52 Ancestors: #45, Mary Hulda Previtte Purvis

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story To Small has started a challenge of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.
From her blog “The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.”

The focus of my blog post today is My great Grandmother, Mary Hulda Previtte Purvis.

Mary Hulda "Sis" Previtte is my great Grandmother. She was born on 5 Jan 1861, The second child of eleven born to her parents John Washington Previtte and Elizabeth “Bette” Davis..^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}
Mary Hulda "Sis" Previtte and William James "Jim" Purvis ⁹ were married in early 1880. William James "Jim" Purvis¹⁰, son of William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves, was born on 25 Sep 1863 in Morven, Anson, North Carolina.^{11 12} He and Mary lived near the South Carolina State line just west of McFarland, North Carolina. They owned a small farms consisting of 60 acres that adjoined the land of his father, William A. Purvis. Farming was a big struggled for everyone after the Civil War. Each year William James would mortgage the farm hoping to grow enough to subsist and to pay off the mortgage and every year there were taxes to be paid. In July 1882 William signed a mortgage for $35.00 with the Singer Sewing Company to purchase a Singer Sewing Machine No. 3466982.
“on this special trust that if the undersigned shall deliver to the Singer Manufacturing Company one Bale Middling Cotton weighing 500 pounds on or before the first of November 1882 and pay the said company $10 then this mortgage to be void; but if said cotton is not delivered and $10 paid as aforesaid, and the debt and interest is not paid on or before maturity the Singer Manufacturing Company may sell said property or so much thereof as may be necessary by public auction for cash, first giving twenty days’ notice at three public places and apply the proceeds of such sale to the discharge of said debt with eight per cent interest thereon and costs of sale and the surplus pay over to the order of the undersigned. Signed and sealed this 9 day of July 1882.”¹³

The mid-1880’s were very hard times for William and Mary and money was quite short. In January 1888 they received notice that there land would be sold for failure to pay taxes; a mere 59 cents was due.¹⁴
Notice: Sale of Land for Taxes, 30 acres, .59 cents Taxes due. Will be sold on 4th day of February 1889.
Then in February 1889 the following notice was given:
SALE OF LAND FOR TAXES - W. J. Purvis, 30 acres for delinquent taxes for 1885, $3.28; 1886, $2.50 & 1887, $2.00; a total of $7.78 for the three years. ¹⁵

The land was sold and from that point until their death my great Grandparents survived as sharecroppers or farm laborer in this agricultural society.

William James Purvis and Mary Hulda Previtte had the following children:

i. John William Purvis, born 31 Dec 1880, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, 25 Aug 1901, McFarlan, Anson, North Carolina; died 10 Aug 1956, Morven, Anson, North Carolina.
ii. Martha Eliza ""Sis"" Purvis, born 10 Aug 1882, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married Ervin Samuel Brock Jr., abt 1903; died 15 Dec 1966, Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
iii. James Francis "Jim" Purvis, born 7 Nov 1885, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married Lucy Pearl Deese, bef 14 Mar 1908; died 21 Feb 1936, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
iv. Oscar Philmore "O P" Purvis, born 10 Jul 1888, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married Roxie Carolyn Brock, 2 Feb 1913, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 20 Apr 1931, Morven, Anson, North Carolina.
v. Sarah Frances "Sallie" Purvis, born 16 Jun 1891, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married John Rufus Lang, 10 Jun 1910, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 22 May 1951, Florence, Florence, South Carolina.
vi. Lela Aileen Purvis, born 18 Oct 1894, Morven, Anson, North Carolina; married John Lucian Deese, 1910; died 20 May 1983, Florence, Florence, South Carolina.
vii. Violet E. Purvis was born on 25 May 1899 in Morven, Anson, North Carolina. She died on 2 Oct 1899 at the age of 0 in Morven, Anson, North Carolina. She was buried on 3 Oct 1899 at Morven Cemetery in Anson County, North Carolina.

Mary Hulda Purvis died on 29 Jul 1938 at the age of 77 in Morven, Anson, NC and was buried at Zoar Church Cemetery in Chesterfield, South Carolina.^{16 17 18 19 20}


William James “Jim” Purvis on 8 Jun 1941 at the age of 77 in Morven, Anson, North Carolina and was buried beside his wife at Zoar Church Cemetery. ^{21–22 -23- 24- 25}
















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1. William J. Purvis Family Bible Holy Bible, (N.p.: n.p., n.d.), M. H. Pervis; Birth - 5 January 1862, Obtained from [Private Source], Wadesboro, North Carolina.
2. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 291B, Line 36, Household 85/85, Household of J. W. PRIVETT; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.
3. 1880 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #2, page 350B, line 40, Dwelling 234, Family 253, Household of William J. Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archive Microfilm T9-0951.
4. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 15: page 23-24, W. A. Purvis & others to J. D. Harden; 16 January 1882, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
5. 1900 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 8, page 149B, line 79, dwelling 15, family 15, Household of William J. Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1181.
6. 1910 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven Twsp., Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #012, page 184, line 64-67, dwelling 65, family 65, Household of William Purvis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1096.
7. 1920 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 13, Page 197B, Line 72, dwelling 209, family 209, Household of William J. PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed June 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm Series: T625, Roll: 1283.
8. 1930 U. S. Census, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #18, Page 27B; Line 99, Dwelling 118, Family 119, Household of John W. PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 11 October 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_Roll: 1672.
9. 1910 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven Twsp., Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #012, page 184, line 64-67, dwelling 65, family 65, Household of William Purvis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1096.
10. William James Purvis, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, 8 June 1941, The Messenger and Intelligencer. Son of the late William Purvis and Mrs. Sarah Graves Purvis..
11. William J. Purvis Family Bible, W. J. Pervis, Birth - 25 September 1863.
12. 1870 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 403A, line 38, Dwelling 178; Family 178, Household of William A. Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archive Microfilm M593, Roll 1122.
13. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 14: page 174, W. J. PURVIS to The Singer Manufacturing Co.; 9 July 1882, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
14. Sale of Land for Taxes - William J. Purvis, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, United States, 10 January 1888, Page 3, Right two columns of page. Sale of Land for Taxes, 30 acres, .59 cents Taxes due.
25. Sale of Land for Taxes - William J. Purvis, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, Sale of Land for Taxes, 30 acres, $7.78 , 3 years Taxes due.
16. MRS. W. J. PURVIS - Mary Hulda Previtte Purvis, Messenger-Intelligence, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
17. State of North Carolina, death (29 July 1938), Mary Previtt Purvis; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.
18. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 October 2011); Memorial page for Mary Hulda Purvis; (5 January 1861–29 July 1938); Find a Grave memorial # 78248438, Citing Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery; Brocks Mill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.
19. Mrs. Mary Hulda Privette Purvis obituary,The Messenger & Intelligencer , .
20. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Mary Hulda Purvis (5 January 1861–29 July 1938), Memorial # 78248438.

21. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Self-Published, 1995. Tombstone of William J. Purvis.
22. Mr. W. J. Purvis obituary, The Anson Record, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, USA, 11 June 1941, Page 1.
23. Mr. W. J. PURVIS obituary, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, 11 June 1941, page 3, col 3.
24. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, William James Purvis (25 September 1863–8 June 1941), Memorial # 78248220.

25. Family data, William James Purvis Family Bible, , (N.p.: n.p., n.d.); original owned in 2000 by {Private Source] Wadesboro, NC., [address for private use], Wadesboro, Anson County, NC.

52 Ancestors~#9, Elizabeth “Bette” Davis

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story To Small has started a challenge of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.

From her blog, “The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.”

The star of my blog today is Elizabeth "Bette" Davis, my 2nd Great Grandmother.

Elizabeth "Bette" Davis, daughter of Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers, was born in 1841 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.¹
 
Elizabeth "Bette" Davis and John Washington Previtte were married about 1856 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.²
 
Their first child, a son, was born 30 June 1857. Next to arrive was Mary Hulda “Sis” Previtte, my Great Grandmother on 5 January 1861. Ironically, Mary Hulda arrived  just weeks after South Carolina succeeded from the Union on 20 December 1860 and just a few months before the attack on Fort Sumter on 12 April 1861.³
 
Needless to say, the South was in turmoil and I’m sure this was some troubling times for this young family; married 5 years and with 2 children.

I have found no evidence that John Washington Previtte served in the Civil War but I feel certain that he did serve. Between Jan 1861 and March 1866; John and Elizabeth had one child, a daughter, in September 1863. From March 1866 to November 1881; John and Elizabeth would have 8 more children for a total of eleven (11); 6 sons and 5 daughters.  

The time period in the South was known as the Reconstruction Era, (1865-1877). It was truly a transformational time. The times of the Carpetbaggers (Northern) and the Scalawags (native whites in the South). It was also a time of panic with the Depression of 1873. The times gave rise to the Klan. Southern money was worthless and useless.⁴
 
Amidst all of this my 2nd Great Grandparents raised a family of 11 children on a modest farm in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Needless to say, Great Grandma Elizabeth was definitely a “stay at home mom” at least until their youngest Michael Davis Previtte achieved manhood.

About 1879, John and Elizabeth oldest daughter, Mary Hulda, no doubt shocked her parents when she told them she wanted to marry the only son of William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves of Anson County. Young William James was just a lad of age 16 and I’m sure this revelation must have given her parents a mild shock.  History shows that they must have approved because in 1880 William James and Mary Hulda are enumerated next door to his parents.⁵
 
 
 
Elizabeth “Bette” Davis Previtte died in Feb 1900 at the age of 59 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was buried at Zoar United Methodist Church cemetery.⁶ 
 

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

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[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page 179B, Line 3, Dwelling/Family 1240/1240, Household of Michael DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[2] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page 128B, Line 35, Dwelling/Family 494/493, Household of John Previtt; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[3] 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 291B, Line 36, Household 85/85, Household of J. W. PRIVETT; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_Era
[5] 1880 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #2, page 350B, line 40, Dwelling 234, Family 253, Household of William J. Purvis; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archive Microfilm T9-0951.
[6] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 29 January 2010); Headstone for Elizabeth Davis Previtt; (Unknown-Feb 1900); Records of the Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery; Brocks Mill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

Tombstone Tuesday~John Washington Previtte

John Washington Previtte*

b. 3 Nov. 1824

d. 19 May 1913

bu. Zoar UMC Cemetery

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

John Washington Previtte was a son of William and Catherine Previtte married Elizabeth “Bette’ Davis, daughter of Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers about 1856. They had  11 children, 6 sons and 5 daughters. One of those daughters, Mary Hulda, their second born id my great grandmother having married William James Purvis about 1879.

John Washington Previtte spent his entire life as a farmer in Chesterfield, South Carolina. The 1900 Census for Chesterfield County showed that he owned his own farm.

John Washington Previtte is my 2nd Great Grandfather.





 
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* = Previtte is spelled many ways. Privett, Previtt, Previtte, Privette, etc
[1] James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Self-Published, 1995, page 846. Tombstone of J. W. PREVITT; 1 November 1824–19 May 1913, Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Tombstone Tuesday~Elizabeth Davis Previtte

Elizabeth Davis Previtte is the 2nd great grandmother on my paternal side of the family. She was born about 1840 to Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers; married John Washington Previtte about 1856 and died Feb 1900 according to her tombstone.

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

When I took this photo on 19 February 1996, Elizabeth’s tombstone was uptight and much more legible than it is today.

This is another line where data is very limited, typical of all research in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Newspapers of the time period are non-existence. Searches on Chronicling America and GenealogyBank have turned up negative results.

This is long before Death Certificates were mandatory within the state which was enacted in 1915 but, not fully implemented until 1916.

The only remaining resource for finding any mention of her death other than the tombstone in Zoar Cemetery is possibly historical records of the Zoar United Methodist Church at the United Methodist Archives and History Center of the United Methodist Church  in Madison, New Jersey.

I welcome any suggestions of resources that might contain a death date. Just post your comments in the form below. Thanks.






Suggested Reading:
http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/04/family-of-john-elizabeth-previtte.html




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[1] 1850 CENSUS: Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M432_851; Image: 363; Page 179B, Line 3, Dwelling/Family 1240/1240. Michael DAVIS, age 43, Farmer, born in SC; Huldy DAVIS, Wife, age 33, born SC; William A. DAVIS, Son, age 15, born SC; Sarah A. DAVIS, Daughter, age 11, born SC; Elizabeth DAVIS, Daughter, age 9, born in SC; Thomas F. DAVIS, Son, age 8, born SC; Nancy DAVIS, Daughter, age 5, born in SC; Charley W. DAVIS, Son, age 3, born SC and Elisha B. DAVIS, Son, age 1, born SC;  Film #0444814.