1. THOMAS¹ PURNELL (I) was born in England about 1613. THOMAS died 1694 in Somerset Co., MD, at 81 years of age.

He married SARAH (DORMAN). SARAH was the daughter of JOHN DORMAN and SARAH HICKMAN. It is generally believed that Thomas Purnell married Sarah Dorman and her name is shown in research and charts. (Unable to find specific proof.) Thomas was from Gloucester, England and arrived on the eastern shore of Virginia on the ship "George" on August 21, 1635 (Passenger Lists 1600-1700, John Camden Hotten). He moved to Somerset Co., MD (now Worcester) about 1666. (Matthew Wise, The Littleton Heritage, p. 421) Court orders for Acomack/Northampton Counties VA show Thomas was originally in Virginia. (notes of Vernon L. Skinner) Thomas was assigned "Fairfield" in 1676, an 800 acre tract originally patented to William Stevens. Research of Melanie Ayres Merryweather, in "Genealogy of the Purnell Family" shows Thomas as the son of a Thomas Purnell buried February 1, 1616, and Margaret Partridge, of North Nibley, Gloucester, England. According to Merryweather, Thomas, along with his son Thomas and grandson Thomas, was a shipping agent dealing in furs, corn, sassafras roots and tobacco and received goods such as cloth, household items, liquor and other items for sale locally.

In his 1693 will, Thomas left "Paggi" and "Cold Harbor" to his daughter, Sarah. He left "Fairfield" and "New Fairfield" to his son, Thomas. He left his son, John, land. Worcester land records indicate John having land at "Paggi" "Cold Harbor" "Fairfield" and "New Fairfield." Thomas named his daughter, Elizabeth Nutter.

THOMAS PURNELL (I) and SARAH (DORMAN) had the following children:

+ 2 i. THOMAS² PURNELL (II)(MJR.).

+ 3 ii. JOHN PURNELL was born about 1655.

+ 4 iii. SARAH PURNELL was born about 1660.

+ 5 iv. ELIZABETH PURNELL was born about 1670.

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