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PURDY
NAME: The name “Par Dieu” was introduced as a surname into England from Normandy, France. A Par Dieu is reported to have accompanied William the Conqueror as a “Keeper of Arms” in 1066 AD.
Par Dieu was Anglicized and the spelling modified ot include:Pardew; Pardoe; Pardee; Pardy; Purdieu, Purdue; Purdey; Purdew; Purday; Purdie; and Purdy.
A legend states that in the 10th century AD, a French nobleman went to Holy Lands with other “Crusaders” to fight the “Infidels”. He was wounded on the battlefield and left to die. About sundown a Hindu “Fakir” , “Mystic” , Troubadour” or “Teacher” wandered through the battle scene. He heard the man groaning and became a “Good Samaritan”. The Nobleman took him back to France and made him a teacher in his household. The Frenchman said, “My life was save by God!” (Par Dieu). From that time, the Hindu was known and called “Par Dieu.”He married French woman and their descendents continued to live near the castle in Normandy. A thousand years have passed since that incident.
ARMS
“Or, on a chev, as between three Mullets SA, pierced of a field”
PURDY CREST
“A peacock’s head erased Gu.”
MOTTO
“Fidelitas”
HISTORY
Many surnames were adopted in England when the “Domesday Book” was being compiled circa 1086 AD. Therefore, we cannot be certain that all present day Purdys are descendents of the “Par Dieu” of 1066, or someone who later adopted the surname. Suenames came into general use during the 13th century. Except for noblemen, no family records were kept prior to the passage of a law in England, in 1538, requiring Parish records to be kept.
A study of Purdy familes in America reveals references to several Purdys in England:
John and William Purdue, London, 1350
Thomas Purday, 1383
Grace Purdey, 1667
Alexander Purdie, 1730
Victor Purdy, 1747-1822, who composed over 1800 hymn and poems
The earliest recorded arrival of a Purdy in America is the landing of Francis Purdy, his wife and three sons in New England, in 1632. Other immigrations of Purdys to America have occurred as recently as the late nineteenth century. They have come from England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Holland. Most of them were Protestants, some Catholic. Today there are Purdys in every state of the US.
During the Revolutionary War, several Purdys remained loyal to the King. Many were placed in prison, kept under surveilance or moved to Canada. Some returned after the war.
Purdys have been in all wars from the French and Indian War in 1750 to the present. Dr. John Purdy Reynolds, a son of Mary Purdy, died at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, March 6, 1836.
Purdys Listed on the Census of 1790.
Head of family
Pennsylvania
Cumberland County
John Purdy3-2-4-0
Robert Purdy 1-2-5-0
Thomas Purdy1-4-3-0
Thomas Purdy, Sr 2-0-1-0
William Purdy 1-1-2-0
Lancaster County, Mastic Township
Robert Purdy 1-1-1-0
North Hampton County, Wallen Papack Township
Silas Purdy 5-5-4-0
Montgomery County, Manor of Moreland
John Purdy1-0-0-0
William Purdy 2-4-3-0
Chester County, East Calm Township
Leonard Purdy1-1-3-0
Maryland
Anna Arundel County
Henry Purdy 1-1-1-0
John Purdy1-0-3-0
Virginia
Princess Ann County, Blackwater Precinct
Abia Purdy 7 in family
John Purdy 8 in family
Eastern Shore County, Upper Precinct
John Purdy 5 in family
South Carolina
Union County, 96th District
William Purdy2-1-3-0
Abbeville County, 96th District
Henry Purdy 2-1-3-0
Camden County, Lancashire District
James Purdey1-1-1-0I think this is the father of Samuel James…on property deeds his name is spelled Purdy (Sue)
Samuel James Purdy may have been born in Pennsylvania, but moved to Lancaster District, South Carolina from Shenandoah Valley Virginia. He married Agness Matilda Heggins, but it is not known whether they married in VA or SC. Agness had two brothers, Joe and Jesse Heggins.
CHILDREN:
1. Jane Purdy b. 1823 SC? D. young was burned to death SC
2. William James Purdy was 66” tall, weighed 130 lbs., had red hair and blue eyes. His education was limited. He was a farmer, a grist mill operator and a Baptist. In 1846, he volunteered for service in the Mexican War. After the war, the state of Texas gave land grants to any soldiers who would settle in the state. W. J.’s grant was west of the village of Houston, TX. Sometime about 1848/49, he visited the site and said, “A man cannot make a living in this prairie of mud and buffalo grass.” He then headed east and settled in Alabama. He was married in Cross Plains (now Jacksonville) to Sarah Dobbs. Sarah was 64” tall, weighed 110 lbs, had black hair and blue eyes. She was the smallest of the Dobbs family.They raised their family in northeastern Alabama. He died of a heart attack and she
died of pneumonia. Both are buried in Longacre Cemetary, Rash, Alabama.
CIVIL WAR RECORD
Enlisted 30 April 1862, at Cedar Bluff, AL.
Company “E” 40th Regiment Infantry Confederate States of America.
Received a gunshot wound in the hip on 6th of May 1864, at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia. Furloughed home 30th January 1865, for 60 days. He was on the rolls 31st of October 1864 to 28th of February 1865. Discharged August 1865. (See Southern Historical Society Papers, August 1978, page 219, volume 1, 1927 The Cross of Military Service. Compiled by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
A member of: Army of Northern Virginia May – August 1864
General Robert E. Lee
I Corps – Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
Pickets Division – Major General George E. Pickett
Laws Brigade - Brig. Gen. Jenkins Anderson
40th Regiment Alabama Infantry CSA – Col. M J Bulger
3. Misouria Purdy b. 1827? SCmarriedRev. Humphrey
4. Emily Purdy married (1) Herrington from Opalaka, Georgia. 3 children, son William born 1861. (2) Rev. Brock – Notasulga, AL
5. Ellen Purdyb. 1831? SC?
6. Agness Purdyb. 1833? SC m. Rev. Boyd
7. J. Purdyno record of which number child this was. It was male and he went to war and the family never heard anything else about him. May have enlisted in SC or AL.
Samuel James Purdy
b.1790?PA or VA
d. 1849? Lancaster District, SC
m. 1820?
w. Agness Matilda Heggins
b. 1800? VA?
d.1855/56?SC
CHILDREN:
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