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Although the origins of the Purves
family is lost in the mists of time as in all families, after some research I
have formed some ideas on the subject. As we see throughout history countries
come and go but families live through these changes and adapt to changing
circumstances. When fellow researches ask me are the
Purves family Scottish or English in origin I now tend to say neither. Before
the formation of these two countries there was in what is now Northern
England and Southern Scotland a Kingdom called Northumbria ruled over by
Warrior Kings. This kingdom for a short period was the
most powerful kingdom in the British Isles and their kings were the Overkings
of the whole island. After the attacks and eventual
colonisation of the southern part of this kingdom by the Vikings which had
their capital at York the northern part of the kingdom known as Bernicia with
its capital at Bamburgh declined and the rulers became English Earls of
Northumbria under an English king in Southern England. England was conquered by the Normans in 1066
and the Earl Cospatrick resisted the new king William but was finally forced
to flee the country with his family and followers in 1072 and was given safe
haven by the Scottish king who made him Earl of Dunbar and his decendants
were later the Earls of March. The Purves family were vassals of the
Earls of March and were given feudal lands to hold at Purveshaugh which many
sources say the Purves family held from the late 11th century. It is my contention that the Purves
family were originally a junior branch of the family of the Earls of
Northumbia or his vassels and moved the few miles north with him from
Bamburgh to the Scottish Lothians in 1072. |
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11th Century The lands of Purveshaugh were named after a family called Purves who settled there in the 11th century. They were vassels of the Earls of March. 13th Century The first written record of this family appears c 1214 - 49 when Willian Purveys of Mospennoc made a grant of lands to Melrose Abbey along with Sir Archibold Douglas. The next mention of the family is a William Pourays who appears on the Ragmans Roll rendering homage to the English King for his lands in Berwickshire in 1296. There is also a William Porveys rendering homage for lands in Peebleshire at the same time. It is not known if this was the same person. Again in 1296 there is also a William Puruys who witnesses a charter by William de Billingham relating to the lands of Fleurs, near Coldingham. 14th Century Alan Purvays de Ercildon witnessed a confirmation charter by Patrick Earl of March in 1318. Also before 1318 according to the Liber de Dryburgh Alan Purves possed the lordship of Ercildoune. Also at this time there are three other mentions of Purves's these are : Alexander probably son of Alan who was a member of a sanguinary band associated for the purpose of killing every Berwickshire man found across the border. Roger who for his stout defense of Bolton Pele was reckoned the greatest evil-doer on the Scottish March, and was sentenced on the capture of the place to be hanged and drawn for resisting the English in 1318. Uchtred whos lands were
confiscated and bestowed on his cousin John because he let a prisoner escape
who had been intrusted to his care by King Edward of In 1333 Alan Purves was suceeded by his son Alexander and for the salvation of his own soul and as well as that of his father and mother, his ancestors and his descendants conveyed to the church of St Mary of Dryburgh a messuage of land in Ercildoune, this was confirmed later by Patrick Earl of March his superior. 15th Century In 1408 William Purwase was one of an inquest at Swinton.
On the 24th February 1410/11 Thomas Purves of Handwood had a coat of arms shown on his seal. (Scottish Heraldry Forum message received). In 1427 Thomas
Purvas has a charter for land at Swynwode from Robert Duke of In 1428 John Purves
appears as a witness in the process between the monks of In 1438 Andrew Purwas was a durer at an inquest on lands of Tulloch. In 1453 Patrick Purves witnessed a claim of land, third part of Cranshaws. In 1466 the Abbot of Kelso conveyed to Alexander Purves and his brother Hugh certain rights to the lordship of Mellerstain and Fans. On the 21st June 1468 David Purves appears as a witness in a process as to the division of the lands of Crailing. This David died before 1479, when his children William, John, Janet and Margaret were defendants in an action before the Lords of Council. In 1474 there was a Jok Purvas who pitched the Pavillions and a William and Robert Purvas were Yeoman of the stables. In 1483 William Purves and his son William were witnesses to the sasine of the lordship of Earlston in favour of Archibald Earl of Angus. In 1485 William the Elder was obliged to pay the teinde of the lands of Fans. In 1485 Andrew Purves was rector of Kynel. In 1499 a William Purves had sasine of Earlston. 16th Century In 1504 Oswald Purves had sasine of the same lands. The same Oswald on the 14th May 1537 is designated as of Purveshauch in a charter under the Great Seal of the lands of Huntshaw in Earlston which he received along with his spouse Elizabeth Kerr. From 1539 to 1580 there is notice of serving on retours of inquest of Alexander Purves of that Ilk and sometimes "portioner of Earlston" and Alexander Laird Purves in Earlston, wether these are father and son has not been ascertained. In the 1540's William Purves, "knok-maker" plied his trade of making clocks in Edinburgh (Dorward, D.). In 1547 Saunders Purvose of Earlston took assurance of Protector Somerset at Kelso. On the 5th April 1547 George Purves one of the Bailies of
the Cannongate, In 1562 John Pureis was witness in On the 29th June 1580 Alexander Purves portioner of Earlston with consent of John his son and heir, sold to his third son Thomas in Earlston, the four carucates; or sixteen husband-land in Earlston of which Thomas has charter of confirmation under the Great Seal on 25th February 1581. On the 5th November 1587 Thomas Purves son and heir of Alexander Purves, watchmaker and Burgess of Ednburgh had a coat of arms on a seal. (Scottish Heraldry Forum message received). 17th Century From a list of Scottish applicants for Ulster Allotments
on September 14th 1609. Purves, Thomas, in Bald: surety, John Purves,
cordiner in John Purves the son of the above Thomas in Ealston of 1581 was served heir to his father in the above carucates on 19th November 1612. John married Agnes Redpath daughter of Thomas Redpath of that Ilk. According to the Revenues of the Scottish Crown of 1681 John Purves was a man addicted to violence and possesing supreme contempt for law and order. On the 21st July 1623 the land owned by John above was
sold to his near kinsman Hector Purves the eldest son of Andrew Purves
burgess of Hector Purves was the eldest son of Andrew Purves burgess
of Hector of Purveshauch married Isobel Adair and had two sons Andrew baptised 5th February 1630 and Robert. Hector died and Andrew became his heir on the 21st February 1656 he married Marion Aikman but died without issue. Robert Purves succeeded his brother but sold the lands to Andrew Aikman W.S. on the 24th February 1665. Sir William Purves aquired the lands of Purveshauch from Marion Aikman spouse of the deceased Andrew Purves of that ilk on 9th December 1671. This William was the son of another Robert Purves burgess of Edinbugh who was probably the nephew of Andrew Purves the father of Hector. This Robert had nine children of which William was the fifth but eldest surviving son baptised 19th October 1623. He became his fathers heir in 15th July 1630. William married on the 12th January 1643 Marjory Fleming daughter of Thomas Fleming of Longherdmiston. Sir William Purves was made a Baronet of Nova Scotia on the 25th July 1665 and published a work on the Revenues of the Scottish Crown in 1681. He died in 1684. George Purves the grandson of Sir William migrated to 18th Century In 1734 William Purves the Scottish Theologian was born at Blackadder near Edington, Berwickshire. He lived from 1734 to 1795 and was the son of a shepherd who died in 1754. He became apprentice to his uncle a Wright in Dunse, Berwickshire in 1756. (Smith, G., 1882). Appendix Revenues of the Scottish Crown (1681), (Purves, Sir William, republished in 1847). Scottish Clans and Families Encyclopedia. The Surnames of Dictionary of National Biography Volume XVI, (Smith, G. 1882) Scottish Surnames, (Dorward, D.) A Study of Social Stratification with Reference to Social
Class Barriers and Social Class Rigidity. (Headrick, W.C. 1941) - list comes
from Volume VIII of the official edition of the register of the Privy Council
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| This page was last updated on: 28th Dec 2004. |