Brock, Holifield, Howell, Rivers and others of Chesterfield, SC to Mississippi

While researching the Rivers of Chesterfield County (my 3rd and 4th Great Grand Mothers were of the Rivers Lineage) I found that many of the Rivers and other families migrated from Chesterfield into Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

I found Dempsey Rivers born 1797 and his Brother Michael in both the SC censuses for Chesterfield and later in the Chattooga County records of Georgia.

In Clarke County, Alabama I found the marriage of Henry Howell and Rebecca Purvis, the marriage of John P. Purvis and Mary Parks, land deeds by Gilbert Johnson Purvis, son of Gilbert Purvis and Effica Howell and the death of John Purvis in 1825, quite possibly the husband of Vicey Purvis of Chesterfield.

Continuing on to Mississippi, we find John H. Brown and his wife Sarah Rivers in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. John died there in 1855 and his probate folder is on file at the courthouse. After his death, Sarah moved in with her son, Epps Rivers  Brown and his wife Dorinda Adair of Union County, Arkansas. Epps and Dorinda were married in Lauderdale County where Dorinda’s father Zadok Adair had vast land holdings.

Over in Hinds and Rankin Counties, we find the families of Joseph, James F., Gilbert and many other Purvis families, The Howell, the Brock, the Holifield's all whom  originated in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. There is also James Purvis and Elizabeth Brock, William Brock and his wife Charlotte. 

Moses S.  Holiyfield, Sr. found in the 1820 Anson County and 1830 Chesterfield Census married Emilia ‘Milly’ Rivers, quite possibly the daughter of Mark Rivers and Annie Parker, and took her off with this group to Mississippi. Her brother Mark marred Irena Catherine Hancock in February 1840 and moved her to Rankin County Mississippi. Their brother Luke Rivers, remained in Chesterfield (see 1850 census) and then in the late 1850‘s took his wife and family, moving to Jones County, Ms to be close to his siblings.

Harlan ‘Dan’ Daniel, late of Mississippi , said that the Holifield's, Old man John H. Holifield, once owned all the land where present day Laurel, Mississippi is now located. In 1972, Daniel compiled a genealogical history entitled "Two Hundred and One Years" consisting of 219 pages of the John H. Holifield family. Mr. Daniel in his book claims that Moses and Milly Rivers Holifield arrived in Jones county, Mississippi in the year 1836. 

Mark and Irena Catherine were married in SC (Feb. 1840) and join the families shortly after their marriage. No children were born of this union.

The Jones County census for 1840 shows Moses Sr. was living on the Talahala Creek on 160 acres of land. 
1840 CENSUS: Jones County, Mississippi; Roll: 214; Image: 620; Family History Library Film: 0014840, Page: 305; Line 1; 1 Male, Under age 5 [James]; 1 Male, age 6-9 [Moses, Jr.  & Jonathan]; 1 Male, age 10-14 [Mark]; 2 Males, age 15-19 [John C, Ray]; 1 Male, age 20-29 [Joshua]; 1 Male, age 40-49 [Moses]; 1 Female, age 10-14 [Charlotte] and 1 Females, age 40-49 [Milly].
 
Milly Rivers Holifield died between 1860 and 1865. After Milly’s death, Moses Sr. married Nancy J. McCary Sumerall. Two sons and a daughter were born to this union. Moses Holifield died after 1872 where he can be found on the Jones County 1872 tax list. No tombstones have been found for Moses or Millie Holifield.