The Great Musicians: Purcell

by William Hayman Cummings

to John pursell of Marten, V^li.

to George pursell, V^li.

to Thomas purshell, Nicholas sonne, V^li.

to Roger Calcott of Buttington, Viij^s."

"Will proved 1547 (43 Alen.)

John Fyssher, gentⁿ of Hen. VII., Hen. VIII., and Edw. VI. chapels—

'to my Cosyn,[58] John Pursell, XX^s sterling, all my londes in Clevedon and Clopton: ... Countie of Somers nye to Bristowe;' to brother David Fyssher of Shrewsbury for life and after to Cosyn Nicholas pursell and heirs for ever."

The parish registers of St. Margaret's, Westminster, contain occasional mention of the name of Pursell or Purcell, the earliest being 1575; but whether the records before 1658 refer to members of the composer's family it has not been possible to determine.

Purcell's mother died in August, 1699, having survived her son nearly four years; her burial is recorded in the books of St. Margaret's, Westminster, thus:—"Mrs. Eliz^th Pursell, Ch.[59] August 26, 1699;" her estate was "administered to" on the 7th of the following September by her daughter Katherine, who had been baptized in Westminster Abbey on the 13th of March, 1662. This younger sister of Purcell was married on the 20th June, 1691, to the Rev. William Sale, of Sheldwich, Kent.