The Purvis name is Scottish and many of the family spelled it Purves.
There were Purvises in North Carolina early in the history of thecountry but to date the connection to our branch has not been made.
John has been mentioned in various records as a merchant, farmer, andattorney. Records in Lancaster Co, VA show Capt John Purvis ownedland in Essex, Middlesex, and Gloucester Co, VA on the RappahanockRiver. The first house built in Fredericksburg was built by a Purvis.The William Purves of Culpeper Co, VA and Augusta Co seat of Stauntonwas a grandson of Capt John Purvis. Capt John Purvis compiledVirginia law, the first published in the US and is now in the Libraryof Congress.
Residences & events:
Some researchers think he came from the island of Barbados as part ofa large exodus of white settlers leaving that colony in the lateseventeenth century for North America. A family of tobacco plantersnamed 'Parvis' lived there in the mid seventeenth century, their homewas shown on the northeast shore of the island on Richard Ligon's mapof the colony drawn about 1650. John Purvis may have been a brotherof James Purvys who came to South Carolina from Barbados in Aug. of1673."
1674 MD John arrived as an indenture servant, serving until about1680. Some descendants said their family tradition was that a brotherand sister stowed away on a ship to get to America. However, nohistory has been found to support that.
1674 "He was named along with 30 other servants in a headright listmade by the colony of Maryland, confirming a land grant to CaptainWilliam Barrot of London, England for his expense in transporting themto the province. Whether or not he travelled with Barrot from Londonis not in dicated.
1675 Gloucester Co, VA. "A headright for John Purvis was given(sold) to Thomas Seawell. The title to Seawell's headright waseventually transferred to Abraham Bradley, who registered the grant inthe County Courthouse on May 6, 1682."
Middlesex Co, VA. John stayed in Gloucester but borders shifted,causing his residence to became part of the neighboring county. Helived near Mickleborough bridge near Dragon Swamp. There he was atobacco farmer and rented lands from others.
Walter C. Burgner posted at FindaGrave:
"John Purvis's contract for his 'indenture' ended about 1680-1683,after which he remained in Virginia having moved to Middlesex Co,Virginia, . After settling in Middlesex Co, Virginia he purchasedsome land and raised tobacco. During the late seventeenth centurethere was a period of extremely low tobacco prices. There is littledoubt that the family of John Purvis faced many hardships andprivations in Middlesex Co, Virgina for which at that time had about140 white families living there."
5/21/1684 His name was mentioned in the Brock Collection of VAColonial Abstracts but details are unknown: " Penn, Wm from JnoPurvis"
1684 His name appeared in various wills and estate settlements, eitheras being owed money, owing money, or as a witness.
The following items referring to Capt John Purvis may be another manwho probably never settled in America.
From the Middlesex Co, VA deed book:
6/11/1687 "...(regarding Col. Cuthbert Potter) for discharging the sumof 70 lbs sterling which he owes Capt. John Purvis, and for which saidPotter, by his deed dated Sep 1, 1684 and acknowledged in Middlesex,did sell to said Purvis the other moiety or half part of the beforementioned plantations and dividends of land and water grist mill, butwith a proviso7 in said deed that if the 70 lbs were paid to saidPurvis by Sep 2 , 1688, then the deed to be void. Now know that saidPotter....paid said Purvis the 70 lbs sterling.."
From the county will book:
5/2/1692 "Capt. John Purvis, attorney of Mr. James Cary of London,merchant, has a suit against Mr. Randolph Seager and Ann Seager hiswife, administratrix of Capt. Oswald Cary, deceased." The Seagerswere a prominent family of Middlesex Co, VA.
2/7/1697 John was granted administration of the estate of "RichardShippe, deceased"
And again from the deed book:
7/5/1697 (garbled note, meaning unclear) Lettice Shippey from HenryGargrobe memorandum that Henry Gorgorgorolds about 4 and 11 years ofMiddlesex...2 flower deLuces...goddaughter will at ...1692. SignedRobert Deputy....Personally appeared Robert Deputy and acknowledgedthe above writing.
(Lettice was Mary's daughter from her first marriage. She marriedThomas Bateman in 1704, widowed in 1714 and never remarried.)
Judging form the following, settlement of his estate must have beencom plicated.
From Middlesex Co, VA court abstracts:
Mar 6 & 7, 1710 "ordered that Mary Purvis be cited to the next Courtt o see if she will accept the administration of her husband'sestate."
7/3/1711 "The difference between John Purvis and George Purvis,plaint iffs, and Mary Purvis, defendant, by consent of the parties, isreferre d to Mr. John Price, Mr. Edmund Hamerton, and William Stanard,to make a f inal decision thereof, and they are hereby empowered,before next court , to examine, state, and settle all accounts indifference relating to t he estates of John Purvis and Richard Sheppeyand Richard Shippey, Jr. a nd to examine all witnesses and report tothe next Court."
8/7/1711 "The diference between John Purvis and George Purvis,complai ntants, and Mary Purvis, defendant, is dismissed."
5/1/1711 "Upon the petition of John Purvis for Administration uponhis f ather's estate, Mary Purvis, the widow of said deceased,appeared and c laimed the right of administration upon the saidestate, and at her mot ion, time is given her until the next Court forher to bring security f or her just administration of the saidestate."
Same date "The order for summoning Mary Purvis to Administer upon herh usband's estate is discontinued."
4/7/1713 "Mary Purvis about the estate of her deceased husband, JohnP urvis."
