Author: President Gen John Michael Tomme Sr.
Purnal Truitt was born on February 26, 1757, in Worcester, MD or Sussex Delaware. He is a direct descendant of George Trewitt (I), the emigrant. George came to North Hampton County, VA about 1652, later called Accomack. He was a Quaker and a leading spirit among the people of that faith on the eastern shore of VA and Maryland. George the emigrant died on July 10, 1670. Purnal Truitt is the son of Riley Truitt (I) of Worcester, Maryland and Margaret Newbold. He married Polly Godfrey / Godley of New Jersey. She was born on January 26, 1758 and they were married in 1783. Polly died about 1810. He remarried Rachel Render of Wilkes Co., GA about 1812. She was born on September 29, 1768. The children of Purnal and Polly Truitt were: Sarah-Born-1784; Nancy-Born-1786; Wiley-Born-1788; Thomas-Born-1790; Nathan-Born 1792; Purnal, Jr-Born-1795; and John-Born-1798. Purnal Truitt per the U.S. War Dept. Revolutionary Soldiers of Delaware, enlisted on February 19, 1778 as a private in Capt. John Patton’s Company, Hall’s Delaware Regiment, commanded by Col. David Hall. He joined the regiment at Valley Forge and served there for 3 months. He is on Capt Patton’s Pay Roll of Captium from April 1778 through April 1779. He was transferred to Lt. Col. Charles Pope’s Company in May, 1779, also designated Capt. John Corse’s Company. He is on Capt’s Corse’s Pay Roll from May 1779 through February 1780. He was in the battle of Monmouth and also at White Plains where he was detached and placed in the regiment commanded by Col. Richard Parker. They marched to the south and were in the battle of Gates Defeat, where nearly all of the officers and men of his regiment were either taken prisoner or killed; he was missing in action Aug. 16, 1780-wounded, and that being in a destitute condition, he made his way to the home of relatives in Onslow Co., NC. He volunteered there and served three (3) months in Capt. Stephen Thackleford’s Co., Col. Young’s N. C. Regiment of light horse; immediately after the termination of this service, he re-enlisted and served three (3) months in Capt. Hall James’ N.C. Co.; and he also served short tours until the end of the war. He served this to the end of the war. After the war he moved to Montgomery County, NC. Court records have him there in 1791. He is listed on North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts and Treasurer & Comptroller Revolutionary War Pay Vouchers Purnal Truitt applied for a pension on September 5, 1832. He was not granted a pension as he did not provide the proof needed. It is not known when he moved to Wilkes Co., Georgia, but he drew two (2) draws of land in the Lottery of 1803, p. 216. He settled seven (7) miles west of Washington, Wilkes Co., GA, on Scull Shoals Road. He had two (2) draws in lottery of 1806 in Wilkes Co. He had one (1) draw in the lottery of 1819 in Wilkes Co. He also had two (2) draws in lottery of 1821 in Wilkes Co. In the 1827 land lottery, it states Purnal Truitt of Washington district, Wilkes Co., drew land lot 177 in 21 district, Muscogee Co, GA. He had two (2) draws in the lottery of 1832 in Wilkes Co. Purnal was the first man to America to sow cotton in rows and then chop it to a stand. Before this, cotton was planted in hills as corn. At one time one of his grandsons was called the Cotton King of GA. Purnal Truitt died about Oct, 2, 1838. His will was located in Wilkes Co., GA in Book UU 1836-1839.

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