Purnell HOUSTON

                   Historical Data in NOTES

At the age of 20, Purnell married Mary Tumbleston Carey. A record of this marriage was found in a book of Virginia residents leading one to believe that the couple was married in Virginia in 1775. However, there are sources that list Delaware and Oakland, Maryland as possible marriage sites. Purnell traveled to Philadelphia to be an apprentice to Master Young, a saddle maker. About the first of February, 1776, Purnell finished his apprenticeship and returned home to Sussex County, Delaware. In March, 1776 at the age of 21, he volunteered for service as a private in the Revolutionary War under Captain John Hazzard. He spent two months in a troop of about 30 soldiers that guarded the Capes of Delaware watching for British ships that were in the waters near the Capes. Purnell was discharged from this service and in November, 1776 he volunteered in Philadelphia in a company of Pennsylvania militia commanded by Captain Chambers which was attached to General Cadwallader's brigade. These troops were raised to guard against the enemy who was over-running New Jersey. In the later part of November or early December, Purnell's troop was encamped near Trenton, New Jersey on the opposite side of the River. The enemy was in possession of Trenton and on Christmas Eve, Purnell fought in the famous Battle of Trenton in which the American soldiers crossed over to Trenton and defeated 900 Hessian soldiers. The General in charge of this attack was George Washington. Following this battle, Purnell marched to a place called Blackbird which was located in New Jersey. In early January, 1777 the troops marched back to Trenton where they held a bridge against the British soldiers. Purnell left at night with his troops, under the leadership of General George Washington, for Princeton and attacked the British. From Princeton his troop marched to Somerset Courthouse, to Pluckamin and finally to Morristown which was the winter quarters for the American soldiers. About the last of March, 1777, Purnell's troop marched back to Philadelphia where he was discharged.In April, 1777 an agent of Colonel Bland of the Virginia Cavalry contacted Master Young to attend to the saddles and bridles of the cavalry's horses. Master Young asked Purnell to serve with him for two months in the service of the army from Virginia. After this term, Purnell joined Master Young as a hand on a ship that was going to Boston from Philadelphia by way of Egg Harbor. On the return to Philadelphia, around Rhode Island, the ship was captured by the Unicorn, a hostile vessel. Purnell was held prisoner for eight or nine weeks. After his release, he went to New London and once again joined the Revolution in service on a brig called the Privateer. Purnell never sailed; he became sick with prison ship fever and was left in New London until the ship returned from duty. In September, 1778 he sailed back to Philadelphia, thus ending his tie of service in the American Revolution.Purnell returned home to Sussex County, Delaware and began to build a life with his wife, Mary. Purnell has a land assessment listing in 1785 in Cedar Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. On the 1790 Reconstructed Census of Delaware, Purnell is enumerated in Mispillion Hundred in Kent County. I have been told that Purnell was willed land by his grandfather John Houston, but to date I have not located the legal documentation. Sometime before 1800, the family moved to Monongalia County, (West) Virginia. Nine known children were born to Purnell and Mary.In Monongalia County, Purnell was one of the local saddle makers. He and Mary also operated a dry goods store and in 1801 he obtained a license to "keep an ordinary (tavern) at the house formerly occupied by thomas Pindell, deceased, at the forks of the road." The Houston family has many listings in the early 1800 Monongalia district and county court records. Purnell must not have been a very successful financial manager as he was in debt to a good many people. He owed a number of men saddles for which he had received payment and a doctor for small pox shots given to h
is family. There are entries of money owed to Purnell for saddles made and debt to Mary (Polly) for goods bought in the store. Polly was not a quiet, retiring woman. A peace bond was taken out against her for threats that she had made to a man who owed her moneyMary died in Monongalia County on January 31, 1830. After her death, Purnell went to live with one of his daughters, Sarah Houston Hill and her family. Purnell had no income or resources of his own and was 75 years of age. In 1832, he applied for a pension due him from his service in the Revolutionary War. His pension was approved and he received $93.25 in two years. In 1834, an attorney for the United States, Washington G. Singleton, traveled to Monongalia County to interview Purnell regarding his service in the revolution. Singleton determined that Purnell had not served a sufficient amount of time to receive a pension. Singleton not only canceled the pension, but threatened to prosecute Purnell to obtain the $93.25 that he had received from the government. Purnell was 80 years old, infirmed and afflicted with palsy at the time of the threat. Joseph D. Hill, Purnell's son-in-law, was persuaded to become his security. Joseph signed the note which was due in 1836 to diffuse what had become an intolerable situation for his father-in-law. Unfortunately for Joseph, assisting his father-in-law, would be a "thorn in his side" for the next 16 years, almost until his own death.Before payment of the note became due, Purnell Houston died on March 9, 1835 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia at the age of 80. He is buried beside is wife Mary at Mount Union Cemetery in Monongalia County, West Virginia."The DAR Patriot Index shows Purnell was born February 1, 1755, died March 9, 1835, married Mary Carey, was a Private, a Seaman, and served in Pennsylvania and Delaware. He has a pension record. His great-granddaughter, Anna Hackney, joined DAR under Purnell's Revolutionary War service.Purnell shows up on the 1801 Monongalia County Court record for "A list of Taxable Property Within the District of Joseph Trickett, Commissioner in Monongalia County, for the year 1801." The record shows 1 white male over 16, no horses, mares, colts, or mules, no slaves, no other. (See Monongalia County, (West) Virginia: Records of the District, Superior and County courts, vol. 2: 1800-1803 Compiled by Melba Pender Zinn, Heritage Books, Inc.)"The Monongalia Story" by Earl L. Core, Vol. II, pg. 186, says" Purnell Houston and his wife, Mary, moved to Monongalia County from Sussex County, Delaware. He was a son of Robert H. and Mary (Purnell) Houston and was born February 1, 1755 (see West Virginia History # (1903: 281-85). [1790]The earliest record found regarding Purnell in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia is: Records of the District, Superior and County Courts, compiled by Melba Pender Zinn, Vol. 1, case number 47, 1797. He was summoned to answer Joseph Cox in a plea of debt for 5 pounds, 14 shillings and 3 pence due by balance on account, 27 Nov 1798. The account with the beginning date of 23 January 1795 consists mostly of "plaiting saddles" which included several entries of work on "woman's saddle." Also, blacksmith work was listed along with 1 bushel of sweet potatoes (abstract) He also appears in Vol. 2, case 77b, 1803, shows Mary Houston and Nancy Houston summoned to testify in behalf of Joseph Grate, who was accused of slander against Thomas Foster and Sarah his wife. These may have been Purnell's daughters. Purnell's mother was named Mary (she died in 1756). Volume 7 of the District, Superior, and County Court records in 1813, case 174, shows Purnell Houston and John Garlow, et al as possible jurors in the case of George Smith vs Agnes Fretwell.A 1795 District Court case, number 25, mentions a James Houston who was summoned to testify in behalf of Farquire McCray and Susanna his wife. Susannah McCray was accused of beating and abusing Baldwin Weaver. The case was dismissed.At a court held May 1802, Davis Shockley VS James Houston, Purnel Houston, Polly Houston and Luke Harrison. The 
defendant James Houston did not appear in court and the court considered that James was not an inhabitant of this county.Purnell is also shown on a list of debts due the executors of E. Burroughs.In the Property Tax List for the year 1813 in the district of Rawley Martin, Commissioner of the Revenue, "Purnel" shows 2 white males over age 16 and 3 hourses, mares, colts, and/or mules; no other.Purnell was the Bondsman for the marriage of Sarah Sanders, daughter of John Sanders, to Isaac Dean on August 12, 1826.On 19 April 1828, "Purnal" Houston signed a receipt for $1.54 for balance due on shingles and straw.According to History of West Virginia, Old and New, published 1923 by the American Historical Society, Inc., Vol. III, pg. 62-63: Purnell Houston was born in Somerset County, Maryland, February 1, 1755, and was a youthful soldier in the war of the Revolution. In 1790 he came to what is now Monongalia County, West Virginia, and settled on a pioneer farm near Prentress, where his death occurred March 3, 1835, his wife having passed away January 1, 1830. . . ."According to WWW site of Linda Hughes Hiser: "Purnell Houston was born on February 1, 1755 in Somerset County, Maryland to Robert H. Houston and Mary Purnell. Mary died one year after Purnell's birth leaving her two children, Mary and Purnell, in her husband's care. Robert Houston moved from Maryland to Sussex County, Delaware where he met Priscilla Laws and married her in 1757. Purnell was raised in Sussex County, Delaware along with his sister and 13 step (sic) brothers and sisters.Census records: 1820 (Purnell then 65 years old) 2 males 16-26; 1 male 26-45; 1 male 45 & over; 1 female under 10 and 1 female 46 & over.