Mid-19th Century Wood Crate Used by Richmond Apothecary Company Purcell Ladd & Company

Mid-19^th Century Wood Crate Used by Richmond Apothecary Company Purcell Ladd & Company – This wooden crate was utilized for shipping pharmaceutical products prior to or during the Civil War by the Purcell Ladd & Co., that originated in Richmond in 1847. The pine boards used to create the crate exhibit circular saw marks and are joined by early to mid-19^th century, iron cut nails. Stenciled on one of the end boards is the following:

“FROM

PURCELL LADD & CO

DRUGGISTS

RICHMOND VA”

Charles Purcell would emigrate to Richmond in the early 19^th century, from Ireland; his son, John Purcell, born in Richmond in 1815, founded the firm Purcell, Ladd & Company in 1847, as a wholesale pharmaceutical company, in Richmond. In 1861, Purcell equipped a battery of artillery in the Confederate States army, at his own expense; the battery became known as the Purcell battery, although Purcell did not serve in the army. John’s son, John Barry Purcell, born in Richmond in 1849, enlisted in late 1864, in Company G, Third Virginia Regiment of Light Infantry, attaining the rank of orderly sergeant. Shortly after the war, the young Purcell enrolled at VMI, from which he graduated on July 4, 1868; shortly thereafter, he entered the employ of Purcell, Ladd & Company, wholesale druggists. Purcell, Ladd & Co. would continue in business into the late 19^th century and early 20^th century. This crate dates, as indicated by its mode of construction and associated materials, from the antebellum to the war period. The crate remains in very good condition, with remnants of old newspaper lining the bottom interior.

Measurements: L – 26.25”; W – 13.25”; H – 13.75”

Purcell Ladd & Co

Purcell, John Barry
The Purcell family of Richmond, Virginia, are of Irish descent, and have long been settled in the counties Cork and Limerick, Ireland. Several branches of the family belong to the landed gentry of Ireland, and have attained distinction as theologians, clergymen and in local political circles.
(I) Charles Purcell emigrated to America from Limerick, Ireland, and settled at Richmond, Virginia, about 1780, where he acquired considerable property, and died there leaving it to his nephew, Charles Purcell. The latter came to Richmond, Virginia, in 1815, to take charge of the estate and settled there. He had one sister, Ellen Purcell, who married James Barry, of Limerick, Ireland, and they were the parents of the late Lord Justice Charles William Barry, the chief justice of Ireland.

(II) John Purcell, son of Charles Purcell, was born in Richmond, Virginia, about 1815. He became a prominent business man of Richmond. He founded the firm of Purcell, Ladd & Company, wholesale druggists in Richmond, which business was continued to a late time by his son and grandson. In 1861 he equipped a battery of artillery in the Confederate States army, at his own expense, which was known as the Purcell battery, but he did not himself serve in the army. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church. He died in Richmond, Virginia. He married Martha Webb, daughter of Thomas Tarlton and Harriet (Davis) Webb, in 1842 at Norfolk, Virginia. She was born at Norfolk, and was descended from Webb, Fleming and Randolph ancestry. Children of John and Martha (Webb) Purcell namely: 1. John Barry, of whom further. 2. Nora Randolph, who married Thomas Leary. 3. Sarah Elizabeth, who married Alfred Gray. 4. B. L., who married Lydia Pleasants.

George Webb, the first of the name in America, was a merchant of London, who married Lucy Foster, and had a son, George Webb. He was collector of taxes and probably treasurer of the state of Virginia; married Hannah Fleming, a descendant of Sir John Fleming, who married Miss Tarlton; came to Virginia about 1610. They had a son, George Webb, who married Judith Fleming, daughter of Tarlton and Mary (Randolph) Fleming, of Tuckahoe, the latter named a daughter of William and Maria Judith (Page) Randolph, also sister of Thomas Mann Randolph. Harriet (Davis) Webb, mother of Martha (Webb) Purcell, was a daughter of Augustine and Martha (Davenport) Davis, the former named sometime editor of the Williamsburg, Virginia, “Gazette.” Thomas T. Webb was born in Richmond, Virginia. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Webb: Virginia, who married Admiral John R. Tucker; Martha, of whom above; Harriet, who married Thomas Riley; Delia, who married Oscar Cranz; William Augustine, who was a commander in the Confederate States navy, and formerly lieutenant-commander in the United States navy, and married Elizabeth Fleming; Louis Warrington, who married a Miss Jamison.

(III) John Barry Purcell, son of John and Martha (Webb) Purcell, was born September 17, 1849, at Richmond, Virginia. He attended private schools in Richmond, Virginia, until interrupted by the war; late in 1864 he enlisted in Company G, Third Virginia Regiment of Light Infantry, and attained the rank of orderly sergeant therein. After the war closed he went to the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia, from which he graduated July 4, 1868. Soon afterward he entered the employ of Purcell, Ladd & Company, wholesale druggists, at Richmond, Virginia, and in 1880 became a partner in the firm. Gradually the direction of the business devolved upon him, and in 1894 he became the sole owner and proprietor, the business continuing under his management and that of his son until 1910, when he retired from active participation therein. For many years Mr. Purcell has been identified with various business and financial interests in Richmond. In 1885 he was made director of the First National Bank, became its vice-president in 1895, and president in 1906, which position he still retains. He was president of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce in 1885; member of the Virginia Military Institute board of visitors in 1881; and was colonel in 1880 of the First Virginia Regiment of state militia. In politics he is Democrat, but never held or sought public office. He and his family are members of the Protestant Episcopal church, and he is a member of the Westmoreland and the Country clubs, of Richmond, Virginia.

Mr. Purcell married Olympia Williamson, daughter of General Thomas H. and Henrietta Louisa (Garnett) Williamson, November 12, 1872, at Lexington, Virginia. Her father was chief engineer of the Confederate Army of the Potomac at the first battle of Manassas, and after the war he was professor of engineering at the Virginia Military Institute. Thomas H. and Henrietta Louisa (Garnett) Williamson had several children, namely: William G., Anna Maria Mercer, Thomas, Ann Walke, Olympia, of whom above. Issue of John Barry and Olympia (Williamson) Purcell, namely: 1. Martha Webb. 2. Louisa Garnett, who married Dr.. William Allan, and has issue: Elizabeth Randolph and Preston Allan. 3. Thomas Williamson, who graduated at the University of Virginia; is assistant secretary of the Old Dominion Trust Company; married Elizabeth M. Bosher, and has issue: Charlotte Mercer and Robert Bosher Purcell. 4. Anna Brooke. 5. John Barry Jr. (Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biographies – Vol. IV. Transcriber: Chris Davis)