by John Marshall

“ His promotion to the rank of captain took place on the 16th of the same month. Mrs. Purchas, to whom he was married in Aug. 1820, is the youngest daughter of the late William Hills, of Chancery Lane, London, Esq. ”

“ Purchas served in her barge, under Lieutenant John Skekel, at the capture and destruction of seven Russian gunboats, a large armed ship, and twelve transports, near Percola Point, in the Gulf of Finland [2] . On the 7th of December following, he passed his examination; and on the 9th, was promoted into the Erebus sloop, Captain William Autridge.
Lieutenant Purchas’s subsequent appointments were – Oct. 13th, 1813, from the Erebus to the Carnation sloop, Captain George Bentham, fitting out for the Jamaica station; – Mar. 25th, 1827, to the Alert sloop. Captain John Smith [3] ; – and, Sept. ”