In 1771, while living in North Carolina, John married Mary (Polly) Mitchell, who was born in 1751 in North Carolina. Sometime during the Revolutionary War, he joined the North Carolina Monongalia Militia and helped in the battle for freedom. As a result, he received a land grant as a North Carolina private for one of the parcels of land recited in his will (included), and there are two pay vouchers to him in the North Carolina Archives at Raleigh, North Carolina, one for services against the Chickamauga Indians. However, even at this early date the provinces of the seacoast states were looked upon as too crowded to promise very rapid prosperity to the poorer immigrants. So, after the close of the Revolutionary war, we find that the subject of our sketch settled on the waters of Paint Lick Creek, in what was called Madison County, Virginia, which later became Kentucky (and still later, Garrard County, Kentucky). At the time of their immigration to Madison County, they were the parents of a number of children.
The date of this move is thought to be 1789. (Note: In Stuart H. Purvines book "The Purviance Family", mention is made that from 1780-83 John claimed land in Sullivan County, Tennessee, and presumably lived there during that time. However, probably due to Indian uprisings, he moved his family to North Carolina, settling for a period near his cousins in Mecklenberg County. In 1788 he bought 640 acres on Station Camp Creek, Sumner County, Tennessee, although there is no record of his having ever returned to Tennessee to live.)Presbyterian congregations soon sprang up in various settlements, among them in Madison County, both at Silver Creek, organized in 1780, and Paint Lick, organized in 1783. Among the pioneer families settling in this neighborhood we find the names of Thomas Maxwell, Samuel Woods, Alexander Mackey, James and Robert Henderson, John Cochran, John Young, Robert Dickey, and the brothers, John and Andrew Provine.
It seems that for a while the family of John Provine affiliated with the congregation at Silver Creek, as the Minutes of the Transylvania Presbytery for Oct. 1790 shows that he was appointed as a representative from the Silver Creek congregation to gather funds for the support of missionaries in the settlements. But later, it is possible that he was reckoned as connected with Paint Lick, as tradition has it that at the time of his death he was one of the ruling elders of that congregation, and its probability is added to inasmuch as he was buried at the Paint Lick graveyard rather than at Silver Creek.
John Provine had accumulated some property before coming to Madison County, since at the time of his death (three years after coming to Madison County) he was able to direct in his will the disposition of quite an amount of possessions for pioneer days. His will (which is annexed to this sketch) shows him at the time of his death in possession of the plantation on which he lived, which was well stocked and improved for the times, together with land possessions on the Harpeth and Duck rivers in central Tennessee, and on Station Camp Creek in Cumberland. The Creek was a tributary of the Cumberland River, now within the county of Sumner, Tennessee.
The noblest legacy that he left his children was, however, his Christian character. His youngest son, Rev. John Provine, who died in Wilson County, Tennessee, 1855, thus pictures the death scene of the pious man:
"Though it occurred many years ago, and I was quite young, yet I distinctly remember the scene of my father's death, how he talked to the family about religion. When the elders of the church came to bid him a last farewell, he solemnly gave his family in charge to them, bidding them visit the fatherless and widow, and to see to it that his children were trained up in the fear of the Lord. The children were three sons and four daughters, and I, being the youngest son, as was the custom of the church then, was set apart for the ministry. I remember to have heard my father, in his last counsel given my mother, say to her, 'You must try and educate our son John for the ministry.' The impression on my mind was as lasting as my years."
The death of John Provine on February 28, 1792, when he was but 41, was an untimely one, being the result of injuries sustained by the kick of a vicious horse. He was a comparatively young man, but as indicated above, time was given him to "set his house in order" both as to temporal and spiritual things. His remains were laid in the newly opened cemetery near Paint Lick Church, where under a sward of waving bluegrass and marked by two well-preserved stones with inscribed dates, his body waits the dawn of the Resurrection Morn. (Neighborhood tradition says his was the first grave in the new burial ground.) In addition to the stone with the date of his death, is a stone, inscribed "John Provine- Revolutionary Soldier - North Carolina Monongalia Militia". This stone was placed there in 1956, but we don't know by whom.
John Provine left a widow and seven children, aged from 1 month to 19 years, all unmarried.
Mary (Polly) Mitchell Provine died on August 31, 1813, while visiting at the home of her daughter Anna, who lived across the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
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From "Catawba Frontier 1775-1781 Memories of Pensioners" by Mary Elinor Lazenby, 1950.
PURVIANCE, JOHN
1778-1779. Served two months in South Carolina under Col. Wade Hampton and General Thomas Sumter. Was at taking of Fort of Orangeburg, a private in the company of Capt. William Alexander and Maj. James Rutherford (a son of General Rutherford), who fell at Eutaw Springs.
Volunteered under Capt. James White, Colonel Davie. Was at Stono.
When General Greene retreated from Ninety-Six (begun June 19, 1781) Purviance was with his rearguard two days and two nights. While sent with four other privates to a mill to get meal he was fired on by the Tories. The sergeant was wounded. The rest escaped but Purviance lost his horse, saddle and bridle.
Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1763. Brought to Mecklenburg County (NC) when twelve years old. Later they moved to Cabarrus (NC), where his brother Robert remained. Moved to Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1820. He was wounded and applied for relief under the invalid pension act of Mar. 18, 1818.
BIOGRAPHY: In the summer of 1779, during the Revolutionary War, he volunteered for 13 months as a horseman under Captain James Wade, attached to a Regiment commanded by Colonel Davis. They marched across the Congaree, Wateree and Santee Rivers into South Carolina where the militia of North Carolina was assembling under General Rutherford of that state. The Regiment took part in the severe conflict with the British at Stono Ferry. S.C.. on July 20 1779, under General Lincoln. Soon afterward, the army retreated to the northward.
BIOGRAPHY: In August, 1780. he again volunteered as a Private Horseman under Captain William Penny, attached to the army of young General Gates at Lynch's Creek, marching two miles beyond Rugby's Mill toward Camden and was in a fight with the enemy which probably occurred Dec 4, 1780. He was present at the capture of the fort at Orangeburg, S.C., in May, 1781. and he served in the rear guard for two days and nights, after which he was detailed with four others, including the Quartermaster Sergeant, to a mill to procure meal. While there, they were surrounded by a detachment of Tories. He was the only one who evaded capture which he managed to do by jumping from a window into the river and swimming away. He was wounded and lost his horse and saddle in the skirmish.
BIOGRAPHY: In July, 1781, he again enlisted in the State Troops for 10 months under Captain William Alexander, attached to the Regiment of Colonel Wade Hampton of S.C.. in the forces of General Sumpter. He participated in the Battle of Eutaw Springs. S.C.. September 8, 1781. The following year, he volunteered again in Mecklenberg Co., NC for 10 months with Captain Burns in the Regiment of Colonel Davis and was engaged in that County on patrol duty, watching the movements of the Tories and protecting the inhabitants from marauding parties. At the close of the war. he was mustered out. having served the greater part of five years. He was later granted a pension for this service.
BIOGRAPHY: Nancy died July 10, 1796 two days following the birth of John Graham and is buried in North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Lizenby and four additional children were born.
BIOGRAPHY: As early as 1817, certain of his children commenced migrating to Illinois. Dec 15, 1819 he sold his farm of 319 acres on Wild Meadow Branch in NC to Phillip BARRINGER for $4700. Shortly thereafter, he also left NC. He visited relatives in Jackson Co, TN for a brief period and arrived in Illinois in 1820. Eventually all of his children settled in Cartwright Twn, Sangamon Co, 111, except Matilda who had married and died in NC. Several of his nephews and cousins migrated to Illinois during the same period.
BIOGRAPHY: A special monument, commemorating his services in the Revolution, has been placed at the entrance to the cemetery and the DAR have placed a bronze plaque at the gravesite. His name is also enscribed on the bronze plaque in the south mall. Old Station Capital, at Springfield, Illinois. He was married to Nancy FERGUSON on 10 Jul 1783 in Mecklenburg Co., NC.
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Nancy was raised by her widowed grandmother. Mildred FERGUSON in Mecklenberg Co, NC. Nancy, through her mother, was a direct descendant of POCAHONTAS (see chart 2-3 3 in The Purviance Family by Stuart H. Purviance). Her gr grandfather Alexander FERGUSON, a Scotch Tory, fled from Scotland to VA in 1716. Her maternal gr gr grandfather. Samuel ELDRIDGE. came from England lo the Isle of Wight Co, VA prior to 1636. Nancy died 2 days after the birth of her son John Graham Purviance.
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Died in childbirth in North Carolina.
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May haVE BEEN BORN 1772
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305. Margaret Matilda PURVIANCE
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