James PURNELL, JR

                   RESEARCH NOTES:
    Shem Bevin Purnell was only 3 1/2 when his mother died, and his father remarried.  At age 5, he was sent to live with his birth-mother's sister, Elizabeth Bevin Alder.  In his teenage years, the William and Elizabeth Alder family moved from Trowbridge to Cheltenham, Gloucester, England. Shem and his cousin Alfred Alder joined the LDS church and left for Utah.  It appears Shem had little or no contact with his father, as he did not know anything about him, or about his own grandparents, and didn't even discover his birthdate until he was 60 years old (his cousin Alfred was serving a mission in England at the time and got a copy of his christening record for him). Researcher Marci A. Despain in her book "Shem Bevin Purnell and His Ancestors of Trowbridge, England" has finally discovered the Purnell ancestry.  His father James (whose birth information has never been found) was the son of James Purnell who was christened in Trowbridge on 31 Mar 1766.  That James was the son of Thomas Purnell who was christened in Trowbridge on 12 Dec 1723.  Thomas was the son of Edward Purnell who was born between 1687-1697.



Arrived in Illinois in 1844. He emigrated to Salt Lake in the Claudius V. Spencer Company. Arrived in Salt Lake. Emigrated to Franklin Idaho. Seventy. One son met a terrible death when he was three years old. Shem's first wife left the church. Owned First Blacksmith Shop in Preston. Gravesite in Franklin Cemetery.  




Character definition of Shem Bevin Purnell:

'He emigrated to America, State of Illinois in 1844.' He emigrated to Salt Lake in the Claudius V. Spencer Company. 
He arrived in Salt Lake in 1853. He emigrated to Franklin, Idaho in the Fall of 1853. Shem became a Seventy about 1853 in Franklin, Idaho.
After 1853 in Franklin, 'Three of his children died.  One met with a terrible death when he was three years old.  He strayed away in the woods which was five miles deep.  The whole village turned out in a body and searched.  They traced through blood stains, over rocks and fallen trees and then they found one of his little shoes.  They came to a little spring where he had been to get a drink and not far from there he was found dead after they had searched three days for him'
About 1857, 'The mother became discouraged after four years and took her child and left.'
'Shem asked Brigham Young what he should do and he advised him to go after her.  The mother had gotten as far as Plains City when the father and Brigham Young and two other men found her.  They held a Church Court in Salt Lake City and the child was granted to the father, as the mother was leaving the Church and they thought it best that she stay with the father.  While they held a Church Court, little Elizabeth Ann, now five years old was in a joining room being entertained by Samuel Parkingson.  The parting was very sad for all concerned and many tears were shed by the mother and child.'
'The mother, later went to California, where she joined the Josephiet Church.'

Treasures of Pioneer History: Vol 3
Pioneer Industries
Franklin County, Idaho

The first blacksmith shop was owned and operated by Alfred Alder and Shem Purnell, southeast of Preston . Charles Spongberg and Alfred Alder each had a blacksmith shop on their farms. Mr. Spongberg made charcoal from maple for fuel. He also made parts for threshing machines from scrap iron. In 1885, Hugh S. Geddes and Peter E. Nielson, with Andrew Nash as blacksmith, opened a blacksmith shop.
Shem is buried in the Franklin City Cemetery.  Enid Davis visited the site and took pictures
'He was a pioneer of Franklin, honest, industrious, thrifty, patriotic and loyal to his country and Church and an honest tithe payer, a good neighbor, a friend to the poor, respected by all who knew him.'