25. Dolway⁵ Purvis (Silas⁴, Dolway³, James², Oliver¹) (#747) was born in Cookstown Ireland 04 02 1826. Dolway died 03 26 1896 in Belle River, at 70 years of age. His body was interred in Puce, Ont., St. Andrews.

He married twice. He married Nancy Brownlee. (Nancy Brownlee is #802.) Nancy died 04 08 1896. He married Mary Ann Martin abt 1850. (Mary Ann Martin is #748.) Mary was born in Maidstone Twp. Essex Co. Ont. 1835. Mary was the daughter of John Martin and Honora Sexton. Mary died 10 16 1871 at 36 years of age. Her body was interred St. Simon & St. Jude Cememtery. At 21 years of age Mary became the mother of Sarah Jean Purvis in Sandwich Township, 1856. At 23 years of age Mary became the mother of John Henry Purvis in Michigan, 1858. At 26 years of age Mary became the mother of Mary Ellen Purvis in Belle River, Ontario, Canada, 1861. At 27 years of age Mary became the mother of David Purvis 01 26 1862. At 29 years of age Mary became the mother of Silas James Purvis in On the farm at Belle River, 06 13 1864. At 32 years of age Mary became the mother of Hannorah (Hannah) Purvis 07 27 1867. At 35 years of age Mary became the mother of Sarah Jane (Jennie) Purvis 06 10 1870.

He was baptized in Arboe Parish, 04 02 1826. Religion: religion unknown. At 30 years of age Dolway became the father of Sarah Jean Purvis in Sandwich Township, 1856. At 32 years of age Dolway became the father of John Henry Purvis in Michigan, 1858. At 35 years of age Dolway became the father of Mary Ellen Purvis in Belle River, Ontario, Canada, 1861. At 36 years of age Dolway became the father of David Purvis 01 26 1862. At 38 years of age Dolway became the father of Silas James Purvis in On the farm at Belle River, 06 13 1864. At 41 years of age Dolway became the father of Hannorah (Hannah) Purvis 07 27 1867. At 44 years of age Dolway became the father of Sarah Jane (Jennie) Purvis 06 10 1870. During the 1800's Ireland's population grew rapidly, but its economy declined. About half the people lived on small farms that produced little income. Others leased their farms and had high rents to pay. Because of their poverty most of the people depended on potatoes for their food. Around 1845 to 1847 the potato crop failed because of disease. Thousands of Irish people died of starvation or left the country.

Family tradition says Dolway left Ireland when he was about 18, which would have been 1844. Whether he emigrated due to the famine or overcrowding and small farms is not known. It is thought that Dolway went to the United States especially the Philadelphia area. Why that area? Some of his younger sisters and one brother went to that area but surely they were not there if Dolway left Ireland at 18.

In January 1854 the Great Western Railroad (now Canadian National Railroad) inaugurated train service from the Niagara Frontier to Windsor. The route went through the Belle River area. Dolway, with a team of horses, had prepared the overpasses for the railway. Conveniently the railroad ran through the farm of John Martin where Dolway was able to board his horses.

Dolway married the eldest daughter of John and Honora (Sexton) Martin sometime in the 1850's. Mary Ann Martin was a Catholic and Dolway was Anglican but no marriage record has been found in either church. Dolway may have continued to work on the railroad and their first child Sarah Jean was born, circa 1856, in Sandwich Township near Windsor, Ontario. Dolway eventually moved to Detroit, USA, to farm but feeling farming was better on the other side of the Detroit River, he returned to the family farm in Canada. This farm is situated one mile east on Lot #1 between the Rivers Puce and Belle River. The mailing address is Belle River.

The lot runs from Lake St. Clair southwards to beyond The Canadian Pacific Railroad. The soil, in places is sandy and in other places is of clay. The land is low lying and flat and is similar to the land that Dolway was acquainted with at his home in Ireland. John Martin had bought the farm in 1829, Dolway acquired all 100 acres to Cornelius Sexton (the father-in-law or brother-in-law of John Martin) who in turn indentrued it to John Martin.

On October 16, 1871, Mary Ann died. Two theories on how she died are: 1. She was walking on the railroad tracks from Belle River when a sudden snowstorm came up and she didn't see or hear the train and was killed. 2. She died in child birth. She is buried in the cemetery of St. Simon & Jude Chruch. The tombstone reads: "In memory of Mary Ann beloved wife of Dolway Purvis died October 16, 1871, aged 36 years. Hannorah died November 5, 1871, aged 4 years. A faithful friend, companion, mother." The stone is white marble (?) that has broken and now is supported by a metal rod. The cause of death of Hannorah is unknown.

In 1875, Dolway purchased the E 1/2 of the W 1/2 of Lot #1 from his former father-in-law, John Martin. He bought out the other children of John in order to have clear title to the land. This was completed in 1877. At this time there were four homes on the property.

All though his ownership of Lot #1, Dolway not only worked the land but made the land work for him by mortgaging it. Often the holder of these mortgages was James Rourke owner of the E 1/2 of Lot #1.

In 1880, a wooden frame house was built on the property. That house stands today (1985).

On September 1, 1886, with sons to provide farms for, Dolway purchased Lot #13 Concession 4 & N 1/2 of Lot #14 Concession 4 of Maidstone Twp, a total of 240 acres. Mortgaging again to pay for it.

On March 17, 1896, at 70 years of age, he wrote his will. He died nine days later on March 26, 1896. His wife Nancy died shortly afterwards on April 8, 1896, aged 60 years. Dolway's great grandson, Dr. James Purvis states there was in influenza epidemic in 1896, and considering the closeness of Dolway's and Nancy's deaths and the lateness in writing his will, it is thought that influenza may have claimed both their lives.

Dolway and Nancy are buried in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Puce, Ontario. In addition to Dolway and Nancy, John and his wife Mary Ann, David and his wife Jennie and Sarah Jane Goslin are recorded on the tombstone. Son Silas, and his family have a gravestone a few yards away. A couple of verses are written on Dolway's stone: 1. Under Dolway's name: "Let the weeping willow wave Lowly drooping o'r thy heads Let loves token mark thy grave Blessed are the righteous dead." A weeping willow did grow beside the stone, but was cut down due to size. 20 rings were counted on the stump.

2. Under Jennie's and S. Jane's names: "Altho she sleeps her memory doth live And cheering comforts to her mourners give, She followed virtue as her trusted guide Lived as a Christian, as a Christian she died."

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Dolway Purvis and Mary Ann Martin had the following children:

37 i. Sarah Jean⁶ Purvis (#806) was born in Sandwich Township 1856. Sarah died Before 1871.

38 ii. John Henry Purvis (#807) was born in Michigan 1858. John died 10 1939 at 81 years of age. He married Mary A. Kendrick. (Mary A. Kendrick is #808.) Mary was born 1873. Mary died 1953 at 80 years of age.

39 iii. Mary Ellen Purvis (#809) was born in Belle River, Ontario, Canada 1861. She married ? Hogan. (? Hogan is #810.) (See ? Hogan for the continuation of this line.)

40 iv. David Purvis (#811) was born 01 26 1862. David died 10 04 1930 at 68 years of age. His body was interred St. Andrew at Puce. He married twice. He married Jennie Addison. (Jennie Addison is #812.) Jennie was born 1873. Jennie died 1900 at 27 years of age. He married Stella ?. (Stella ? is #822.)

+ 41 v. Silas James Purvis was born 06 13 1864.

42 vi. Hannorah (Hannah) Purvis (#813) was born 07 27 1867. Hannorah died 11 05 1871 at 4 years of age.

43 vii. Sarah Jane (Jennie) Purvis (#814) was born 06 10 1870. Sarah died 1938 at 68 years of age. She married ? Goslin. (? Goslin is #815.)

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