Thursday, June 13, 2013

Treasure Chest Thursday~39 Years, William A. Purvis Timeline, part 3



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.

In part 2, we saw William and Sarah purchasing land in order to plant crops and make their living as farmers.
  • 60 acres purchased from Joseph P. Smith on 6 Dec 1866  (Land in SC) [1]
  • 60 acres purchased from James L. Edwards on 21 December 1871 [2]
  • 30 acres purchased from William P. Brantley on 21 December 1872 [3]
  • 25 acres purchased from Mary, Sarah and Martha Gardner on 23 July 1979 [4]
We also saw the marriage of their only son at a very young age (16) their enumeration in the 1880 Census.[5]

William A. Purvis, 1880

The 1880 census contained a big surprise; living with William A. and Sarah Jane is a young woman age 30 named Betsy Purvis and her daughter Mary J. Purvis.

All searches for Betsy and Mary J. Purvis prior to this census has resulted in failure. Just as William A. Purvis appeared out of nowhere in 1860 Anson County, Betsy Purvis appeared in 1880. Then in September 1881 Betsy gives birth to another daughter named Ella France Purvis.

But, Who is this Betsy? Where did she come from? How is she related to William A. Purvis? Is she related? Who are the Father the two children born to Betsy?

Life continued pretty much as it did in the 1870’s. Between 1880 and 1886, William and Sarah executed 11 different Trust Deeds borrowing money to plant crops.

During the same time period (1880-1886) he and Sarah sold off three plats of land they owned.
  • 3 Mar 1881 – 30 acres - William. A. Purvis and wife [Sarah J. Purvis] to Marshall & Richardson, Anson Co., NC, Book 21, Page 401.[6]
  • 28 Sept 1883 – 60 acres - Wm. A. Purvis and wife [Sarah J. Purvis] to Jefferson D. Rhyne, Anson Co., DB 22, Page 532-533.[7]
  • 15 Dec 1885 – 30 acres - William A. Purvis to William James Purvis, Chesterfield Co., SC, Book 8, Page 421-423.[8]
This selloff represents the majority of their land; a total of 120 acres. Whether he sold it because he was unable to make a living farming or for other reasons is unknown.
I do know “after the fact” that his wife, Sarah Jane was suffering from Cancer.

On 22 April 1886, W. A. Purvis executed a “Trust Deed” between himself and  J. T. Moore, Anson Co., NC. (Book 20, Page 611) [9]

Volume 20, Page 611
Anson Co., NC

Film # 1689091
W. A. Purvis to J. T. Moore
22 April 1886
State of North Carolina}
Anson County} Whereas J. T. Moore of Anson County in the State of North Carolina hath agreed to make advances to w. A. Purvis of the county of Anson and State aforesaid for purposes of agriculture during the year 1886, to the value of Twenty dollars, and such further sums as the said J. T. Moore may deem necessary, not to exceed in all the sum of Twenty Dollars, and whereas the said W. A. Purvis desires to secure to the said J. T. Moore prompt payment for the advances made in accordance with the provisions 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 J. T. Moore on the first day of October 1886, so much cotton, com 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 transfer shall create a lien in favor of the said J. T. Moore to the extent of the advances made or to be made, upon all the crop the said W. A. Purvis may raise during the present year and for further security the said W. A. Purvis bargains and sells to the said J. T. Moore the following articles of personal property, to wit: one red ox with the understanding that if the said W. A. Purvis shall will and truly pay the said J. T. Moore for the advances aforesaid on or before the 1st day of October 1886, the said lien shall be discharged and the said property shall revert to the said W. A. Purvis, otherwise the said J. T. Moore shall have power to take into his possession all of said property, and crop on the farm, or elsewhere if removed, and sell the same, or so much thereof 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 sale for ten days at three public places in Anson County. I, the said W. A. Purvis 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 per annum from date to payment. In witness whereof, the said W. A. Purvis has hereunto set his hand and seal, this 22nd day of April, A.D. 1886.
Signed, sealed & deliver on presence of
W. H. Odom

W. A. Purvis seal
State of North Carolina}
Anson County} The due execution of the foregoing lien and mortgage was proven before me this day by the oath and examination of W. H. Odom, the subscribing witness. Let the same with this certificate, be registered. This the 14th day of May, A.D. 1886.
John C. McLanchlin, C.S.C.
May 14th, 1886 - Then the foregoing lien & mortgage and certificate came into my hand and was duly registered.
P. J. Coppedge, Register of Deeds

No additional trust deeds were found after this date. Then in December 1893 a short notice in the McFarlan News section of The Messenger-Intelligencer newspaper dated January 4, 1884 reads:
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. [10]

The years have not been good to Great Grandpa and Grand Ma. They have sold off most of their land retaining  a mere 30 acres. Great Grandma  has been diagnosed with Cancer and after suffering some fifteen months she passes away on 31 December 1893. Great Grandpa is left along to pick up the pieces. 

More surprises are ahead in the final chapter which will be posted next Thursday.









_________________________
1. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Joseph P. Smith to William A. Purvis; 6 December 1866, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6.  Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book 21: page 401, William. A. Purvis and wife [Sarah J. Purvis] to Marshall & Richardson; 3 March 1881, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Anson County, North Carolina, Trust Deed Book 20: Page 611, W. A. Purvis to J. T. Moore; 22 April 1886, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
10. Sarah Jane Graves Purvis obituary, Messenger-Intelligencer, Wadesboro, North Carolina, 4 January 1894, page 3, McFarlan News. [Source: Steve Bailey]





















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