He married Elizabeth Marshall. Elizabeth was the daughter of Isaac Marshall(Sr.) and Sarah Peale.
Elizabeth died December, 1796 in Worcester Co., MD. She made a will in Worcester Co., MD, December 22, 1796.
Elizabeth's will was "word of mouth." (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Co. MD Wills JWB f.313)
Elizabeth's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, December 28, 1796. In her will, Elizabeth named her grandsons: Isaac
Purnell Townsend and (Hist?) Marshall Townsend and Thomas Purnell, son of Isaac.
He made a will in Worcester Co., MD, April 19, 1772. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Co. MD Wills JW4 f.192-195)
Thomas's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, June 25, 1773. His father named him in his 1760 will. He owned tracts at
"Purnell's Industry," "Long Trusted," and "Purnells Security." (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records) He named his brother Elisha,
and brother Levi's son, Thomas.
Thomas Purnell and Elizabeth Marshall had the following children:
228
iii.
Walter (Walton) Purnell. His father added a codicil to his will naming Walter/Walton and leaving him Negro girl Lydia
purchased from Angelo Atkinson, "if he dies before becoming of age, then my daughter Sarah;" witnessed: John Rosse, Thomas Duncan, Smith
Bishop.
229
iv.
James Purnell. He married L. Hudson. This is probably the James Purnell who served
as Private, Worcester Militia, Sinepuxent Battalion, Capt. John Rackliff's Company, 1779/1780. He took the Oath of Allegiance in Worcester
County in 1778 in Buckingham Hundred. (Henry C. Peden, Revolutionary Patriots of Worcester & Somerset Cos.) James Purnell administered the
estate of his brother, Thomas, in 1784. A hand-drawn family tree shows his wife as L. Hudson.
230
v.
Thomas Purnell was born 1751. Thomas died 1784 in Worcester Co., MD. Thomas was under 21 in 1772. (date
of birth - Suzanne B. Hurley, Ocean City Lifesaving Museum) Estate probate was March 9, 1784 for Thomas Purnell of Thomas, James Purnell,
administrator, and bonds by Benjamin Purnell and Thomas Purnell of Wallops Neck. Inventory was submitted with Zadok Marshall and Isaac
Purnell as next of kin. (Administrators Bonds and Inventories 1783-1790, FHL 975.21 P29d, p.20--Karen L. Robert & George I. Purnell III,
Descendants of Thomas Purnell, private, 1999)