John was born the same year his father died, an only child, raised byhis Uncle William Purvis, and so migrated with William's family.
Family tradition is that he was a government surveyor. There is adispute among branches whether John was a heavy user of whiskey ornot. Earlier family members were traditionally closed mouth when itcame to anything derogatory concerning other family members so whoknows for sure?
Residences & other events in his life:
Abt 1795 Culpeper Co, VA He joined a party preparing to go westwhich consisted of the family of uncle, William Purvis, the Burks, andpossibly the Ginns, all from Culpeper Co. The journey took themthrough the mountains of MD and PA, then down the Ohio River on aflatboat.
Maysville, Mason Co, KY. Leaving the river, the journey wouldcontinue by land after his marriage and a short stay there.
1808 Hardin Co, KY, in the Licking River Valley near Elizabethtown,where son, William, was born. Sarah's brother, James, was in the nextcounty east while her parents were 2 counties away.
1810 Fleming Co, KY. Did the family move back east because of anIndian uprising? He and Uncle William were the only "Purvisses" in KYaccording to the census. They were lived only 5 doors apart.
12/1811 He recieved his deceased father's share of the estate ofUncle James Purvis, an equal 1/3 along with James' siblings Williamand Susan.
11/10/1814 Owingsville, Bath Co, KY. With the US threatened byBritish invasion on all borders, John enlisted in the 28th Inf of KY,commanded by Thomas Owings, and was sent to the Canadian border.
Following the War of 1812, he remained in the army for his 5 yrenlistment, serving as Pvt in 3rd Inf, Capt Daniel Baker's Co, becausethe 28th Inf had been disbanded. For his service he received 160acres of land "to be located agreeably to the said act on anyunlocated parts of the six millions of acres appropriated by law forthe original grantees of such military warrants; and this warrant isnot assignable or transferable in any manner whatever."
1819 Bath Co, KY. Returning from the service he returned to farming.
1820 Bath Co, KY. He bought 70 acres of land.
8/7/1820 Owingsville, Bath Co, KY. The census taker found a familyof 10 headed by John "Pervis" (Pewis in the index) which consisted of1 male under 10, 2 at age 10-15, 2 were 16-18, 3 at 16-25, John wasover 45, 1 female under 10, 1 at 10-15 and 1 was 26-44, only 1 wasengaged in agriculture. Joseph Standerfer lived next door, on theprevious page was a Thomas Pervis with a family of 5.
1820s He became infected by "Illinois Fever" which was raging in KYand moved on. Some researchers say he moved to OH in 1820 but nothingto date supports that view.
8/7/1826 Sangamon Co, IL. John voted at the Springfield Courthouse,the only Purvis listed.
10/3/1826 Sangamon Co, IL. John and a Leroy Hill were named in earlyprobate records in connection with the estate of a Jesse Southwick,both had notes due on 4/1/1829.
John sold some land to Thomas Morgan, details unknown.
1828/1829 Sugar Creek Twp, Sangamon Co, IL. John bought the county'sfirst water mill which had been built in 1827 in Section 2 on SugarCreek from A Lathrop. It was then used as a saw mill but he added agrist mill and ran a distillery as well. The distillery, "like othersat that day, was extensively patronized." He sold out to Leroy Hill,mentioned above.
He sold more land, this time to Bennet C Johnson, other detailsunknown .
2/22/1830 Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL. Listed among voters at thecourthouse were John (Pervis) and sons, Isaac, William, and Thomas.
The History of Shelby and Moultrie Co, IL says:
"EAST NELSON TOWNSHIP.* (MOULTRIE COUNTY.)
*We are indebted to George Purvis for the facts related in thistownshi p history.
The first settlers were Joel and Peter Freeman, brothers, with theirfamilies, and James and George Purvis, who arrived early in the springof 1830.....
James and George Purvis came April 1st, 1830, and built a cabin ofrough unhewn logs on section 7, where George Purvis still continues tolive . They broke the first prairie and put in a crop, and in thefollowing month their father, John Purvis, his wife, and daughterMalinda came from Sangamon county. They all lived in this cabin oneyear, after which the elder Purvis moved to the " Mill Seat " at thebend of the river, where he lived with his sons John and James G., whohad also arrived and built a cabi n. The bend in the river is nearlythe shape of a horse-shoe, and is three and one-half miles around, andat the neck it is only seventy steps between the streams. At thispoint it is said there is about nine feet fall. The eighty acres,including the bend, was entered by James Purvis in 1829. He, incompany with this brother, John G., built a water mill on this neck in1833, and it has ever since been known as the "Mill seat." It was agrist and saw mill, and was operated for several years by the Purvisesand others, and finally washed away.
Maj. James Poor settled a half mile west of George Purvis in the fallo f 1832. He had a family of five children, many of whose descendantsare still living in the county. At one time Maj. Poor was owner of theMill Seat. He died in 1850. Alfred Wood settled in 1833. FrederickPrice, Thomas Purvis, a Mr. Sims, Absolun Brown, Mr. Fox, Boswell,Thomas Isaac and William Purvis, John Spencer, John Bracken, MiltonCox, Isaac Munson , John Goldsby, Samuel Martin, Joseph Lilly, SamuelHughes, William Snyder, Alfred G. De Bruder, the Elders and Landerswere all early settlers. Grandfather Purvis, who died in January,1833, was probably the first death in the township. The first marriagewas that of George Purvis, to Cassie Waller, in 1833....The firstpost-office was established at Nelson."
However, according to the next item, John moved later than 5/1830.
8/2/1830 Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL. Again voting at thecourthouse were John G Purvis, son William, and son-in-law JohnBracken.
1830 3rd Pct, Shelby Co, IL. The census taker recorded John Purvisat age 50-60 with a family consisting of 1 male age 15-20, 1 at 20-30,1 fe male under 5, 1 age 15-20, and 1 at 40-50. Down the road was sonThomas. Son Isaac and John Bracken were still in Sangamon Co.
It is unlikely that John ever owned land in either Shelby or Moultriecounties as no records have been found for him, only the children. Heprobably just came along with the family.
John was born after his father's death.
John's death was the first in East Nelson Twp.
