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a possible legislator. NIECE. Comfort Purnell, who
married Thomas Purnell, of John (?-1796). MAR-
RIED by 1720/21 Elizabeth (?-ca. 1754), only
daughter and heir of Charles Rackliffe (?-1709)
of Somerset County and his wife Hannah. Eliz-
abeth was the granddaughter of Capt. Charles
Rackliffe (?-1696) of Somerset County and his
wife Elizabeth. CHILDREN. SONS: Zadock Purnell
(?-1805); Thomas Purnell, of John (?-1796); Wil-
liam Purnell (?-1777), a possible legislator; and
Capt. John (?-ca. 1761), who married Euphame
Arbuckle (1734-?). DAUGHTERS: Elizabeth; Zip-
porah (Zeporah), who married first, John Purnell
(?-1758), son of Thomas Purnell (?-1769), and
second, John Rackliff; Arralantar (?-1782), who
married Thomas Robins (ca. 1702-1766); and
Levina, who married (first name unknown) Fas-
sitt. PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate. RE-
LIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican. OCCUPATIONAL
PROFILE: planter. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE
SERVICE: Lower House, Worcester County, 1744
(elected to the 2nd session of the 1742-1744 As-
sembly to represent the newly formed county),
1745, 1745/46-1748, 1751-1754. LOCAL OFFICES:
justice, Worcester County, commissioned 1743,
1745, 1747, ca. 1748, 1751, and 1754 (quorum,
1751 and 1754); justice, Court of Oyer, Terminer,
and Gaol Delivery, Worcester County, commis-
sioned 1750; Worcester Parish Vestry, Worcester
County, in office by 1754. WEALTH DURING LIFE-
TIME. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: at least 2,995 acres
in Worcester County (150 acres was the remain-
der of 550 acres inherited from his father; 680
acres was the remainder of 1,180 acres acquired
through his marriage; at least 2,165 acres through
personal acquisition). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN
LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: pur-
chased or patented an additional 4,710 acres in
Worcester County between 1743 and 1754; made
a deed of gift to his grandson, John Purnell Robins
(ca. 1742-1780), of 430 acres in Worcester County
in 1748/49; sold at least 156 acres in Worcester
County between 1750 and 1754. WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED: between January 18 and March 6, 1755,
probably in Worcester County. PERSONAL PROP-
ERTY: TEV, £2,425.7.6 current money (including
37 slaves and books); FB, £2,335.6.0. LAND: at
least 7,119 acres in Worcester County.
PURNELL (PURNALL), JOHN SELBY (?-1799).
BORN: probably in Worcester County; of age by
1782. NATIVE: fifth generation. RESIDED: in
Worcester County. FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER:
Lemuel Purnell (?-1772), son of Elisha Purnell
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(1706-1767) and wife Mary Ann Selby. MOTHER:
Dennis (?-1776), widow of David Johnson (?-
1753), daughter of Nathaniel Hopkins (?-1739/
40), granddaughter of Matthew Scarborough (ca.
1649-1724. UNCLE. William Purnell (1739-1796),
a possible legislator. BROTHER: George (?-ca.
1803). SISTERS: Ann; Sarah; and Henerita (Hen-
rita). OTHER KINSHIP: great-uncle, John Selby (?-
1754); great-grandfathers, Matthew Scarborough
(ca. 1649-1724) and Thomas Purnell (?-1723).
MARRIED Arralantar (Arralanta) (?-1825), also
called Lanta, daughter of Thomas Robins (ca. 1702-
1766) and wife Arralanta Purnell. Her brothers
were Thomas (1740-1776); Littleton (?-1816);
and Baldwin (?-by 1786). Her sisters were Eliz-
abeth; Mary (1743-1808); Andasia; and Ester,
who married George Purnell (?-ca. 1803). Her
grandfather was John Purnell (?-1755). CHIL-
DREN. SONS. John Selby Purnell (by 1799-1874),
who served in the House of Delegates 1823, 1831,
and 1838. DAUGHTERS: Mary Ann (Nancy); An-
dasia R. (?-1864), who married James Bowdoin
Robins (1770-1826); and Arralanta R. PRIVATE
CAREER. EDUCATION: literate. SOCIAL STATUS AND
ACTIVITIES: Esq., by 1789. OCCUPATIONAL PRO-
FILE: probably planter. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGIS-
LATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Worcester County,
1787-1788, 1788, 1789; Senate, Eastern Shore,
Term of 1796-1801: 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799 (did
not attend; death reported during the Assembly).
LOCAL OFFICES, associate judge, Fourth District,
Worcester County, appointed 1791. MILITARY
SERVICE: captain, Ninth Regiment, Worcester
County Militia, commissioned 1794, resigned by
1796. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. PERSONAL PROP-
ERTY: assessed value £111.8.0, including 3 slaves,
1783; 20 slaves, 1790. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION:
428 acres in Worcester County. SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND
DEATH: purchased at least 138 acres in Worcester
County between 1789 and 1794. WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED: probably in Worcester County; his death
was reported in the Senate proceedings on No-
vember 19, 1799. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, at
least $4,032.52, including 20 slaves and books.
LAND: at least 566 acres in Worcester County.
PURNELL (PURNALL), THOMAS (?-1723).
BORN: in Somerset County. NATIVE: second gen-
eration. RESIDED: in Bogerternorton Hundred,
Somerset County. FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER:
Thomas Purnell (?-1693/94), who immigrated by
1673; Mr., by 1683. MOTHER: Elizabeth Dorman.
BROTHER: John Purnell (?-ca. 1742). SISTERS:
663
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