John W. Purvis Estate~Guardianship of His Three Children

In August 1860 the George Washington Purvis and with Martha Adeline Franklin was visited by the “Census Taker” in Smith County, Mississippi. He documented this Family as Dwelling 599, Family 599, Line 23, Smith County, Mississippi. This is a listing of the Family from the 1860 Smith County Census.



For many years until last week, I and many other researchers made the assumption that all the Children listed within the family were children of George W. and his wife Martha A. Purvis. After all, they seem to be born in a very common natural sequence within the family. This turned out to be a bad assumption as the forthcoming document will show.¹

While doing a “page by page” review of Rankin County, MS probate records I came upon a Guardianship decree for John W. Purvis, James F. Purvis and Emily M. Purvis. This document was found in Rankin County “Accounts 1872-1894” film on FamilySearch, Image 48, pages 74 and 75 of the Accounts book. This document shows that these 3 children, John, James and Emily, are heirs at law of John W. Purvis, deceased.



Transcription:

Report Sale Land

Est. of}
John W. Purvis} To the Hon. E. W. Cabinefs Chancellor &c
                  Et al} The report of the undersigned Guardian of John W
              Minors} Purvis James F. Purvis & Emily M. Purvis minors & heirs at law of John Purvis dec’d

Transcription, Page 74

Report Sale Land

Est. of}
John W. Purvis} To the Hon. E. W. Cabinefs Chancellor &c
                  Et al} The report of the undersigned Guardian of John W
              Minors} Purvis James F. Purvis & Emily M. Purvis minors & heirs at law of John Purvis dec’d would respectfully state & show that by virtue of a Decree of your Honl Court made at the January Term 1874 thereof authorizing & directing the undersigned Guardian as aforesaid  to sell at Public Outcry to the highest bidder for cash the interest of said  minors & your said Guardian being in all an undivided One Twelfth interest in and to the following described lands in Rankin County to wit: the W ½ of  NW ¼ & E ¼ of NW ¼ & N. ½ of SW ¼ & NW ¼ of SE ¼ Section 25 Township 4 of Range 5 East. She died on the 7th day of February A. D. 1874 before the Court House  door in Brandon between the hours prescribed by law after giving the notice required by the statute & the said Decree by publication & posting of which publication is herewith filed Marked Exhibit “A” & made a part of this report  proceed too sell the said interest in said lands to the highest bidder for cash when and where J. R. Strong approved and bid for same the sum of Eighty Six ($86.00) Dollars which being the highest & best bid said interest in said land was struck off to him & he became the purchaser thereof, Your said Guardian would further state that said Strong has paid the said sum of ($86.00) and that she has made execute & delivered to him a Deed to the said interest in said land and having Now fully reported she prays that the same together with said sale may be confirmed, and as Duty bound &c
Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 6th day} M. X her mark A. Purvis
of April 1874            S. T. Parker Clk}                            Guardian
                                          By S. R. Martin DC
Files April 16th 1874 and Recorded April 30th, 1874.
                                           S. T. Parker Clk
                                      By S. R. Martin DC




EXHIBIT “A”
Door Publication
The State of Mississippi} Est. of John W. Purvis et al Minors} 888
                Rankin County} M. A. Purvis Guardian
By virtue of a Decree of the Chancery Court of Rankin County made in
The above stated case at the January Term thereof 1874 the undersigned Guardian of the minor heirs of John Purvis Deceased late of said County Will on Saturday, February 7th 1874 within the hours prescribed by Law before the Court House Door in Brandon proceed to sell at Public Auction to the highest bidder for cash the undivided one
twelfth interest in and to the following Described land lying and being
in said County to wit: the West half of the North West quarter and
the South East quarter of the North West quarter and the North half
of the South West quarter and the North West quarter of the South
East quarter of Section Number twenty five Township number four
Range Number five West.            M. A. Purvis
Cole & Henry  Sols                            Guardian



This George W. Purvis is a real enigma. Many a researcher has looked for the parents of George Washington Purvis, age 25, born in Alabama without success. Many of these same researchers say he is a son of John Purvis, Jr. and  Elizabeth Lovett but this is doubtful. If you have any information about George or his wife  Martha Adeline Franklin I would like to hear from you. There is an E-mail link in the top right corner of this page.

UPDATE:
See this link:

https://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2021/09/parents-of-george-washington-purvis.html




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Note: Plus (+) mark used to replace ampersand &
[1] "Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89Q6-Y9Q3-Q?cc=2036959&wc=M7MB-Z6D%3A344537701%2C345706101 : 21 May 2014), Rankin > Accounts 1872-1894 > image 48 of 333; county courthouses and public libraries, Mississippi.