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.






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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.