The Mysterious Death of William H. H. Purvis

William H. H. Purvis is a very elusive mysterious person. His parents are unknown; but, I believe I have enough circumstantial evidence linking him to James P. J. Purvis to suggest that they are brothers. The fact that William H. H. Purvis can be found in two census while James P. J. Purvis were found listed as head of Household in no census is significant. We can estimate a year of birth which in the case of William H. H. was about 1813. Therefore,  we decided that James P. J. was born in 1811. Then we have the 1829 Alabama Land Deed.found in this posting where James P. J. was a witness. If James was born in 1811 then he would have been only 18 when he witness the Alabama Land Deed.

Now we need to determine if an 18 year old could be a witness in 1839 or was James P. J. Actually born earlier that 1811.

A timeline for James P. J. Purvis is contained within the posting mentioned above. Here is a timeline for William H. H. Purvis.

William H. H. Timeline

0	Abt 1813	Birth: SC
17	Abt 1830	Marriage: Jemima Magee-39029;
23	1836	Tax: 1836 Tax List; Rankin County, Mississippi, United States
25	1838	Tax: 1838 Tax List; Simpson County, Mississippi, United States[1]
26	1839	Tax: 1839 Tax List; Rankin County, Mississippi, United States
26	25 Nov 1839	Legal_Act: Guardianship
27	1840	Census: Rankin County, Mississippi, United States
28	22 Mar 1841	Legal_Act: Guardianship
28	7 Dec 1841	Legal_Act: Purvis to Gray - Sale of Slave Named Ellis; Rankin County, Mississippi, United States[2]
31	21 Dec 1844	Property: Wm. H. H. Purvis to Shadrach Sutton; Rankin County, Mississippi, United States
37	1850	Census: Polk County, Texas, USA[3]
38	18 Oct 1851	Property: Polk County, Texas, USA[4]
42	2 March 1855	Wm. H. H. Purvis transfer all his property to his wife

Wm. H. H. Purvis to Shadrach Sutton
The State of Mississippi}
Rankin County} This indenture made this twenty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousands eight hundred and forty-four [1844] Witnesseth that we William H. H. Purvis and Jemima Purvis, for and in consideration of the sum of Six hundred dollars [$600] to us in hand paid_ the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge_ have this day granted bargained sold conveyed and delivered and by these presents do bargain Sell convey and deliver unto Shadrach Sutton a certain track of land that is, the E ½ SE ¼ of section number 23, Township No. 8 of Range No. 3E containing 80 19/100 acres, and the SW ¼ of SW ¼ & SE ¼ of NE ¼ of Section No. 23 Township No. 3 of Range No. 3E containing 80 19/100 acres. The whole containing one hundred and Sixty [160] acres more or less. To have and hold the said tract of land and all and Singular the tenements thereto belonging or in anywise appertaining unto the said Shadrach Sutton's heirs executors administrators and assigns forever and we do hereby forever warrant and defend all and singular the a fore mentioned premises against ourselves our heirs executors and administrators and against the claim or claims of all person whomsoever unto the said Shadrach Sutton, his heirs Executors administrators and assigns, In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hand and seal this first day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
Test’s_Solomon Mangum}                                  William H. H. Purvis
Jesse X Crain}                                                   Jemima X Purvis her Mark

The State of Mississippi}
Rankin County} Personally appeared before me Henry Franklin a member of the Board of the Police for said County the within named William H. H. Purvis and Jemima his wife who has acknowledged that they Signed, sealed and delivered the within deed for the purposes therein witnessed. Given under my hand and Seal this twenty first day of December one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
                                                             Henry Franklin
                                                            Member of the Board of Police for Rankin Co.
The foregoing deed and certificate were filed in my office on the 9th and duly recorded on the 16th day of January A.D. 1845
                                                                                    Jos Bennett Clk., Pro. R. City

In 1844, William H. H. Purvis sold most of his land to Shadrach Sutton as shown above.  Footnote 4 suggests that he received a patent for 320 acres of Land. on 18 October 1851. By this time he had sold all his previously owned land and was living in Polk County, Texas in 1850. I haven’t determine who received the patent land but I assume it was William B.. Harden.

On 2 May 1855 William H. H. Purvis transferred ownership of all his property to his wife Jemima Magee Purvis.

I think that William did this because he knew he was dying and I think he died in 1855 in Polk County, Texas. The Land Deed reads like a Will. 

Guardianship records in Polk County suggests that ale the minor children, three younger – Purdy Jasper, Gabrianna E. and Jemima Angelina were appointed guardian.[5]

Polk County, Texas Probate Record Volume D 1853 - 1857

Purvis, Gabian & Angelina
# 155, Guardianship of
294-295-296, 389 to 391,
& 418-419
Purvis, Jasper
# 154, Guardianship of
292-293-294, & 392-393
Purvis, W. W. H.
# 139, Succession of
208 to 238, 344 to 346,
358-359 & 388
Purvis, W. W. H.
# 152, Guardianship of minor heirs
238 to 245

I’m still trying to determine what happen to William H. H. Purvis?
2. Where is he buried?
3. Who are his parents?
If you have any answers or suggestions I would love to hear from you.


Related Postings:

• http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-elusive-parents-of-james-p-j-purvis.html

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[1]. Simpson County, Mississippi, 1836, 1837, 1839-1843 Tax List, unpaginated entries arranged alphabetical, all years read for William H. H. Purvis,. Mississippi State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951; Simpson County tax rolls, 1838 Tax Year, Image 133 of 276..
[2]. 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. Transcribed from my notes taken from Book 6, Page 342:
Rankin County, Mississippi
[3]. 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.
[4]. William H. H. Purvis, 18 October 1851; Texas Land Title Abstracts, ; Texas General Land Office, Austin, Texas. Texas Land Title Abstracts about W. H. H. PurvisGrantee: Wm. B. Hardin
Certificate: 493
Patentee: W. H. H. Purvis
Patent Date: 18 Oct 1851
Acres: 320
District: Houston; Liberty
County: Polk
File: 146
Patent #: 711
Patent Volume: 5
Class: Hou. Bty.
Source Information:Ancestry.com. Texas Land Title Abstracts [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: Texas General Land Office. Abstracts of all original Texas Land Titles comprising Grants and Locations. Austin, TX, USA.
[5]  htttp://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~polkcountytxconnections/ProbateLinkPage.html

James Purvis, 1837-1864

James Purvis was born about 1837 in Simpson County, Mississippi.^{1 2 3} James is the son of Joseph Purvis and Elizabeth Cook and the grandson of James Purvis, Sr. b. 1760 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. His father, Joseph died about 1842 while James was still a small child under 5 years of age. About 1844, when James was 7 years old his Mother Elizabeth married Richard Odom. James as a lad of 13 is living with his Mother and Stepfather in the 1850 Simpson County census.  

James married Marina Catherine Bush, daughter of John Alexander Bush and Mary Winnie Idella Reed about 1858. In 1860, James, Marina and a daughter Emily, age 1, are enumerated in the 1860 Census for Westville, Simpson County, Mississippi.⁴

He enlisted into the military with Co. B, 39th Reg't, Mississippi, Rankin Rebels in April 1^st, 1862. He was captured 9 July 1863 and paroled at Port Hudson in July 1863.⁵ James was killed in action (KIA) on 6 Aug 1864 at the age of 27.⁶

Marina Catherine Bush, daughter of John Alexander Bush and Mary Winnie Idella Reed, was born on 10 Mar 1840 in Wayne, MS.^{7 8 9}  After James was killed in the War, Marina married Elisha Summerfield Bateman on 9 December 1866 in Simpson County, Mississippi. She and Elisha had 5 children, 3 daughters and 2 sons. Marina died on 1 Mar 1913 at the age of 72 in Simpson County, Mississippi.¹⁰  A Memorial was created for Marina at www.findagrave.com.¹¹

James Purvis and Marina Catherine Bush had the following children:

      i. Emily Isadora Purvis, born 24 Jan 1859, Rankin County, Mississippi, United States; married George Washington Shows, abt 1877; died 17 Feb 1941, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi.

      ii. Joseph Alexander Purvis, born 20 Aug 1861, Simpson County, Mississippi; married Mettie Dorothy Thompson, 1882, Simpson County, Mississippi, USA; died 3 Jan 1955, New Hebron, Lawrence County, Mississippi.

     iii. James Monroe Purvis, born 27 Nov 1864, Purvis, Lamar County, Mississippi; married Rebecca Ann Gardner, 29 Dec 1886, Simpson County, Mississippi; died 28 Oct 1937, Poplar Springs, Copiah County, Mississippi.

Related articles

Carolina Family Roots: 3 Sons Killed, A Mother's Anguish

Carolina Family Roots: James F. Purvis Sr. and His Children

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        1. 1850, Simpson County, Mississippi, population schedule, Simpson County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page: 289A; Line 9,, dwelling  27, family 27, Household of Richard OLDHAM/ODOM; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : ‪wed 2010); citing NARA publication Roll: M432_381. 1850 CENSUS: Simpson County, Mississippi; Roll: M432_381; Page: 289A; Line 9, Household 27/27; Richard OLDHAM/ODOM, male, age 61, born in SC; Elizabeth OLDHAM, female, age 50, born in SC; Elizabeth [PERVIS] OLDHAM/ODOM, female, age 20, born in MS; James Pervis OLDHAM/ODOM, male, age 13, born in MS; Joseph PERVIS, male, age 11, born in MS and Alexander PERVIS, male, age 9, born in MS.

        2. Ibid.

        3. 1850, Simpson County, Mississippi, population schedule, Simpson County, Mississippi, Page: 289A; Line 9,, Dwelling 27, Family 27 Richard OLDHAM, Household of Richard OLDHAM. 1850 CENSUS: Simpson County, Mississippi; Roll: M432_381; Page: 289A; Line 9, HouseHold 27/27; Richard OLDHAM, male, age 61, born in SC; Elizabeth OLDHAM, female, age 50, born in SC; Elizabeth OLDHAM, female, age 20, born in MS; James Pervis OLDHAM, male, age 13, born in MS; Joseph PERVIS, male, age 11, born in MS and Alexander PERVIS, male, age 9, born in MS.

        4. 1860, Westville, Simpson County, Mississippi, population schedule, Westville, Simpson County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page: 161, Line 20, dwelling 160, family 160, Household of James PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : viewed 2010); citiing NARA publication M653, Roll: 591. 1860 CENSUS: Westville, Simpson County, Mississippi; Series: M653, Roll: 591, Page: 161, Line 20, Household 160/160; James PURVIS, male, age 23, born in MS; parents, born in MS; Marina PURVIS, female, age 20, born in MS and Emily PURVIS, female, age 1, born in MS.

        5. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 16 July 2012), entry for James Purvis, Private; Co. B, 39th Reg't, Mississippi; Confederate. SOURCE, Fold3.com, CIVIL WAR: Pvt., Co. B, 39th Reg't, Mississippi, James Pervis, 1 page, James Purvis 9 pages, page 7 shows he was killed on 6 August 1864.
Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records, Mississippi, Thirty-ninth Infantry, N-U, P, Purvis, James, Page 7 [http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|88670602]

Civil War records shows that James was captured 9 July 1863 and was paroled at Port Hudson in July 1863.
http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|88670605.

        6. Ancestry,Military Service Records, database entry for  James Purvis, Private; Co. B, 39th Reg't, Mississippi; Confederate. SOURCE, Fold3.com, CIVIL WAR: Pvt., Co. B, 39th Reg't, Mississippi, James Pervis, 1 page, James Purvis 9 pages, page 7 shows he was killed on 6 August 1864.
Civil War Service Records, Confederate Records, Mississippi, Thirty-ninth Infantry, N-U, P, Purvis, James, Page 7 [http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|88670602]
.

        7. Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for Marina Catherine Bush Bateman; (10 March 1840–1 March 1913); Memorial # 43392293; Record of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery; Schley, Simpson County, Mississippi, USA; Accessed on 2011. Find A Grave Memorial# 43392293.

        8. 1860, Westville, Simpson County, Mississippi, population schedule, Westville, Simpson County, Mississippi, ED No ED, Page: 161, Line 20, dwelling 160, family 160, Household of James PURVIS. 1860 CENSUS: Westville, Simpson County, Mississippi; Series: M653, Roll: 591, Page: 161, Line 20, Household 160/160; James PURVIS, male, age 23, born in MS; parents, born in MS; Marina PURVIS, female, age 20, born in MS and Emily PURVIS, female, age 1, born in MS.

        9. 1880, Simpson County, Mississippi, population schedule, Simpson County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) #102, Page: 268A, Line 18, dwelling 135, family 146, Household of  E.S. BATEMAN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2011); citing NARA publication T9, Roll: 664. 1880 CENSUS: Simpson County, Mississippi; Roll: 664; Family History Film: 1254664; Page: 268A; Enumeration District: 102; Line 18, Household 135/146; E.S. BATEMAN, male, age 42, born in MS; Martha C. BATEMAN, Wife, age 40, born in MS; Florance BATEMAN, Daughter, age 12, born in MS; Margrett BATEMAN, Daughter, age 10, born in MS; William BATEMAN, Son, age 6, born in MS; Alice BATEMAN, Daughter, age 2, born in MS; Line 24, Household 136/147; Alx PURVIS, Cousin, age 19, born in MS; James PURVIS, Cousin, age 15, born in MS; Winny BUSH, Mother, age 65, born in SC; John NOLEN, male age 50, born in AL and Sarah Nolen, wife, age 31, born in AL.

        10. Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Accessed on 2011; Headstone for Marina Catherine Bush Bateman;  Memorial # 43392293.
Find A Grave Memorial# 43392293.

        11. Ibid.

          12. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bateman/reconstruction.html.html

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Friend of Friends Friday - Purvis to Gray

Purvis to Gray[1]

Know all men by these presents that I, William H. 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 (sic) 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 (sic) the claims of of (sic) all persons.

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

                                                                                            SIGNED: Wm. H. H. Purvis                                                                                              (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]

Transcribed from my notes taken from Book 6, Page 342:

Rankin County, Mississippi

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[1] 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.

James Purvis Sr. and His Children

James Purvis Sr. was born about 1760 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, a son of John Purvis and Sarah Johnson.

In July 1818, James Purvis[1], son of Gilbert Purvis died leaving his widow and I believe two small children, both boys. Sometime after this event, most of the Purvis families in Chesterfield County started their Westward migration.

We know they stopped in Clarke County, Alabama before finally settling around what is today Jackson, Mississippi. I have found two Land Deeds in Clarke County, Alabama[2], One dated 25 December 1821 signed by Gilbert Purvis, Sr. and another dated 12 January 1829 signed by Gilbert Johnson Purvis.

It was here that a son and daughter of James Purvis , Sr. were married; John Purvis to Mary Parks on 14 December 1819[3] and Henry Howell to Rebecca Purvis on 9 November 1824[4].

There is a reference to a John Purvis having died here in the early 1820. This John Purvis is most likely a brother to James Purvis, Sr. Gilbert Purvis and Joseph Purvis. This information was provided by a family researcher in Georgia.

James and his family left South Carolina about 1819 and traveled to Clarke County AL with a band of settlers that included Gilbert Purvis. Both men appear on Clarke County records, along with John Purvis, who had come to Alabama from Chesterfield County SC a few years previously. John Purvis died in Clarke County. After his death, Gilbert and James moved on to Mississippi. (It is not clear to me what happened to the family of John Purvis—or who that family might be. Estate papers exist but are not revealing, except for establishing that John and James are brothers.)[D. Purvis]

We find James F Purvis brother Gilbert Purvis listed in the 1827 Simpson County Tax List[5]. So we know they are in Mississippi by 1827. James Purvis, Sr. appears in the 1830 Census for Rankin County[6], Mississippi, United States.

The wife of James Purvis Sr. is unknown at this time.

James Purvis, Sr. and his wife had the following children:

1. Joseph Purvis, born abt 1791 or 1800, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married Elizabeth Cook, abt 1823; died bef May 1842. Elizabeth Cook Purvis then married Richard Odom.

2. Nancy Purvis, born 1791 or 1800, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married Wright Barnes; died bef 1850.

3. John Purvis, born 20 Jan 1795, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married Mary Parks, 14 Dec 1819, Clarke County, Alabama, USA; died 23 Sep 1872, Rankin County, Mississippi, United States.

4. William James Purvis, born abt 1796, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married Millie Cook, abt 1812 or 1813; died bef 1870, Smith County, Mississippi, United States.

5. Rebecca Purvis, born abt 1803, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married Henry Howell, 9 Nov 1824, Clarke County, Alabama, USA.

6. Elizabeth Purvis, born 1806, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married James L. Brock, abt 1819, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; died 1 Apr 1873, Lexie, Walthall Co.,MS.

7. Alexander Purvis was born about 1808 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States. He appeared in the census in 1845 in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States.

8. James Purvis Jr., born 21 Feb 1809, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married Elizabeth Magee, 12 Nov 1829, Rankin County, Mississippi, United States; died 14 May 1900, Verda, Grant Parish,LA..

9. George Washington Purvis, born abt 1809, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married Mary Ann Patrick, 19 Oct 1838, Rankin County, Mississippi, United States; married Sarah A. Williams, 31 Aug 1867, Rankin County, Mississippi, United States; died 1897, Rankin County, Mississippi, United States.

10. Rosannah Purvis, born abt 1811, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married James Jackson Patrick, 23 Sep 1837, Rankin County, Mississippi, United States; died 1862, Rankin County, Mississippi, United States.

James Purvis, Sr. died in November 1836[7]. His estate is on file in Hinds County, Mississippi

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[1] Horry County, South Carolina, Horry County Administrator's Bond 1803-1818, Administrative Bond for John Johnston, Gilbert Purvis, admrs. of James Purvis; Bond $10,000; Moses Harrelson, Felix Powell, sec. Richard Singleton, Levi Moore, wit. , 17 July 1818, Probate Office, Conway.

[2] Land Deed - William Stringer to Gilbert PURVIS; 25 December 1821; Deed Book #A; Page(s) 182-183; Register of Deeds; Clarke County, Alabama; 10 January 2012 (and) Land Deed - Gilbert J. PURVIS to Grass Scruggs; 12 January 1829; Deed Book #G; Page(s) 366-367; Register of Deeds; Clarke County, Alabama; 10 January 2012.

[3] Clarke County, Alabama, marriage (14 December 1819), John Purvis to Mary Parks; Montgomery, Alabama, USA, State of Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Record Services Division.

[4] Clarke County, Alabama, marriage (9 November 1824), Henry HOWELL to Rebecca PURVIS; Montgomery, Alabama, USA, State of Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Record Services Division.

[5] 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; 1827, Box 3764, Image of 27 of 276, Gilbert PERVIS.

[6] 1830, Rankin County, Mississippi, population schedule, Rankin County, Mississippi, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 168, Household of James Purvis Sr.; digital images, www.ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed May 2010); citing NARA micro-film Roll: M19-71.

[7] James Purvis, Sr. Estates, 1821-72, Chancery Clerk's Office, Raymond, Mississippi. (Hinds County, MS, Estates, 1821-72, Case 2, No. 264).