Looking to make contact with descendents of Peter and/or James Purves or anyone researching this family .

Peter Purves was my ggg/gfather.
From my research of Scottish Census and Parish records I now believe Peter (the mason) and James (architect/engineer) where actually Uncle (Peter) and Nephew (James)and NOT brothers as commonly suggested in oral and written family history.

James was a very common name in the family both prior to and after Peter and I think that may be why the story became confused and had them as brothers.
Below are extracts from my research into Scottish records.

James Purves m. Elizabeth Waldie, 1786

Known children:
Jean - 1787
Liddle - 1789 - married Mary Scott 1813. Children - James (1814) (Death record in 1870 gave the wrong age - he was 55 not 65)
Christiana - 1791
Alison (Alice)- 1795 married David Cairns (not found date). Children - John Liddle, James Liddle (1833), Elizabeth (1836)
21 Aug 1798 b. Helen Purves Bunkle And Preston, Berwick
Peter - 1803 - married Barbara Scott 1835. Children - James (1835)

1841 Census
Coxon Lane, Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland
HO107/844/3/35/16

David Cairns, 55, husbandman, b. Scotland
Alice (Allison), 40, b. Scotland
John, 7
James, 7
Elizabeth, 4
Peter Purves, 35, stonemason, b. Scotland
James Purves, 5,
Elizabeth Purves, 80, b. Scotland
all the adults have had thier ages rounded down by 5 years,,,which is what was supposed to happen in the 1841 census


1851 Census
Coxons lane, Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland
HO107/2421/515/41

David Cairns, 71, farmer and house proprietor, b. Scotland
Alice, w, 55, b. -do-
John,s, 17, carpenter, b. Berwick
James L, s, 17, farmer's son, b. -do-
Elisabeth, d, 14, dressmaker, b. -do-
James Purvis, nephew, 15, carpenter, b. Newcastle


Mike Purves
mikejpurves@gmail.com