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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 669   View pdf image (33K)
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BIOGRAPHIES PYE

one-third were secured by mortgages on their real
property. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION, at least 4 lots
in Baltimore Town held on long-term leases, and
an unknown quantity of land in his name alone
in Pennsylvania and Virginia (all by personal ac-
quisition). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BE-
TWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: purchased

with Robert Purviance at least 32 acres adjoining
Baltimore Town, 1780, of which they sold over
3 acres, 1782 and 1784; took leases on 5 lots in
Baltimore Town (3 of which were on Fells Point),
1783, and 1 lot in Baltimore Town, 1784; sub-
divided and developed lots on Commerce and
Water streets, Baltimore Town; either sold or
mortgaged part of their Baltimore Town prop-
erties, 1784-1786; held with Robert 2 lots on
Fells Point, improved lots in Baltimore Town,
including 5 stores, and at least 3 dwellings and
additional unimproved lots in Baltimore Town,
1787; also with Robert Purviance began buying
and patenting land on the Ohio River in Penn-
sylvania and Virginia, 1777; had acquired over
125,000 acres on the Ohio and Great Kanahwa
Rivers by 1782; purchased over 15,000 acres in
Kentucky, and surveyed an additional 12,000 acres
in Kentucky, 1782-1787; by 1787 held in his name
only ca. 6,700 acres in Pennsylvania, lots in Bed-
ford, Pennsylvania, 1 lot in Bath, Berkeley County,
Virginia, and shares in coal mines near Juniata,
Pennsylvania; with brother Robert had claims to
over 155,000 acres in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and
Kentucky. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: probably in
1788. Purviance is assumed to have died some-
time in 1788, although not even his family knew
for sure when or where his death occurred. In
March 1788, he and a number of others, including
a French botanist and a French "mineralist," were
captured by Indians on the Ohio River near the
Big Miami River. Purviance was apparently last
seen beyond Sandusky on the road to Detroit, a
prisoner of the "Shawanese," in May 1788.

PYE, EDWARD (?-1696). IMMIGRATED: by 1682,
as a free adult. RESIDED: in Charles County. FAM-
ILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: probably John Pye
(1620-1701) of Thruckston, Hereford, England.
MOTHER: probably Blanche (?-1708), daughter
of Edward Lingen, Esq. BROTHER: Walter (?-by
1699), of Jamaica, West Indies, a merchant. MAR-
RIED by October 1682 Anne (?-1693), widow of
Benjamin Rozer (?-1681). Anne was the daughter
of Henry Sewall (?-1665). She was the stepdaugh-
ter of Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore (1637-
1714/15). Her brother was Nicholas Sewall (ca.

1655-1737). Her sisters were Jane, who married
Philip Calvert (1626-1682); Elizabeth (?-1710),
who married first, Jesse Wharton (?-1676), and
second, William Digges (ca. 1650-1697); and Mary
(?-1693/94), who married first, William Chan-
dler (1652-1685), son of Job Chandler (?-1659).
CHILDREN. SONS: Charles, who married Mary Booth
at St. Gervais, a refuge for Jacobites who fled
England with the king; Walter, Gent., who mar-
ried Henrietta, daughter of John Tant of St. Mary's
County; and Henry, who probably died young.
STEPSON: Notley Rozer (1673-1727). DAUGHTER:
Ann. STEPDAUGHTERS: Mary Rozer (1675-?); Jane
Rozer. PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate;
probably attended Gray's Inn, 1677. RELIGIOUS

AFFILIATION: Catholic. SOCIAL STATUS AND AC-
TIVITIES: perhaps related to George Pye (?-?),
who disappeared from Maryland records in 1642/
43; arrived in Maryland with high standing, and
almost immediately married the proprietor's step-
daughter and received appointment to the Coun-
cil. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE, planter. PUBLIC CA-
REER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Upper House, 1684

(appointed by the 3rd session of the 1682-1684
Assembly), 1686-1688. OTHER PROVINCIAL OF-
FICES: Council, 1683-1689; justice, Provincial
Court, 1683-1689; Board of Deputy Governors,
1688-1689. LOCAL OFFICE: supervisor of town of-
ficers, Charles County, 1686. MILITARY SERVICE:
colonel, 1685-1689. STANDS ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE
ISSUES: lost all offices after Revolution of Prot-
estant Associators in 1689; Catholicism excluded
him from public office thereafter. WEALTH DURING

LIFETIME. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: at least 3,656

acres of the Rozer estate acquired through his
marriage; acquired 5,000 additional acres by 1688.
WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED between May and Sep-
tember 1696 in Charles County. PERSONAL PROP-
ERTY: TEV, at least £1,199.6.0 (including 2 serv-
ants, 83 slaves, 372 oz. plate, and a large map
"of the whole world"); FB as recorded, £3.7.9.
ADDITIONAL COMMENT: This final balance is in-
accurate, because the administrator of Pye's es-
tate was lax in taking into account unappraised
inventories and numerous debts due the estate;
thus, though recorded, they never appeared in
his final accounting. LAND: over 5,000 acres.

PYE, GEORGE (?-?). IMMIGRATED, in 1637, as
a free adult. RESIDED: in St. George's Hundred,
St. Mary's County. PRIVATE CAREER. RELIGIOUS
AFFILIATION: probably Protestant; supported a bill
in 1642 to aid in the building of a Protestant church.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: not referred to

669



 

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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 669   View pdf image (33K)
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