Sixth Generation

55. Sarah6 Marshall (Thomas5, John4, John3, Thomas2, John1) was born in Northampton Co., VA January 2, 1748. Sarah died February 11, 1803 in Worcester Co., MD, at 55 years of age.

She married twice. She married Thomas Purnell (IV) (Col.) in Worcester Co., MD, about 1770. Thomas was born in Worcester Co., MD February 28, 1745. (Bible record) Thomas was the son of Thomas Purnell(III) and Mary Outten.

Thomas died May 8, 1790 in Worcester Co., MD, at 45 years of age. He made a will in Worcester Co., MD, November 14, 1788. (Vernon L. Skinner, Jr., Worcester Wills JW13, p. 25)

Thomas's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, August 12, 1790. Known as Thomas of Wallop's Neck, his father left him "Wallops Neck," "Baysend" and "East Gate." A piece of land in Northampton Co., VA, N51J descended from Thomas Marshall to his wife, Sarah, and then to his daughter, Sarah. In 1788 Thomas & Sarah Purnell sold this land to Sally Atkinson and John Purnell Marshall and they resold to Thomas Purnell, all of Worcester County; in 1801 a Zadock Purnell of Maryland sold the northeast 80 acres. (Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia's Eastern Shore, Camden, ME, Picton Press, 1951, p. 308)

In 1770, Thomas (as Thomas of Thomas) purchased 100 acres of "Timber Grove" from James and Rebecca Porter. Also in 1770, Thomas Purnell & Nathaniel Ennis sold "Edward's Lot" & "Pointer's Gift to Purnell" to James Porter, blacksmith. "Pointer's Gift to Purnell" had been patented by Thomas' brother, John, in 1755. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records)

Thomas was elected to serve in the Lower House of the MD Legislature from Worcester Co. in 1778, but did not attend. He was a County Court Justice, 1777, Commissioner of the Tax, 1778-1790, and was called Colonel in 1783. He took the Oath of Allegiance in Worcester Co. in 1778 before the Hon. Nathaniel Miller. He was a Captain in the Worcester Militia, Sinepuxent Bn., August 30, 1777, and Lieutenant Colonel on June 13, 1782. He was the Justice who administered the Oath of Allegiance in Worcester County in 1778. He was commissioned a Judge of the Court of Appeals for Worcester on May 27, 1778. (Henry C. Peden, Jr., Revolutionary Patriots of Worcester & Somerset Cos. MD, Willow Bend, Westminster, MD, 1999, p. 240)

Dates from gravestone (1.75 mi SE US 113, "Wallops Neck" SW of Bay's End Lane, located and noted by James R. Trader)

She married Robert Mitchell in Worcester Co., MD, after 1782.

Sarah's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, March 15, 1803. Sarah left a "verbal" will. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Will Book JBR, p. 3) Sarah named her sons Thomas M. and Zadock Purnell, and daughter, Molly O. Purnell. She gave ten pounds each to grandchildren Molly O. Purnell and Thomas M. Purnell. Witnesses: Joseph Miller, Levin Duncan and Stephen White. She is buried in the family cemetery where her husband, Thomas Purnell, and sons, Zadock, Thomas M. and John are buried. Dates from gravestone (1.75 mi SE US 113, "Wallops Neck" SW of Bay's End Lane, located and noted by James R. Trader)

Sarah Marshall and Thomas Purnell(IV) (Col.) had the following children:

child + 170 i. John7 Purnell (Cpt.) was born December 17, 1770.

child 171 ii. Thomas Marshall Purnell was born in Worcester Co., MD September 28, 1775. Thomas died February 14, 1816 in Worcester Co., MD, at 40 years of age. He made a will in Worcester Co., MD, June 13, 1813. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Co. MD Wills 1813-1822 MH2 f.173-175, p. 14)

Thomas's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, February 23, 1816. Thomas' will asked that the graveyard at Wallops Neck where his mother and father and brothers Zadock and John are buried to be enclosed with brick 50 square feet and the graves be covered with marble slabs. He named his sister, Mary O. Purnell, and children of his brother, John; but, he did not name them individually. Witnesses were John S. Spence and Henry Franklin, Jr. and was entered for probate by George W. Purnell. (The will abstract shows him Thomas M. Purnell of Thomas M. - unable to confirm a middle name for his father or another Thomas M. Purnell who would be his contemporary) Melanie Ayres Merryweather shows him with the military rank of Corporal. Dates from gravestone (1.75 mi SE US 113, "Wallops Neck" SW of Bay's End Lane, located and noted by James R. Trader) Graves in this family cemetery are brick borders with marble tops.

child 172 iii. Zadock Purnell was born October 8, 1779. Zadock died October 25, 1807 in Worcester Co., MD, at 28 years of age. Upon Zadock's death, his estate was administered in Worcester Co., MD, November 13, 1807. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Co. MD Wills JBR f. 362, p. 19) Administration bonds posted by Thomas M. Purnell, George W. Purnell, Littleton R. Purnell and Isaac Franklin. Dates from gravestone (1.75 mi SE US 113, "Wallops Neck" SW of Bay's End Lane, located and noted by James R. Trader)

child + 173 iv. Mary "Molly" Outten Purnell was born August 13, 1782.

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