50. Comfort⁴ Purnell (Thomas³, Thomas², Thomas¹) was born in Somerset Co., MD December 8, 1737. (Bible record) Comfort died January 10, 1798 in Worcester Co., MD. (Melanie Ayres Merryweather, Genealogy of the Purnell Family)

She married Thomas Purnell (of Sinepuxent). Thomas was born 1732. Thomas was the son of John Purnell(Mjr.) and Elizabeth Rackliff. Thomas died November 21, 1796 in Worcester Co., MD. He made a will in Worcester Co., MD, November 20, 1795. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Co. MD Wills JWB, p. 24)

Thomas's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, March 2, 1796. Thomas received "Strife" from his father's will. By his will, he left "Goshen" in Synapuxant, "Mayfields" "Mill Angle" "Strife" "Cow Quarter" and "Purnells Purchase" to his wife, Comfort. He named his grandchildren: William, Walton, Thomas and Elizabeth Purnell.

Purnell tradition places Thomas and Comfort living at "Genesar" at the time of the Revolution. The "Genesar" lands passed to his son, Zadock. (Paul B. Touart, Along the Seaboard Side, Worcester County, MD, 1994, p. 239) Comfort had received "Watermelon Point Farm" from her father. They probably rented it, and the property was later held by her son, Zadock. (Paul B. Touart, Along the Seaboard Side, Worcester County, MD, 1994, p. 247)

Information from a chart made from the John Selby Purnell Bible indicates his middle name was Selby, as was the middle name of his son, John (MHS, John Selby Purnell Bible, copied by Vernon L. Skinner) (Dates of birth a death-Melanie Ayres Merryweather, Genealogy of the Purnell Family)

Thomas served in the Lower House of the MD Legislature from Worcester Co., 1777-1779, County Court Justice, 1777-1790, Commissioner of the Tax, appointed in 1777, and Captain by 1790. (Henry C. Peden, Jr., Revolutionary Patriots of Worcester & Somerset Cos. MD, Willow Bend, Westminster, MD, 1999, p. 239-40) Comfort received "Watermillion" from her father's will.

Thomas Purnell(of Sinepuxent) and Comfort Purnell had the following children:

+ 157 i. John⁵ Purnell was born about 1753.

158 ii. Elizabeth Purnell was born in Worcester Co., MD March 16, 1762. Elizabeth died October 28, 1821 in Worcester Co., MD. She was living in 1805 when she sold her rights to "Genezar" which came to her by her Uncle Zadock to Zadock son of Thomas Purnell. Elizabeth received land at "Strife" "Mill Angle" and "Desert" from her father's will. (dates-chart at Maryland Historical Society from John S. Purnell Bible, copied by Vernon L. Skinner) Elizabeth named in her will dated December 13, 1818, probated November 16, 1821: niece Sarah Marie Spence, niece Elizabeth Purnell, nephew William Purnell, brother Zadock Purnell, deceased brother John Purnell; Walteron, William and Eliza Purnell. Wit. David K. Hopkins and Milby Purnell. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Co. Wills MH2, f.495)

+ 159 iii. Zadock Purnell(Senator) was born 1764.

160 iv. Sarah Purnell was born in Worcester Co., MD about 1768. (notes of Suzanne B. Hurley, Ocean City Lifesaving Museum) Sarah died 1803 in Worcester Co., MD. She married Isaac Marshall(Capt.). Isaac was the son of John Marshall and Elizabeth Purnell. Isaac died March 4, 1797 in Worcester Co., MD. Date of death written in family Bible by John Marshall and noted "my brother."

He made a will in Worcester Co., MD, February 13, 1797. Isaac's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, March 24, 1797. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Will Book JWB f.293-4, p. 30) Isaac was in Worcester Co. MD in 1790 (census). He had two females under 16 and 10 slaves. (1790 census; Jim Marshall) In his will, he named his wife, Sarah, and left her half his lands and named her executor. He named his father, John Marshall. After his father's death, the plantation devised him by his uncle, Isaac Marshall, was to go to his brother, William Purnell Marshall. Isaac named his brother, John P. Marshall, and his children. Witnesses: James B. Robins, Edward Henry and Zadock Marshall (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Will Book JWB, p. 30)

She made a will in Worcester Co., MD, December 20, 1802. Sarah's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, February 18, 1803. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Will Book JBR, p. 2) Sarah was the 2nd wife of Isaac Marshall. Sarah named her brother, Zadock, and left him one-half of tract "Cow Quarter," as devised by her deceased father, Thomas Purnell. She named niece Elizabeth Purnell and left to her the other half of "Cow Quarter." She named nephews Walton, William and Thomas Purnell, niece Sarah Maria Purnell; sisters Elizabeth, Hetty and Zipporah Purnell and brother John Purnell. She named Thomas Prideaux Marshall and left him a woman called Rachel devised by her deceased husband, Isaac Marshall; and named John Purnell Marshall and Elizabeth Purnell Prideaux Marshall. Witnesses: Jacob Teague, George Brattan, Lemuel P. Spence. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Will Book JBR p. 2)

161 v. Esther "Hetty" Purnell was born in Worcester Co., MD about 1768. Hetty was living in 1805 when she sold her rights to "Genezar" which came to her by her Uncle Zadock to Zadock son of Thomas Purnell. She received "Johns Industry" from her father.

162 vi. Thomas Purnell was born in Worcester Co., MD January 1, 1771. Thomas died January 26, 1797 in Worcester Co., MD. Thomas was not named in his sister Sarah's will of 1802. His father left him land at "Mt. Ephraim," "Middle," "Patricks Hill" and "Winchester." (dates-chart John S. Purnell Bible, copied by Vernon L. Skinner; Melanie Ayres Merryweather, Genealogy of the Purnell Family)

Thomas served as Justice of the Peace for Worcester Co., commissioned on November 29, 1777 and November 21, 1778 and March 27, 1779. Special Commission of Judge of the Court of Oyer and Terminer and Goal Delivery issued to him and five others in Worcester Co. by the Governor and Council of Maryland on December 10, 1783. (Henry C. Peden, Jr., Revolutionary Patriots of Worcester & Somerset Cos. MD, Willow Bend, Westminster, MD, 1999, p. 239)

+ 163 vii. Mary Purnell was born before 1772.

164 viii. Zipporah Purnell was born June, 1773. Zipporah died July 25, 1824 in Worcester Co., MD. (Melanie Ayres Merryweather, Genealogy of the Purnell Family)

She made a will in Worcester Co., MD, February 3, 1823. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Co. MD Wills MH 1822-1833, p. 10)

Zipporah's will was probated in Worcester Co., MD, April 19, 1825. Zipporah was named in her sister's 1802 will and in 1805 sold her rights to "Genezar" which came to her by her Uncle Zadock to Zadock son of Thomas. She received "Cow Quarter" "Purnells Venture" and "Purnells Grove" from her father. She left to her niece Sally Maria Spence "Cow Quarter." To niece Elizabeth Purnell, she gave "Cow Quarter" and "Purnells Grove" in the forest was to be sold to Thomas King by her brother Zadock. She left to nephews Walton & William land on Phenixes Island and she named her niece Henrietta Zipporah Spence.

165 ix. Ann Purnell was born in Worcester Co., MD July 26, 1779. (notes of Suzanne B. Hurley, Ocean City Lifesaving Museum; Melanie Ayres Merryweather, Genealogy of the Purnell Family) Ann died February 10, 1797 in Worcester Co., MD. (notes of Suzanne B. Hurley, Ocean City Lifesaving Museum; Melanie Ayres Merryweather, Genealogy of the Purnell Family) She died before December 20, 1802, as she was not named in her sister's will. Ann's father gave her "Purnells Grove." (dates-John S. Purnell Bible, copied by Vernon L. Skinner; Melanie Ayres Merryweather, Genealogy of the Purnell Family)

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