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 the WILL of Burridge Purvis, Jr.1
Burridge Purvis, Sr. and his brother William Purvis were merchants in Columbia, South Carolina. They had one of the largest grocery stores on the corner of Richardson Street and Gervais. Richardson Street is know known as Main Street.
In July 1816 , Burridge Purvis, Sr., died on a return trip back to his home in Glassmount, Fifeshire, Scotland. Surviving him were his widow and eight children; 4 sons and 4 daughters. His widower, Mary (Brown) Purvis erected a monument on his grave in Scotland. It can be viewed by clicking here.
Although Burridge maintained a business in the United States his wife and children remained in Scotland. Shortly after Burridge Sr. death on 17 July 1816, his widow Mary also lost her youngest son, Alexander, reported to have perished in a fire on 21 June 1819.
It’s not known, by myself, exactly when his 3 three sons, William, John and Burridge, Jr. came to America; but, after their Father’s death they can be found in Mobile, Alabama, Warren County, Mississippi and Louisiana.
John had land holdings in Mississippi in Warren and Sunflower counties and Burridge, his brother, was very successful in Mobile, Alabama. Sometime around September 1837 Burridge Purvis, Jr. died in Alabama. His closest relative was his brother, John Purvis, in Warren County, Mississippi.
The following document is on file in Warren County, Mississippi.
Probate Court April Term 1841
Copy of Record of B. Purvis Will &c
The State of Alabama at an Orphan Court begun and held for Mobile County I Said State at the Court House in the city of Mobile on the 18th day of October 1837 present the Honorable John J. Everett Judge of the said Court the following preceding in the matter of the Will of Burridge Purvis were held. In the matter of the Will of it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the late Burridge Purvis whom Will is now hereby submitted by his brother John for probate has no widower or kindred in this state except the said John and That a portions of his goods and chattel, are in this County It is therefore ordered that the said Will having been Satisfactorily proven as the last will and Testament of the Said Burridge Purvis be admitted to record as such and it is further ordered that the said John Purvis be appointed administrator with the Will annexed of the said Burridge Purvis he having qualified according to law and Executed bond in the sun of two hundred dollars with Thomas Rogers and John D. Haynes which bond is now hereby the court approved of and accepted , which will of Burridge is in the words and figures following to wit:Know all men by these presents that I, Burridge Purvis son of the late Burridge Purvis of Glassmount, Fifeshire, Scotland do make this my last Will and Testament Viz I do hereby give & bequeath to the children of my sister Eliza Blackie One hundred pounds Sterling Sister Ann Blackie One hundred pounds Sterling I give & bequeath to each of the children of my Sister Mary Spears One hundred pounds Sterling each I give & bequeath to my Brother John Purvis, all my interest in the Estate of Glassmount, Fifeshire, Scotland I give & bequeath to my said Brother John all my interest in the plantation and Slaves thereon situate in Yazoo County.
Burridge Purvis, Jr. is reported to have died on 1 September 1837. I DO NOT have any documents other than the one above that states that Burridge Purvis died on 1 September 1837.
However, I did find this obituary in the Charleston Courier for 13 September 1843; but, it only confuses the issue. This is 6 years after Burridge was reported deceased in Mobile, Alabama. 2
The Relatives, Friends and Acquaintances of M. William Purvis, and Mr. and Mrs. John Dixon, are [[illegible] respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of BURRIDGE PURVIS, at St. Paul’s Church, This afternoon,[illegible] o’clock.
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[1] "Mississippi, Probate Records, 1781-1930," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-30978-28817-5?cc=2036959&wc=M79Z-QM9:344538501,348191201 : accessed 14 Nov 2014), Warren > Wills 1829-1910 vol A-B > image 73 of 894; county courthouses and public libraries, Mississippi. [Warren County, Mississippi, Will Book "A", page 112]
[2] The Charleston Courier, Charleston, South Carolina, 13 September 1843, page 2, column Far Right.
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