Chesterfield County SC~Estate Folder #24 – Guardianship-Thomas P. Davis Estate

This is a new series of posting, appearing every Sunday, on selected Estate Folders from the Estate files of Chesterfield County. No known estates exist for the period before the Civil War. They were destroyed with the burning of the Courthouse. There are a few “Equity Records” in the State Archives. Do not overlook this valuable resource if you are looking for ancestors in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.  

Today we will be looking at the following Estate folder:
 
Folder #24
W. D. Davis

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19383-29278-16?cc=1911928
 
Folder #24 is in regards to the estate of Thomas P. Davis in which petitions are being made to appoint J. W. Davis as guardian of the under aged children of Thomas P. Davis and Nancy [Massey] Davis, his wife.

The estate folder begins at image 41 of 709. There are 6 images within the estate folder. (images 41-46). There are two key documents within this folder; the other four are just legal documents required by the probate system.

Image 42
 



Transcription of Image 42
State of South Carolina
Chesterfield County
Ex Parte J. W. Davis for M. D. Davis H. L. Davis J. N. Davis T. C. Davis
1. That M. D. Davis H. L. Davis J. N. Davis & T. C. Davis are Infants over the age of fourteen years and is entitled to an interest in the said estate of about five Dollars each.
2. That said M. D. Davis H. L. Davis J. N. Davis & T. C. Davis has no guardian in this state with which the administrator can settle and from whom he can get a final discharge and petition is desirous of having a Guardian appointed for them and J. W. Davis is a suitable person for such Guardian wherefore petitioner prays that J. W. Davis be appointed Guardian of said M. D. Davis H. L. Davis J. N. Davis & T. C. Davis with all the powers and liabilities incident there to and your petitioner ever prays.

M. D. Davis

H. L. Davis

J. N. Davis

T. C. Davis

The children named within this document are: Minnie D. Davis (daughter); Helen Laura Davis (daughter); John Nelson Davis (Son) and Thomas Colson ‘Coke’ Davis (Son).
I believed the guardian chosen for these children was their uncle John Wesley Davis.

Image 44
 
 
Transcription of Image 44
State of South Carolina
Chesterfield County
In Re Estate T. P. Davis
Ex Parte Nancy Davis for J. M. Davis Hattie Davis & W. J. Davis – The petition of Nancy Davis
1. That she is the Mother of the above named children and that that she has the care of them and that J. W. Davis is a suitable person to act as Guardian.
2. That J. M. Davis Hattie Davis & W. J. Davis are Infants under the age of fourteen years and is entitled to an interest in the said estate of about five Dollars each.
3. That the said J. M. Davis Hattie Davis & W. J. Davis has no guardian in this state with which the administrator can settle and from whom he can get a final discharge and petition is desirous of having a Guardian appointed for them and J. W. Davis is a suitable person for such Guardian wherefore petitioner prays that J. W. Davis be appointed Guardian of said children with all the powers and liabilities incident there to and your petitioner ever prays.

s/Nancy Davis

The children named within this document are: James Murray Davis (Son); Hattie Davis (daughter) and William Jefferson Davis (Son).
 
Nancy was left as a widow with seven children, under the age of 21, to care for when her husband Thomas P. Davis died on  13 November 1885.
 
 
 
 






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[1] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, Thomas P. "T. P." DAVIS; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: viewed 12 December 2012); Probate Folder #24 for Thomas P. DAVIS.
[2] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19383-29278-16?cc=1911928 : accessed 23 January 2016), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0023-0064 > image 41 of 709; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.

Amanuensis Monday~Petition for Guardian

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 a Petition for Guardian of R. A. and S. A. Whittington beginning with some background information.
About three years after returning from the Civil War, Eli Whittington married Margaret Elizabeth Brock, daughter of Samuel W. Brock and his wife Martha. Between 1869 and 1874 they had three daughters. Then in 1876, Eli Whittington suddenly died at the early age of of 36 leaving Margaret Elizabeth a widow with three small children. [1] [2]
Margaret Elizabeth then marries Joseph B. Sellers sometime after the 1880 census was enumerated. In early 1890, Margaret Elizabeth Brock Sellers dies leaving two children under the age of twenty-one. Rachel Anna Whittington was 19 years old and Sarah A. Whittington was 16 years old at the time of their Mother’s death. The below Petition for Guardian is part of Estate Folder # 200, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. James P. Brock is the brother of Margaret Elizabeth Brock Whittington Sellers.[3]
 

 
State of South Carolina} in the court of
County of Chesterfield} Probate
Ex Parte } Petition for Guardian
To H. D. Tiller Judge of probate for Chesterfield County
The Petition of the undersigned Respectfully Represents
I. That your petitioners as heirs at law of Elizabeth Sellers Deceased is entitled to the an Estate Real and personal of the value of 100 $50 fifty Dollars
II. That yore Petitioner are as I is miners ovr the age of fourteen years
III. That yore petitioner has no one to take charge of Said Estate for them wherefore yore Petitioner prays that this Court appoint Jas P Brock as there Guardian to take charge of and to controle Said Estate for them and yore Petitioners will ever pray &
Witnefs
J. F. Sellers                                                                  S. A. X Whittington
                                                                                    R. A. X Whittington
 
 
___________________________
[1]1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 296A (Stamped); Line 28, Dwelling 176, Family 176, Household of E[li] Whittington; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 30 March 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.
[2]1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #005, Page 325C; Line 42, Dwelling 255, Family 255, Household of Sam BROCK; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed March 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T9-1225.
[3] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, Appointment of Guardians - S. A & R. A. Whittington; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: viewed 30 March 2013); Estate Folder #200.

William H. H. Purvis, Polk Co., TX

William H. H. Purvis was born about 1814 in SC. He is enumerated on the 1840 Census for Rankin County, Mississippi and the 1850 Census for Polk County, Texas.[1] He died after 2 Mar 1855 at the age of 41 in Polk County, Texas, USA.

William H. H. Purvis and Jemima Magee were married about 1830. Jemima Magee, daughter of Jonathan Magee and Rebecca James, was born about 1817 in MS.[2] She died in Oct 1870 at the age of 53 in Polk County, Texas, USA.

William H. H. Purvis and Jemima Magee had the following children:

           +2              i.   William J. Florney Purvis, born 15 Sep 1831, Lamar Co., MS; married Emma Susanna Hooker, 7 Oct 1852, Polk County, Texas, USA; died 25 Dec 1897, Polk County, Texas, USA.

           +3             ii.   Mary Ann Savilla Purvis, born 30 Aug 1835, MS; married Jesse Riggs Jones, 12 Nov 1853, Livingston, Polk Co., TX; died 11 Jun 1915, Corrigan, Polk Co., TX.

              4            iii.   Purdy Jasper S. Purvis was born about 1842 in MS.[3] ³ He died on 4 Jan 1858 at the age of 16 in Polk County, Texas, USA.

           +5            iv.   Gabrian E. Purvis, born abt 1847, Polk County, Texas, USA; married Marion Tullos; died 23 Jul 1864, Polk County, Texas, USA.

           +6             v.   Jemima Angelina Purvis, born 12 Dec 1850, Polk County, Texas, USA; married O. Alonso Boman Knox, 23 Jan 1872, Polk County, Texas, USA; married D. T. Gibbs, 24 Jan 1867, Polk County, Texas, USA; died 26 May 1919, Montague, Montague Co., TX.

William H. H. Purvis and his family migrated from Mississippi to Polk County, Texas about 1849 or early 1850. He is enumerated in the 1850 Census for Polk County, Texas. 

He first appeared on a Simpson County Tax List in 1836. He is listed on the tax list for this county from 1836 through 1843 with one exception; he was not listed in 1838.

In December 1841, William H. H. Purvis sold a slave that he most likely inherited from his grandparents.

Purvis to Gray[4]

Know all men by these presents that I, William ( there are two Initials, which appear to be H) Purvis in in consideration of four hundred dollars to me paid by Wesley Gray the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained sold and delivered and by these presents doth bargain sell - deliver to the said Gray one negro boy named Ellis (I'm not certain of this name due to faded writing) to have and to hold unto him the said Gray his heirs executors administrators & heirs (can't make out the word) forever and I  do covenant with the said Gray that I will warrant warrant (the word "warrant" appears twice) the said negro boy sound in mind & body & soul (can't make out word) for life and I will defend the said boy against against (the word "against" appears twice) the claims of of (the word "of" appears twice) all persons.

In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand & seal this seventeenth day of December, A.d. 1841.

                                                                            SIGNED: Wm. H. H. (two initials, which appear to be "H") (notation is made of his seal)

Filed and Recorded on the 7th day of December A.D. 1841

                                            Joseph Benett, Clerk

                                        By J. Langford, D. Clerk

[Source: Betty Eppes]

Shortly after arriving in Texas, William purchased a 100 acres tract[5] of land on 8 Dec 1851. He deeded this land and all his assets to his wife in a Land Deed dated 2 March 1855[6]. The 2 March 1855 is constructed and reads like a Will.

It's evident that William H. H. Purvis was in poor health and by his acts and deeds was preparing for his death. He left three (3) young children under the age of twenty-one.

  

Know all whom it may concern that I William H. H. Purvis of the County and state  above written for and in consideration of the love and affection I bear to my wife Jemima Purvis have this day given granted confirmed and confirmed and do by these presents give grant convey confirmed and set over  & deliver to my said wife in fee simple forever the following property to wit: First the following named Negroes slaves for life and now owned and held by me as my separate property to wit: Ann about seventeen years old. Camile about sixteen years old. Green about twelve years old. Suange about twenty-eight years old. Peter thirty-eight years old. Sam about ten years old. George about ten years old. Nathan about eight years old. Alfred about nineteen years old. Linza about fifteen years old. Erma about seven years old. Sanfin about nine years old. Dorcas about six years old. Ewing about eight years old. Maneruse about three years old. Carolin about two years old.

Second the following tract or parcel of land situated and being in said Polk County containing One Hundred acres more or less a part of the headright league of R. W. Russell and which 100 acres tract was conveyed to me by deed executed by Marshal Holcomb and Alfred Holcomb dated on the 8th day of December A.D. 1851 & …. which deed reference is here made for a more perfect description of the land here conveyed by its metes and bounds and which deed was recorded in the Office of the County Clerk of said County in Book C, Pages 105 & 6 on the 12th day of April 1852.

Guardianship of the minor heirs of William H. H. Purvis can be found in Book B - 1851 - 1857 - Bonds and Oaths of Administrators and Polk County, Texas Probate Record Volume D 1853 – 1857.[7]

Jemima Magee Purvis, the wife of William H. H. Purvis died October 1870[8] in Polk County, Texas. William H. H. Purvis was born in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.  He migrated with his family to Clarke County, Alabama and finally to Rankin County, Mississippi where he lived until his final move to Texas.

Next we will discuss the parents of William H. H. Purvis.

---

[1]  1850 U. S. Census, Polk County, Texas, population schedule, Polk County, Texas, Page 188B, Line 3, Dwelling 178, Family 178, Household of W. H. H. PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed May 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432_914

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Rankin County, Mississippi, Rankin County Deed Books, Book 6, page 342, Purvis to Gray - Sale of negro boy named Ellis, 17 December 1841; Register of Deeds, Raymond, Rankin County, Mississippi.

[5] William H. H. Purvis, 18 October 1851; Texas Land Title Abstracts; Texas General Land Office, Austin, Texas.

[6] Polk County, Texas, Polk County Deed Records, BOOK E, Page 558 & 559, William H. H. Purvis to Jemima Purvis, 2 March 1855; Register of Deeds, Livingston, Polk County, Texas.

[7] http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~polkcountytxconnections/ProbateLinkPage.html

[8] 1870 U. S. Census, Jones County, Mississippi, mortality schedule, Subdivision 21, Polk County, Texas, Page 270, Line 27, Jemima Purvis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T1134_56.