Thomas Moore’s Genealogy Site - Person Sheet
Thomas Moore’s Genealogy Site - Person Sheet
NamePhilemon Purkins 
Birthbef 1776
ResidenceEssex County, Virginia
FatherHenry Purkins (-1780)
MotherMary Dunn
Documentation
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.]
A list of guardians, orphans and “of whom” for Essex County from January 1781 to August 1785 lists Mary Purkins as the guardian of Philimon, Mary, Winey, Cary and Youngdemoak Purkins, children of Henry Purkins. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 3, item 3-A-83.]
On 1 November 1790, Philemon Purkins witnessed a bond from Gabriel Purkins and Major Boughan to James Cole. [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 19 March 1795, Henry Dunn Sr and Philemon Purkins were bound £100 for Henry Dunn’s administration of the goods, chattles and credits of Winnifred Dunn. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 15, page 158.]
On 2 September 1799, Philemon Purkins late of the County of Essex and now of the County of Brunswick sold to Major Baughan of the County of Essex. Whereas the said Philemon Purkins is indebted to the said Major Baughan in divers sums of money for monies lent by the said Baughan to the said Purkins and for monies paid by the said Baughan as Security for the said Purkins and whereas the said Baughan is now bound for the sd Purkins as Security for the payment of divers other sums of money now this Indenture. In consideration of the premises and six shillings to him paid, Purkins sells a parcel in the parish of Southfarnham and county of Essex containing One hundred and thirty acres more or less, bounded by Wm Hwoard, Ulysses Sullivan, the mill swamp of John and Major Baughan, Richard Thomas Haile, William Howard, Whitehead Coleman, land on which Thomas Broocke lives. In trust however, that the said Major Baughan may sell the same for ready money to the highest bidder and apply so much of the money as shall be sufficient to discharge the debts. Signed Philemon Purkins. Witnesses: John Boughan, Caston Boughan, Gabriel Boughan. On 21 October 1799 ordered to record. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 35, pages 132–133.]
On 3 January 1800, Major Boughan sold land to William Howard. “Whereas Philemon Purkins, late of Essex County, did by his certain deed of trust dated the 2d day of September 1799 & recorded in Essex County Court on october 22d 1799 convey to the said Major Boughan is fee simple one tenement, tract or parcel of Land situated in the parish of south Farnham & County of Essex containing one hundred & thirty acres, more or less, and bounded as in the said deed is particularly specified, subject to any right one Thomas Broocke might have in the same for an dduring his natural life, the said Thomas Broocke being at that time possessed thereof (the consideration whereof is particularly expressed in the said deed) and all the right and title of the said Philemon Purkins in the same, it being the land purchased by the said Purkins from John Broocke, with covenants of assurance of the title in & to the same to the said Major Boughan & his assigns in trust that the said Major Boughan, his heirs or assigns should sell the same for ready money to the highest bidder after having advertised the same at the door of the Court house of the County of Essex on some Court day and whereas the said Major Boughan did on the 16th day of december 1799 expose to Sale the said premises for ready money in the town of Tappahannock to the highest bidder, the said Sale of the same having been previously on the same day, it being Essex County Court day, advertised publickly at the door of the said Court house, and Wiliam Howard, a party hereto, became the highest bidder & purchaser thereof for the sum of forty eight pounds one shilling…” Signed Major Boughan. Witnesses: James Webb, William Howard Junior, John Turner. Ordered recorded on 17 February 1800. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 35, pages 185–186.]
On 28 January 1800, James Dix, Thos Wood jr and James Croxton appraised the estate of Henry Dunn deceased. The estate included a bond due from Philemon Purkins who “has left these parts possessed of no property”. Recorded 19 October 1801. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 16, pages 103–104.]
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.]
A list of guardians, orphans and “of whom” for Essex County from January 1781 to August 1785 lists Mary Purkins as the guardian of Philimon, Mary, Winey, Cary and Youngdemoak Purkins, children of Henry Purkins. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 3, item 3-A-83.]
On 1 November 1790, Philemon Purkins witnessed a bond from Gabriel Purkins and Major Boughan to James Cole. [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 19 March 1795, Henry Dunn Sr and Philemon Purkins were bound £100 for Henry Dunn’s administration of the goods, chattles and credits of Winnifred Dunn. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 15, page 158.]
On 2 September 1799, Philemon Purkins late of the County of Essex and now of the County of Brunswick sold to Major Baughan of the County of Essex. Whereas the said Philemon Purkins is indebted to the said Major Baughan in divers sums of money for monies lent by the said Baughan to the said Purkins and for monies paid by the said Baughan as Security for the said Purkins and whereas the said Baughan is now bound for the sd Purkins as Security for the payment of divers other sums of money now this Indenture. In consideration of the premises and six shillings to him paid, Purkins sells a parcel in the parish of Southfarnham and county of Essex containing One hundred and thirty acres more or less, bounded by Wm Hwoard, Ulysses Sullivan, the mill swamp of John and Major Baughan, Richard Thomas Haile, William Howard, Whitehead Coleman, land on which Thomas Broocke lives. In trust however, that the said Major Baughan may sell the same for ready money to the highest bidder and apply so much of the money as shall be sufficient to discharge the debts. Signed Philemon Purkins. Witnesses: John Boughan, Caston Boughan, Gabriel Boughan. On 21 October 1799 ordered to record. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 35, pages 132–133.]
On 3 January 1800, Major Boughan sold land to William Howard. “Whereas Philemon Purkins, late of Essex County, did by his certain deed of trust dated the 2d day of September 1799 & recorded in Essex County Court on october 22d 1799 convey to the said Major Boughan is fee simple one tenement, tract or parcel of Land situated in the parish of south Farnham & County of Essex containing one hundred & thirty acres, more or less, and bounded as in the said deed is particularly specified, subject to any right one Thomas Broocke might have in the same for an dduring his natural life, the said Thomas Broocke being at that time possessed thereof (the consideration whereof is particularly expressed in the said deed) and all the right and title of the said Philemon Purkins in the same, it being the land purchased by the said Purkins from John Broocke, with covenants of assurance of the title in & to the same to the said Major Boughan & his assigns in trust that the said Major Boughan, his heirs or assigns should sell the same for ready money to the highest bidder after having advertised the same at the door of the Court house of the County of Essex on some Court day and whereas the said Major Boughan did on the 16th day of december 1799 expose to Sale the said premises for ready money in the town of Tappahannock to the highest bidder, the said Sale of the same having been previously on the same day, it being Essex County Court day, advertised publickly at the door of the said Court house, and Wiliam Howard, a party hereto, became the highest bidder & purchaser thereof for the sum of forty eight pounds one shilling…” Signed Major Boughan. Witnesses: James Webb, William Howard Junior, John Turner. Ordered recorded on 17 February 1800. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 35, pages 185–186.]
On 28 January 1800, James Dix, Thos Wood jr and James Croxton appraised the estate of Henry Dunn deceased. The estate included a bond due from Philemon Purkins who “has left these parts possessed of no property”. Recorded 19 October 1801. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 16, pages 103–104.]
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.]