On 21 April 1752, Mary Evitt of the County of Essex, Southfarnham Parish sold to a Henry Purkins, for £100 current money of Virginia, 100 acres more or less in Essex County near the head of Boughans Mill Dam, along the line of John Boughan. Part of a tract purchased by Mary Evitt of William Acres of Albemarle County. Dated 21 April 1752. Signed Mary Evitt. Witnesses: Thos Barker, John ffarguson, Richard Hodges. Recorded 21 April 1752. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 26, pages 31–34.]

On 4 December 1755, a Henry Purkins cast votes for Colonel William Daingerfield and Colonel Francis Smith for burgesses of Essex County. Since this Henry Purkins’s father was living at the time, it may be that this Henry was not yet 21. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 27, pages 248–252.]

On 6 January 1759, a Henry Purkins was named executor to the will of John Griggs of Essex County, South Farnham Parish. Henry Purkins also witnessed the will. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 15, item 15-A-11.]

On 16 October 1771, Henry Purkins wrote a letter to Mr James Campbell that was later presented as evidence in a lawsuit Snodgrass vs. Purkins. The letter shows that Henry Purkins was highly literate and mentions land in Buckingham County. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 20, item 20-J-12.]

On 20 September 1773, Henry Purkins wrote a letter to James Campbell. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 20, item 20-J-22.]

On 18 January 1774, Henry Purkins witnessed the will of Richard Brown of the County of Essex and Parish of Southfarnham. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 14, pages 71–72.]

On 30 September 1774, a Henry Purkins witnessed the will of Elisabeth Allen of the County of Essex. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 12, pages 602–604.]

On 25 April 1780, a Henry Purkins witnessed the will of Thomas St. John. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 13, page 313.]

The will of Henry Purkins was dated 2 June 1780. Of Essex County, very sick and weak. Son Will: Purkins, who has already received land in Buckingham County. Son Henry Purkins, who has already received land in Buckingham County. Rest to six youngest sons. Son Gideon. Daughter Cary. Son Young dimmack Purkins. Wife Mary. Daughter Mary Burke, wife of John Burke. Executors: Flem: Ranson, Will: Purkins and Will: Dunn (B) [sic]. Signed HPurkins. Witnesses: Thos Wood, Jacob Shearwood, Lucy Dunn. Proved 17 July 1780 by Thomas Wood and Jacob Shearwood and ordered recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 13, pages 311–313.]

An undated bill of complaint stated that Henry Purkins died the day of July 1780 leaving Mary Purkins his widow, Gabriel Purkins, John Purkins, Caty Purkins, Thos Purkins, John Armstrong and Sally his wife, Philemon Purkins, Gideon Purkins, and Polly Purkins, Cary Purkins and Young Dimake Purkins infants. The younger sons are Gabriel, John, Thomas, Philemon, Gideon and Young Dimake. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 20, item 20-J-39.] An answer to the bill states that Henry Purkins died the day of June 1780. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 20, item 20-J-22.]

On 18 September 1820, John Armstrong and Sarah his wife who was Sarah Purkins, and Josiah Minter and Catharine his wife who was Catharine Boughan, all of the County of Essex, for the purpose of conveyance of their interest in a certain Tract of Land in the county of Buckingham, which Land the late Henry Purkins died possessed, appoint Thomas Boughan and John P. Armstrong their true and lawful attorneys. Signed John Armstrong, Sarah Armstrong, Josiah Minter, Catharine Minter. Witnesses: George his + mark Davis, John T Purkins, James his + mark Haile. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 40, pages 145–146.]

The estate of Henry Purkins deceased in account with William Purkins and William Dunn (B) executors from 1783 to 1818 is recorded in Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 20, item 20-J-19. It includes £4 paid to Thomas Wood for a coffin.

On 19 March 1795, a bill of complaint was filed by orators and oratrices Gabriel Purkins, John Purkins, Caty Purkins, Thos Purkins, John Armstrong and Sally his wife, Philemon Purkins, Gideon Purkins, and Polly Purkins, Cary Purkins and Young Dimake Purkins infants under 21 by Gabriel Purkins their next friend and Wm Purkins, Henry Purkins and Fleming Ransone and Elizabeth his wife. That some short time before the marriage of Henry Purkins the father of your orators and oratrices Gabriel, John, Caty, Thomas, Sally, Philemon, Gideon, Polly, Cary, Young Dimake, Wm, Henry, and Elizabeth with Mary Greenhill with widow of James P. Greenhill who was the daughter of Wm Dunn now deceased, that Wm Dunn promised to give to the said Henry Purkins in consideration of marriage a negro sirl slave Hannah, which he did. That Henry’s will was written 2 June 1780 and proved 17 July 1780. Your orators and oratrices Wm, Henry and Elizabeth Ransome are by a previous marriage of Henry’s. Gabriel, John, Caty, Thos, Polly Armstrong, Philemon, Gideon, Polly, Cary, and Young Dimake are children of Henry and Mary. That Henry Dunn is the brother of Mary. Gideon Ship married Alice Emmerson, the widow of James Emmerson her first husband; she is a sister of Henry Dunn. The heirs of Alice and James are John Emmerson, Wm Emmerson, Peggy Emmerson, Wm Philips and Elizabeth his wife who was Elizabeth Emmerson. Gideon and Alice had Alice, Katy, Thos and Ann, infants. That the other heirs of William Dunn are trying to reclaim the slave. Filed 19 March 1795, Purkins vs. Dunn &c. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 11, item 11-A-19.]

On 18 June 1811, a final decree in the cases of William Snodgrass vs. Henry Purkins’s exor and Purkins and other vs. Henry Purkins’s exor was handed down. The decree stated that William Snodgrass was to reimbursed £731 and other amounts plus interest, and that after his satisfaction, the plaintiffs Gabriel Purkins, John Purkins, Major Boughan who had intermarried with and survived Caty Purkins, Thomas Purkins, John Armstrong and Sally his wife, Philemon Purkins, Gideon Purkins, Young Dimake Purkins and Thomas L. Dunn and Cary his wife were to obtain satisfaction. The defendant in the case was William Purkins as administrator of the estate of Henry Purkins. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 27, item 27-G-40.]

For general information about Henry Purkins, see: Gothberg, Carol J., John and Amy Gatewood, and Their Descendants 1666–1986. Baltimore: Gateway Press Inc., 1987, page 574.