NameHenry Purkins 
Death1739
ResidenceEssex County, Virginia
Documentation
On 13 May 1714, Cary Caston, William Dunn and Henry Purkins were bound £200 sterling for Cary Caston’s administration of the goods, credits and chattles of Class Caston deceased. Signed Cary Caston, Wm Dunn, Henry Purkins. Witnesses: Robert Jones, Ja: Alderson. Recorded 13 May 1714. [Essex County, Virgina, Deed Book 14, page 239.]
On 20 January 1717/18, a Henry Purkins witnessed the will of John Crow of Essex County. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 3, pages 28–29.]
A Henry Purkins was named an executor of the 12 December 1719 will of Elizabeth Crow of Essex County. An Henry Purkins junr witnessed the will. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 3, page 160.]
On 25 August 1720, an inventory of the estate of Wm. Shepard was made by Wm. Covington Junr., Henry Purkins Senr. and Wm. St. John. [Essex County, Virginia, Wills, Inventories and Settlements of Estates No. 3, 1717–1721, pages 208–211, as abstracted by John Frederick Dorman.]
On 14–15 July 1721, Henry Purkins witnessed a deed from William Covington of Southfarnham Parish, Essex County, and Anne his wife to Danl. Taylor of the same. Signed Henry Purkins Junr. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 16, pages 309–313, as abstracted by John Frederick Dorman.]
In August 1721, an inventory of the estate of Wm. Covington was made by Wm. St. John, Henry Purkins Senr., and Thomas Bryan. [Essex County, Virginia, Wills, Inventories and Settlements of Estates No. 3, 1717–1721, pages 276–279, as abstracted by John Frederick Dorman.]
Henry Purkins was named an executor in the 13 March 1721/22 will of William St. John. He did not, however, enter into bond as executor. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 4, pages 32–33.]
On 21 November 1727, Margt Edmondson, William Covington, and Henry Purkins junr were bound £500 sterling for Margt Edmondson’s execution of the last will and testament of Benjamin Edmondson. Signed Margt Edmondson, [others]. Ordered recorded 21 November 1727. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 4, pages 241–242.]
On 28 February 1727/8 William Crow discharged James Dix and Judith his wife in rights in his fathers and mothers estate. Dated 28 February 1727/8. Signed William Crow. Witnesses: Henry Purkins junr, Eliz her E mark Caston. [Virginia State Library, Research and Information Services Division, Essex County Court Records, Suit Papers 1729–1734, Folder 107-A-1729.]
On 18 March 1734/35, John Boughan of the County of Essex and parish of Southfarnham sold to Henry Purkins. For £20, land on Piscataway Creek “beginning by the South side of the sd. John Boughans Mill pond at the mouth of a Small branch of Sarah Boughan thence down the sd. branch to the mouth, thence down the great branch to the main Swamp the sd. branch dividing this land from the land of Colo. John Robinson Esqr. Thence up the sd. main Swamp to the beginning branch containing by Estimation seventy acres be the same more or less…” Signed John Boughan. Witnesses: Francis his F mark Brown, William his $ mark Akers, John Coffey, John Griggs junr. On 18 March 1734, John Boughan acknowledged this is to be his deed and then Cary the wife of the sd John freely & voluntarily relinquished her dower of and in the Land, and the deed ordered to record. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 20, pages 252–253.]
On 6 March 1735/36, Charles Burnett of the County of Essex and parish of Southfarnham sold to Henry Purkins Junr. of the same. For £26 current money of Virginia, a parcel of land lying in the aforesaid County and parish lying on the head of Pescatway Creek above Boughans mill on the main Swamp (it being all that same parcell of land that I lately boughan of William Akers) and bounded as follows Begining at a white oak corner on the So. side of the sd. Boughans mill Swamp that devides this land from the sd. Boughans land Thence along the sd John Boughans line to a branch and up the branch to a corner popler of the said Boughans thence along a line that devided this land from a parcell of land that James Boughan decd bought of William Acres decd whereon Ann Smith now liveth) to the land of Thomas Evatt decd thence along the sd Evatts line down to the aforesd mill Swamp then down the said Swamp to the begining white oak, one hundred and one acres be it more or less. Signed Charles his x mark Burnett. Witnesses: John Burnett, Thos. Burnett, John Boughan, Abner his x mark Boughan, Eliza her E mark Caston. That Levere and Sizen of the within mentioned land was made by the within named Charles Burnett unto the within named Henry Purkins jun in the presence of the within wittnesses. On 16 March 1735 at a Court held in Tappahannock, John Burnett, John Boughan, Abner Boughan & Elizabeth Caston made oath that the did see Charles Burnett sign, seal & deliver this Indenture which is admitted to record. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 21, pages 133–135.]
Henry Purkins was not mentioned in the 11 March 1735/6 will of her father Henry Purkins, but a note added by William Covington, apparently when the will was proved, stated that Henry had been in an earlier version of the will but received bequests in advance. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 6, pages 46–47.]
On 15 May 1737, John Caston of Essex County, Southfarnham Parish, sold 100 acres of land to Thomas Newbell in consideration of £14. This land, bordering that of Thomas ffranks deceased, Thomas Dunn, Giles Young, John Dickinson and William Covington, had been land that John Fargeson escheated from Roger Smith deceased and by John Fargeson acknoweldged to Class Castone and Cary his wife during their natural lives, and after their deaths to John Castone, the land now being occupied and possessed by Henry Purkins and the aforementioned Cary his wife. Signed Jono. Casten. Witnesses: Henry Purkins, Henry Purkins jur., Rachel Purkins, Class her + mark Castone. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 21, pages 279–280.]
The estate of John Dickenson in account with James Dix Exor was settled by Henry Purkins, Wm Gatewood and Jos Mann. Mentions Scooling of Peter & John Dickinson. Twice mentions the estate of Elizabeth Crow. Ordered recorded 22 March 1737/8. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 6, pages 120–121.]
The will of Henry Purkins of the County of Essex was dated 21 September 1738. Sick and weak. To son Henry Purkins all lands. To loving wife Cary as much of my estate as by Law is allowed. Children Henry, Sarah and Tabitha. If my daughter Rachell Griggs has Lawfull issue, then her issue to receive one fifth of estate, otherwise she to receive one shilling. Cary and Henry to be executors. Dated 21 September 1738. Signed Henry Purkins. Witnesses: ffrances her/his x mark Griggs, John Griggs, Elebeth Horknr. Codicil: I give to Joannah St. John wife of John St. [John] land. Dated 23 September 1738. Proved 17 April 1739. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 6, pages 171–172.]
On 17 April 1739, Cary Purkins, Philip Jones and Thos Dunn were bound £500 current money for Cary Purkins’s executrixship of the last will and testament of Henry Purkins. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 6, page 172.]