Benjamin S. Purcell

Birth: Jan. 30, 1803 Ripley County Indiana, USA Death: Nov. 17, 1867 - La Grange - Fayette County - Texas, USA

Benjamin and family lived in Illinois until 1846 and in the fall of that year started to to Texas, crossing Red River January 01, 1847. They located in Fayette Co. Texas, where Benjamin died in 1867 just out of Round Top, Texas in Fayette County. He is buried on the farm that was once his. He is buried with his Father-in-law Benjamin Smalley and Mother-in-law Mary Liggitt Smalley. Mary died in 1890 in Burnet Co., TX, she lived there with son Daniel and wife Mary.

Benjamin was a farmer by trade, raised cattle and prospered. He was quite and reserved, a member of the Primitive Baptist Church and was a very religious man The Vermillion Co., IL History page 807 says: Middle Fork Baptist Church organized in 1834 by Elder Freeman Smalley and 20 members. Freeman, James Smalley, Benjamin Purcell and wives and others organized the church. The church lasted until 1864 when war caused a division.

From "History of Williamson Co., Texas", by Clara Stearns Scarborough: "In a chapter about immigrants to Williamson Co., Texas, she says around 1864 within two years, one of the largest delegations of settlers from a single place had arrived from Vermillion Co., IL. More than 25 families came

This information was took out of the Purcell family of America Book April 1995 page: 90/91 Faye Purcell 5/7/99

Will for Benjamin S. Purcell (Homer Great great Grandfather) The State of Texas February 12 th . D 1867 County of Fayette I Benjamin Purcell being in my right mind though my heath being impaired and being desirous of setting my worldly affairs make this my last will and testament: I bequeath the whole of my property both personal and real to my wife Mary Purcell and to have and to hold for her support and her children as long as she lives and at her death the property shall be equally divided among her children unless there should be some that are yet not of age if so their support shall be taken out of the property un tell they marry or become of age and father more I Benjamin Purcell desire that my son B.S. and. R. Purcell be my executors to settle up my estate after the death of me and my wife, Mary Purcell Witnesses: (Signed) B. Purcell William Risinger J. Juvenall. (Wrote as in the book)

• ********************************************************************* The State of Texas in county court March Term A D 1868 County of Fayette to the Honl H. Teich Muller Judge of the County Court of said County. The petition of P. R. Purcell a resident of said County and State respectfully represents unto your Hon. that on our about the 17th day of Nov. 1867 B. Purcell departed this life in said county of which county and state he was a resident leaving a last will and testament bearing date 12th February a D 1867 and witnessed by Wm. Risinger and J. Juvinall which last will and testament id filled herewith and made part of this petition that in said Will your petitioner and B.S. Purcell were left as executors thereof and that be permitted to record in said county and state and all necessary orders in the case of P. R. Purcell
  • ********************************* The State of Texas This day appeared J. Juvinall before the Hon. county court of said county of Fayette in open court and being duly sworn according to law says that B. Purcell on the 12th day of February A D 1867 made and executed the foregoing will while of sound mind and called upon deponent and Wm. Risinger to witness the same declaring the same to it to be his last will and testament and at his request and in his presence of each other deponent and said Risinger signed the same as subscribing witnesses and both also saw testator sign and execute same. Sworn and subscribed to before me in open court this 12th day of June A D N. C. Joiner John Juvinall
    • ******************************** Probate Court June Term A D1868 This day came to be heard the petition of P. R. Purcell praying to have the Will and Testament of Benjamin Purcell deceased Probated and admitted to record and for letters Testamentary upon said estate and it appearing to he satisfaction of the Court that notice of said application has been given by the Clerk of this court in the manner prescribed by law and no objection being filed and said Will having this day been properly proven up and authenticated in the manner prescribed by law the same is probated and admitted to record, and it is further ordered that letters testamentary issue to P. R. Purcell and B.S. Purcell upon their giving Bond and qualifying as the law directs.

Estate of Benjamin Purcell decd:

Whereas P.R. and B. S. Purcell were this day appointed Executors of the Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Purcell deed and who now refuse to give bond as well. It is therefore ordered that the Decree appointing them Executors as aforesaid be annulled and set aside.

SMALLEY CEMETERY - Walhalla

300245N 964434W

Taken from Graves, Graves, Graves, copyrighted 1999, with the permission of the author, Norman C. Krischke:

The Smalley graves are located on Rohde Road about two miles northwest of Warrenton. The graves were visited 1 October 1965 by [Krischke]. There are two broken stones at the site and the remains of a weathered wooden rail-post fence...

Joe Cole recorded these graves 6 May 1959:

"Located one mile north of Walhalla, Texas property owned by Albert Rethke. There are two tombstones, fallen down, in a cedar picket fence which has also fallen down. The stones show names and dates of Benjamin and Mary Smalley"

Letter from Edwin Walker Smalley, P.O. Box 309, Norman, Okla. 73069, dated 5 February 1967: "The Benjamin Smalley who is buried near Round Top, Texas is the son of William Smalley who was captured by Delaware Indians a long time ago. He was a brother to my great grandfather, Rev. Freeman Smalley, Sr. Freeman, born in Virginia in 1791, is buried in Bourbon County, Kansas near Xenia.

The 1850 Census of Warren county, Indiana lists the family of Benjamin Smalley as: One male 50 to 60 years, old, one female 50 to 60 years old, one male 20 to 30, one male 15 to 20, one male 10 to 15 and one female 10 to 15 years old.

In the Freytag Files found at the Fayette Heritage Library, Museum & Archives, Walter Freytag also lists a third grave, Benjamin Purcell.

Family links: Spouse: Mary Smalley Purcell (1817 - 1890)

Children:

 Corneluis Purcell (1827 - 1894)*

 Benjamin Smalley Purcell (1837 - 1918)*

 Peter Reisinger Purcell (1846 - 1933)*

 Daniel Elisah Purcell (1848 - 1928)*

 Sara Ann Purcell Bell (1852 - 1933)*

 Noah Purcell (1860 - 1949)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Smalley Cemetery - Fayette County Texas, USA

Created by: Brenda Michael - Record added: Oct 21, 2005 - Find A Grave Memorial# 12130290

• Residence: Fayetteville, Fayette, Texas, United States - 1850
• Census: 1860 - [Blank], Fayette, Texas, USA
• Residence: Fayette Land District, Texas, United States - 1860
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Mar 18 2019, 23:44:43 UTC

    ---

GEDCOM Note

OBJE: _WEBTAGr=5241&GRid=12130290&=gr&GRid=12130290&ref=acomel=all&GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSsr=5241&GRid=12130290&