, Family 209, Household of Benjamin F. BROCK.
14. 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED 0037, Page 143B; Line 71, Dwelling 305, Family 305, Household of Benn F. BROCK.
15. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield, South Carolina, ED 40, Page: 18B/174(stamped), Dwelling 333, Family 43, Household of Benjamin BROCK.
16. B F {Benjamin Franklin] BROCK, Chesterfield County, South Carolina death certificate 012522 (13 July 1924).
17. Ibid.
18. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Benjamin Franklin Brock (17 January 1849–13 July 1924), Memorial # 109662534.
19. Lou E Brock, death certificate 021850 (15 December 1928), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.
20. Ibid.
21. Interview with a Confederate Veteran obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 7 April 1932. Sellers, Confederate Veteran (conducted by Nellie Bristow, Florence Morning News, reprinted Chesterfield Advertiser, April 7, 1932).
22. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 January 2014); Memorial page for Louisa Ellen "Lou" Sellers Brock; (1856–15 December 1928); Find a Grave memorial # 109663030, Citing Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery; Brocks Mill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

Tombstone Tuesday~Pvt. Jesse Gwyn Boatwright, Jr.

Pvt. Jesse Gwyn Boatwright, Jr.
b. Apr. 14, 1927
d. Sep. 2, 1946

bu. Morven Cemetery¹

Photo Courtesy of Julius Burr

Jesse Gwyn Boatwright, Jr. was the only child of Jesse Gwyn Boatwright, Sr. and Mary Isabel Watts. Jesse died in an automobile accident on 2 September 1946.² Family folklore reports that he was with his cousin Bobby J. Purvis. I haven’t located the newspaper article for the accident that took Jesse Gwyn life but I’m still looking.



Jesse served in the Army during WWII. He enlisted 28 January 1846 and was discharged on 30 April 1946. His enlistment records shows he enlisted for the Panama Canal Department.³




He is buried along with his parents in the Morven Cemetery, Anson County, North Carolina.


Jesse Gwyn Boatwright was my 2nd Cousin once removed.








_______________________________________
[1] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 June 2012); Memorial page for Pvt Jesse Gwyn Boatwright, Jr.; (14 April 1927–2 September 1946); Find a Grave memorial # 56974979, Citing Morven Cemetery; Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, USA.
[1] State of North Carolina, death no. #17937 (2 September 1946), Gwyn Boatwright Jr.; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.
[3] National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64, "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, Ancestry, Army Enlistment Gwyn Boatwright Jr.

Amanuensis Monday~Land Deed, Samuel Brock to Sarah Davis

  

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.

His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today’s subject is a Land Deed between Samuel Brock and Sarah Davis on 8 August 1871.¹

Samuel Brock}

To } Deed

Sarah Davis}

State of South Carolina}

Chesterfield County} Know all men by these presents that I Samuel Brock of the county of Chesterfield in the State aforesaid For and in consideration of the sum of Fifty Dollars to me paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledge have granted bargained sold and released and by these presents do grant bargain sell and release unto Sarah Davis and her bodily heirs late of the same County and State All that piece or tract of land lying an being on both sides of the Woolf branch being a tract of forty one acres and part of a tract of eighty three acres and part of another tract of one hundred and nineteen acres formerly owned by Mathew White containing one hundred acres more or less bounded as follows on the N. by Squire H. Brock W by lands of Samuel Brock E by Capt. Pollock. Together with all and singular the rights members Hereditaments appurtenances Having such shape form and marks as are represented on the Platt. To have and to hold all and singular the said premises unto the said Sarah Davis and her bodily heirs Their heirs and assigns against myself and my heirs lawfully claiming the same or any part thereof. Witness my hand and seal August 8^th in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy one

Signed Sealed and delivered}

In the presence of}

James P. Brock}                        Samuel x (his mark) Brock {LS}

S. P. White}

Personally appeared before me James P. Brock & made oath that he with S. P. White witnessed the signature of Samuel Brock.

Sworn to before me this}

30^th day of Nov. 1871}                             James P. Brock

{Official seal} Henry D. Malloy}

Notary Public}

Recorded 6^th Nov. 1885 in Sales Book C page 222

T. M. Kirkley, Auditor

Recorded 6^th Nov 1885

The reference Samuel Brock is Samuel W. Brock, b. 1796, married Martha LNU, and died sometime after 1880. Sarah Davis is Sarah Ann Brock Davis, wife of Leonard Davis, and daughter of Samuel W. Brock. James Paul Brock, witness, is his youngest son. Squire H. Brock and Samuel W. Brock are thought to be brothers. Samuel W. and his wife Martha were both living in 1880. They both passed away sometime after 1880, date unknown, no tombstones have been found for either of them.  

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[1]  Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Deed Book 8: pages 358-359, Samuel Brock to Sarah Davis Land Deed; Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Sunday’s Obituary~Dr. Cornelius Kollock

Dr. Cornelius Kollock

b. Dec. 7, 1824

d. Aug. 17, 1897

bu. St. David’s Cemetery 

Dr. Cornelius Kollock was born 7 December 1824 in Marlboro County, South Carolina. He was a son of Oliver Hawes Kollock and Sarah James Wilson. At the age of seventeen he was admitted to Brown University. It was at Brown University that he met his future wife Mary Henrietta Shaw.  She waited patiently for 6 years until his graduation to marry him. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. After graduation in 1848, he spent 2 years in Paris studying under the great surgeon of that era, Gerhard, Michel and Ricord and others.  

In January 1856 Dr. Kollock , The Rev. Alexander Gregg, W. L. T. Prince, Henry McIver met at the Gregg home and organized the Cheraw Lyceum.

He served with the Medical Department of the Confederate States Army as a civilian volunteer. He and his wife went to Richmond in June 1861 and stayed for 3 months. He was there during the first battle of Manassas (21 July 1861).

Dr. Kollock died on 17 August 1897 and was buried in St. David's Episcopal Church Cemetery.

 

Death of Dr. Kollock

Charleston, Aug. 17. – A special to The news and Courier from Cheraw announces the death of Dr. Cornelius Kollock, one of the most eminent physicians in the State and an authority on abdominal surgery. He was born in Cheraw in 1824; graduated at Brown University and in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania; studied in Paris under Velpeau and others; married Miss Mary Henrietta Shaw of Boston.¹  

I do not have any information suggesting that Dr. Kollock cared for any of my kinfolk during his practice from 1851 till 1895; but, there is a high probability that some of them were under his care.

The men and women of Cheraw and the surrounding communities were blessed to have this amazing Doctor to care for them.


________________________________
[1] The State, Columbia, South Carolina,18 August 1897, page 1, column 1. 
[2] http://www.southcarolinahistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Kollock-papers-1056.0.pdf
[3] North Carolina Medical Journal, Volume 40, July to December 1897, Carolina Publishing Co., Wilmington, NC, 1897, page
[4] The biography of Ephraim McDowell: the father of ovariotomy, Mary Young Ridenbaugh, page 588

Surname Saturday~William James and Millie Cook Purvis

 
William James Purvis was born about 1796 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He was listed on the 1825 Tax Roll for Simpson County, Mississippi.¹

William appeared on the 1840 census for Scott County, Mississippi, the 1841 Mississippi State and Territorial Census for Scott County, Mississippi. Between 1841 and 1850, William James moved to Smith County, Mississippi where he appears on the 1850 and 1860 for Smith County, Mississippi.^{2 3} William James died between 1860 and 1870, date unknown, in Smith County, Mississippi.

Note: Many on-line trees has William James listed as William Forbes Purvis. This is an error. No one, as of today, has produced proof that his middle name is Forbes. There are land deeds in Mississippi that continually list him as William James Purvis.

William James Purvis and Millie Cook were married about 1812 or 1813. Millie Cook, daughter of John Cook, was born about 1795 in SC.^{4 5 6} Millie Purvis is listed on the 1871 Tax list for Smith County, Mississippi. She died sometime after her appearance on the 1871 Taxes, date unknown. No tombstone or death notice has been found.






William James Purvis and Millie Cook had the following children:

i. Rebecca Purvis, born abt 1814, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Rebecca had one son named Eugene Lafayette Dickson.
ii. William J. Purvis was born about 1819 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.^{7 8} 
iii. Martha Ann Purvis, born 22 Aug 1819, Scott County, Mississippi; married Carmen Myers, 7 Mar 1838; died 20 Jan 1871, Rankin County, Mississippi.
iv. Precilla Ann Purvis, born 1824, Mississippi; married Alexander Myers, 1 Sep 1840; died Aug 1859, Nacogdoches, Texas.
v. Thomas Jefferson Purvis, born abt 1826, Mississippi; married Emily Winstead, abt 1846; died 21 Jun 1863, Vicksburg, Warren, Mississippi.
vi. John Mitchel Purvis, born 20 Feb 1828, Smith County, Mississippi; married Celia Ann Myers, 29 Jan 1850, Rankin County, Mississippi; married Rebecca J. Means, abt 1892, Smith County, Mississippi; died 12 Aug 1912, Daniel, Smith County, Mississippi, USA.
vii. James M. Purvis, born 1 Apr 1830, Rankin County, Mississippi; married Martha Caroline Russell, 17 Dec 1855, Rankin County, Mississippi; married Sarah A. Russell, 17 Jan 1870; married Sarah Elizabeth Mize, abt 1895, Rankin County, Mississippi; died 18 Jan 1909, Smith County, Mississippi.
viii. Marsha Purvis was born about 1837 in Smith County, Mississippi.⁹
ix. Alonzo Purvis was born about 1845 in Smith County, Mississippi. ¹⁰


I have found no information on marriage for Rebecca, William, Marsha or Alonzo; nor do I have death dates for these 3 children.

There are a number of trees on line that have Lucy Ann Purvis who married William H. Franklin listed as a child of William James and Millie Cook Purvis. This is an error, Lucy Ann, b. abt 1831 is the daughter of John P. Purvis and Mary Parks.
 
I have used the 1840 and 1850 census to reconstruct this family. The above family members accounts for every child of William and Mille except one son, b. 1835-1840, most likely died young and 2 daughters born between 1831 and 1835. The two girls most likely had married and left home by 1850. I have a candidate for one of these two girls. 

1840 United States Federal Census - William Purvis
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Scott, Mississippi

1 - Males - Under 5; most likely died before 1850
3 - Males - 10 thru 14; James, age 10; Thomas Jefferson , age 14; John Mitchell, age 12
1 - Males - 20 thru 29; William J., age 21
1 male Males - 40 thru 49; [William James], age 50
1 - Females - Under 5; Manura/Marsha, age 3
2 - Females - 5 thru 9: b.[1831-1835]??
1 - Females - 15 thru 19; Precilla Ann
2 - Females - 20 thru 29; Martha Ann, age 21; Rebecca, age 26;
1 - Females - 40 thru 49; [Millie Cook Purvis], age 45

Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 9
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 5
Total Free White Persons: 14

1850 CENSUS: Smith County, Mississippi, Dwelling 112, Family 112; Roll: M432_381; Page 334; William PURVIS, age 60, Farmer, born in SC; Millie PURVIS, wife, age 55, born in SC; William PURVIS, son, age 36, born in SC; James PURVIS, son, age 20, born in MS; Manura [Marsha] PURVIS, daughter, age 13, born in MS; Alonzo PURVIS, son, age 5, born in MS.






_______________________________

1. James F. Purvis, Estates, 1828-72, Chancery Clerk's Office, Raymond, Mississippi.
2. 1850, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page 334, dwelling 112, family 112, Household of William PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 February 2010); citing NARA publication Roll: M432_381.
3. 1860 U. S. Census, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) no ED, Page: 316, Line 34, dwelling 534, family 534, Household of William PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing NARA publication Roll: M653_591.
4. 1850, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, Mississippi, ED No ED, Page 334, dwelling 112, family 112, Household of William PURVIS.
5. 1860 U. S. Census, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, Mississippi, ED no ED, Page: 316, Line 34, dwelling 534, family 534, Household of William PURVIS.
6. 1870 U. S. Census, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, TWp 3, Range 6E, Mississippi, Page: 359B(Stamped), Line 33, Dwelling 44, Family 44, Household of James PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 February 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M593 Roll 749.
7. 1850, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, Mississippi, ED No ED, Page 334, dwelling 112, family 112, Household of William PURVIS.
8. 1860 U. S. Census, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, Mississippi, ED no ED, Page: 316, Line 34, dwelling 534, family 534, Household of William PURVIS.
9. 1850, Smith County, Mississippi, population schedule, Smith County, Mississippi, ED No ED, Page 334, dwelling 112, family 112, Household of William PURVIS.
10. Ibid.

Who is Johnson J. Purvis?

Mary Virginia Hagerman was born about 1882, a daughter of Barton Campbell Hagerman and  Mary Ann “Mamie” Campbell. Mary Virginia married Halford Adams Watson on 29 December 1906 She was also the 3rd Great Granddaughter of Gilbert Purvis, Revolutionary Soldier. 

On 28 September 1914, Mary Virginia submitted an application for DAR membership based on her 3rd Great Grandfather Gilbert Purvis service in the Revolutionary War. The application was approved in 1915 and assigned DAR #115797. She is the only applicant to be approved for DAR membership based on Gilbert Purvis’ service. ¹



The application, submitted by Mary Virginia (Hagerman) Watson shows that her 2nd Great Grandfather was Johnson Purvis. A copy of this application was my first encounter or exposure to Johnson Purvis. 

To put this in perspective let me say that I have been researching the Purvis surname in Chesterfield County since October 1976. I have not found a single document in South Carolina with this man’s name on it. My first thought was did this man really exist or is this just folklore.

Then on 11 November 2010, I sent this e-mail to a lady named Karen. Karen is also a direct descendant of Gilbert Purvis.
 
Karen,
We are corresponding on GENFORUM.
I'm using the e-mail CPurvis1@gmail.com
Please take a few minutes and tell me the story about Mary Ann Purvis
and William R. Purvis and the info you have that been passed down in
your Campbell Family.
I have a theory; but I need the full story as passed down.
THANKS,
Charlie

This e-mail led to an extensive search that filled in a lot of gaps in Karen’s direct line and in my research of the Purvis of Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 

Still it took many months to find additional info on Johnson Purvis and again the documents are very spare and limited in information. Since November 2010, these three documents have been found.


1831 Simpson County , MS Tax List ²

1832 Simpson County , MS Tax List ³


1833 Simpson County , MS Tax List ⁴

So now there is no doubt that Johnson or Johnston Purvis existed. But, Gilbert Purvis, Sr. also had a son known as Gilbert Johnson Purvis. Would he name another son Johnson James or James Johnson? In other words, could Johnson J. and G. Johnson be the same individual?  James P. J. Purvis is the said son of this Johnson J. Purvis first referred to in DAR app 115795 above. All the evidence I found about Gilbert Johnson Purvis including his Will suggests that he remained a single man. James P. J. Purvis is believed to have one brother named William H. H. Purvis. When William H. H. Purvis moved to Polk County, TX in the late 1840’s he took with him an older woman named Sarah Purvis.

Is Sarah Purvis the wife of Johnson Purvis and the mother of James P. J. Purvis and William H. H. Purvis?

1850 Census, Polk Co., TX

1850 Actual Census page

If we go back to the DAR App 115797 we see that Mary Virginia listed James P. J. parents as Johnson and Sarah.

DAR App 115797

Who is Johnson J. Purvis; four documents does not provided very much helpful information. As you can see I have more questions than answers with this line. If you have any comments or recommendations I would love to hear from you.

Related articles:

• http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/07/strife-in-family.html

________________________
[1] Mary Virginia Hagerman Watson, "DAR ANCESTOR DATABASE," DAR Application, Daughters of the American Revolution (http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search/?Tab_ID=1 : Viewed & Download 23 October 2014), DAR APP 115797; Ancestor: Gilbert Purvis.
[2] 1831 Tax List, Simpson County, Mississippi; James P. J. PURVIS and Johnson J. PURVIS,  are listed on the Tax roll.
"Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-21381-30365-21?cc=1919687&wc=M6J9-YWL:211953101,211963301 : accessed 27 Apr 2014), Simpson > County tax rolls 1824-1845, Box 3764 > image 57 of 276; citing Government Records, Jackson.

[3] 1832 Tax List, Simpson County, Mississippi; Pender J. PURVIS and Johnson J. PURVIS,  are listed on the Tax roll. www.Familysearch.org; "Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-21381-30272-71?cc=1919687&wc=M6J9-YWL:211953101,211963301 : accessed 27 Apr 2014), Simpson > County tax rolls 1824-1845, Box 3764 > image 70 of 276; citing Government Records, Jackson.
[4] 1833 Tax List - Simpson County, Mississippi, Purviff, Johnson J.
"Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-21381-31596-87?cc=1919687&wc=M6J9-YWL:211953101,211963301 : accessed 27 Apr 2014), Simpson > County tax rolls 1824-1845, Box 3764 > image 86 of 276; citing Government Records, Jackson

52 Ancestors: #43, Andrew Washington Sellers

 

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story To Small has started a challenge of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.

From her blog “The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.”

The focus of my blog post today is Pvt. Andrew Washington Sellers, Confederate Soldier

Among the many ancestors I have researched, three men, in my direct lineage, stands heads above the others as men I most admire. They are Hezekiah Brock, my 2nd Great Grandfather, Shadrach Johns, my 2nd Great Grandfather and Andrew Washington Sellers, my Great Grand Uncle. While these three men are mentioned here I in no way want to diminish the achievements of my other relatives. My dad, stands tall among all these men and I admire none of them more than I do my father.  

I have written about each of these men previously but today we will revisit with Andrew Washington Sellers.

Andrew Washington Sellers grew up in tough times without his father. Shortly after his birth, his father William Eddins Sellers took his family to Madison County, Tennessee where some of their Sellers relatives had migrated. Sometime before Andrew turned 10, about or before 1854, his father, William Eddins Sellers was killed in an accident. Their mother, Elizabeth (Parsons) Sellers packed up her 4 sons and two daughters and moved back to Chesterfield County, South Carolina. ^{1 2} 

At the breakout of the Civil War, Andrew Washington, enlisted on 26 December 1861 as a private with Company A, 4th SC Cavalry. On the September-October 1864 Muster Roll he is shown on detached duty to Stoney Creek with an unserviceable horse. This tuned out to be an unfortunate event because on 1 December 1864, Andrew Washington Sellers, was captured at Stoney Creek, taken prisoner and sent to Pt. Lookout, Maryland. He was released after taking the “Oath of Allegiance” 19 June 1865. This is 13 days after the official end of the War on 6 June 1865.^{3 4}

 

My blog posting “Interview with a Confederate Veteran” is his experience in his words and is highly recommended. In this article Andrew Washington refers to a “Bronze Cross of Honor” that he was awarded. The interview was conducted in 1932 and I suspect this Bronze Cross of Honor was in fact the “Southern Cross of Honor” presented to Andrew sometime after the Civil War by the Stonewall Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.⁵



Andrew Washington married Catherine Pinkney Wallace on 27 December 1865. They had nine children; 5 sons and 4 daughters. Catherine passed away on 30 December 1912. Andrew Washington Sellers,passed away on 12 January 1935, at age 90 and was buried at Zoar United Methodist Church cemetery.^{6 7}

 Andrew Washington Sellers is my Great grand Uncle.











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1. 1850 U. S. Census, Madison County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 10, Madison County, Tennessee, Page 305B; Line 1, Dwelling 244, Family 244, Household of Wm. E. SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 889.
2. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 130B; Line 28, Dwelling 0522, Family 0521, Household of Elizabeth SELLERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
3. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/:accessed 3 September 2013), entry for Andrew Washington SELLERS, Private; Co. A, 4th SC CAV CSA.; Confederate.
4. Andrew Washington SELLERS, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 7 April 1932, page 3, col. 3-5. Interview with Andrew Washington Sellers, Confederate Veteran (conducted by Nellie Bristow, Florence Morning News, reprinted Chesterfield Advertiser, April 7, 1932).
5. Ibid.
6. Andrew Washington Sellers, obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 24 January 1935, page 1, col 5.
7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com:accessed 26 May 2013); Memorial page for Andrew Washington Sellers; (24 November 1844–12 January 1935); Find a Grave memorial # 32166062, Citing Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery; Brocks Mill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

Tombstone Tuesday~Elizabeth Deese Streater

Elizabeth Deese Streater
Birth: Sep. 10, 1893
Death: Jun. 18, 1980

Winnie Elizabeth Deese was the first born child of John Calvin Deese and Sarah Frances Gathings. Sarah Frances was John Calvin’s second wife, He was a widower with three small daughters when he married Sarah Frances in February 1892.

Elizabeth whom I knew as “Aunt Lizzie” married Joseph “Joe” Vernon Streater about September 1920. Joe and Aunt Lizzie had 5 children; 4 sons and a daughter. The 3 youngest children perished as infants and only the two firstborn lived to adulthood. Both of these two children have since passed away.

Aunt Lizzie died in an Alabama nursing home, near her daughter, in June 1980. One of her six sisters were still living at that time and she would die two years later in February 1982.  Aunt Lizzie was buried in the Morven Cemetery, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina.








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[1] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 4 June 2010); Memorial page for Elizabeth Deese Streater; (10 September 1893–18 June 1980); Find a Grave memorial # 38280167, Citing Morven Cemetery; Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, USA.
[2] Mrs. Elizabeth Streater obituary, The Ozark Star, Ozark, Dale County, Alabama, 25 June 1980. Holman Funeral Home in Charge.