Histories

Biographical Information: WILLIAM ALEXANDER PURVIS, born 8th October 1810 in Kinghorn Parish, Fife, Scotland, died 23rd January 1842 at Oakland Plantation, near Vicksburg, Mississippi. He is probably the William Purvis listed in the Mobile Directory of 1837 as principal of William Purvis & Co., Commerce Merchants, located between Conti and Dauphin Streets, Mobile, Alabama, and also as President of the St Andrews Society of Mobile. He is described as deceased and "formerly of Mobile in Alabama" in 1850 when his brother John Purvis (see 1.1.3.7.2. above) designated his children and the children of his other siblings as heirs to his estate, including Oakland Plantation. He and his children were not mentioned in the will of his other unmarried brother Burridge Purvis (see 1.1.3.7.1. above) who died in 1837 and who had assembled Oakland Plantation in the 1830s. The announcement of his death in the Vicksburg newspaper describes him as "late merchant of Mobile". Married (probably) Mary ….. (died 1853/54 in Richland County, South Carolina) (her will was signed 27th December 1849, probated 30th January 1854, Richland County Estate File # 55-1363), who lived as a widow on Gates Street, Columbia, South Carolina, having two (? three) daughters:-