William Purves (1854 - 1929)

Born 9 Jun 1854 in Dalston, Cumberland, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Bridget (Willey) Purvis — married 25 Oct 1874 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 7 Jul 1929 at age 75 in Widdrington, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Andy Purvis [send private message]

William Purves was born in Cumberland, England.

Biography

Birth: William Purves was born on 9th June 1854 in Chalkfoot, Dalston, Cumberland to "Jane Purves formerly Mac. Kay" and James Purvis (a labourer; he registered the birth in Dalston, Carlisle on 13th June ^[1]). Later census records give his birthplace as Wetheral, about 8 miles to the east, where his sister Margaret was born; however, this is the only birth registered anywhere near the right place, time and name. Confusingly, the baptism of William Purvess on 20th August 1854 in Dalston names his parents as James Purvess and Margaret ^[2]. (Notes: 1. No image is available to support this transcription; 2. All Purves/Purvis births registered in Carlisle around that time give the mother's maiden name as some variant of MacKay.)

Birth registration for William Purves

An 1868 map of Dalston (from an 1862 survey) can be seen at ^[3]; Chalkfoot is west south west of Dalston village, between Cumdivock and East Curthwaite.

1861 census: Living at 3 Vints Buildings, Causey Bank, All Saints, Newcastle upon Tyne ^[4]. (Notes: 1. Surname mistranscribed as "Parves" in FindMyPast; 2. From an extensive search, this was the only family found with a William {~Purvis or ~Dixon} of about the right age and place of birth, near either his birthplace or his later biography - the census has no-one called William Purv*s in Cumberland, though part of Wetheral is missing; 3. Wiglaw does not exist; perhaps Wigton? 4. There is a photo of Causey Bank from 1967 here [14].)

1871 census: Not yet found under either ~Purvis or ~Dixon, despite extensive searches on FindMyPast. Searches done include: All William Purv*s (any age) within 10 miles of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; ditto Willington. All William Purv*s with Jane Purv*s in the UK; all Margaret Purv*s with a Jane Purv*s in the UK. All William Purv*s within 5 years of either William's age, anywhere in Cumberland or Northumberland. Census records within 5 miles of Newcastle for all names that had married a Jane Purv*s between 1861 and 1871. Perhaps Jane had 'remarried' (probably unofficially) after either widowhood or desertion, so the family were using a different surname. According to Ancestry.com, the 1871 Census contains no Cumberland-born people called Purv*s.

Marriage & children: He married Bridget Willey (whose surname is variously spelled Willey, Wilie or Wiley in different records) in the Parish Church of St Andrew, in the county of Newcastle upon Tyne, on 25th October 1874, by banns ^{[5] [6]}. William was stated to be 21, a bachelor and a farm labourer, son of John Dixon, builder; Bridget was 22, spinster, daughter of Matthew Wilie, farm labourer. Both were resident in Spital Tongues. Witnesses were James Welch and Jane Wood. Given that their first son was born less than four months later - 14th February 1875 ^[7] – Bridget (who had already given birth to a daughter) was pregnant at the time of the wedding. They had seven children together, as follows (birthplaces from censuses unless stated):

1. John William, b 14th February 1875, Heddon-on-the-Wall ^[8]; married Emily Bennett on 2nd May 1896 in Tynemouth ^[9]; died 26th January 1956, Northumberland South ^[10]
2. Jane, b 5th July 1876 ^{[11] [12]}, Huntlaw, Ponteland; married Matthew Atchison on 31st December 1894 in Seaton Delaval ^[13]; possibly adopted the name Atkinson; later life not known (though see 1911 census below for her son); may have died in 1946 ^[14].
3. Hannah Elizabeth, b 9th November 1878 ^[15], Halliwell, Earsdon ^[16]; married Joseph Kennedy in Q2 1900 in Hexham ^[17]; died Q4 1947, Northumberland West (probably Prudhoe) ^[18]
4. Matthew, born 27th August 1882 ^[19], baptised 8th October 1882, Ponteland ^[20]; married Margaret Ellen Parker in the second quarter of 1908 in Tynemouth, Northumberland ^[21]; died aged 90 in October 1972, Tynemouth ^[22]
5. James, b 23rd October 1886 ^{[23] [24]}, Crawcrook, Ryton; married Isabella Herworth in Q2 1909 in Lanchester ^[25]; thought to have died in Q3 1950, in Northumberland Central ^[26]
6. Robert, b 19th July 1887 ^{[27] [28]}, Ryton; married Jane Turner in Q2 of 1912 in Morpeth ^[29]; died January 1962 in Northumberland Central (probably Morpeth) ^[30]
7. Thomas, b Q2 1890 ^[31], Crawcrook, Ryton; married Frances Hall in Q2 1908 in Morpeth, Northumberland ^[32]; death date not known

The document registering that 1875 birth of the couple's first son, John William, implies that William was at least able to write his name (it is a copy, but does not say he made his mark, implying that he signed it) ^[33].

1881 census: Living at 163 Willington Square, Willington, Northumberland ^[34]. (Notes: 1. Surname is spelled as "Purves" on this return. 2. Batlaw appears to be Isabella, Bridget's pre-marriage child who William appears to have adopted.)

1891 census: Head of the household at 164 Towneley Cottages, Woodbine Terrace, Ryton, Gateshead, Durham ^[35]. (Note: This is the only 1891 census record nationally having a William Purvis and a Bridget, and obviously the correct one of the two having both a John Purvis as well as a Bridget.). Full household:

Marriage of son John William: He was a witness at the marriage of his son John William to Emily Bennett on 2 May 1896; the marriage entry records his profession as "Coalminer".

1901 census: Living in East Cocklaw, Hexham, Northumberland ^[36].

Residence in 1904: When William registered the death of his mother in August 1904, they had both been living in Wardles Cottages, Prudhoe, Bywell, Hexham, Northumberland ^[37].

1911 census: Living at The Cottage, Long Benton Farm, Longbenton ^[38]. (Note: Record gives duration of marriage as 37 years.)

1921 census: Living at Benton Farm Cottages, Longbenton ^[39]. (Note: Surname mistranscribed as Purie on FindMyPast.)

Death of Bridget: Bridget died on 23rd December 1926 in the Village, Ulgham, Northumberland at a stated age of 76, her cause of death being given as "rodent ulcer" (basal-cell carcinoma) of the right orbit and malignant cachexia (a wasting syndrome seen in most sufferers of advanced cancer). She is described as "Wife of William Purvis a Farm Labourer (Retired)", suggesting that William outlived her. Her death was registered the following day in Morpeth by M. Dunwoodie ^[40].

Death: William died on 7th July 1929 in The Village, Widdrington, Morpeth, Northumberland at a stated age of 75; cause of death was given as exhaustion and cancer of the bowel, and his profession was given as Farm Labourer (Retired). His son Robert, who had been present, registered the death on 9th July 1929 in the Ashington sub-district of Morpeth ^[41].

Death registration for William Purvis

Research notes

Rarity of Purv*s as a surname in Cumberland: There were seriously few Purv*ses in Cumberland in this period. Three baptisms in Maryport from 1831-1846 (to different sets of parents) are the only online baptism records before Margaret in 1851; she was also the first Purv*s registered in Cumberland under Civil Registration (which had begun in 1837).

FURTHER BREAKTHROUGH: The William Purvis who is head of household in 1861 could just perhaps be this person [15], born 1816 in Whitehaven, son of Archibald and Catherine Purvis. So was there also a James? If so, then I have him! Archibald married Catherine Coupland in Whitehaven in 1814 [16]. But the pre-1837 baptisms of Purvises in Cumberland are interesting - [17] as some have James as a father.

BUT - Here is Archibald in 1851 in Gateshead, married to Catherine from Whitehaven Cumberland! [18]. Gives his birthplace as "Durham Camp in the Lane". Earlier I wrote "So the 1841 record (he's still around in 1851 too) is NOT him"; but perhaps Archibald moved from Tyneside to Cumberland as a young man, and then moved back to Gateshead? I now know that movement both ways was more common than I'd realised. Nonetheless, for this to matter at all still requires William to be lying about his age in the 1861 census (and by quite a bit).

NOTE: The 1861 census is INCOMPLETE for Wetheral: [19]. The same is true for Castle Ward in Northumberland [20].

1871 census: The only William Purvis within 2 yrs of 1829 who could have been born in Cumberland is this one - but it's not much to go on [21]. I think it's more likely that he had died.

William Purvis, born Cumberland 1824, military service (navy) [22] - Maybe that's why he's not easy to find in earlier censuses than 1861? But, there's an 1861 Cumberland census record that could be the same man (a single carpenter in and from Melmerby) [23].

There's ANOTHER William "Pervess" (mistranscribed Gervess), a labourer born 1816 in IRELAND, living at Magarrys Buildings, 2, Mount Pleasant, Preston Quarter, Whitehaven, Cumberland (with his wife Mary and two boarders, all also Irish) at the 1861 census [24]

Generally, the transcription in the 1841 census is often very poor in FindMyPast, so it's easy to see how a rare - possibly unusually spelled - surname could end up being very different. I've seen a Patterson transcribed as Pettors, for instance.

Sources

1. ↑ “Birth: 1854 - William Purves (Image of Original Record, 4th March 2022).” General Register Office (Carlisle 1854 Q2, vol 10B, p 400).
2. ↑ England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975, Dalston, Cumberland, 20th August 1854, William Purvess.
3. ↑ OS Six-inch England and Wales 1842-1952, National Library of Scotland[1]
4. ↑ “1861 Census: 3 Vints Buildings, Causey Bank, All Saints, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland (Scanned Image).” 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census (RG09/3829/63). Accessed February 27, 2022. [2]
5. ↑ GRO: Newcastle upon Tyne, 1874 Q4, vol 10b, p 71 (certified copy TN989038, 31st January 2022).
6. ↑ “Marriage Record of William Purvis and Bridget Wilie, 1874.” England Marriages 1538-1973. Accessed January 23, 2022. [3]
7. ↑ “Birth: 1875 - John William Purvis (Certified Copy of Original Registration: Castle Ward, 1875 Q1, vol 10b, p 281).”
8. ↑ “Birth: 1875 - John William Purvis (Certified Copy of Original Registration: Castle Ward, 1875 Q1, vol 10b, p 281).”
9. ↑ “Marriage: 1896 - John Purvis & Emily Bennett (Certified Copy).” General Register Office (application 12549459/1, MXJ 348309, 10th Feb 2022)
10. ↑ GRO: Northumberland South, 1956 Q1, vol 1b, p 433.
11. ↑ Tyne & Wear Archives (E.WT1/5/1) [4]
12. ↑ GRO: Castle Ward, 1876 Q3, vol 10b, p 277.
13. ↑ Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 [5]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
14. ↑ GRO: Northumberland Central, 1946 Q4, vol 1b, p 294.
15. ↑ 1939 Register: 33 Dene Grove, Prudhoe, Northumberland (RG101/2987H/022/34) [6]
16. ↑ GRO: Tynemouth, 1878 Q4, vol 10b, p 229.
17. ↑ GRO: Hexham, 1900 Q2, vol 10b, p 605.
18. ↑ GRO: Northumberland West, 1947 Q4, vol 1b, p 436.
19. ↑ GRO: Tynemouth, 1972 Q4, vol 1b, p 1399.
20. ↑ Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [7]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
21. ↑ GRO: Tynemough, 1908 Q2, vol 10b, p358.
22. ↑ GRO: Tynemouth, 1972 Q4, vol 1b, p 1399.
23. ↑ 1939 Register: Whitefield Farm, Bothal, Sheepwash, Ashington U.D., Northumberland (RG101/2956A/003/33) [8]
24. ↑ GRO: Gateshead, 1885 Q4, vol 10a, p 867.
25. ↑ GRO: Lanchester, 1909 Q2, vol 10a, p 553.
26. ↑ GRO: Northumberland Central, 1950 Q3, vol 1b, p 241.
27. ↑ 1939 Register: Thorneyford Cottage, Morpeth, Castle Ward, Northumberland (RG101/3012A/004/11) [9]
28. ↑ GRO: Gateshead, 1887 Q3, vol 10a, p 913.
29. ↑ GRO: Morpeth, 1912 Q2, vol 10b, p 773.
30. ↑ GRO: Northumberland Central, 1962 Q1, vol 1b, p 303.
31. ↑ GRO: Gateshead, 1890 Q2, vol 10a, p 968.
32. ↑ GRO: Morpeth, 1908 Q2, vol 10b, p 769.
33. ↑ “Birth: 1875 - John William Purvis (Certified Copy of Original Registration),” n.d. Accessed January 4, 2023.
34. ↑ “1881 Census: 163 Willington Square, Willington, Northumberland.” 1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census (RG11/5072/266). Accessed March 13, 2022. [10]
35. ↑ “1891 Census: 164 Towneley Cottages, Woodbine Terrace, Ryton, Gateshead, Durham (Scanned Image).” 1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census (RG12/4190/167). Accessed January 25, 2022. [11]
36. ↑ “1901 Census: East Cocklaw, Cocklaw, Hexham, Northumberland (Scanned Image).” 1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census (RG13/4826/27). Accessed February 26, 2022. [12]
37. ↑ GRO: Hexham, 1904 Q3, vol 10b, p 227. (certified copy, 17th April 2023)
38. ↑ “1911 Census: The Cottage Long Benton Farm Newcastle on Tyne, Longbenton, Northumberland (Scanned Image).” 1911 Census For England & Wales (RG14/30783/1759). Accessed February 27, 2022. [13]
39. ↑ '1921 Census, Benton Farm cottages, Longbenton, Northumberland. 1921 Census Of England & Wales (RG15/25501). https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbc%2f1921%2frg15%2f25501%2f0259&parentid=gbc%2f1921%2frg15%2f25501%2f0259%2f01].
40. ↑ GRO: Morpeth 1926 Q4, vol 10b, p 493.
41. ↑ GRO: Morpeth Q3 1929, vol 10b, p 419. (certified copy)