Search Result
184474
Surname: Purves
First Name: Rev. William
Ship: 1839
Date: 1811 - 1870
Place: -
Source: Alan Dougan, Purves, William (1811–1870), Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
Details: William Purves - Presbyterian minister, was born on 26 July 1811 at Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, son of William Purves, artificer. Educated at the parish school, he attended arts classes at the University of Edinburgh in 1827-28 and 1830-31 while studying for the ministry of the Church of Scotland. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Dunbar on 6 April 1836 and arrived at Sydney in 1839........
184470
Surname: Purves (obit)
First Name: Rev. William
Ship: -
Date: 6 August 1870
Place: -
Source: Maitland Mercury
Details: It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we learn of the melancholy death of the Rev. William Purves, while on the voyage to Eng- land in the ship Patriarch. As yet there are very few particulars of the sad event to hand, but, we are informed, a gentleman in Maitland has received a telegram from the eldest son of the lamented gentleman, stating that his father was dead. It will be remembered that Mr. Purves was proceeding to the old country for the purpose of recruiting his health, which had given way under the pressure of domestic afflictions added to the wear and tear of his arduous calling. At the time the vessel left he was so unwell that he had to be assisted on board, but it was confidently hoped by his friends that the voyage would act as a restorative. The Patriarch was spoken by the ship Liberator, forty days out, and the report "all well" came on to Sydney, cheering the hearts of Mr. Purves numerous friends. The decease of Mr. Purves must then have happened at a subsequent period of the voyage, most probably ere he had time once more to see his native shores. There are few who have lived any length of time in this district who did not know and respect Mr. Purves, as well in his capacity of a citizen as in his sacred calling, and we are sure that the news of his decease will be received with great regret by all. Mr. Purves loss, coming so soon after the death of the Rev. W. McIntyre, will be the more la- mented. Of the two gentlemen, while both lent a helping hand to most movements for the public benefit in and about the two Maitlands, Mr. Purves took most part in movements out- side his own religious denomination. Himself a fine scholar, he took great delight in assisting such institutions as the Mechanics Institute, East Maitland : and did much towards making it and others really institutions for the whole- some recreation of all alike, poor and rich. At one time Mr. Purves tried to originate, and bring into active usefulness, movements for a scheme for crossing the river at West Maitland, and other plans of like nature, but was not then successful - partly perhaps because his style of public speaking, though easy, had more of the finished scholar than the orator in it, and he could thus create little enthusiasm among a mixed audience. He had a good deal of energetic perseverance in regard to more general matters also, and to him it is mainly owing (we believe) that the rich cannel coal-mine at Anvil Creek has been successfully brought into working condition, and maintained and largely owing that rather extensive flood-protection works, of drainage character, were entered on by the farmers and owners on Wallis Creek years since. Of Mr. Purves merits as a member of the Senate of the Sydney University the Sydney journals will be better informed than we are. By an accident some time ago we learnt that Mr. Purves(whose second marriage had made him rich was a man of most extensive- charities, some known, but many unknown but to himself and the recipients ; and in this respect, as well as in many others, his loss will be severely felt in East Maitland. It is almost unnecessary to add, so widely was Mr. Purves known, that he was a gentleman of the most courteous and obliging demeanour, by nature a peace- maker in nearly all cases.