Samuel Holly Purdy was the son of Robert Purdy (1829) and Ann Maidstone, and was born in Britannia in 1873. In 1881 he was at school and was living with his parents in Fern Hill Terrace, Newchurch, Lancs. In 1891 he was living with his widowed mother at 161 Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, Bacup and was working as a printer compositor. He married Betsy Ann Howorth in 1899. In 1901 he was working in Bacup as a debt collector and bookkeeper.

Sources
• 1. 1881 Census. Fern Hill Terrace, Newchurch, Lancs. Sam. H Purdy. Son. Age 8. Born Britannia [sic, probably Burnham Sutton]. Scholar. • 2. Edwy Harling's Website. Samuel Purdy. Born 1873. Father: Robert. Mother: Ann Maidstone. • 3. 1901 Census. Bacup. Samuel Purdy. Born Bacup. Debt Collector & Bookkeeper. • 4. Marriage Registers, Purdy, Samuel Holly & Howorth, Betsy Ann. Sep. 1899. 8e. 324. Haslingden. • 5. 1891 Census. 161 Newchurch Rd, Stacksteads, Bacup. Samuel H. Purdy. Son. Age 18. Printer Compositor. Born Bacup.