Finding aid for Purdy Family Papers, 1801-2004
General International Standard for Archival Description
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.
Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by FHL Staff, 2007
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Purdy Family Papers 1801-2004
Elliott Baldwin Hunt
Biographical History for: Purdy Family Papers 1801-2004
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE William Purdy, Quaker farmer and minister, was born about 1769; Quaker records give his birth variously as 1763 or 1767, and family records indicate 1769. There is evidence that he first married Mary Williams whose name is also given as Elizabeth in the Amawalk Monthly Meeting records. They had eight children: Fanny (1793), Charlotte (1794), Jesse (1797), Abraham (1799), Deborah (1801), Micajah (1803), Simeon (1805), and Henry (1807). After his wife's death, in 1812 and under the care of Amawalk Monthly Meeting, William married Elizabeth (McDonald) Farrington (1767 -1840), a widow. They had four children: Burling (1813), Ann (1815), John (1817), and Ebenezer (1820). William Purdy died in 1847. William Purdy bought land in Cortlandt on the Croton River from Pierre and Peter van Cortlandt in 1801. He attended the Croton preparative and worship meetings and traveled in the ministry, leaving an undated record of the Friends and meetings that he visited. Purdy was also active in his town, donating money, land, and labor towards building a new bridge and school house. His son Abraham (1799-1855) married Mary Sarles in 1824, and they had six children. The correspondence is primarily from their daughter, Deborah Ann, who married Charles Williams. The genealogical notes and correspondence were compiled by Elliot Baldwin Hunt who was the grandson of Micajah William Purdy, the fifth child of Abraham and Mary S. Purdy. He published an article and transcription of the travel record in The Quarterly Bulletin of the Westchester County Historical Society in April 1934.
SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS The collection contains account books, financial papers, family correspondence, and miscellaneous papers of William Purdy, a New York Quaker preacher, and his family. William Purdy bought land on the Croton River. He was a member of Amawalk Monthly Meeting, attending Croton preparative and worship meetings, and traveled in the ministry, leaving an undated record of the Friends and meetings that he visited. Purdy donated money, land, and labor towards building a new bridge and school house. The collection also includes genealogical information compiled by Elliott Baldwin Hunt and Arthur M. Tingue. Organized into three series: Organization: William Purdy Purdy family papers Genealogical papers
Purdy, William, d. 1847
Purdy family
Quakers -- New York
Society of Friends -- New York
Lay ministry -- Society of Friends
Account books -- 19th century
Cortlandt (N.Y.) -- History
Tingue, Arthur M.
series
Series 1. William Purdy (ca. 1769 - 1847)
Account Book
Creation of Account Book
Time of Creation of Account Book
Account Book, including accounting by Abraham Purdy, executor of William Purdy estate
Creation of Account Book, including accounting by Abraham Purdy, executor of William Purdy estate
Time of Creation of Account Book, including accounting by Abraham Purdy, executor of William Purdy estate
Account of travels in the ministry in New York State
With typed biographical information and transcript by descendant, Elliot Baldwin Hunt.
Wills, estate papers
Deeds, indentures, property map
Estate papers
Family data from Bible
Meeting papers
Subscription list for school fund, Croton Preparative Meeting, and listing of members of meetings.
Financial papers
Creation of Financial papers
Time of Creation of Financial papers
Estate papers of John Horton
Creation of Estate papers of John Horton
Time of Creation of Estate papers of John Horton
Biographical History for: Estate papers of John Horton
William Purdy was executor.
Horton financial papers
Creation of Horton financial papers
Time of Creation of Horton financial papers
Estate papers of William Horton, William Purdy executor.
Creation of Estate papers of William Horton, William Purdy executor.
Time of Creation of Estate papers of William Horton, William Purdy executor.
Series 2. Purdy Family Papers
Purdy family correspondence
Creation of Purdy family correspondence
Time of Creation of Purdy family correspondence
Primarily from Debby Ann, wife of Charles Williams, to her mother, Mary S. Purdy, wife of Abraham Purdy.
Wedding certificate: Abraham and Mary S. Purdy, Chappaqua Monthly Meeting
Creation of Wedding certificate: Abraham and Mary S. Purdy, Chappaqua Monthly Meeting
Time of Creation of Wedding certificate: Abraham and Mary S. Purdy, Chappaqua Monthly Meeting
Estate of Abraham Purdy and Mary S. Purdy
Creation of Estate of Abraham Purdy and Mary S. Purdy
Time of Creation of Estate of Abraham Purdy and Mary S. Purdy
Abram Purdy financial
Jesse H. and Robert H. Purdy financial papers
Creation of Jesse H. and Robert H. Purdy financial papers
Time of Creation of Jesse H. and Robert H. Purdy financial papers
Miscellaneous correspondence
Miscellaneous financial papers
Creation of Miscellaneous financial papers
Time of Creation of Miscellaneous financial papers
Account note to Burling Purdy
Creation of Account note to Burling Purdy
Time of Creation of Account note to Burling Purdy
Home remedies
Miscellaneous papers
Published Quaker material: Epistles and pamphlets
Creation of Published Quaker material: Epistles and pamphlets
Time of Creation of Published Quaker material: Epistles and pamphlets
Series 3. Genealogical Papers
Selected Purdy genealogy and collection description, Arthur M. Tingue
Genealogical correspondence, Elliot Baldwin Hunt
Creation of Genealogical correspondence, Elliot Baldwin Hunt
Time of Creation of Genealogical correspondence, Elliot Baldwin Hunt
William Purdy and sons, research notes, Elliott Baldwin Hunt
Research notes, correspondence of Elliot B. Hunt
Creation of Research notes, correspondence of Elliot B. Hunt
Time of Creation of Research notes, correspondence of Elliot B. Hunt
Sarles family
Photocopies of pictures, etc.
Louis E. Bieringer notes
Photocopy from published Correspondence of the Van Cortlandt Family, 1802
Creation of Photocopy from published Correspondence of the Van Cortlandt Family, 1802
Time of Creation of Photocopy from published Correspondence of the Van Cortlandt Family, 1802