History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield ...

200 Biographical Sketches. Purchis.
ing-house, on Silsbee street, and was attended by the Mayor and
other members of the city government, and a large concourse
of relatives and fellow-townsmen. He was never married. In
the Public Library a very good likeness of him is preserved.
Purchis, Oliver. The fame of Mr, Purchis extended far
beyond our municipal limits. He was a man possessed of strong
points of chara6ter, undoubted patriotism, and a pertinacity that
sometimes might well be called obstinacy. During the Andros
administration his energetic course in baffling the unwarrantable
demands of the Governor and his unscrupulous Secretary, no
doubt saved the town from loss and mortification, and received
well-merited applause. His position as Town Clerk, at that
trying period, afforded opportunities for the display of patriotic
zeal and hatred of oppression well fitted to his temper.
He came
as early as 1635, and in his official capacity is named as a
grantee in the Indian Deed of Lynn. For some ten years he was
a Representative in the General Court ;
was
agent of the iron
company, and somewhat of a military chara6ler, though he was
not a particularly bright star in the latter sphere. But his long
and useful life appears to have ended in poverty and distress.
On the Council records, June 19, 1701, is found this entry: "A
resolve was sent up from the Representatives in the words
following, viz' :
'
Whereas, M"" Oliver Purchase, an ancient public
servant in the government is fallen to decay and become very
indigent and necessitous, not having whereof to subsist now in
his age, and being rendered incapable of labour :
Resolved, That
in consideration of the good service done by s'^ Oliver Purchase,
he be allowed the sum of Ten pounds out of the public Treasury
of this province for his necessary support.'—Which resolve being
read at the Board was concurred with and his Honour the Lieut.
Gov. gave his consent unto and signed the same." But the poor
man, "deceasing before he had received s'' gratuity," it was
resolved by the Council and House of Representatives, " That
the aforesaid sum of ten pounds be paid out of the public treasury
ol this Province to M"" William Wilson of Concord, to be by him
delivered to M^^s Sarah Purchis, widow, reli6l of said Oliver
Purchis." It was in 1691 that Mr. Purchis removed from Lynn
to Concord, where he died in 1701, aged 88 years. See Annals