Purnell Houston 1755 - 1835Purnell Houston was born in 1 Feb 1755 in Somerset County, Maryland to Robert H Houston and Mary Purnell. Mary, his mother died one year after Purnell's birth leaving her two children, Mary and Purnell in her husband's care. When Robert Houston (Pernell's father) moved from Maryland to Sussex County Delaware he met Priscilla Laws and married her in 1757. Purnell was raised in Sussex County, Delaware along with his sister and 13 step brothers and sisters. The following story of his Revolutionary War service is paraphrased from a sworn statement by Purnell made in a court in Morgantown on October 22, 1832 and is part of his pension file. In March, 1776, at the age of 21, he volunteered his services as a private in the Revolutionary War under his brother-in-law, 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. Following discharge from this service Purnell volunteered, in November, 1776, at Philadelphia for 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. Battles of Trenton and Princeton, American Revolution, George Washington In the later part of November or early December, Purnell's company 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 the battle, Purnell marched to a place called Blackbird which was located in New Jersey.
He received land in Broad Creek Hundred (now Bethel, DE), Sussex County, Delaware through the will of his grandfather. Purnell appeared in the 1785 tax list of that hundred (township). He eventually sold the property to a relative and lived in Mispillion Hundred in Kent County, Delaware for a short time. In 1790 he and his family migrates to Monongalia County, West Virginia. At least nine known children were born to Purnell and Mary at this place.
In Monogalia 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 his family. There are entries of money owned to Purnell for saddles made and debt to Mary (often called "Polly") for goods bought in the store. Mary 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 money. Mary died in Monongalia County on 31 Jan 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 $83.25 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 9 March 1835 in Monongalia County West Virginia at the age of 80. He is buried beside his wife Mary at Mount Union Cemetery in Monongalia County, West Virginia.
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