Emma Purdy was the daughter of Charles Purdy (1823) and Sarah Hodds, and was born in Little Walsingham in 1858. In 1861 she was living in Stacksteads, Newchurch. In 1871 she was living in Cemetery Terrace, Newchurch, and working as a cotton weaver. She had a son - probably by Edward Neale - in 1880, and married Edward in the Haslingden district in 1881. Emma and Edward had at least two children: Ernest (1880) and John (1882). Edward died, and she married Johnny Dewis. In 1891 she was living with her family and parents at 2 Ash Mount, Rawtenstall.

Sources
• 1. 1861 Census. Stacksteads, Newchurch. Emma Purdy. Daughter. Age 3. Born Walsingham. • 2. 1871 Census. Cemetery Terr., Newchurch. Mary Emma Purdy. Daughter. Age 13. Cotton Spinner. Born Walsingham. • 3. Marriage Registers. Purdy, Emma & Neale, Edward. Mar. 1881. 8e. 171. Haslingden. • 4. 1891 Census. 2 Ash Mount, New Hall Hey and Hall Carr, Rawtenstall. Emma Dewis. Daughter. Age 32. House Kepper, Domestic. Born Waslenham [sic].