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 Gilbert Purvis and documents related to his departure from South Carolina.
Between Nov 1784 and Aug 1793, Gilbert Purvis was awarded 3 land plats containing 4,315 Acres of land in the Cheraw District.
- 11/11/1784 - PURVIS, GILBERT, PLAT FOR 100 ACRES ON SOUTH WEST SIDE OF GREAT PEE DEE RIVER, CHERAWS DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY ALEXANDER CRAIG.1
- 8/15/1793 - PURVIS, GILBERT AND JAMES PURVIS, PLAT FOR 3,215 ACRES NEAR NORTH FORK OF BEAR CREEK, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, CHERAW DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY ERASMUS POWE.2
- 8/15/1793 - PURVIS, GILBERT AND JAMES NORRIS, PLAT FOR 1,000 ACRES ON FORK OF BEAR CREEK, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, CHERAW DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY ERASMUS POWE.3
In March 1818, an Administrative Bond was recorded in Horry County, South Carolina, naming Gilbert Purvis as administrator of the goods, chattels and credits of one James Purvis, Deceased.
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Recorded March 1818
State of South Carolina }
Horry District } Know all men by these presents that we John Johnston,
Gilbert Purvis, Moses Harrelson and Felix Powell are holden and firmly bound unto Henry Durant Esquire Ordinary for aforesaid District in the full and just sum of Ten Thousand to be paid to the said Henry Durant or to his successors of this District or their certain attorney or officers, To which payment will and truly be made, and we bind ourselves and every of us own and every of our heirs, executors, administrators, for the whole and in the whole jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated the
Seventeenth Day of July one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and in the 43rd year of America Independence.The condition of the above obligation is such that if
the above bound John Johnston and Gilbert Purvis administrators of the goods, chattels and credits of James Purvis deceased do make a true and perfect inventory of all and singular, the goods, chattels, credits of the said deceased, which shall come into the hands of knowledge of the said John Johnston,
Gilbert Purvis, or unto the hands of any other person or persons for them and the same so made to which unto the said aunt of ordinary when he shall be hereunto covered and such goods, chattels and credits do well and truly administer according to law and do make a just and true account of their actions and do required by the said Court and all the rest of the said goods and credits which shall be found remaining upon the amount of the said administration, the same being first allowed by
the said Court shall deliver and execute such persons respectively, as are entitled to the same by law and of it shall deliver hereafter appears that any Last Will and testament was made by the said deceased, and the same be proved in Court, and the executors obtain a certificate of the probate thereof, and the said John Johnston, Gilbert Purvis do in such case, if required, render and deliver all the said letters of administration, then this obligation to be void or else to remain full force. Signed
John Johnston {seal}
Gilbert X Purvis {seal}
Moses Harrelson {seal}
Felix Powell {seal}
We know this is not Gilbert’s brother James Purvis, Sr. because he went to Mississippi with Gilbert. Was it a son, an uncle or nephew. The bond does not say, and we have no way to know.
Was this the catalyst that started their migration westward and who did Gilbert Purvis sell his 4 thousand 3 hundred and fifteen (4, 315) acres to before leaving South Carolina.
While doing some newspaper research during the past week I found this notice:
5.
CAUTION.
I FOREWARN all persons from trading for a note of hand given by me to James Purvis, Senr., late of Chesterfield district, for one hundred dollars dated the first day of January 1818 and payable the first day of January 1819, with conditions thereto providing I get sufficient titles to a tract of land purchased by me from the said Purvis, and as I have failed getting sufficient titles, I am determined not to pay the same unless compelled by Law.
Hayward Todd
Chesterfield C. H. Dec. 29, 1818 44-Y
A portion of this land deed came into my possession this week.
Land deed between James Purvis and Haywood Todd 6
28 chs to a corner, thence S. E. 8-56 Chs to …. Thence N22-50 Chs to a Pine 38 thence NW 4 - 25 Chs to a corner thence SW 76-16 Chs to a corner thence NW 14-33 Chs to the beginning Pine containing one thousand Eighty one [1081] acres. Reference being had to the above Plat will more plainer Shew the shape and boundary of the Same, together and with all and singular the rights members hereditaments and appurtenances to the sais premises belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining unto the Said Haywood Todd his heirs and afsigns forever, and I do hereby bind myself my heirs executors and administrators to warrant and forever defend against every other Person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Witnefs my hand and seal, this the 29th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and seventeen and in the forty seven year of the independence of the United States of America.
Assigned, Sealed and … in presence of }
Hugh Craig
Phillip Sellers
I think that the deceased James Purvis is a son of Gilbert Purvis and named after his Uncle James Purvis, Sr.. Still searching for more defined proof.
About this time and due to some unknown reason Gilbert and his brother, James packed up the Purvis families and moved them down through Georgia, into Alabama, stopping for a while in Clarke County, Alabama.
Two land deeds in Clarke County, Alabama proved their presence there in 1821.
- Book "A', Page 182-183; William Stringer (Grantor) to Gilbert PURVIS (Grantee); Date of Deed 25 Dec 1821 Recorded 12 Feb 1822; LDS Film #1823018; Witness - William L. Thornton & Gilbert J. Purvis [This deed between Gilbert Purvis, Sr., known because his son Gilbert J. witnessed the deed.]
- Book "G", Pages 366-367; Gilbert J. PURVIS (Grantor) to Grass Scruggs (Grantee) Deed; Date of Deed 12 January 1829; Filed in Office 29 March 1856; Recorded 9 May 1856 Book "G" and pages 366.367; LDS Film # 1823073; Witness, James P. J. Purvis & James Purvis
Gilbert, his wife Effica and brother James Purvis, Sr. and their extended families all eventually settled in and around Hinds and Rankin County, Mississippi.
The last entry I have found for Gilbert Purvis, Sr. is the 1828 Tax Roll, Simpson County, Mississippi. Here we find Gilbert and his son Gilbert J. Purvis listed.
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It is believed that Gilbert Senior died sometime between 1828 and 1830. Gilbert J. Purvis is the head of household in the 1830 Simpson County census and his mother, Effica Howell Purvis is enumerated within the household.
No death date or tombstone has been found for Gilbert Purvis, Senior. His wife Effica Howell died Aug 1834 in Hinds County, Mississippi.
No record of the sale of Gilbert’s 4000+ acres has been found.
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[1] Gilbert Purvis, Plat for 100 Acres, 11 November 1784; S213190; Volume: 0003; Page: 00151, Volume: 0003; Page: 00151, Item 0001; Dept. of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina.
[2] Gilbert Purvis & James Purvis, Plat for 3, 215 Acres, 15 August 1793; S213190, Volume: 0032; Page: 00255, Item 0001; Dept. of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina.
[3] Gilbert Purvis & James Norris, Plat for 1000 Acres, 15 August 1783; S213190, Volume: 0032; Page: 00055, Item 003; Dept. of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina.
[4] Horry County South Carolina,
Horry District Administration Bonds 1803-1818 (Conway, Horry County, South Carolina: Probate Office, n.d.), Administration Bond - Gilbert Purvis, page 71.
[5] “The Camden Gazette”, Camden, South Carolina, 28 January 1819, page 2.
[6]
Chesterfield County Library: Spencer Family Papers, 1700-1900;
http://hdl.handle.net/10827/8910
[7]
: Mississippi State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, *FamilySearch*, (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 14 January 2012), Simpson,County Tax Rolls; 1828, Box 3764, Image of 36 of 276, Gilbert PERVIS.
