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 10 December 1785, Gabriel Purkins witnessed a deed from William Banks and Catherine his wife of the parish of Southfarnham and County of Essex to Thomas Wood of the same. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 32, pages 365–366.]

On 10 December 1785, Gabriel Purkins witnessed a deed from William Banks, James Banks and Statira his wife (whose name also appears as Stati Re) of the parish of southfarnham and County of Essex to Thomas Wood. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 32, pages 424–426.]

On 1 November 1790, Gabriel Purkins and Major Boughan of Essex County were bound unto James Cole of King and Queen County 10,000 pounds of tobacco to be paid on or before 1 April 1792. Signed Gabriel Purkins, Major Boughan. Witnesses: Philemon Purkins, Thomas Crow. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 23, item 23-F-22.]

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 20 June 1796, the estate of a William Dunn (M.R.) (also listed as William Dunn Jur. (M.R.)) in account with Evan Davis from 1783 to 1794 was recorded. Division equally between Peachey Dunn, Lucy Dunn, Elizabeth Kidd Dunn and William Smith Dunn. Made by Edward Ware, William Newbill and Richd Holt. Mentions money received by Winefred Dunn Claim Recvd of Gabriel Purkins. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 15, pages 235–236.]

On 14 March 1798, Gabriel Purkins and Major Boughan his security bound themselves unto Sthreshley Rennonds 25 pounds 4 shillings. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 17, item 17-G-25.]

In 1800, Gabriel Purkins made a deposition at the house of Mary Haile in the case Haile vs. Haile. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 11, Item 11-D-76.]

On 11 September 1804, Gabriel Purkins provided an affidavit: The affidavit of Gabriel Purkins of lawful age taken at Capt Lewis Booker’s Store in a suit in Chancery now depending in Essex County Court, between John Turner and Cary his wife and William Howard senr and Elizabeth his wife Pltffs, and Major Boughan Executor of John Boughan deceased defendant this deponant being duly sworn deposeth and saith—
First Question by Major Boughan the defendant, do you recollect the Mare my Mother gave to Cary Boughan now Cary Turner and what She was worth?—
Answer yes I remember her and suppose her to have been worth twenty two pounds specie at that time—
Second Question by the defendant, do you recollect the horse that my Mother gave to Wm Howard Senr and what do you suppose he was worth?—Answr I rememember [sic] the Horse and suppose him to have been worth twentytwo pound Specie at that time,—Third Question by the defendant, do you remember the Mare that my Mother sold to Richard Jeffries junr, and what do you suppose She was worth?—Answer yes, I remember the Mare and suppose her to have been worth one Hundred dollars specie at that time.—Fourth Question by the defendant, do you remember the horse my Mother sold to William Tigner and what do you suppose he was worth?—Answer yes, I remember the horse and suppose him to have been worth fifty Shillings Specie at that time—Fifth Question by the defendant, do you recollect that my Father hired a negro fellow of me by name of General?—Answer yes, I remember he did Sixth Question by the defendant, do you remember Wm Griggs living on the plantation as Overseer for my Father the year he hired Said Negro Genrl Answer yes—Seventh Question by the defendant, do you remember the Cattle Wm Purkins bought of my Mother and what he gave for them?
Answer yes I rember [sic] he bought a Cow and calf and the price was three pounds or three pounds ten Shillings Eighth Question by the defendant, do you know who lived on the plantation after my Mothers death untill the day of Sale? Answer yes, Cary Boughan (now Cary Turner)—Ninth Question by the defendant, did you know the Negroes belonging to my Fathers Estate on the day of Sale?—Answer yes, Peter Esther and Ell—Tenth Question by the defendant, do you remember that there was Cattle Horses & Hogs sold at the sale? Answer I remember there was—
Eleventh Question by the defendant, do you know whether the pltffs, means to hold me to the appraisment of my Fathers Estate?—Answer I heard John Turner say he should—
Essex County to wit
Gabriel Purkins personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and made oath that the above affidavit contained the truth
Given under my hand this Eleventh day of Septer 1804.
LBooker [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 15, item 15-B-13.]

Deposition of Gabriel Purkins of lawful age, taken 9 November 1805. “…that some where about eight[hole] nineteen years ago, William Edmondson ab[hole] to him that he had discovered a coolness in [   ]thaniel Crow and William Howerton towards him, in Consequence of his taking a bill of sale on his Mothers property, and he Requested this deponant, to inform the said Crow, & Howerton, that he had no other view in taking the Bill of sale, than to save his mother harmless, from his, cosin, Capt James Edmondson…about five or six years ago, he heard Catharin[ ] Edmondson say the above bill of sale was a sham t[              ]ve her harmless from Capt James Edmondson…Question by defendt. did not Catherine Edmondson break up house keeping about the year 1784 and live at old Capt Woods. Answer yes.” [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 23, item 23-B-5.]

On 16 June 1807, Gabriel Purkins and Major Boughan were bound unto Henry Dunn administrator of Winifred Dunn 2,500 pounds of tobacco. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 19, item 19-G-47.]

On 19 August 1807, orator Gabriel Purkins executor of Mary Purkins issued a bill of complaint that states that in 17__ your orator’s testatrix and mother became indebted to her mother Winnefred Dunn. After Winnifred’s death her son Henry Dunn obtained administration of her estate. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 19, item 19-G-51.]

On 27 January 1809, Gabriel Purkins witnessed a bond from Thomas E. Dix, Thomas Dix and Ambrose Hunley to John Chamberlain. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 22, item 22-G-60.]

On 9 May 1809, Gabriel Purkins Sen. witnessed the will of Susanah Smith of Essex County. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 19, pages 261–262.]

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.]

On 17 February 1812, William Croxton and Gabriel Purkins were bound in the penalty of $500 for William Croxton’s administration of the goods, chattels and credits of Cary Griggs, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, pages 339–340.]

On 18 January 1815, Gabriel Purkins and John Boughan were bound in the penalty of $300 for Gabriel Purkins’s administration of the goods, chattels and credits of Lucy Davis, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, page 98.]

On 21 March 1817, Gabriel Purkins deposed that the land owned (conveyed in 1799) by Catharine Dix, daughter of Thomas Wood and wife of James Dix, would be worth 40 shillings per acre. That the land conveyed by Thos Wood sr to his son Carter called Pine Top would be worth 40 shillings per acre. That Thomas Wood Sr gave to his son Carter 1/2 of a water grist mill called Dunn’s Mill, and that the mill was worth £135. The land given to his son William would be worth 40 shillings per acre, and that the land given to his son Thomas would be worth 40 shillings per acre. That the land on which a water grist mill called Germains Mill stands that was given to Thomas would be worth 45 shillings and acre; this land had been given half to Thomas and half to Joseph, and that Joseph sold his share to Thomas. The deponent knew well the slaves Phill and Sam given to Thomas’s son Thomas and that they were “house joiners and had been brought up to that trade from boyz”. Other land valuations are mentioned. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 17, item 17-A-39.]

On 22 March 1821, Washginton H. Purkins, James Croxton Jr. and Thos Pilcher were bound $7,000 for Washington H. Purkins’s administration of the estate of Gabriel Purkins. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 19, pages 181–182.]

In an undated petition, orators and oratrices Thomas Rowe jr and Elizabeth his wife, John T. Purkins, Mary D. Purkins, Catharine B. Purkins and Lucy S. Purkins and Henry B. Purkins infants by Jno T. Purkins their next friend complained that Gabriel Purkins died intestate, that Washington H. Purkins was granted administration of his estate. That your orators and oratrices and Washington H. Purkins, with the exception of Thomas Rowe jr, are Gabriel’s only children. [Essex County, Virginia, loose chancery paper 38-D-19.]