Histories

Biographical Information: ROBERT PURVIS of Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland, born c.1763 (no record of his birth has been found in the old parish records for Fife and Northumberland, England, between 1720 and 1800), perhaps died before 1817 (? 1811) as "the widow of Robert Purvis" is mentioned in a will of Alexander Purvis (see 1.1.3.6. below) in that year (1817) or more probably died 1824/25 as he was apparently living in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1824 when he and his daughter Ann Oliphant Purvis (see 1.1.3.5.3. below) are mentioned in the will of his brother William Purvis (see 1.1.3.2. above) and his wife is described as a widow in 1826. He also declared himself a resident of Columbia, South Carolina, on 1st January 1824 (and formerly a resident of Charleston) when he became involved in a suit and counter-suit with Robert Purvis Jr (probably 1.1.3.5.4. below) and John Purvis (see 1.1.3.7.1. below) against the executor of his brother William (see 1.1.3.2. above) concerning an alleged debt of William and a draft of John Purvis (see 1.1.3.7.1. below) to William. It is possible he was the second of the seven brothers. Designated as "grocer" and resident in Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland, when he married in 1786. Between 1796 and 1800 he and his wife were at Fordel Sutlery, Fordel, Dalgety Parish, Fife, when he was connected with Fordel collieries, Inverkeithing, and where it is thought he had a sutlery (sutler = one who sells liquor and provisions in a camp or garrison) or joinery shop. He reputedly "made a fortune in cotton" in the U.S.A. He landed in Charleston soon after the American Revolution (c.1780s), together with his brothers William Purvis (see 1.1.3.2. above) and Burridge Purvis (see 1.1.3.7. below) as well as a Charles Purvis, perhaps a cousin who went to join Colonel John Purvis in Edgefield, South Carolina. He was "absent" when his eldest son was born in Scotland in 1787. Married (1st May 1786 in Canongate, Edinburgh) Elizabeth Cairns (Betty or Betsy) (born 17th September 1768 (? 1765) at Saline, Fife, died 14th April 1845, aged ? 75, at Kirkland, Fordel, memorial stone in the burial ground (South side) of Dunfermline Abbey, Dunfermline, Fife, together with two of her grandchildren who died young, Thomas Intveld Purvis (see 1.1.3.5.2.9. below) and Fredrick Purvis (see 1.1.3.5.2.13. below) and her husband's niece Agnes (or Nancy) Purvis (see 1.1.3.1.6. above)) of Saline, living (1786) at the time of her marriage in Canongate, Edinburgh, and (1826) in Inverkeithing when she took possession of "houses, yards and butts" at Easter Camps and Wester Camps, South Carnock, Carnock Parish, Fife, which she left to her daughter Ann Oliphant Purvis (see 1.1.3.5.3. below)), younger daughter of William Cairns (declared married 14th March 1762 in Saline, having eloped and married clandestinely, been "cited upon a flagrant report" and, after public rebuke in Saline church, Saline, been declared to be married persons, perhaps died c. 9th June 1806 in Saline Parish, Fife, when a Mrs Cairns paid five shillings mortcloth money), tenant farmer at Righead of Nether Kinnedar, Saline, and estate factor to Oliphant of Kinnedar, Saline (who was to become his father-in-law), son of William Cairns (born c.1707, died 4th September 1767 aged 60, buried at Saline Parish Church, Saline), tenant of Mains of Nether Kinnedar, Saline, and of Anne or Agnes Oliphant, daughter of Oliphant of Kinnedar, Saline, having four children:- [Note: Josephine Gunning (see 1.1.3.5.2.1.9.2. below) had a box inscribed "From Sir James Wyllie, physician and surgeon to 3 Tsars of Russia to his cousin William Cairns" and dated 1800. Ann Margaret Madeleine Younghusband or Broadbent (see 1.1.3.5.2.1.8.1.3. below) has a portrait of Elizabeth Cairns, wife of Robert Purvis of Inverkeithing, painted 1825 by Sir John Watson Gordon, P.R.A., P.R.S.A., (born 1788, died 1864), in which she appears quite elderly (perhaps in her 60s) and dressed in black].