Martha was born around 1805 in Little Walsingham and married Robert Purdy (1802) in Little Walsingham in 1829. In 1841 she was living in the High Street, Little Walsingham. In 1851 she was working as a straw bonnet maker and was living in the High Street. In 1854 she was listed as a milliner. In 1861 she was living in Market Place, Little Walsingham. In 1891 she was a widow and was working as a straw bonnet maker in Market Place, Little Walsingham.

Sources
• 1. 1851 Census on CD-ROM. High Street, Little Walsingham. Martha Purdy. Age 46. Straw Bonnet Maker. Born Little Walsingham. • 2. 1881 census website. Market Place, Little Walsingham. Martha Purdy. Head. Widow. Age 77. Straw Bonnet Maker. Born Little Walsingham. • 3. 1851 Census on CD-ROM. Martha's niece in the census return is shown as Elizabeth Lambert. • 4. White's Directory of Norfolk 1854. Little Walsingham. Milliners: Purdy, Martha. • 5. 1861 Census. Market Place, Little Walsingham. Martha Purdy. Wife. Age 55. Born Little Walsingham. • 6. 1841 Census. High Street, Little Walsingham. Martha Purdy. Age 36. Born Norfolk.