Amanuensis Monday~James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis, Land Deed, 60 Acres.

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 Land Deed from James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis, Land Deed, 60 Acres.¹

In the 1860 census for Anson County, North Carolina we find William A. Purvis and his wife Sarah Jane [Graves] Purvis with no children and his occupation listed as a Shoemaker. In 1870, same county, he is listed as a farmer. 

The first piece of land that I have found purchased by William A. Purvis was a 30 acre tract sold to him by  Joseph P. Smith on 6 December 1866. Description of that parcel is as follows:
“that piece parcel and tract of land situate lying and being in the District of Chesterfield and State of South Carolina on the North Side of Big Westfield Creek and bounded on the North by the North and South Carolina State line on the East by Isham Wallace and James Lewis lands on the West by lands belonging to the Estate of George Gardner and lands belonging to John Mulholland and on the South by Big Westfield Creek. Containing thirty [30] acres more or less which said track of land was purchased by me from Joseph P. Smith Reference being had to a plat hereunto attached will fully show the corners distance and &c. of said tract of land….
 
The second tract of land purchased by William A. Purvis was this 60 acres tract from James L. Edwards on 21 December 1871.  William A. Purvis owned land located on the state line. In the plat below the bottom wide line is the state line. The land was located west of Westfield Church Road as you cross the state line going into North Carolina toward McFarland. (see Blue Square, NC Side, west of 1837 Road)








Transcription:

James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis
State of North Carolina}
Anson County} This indenture made this the 21st day of December in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-one between James L. Edwards of the first part and W. A. Purvis of the second part, both of the county of Anson and State of North Carolina. Witnesseth:
The said James L. Edwards in and for the consideration of the sum of two hundred and forty seven and 80/100 dollars ($247.80) to him in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged hath bargained and sold and by these present do bargain, sell and convey to W. A. Purvis a certain tract
of land lying being and situate in the county of Anson and State of North Carolina and bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at a stake in the state line 4th corner of  R. Gaddy's tract and runs No. 15 W. 38.35 chains to a stake in McGugan's line 3rd comer of the Gaddy tract then No. 88 W. 11.40 chs. (chains) to a stake one pine pointer then south 37.50 chains to a stake in the State line. Then with State line East 21 chains to the beginning containing Sixty (60) acres. And the said James L. Edwards doth hereby warrant and defend unto the said W. A. Purvis his heirs Executor and assigns forever, the right and title to the said land together with all the rights and appurtenances thereunto belonging, against myself, my heirs Executors or assigns, and against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and date above mentioned.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
in presence of
Jesse Edwards                                              James L. Edwards {Seal}
                                                                     By S.J. Edwards Agent

State of North Carolina}
Anson County} I, Jack C. McLancklin Clerk of Superior Court for said county
of Anson, hereby certify that the due execution of the foregoing deed of Conveyance to W. A. Purvis by James L. Edwards through S. J. Edwards his agent was proven before me this day by the oath and examination of Jesse Edwards the subscribing witness. Let it with this certificate be registered. This September 28th A.D. 1883.
                                                                    John C. McLancklin
                                                                    Clerk of Superior Court

October 1st 1883 then the foregoing Deed and certificate came into my hands and were duly registered.
                                                                C. J. Coppedge

Land Plat for above 60 Acres

William A. Purvis purchased 4 tracts of land totaling 145 acres between 1866 and 1879.
Three (3) parcels in Anson County, NC and one in Chesterfield, County, SC. 

• 1st - Land Deed (30) - Joseph P. Smith to William A. Purvis,  (This land in Chesterfield, SC and immediately sold to William James Purvis) 
• 2nd - Land Deed  (60 acres)- James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis, Deed Book 22, Page 531-532.
• 3rd - Land Deed  (30 Acres) - W. P. Brantley to Wm. Purvis, Deed Book 21, Page 404-405.
• 4th - Land Deed (25 Acres) - Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to W. A. Purvis (DB 20, Pages 584-585)

He farmed the land above until he died sometime between Sept 1899 and May 1900 in Anson County, North Carolina.

_______________________________
[1] Anson County, North Carolina, Land Deed Book 22: Page 531-532, James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

Treasure Chest Thursday~Real Estate Sale

The year 1885 was not a good year for my 2nd Great Grandparents. At the end of the year in December 1884, William and Sarah entered into a Trust Deed with Thompson and Moore for one hundred fifty one dollars and 78 cents. ($151.78) 

The trust deed reads ”William A. Purvis and wife Sarah J. Purvis, have bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain, sell, assigned and conveyed to the said Thompson and Moore partners, their heirs and assigns the following property, to wit: one tract or parcel of land situate in the county of Anson, state of North Carolina adjoining the lands of W. J. McLendon on the North and bounded as follows, that is to say: beginning at J. D. Rhine on the east, and W. J. Purvis on the south and west, containing fifty (50) acres more or less…” 

The Note was payable on the 1st day of November 185 and failure to pay would result in sell of the land at public action. William and Sarah were unable to re-pay the mortgage thus the land was sold at public auction. 



SALE of REAL ESTATE
By virtue of power contained in a Deed of Trust executed by W. A. Purvis and Sarah J. Purvis on the 23^rd day of December 1884 to N. J. Thompson and C. C. Moore, partners under the style of Thompson & Moore, and registered in trust book no. 18, page 202 of the registers office of Anson County, Dec. 27^th, 1884, and by consent and request of said W. A. Purvis and Sarah J. Purvis, we will sell for cash to the highest bidder at the Court House door in the town of Wadesboro, on Monday the 7^th day of December 1885, the land described in said Deed of Trust, containing 50 acres more or less, adjoining the lands of W. J. McLendon and others. Sale of above lands made to satisfy a note secured by mortgage on said reality.             N. J. THOMPSON
                                                                      C. C. MOORE.
                                                                      Partners and Mortgagees
 
Nov 25 1885, lt.
 
At one time William A. and his only child, William James had over 120 acres of land adjoining each other just southwest of McFarland, NC on the west side of Zoar Road. (S-13-23)
 
As stated previously William and Sarah Jane are my 2nd Great Grandparents.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
________________________
[The Anson Times, 3 Dec 1885, Thu, Page 3]
RAOGK Contributor Debra Cooper, 17 December 2014
https://www.facebook.com/groups/raogkUSA/permalink/589522781149614

Hard Times in Anson County, 1887-1888

My Great Grandfather William James Purvis was married by the age of sixteen. In the 1880 Census for Morven Township, Arson County, NC both he and Mary are enumerated as husband and wife living next door to his father, William A. Purvis. ¹




Father and son worked hand in hand to eek out a living on approximately 120 acres of land Southwest of McFarlan, North Carolina with the state line being the south side of their property.

Times were hard and to survive from one year to the next put many farmers in a vicious cycle of borrowing, lending and repaying a debt from year to year.


The instrument used by the “money lenders” to carry out this deed was called a “Deed of Trust”.


A typical “Deed of Trust” would read:

State of North Carolina} ²
Anson County } Whereas, Marshall & Richardson of Anson County in the State of North Carolina, have signed to make advances to W. A. & W. J. Pervis of the county of Anson and State aforesaid for purpose of agriculture during the year A.D. 1880 to the value of one hundred dollars and such further sums as the said Marshall & Richardson may deem necessary to be made not to exceed in all the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars and whereas the said W. A. & W. J. Pervis desires to secure to the said Marshall & Richardson prompt payment for the advances made in accordance with the provisions of the Acts of the General assembly in such cases made and provided, ratified on the 1st day of March 1867 and the Act to re-enact and amend the same ratified March 1st 1873, doth by these presents sell, transfer and agree to deliver to the said Marshall & Richardson on the 15th day of October so much cotton, corn and other products raised by him during the present year as shall be sufficient to pay for the supplies to be furnished as aforesaid which conveyance and transfers shall create a lien in favor of the advances made or to be made upon all the crop the said W. A. & W. J. Pervis may raise during the present year, and for further security the said W. A. & W. J. Pervis bargains and sells to the said Marshall & Richardson the following articles of personal property, to wit: one cow & calf - lone sow & six pigs - farming tools - household & kitchen furniture - the property of W.J. Pervis. lone mule - three cows - one ox and one yearling - six head hogs one wagon - farming tools - the property of W. A. Pervis with the understanding that if the said W. A. & W. J. Pervis shall, will and truly pay the said Marshall & Richardson for the advances as aforesaid on or before the 1st day of October the said lien shall be discharged, and the said property shall revert to the said W. A. & W. J. Pervis, otherwise the said Marshall & Richardson shall have power to take into their possessions all of said property and crop on the farm or elsewhere, if removed, and sell the same or as much thereof for cash, as may be necessary to pay for the advances aforesaid, attorney's fees, registration, and any other expenses incurred in executing this provision, first advertising said sale for ten days at three public places in the County. We the said W. A. & W. J. Pervis do hereby certify that no other lien or mortgage has been' given upon said crop or property. If this claim is not paid at maturity to bear interest at the rate of 8 per cent annum from maturity thereof to the payment. In witness whereof the said W. A. & W. J. Pervis have hereunto set their hands and seal this 13th day of February, A.D. 1880.
Signed, sealed & delivered in                              W. A. X Pervis {seal}
The presence of H. C. Hardison                        W. J. X Pervis {seal}

One bad crop year and you are in deep troubles with these predatory money lending practices.

SALE of REAL ESTATE³By virtue of power contained in a Deed of Trust executed by W. A. Purvis and Sarah J. Purvis on the 23rd day of December 1884 to N. J. Thompson and C. C. Moore, partners under the style of Thompson & Moore, and registered in trust book no. 18, page 202 of the registers office of Anson County, Dec. 27th, 1884, and by consent and request of said W. A. Purvis and Sarah J. Purvis, we will sell for cash to the highest bidder at the Court House door in the town of Wadesboro, on Monday the 7th day of December 1885, the land described in said Deed of Trust, containing 50 acres more or less, adjoining the lands of W. J. McLendon and others. Sale of above lands made to satisfy a note secured by mortgage on said reality. N. J. THOMPSON
C. C. MOORE.
Partners and MortgageesNov 25 1885, lt.
[The Anson Times, 3 Dec 1885, Thu,Page 3]
RAOGK Contributor Debra Cooper, 17 December 2014
https://www.facebook.com/groups/raogkUSA/permalink/589522781149614

In December 1885 William J. Purvis was able to purchase a 30 acre tract from his father. William A. Purvis had purchased the 30 acreage tract from Joseph P. Smith on 6 December 1866 (DB 8, page 284-286). On that same day William James Purvis purchased the 30 acres from his father, William A. Purvis (DB 8, Page 421-423). ⁴

It’s evident that the 1887-1888 crop year was not a good year as evidence by this newspaper clipping.





William J. Purvis owed .59 cents tax on his 30 acre tract and it was being put on the Auction block unless he paid the taxes.  To avoid losing it for failure to pay the taxes, William J. Purvis sold the land on 7 January 1888 to T. F. Mulholland (DB 9, Page 284-286). (Chesterfield County, SC).⁵

This was the beginning of the sell-off of all lands owned by William A. and his son, William J. and they then became “Sharecroppers”. The wife of William A. suffered from cancer for some time and died on the last day of December 1893. Between  December 1899 and May 1900; William A. Purvis had passed away. The last 18 acres, reserved for William’s 2nd wife Betsey, was sold on 30 Sept. 1900 to J. D. Rhyne, the purchaser of earlier acreages. The deed is recorded in Anson County Deed Book 34, Page 491-492. Betsy died in October 1926. ^{6 7 8}














___________________
[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] Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 11: page 529, W. A. Purvis & W. J. Purvis to Marshall & Richardson; 13 February 1880, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
[3] SALE of REAL Estate, 50 ACRES obituary, The Anson Times, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, United States, 3 December 1885, Page 3. Default on Deed of Trust.
[4] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Deed Book 8: pages 421-423, William A. Purvis to William James Purvis; 6 December 1866, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[5] 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.
[6] Sarah Jane Graves Purvis obituary, Messenger-Intelligencer, Wadesboro, North Carolina, 4 January 1894, page 3, McFarlan News.
[7] 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.
[8] State of North Carolina, death certificate no. 351, (18 October 1926), Mrs. Betsy Purvis; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.

Treasure Chest Thursday~39 Years, William A. Purvis Timeline, part 2,

• http://carolinafamilyroots.blogspot.com/2013/05/treasure-chest-thursday39-years-in-life.html

In part 1, we learned that the earliest known document found for William A. Purvis was the 1860 census. We saw the birth of his only child, a son and his involvement in a lawsuit with the heirs of Joseph P. Smith. We closed that period of his life with the 1870 census where young William was listed as 6 years old. 

We also saw that he began the 1860’s making a living as a “shoemaker” and by 1870 he had transitioned into being a “farmer”. As evidence by the documents found for this period we will see that the life of a farmer, during the Reconstruction era, was no picnic.

Property	21 Dec 1871 (about age 45)	Land Deed - James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis, Anson Co., NC, Book 22, Page 531-532.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States [1]
Property	21 Dec 1871 (about age 45)	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to James L. Edwards, Anson Co., NC, Book 2, Pages 363-365.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States [2]
Property	21 Dec 1872 (about age 46)	Land Deed - W. P. Brantley to Wm. Purvis, Book 21, Page 404-405.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States.[3]
Property	2 Feb 1876 (about age 50)	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. C. Marshall & Co., Anson Co., NC, Book 6, Pages 416-418.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States [4]
Property	30 Jun 1876 (about age 50)	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. C. Marshall & Co., Anson Co., NC, Book 7, Pages 462-464.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States [5]
Property	12 Mar 1877 (about age 51)	Trust Deed - William A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 8, Pages 276-278.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States [6]
Property	1 Mar 1878 (about age 52)	Trust Deed - W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 9, Page 347.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States [7]
Property	1 Mar 1878 (about age 52)	Trust Deed - W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 9, Pages 351-352.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States [8]
Property	3 Mar 1879 (about age 53)	Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 10, Pages 431-432.; Anson County, North Carolina, United States [9]
Property	23 Jul 1879 (about age 53)	Land Deed, 25 Acres, Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to W. A. Purvis (DB 20, Pages 584-585); Anson County, North Carolina, United States[10]

In the first article, we saw that William A. Purvis purchased 60 acres of land in Chesterfield County, South Carolina from Joseph P. Smith on December 6, 1866. [11]

William A. Purvis lived in Anson County, North Carolina but the area in which he lived was just a stone’s throw from the North & South Carolina border. The following map depicts the area in which William A. Purvis lived. The Land he owned was just west of Zoar Road along the North & South Carolina State Line.

 
After purchasing land, the next step is to “put in” or plant a crop. During this time in Anson County a “TRUST DEED” was used as the instrument to bind two parties in agreement.

On December 21, 1871, William A. Purvis entered into such as agreement with James L. Edwards of Anson County, North Carolina.[12]

This indenture made this the 21 December 1871 between W. A. Purvis of the first part and Jas. L. Edwards of the second part both of the county and State of North Carolina witnesseth whereas the said W. A. Purvis is justly indebted to the said Jas. L. Edwards the sum of two hundred and forty-seven 80/100 dollars ($247.80) and whereas the said W. A. Purvis is desirous to secure the payment of the said debt now therefore this indenture witnesseth that for and in consideration of the promises together with the further consideration of the sum of one dollar in hand paid to the said W. A. Purvis by the said Jas. L. Edwards the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged he the said W. A. Purvis hath granted, bargained & sold and by these presents do bargain grant & sell unto the said Jas. L. Edwards a certain tract of land lying and being in the county of Anson and the State of North Carolina on the waters of Westfield Creek and bounded as follows:
beginning at a stake in the state line 4th corner of R. Gaddy's tract & runs No. 15 Wst 38.35 Chs to a stake in McGugans line 3rd corner of the Gaddy tract then No. 88 Wst 11.40 Chs to a stake one pine pointer then So. 37.50 Chs to a stake in the state line then with the state line East 21 Chs to the beginning containing sixty (60) acres being the same land conveyed by Isham Wallace to Jas. L. Edwards to have & to hold the said land & promises and all & singular the ... hereditament's, woods ways waters, rents, improvements, profits and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining thereto to him the said Jas. L. Edwards, his heirs, executors, administrators in fee simple forever free & discharged from any & all encumbrance's whatever in special trust & confidence that the said Jas. L. Edwards shall & will hold, keep, use & apply the same in the use intended following and no other that is to say if the aforesaid debts and every part thereof together with the lawful interest that may have accrued & if the same shall not be (fully) paid off and satisfied by the said W. A. Purvis on or before the first day of January 1873 then and in that case it shall be lawful and shall be at the pleasure of Jas. L. Edwards having first advertised the same at the Court House in the town of Wadesboro and three other public places in the county of Anson the space of twenty days to proceed to sell the said land & premises at public auction to the highest bidder for cash money or such credit the said Edwards may think proper and convey the same by proper & sufficient assurances to the purchaser and all the proceeds and money arising from said sale to retain all necessary expenses of this trust and then payoff and discharge to himself the said debts and interest specified in the foregoing part of this trust that he shall pay all as such part as shall remain unpaid at the time of the sale & the over plus if any he shall pay or return to said W. A. Purvis or his representative in testimony, whereof the said W. A. Purvis doth set his hand & seal the day & date above written.
         his
W. A. X Purvis {Seal}
        mark

December 21, 1871 was a momentous day for William A. Purvis.

• He mortgaged the entire 60 acres he purchased of Joseph P. Smith for $247.80 payable on or before the first day of January 1873. [13]
• He purchased from James L. Edwards an additional 60 acres of Land for the exact same amount that he mortgaged his original 60 acres purchased from Joseph P. Smith.[14]

You can see by the chart above that the use of Trust Deeds was a viscous cycle that occurred year after year.

But as onerous as the cycle was William goes out in July 1879 and buys another 25 acres of land from the Gardner's sisters for 3 dollars an acres with fifty ($50) dollars payable on the first day of January next and the remainder payable by December 1, 1880. 

On 23 July 1879, William A. Purvis has now acquired the following tracts of Land. 

• 60 acres purchased from Joseph P. Smith on 6 Dec 1866  (Land in SC) [15]
• 60 acres purchased from James L. Edwards on 21 December 1871 [16]
• 30 acres purchased from William P. Brantley on 21 December 1872 [17]
• 25 acres purchased from Mary, Sarah and Martha Gardner on 23 July 1979 [18]

It’s now July 1879 and William James, the son of William A. is a strapping young lad of 16 and evidently ready to take on a family. Sometime during this year, young William James at age 16 married Mary Hulda Previtte, a marriage that would last through their lifetimes.



But, the 1880 census is full of surprises, who is Betsy Purvis and Mary F. Purvis and what are their relationship to William A. Purvis. Could they hold the key to the identity of the parents of William A. Purvis? This is a big mystery!![19]




_________________________

1. Anson County, North Carolina, Land Deed Book 22: Page 531-532, James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

2. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 2: Pages 363-365, W. A. Purvis to James L. Edwards; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

3. Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 21: pages 404-405.

4. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 6: pages 416-418.

5. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 7: Pages 462-464.

6. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 8: page 276-278.

7. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 9: Page 347.

8. Anson County, North Carolina, LFD Film#1689064; Trust Deed Book 9: Pages 351-352.

9. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 10: Pages 431-432.

10. Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 20: pages 584-585.

11. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Joseph P. Smith to William A. Purvis; 6 December 1866, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

12. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 2: Pages 363-365, W. A. Purvis to James L. Edwards; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

13. Ibid.

14. Anson County, North Carolina, Land Deed Book 22: Page 531-532, James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

15. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Joseph P. Smith to William A. Purvis; 6 December 1866, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

16. Anson County, North Carolina, Land Deed Book 22: Page 531-532, James L. Edwards to W. A. Purvis; 21 December 1871, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

17. Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 21: pages 404-405, W. P. Brantley to Wm. Purvis; 21 December 1872, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

18. Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 20: pages 584-585, Mary, Sarah & Martha Gardner to W. A. Purvis; 23 July 1879, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

19. 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.

Census Sunday~1860 Anson County, NC

The 1860 Census for Anson County, North Carolina enumerated 6 August 1860) is the earliest of three (3) Censuses that I have been able to locate my great great grandfather – William A. Purvis. 
  

Ancestry.com Census Image  

William A. Purvis, his wife Sarah Jane Graves Purvis.along with another Couple Joseph White and his wife Laura Brock White are enumerated in Dwelling 1238, Family 1188, Lines 34-37.



The extracted information for the family, with an enumeration date of 6 August 1860 by Wm. M. Hammond reads: 

*  William A. Purvis, age 34, Male, white, Shoe Maker, $150 in real property, $275 in personal property, born North Carolina.
*  Sarah Purvis, age 26, Female, white, born North Carolina, cannot read or write.
*  Joseph White, age 33, Male, white, Cooper, $0 in real property, $27 in personal property, born North Carolina.
*  Laura [Brock] White, age 30, Female, white, Domestic, born North Carolina, cannot read or write.


Extensive research of these two families has resulted in very little forward motion for almost thirty-seven years. There does not seem to be any connection between these families other than their presence here in this census.

The parents of William A. Purvis are still unknown and continue to be my major brick wall.

If you have any information that can move this line back another generation please contact me at this e-mail.


 




____________________________
[1] 1860 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 300, line 34, Dwelling 1238, Family 1188, Household of William A. Purvis; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 887.

Data Analysis - William A. Purvis, 1880 to 1926

Yesterday, we ended the review with the Anson County, NC 1880 Census [1]where we find Betsy Purvis and her daughter Mary J. Purvis, age 13, enumerated in the household of William A. and Sarah Purvis.  

Two of the three families’ shown in this 1880 census snippet are my 2nd Great Grandparents – William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves Purvis and William James Purvis and his wife Mary Hulda Previtte Purvis; the relationship of  and to the 3^rd family, Betsy Purvis and Mary J. Purvis are unknown.

In the 1870, there is also an unmarried Female Purvis with children living next door to William and Sarah Purvis.

1870 CENSUS: Morven Twp, Anson County, North Carolina. Series: M593  Roll: 1122, Microfilm # 552,621, Pg. 403A, Line 1, Dwelling 179, Family 179. S.[arah] PERVIS, age 49, Elizabeth PERVIS, age 17, William PERVIS, age 15; John PERVIS, age 12 and Caswell PERVIS, age 10, all born in North Carolina.[2] [3]

Could the Elizabeth Purvis, age 17 in this Household also be the Betsy Purvis in W. A. Purvis household in 1880?

In February 1880 and March 1881, William A. and his son William J. Purvis borrowed money in order to buy the necessary supplies to plant a crop.

                Note: I’m not quite sure how a 17 year lad can sign a mortgage borrowing money to plant a crop.

Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis & W. J. Purvis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 11, Page 529.

Trust Deed - W. A. Pervis to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 13, Pages 107.

On 3 March 1881, the same day that William A. Purvis borrows $200 from Marshall & Richardson; he also sells of 30 acres (DB 21:401) of his land for a sum of $125.80 which I suspect was to pay off past debts. This land was the 30 acres he purchased from W. P. Brantley 21 Dec 1873. [4]  

Now the Trust Deeds (mortgages) are getting more frequently with:

16 Jan 1882 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis & others to J. D. Harden, Anson Co., NC, Book 15, Pages 23-24. [Others are William J., Sarah J., and Mary H. Purvis]

18 April 1882 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. D. Harden, Anson Co., NC, Book 15, Page 157

September 1882 – It was about this time that William A. and Sarah Jane learned that Sarah Jane had Cancer.

7 March 1883 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 16, Page 158.

28 September 1883 - Trust Deed - Jefferson D. Rhine to Wm. A. Purvis, Anson Co., NC, Book 16, Page 428.

Also on 28 September 1883 we have a sell-off of the 60 acres parcel purchased from James L . Edward in 1871 to Jefferson D. Rhyne. [5]

Bad times are turning to more bad times with a continuing cycle of borrowing money to purchase seed to plant the Crop, toil and labor on the farm all year to find that the crops were not enough to pay everything off and continuing the same cycle year after year after year.

15 January 1884 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 16, Pages 561-562.  ($225.00)

2 July 1884 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis & wife to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 18, Pages 63-65.

3 Dec 1884 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis & wife to Thompson & Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 18, Pages 202-203.

25 February 1885 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to C. C. Moore & Co., Anson Co., NC, Book 18, Pages 546-547.

22 April 1886 - Trust Deed - W. A. Purvis to J. T. Moore, Anson Co., NC, Book 20, Page 611.

And then tragedy struck on 31 December 1893, Sarah Jane [Graves] Purvis passes away after suffering from cancer for the past fifteen months. (Sept 1882-Dec 1893)

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]

The M. E. Church referred to here is most likely Zoar United Methodist Church and though no tombstones have been found for William and  Sarah Jane; they are most likely buried at Zoar. Their only child, my Great Grandfather William James Purvis and his wife are buried in the cemetery.

Five years after burying his wife Sarah Jane we have William A. Purvis selling more of his property to Jefferson D. Rhyne. The land deed for this parcel is titled - W. A. Purvis and wife Elizabeth Purvis to J. D. Rhyne, Anson County, NC, Book 33, Page 370.[6]

This indicates to me that William A. remarried after Sarah Jane died in 1893 and his new wife is Elizabeth “Betsy” Purvis.  

“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 in consideration of fifty four dollars to them paid by J.D. Rhyne. The receipt of which is hereby acknowledged has bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain, sell and convey to said J.D. Rhyne and his heirs a certain tract or parcel of land in Morven Township, Anson County, State of North Carolina. Adjoining the lands of Jms. Davis, Jms. McGugan, Dr. W.J. McLendon and J.D. Rhyne. Bounded to follows. Beginning at McGugan's corner in McLendon line and running east six chains to Rhyne's corner. Then with Rhyne's line south to a corner in his line 392 yds. Thence west to Davis line 7 1/2 chains. Thence direct to the beginning corner containing twelve acres more or less”. [7] [Book 33, Page 370]

If we go back about 15 years we see that this tract of land is part of a 30 acre tract that William A. Purvis and his wife Sarah Jane purchased. Now on 23 September 1899 it is being broken up into a 12 and 18 acres parcel. William A. and his new wife Elizabeth is selling off 12 acres to J. D. Rhyne. At this point J. D. Rhyne now owns every acres of land that William A. and Sarah Jane Purvis purchased except for 18 acres.

28 June 1900, the Census taker is checking off the houses in Anson County and is at the door of Household 337, Family 338. At home is Elizabeth Purvis, age 40, Widower, born Oct 1869 in NC and her daughter Ella Purvis, age 13, born Dec 1886 in North Carolina. Elizabeth tells the Census taker that she 2 children but only one is living.

1900 CENSUS: Morven Twp, Anson Co., NC; Series: T623, Roll: 1181, Page: 145, Line 20, Household 337/338; Elizabeth PURVIS, age 40, Wd., born Oct 1869 in NC; Ella PURVIS, daughter, age 13, born Dec 1886 in NC.

Elizabeth Purvis did have two children:

1.        Mary Jane Purvis, b. abt 1873, married Charlie Franklin Lang, abt 1888, had 4 children. Ella died during or shortly after giving birth to her 4^th child – Frances Elizabeth Purvis, b. March 1895 in Marshville, Union County, North Carolina.  
2.        Ella Frances Purvis, b. 25 September 1886, Anson County, NC; married Thomas T. Tarlton, 14 Aug 1904, Anson County, NC. They had 8 children. Ella Frances Purvis Tarlton died 27 November 1971 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC.

a.       Ella Frances Tarlton Social Security Form shows her parent as Billie Purvis and Betsy Prevett.

The obvious point here is that Elizabeth is a Widow indicating that between 23 September 1899, when William A. Purvis signed with his mark on a Land Deed (DB 33:370) and today 28 June 1900 that he, William A. Purvis has passed away and Elizabeth and Ella are carrying on with their lives.

The 1900 Census shows Elizabeth [Line 20] living next door to Jeff D. Rhyne and we see other names mentioned in the land deeds, i.e. McGugan.

The final land deed shows that William A. Purvis ensured that Elizabeth “Betsy” Purvis, his wife, had a place to live for her natural life. But, daughter Ella married Thomas T. Tarlton and so Elizabeth had a choice. Stay all along at her age out on the farm or moved in with her daughter and new son-in-law.

On 30 September 1900, Betsy sold the final acreage (18 acres) to Jefferson D. Rhyne retaining six (6) acres and a house as a life estate.[8]

BETSY PURVIS

TO

J. D. RHYNE - DEED

State of North Carolina}

Anson County} This deed made this 30th day of September 1900 by Betsy Purvis of Anson County and State

of North Carolina of the first part to J. D. Rhyne of Anson County and State of North Carolina of the second part.

Witnesseth: That said Betsy Purvis in consideration of Fifty Dollars to her paid by J. D. Rhyne the receipt of which is hereby acknowledge, has bargained and sold and by these present does bargain, sell, and convey to said J. D. Rhyne and his heirs, and assigns a certain tract or parcel of land in Morven Township, Anson County, State of North Carolina, adjoining the lands of J. D. Rhyne, and others. Bounded as follows: Beginning at a white oak in the state line running with state line and east to a comer of J. D. Rhyne land thence North course to a comer of land bought by said J. D. Rhyne from Billy Purvis then a North course to a comer on the Gardner land thence direct to the beginning comer containing 18 acres more or less. Save and except that said Betsy Purvis reserves from this land Six Acres being the lot upon which is situated her house. She to retain said Six Acres for & during the time of her natural life and at her death the said lot of six acres to go with this other land as herein described to have and to hold the aforesaid tract or parcel of land and all privileges and appurtenance thereto belonging to the said J.D. Rhyne, his heirs and assigns to their only use and behalf forever and the said Betsy Purvis covenants to and with the said J. D. Rhyne, his heirs and assigns that she seized of said premises in fee and has a right to convey the same in fee simple. That the same are free from all incumberances and that she will warrant and defend the said title to the same against the claims of all persons whatsoever. In testimony whereof the said Betsy Purvis has hereunto set her hand and seal the day and year above written.

Attest: W.E. Pennington                                                                                          Betsy X Purvis (Seal)

Jefferson D. Rhyne has finally acquired ALL of the land previously owned by my 2^nd Great Grandparents William A. Purvis and Sarah Jane Graves Purvis.  

By 1910, Elizabeth “Betsy” Purvis had abandon the “farm” and life estate and moved in with her daughter Ella and son-in-law Tom Tarlton. [9]

On 18 Oct 1926, Betsy Purvis died in Rockingham, NC while living with Ella and Tom Tarlton. She was buried at Mizpah Cemetery. No tombstone marks her grave and little was said about her in the final hours.[10]

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] [11]

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[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] 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.

[3] 1870 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Morven Twp, Anson County, North Carolina, Page 403A, Line 1, Dwelling 179, Family 179, Household of S.[arah] PERVIS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 22 November 2012); citing National Archive Microfilm M593, Roll 1122.

[4] Anson County, North Carolina, Book 21: Page 404-405, W. P. Brantley to Wm. Purvis; 21 December 1872, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[5] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 22: pages 532-533, Wm. A. Purvis and wife [Sarah J. Purvis] to Jefferson D. Rhyne; 28 September 1883, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[6] 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.

[7] Ibid

[8] 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.

[9] 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.

[10] State of North Carolina, death certificate no. 351, (18 October 1926), Mrs. Betsy Purvis; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.

[11] Mrs. Betsy Purvis obituary, The Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Rockingham, Richmond County, NC, 21 October 1926, Page 6, Column 2. Deaths.