BURNT CORN, ALABAMA

Puryearville Community


Puryearville

Puryearville Community of Burnt Corn:

One of the first communities to develop in Burnt Corn was the Puryearville community which began circa 1820. Named after Richard C. Puryear who deeded two acres of land to start the Puryearville Methodist Church. Not sure if a church building was built.

This section is located a few miles West of Burnt Corn and was named after a slave dealer who came South from Virginia and settled there. His name was Dick Puryear. and he had two sons. Dick, Jr. ("Little Dick" as he was called) and John Puryear. They all were dealing in slaves trading and brought quite a few slaves to Burnt Corn and sold them to plantation owners.

John Puryear the only one living after the Civil War was a victim of the Yankee raid that passed through Burnt Corn. They had been informed that he had sold slaves and had a lot of money, but he refused to tell them where the money was and they tied a rope around his neck and pulled him up on a limb of a tree, but he still refused to tell them. He had given his money to a lady friend, Mrs. Mary Moseleyfor safe keeping. Mrs. Moseley was the widow of Asa Moseley, who was killed in the Civil War.

Puryearville was the site of first church and cemetery in Burnt Corn. Puryearville Cemetery is a historic site in Burnt Corn today. Puryearville is also the site of the first negro school as well.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser


CLICK BACK ON BROWER OR CLICK HERE TO BACK TO MAIN PAGE