Census Sunday~William [James] Purvis Household

In 1860, Smith County, Mississippi we find the following family enumerated in that Census:¹






This is the family of William James Purvis, his wife Millie and their son William J. Purvis. The other two individuals in the household are not family members but may be related. 

Lets look at what we know about each individual:

William [James] Purvis, male, age 64, was born about 1796 in Chesterfield District, SC to James F. Purvis, Sr., b. 1760 and his wife whose name is unknown. Between 1818 and 1820, his father and other brothers and kin migrated from Chesterfield  County, SC to Clarke County, Alabama and ultimately to Hinds-Simpson-Rankin and Smith Counties, Mississippi. 
William James married Millie Cook about 1812/13 in Chesterfield County, SC. They had 9 children; five sons and four daughters.
William James lived his life as a farmer and the entry above in the 1860 Census is the last document on which I have found him listed. It is not known when or where William James Purvis died.  He was not listed in the 1870 Census.

Millie Cook, female, age 59, b. abt 1795 in Chesterfield District, SC was the daughter of John Cook. Millie Cook Purvis is enumerated with her son, James M. Purvis and his wife Martha Caroline Russell. She is also listed on the 1871 Tax List for Smith County, Mississippi. ² 

This is the last known document on which I have found Millie listed. It is not known when or where Millie Cook Purvis died.  She was not listed in the 1880 Census.

William J. Purvis, male, age 41, b.  abt 1819, son of William James and Millie Cook Purvis. William J. Purvis is listed in the 1850 and 1860 Census for Smith County, Mississippi. No other information has been found for William J. Purvis. ^{3 4}

Frances McTiger, female, age 11,  b. 1849 in Mississippi. Nothing is known about this individual. The 1860 Census doesn't even come up when you search on her name. ⁵ 

Isaac Bush, male, age 26, b. 1834, was a neighbor and son of John Alexander Bush and his wife Mary Winnie Idella Reed. Isaac‘s oldest sister Marina Catherine Bush, married James Purvis, b. about 1837. James Purvis was the son of Joseph Purvis and Elizabeth Cook. Elizabeth Cook and Millie Cook were sisters. Joseph Purvis and William James Purvis were brothers. ⁶ 

If you have any information on the life of Frances McTiger  and others in this household please contact me through this blog.




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[1] 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.
[2] "Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-21942-47840-27?cc=1919687&wc=M6J3-W27:211988401,212043501 : accessed 6 September 2015), Smith > County tax rolls 1867-1889, Box 3766 > image 66 of 413; Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson.
[3]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.
[4] 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.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.