The following is a transcribed copy of the obituary of
James Purvis. The original was hand written and found among the family papers of
Adelbert M. Scriber, his great grandson. In the obituary of Adelbert’s mother,
Mary Esther Purvis Scriber it is noted that her grandfather was born in 1791 on
a ship sailing from England. If one calculates the year of James’ birth based
on the statement below, that he was 84 years, 8 months and 13 days, one arrives
at June 30th 1791, so the author of this obituary was in error regarding the
year of James birth. (the author is unknown)
James Purvis died at Purvis, in the Town of Rockland, Sull.
Co. NY March 13th 1876, James Purvis, aged 84 years, 8 months and 13 days.
The deceased was born June 30th 1781 [1791] and married
to Abigail Jackson of the Town of Bethel, Jan 15th, 1815, the fruits of the
marriage being fifteen children of which ten are now living. In all this long
time of nearly 85 years it is said by the family that the deceased was never ill
to amount to anything. Having been born in a time when, and in a section of the
country where wild animals of all kinds abounded, it became his chief delight
and pastime to roam the forests in search of such game as the section of the
country afforded. Endowed with the utilizing zeal and iron endurance that
characterized the early pioneers of our country there is scarcely a foot of
ground in the towns of Rockland, Fremont and Callicoon that his foot has not
trod, nor a valley, nor a ravine that has not re-echoed the ring of his death
dealing rifle. It is said that in the course of his hunter's career, he has
killed, at the lowest estimate, one thousand deer, besides other game. It was a
habit with the deceased and one of his honorable companions to absent themselves
from their homes and to take to the forest, camping out at a place in what is
now the town of Fremont on the Basker Stream, known as the Rock Cabin, from
whence they could pursue their favorite sport for two or three weeks, sending
the game they trapped and slaughtered to New York City and thus procuring means
of adding a few comforts to their humble dwellings. One remarkable feature in
the life of this remarkable man is that during his long life he has lived, with
the exception of five years, within the sight of the spot where he was born,
although the house in which he was born has since crumbled into ruins.
Mr. Purvis was converted when he was seventeen years of age
and united with the Methodist Church. He was an ardent supporter and firm
believer in the faith which he professed, always ready to give evidence of the
belief that was his in the public meetings of the people, always earnest and
enthusiastic in the cause he had so early in his life espoused. He thus lived as
one who was following the precepts of his Divine Master for the space of
sixty-eight years, having given evidence many times of his readiness to depart
and be with Jesus.
On the day before his death he seemed to be in even better
health than he had been for sometime, when he stepped out of the house and was
missed by his son James, with whom he had lived many years. He was found just
outside the door in a helpless condition, was taken into the house where he
lingered until the evening of the next day, when his spirit took its flight from
its frail tenement of clay and returned to the God who gave it. Calmly and
peacefully he passed away like a still flowing river, without a struggle or a
murmur. He had passed from the stage of earthly action, his prayers for the
afflicted will be no more offered, his warning to evil doers will no more be
heard or heeded, but his influence will be felt in the remembrance of the good
deeds done by him. Peace be unto his ashes.