James P. J. Purvis died in 1836 sometime after February 1836, leaving his wife, Elizabeth Rose Campbell Purvis, a widow with 2 small children and a baby on it’s way.
James left his widow with a small farm consisting of 40 acres; but, there was no way for Elizabeth pregnant to maintain a farm and also take care of two small children. She needed someone to take care of her and the children. That someone turned out to be Major Joseph E. Miller.
Major Joseph E. Miller and Elizabeth Purvis were married 11 March 1839 according to the “The Southern Sun”, Jackson, MS, 12 March 1839, page 3, column 4.1
MARRIED—In Rankin county, on Monday evening last, by Rev. Mr. Porter, Maj. Joseph E. Miller, of this city, to Mrs. Elizabeth Purvis.
Interesting to note is that Ancestry has this marriage occurring 7 March 1839 2
Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 about Jo E. Miller
Name: Jo E. Miller
Spouse: Elizabeth Purvis
Marriage Date: 7 Mar 1839
County: Rankin
Source Information:
Hunting For Bears, comp.. Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: Mississippi marriage information taken from county courthouse records. Many of these records were extracted from copies of the original records in microfilm, microfiche, or book format, located at the Family History Library.
and the Franklin Family Researchers United Newsletter, Charter Issue, October 1991, page 56 (2nd edition) has the marriage occurring on 10 May 1839. 3
Marriage:J. E. Miller married Elizabeth R. [Campbell] Purvis 10 Mar 1839; Rec Bk 2, page 121
If she was in fact married on Monday evening as the marriage was reported in the 12 May 1839, Southern Sun then she was either married on the 4th or the 11th of May 1839.
Maj. Joseph E. Miller
Where and how did Joseph E. Miller acquire the Rank or Title of Major. Joseph was born 21 Jul 1795 in Georgetown, Kentucky. This Rank has to be the result of service during the War of 1812.
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[1] MARRIAGE: Maj. Joseph E. Miller to Elizabeth Purvis, The Southern Sun, Jackson, Mississippi, 12 March 1839, Page 3, Column 4. about mid-column.
[2] http://goo.gl/Ogfnv6
[3] http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ffru/Docs/FFRU_back/charter.pdf
This is very interesting! This is the first reference I have ever seen to Joseph E. Miller as Major. I would also be interested in hearing more about the 40 acre Purvis farm in Rankin County! Wonderful article! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI have both Land deed, james P. J. bought the land in July 1834 and Elizabeth Rose sold the land on 24 March 1836. I have transcription that I did of both deeds.
DeleteYes, it is and I think it may be for service from the War of 1812 although he was barely 18, if his birth date is correct. Thanks for the comments, I would love to hear how you are connected. My email is CPurvis1 (at) gmail.com
ReplyDeleteIf James Purvis only left Elizabeth a 40 acre farm,I wonder how she became so wealthy? When she and Joseph Miller went to Concordia Parish, she is the one who bought all of the land there- and put it all in HER NAME- unusual for the time!!!
ReplyDeleteI think Elizabeth Rose received those land grants because of the service and death of her husband during the Civil War and it was the land than generated her wealth.
ReplyDeleteThos. F. Campbell, brother of Elizabeth Rose assigned 39 Acres for service in Mexican War which was transferred to Joseph E. Miller. Accession Nr: MW-0959-086
ReplyDelete