Monday Mystery~Who are the Parents of Mary J. and Ella Frances Purvis?

A real mystery lies within my family lineage and in the many genealogical records in filing cabinets and hard drives throughout my house. That mystery!

Who are the Parents of Mary Jane and Ella Frances Purvis?

The first time I ran across these two women were in the late 1970’s and I was a new and budding family Historian. I was stationed with the Air Force in Utah and the LDS Family History Library (at that time in the Joseph Smith Building) was my playground. I of course was researching my Purvis lineage and the man I was dwelling on was William A. Purvis (1823?-1899) my 2nd Great Grandfather; now I’m no closer to discovering who his parents are than I was in 1976.

The day that I looked at the 1880 Census for Anson County, NC searching for my great grandfather and 2nd Great Grandfather was the day that the first part of this mystery revealed itself. Here take a look for yourself:

1st Household:- 2nd Great Grandparents, William A. Purvis and wife Sarah Jane Graves Purvis

2nd Household:- Betsy Purvis, Single, and daughter Mary J. Purvis

3rd Household: – Great Grandparents, William James Purvis and wife Mary Hulda Previtte

Who is Betsy Purvis and what is her relationship to William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves Purvis?

• Who is the father of Mary J. Purvis?
• If previously married (she states that she is single) who was Betsy’s husband?

For many years I thought that William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves had married about 1859. They first show up as a married couple in the 1860 Anson County, NC Census. Then in December 2014 a young lady found a marriage notice for them in a Fayetteville, NC Newspaper.

ABSTRACTS FROM FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER   1851 - 1854 Transcribed and shared by Carolyn Gibbons, Posted July 05, 2007 by Myrtle Bridges
 
22 Jun 1852
                 M[arried] - On the 10th inst., by the Rev. Mr.DuPREE, Mr. Wm. A. PERVIS, of Cheraw, and Miss Sarah Jane GRAVES of Chesterfield District.

[http://www.ncgenweb.us/cumberland/1851-4abstracts.html] 
Found while searching on-line 17 December 2014.

William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves were married 10 June 1852 but their first and only child was not born until 25 September 1863.

• With the Purvs surname, could Betsy Purvis be related to William A. Purvis?

My next surprise came when I attempted to find William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane in the 1900 Census. I didn’t find William A. Purvis and I didn’t find Sarah Jane Purvis but I did find Betsy Purvis.

Line 20--337/337 Elizabeth Purvis, Female, age 39, born Oct 1860, Widow, 2 children, 1 living.  (remember 20 years ago in 1880 she was 30 years old)

Line 21 – 337/337 Ella Purvis, Daughter, age 13, born Dec 1886

Betsy/Elizabeth was single in 1880 and had daughter Mary J. now she is Widowed with daughter Ella Frances Purvis, born Dec. 1886.

Mary Jane absence from the 1900 Census was disturbing. Research showed that Mary Jane Purvis and Charles Franklin Lang were married about 1888. Mary Jane Purvis died about Mar 1895 with the birth of her 4th child, France Elizabeth “Effie” Lang. She was just 22 years old at her death. No tombstone or grave has been found for Mary Jane Purvis Lang.

In 1900, Betsy said she was a widow whereas in 1880 she reported that she was a single lady; so, who did Betsy/Elizabeth married between 1880 and 1900?  

The answer was found in a Land Deed. I just love Land Deed research. That land deed can be found in Book 33, page 370, Register of Deeds, Anson County, North Carolina.

W. A. PURVIS AND WIFE ELIZABETH PURVIS              
TO
J. D. RHYNE DEED

NORTH CAROLINA} 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 inconsideration of fifty four dollars to them paid by J. D. Rhyne.

Now the question becomes - When did Elizabeth/Betsy and William A. Purvis get married? The last record we had of William A. Purvis he was married and living with his wife, Sarah Jane Graves.

This small death notice appeared in the Messenger-Intelligencer, a local Anson County newspaper on 4 January 1894.

DEATH: Messenger-Intelligencer issue of January 4, 1894,  page 3, McFarlan News - The funeral of the wife of Mr. Wm. PERVIS was preached by this writer in the M. E. Church of this place last Sunday [31 Dec. 1893]. She was a good old woman. She had suffered intensely for fifteen months from cancer. She was a member of the M. E. church about 20 years. [SOURCE: Steve Bailey]

Sarah Jane Graves Purvis died of cancer on 31 December 1893.

If William A. Purvis married Elizabeth/Betsy Purvis he did so between 1 Jan 1894 and 23 September 1899. and Since William A. Purvis and Betsy were present when the above land deed (33:370) dated  23 Sep 1899 was executed William A. Purvis died between this date (23 Sept. 1899) and the date of the 1900 census (28 June 1900).

Ella Frances Purvis Tarleton died 27 November 1971. Her death certificate show her parents to be Billie Purvis and Elizabeth Previtte.

While living in Utah and before the fees were raised to an exorbitant levels I requested the  the SS-5 for Ella Frances Lang. It also shows her parents to be Billie Pervis and Betsy Prevett.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Purvis died 18 October 1926 without leaving any clues to her identity. She was living with her daughter Ella and Son-in-law Tom Tarleton in Richmond County, North Carolina.

Mrs. Betsy Purvis
Mrs. Betsy Purvis, aged 90, died Oct. 18th in Great Falls village. The interment was at Mizpah the same day.
[The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Richmond County, NC, Thursday, October 21, 1926, Page 6, Column 2 - Deaths]

If she was in fact 90 years old; her birth year would have been in 1836. She showed up in two censuses, 1880 age 30, born 1850 and 1900 census, age 39, born Oct 1860. The Mizpah cemetery is an old cemetery but no gravestone has been found for Betsy Purvis.   

________________________

1. 1880 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) # 2, Page 350B, Line 36, Dwelling 233, Family 251, Household of William A. Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 951.

2. 1900 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, ED #7, page 145, line 20, dwelling 337, family 338, Household of Elizabeth Purvis.
3. Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 34: pages 491-492, Betsy Purvis to J. D. Rhyne; 30 September 1900, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
4. 1910 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Gulledge, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #6, Page 81A, Line 21, dwelling 170, family 172, Household of Tom TARLTON; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1096.
5. 1920  U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Gulledge, Anson, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 6, Page: 1A/73 (stamped); Line 4, Dwelling 2, Family 2, Household of Tom TARLTON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 10 June 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm Series: T625, Roll: 1283.
6. State of North Carolina, death certificate no. 351, (18 October 1926), Mrs. Betsy Purvis; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.
7. Betsy Purvis, death certificate #351 (1926), Register of Deeds, Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina.
8. Ella P. Tarlton, SS No. xxx-xx-xxxx, Form SS-5, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland.
9. Mrs. Betsy Purvis obituary, The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Rockingham, Richmond County, NC, 21 October 1926, Page 6, Column 2. Deaths.

Who Is The Father of Mary Jane Purvis Lang and Ella Frances Purvis Tarlton

For years I have continued to return to the two children of Elizabeth “Betsy” Purvis; her daughters, Mary Jane Purvis and Ella Frances Purvis struggling to find clues to their heritage. There is no doubt that we are related.  It has been proven with the below partial DNA results.

These results show that Ella Frances Purvis's descendants share a total of 107.5 cM over 5 shared segments the largest segment being 69.6 cM on Chr 12.

Largest segment = 69.6 cM
Total Half-Match segments (HIR) = 107.5 cM (2.998 Pct)
Estimated number of generations to MRCA = 3.5
5 shared segments found for this comparison.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Purvis first appeared in my lineage very early in my Purvis research which I began in October 1976. While researching my Great Grandfather William James Purvis. In the 1880 Census Soundex not only was William James Purvis listed but also a William A. Purvis Sarah J. Purvis, Betsy Purvis, and others.

In my 2nd Great-grandfather household was a young lady named Betsy Purvis, age 30, born in SC with a daughter Mary J. age 7.

But who was this Betsy Purvis?

Next I found that in the 1900 census that Betsy was a Widow with a  daughter named Ella Purvis, age 13, born Dec. 1886.

I learned that Mary Jane Purvis, b. 1973 married  Charles Franklin Lang about 1888 and by 1900 had remarried to a Dora Watkins abt 1898. Mary J,. had obviously died at and after the birth of her 4th child, Frances Elizabeth Lang in March 1895.   

In the 1900 Census, we find Charles Lang and Dora {Watkins} who have been married 2 years and have one child; but Charles had 4 children's listed the first three by his deceased wife Mary Jane Purvis.

Time has continued to pass and the research goes. Still, I have learned nothing about who Elizabeth “Betsy” Purvis? Who is her husband, who is the Father of Mary Jane, born 1873 and is that same person the father of Ella Frances Purvis borne December 1886?

In an attempt to break through this morass I sent off for the SS-5 of Ella Frances Purvis Tarlton. That SS-5 is shown here:

The above SS-5 shows that the parents of Ella P. Tarlton are Billie Pervis and Betty Prevett.

A September 1899 Deed also shows that W. A. Purvis and wife Elizabeth Purvis sold Land to Jefferson D. Rhine in September 1899 (DB 33, pg 370). 

Until this deed, the only known wife of William A. Purvis was Sarah Jane Graves whom he married 10 June 1852 and remained married to her until her death in December 1893. When did William A. marry Elizabeth and is Elizabeth the same Elizabeth found in the William A. Purvis household in 1880 Anson County Census?

  

The SS-5 says that Ella Frances's father is Billie Purvis. Is he also the father of Mary Jane Purvis. Are William A. Purvis and Billie Purvis the same individual?

There are still so many unanswered questions about how individuals named within this blog are related. If you have any information please contact me through this blog.

These two children, Mary Jane and Ella Frances, are most likely my 2nd or 3rd Cousin. 








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[1] MARRIAGE obituary, The Fayetteville Observer, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States, 22 June 1852, Page 3, Last Column, top right corner. Wm. A. PERVIS & Sarah Jane GRAVES.
[2] Sarah Jane Graves Purvis obituary, Messenger-Intelligencer, Wadesboro, North Carolina, 4 January 1894, page 3, McFarlan News.
[3] 1880 CENSUS: Morven, Anson County, North Carolina; Roll: 951; Family History Film: 1254951; Enumeration District: 2; Image: 0493; Page 350B, Line 36, Dwelling 233, Family 251; William A. PURVIS, age 53, Farmer, born in SC, father born in SC, mother born in NC; Sarah J. PURVIS, Wife, age 48, born in NC, parents born in NC. Dwelling 223, Family 252, Betsy PURVIS, age 30, born in NC, parents born in NC; Mary J. PURVIS, age 7, born in NC, parents born in NC. (Spelled PURVICE on Ancestry).
[4] 1900 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #7, page 145, line 20, dwelling 337, family 338, Household of Elizabeth Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1181.
[5] 1900 US Census, Union County, North Carolina, population schedule, Marshville Township, Union County, NC, enumeration district (ED) #136, page 117B, Line 76, dwelling 57, family 60, Charles F. Lang; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed July 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1220.
[6] Ella P. Tarlton, SS No. XXX-XX-XXXX, Form SS-5, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland.
[7] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 33: page 370, W. A. Purvis and wife Elizabeth Purvis to J. D. Rhyne; 23 September 1899, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

It’s Family Time~Ella Frances Purvis

 



http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2016/07/its-family-timemary-jane-purvis.html

In the above posting I introduced you to the concept that William A. Purvis was twice married; discuss his second wife – Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Purvis – and documented the family of her oldest daughter, Mary Jane Purvis Lang.  
 
Remember that in the 1880 Census, Betsy and her daughter Mary J. was listed as Family 252 in the same Dwelling  233 as William A. and Sarah J. Purvis (Family 251). No husband was present nor has a husband been identified for Betsy prior to the September 1899 Land Deed (DB 33, pg 370). 
 


We do know that the Anson County Land Deed (DB 33, pg 370) identified Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Purvis as the wife of William A. Purvis. We also know that William A. married Sarah Jane Graves on 19 June 1852 and that Sarah Jane died on 31 December 1893. 

Therefore, if William did in fact remarry it had to occur between 1 Jan 1894 and 23 Sept. 1899. Yet, in the 1900 census, we find Betsy with another daughter, Ella Frances Purvis, b. 25 September 1881.  





This little snippet from the 1900 Census contains significant information; but, there is also conflicting information.

• Elizabeth Purvis is was Widow (the census date is 28 June 1900
• Elizabeth had 2 children 1 living; Mary J. and Ella Frances Purvis
• Elizabeth was born in Oct. 1860; Ella Frances was born in Dec. 1886

We still find no mention of any husband prior to the 1890’s so Who is the father of Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ children – Mary J. and Ella Frances. 

When was Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ born in 1880 she is age 30; in 1900 she is age 39, born Oct. 1860.  Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ was still living on the Purvis farm in 1900.

On 14 August 1904, daughter Ella Frances married  Thomas T. Tarlton in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 

On 30 September 1900, Betsy gives up her life estate in the 19 acres William A. Purvis left her selling the land to J. D. Rhyne for a measly $50.00 dollars. (DB 34, Page 491-492, Betsy Purvis to J. D. Rhyne, Anson Co., NC). Betsy moves in with Tom and Ella Tarlton. 

In the 1920 Census we find Ellen and Tom with 5 children and her Mother, Elizabeth Purvis, age 75, in the household all living in Rockingham, Richmond County, North Carolina.  Elizabeth in 1900 said she was born in October 1860; now in 1920 she is 75 years of age. That computes to a birth year of 1845. Elizabeth ‘Betsy” Purvis died on 18 October 1926. To add to the confusion her obituary states that she is 90 years old, a birth year of 1836. 

Mrs. Betsy Purvis
Mrs. Betsy Purvis, aged 90, died Oct. 18th in Great Falls village. The interment was at Mizpah the same day.

Tom and Ella had seven children; 2 daughters and 5 sons. I spent a lot of time talking on the phone and corresponding with the two daughters. 

While my family and Ella Frances family were from the same Grandparent it was as if neither knew anything of the other family. I can’t help to believe that William A. Purvis only son, my Great Grandfather William James Purvis, disapproved of his father’s remarriage, if a marriage occurred and kept it a family secret. 

I just had a 92 year old Aunt who passed away and she knew nothing of this family and great aunts that I talked to claimed to have no knowledge of what I was talking about. 

If you have any information om Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Purvis and her two daughters, Mary Jane Purvis wife of Charlie Franklin Lang and Ella Frances Purvis, wife of Thomas T. Tarlton I would love to hear from you.

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1. 1900 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #7, page 145, line 20, dwelling 337, family 338, Household of Elizabeth Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1181.
2. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Steer Pen, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0028, Page 18B/204 (stamped); Line 57, Dwelling 353, Family 364, Household of Malcom DECKER; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : Viewed 22 June 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1523.
3. 1910 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Gulledge, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #6, Page 81A, Line 21, dwelling 170, family 172, Household of Tom TARLTON; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1096.
4. 1920 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Gulledge, Anson, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 6, Page: 1A/73 (stamped); Line 4, Dwelling 2, Family 2, Household of Tom TARLTON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 10 June 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm Series: T625, Roll: 1283.
5. Thomas T. Tarlton obituary, Evening Herald, Rock Hill,, 16 May 1964, page 2.
6. Anson County, North Carolina, Short Locals, , Tom Tarlton & Ella Purvis, 14 August 1904; Messenger-Intelligencer Issue of August 18,1904 page 3, Wadesboro.
7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 2 January 2013); Memorial page for Ella Frances Purvis Tarlton; (25 September 1881–27 October 1971); Find a Grave memorial # 52220581, Citing Waxhaw Baptist Church Cemetery; Waxhaw, Union County, North Carolina, USA.
8. State of North Carolina, death certificate no. 39499 (27 November 1971), Ella Frances Tarlton; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.
9. Social Security Administration, Ancestry database, Ancestry, (http://www.ancestry.com : <viewed|accessed> 2 January 2009), Ella P. Tarlton, 1965 derived from U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File,database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, 24 July 2011).
10. Mrs. Betsy Purvis obituary, The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Rockingham, Richmond County, NC, 21 October 1926, Page 6, Column 2. Deaths.