Friday's Mystery: William M. Purvis, b. 1837

In 1837, a son William Purvis was borne to James F. Purvis, Jr and his wife Elizabeth Magee. He is shown in the 1850 Census for Rankin County in his parent's household.

William Purvis, age 13 at Census enumeration, son of James F. Purvis, Jr. is the only William Purvis found in Rankin County, Mississippi in the 1850’s.

On 12 July 1856, William M. Purvis married Martha Rhode in Rankin County, Mississippi. William Purvis is now 19 years old.  

After his marriage in 1856, William Purvis and Martha Rhode seem to have vanished into thin air. A thorough search finally revealed one other record group that I believed relates to William and Martha Purvis. That record group is the Civil War Service records.

A William M. Purvis enlisted into the Confederate Army on 1 May 1862 with Company A., 6th Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers. Two months and 14 days later William M. Purvis died on 14 July 1862. William Purvis is now 25 years of age. His Widow Martha A. Purvis made claims for any pay or commutation & bounty due to his estate.

Transcription:

William M. Purvis
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI}
Rankin County}
On this 12^th day of September A.D. 1862, personally appeared before the undersigned Mala Fox -------as acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county, and who is duly authorized to administer oath for general purposes Martha A. Purvis who being duly sworn say on oath, that William M. her husband – was a private in the Company (A) commanded by J. B. Enochs Captain, in the 6^th Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers.
That said William M. Purvis was mustered into service of the Confederates States of America, on the 1^st day of May --- A. D., 1862, for a term of 34 – months or during the war, and actually served 2 months and 14 days, and died on the 14^th day of July A. D. 1862, before the expiration of said term, without receiving his full pay for services and such commutation as he may be entitled to. And said affiant states that She is the widow of said William M. Purvis and She hereby appoints Terence M. Gowan Esq. of Brandon Mississippi to be her true and lawful Attorney to demand receive and receipt for this claim whenever the same is paid.
Affiant make this application for the purpose of obtaining the arrears of pay and commutation, Bounty in which the said William M. Purvis may be entitled, under an act of Congress of the Confederates States of America, approved the day of A.D. 186_; and said affiant refers to the pay rolls of said Company, as further evidence in this behalf.
James Purvis                                                             Martha A. Purvis
A. C. Till.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 12^th day of September A. D. 1862.
And at the same time personally appeared before the undersigned James Purvis ---}Parent
And Albert Till (who being duly Sworn according to) and state that they are acquainted with the above named affiant, and circumstances about which he speaks in said affidavit, and that they believe the statement of affiant to be true. And I certify that said three affiants are credible witnesses.
Given under my hand and seat the date first above written.
                                                                                                  Mala Fox
https://www.fold3.com/image/271/71392335

I have found no record of Martha (Rhode) Purvis after this September 1862 document. If you have any information about William M. Purvis or Martha (Rhode) Purvis I would like to hear from you.



___________________
[1] 1850 Census, Rankin County, Mississippi, population schedule, No Township Listed, Page 247B; Line 28, Household 640/640, James Pervis Household; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 May 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 380.
[2] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BJ-D9RZ-6?i=88&cat=235500
[3] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 30 November 2018), entry for William M. PURVIS, Pvt.; Co. "A", 6th Miss; Confederate.>> https://www.fold3.com/image/271/71392335