I have known the above information about my 2nd Great Grandfather, excepting their marriage date, for the past 41 years.
Both he and his wife Sarah Jane have been one my “Brick Walls” for all of those years.
I also knew that a Land Deed in Anson County, dated 23 September 1899 suggested that William’s wife had died and that he had re-married. However, even though this land deed says Elizabeth Purvis is the wife of William A. Purvis I have found no marriage record of this event.
So with the advent of DNA I jumped at the chance to participate. Several things I wanted to know.
- Who were the parents of William A. Purvis
- Who were the parents of Sarah Jane Graves
- Was Elizabeth married to William A. Purvis
- Who is the father of Elizabeth’s children; Mary Jane and Ella Frances
When I discovered what I thought was a second family of William A. Purvis, I contacted my surviving Aunts, Uncles and great Aunts and Uncles living and they claimed no knowledge of a second family. Personally I believe that family secrets were still being kept. You see my Great Grandfather William James outlived my grandfather and died in 1941.
Back in the mid to late 1990’s, I contacted descendants of Mary Jane and Ella Frances trying to gather information on my 2nd Great Grandfather and have maintained that contact even today.
For some time I have tried to get someone from this second family to do a DNA test to either confirm or put to bed my insistences that there was a family connection.
On Monday, the results of that test confirmed my research over the past years. The test results shown below are from a descendant of each of this two lines.
William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves (My Line)
William A. Purvis and Elizabeth Previtte (Second Family)
In addition to confirming a distinct connection between these two families I have also learned from DNA that the Purvis line is connected to Gilbert and James F. Purvis lineage.
So far this looks like a clear case of Marriage after the death of a spouse but such is not the case. There are many unanswered questions about William A. and Elizabeth Purvis.
First, Sarah Jane Graves, the 1st wife, died of cancer on 31 Dec 1893. So for a marriage to take place it should have occurred between 31 Dec 1893 and 23 September 1899. No record has been found; just a Land Deed.
Second, Mary Jane and Ella Frances were both born before 1890. In fact, in the 1880 Census, Elizabeth and her daughter Mary Jane are enumerated in the same household as William and Sarah Purvis.
This census snapshot rather than answering questions leads to more unanswered questions.
- Who was Betsy Purvis?
- Her daughters SS-5 shows her to be Betsy Prevett
- What is her relationship to William and Sarah Purvis.
- Who was her husband?
- Where is her husband?
- Is it possible William A. Purvis had a brother?
In the 1900 Census, Betsy is enumerated with her daughter Ella Frances Purvis and listed as a widow. So, William A. Purvis has passed away between 23 Sept. 1899 and 28 June 1900. We also see that Betsy had conceived another daughter, Ella Frances, born December 1886. At the time of Ella Frances’ birth William was still married and caring for his sick wife.
It’s a known fact that I am just a novice at understanding DNA; but, If the DNA of Betsy’s descendants matches the children of his 1st wife’s family it seems to suggest that William A. is the father or a possible brother.
Anyone with any comments or thoughts, jump in here, I would love to hear from you.
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