Tombstone Tuesday~Mary Ann Purvis Strahan

Mary Ann Purvis Strahan
b. Feb. 16, 1836
Wilcox County, Alabama, USA
d. Dec. 22, 1929
Covington County, Mississippi

bu. Williamsburg United Methodist

 

Photo Courtesy of Katie Nelson

 

Mary Ann Purvis, wife of William Lawrence Strahan, was born 16 Feb. 1836, a daughter of George Purvis, Jr. and his wife Caroline Campbell. Mary Ann and William Lawrence were married 9 September 1852 and had 9 children; 6 sons and 3 daughters. 

Her parents, George and Caroline grew up in Chesterfield County, South Caroline. George was born in 1805 and Caroline was born in 1810. George’s parents was George Purvis, Sr. and his mother is unknown. The parents of his wife Caroline are Duncan N. Campbell and his wife Mary (Maiden name unknown.) The Purvis and Campbell families moved to Wilcox county between the birth of their oldest daughter Henrietta (26 Dec. 1833) Purvis and the younger, Mary (b. 16 Feb. 1836) Purvis. 

Mary Ann’s father George Purvis, Jr. died shortly after settling in Alabama sometime before 20 June 1836. He was 31 years old at the time of his death. 

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[1] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 October 2016); Memorial page for Mary Ann Purvis Strahan; (16 February 1836–22 December 1929); Find a Grave memorial # 114483778, Citing Williamsburg United Methodist; Covington County, Mississippi, USA.

Amanuensis Monday~1836 Wilcox County, AL Orphan Court Minutes

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.

His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.
 
Today’s subject is the 1836 Wilcox County, AL Orphan Court Minutes.¹

In 1830, George Purvis, a single man, age 20-29 is enumerated in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. About this time George Purvis married Caroline Campbell, daughter of Duncan N. Campbell and his wife Mary. 

George and Caroline had two children both daughters. Their first born named Henrietta Purvis was born 26 December 1833 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.  

By the birth of their 2nd child George and Caroline had moved from Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Wilcox County, Alabama where their daughter Mary Ann Purvis was born on 16 February 1836. 

About 1837, Duncan and Mary moved the family from Chesterfield County, SC to Wilcox County, Alabama joining their daughter Caroline and son-in-law George Purvis. 

It is not known what happen but between 1835-1840 both George Purvis and Duncan Campbell are deceased leaving Caroline and Mary as widows. They can be found in the 1840 Census living next door to each other in Covington County, Mississippi. 

1840 Alabama, Wilcox, page 313, lines 12-13
Mrs. C. Purvis, 1f<5, 2f5-10, 1f30-40, 4 total
Mrs. Mary Campbell, 2m20-29, 1f30-39, 1f50-59, 1 male slave 24-35, 5 total
 


Orphan Court Minutes
George Purvis died sometime before 20 June 1836. This is the first document in the orphan Court records of Wilcox County Alabama related to his demise. The document is dated 20 June 1836. George would have been approximately 31 years of age at the time of his death.  
 











Transcription:
 Book 3, page 24
Estate of George Purvis dec’d
Upon the application of Caroline Purvis for letters of administration on the estate of her deceased husband George Purvis. It is ordered by the court that the same be granted.
Ordered by the court that Duncan H. Campbell Malcom McRaney & Moses McClure be and they are hereby appointed appointed<sic> appraisers of the Estate of George Purvis dec’d.
Ordered by the court that Caroline Purvis administratrix of the Estate of George Purvis, dec’d have leave to sell the personal property belonging to the Estate of Said deceased.
Ordered by the Court that Caroline Purvis administratrix of the Estate of George Purvis dec’d give bond and security in the sum of one thousand dollars for the due and faithful payment of which sum will  performance of the duties of administratrix of said Estate and that Duncan H. Campbell and Malcom  McRaney be accepted of as her security.

[Source: Orphan Court Probate, Film 1673597, Index to Probate Minutes  Book 3 pages 24, Jun 20, 1836, Estate of George Pervis deceased]

If you have any information about the Purvis and Campbell families mentioned within this blog please contact me at my e-mail address found on this page, right column.












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Note: My thanks to Chris A. for his help with these families.
[1] Source: Orphan Court Probate, Film 1673597, Index to Probate Minutes  Book 3 pages 24, Jun 20, 1836, Estate of George Pervis deceased
[2] 1830 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 259; Line 13, Household of George Purvis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 January 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm M19_Roll 172.
[3] 1840 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, population schedule, Wilcox County, Alabama, Page: 313; Line 12, Household of C. Purvis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 January 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm M704 Roll 16.