Histories

Biographical Information: JOHN PURVIS, born c.1759 at Ross, Northumberland, England, died between 13th July and 6th August 1811 at Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. from a chill caught while fishing. Emigrated (c.1780) to Columbia, South Carolina, where he hoped to get help from a Mr Thompson (a close kinsman of his mother Elizabeth Thompson), who had done well in America and whose daughter married a Mr Heriot of Ladykirk, Berwickshire, secretary to the Duke of Wellington. Also arriving in South Carolina at the same time as John Purvis and his brothers was a Charles Purvis, who may have been a relative and went to join Colonel John Purvis at Edgefield, South Carolina, who was evidently already well established. In the event no help was forthcoming from either quarter and so John and his brothers had to fend for themselves. This they proceeded to do very successfully. He established, in partnership with his brother Alexander Purvis (after of Kinaldy) (see 1.1.3.6. below), a trading and cotton broking business in South Carolina at Charleston, Sumter and Columbia (with a store on the corner of Gervais and Main Street which subsequently became the site of City Hall and the Wade Hampton Hotel, still known in 1900 as Purvis Corner). From humble beginnings, the business prospered greatly. Their first contract was to supply provisions to workers on the canal then being built between the Congaree and Santee rivers in South Carolina. From 1806 until his death (1811) he was based in Newark, New Jersey, and New York City, New York. He was naturalised an American citizen 18th February 1795, one of the first to do so under the Naturalisation Act of 1795. ? Owned extensive land holdings in South Carolina? Participated in the "Underground Railroad" for negro slaves escaping from the Southern States. In his will (signed 13th July 1811, probate granted 4th November 1811), he names Alexander Purvis (see 1.1.3.6. below) as his main executor, the beneficiaries being William Purvis (see 1.1.3.2. above), Joseph Purvis (see 1.1.3.4. below) (through a trust to be administered by Alexander and William), the children of Robert Purvis (see 1.1.3.5. below), and Robert Thompson of Chillingham Barns, Northumberland, his 1st cousin (2nd son of his mother's brother). Unmarried.