Treasure Chest Thursday~An October 1848 Lavicy Purvis Letter

Transcription:

State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
                 On the fourth day of October Anno Domino, 1848 personally appeared before me the subscriber a magistrate in and for the Said district Mrs. Lavicy Purvis who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that she is the Mother of the identical Stephen Purvis who enlisted on or about the 27th day of November 1846 at Charleston, So. Ca. Capt. Blanding's Company "F" Palmetto Regiment commanded by the late Col. P. M. Butler and that she has been informed that her son died at Castle Perro [Perote], Mexico on or about the tenth day of June A. D. 1847 in consequence of sickness and while in the service of the United States; and that her husband died on or about the ____ day of _______ in the year A. D. 1824 and that her said son was never married, and that she makes this declaration to obtain his Bounty Land.  
Sworn to before me this}
fourth day of October}                            Lavicy X her mark Purvis {LS}
1848.-----            }   
Wm. A. Mulloy
         Magt.

Lavicy Purvis in the above letters made 4 distinct statements:

1. She is the Mother of Stephen Purvis
2. Her son died at Castle Perro, Mexico 10 June 1847 of sickness
3. Her son was never married
4. Her Husband [Not Named] died in 1824.

Lavicy Purvis maiden name is unknown at present; however, there are some researchers who believed her to be a “Turnage.”

Lavicy was granted 160 acres of Land 9 May 1849; Warrant #57,179.

I have not found the husband of Lavicy Purvis named in any document but many believed him to be a John Purvis, Sr.  We do know he died, according to the letter above, in 1824.
The letter above was created on 4 October 1848. Could her husband have died earlier or later than 1824. Where did he die? Could it have been outside of the State of South Carolina. No date of birth has been found for their son Stephen Purvis. Stephen Purvis, according to the letter above, enlisted 0n 27 November 1846. How old was Stephen? If he was 18, then his birth year would be 1828; if he was 21, then his birth year would have been 1825. Either way, Stephen was a very young lad when his father passed away.

There is a John Purvis born in SC that died in Clarke County, Alabama late 1824 or early 1825. Could this have been Vicey’s husband. There is no doubt that this John Purvis is related to Gilbert & James Purvis, brothers who left Chesterfield County around 1818 and moved first to Clarke County, Alabama, and later on to Mississippi. Did he make a trip to Alabama to see relatives?  Additional research may provide the answers; until then there are many unanswered questions.

Vicey Purvis died in the late 1850’s. She is not listed in the 1860 Census nor the 1860 Mortality scheduled. If she was not missed by the Census enumerator it’s possible her death occurred before 1 January 1859.

A property Deed in the Burnt Book, page 48 shows that she was deceased before 26 February 1861. 





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[1] My THANKS goes out to a “Purvis” researcher [Name Withheld] who shared this letter with me. 
[2] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-9W9?i=1321&cat=989192 Frame 1322
[3] Land Deed - Sarah Sellers and James Oliver to John Purvis; 26 February 1861; Deed Book #Burnt Book; Page(s) 48; Probate Office; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; 27 August 2014.   

Surname Saturday~Hurst-Rivers-Sellers-Purvis

William “Billy” Hurst was born on 8 Aug 1813, a son Phillip Hurst and his wife Elizabeth [LNU] ¹of Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

About 1830, when Billy was seventeen years of age he married Nancy Rivers, a daughter of Isaac Rivers and Nancy Parker. Billy and Nancy had two children:

• Phillip Hurst, b. 8 August 1830
• Isaac F. Hurst, b. 1833

The1850 census shows the family listed in household # 1155 and doing very well compared to other small  farmers in the county.

Click to enlarge

Then in May 1860, tragedy strikes the family and Nancy dies from an attack of FLUX.^2 3

Nancy Rivers Hurst was buried in the Hurst cemetery. No tombstone marks her grave.
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina succeed from the Union.

The Confederate States of America is formed in February 1861 with Jeff Davis as it’s President.

On April 12, 1861, a contingent of  Confederates fired upon Fort Sumter initiating the start of the Civil War. 

On 26 December 1861, age age 27, Isaac F. Rivers enlisted into Capt. James C. Craig’s Company, South Carolina Volunteers. (4th SCVI) ⁴  Nine months and 8 days later Isaac F. Hurst would die of disease in Georgetown, South Carolina.

Sometime between May 1860, when Billy’s wife Nancy Rivers died and February 1861, Billy married Lavinia ”Lavicy”, “Vicy” Sellers, daughter of Elijah Sellers and Sarah Purvis. 

Lavinia was born on 14 February 1828 and most likely named after her grandmother Vicey Purvis.

Billy’s and Lavicy’s first child, a son, William B.  “Willie” Hurst was born on 30 October 1861.  

Billy and Lavicy Sellers Hurst had the following children:

• i.    William B. "Willie" Hurst was born on 30 Oct 1861 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He died on 20 Sep 1862 at the age of 0 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
  ii.    John Thomas Hurst, born 17 Sep 1862, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Violet Welsh, bef 1885; married Theatus Irene Streater, 9 Sep 1885, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 28 Aug 1935, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
  Iii.    Sarah Ann Hurst, born 3 Dec 1863, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married John Dupree Lampley; died 14 Jan 1928, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
  iv.    Rochelle Calvin Hurst, born 20 Oct 1864, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Cora Jenny Hearn, 1902; married Clara B. , 1896; died 11 Mar 1950, Tecumseh, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma.
  v.    Charlotte Jane "Lottie" Hurst, born 20 Nov 1865, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Frederick William Rivers, 12 Feb 1882, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 14 Mar 1928, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
  vi.    Susannah Hurst, born 12 Sep 1866, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married James Michael Watson; died 28 Oct 1931, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
  vii.    Lucy Hurst was born about 1868 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She died before 1883.
  viii.    Louisa Hurst, born 12 Aug 1869, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married John Nelson Jenkins; died 27 Apr 1957, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Each of these children are mentioned in the Last Will and Testament^{5  6} of William “Billy” Hurst with two exceptions

1. William B. “Willie “ Hurst died before his Dad and was not mentioned.
2. Lucy Hurst also passed away before her Father; yet, no record of her death has been found. 

On 4 March 1884 William “Billy” Hurst passed away and was buried in the Hurst cemetery. His wife, Lavicy Sellers Hurst lived another 14 years passing away on 28 October 1898. She was laid to rest beside her husband. ^{7 8 9 10}

Lavicy Sellers Hurst is my 1st cousin 4 times removed.














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[1] LNU = Last name unknown
[2] Flux - An excessive flow or discharge of fluid like hemorrhage or diarrhea
[http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ar/county/greene/olddiseases1.htm]
[3] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, mortality schedule, Chesterfield Dt., South Carolina, ID#: MRT573_1277, Nancy Hurst; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 15 September 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
[4] http://www.fold3.com/image/20/66894523/ and Randolph W. Kirkland Jr., Broken Fortunes: South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens Who Died in the Service of Their Country and State in the War for Southern Independence, 1861-1865 (Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina, 1997), page 173.
[5] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Chesterfield, Will Book 2: page 262 William Hurst; Probate Office, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[6] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Chesterfield County Estate Records, Estate #519A - William Hurst (), , ; South Carolina State Archives, Columbia, South Carolina | www.familysearch.com.
[7] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 15 March 2012); Memorial page for William Hurst, Sr; (8 August 1813–4 March 1884); Find a Grave memorial # 29991656, Citing Hurst Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.
[8] James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 1125. Tombstone of William Hurst; 8 August 1813–4 March 1884, Hurst Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[9] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Lavinia "Lavicy"" Vicy" Sellers Hurst (14 February 1828–28 October 1898), Memorial # 29991679.
[10] James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of Lavicy Sellers Hurst.
Census Cited:
1. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, page 173B, Line 28, Dwelling 1155, Family 1155, Household of William Hurst; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 15 March 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
2. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, mortality schedule, Chesterfield Dt., South Carolina, ID#: MRT573_1277, Nancy Hurst; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 15 September 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.
3. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 308A; Line 6, Household 393, Household of W[illiam] HURST; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 15 March 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.
4. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #005, Page 319C, Line 37, Dwelling 168, Family 168, Household of William HURST; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 15 March 2012); citing National Archive Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.
5. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, page 173B, Line 28, Dwelling 1155, Family 1155, Household of William Hurst.
 

Land Deed Confirms Family Composition

When the bonfire had quit burning and the soldiers had marched or ridden off, the good citizens of Chesterfield County retrieved one (1) burned deed book from the burning embers that was once their county courthouse.  That Burned Book is still maintained on file in the present day courthouse. The below deed between Sarah Sellers and James Oliver to John Purvis can be found on page 48 of that book.

 

Sarah Sellers and James Oliver to John Purvis
Burned Book page 48
 
Know all men by these presents that we Sarah Sellers and James Oliver of the district of Chesterfield in the State aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of to be paid by John Purvis of the same district in the state aforesaid have granted, bargained, sold and release, and by these presents Do Grant, bargain, Sell and release, unto the said John Purvis, all our interest in a tract of land belonging to the Estate of Vicey Purvis, late of the district of Chesterfield, situate lying and being in the District and state aforesaid, which said tract of land was conveyed to the said Vicey Purvis by Edward Burch by deed bearing date 2^nd day of January A. D. 1829 and Recorded in the Register office of said District in Book II, page 393. The tract of land that we have this day conveyed to the said John Purvis contains One Hundred and twenty two acres more or less and is in the North Western portion of the above tract of Three Hundred acres bounded by lands of Sarah Sellers and others—Together with all and singular the Rights, Members, Hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in anywise incident or appertaining To Have and To Hold all and singular the premises before mentioned, unto the said John Purvis his Heirs and afsigns forever, And we do hereby bind ourselves our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said premises, unto the said John Purvis his Heirs and afsigns. Against …our Heirs and every other person or persons lawfully claiming or to [Burnt section illegible] or any part thereof--
[Burnt section illegible] Hands and Seals this 26^th day of February in the year of our
[Burnt section illegible] eight hundred and sixty one---
[Burnt section illegible] delivered.                                  Sarah X Sellers {seal}
[Burnt section illegible]                                                   James X Oliver {seal}
[Burnt section illegible]
[Burnt section illegible]
 
The State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield District} Personally appeared before me H. Craig and made oath that he saw the within named Sarah Sellers & James Oliver sign seal and as their act and deed deliver the within written Deed and that he with Thos. Craig witnefsed the execution thereof.
 
Sworn before me this 4^th day of Augst 1862 H. Craig
D. Douglafs
           Mag.                                                          (Recorded Aug. 4^th 1862)

I have previously written about the use of land deeds in family research and what a valuable goldmine Land Deeds can be in your research. 
 
This particular deed, pulled from the ashes and burning embers is one of those “gold nuggets”  because it confirms and verifies the family composition of one Vicey Purvis. 
 
Vicey Purvis appears in three census in Chesterfield County South Carolina. In all cases, she is listed without a husband in the household. 
 
1830 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 172; Family History Film: 0022506,  Page: 258; Line 15, Vicy Purvis, female, age 40-49, 3 males, age 10-14 and 1 female, age 16-19.
1840 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina; NARA Series: M704; Roll Number: 510; Family History Film: 0022508, Image 1338, Page: 362; Line 15, Vicy Purvis, female, age 50-59, 1 males, age 20-29 [Stephen] and 1 male, less than 5 years of age.
1850 CENSUS: Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll:  M432_851; Image: 290, Page: 143A(stamped); Line 19, Dwelling 685, Family 685; Vicy PERVIS, female, age 64, born in SC; Daniel TURNAGE, male, age 12, born in SC and John TURNAGE, male, age 11, born in SC.

In 1850, Vicy states that she was 64 years old; thus born in 1786, which matches the age reported in the other two census. 

In 1830 she had 3 males born between 1816-1820 and 1 female born between 1811-1814.

Two of these males were:
John “Jack” Purvis, born 1814
Stephen Purvis, born 1818
1 male (unknown)
The female born between 1811-1814 was most likely her last born, a daughter named Mary, though the census shows that she was born in 1821. There is also a possibility that the 16-19 year old female was Sarah Purvis just before she married Elijah Sellers.
 
In February 1861, when the above Land Deed was executed we see that this deed was used to transfer land which is now in possession of Sarah Sellers and James Oliver; lands that is the Estate Lands of Vicey Purvis. Those named within this deed are:

Vicey Purvis, (Mother)

• John Purvis, (Son)
• Sarah [Purvis] Sellers (Daughter)
• James Oliver (Son-in-law, Husband of Mary Purvis)
• Stephen Purvis, a son, born 1818 was not named within the deed because he was deceased. Stephen Purvis chose to enlist as a volunteer in the Mexican War. During the Battle of Vera Cruz, he was killed in June 1847.

I’m at a lost as to why Mary [Purvis] Oliver was not named. Also, in many years of research I have not yet identified a Male Purvis as the husband of Vicey [Maiden Name unknown] Purvis. 

If you have any information on Vicy/Vicey Purvis, her children or her spouse I would love to hear from you. In almost 40 years of Purvis research I have not heard from anyone researching this specific line.
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Land Deed - Sarah Sellers and James Oliver to John Purvis; 26 February 1861; Deed Book #Burnt Book; Page(s) 48; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; 27 August 2014.