William Purrier came from Olney, Bucks Co., England with others, with Rev. William Worcester who had been deposed as a rector of that parish. ("New York Settlers from New England," NEHGS "Register," Vol 55, p. 378). (Note our Cooper ancestors came in the same ship.)

See the Bucks Co Heritage Page.

Born:  Abt 1594, per Torrey. If this be true, he was slightly older than normal when he had children. The births of his daughters are estimated to be in the 1630's.

English residence before immigration:  Olney, Bucks, England

Spouse:  Alice Knight (TAG 65:69, Torrey Supplement). Married Feb 21, 1621/22 in Olney, co Bucks, England. She was living in 1671, when he made his will.

Immigration

 
Came to America on the ship "Hopewell", which sailed on April 1, 1635. He was accompanied by his wife, Alice Knight, and at least Mary and Sarah, aged 5. Martha may have been born in England, or right after arrival in Southold, Long Island.

See the Hopewell Passenger list (note another of my ancestors, John Cooper and his family is aboard.)
 

Residences:  From: 1635 until the 1640's: Unknown > Southold, Long Island, New York sometime in the 1640's or 1650's.

Death:  About 1676 (1671 will proved 1676.)

 
Will of William Purrier, Immigrant to Long Island
 
Abstracts of Wills (New York) Vol I 1665-1707, p 37-38

WILLIAM PURRIER, of Southold, "In perfect health of body," makes his grandson James Reeve, "now living with me," his sole executor, and desires him to take his mother, my eldest daughter Mary Reeve, into his family and provide for her during life. If she refuse, then he is to pay her 20 Nobles yearly. "I leave to my two youngest daughters, Sarah Mapes and Martha Osmun œ20 each." To "Isaac Reeve who now lives with me," two oxen. To my grand child Mary Wyndes, one cow. To Thomas Terrill who married my grand daughter Mary Reeve, two acres of land by his dwelling house. To grand son James Reeve all my dwelling house, lands and meadows. Dated December 13, 1671. Witnesses Nicholas Eades, John Youngs. James Reeve is confirmed as executor May 13, 1676.
 

Associations:
 
John Cooper and Edmun Harrington - immigrated with him in the "Hopewell".

Witnessed his will: Nicholas Eades, John Youngs
 

Other biographies of William Purrier on-line:
 
See the Wheeler Page sketch of our immigrant ancestor

See the Barbara Fox page for a sketch on William and his family

See the Purrier Notable Kin Page - included in their descendants are President Harding

Torrey's New England Marriages Before 1700
New York Abstracts of Wills

I am not aware of a comprehensive treatment of the immigrant or a published genealogy of the Purriers. Please let me know if you know of any.

One major branch is the Reeve family: "A Study of The Reeve Family" by Wesley Baker

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It can be concluded from his will that if he had any sons, they did not survive him, nor have any children that survived William Purrier. Thus, the name died out with the first generation.

The three daughters named in his will lead to three main branches of this family with surnames: Reeves, Mapes, Osman. Note that many/most Mapes in America are also Purriers, as Thomas Mapes, the immigrant, married William Purrier's daughter, Sarah Purrier.

See the Children and Grandchildren of William and Alice (___) Purrier

For Martha's line, see Osman

For Sarah's line, see:
 

"Descendants of John Mapes Register", John is an ancestor of Thomas Mapes, who married Sarah.

The Jeffrey Bird Page - Ancestor Register - Start here with William and drill down

  See Kids and Grandkids of William Purrier

 1   William Purrier 1600 - 1676
....  +Alice 1600 -
. 2   Martha Purrier 1628 - 1671
.......  +Thomas Osman 1630 -
.... 3   Jacob Osman 1670 - 1758
..........  +Sarah Corwin 1660 - 1755
........ 4   Esther Osman 1695 - 1773
..............  +Zerubabel Hallock I 1696 - 1761
........... 5   Zerubabel Hallock II 1722 - 1800
.................  +Elizabeth Swezey 1722 - 1806
.............. 6   Zachariah Hallock I 1749 - 1820
....................  +Hannah 1754 - 1823
.................. 7   Bethuel Hallock 1790 - 1866
..................  *2nd Wife of Bethuel Hallock:
........................  +Harmony Howell 1790 -
..................... 8   John Kasar Hallock 1831 - 1875
...........................  +Mary Jane Aldrich 1836 - 1862
........................ 9   Morris Wells Hallock 1858 - 1941
..............................  +Harriet Loetta Pollock 1865 - 1936
............................ 10   Inez Evangeline Hallock 1886 - 1976
..................................  +Arthur Willis Baldwin 1876 - 1961

Related Links:

The Wheeler Page has a collection of our Purriers.

The Reeves Database - a major branch of the Purriers are Reeve.

The Leone Database - with Reeves. Unfortunately, this database doesn't show Mary Purrier as the matriarch, but the downstream descendants might give some clues to your Reeve search.

Terry Newsletters - I'm not a Terry, but the Purriers married into the Terry family frequently.

Mapes Resources at Rootsweb

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