"John Purdy, the oldest son of James, obtained a tract of land on anor der of survey No. 4461, October 6, 1767, which later he sold toJohn Wa tson, who patented it January 4, 1786. John Purdy alsowarranted a trac t of land January 20, 1787, and also purchased atract of Henry Drinker , a merchant of Philadelphia. He sold part ofthis last tract February 1 8, 1791, to Michael McCrum, and on June 17,1793, to Peter Sturgeon, of P axton township, one hundred and oneacres, on which he had erected a gr ist-mill."
TAXABLE INDUSTRIES.—The tax-lists of Fermanagh township from 1763 to18 31 show assessments on the following, in addition to lands andstock.
GRIST-MILLS.
Purdy, James 1770-79
Purdy, John 1780-93
1790 Hopewell, Newton, Tyborn, and Westpensboro Twp, Cumberland Co,PA . At census time John's family consisted of 3 males over 16, 2under 1 6, and 4 females. Several Wilson families were nearbyneighbors and l iving in the same area of the county were John,Robert, 2 Thomases, and W illiam Purdy.
There were also a John and William Purday living in Mifflin Co, PA.Tha t John had 1 male over 16, 4 males under 16, and 5 females livingwith h im.
Again from Fermanagh Twp history:
"John Purdy purchased, November 2, 1792, four hundred and sixty-fiveac res of land of William Buchanan and John Smith, merchants, ofPhiladelp hia, which they warranted April 10, 1755; they also hadwarranted, adjo ining, four hundred and ninety-eight acres on February3, 1755.
The John Purdy Mill, that, in 1793 passed to Peter Sturgeon, cameagain t o the Purdys, and in 1829 was sold to Amos Gustine, whoerected a large r mill. The ruins of the old mill, now a shapelesspile of stone, are s till to be seen north-east of the Jericho dam."
In the Carlisle Gazette Wednesday, 22 January 1794 was:
"John Purdy, Newton twp, has taken up a stray mare."
The next item said:
"Strayed from the plantation of John Hoge in East-Pennsborough twp, ag rey mare. Reward will be paid by Gottlieb Kinzle or John Hoge."
1800 Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co, PA. At census time he lived nextdoo r to brother James. John's household included 1 male aged 16-25,John w as over 45, 1 female was 10-15, 1 at 16-25, and his wife wasalso over 4 5.
From land records in PA archives:
Date When Entered
Names
Q’ty Acres
Where Situate
June 15th, 1780
John Purdy, Ret'd, &c., 23rd Mar., 1807, to Wm. Patterson
300
Little Redstone
Fermanagh Twp history says:
"A log (school)house was built about 1810, on the line of SamuelThomas ’ and Howe’s farm. It was built by subscriptions of theneighbors, and w as called Union school-house. Among the earlyteachers were William McC oy, James Cummings, James Mathers and JohnPurdy, who taught the last s chool there about 1820."
Some say he died 2/14/1798 but he was still living in 1800.
