My Grandparents

Today's posting is in remembrances of my grandparents. I only knew one of my four grandparents. All except Grandma Pearlie had died before I was born. 

James Francis "Jim" Purvis and Lucy Pearl "Pearlie" Deese were married about 1908 in Anson County, most likely in Morven. Jim & Pearly had 7 children; 4 girls and 3 boys. One daughter, Levina died at birth in 1910. The other 6 lived to adulthood and two of the daughters are living today.  

James Francis Purvis & Lucy Pearl Deese

 The photo above was probably taken when they were married in 1908.

Julius Johns and Mamie Catherine Brock were married on 16 June 1912 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Julius & Mamie had 8 children, seven lived to adulthood. One boy b. 27 Dec 1923, died on 27 Jan 1924. The other 7 children were 5 boys and two girls one of which was my Mother. Only one of the eight children is living today.

Mamie Brock Johns with baby.

I had some wonderful times with my Grandma Pearlie even though I was very young.  If only we could go back and relive those days, how different they would be with the knowledge I now have of my ancestors.  Growing up, I never heard anyone speak of my grandparents, when I started asking question most of the family claimed no knowledge or very limited knowledge. After 36 years of research, I am still "Brick walled" at my great-great-grandfather William A. Purvis (b. 1824, d. after Sept 1899 & before May 1900) in Anson County, North Carolina.

FAMILY CEMETERIES

In the county where my ancestors lived are many family cemeteries. A lot of these cemeteries have become lost or completely abandon over the years. Some are known about but access to them is very restricted.

One such cemetery is that of my 4^th great grandparents – Thomas Davis and his wife Nancy Rivers Davis.  While I have known about this cemetery and have visited it in the past; it was not easy to access.  One problem is a lovely little reptile called the rattlesnake.  The other is a vine with bards that will rip you and your clothes to pieces. The area where Thomas Davis and his wife are buried was recently clear-cut making the cemetery accessible. So I paid my 4^th great grandparents another visit, this time taking my trusted GPS along for documenting the coordinates of the cemetery. The Cemetery is located at GPS coordinates N34 46 067', W 080 02 744'

There are 4 tombstones visible in the cemetery.

Davis Cemetery

They are:

Thomas Davis, b. 22 March 1760, d. 20 March 1845

Nancy Rivers Davis, b. 15 Dec 1767, d. 15 Dec 1853

John Rivers, Co. D, 6th SC CAV, CSA    

James K. Parker, Corp. Co. E, 21^st SC INF. [1837- Apr. 14, 1862]

His military record shows that James K. Parker enlisted 21 Dec 1861 and died Apr. 14, 1862. The 1860 Census for Chesterfield County shows that James was 23 years of age and married to Nancy, age 16.

The John Rivers buried here is most likely John B. Rivers whose record is shown below.

The dates on the tombstones for my 4^th great grandparents are wrong. Correct dates have been obtained from official documents and verified.

Thomas Davis, b. 22 March 1760, d. 20 March 1845

Thomas Davis Tombstone

NOTE: Thomas Davis middle name IS NOT "LLOYD". He has NO middle name.  Lloyd is the Capt. that he served under in the Revolutionary war. As stated above the dates (1748-1844) are wrong.

Nancy Rivers Davis, b. 15 Dec 1767, d. 15 Dec 1853

Nancy Rivers Davis Tombstone

The dates (1753-1846) on Nancy tombstone are also incorrect.