The Runaway Bride and Groom

On 14 August 1904 Thomas T. Tarlton and Ella Frances Purvis were married in Chesterfield, South Carolina.¹

Thomas T. Tarlton was a son of James Alexander Tarlton and Sarah Jane Sanders.
The parentage of Ella Francis Purvis is murky. Her NC death certificates state that she is the daughter of Billy Purvis and Betsy Previtte.  

Her Social Security Form 5 also shows her parents to be Billy Purvis and Betsy Prevett.

Ella Frances Purvis was born 25 September 1881. In 1880 before Ella was born her Mother Elizabeth/Betsy and older sister Mary J. Purvis (b. ca,.873) can be found living in the household of William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves Purvis.   

On 25 September 1881, Ella Frances Purvis was born. There is a conflict between the 1900 census and her death certificate as to when she was born. The 1900 census says December 1886.

Abt 1888, Mary Jane Purvis married Charlie B. Lang.

On 31 December 1893, Sarah Jane Graves Purvis, wife of William A. Purvis lost her battle with cancer and passed away.

Abut March 1895 Mary Jane Purvis Lang passes away from childbirth complications.
On 23 September 1899, William A. Purvis and his wife Elizabeth Purvis sub-divided a 30 acres tract of land into two parcels selling a 12-acre section to J. D. Rhyne (DB 33, Page 370). William retained a house with 18 acres for his wife Elizabeth/Betsy. After the death of William Purvis between Sept. 1899 and May 1900, Betsy took possession of the land. She later sold the 18 acres parcel to J. D. Rhyne on 30 September 1900 (DB 34, page 491 & 492).

This deed made this 23rd day of September, Anson County, 1899 by W. A. Purvis and wife Elizabeth Purvis of Anson County and State of North Carolina of the first part and J. D. Rhyne of said county and state of the second part witnesseth that said W. A. Purvis and wife in consideration of fifty-four dollars to them paid by J. D. Rhyne. (DB 33, pg 370)

In 1900, Betsy and Ella F. Purvis can be found in Morven Township, Anson County, North Carolina. Betsy is a widow indicating Billy Purvis has died since the signing of the 30 September 1899 land deed to J. D. Rhyne.

After selling her remaining share of the Purvis land to J. D. Rhyne, Betsy went to live with Tom and Ella Tarlton in Rockingham until her death on 18 October 1926.

Tom & Ella Tarlton would raise a family of 7 children; two daughters and five sons. One son, Sylvester, died young. 

Ella Frances Purvis Tarlton died 27 November 1971.  

I share DNA with descendants of Betsy and her daughters. A total of 107.3 cM on Chr. 8,  12 and two segments on Chr. 13.

If William A. Purvis is the father of these two girls then they are my Great Grand Aunts.






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[1] Anson County, North Carolina, Short Locals, Tom Tarlton & Ella Purvis, 14 August 1904; Messenger-Intelligencer Issue of August 18,1904 page 3, Wadesboro.