Page News & Courier
Heritage and Heraldry
Thomas Purdom and his role in the American Revolution
Article of August 6, 1998
Born around 1751, Thomas Purdom was a future forefather of Page County Purdom/Purdham family lines. Years into his life and prior to the foundation of Page County, Purdom made claim for what was due to him for his service in the American Revolution. In response to the Congressional act of March 18, 1818 allowing Revolutionary War pensions, Purdom made his application on August 8, 1820. Reflecting back upon his youth, Purdom recalled that he enlisted for eighteen months in the 2nd Virginia Regiment in June, 1780. Initially under the command of a Captain Harrison and Lieutenant Colonel John Green of Culpeper (actually of the 1st Virginia Regiment), Purdom would transfer to a Captain Williams's Company.
From the arrival in or near the future capital city of Virginia, Thomas Purdom's service is traced mostly out of Virginia. Though he makes no detailed log of his exact travels (unlike the Cave pension), it is possible that he was among the 1,400 militia recently recruited from the western counties of Virginia that reinforced General Horatio Gates prior to the battle of Camden, South Carolina on August 16, 1780. After the green troops were thrown into battle with little or no training, the result was disastrous as many of the troops had thrown down there arms and fled upon being exposed to the musketry. However, due to the high influx of British activity in Virginia during that same time-frame, many Virginia troops were held in the Old Dominion in lieu of being sent south. There were in fact a series of invasions through late March 1781 along the James River, in the Richmond-Petersburg area, and into the Chesapeake Bay and Portsmouth, Virginia. Where Purdom was at during this time remains to be found. It is possible that his actual service record at the National Archives could shed some light.
What is certain is that Purdom was with General Nathanael Greene's troops in the 1781 Southern Campaigns. General George Washington, needing improvement in activities in the South, selected Greene, the former Continental Army's quartermaster, as the commander-in-chief of the Southern Department. Upon being placed in command, Greene quickly initiated action against the British. In the months that would follow Greene's assignment, the British were engaged by elements of Greene's army at Cowpens, S.C., Guilford Courthouse, N.C., and Hobkirk's Hill, S.C.
Determined to gain an edge against British Lord Rawdon, Greene struck westward against Fort Ninety-Six while Rawdon reorganized in Charleston, S.C. Originally an important backwoods treading post, by 1781, Ninety-Six was the site of an impressive star-shaped, earthen fortification. While involved in the siege of the fortification, Purdom sustained a severe wound " "through the body by a bayonet." Typically, this sort of wound would be certain death for a soldier, especially in the 18th century. However, while the details simply aren't available, Purdom survived and lived to be discharged in Salisbury, North Carolina in January 1782.
For his service, Purdom was awarded a pension of $8.00 per month on April 24, 1822, retroactive to the date of his application on August 8, 1820.
Now a National Historic Site of the Department of the Interior, Fort Ninety-Six is accessible to tourists and is located in Greenwood County, South Carolina.
On a closing note, remember that when dealing with incomplete or incorrect information in pensions, it is best to utilize sources such as The Virginia Continental Line by John R. Sellers. Published by the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission, the 84 page book is still available.
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