Sixth Generation353. Sally "Maria"6 Purnell (Zadock5, Thomas4, John3, Thomas2, Thomas1) was born in Worcester Co., MD April 2, 1790. (notes of Suzanne B. Hurley, Ocean City Lifesaving Museum; Melanie Ayres Merryweather, Genealogy of the Purnell Family; Leslie P. Dryden shows her month of birth as August in The Dryden Family) Sally died December 7, 1850 in Worcester Co., MD. (notes of Suzanne B. Hurley, Ocean City Lifesaving Museum; Leslie P. Dryden, Dryden Family & Descendants, Alamo, TX, 1999) She married John Selby Spence (Dr.) (Senator) in Worcester Co., MD, February 22, 1810. John was born in Worcester Co., MD February 29, 1788. John was the son of George Spence and Ann Nancy Purnell. John died October 22, 1840 in Worcester Co., MD. Will dated August 6, 1839, probate October 22, 1840. He graduated from Medical School at University of Pennsylvania in 1809 and started a practice in Snow Hill. He was elected to the MD House of Delegates and later the MD State Senate. In 1823, he was elected to the US House of Repreentatives, where he served four terms. He was elected to the US Senate in 1837 and served there until his death. (Leslie P. Dryden, Dryden Family & Descendants, Alamo, TX, 1999, p. 51) He is buried at Berlin, MD. (MD Genealogical Society Bulletin, Vol. 42, #2, p. 221) Sally was named by her aunt, Sarah Purnell, in 1802. In 1850 as "Maria," she is living in a household with her son, Zadock, daughter Evalina and son, John. Also in the household is daughter Henrietta Purnell and two small children, William M. Purnell, age 2, and Mariah Purnell, age 1. Her will was dated November 9, 1850, probate December 25, 1850 named daughters Anna, Henrietta, Louisa, Elizabeth and Eveline, son John was given "Gennezer" devised him by his grandfather Zadock Purnell, son Zadock, and Ara Spence Sr. executor. Witnesses: James W. Sturgis, George B. Gray and R. K. M. Baynum. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Will Book LPS, f.440) She is buried with her husband at Berlin, MD. (MD Genealogical Society Bulletin, Vol. 42, #2, p. 221) John Selby Spence (Dr.) (Senator) and Sally "Maria" Purnell had the following children:
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