| Notes |
- He became one of the most prominent citizens of the town of Rye, NY In 1720 he made his first appearance in public office when he was appointed Justice of the Peace. This position he held until his death. From 1723 to 1739 he served as town supervisor. His duties were so faithfully discharged that he was reelected from 1744 to 1746, and chosen again in 1749. He also acted as the last town trustee or overseer in 1729, and as a farmer of the excise in 1743 and in 1744. He served as one of the Judges of the Court of Pleas of the County of Westchester from 1734 to 1737, and again from 1740 to 1752. He also presided at the court of the Jan. 22nd, of the latter year. The Rev. James Wetmore, minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Rye, was seeking a new schoolmaster in 1732. At the request of sundry inhabitants that Samuel Purdy Esq. might be appointed, he wrote the following recommendation to the secretary to the "Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel" "He is a gentleman very well respected in the town, a constant communicant of the church, a man of good abilities and sober exemplary life and conversation; he is the foremost Justice of the Peace in the parish, and one of the Quorum as well as chaplain of the militia, but these being places that require, rather that make a fortune, he has private reasons to make him accept a mission from the Honorable Society , and the greater his interest of the peoples esteems and affections, by the honorable character he sustains, he will be under greater advantage to promote religion and the interest of the church for which he has always had a good affection. This gentleman is well qualified to teach and instruct children in the principles of religion , and such learning as is fit for the country, and I doubt not he will be very faithful and industrious, if the Honorable Society be pleased to employ him. Needless to add, Justice Purdy was employed and continued a schoolmaster until his death. When he died in 1753 the Rev. James Wetmore gives an excellent account of the funeral. "The church hath suffered a loss by death of Mr. Purdy, who was a friend of religion, and did many kind offices to the poor,as far as he was able. His corpse was attended to the church on Ash Wednesday by a great concourse of people of all persuasions, to whom the pastor preached a sermon adapted to that day, and to the melancholy occasion.
The Rev. Mr. Wetmore in 1732 re-quested the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts to appoint him schoolmaster at Rye, recommending him as a gentleman, very well respected in the town, a constant communicant-cant in the church a man of good abilities and sober, exemplary life and conversation. He is the foremost Justice of the peace in the parish and one of the quorum, as well as chaplain (captain?) of the militia. Mr. Purdy was chosen to various other offices of trust as supervisor, town clerk, overseer and farmer of the excise. In 1753 Mr. Wetmore reports that the church has suffered a loss by the death of Mr. Purdy, the Society's school-master, who was a friend to religion and did many kind offices to the poor, as far as he was able. His corpse was attended to the church on Ash Wednesday by a great concourse of people of all persuasions.
Shortly before his death he had sold to his two sons, Samuel and Caleb, for one hundred and seventy pounds, "my home lot where I dwell in Rye, comprising five acres." This included the present rectory grounds of Christ Church.
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1687 - 1753 (66 years)
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