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| Kenporter Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 6/18/2004 7:00:12 AM by Kenporter | Purdys of Heanor and West Hallam posted on: 6/18/2004 6:54:32 AM I have been pursuing the origins and history of the Purdy family in Heanor, West Hallam and Greasley. The story begins with William Purdy. There are two accounts of origins: There are two William Purdys of interest in the International Genealogical Index, but this William is our family founding father. The IGI states he was born abt. 1761 in Denby, Derbyshire. He married Ruth Clarke. A son named William was born in 1790 in West Hallam. In a commemorative booklet for Rev. Francis Purdy, published in Ilkeston, Derbyshire in 1913, William, his father, is reputed to have emigrated from Scotland with James Watt to Birmingham when Matthew Boulton formed a partnership to build pumping engines for coal mines. Boulton & Watt usually provided someone to manage it under a three-year agreement for profit sharing. William's son Francis Purdy was a collier and was Tri-County Champion boxer, before a conversion experience led him to becoming the Sunday School Superintendent and Founder-Pastor of the Methodist Church at Langley, Heanor. His fascinating career is described in a commemorative booklet published in 1913, available in the Heanor Public Library. The IGI shows a William Purdy born in 16 July 1767 in Carluke, Lanark, Scotland, son of Thomas Purdy and Grisel Gibson In the history of West Hallam, in October 1765, it is recorded that Sir Henry Hunloke leased the colliery, unwatered by a fire engine. William came to West Hallam to install a pumping engine. This is more likely to have been his father, as Watt came down to Birmingham with his engine in 1773 and was living there when William was only 6 or13 years old, depending on which Purdy was the father. There is a record of a ten-year lease of the West Hallam or Mapperly colliery and the newly-erected fire engine to John Sutton on the 10th. October 1780. There is some doubt as to whether the engine was actually a Hunloke, a Boulton-Watt or a Newcomen engine, but the new engine installation was completed about August 4, 1781 and the christening ceremony, with roasting of a fat sheep whole and distribution of a hogshead of ale, was reported in the Derby Mercury of August11,1781. Richard Lowe (owner) and Rev. Mr. Clarke officiated. See "The Early Steam Engine in Derbyshire" by Frank Nixon, 9 October 1957, Trans. of the Newcomen Society. William could have helped his father to operate the pumping engine at Mapperly Colliery, Derbyshire. Presumably, William the son, then aged 15, would have gone with his parents when they moved, first to Ilkeston Common and then across the Erewash river to Beggarlee, Greasley, in Notts. Death is presumed after 1807. The IGI shows another William chr. 16 Jan 1823 at Greasley, Nottingham, parents Francis Purdy/Elizabeth Shaw with notation INFANT suggesting early death. This was presumably before Francis became a minister in the Primitive Methodist church and could explain a later second son William with christening date 7 April 1833. This William is the probable author of his father Francis's biography, printed in 1913 when William was 80 Anyone with items to add to this history would be welcome to join in. |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | |
Purdys of Heanor and West Hallam
replied on: 6/18/2004 8:05:24 AM Ken Hope you don't mind, but I have moved your post to Langley rather than Heanor, in view of its content. (If it gets much response regarding the family history, I may move it to that section, but since there is quite a lot of historical items in it, I have left it in the main section for the time being.) I've checked the History Society newsletters and found a couple of references which may be of interest. In Issue 126, there was an article taken from the Heanor Sunday School Union Magazine of April 1890, regarding Primitive Methodism in Langley. It reads: "The cause at Langley first came into existence about the year 1825, when meetings were first held at the top house of the row at the back of the present chapel, occupied by a Newthorpe family named Purdy, and with this family the cause commenced. Mr Frank Purdy, a Newthorpe man, grandfather to Messrs Paling Baker and John Baker, at present workers in the school, was the first man to come to the village to preach a sermon. Mr Frank Purdy was a member of the family where the services were held. The old farmhouse in Langley was then taken by Mr George Purdy and Mr Edward Clifford, where meetings were held until 1836, when the first chapel was built at the railway crossing. This chapel was opened by the Rev. Mr Herod, and there in that year Mr Clifford and Mr Purdy started the first school in Langley, Mr Clifford being superintendent. That place was used until 1852 when the present chapel was erected." In Issue 130, there is reference to a book entitled "An essay on Colliery Explosions and Safety Lamps" written by William Purdy of Newthorpe. It is stated that the author of this book was a founder member of the Primitive Chapel at Langley. The book included a drawing and description of a miner's safety lamp invented by the author, but it is not thought that this invention was progressed. Hope some of that fits in with your research. |
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Kenporter
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Purdys of Heanor and West Hallam
replied on: 6/18/2004 10:33:44 PM Thanks for your kind cooperation. I will send more information on the Purdy descendents for anyone interested. Maybe this should go on the Family History section? |
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oppem
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 9/7/2004 8:36:34 PM by RMMee |
Francis Purdy.
replied on: 9/7/2004 2:27:38 PM Thank you for a very interesting posting. Francis Purdy is my 3xG.Grandfather and his wife, Jane Eaton my 3xG.Grandmother. My grandmother, Fanny Miller who died a few years ago at the age of 97 always used to tell us how Francis 'started the primitive methodist church in Langley. A while ago, I went to Marlpool cemetery looking for his grave - due to the length of time, it is no longer marked, but was shown where it was by the plot number recorded. I am very interested in some of the books you mentioned, but do not have acess to Heanor library or any library in the UK for that matter. I have just obtained a copy of the book "Beuvale Prims" by Jack Bronson which was very interesting and mentioned Francis quite a bit. Would love to make contact with anyone researching this same family. Finally, the "Mr. Paling Baker and John Baker" mentioned in the above quote are also related to me - my G.Uncle's I believe, as my grandmother was a Fanny Baker before marrying. So, anyone also interested in the same Baker family - do get in touch. |
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suegill
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
Purdys of Heanor and West Hallam
replied on: 9/7/2004 11:49:18 PM According to the microfiche for the cemetery:- In loving memory of FRANCIS PURDY of Langley Died April 2nd 1864 Also JANE PURDY Beloved wife of the above Died November 28 1879 age 70 The father himself loveth you Because you have loved me, and have Believed that I came out of God Erected as a token of affection To his beloved pious father and mother By their youngest son Richard Purdy Topcliffe Hall Wakefield May 1901 |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | |
Francis Purdy.
replied on: 9/16/2004 10:54:51 PM There was a shop owned by a Purdy at Derby Road, Langley Mill, directly opposite the entrance to Vic Hallams (until recently, just inside Nottinghamshire). It later became known (as it still is, though it's been derelict for years) as Edgar Parker's. Whether it was connected with your Purdy's, I don't know. |
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Azzabuv
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Francis Purdy.
replied on: 9/17/2004 4:10:08 PM I believe that's the name i heard in connection with the empty shop at the end of Boundary Lane - Purdy. Azzabuv. |
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oppem
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Thanks for posting this.
replied on: 9/17/2004 9:27:32 PM Sue, thank you so much for posting this MI for Francis and Jane. Having seen the empty plot without any stone (as of present day),it was very interesting to know that there had been a stone in the past; and what it had said. |
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suegill
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
Purdys of Heanor and West Hallam
replied on: 9/17/2004 11:36:15 PM I'm happy you liked the MI. I bought the microfiche several years ago when I was able to visit Heanor and found the grave location of several of my relatives whose gravestones had disappeared over the years. |
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Buzzb31
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Francis Purdy.
replied on: 10/29/2004 6:34:32 PM Hello there oppem, Francis and Jane were my 2* great grandparents, I have only just got back into family history after a break and was introduced to this site by information from Ken Porter.My great grandfather was William b 1843, my grandfather was Frederick Luther b 1887 and my Father was Frederick Luther b1912. |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 11/4/2004 2:10:22 PM by RMMee |
Francis Purdy.
replied on: 11/4/2004 2:09:43 PM Donna from Borrowash sent me this email a couple of weeks ago - if anyone wishes to reply direct to her, let me know and I'll pass your email address to her (please use the mailbox facility, or the Contact Us page on our main website, rather than typing your email address). "Hello I have just found this site regarding Heanor and area which is where most of my family originate from. Being a novice with computers I am finding it difficult to contact this Ken Porter chap. I'd like to know if he is a descendant of Francis Purdy as I am Francis's 3xtggrand.daughter. I've got the Beauvale Prim Book and also an Eastwood book that shows a picture of my 2xgt grandmother Mary Martin - nee Purdy. I am also interested in anyone with any connection to any Martin's or Crich families of Heanor area as I have researh back to the mid 1700s if anyone is interested. Other names include Limb (Lymn)Oxley, Rhodes and Baker to name but a few that married into them. I'd be pleased for any help. Thanks - Donna" |
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hilaryjames
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Francis Purdy.
replied on: 10/15/2005 2:36:39 PM Oppem - I'm trying fill in the jigsaw of the same Baker family, and your great-uncle Paling Baker was my great-grandfather! So I'll email you soon - perhaps we can exchange some information. A thank you to this History Society, too. My mother told me that an ancestor named Purdy/Purdey/Perdey/Perdy assisted James Watt, but I knew no more (or even how to spell it), until I searched for Paling Baker, got a result with 'Purdy' in the title, and found this thread. Local history societies such as this do a great service to family researchers, too! |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | |
Francis Purdy.
replied on: 10/15/2005 4:57:37 PM Hilary Pleased you managed to get on the site. And thanks for your comments. Robert |
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hilaryjames
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Francis Purdy.
replied on: 10/16/2005 4:07:18 PM And thanks for your very helpful (and swift) email, Robert, helping me with logging-in problems! It was re-registering that did the trick for me. I forgot to ask earlier - how does one reach the Family History section mentioned earlier in this thread? I haven't found a link to it so far. |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | |
Francis Purdy.
replied on: 10/16/2005 5:22:34 PM Click on "Heanor District Local History" at the top of this screen, then scroll down to the bottom of the resulting page - it is, I think, the third to last forum that you can select. |
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kmcg
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Francis Purdy.
replied on: 11/12/2005 10:21:21 PM hi, i am a decndant of Francis Purdy. you may be intersted to know that there are two recent publications by ztan Zmith (stan Smith). they are called Brinsley men and mayhem and Brinsley saints and sinners. the first being about william purdy and the secopnd one about francis. my grandmother was flossie purdy i think she was william purdy's grandaughter. these books are vailable from brinsley library. hope this is of ise to you, kathryn |
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