Histories

Biographical Information: JOHN PURVIS of Kinaldy, born 16th October 1820 at his mother's family's house on the High Street, Burntisland, Fife, Scotland, baptised 9th November 1820 in Burntisland, died 21st June 1909 in a nursing-home at Royal Circus, Edinburgh, buried in Dunino Churchyard, Dunino, near St Andrews, Fife. See Reminiscences of Sport and Travel in the Highlands by Henry Patterson, printed privately (1892) by Rutherford and Craig, Kelso; Madras College Magazine, St Andrews, Vol. XVI of 3rd April 1905, Vol. XVII of 1st December 1905 and 2nd April 1906, Vol. XVIII of 1st December 1906; A Scottish-Hawaiian Story, written and published 1994 by Nancy Oakley Hedemann (See OA.55); John Purvis of Kinaldy 1820-1909 typescript (University of St Andrews Library, St Andrews) by S. Aylwin Clark (See OA.153). He was taken by his father to St Andrews in 1825 for his education, living at Mansefield, Market Street (the University Chaplaincy in 2011), and proceeding to Madras College, St Andrews, when it started in 1834, and to St Andrews University in 1835. Raised and commanded the St Andrews Company of Artillery Volunteers 1860-71, Secretary of the St Andrews Lifeboat, builder and Chairman of The St Andrews and Anstruther Railway. A wealthy and very astute businessman, with several direct business interests and many investments, as well as owning Kinaldy estate, near St Andrews, and Kukuihaele sugar plantation (Pacific Sugar Mill Company), Hawaii, and being trustee of several trusts for relatives and neighbours. Grant of Arms recorded in the Public Register of Scotland 14th February 1868. Justice of the Peace for Fife. Inherited (1844) Kinaldy, Cameron Parish, near St Andrews, from his father, and a share of Finmont, Kinglassie, Fife (which he sold 1857) from his mother. Handed over Kinaldy to his eldest son Alexander Burridge Purvis (see 1.1.3.6.1.2. below) in January 1906 and then lived at 11 Queen's Gardens, St Andrews (1906-08) and 44 South Street, St Andrews (1908-09). He undertook a major journey to the Caribbean and North America in 1851 (diary with John Robert Purvis 1.1.3.6.1.10.2.1.), lived (1878-80) in the house previously occupied by his 1st cousin once removed Robert Raaff Purvis (see 1.1.3.5.2.1. above) at Rue Espagnole (Spaniardstraat) 25 (now No. 9), Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, travelled (1879-80) to New Zealand, where he owned property at Tehokuo and had provided financial backing to his cousin Henry Robert Russell (see 1.1.3.1.2.2. above) of Mount Herbert, to Australia and Hawaii, where he helped finance and manage the sugar enterprise at Kukuihaele of his son William Herbert Purvis (see 1.1.3.6.1.5. below). He visited Hawaii again (from 15th April 1886 until 21st June 1887) to supervise this business. Married (7th July 1852 in Forgan Parish Church, Newport-on-Tay, Fife, and at ? Kinaldy, Cameron Parish) Isabella Wilhelmina Berry (Mina) (born 26th May 1827, died 15th October 1905 at Kinaldy, near St Andrews, buried in Dunino Churchyard, Dunino) (see OA.402 – 1.3.4.3.), eldest daughter of William Berry (born 23rd March 1774, married 1823, died 9th December 1852) (see OA.402 – 1.3.4.) of Tayfield, Newport-on-Tay, representing the family of Nairne of Sandford, and of Isabella Bruce Henderson (born c.1792, died 27th January 1877 aged 85) (daughter of Sir Robert Bruce-Henderson Bt of Earlshall, Leuchars, Fife, and Fordell, near Inverkeithing, Fife), having eleven children:-