Records for Sunderland and 18thC Scotland

[Merry]

BK6 updated from this thread

Any bright ideas to find more on this family please......

Thomas Purvis died in Enfield in 1828. From his will I know he had four surviving children. I know all about what happened to them, but only know where one was baptised. The children are:

Elizabeth 1769
Thomas 1773
Rebecca 1784
Sophia 1791 (born at Liberty of Norton Folgate, bap at an independent church - BMD registers)

(birth years are approx for the first three, calc from age at death):

Thomas's wife was Sarah and she died in 1824 in Enfield.

Thomas was b abt 1746 and Sarah abt 1749.

Yesterday I found that Thomas and Sarah married in 1783 and they were widow and widower. (LMA archives, marriage at St Mary Islington, Sarah OTP and Thomas of Liberty of Norton Folgate. Licence says he was a cordwainer which fits with occ of shoemaker and leather cutter on other records)

So......I have yet to find a bap for Rebecca or the older two children, a burial for Thomas's first wife or a marriage to her. I have not found a first marriage or a death for Sarah's first husband.

Corrie and Purvis are Scottish names.

I believe another branch of the Purvises came from Eyemouth in Berwickshire, arriving in London about the late 1790s. (I know Elizabeth Purvis b abt 1769 married John Purvis in 1800 in London and I'm fairly sure he was born in Eyemouth and most probably was a relation). I don't know if Thomas Purvis b 1746 was also from Eyemouth.

The only other clue comes from Thomas's will (written Feb 1828) in which he says:

pay unto my sister Elizabeth Nelson of Sunderland in the county of Durham four pounds a year during her natural life

I have got nowhere with Elizabeth Nelson.

I'm totally inexperienced with Scottish records (a contact seems to have access to Eyemouth baptisms but at the moment I don't know where she is looking and I'm struggling with our emails a bit!) and don't know much about Sunderland either, so any tips would be great

[kiterunner]

Has Sarah got a surname on her marriage to Thomas?

For Scottish records it's usually best to look on FamilySearch first and then if there is anything you can't find on there or want to view the image for, go onto Scotland's People, and make sure not to pay for anything until you are absolutely certain you need to view it!

[kiterunner]

Eyemouth baptisms are on FamilySearch - restrict country to Scotland and put Eyemouth in as the birthplace and they should come up. Lots of Purvises there.

[kiterunner]

The only Thomas Purvis I can see on FamilySearch baptised at Eyemouth around the right time for Thomas sr is 3 Apr 1752, son of Joseph.

[kiterunner]

There is a possible for Thomas jr at Eyemouth (again, from FamilySearch) - Thomas Purves baptised 16 Jun 1776, parents Thomas Purves and Helen Cockburn. That couple also had a daughter Helen born 22 Feb 1779 and baptised at Eyemouth Feb 1779.

[JBee]

What time frame have you got for Elizabeth Nelson in Sunderland?

[kiterunner]

Durham Records Online has an Elizabeth Nelson buried in Sunderland in 1836, age 99, abode Poorhouse. Also one buried in 1855 age 78, abode Bishopwearmouth, too young maybe.
http://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/index.php

[kiterunner]

The North East Inheritance database has a will for the Elizabeth Nelson who was buried in 1855 but not the 1836 one (not surprising since she was in the poorhouse). The other Elizabeth Nelsons on there are too early:
http://familyrecords.dur.ac.uk/nei/data/intro.php

Elizabeth NELSON, widow, of Foyle Street in the Borough of Sunderland in the county of Durham [Sunderland, County Durham].
Date of death: 7 January 1855

Date of probate: 23 January 1855
•will, 18 December 1852 (DPRI/1/1855/N2/1-3)

•registered copy of will, 18 December 1852 (DPRI/2/61 p50-51)

[Merry]

What time frame have you got for Elizabeth Nelson in Sunderland?

Only that she was alive in 1828 and was probably the sister of Thomas who was b abt 1746.

If the Elizabeth Nelson who died in 1855 was 78 then she should have been born in about 1777, so would have to be a half sister at best. The 99 year old in 1836 makes her a few years older than Thomas. If she was still getting £4 a year I don't think that that would preclude her from being in the poorhouse.

Wouldn't it be nice if I could find a Purvis/Nelson marriage!?

Thanks for telling me Eyemouth is on the IGI! I have really been struggling to replicate what my contact says she has found (nothing on this branch, only on the other one), so I will try harder now.

[Merry]

Sorry Kate.....Sarah's name was Mrs Corrie when she married Thomas Purvis.

Don't bother looking at any trees on Ancestry as every one I've looked at is hopelessly wrong!!