Mary was the 2nd child of John Purves and Christina Cockburn and the first of their children to be born in New Zealand after they immigrated from Scotland.

She married Alexander Brown on the 25 Jan 1882 at her fathers house in Akatore, Tokomairiro (Milton), Otago and they had 16 children.
(Her obituary said she married at the Tokomairiro Presbyerian Church, Milton, but her marriage cert. states that it was at her fathers house in Akatore)

New Zealand Electoral Roll
1928, 31 Clutha: Mary Brown, add Johnston St, Milton, Widow

OBITUARY
MRS ALEXANDER BROWN;
AGED 71

By the death of Mrs Alexander Brown, which occurred last Friday at her residence, Johnson street, - Milton, there passed away a lady who has been resident of Akatore and Milton districts throughout the whole period of her life, extending slightly over man's allotted span of three score years and ten. The deceased lady was born at Fairfax in November, 1862 and was the second daughter of the late John and Christina Purvis, old pioneering settlers of Akatore district. In January, 1882, when in her 20th year, she married Mr Alexander Brown at the Tokomairiro Presbyerian Church, Milton, and they settled on a farming property in Akatore district, where they continuously reside for over half-a-century.
Mrs Brown's husband, who combined the duties of a surfaceman for Bruce County Council with his farming operations, was the victim of a fatal quarrying accident on September 25, 1924. Two years after her husband's death Mrs Brown and her family removed to Milton.
Possessed of a quiet and unassuming Christian disposition the deceased lady was devoted to her family's interests. Of family of six sons and nine daughters, two sons - John and James - were killed in action on the Somme Battlefield within three weeks of each other in September-October 1918. The youngest son Walter, died in 1913, The twelve surviving members of the family are scattered far and wide, viz., Archibald, Alexander, and Robert (all Waipahi), Mrs Martin (Palmerston), Mrs Roulston (Owaka), Mrs Peevers (Otekaike), Mrs Dobbins (Napier), Mrs Anderson (Wairuna), Mrs Bayne (Milton), Miss Agnes (Saskatchewan, Canada), and Miss Isabella (Waipahi).
The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, when the mortal remains were interred at Fairfax Cemetery, the Rev. A. McNeur conducting the service. A large number of mourners followed the cortege in their tribute of respect to the deceased's memory