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Andrew Purves was born Andrew Kennedy, illegitimate to Eliza Kennedy on 25th September 1879 at Eccles Newton, Berwickshire, Scotland.

Eliza (1858-1940) subsequently married Thomas Purves (1845 - 1898), they moved to Leith and had three more children all of whom are fully accounted for.

Andrew disappears from the census after 1891 though one of a similar name/age appears in Edinburgh - it's not him. Another 3 in Scotland born same year are not mine.

Nobody in the family can enlighten me. I suspect either he discovered his true identity (Kennedy) and emigrated or he possibly enlisted in the services and was lost.

I've exhausted all my Scottish resources even a visit to Edinburgh was fruitless and I can't make Ancestry make sense! I'm inexperienced in emigration reources so would appreciate any help.

I've searched under both surnames (purves/kennedy) for his death in Scotland from 1891 onward and found three Purves..one in Haddington, One Kelso and one Roxburgh, all definitely not our man. I searched at GROS for any marriage in Scotland to 1920 (If you haven't pulled by 40 you're in trouble LOL)

He'd have been 34 at the outbreak of WW1, his half brother, who was ten years younger fought and returned.

Hi Malcolm.
Have you seen this one.
1901 Census
Andrew Purves
Age 22
B. abt. 1879
Relationship to head
Boarder
20 Dr. Beggs Buildings"3"
Occupation Engineers Labourer

Head of Household

James W Finlayson
Helen D Finlayson

There is this one born Berwick:-

1901 census transcription details for: 38, Bridge Street, Berwick Upon Tweed

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG13
Piece: 4844
Folio: 92
Page: 33
Reg. District: Berwick
Sub District: Berwick upon Tweed
Parish: Berwick upon Tweed
Enum. District: 5
Ecclesiastical District: Berwick upon Tweed Holy Trinity
City/Municipal Borough:

Address: 38, Bridge Street, Berwick Upon Tweed
County: Northumberland

Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born

TAYLOR, Frank Head Married M 30 1871 Labourer In Manure Works
Scotland
TAYLOR, Margaret Wife Married F 30 1871
Berwick upon Tweed
TAYLOR, Jeannie Daughter F 8 1893
Berwick upon Tweed
TAYLOR, Frank Son M 6 1895
Berwick upon Tweed
TAYLOR, Annie Daughter F 5 1896
Berwick upon Tweed
TAYLOR, Joyce Son M 3 1898
Berwick upon Tweed
TAYLOR, Victor J Son M 1 1900
Berwick upon Tweed
PURVES, Andrew S Brother-In-Law Married M 20 1881 Brewer's Labourer<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Berwick upon Tweed
PURVES, Margaret Sister-In-Law Married F 19 1882
Scotland

Kath. x

Yes Sylvia and Kathleen, thanks. There were several - I think four Andrew Purves born in the same year. I traced three of them to their death certs which showed their parents. Not our man.

Allotment has found him in the Army joining in 1896 and transferring to the Seaforths (In Aberdeen?) in 1898. I'm pleased to know that he kept his adopted name and quoted his adopted father as his parent.

Now i'll search for his army career beyond that.

Many thanks to all.

On the record that allotment found his army number was 6286, so I don't think that is the same one Mary.

EDIT - looks like Mary has deleted her post.

Kath. x

He was signing up for six years in the "Militia" and his transfer to the Seaforths may have meant he was into active service, perhaps the Boer War. He'd have been in his 30's by WWI and i've not seen any entry under his name for that conflict (Two Alexanders, both from the borders where Purves is common). I'll keep looking but hope he came home like his brother.

There is a British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 Record for Andrew Purves:
Name: Andrew Purves [Andrew Purvis]
Regiment or Corps: Lothian & Border Horse, Lothian & Border Horse
Regimental Number: 1573, 120262

Also:

Name: Andrew Purves
Regiment or Corps: Royal Scots
Regimental Number: 59214

One of these could be him?

I checked the Boer War Casulties index and there are a couple A Purves listed but they were either Imperial Yeomanry or Imperial Military Railway so it's likely Andrew survived the Boer War at least and as you say, there are no records for an Andrew Purves on the CWGC website for WWI.

Thanks Sarah. I'll keep that in mind. Purvis and Purves are often confused, even today. He was born and brought up in farm country so may have become a horseman but I think his training was infantry.

Softly Softly as they say Thanks to all.