in Kent Island, and the other sons of Thomas, Pearsall, namely Thomas, Nicholas, Henry and George, removed to Long Island. Samuel Pearsall, on his father's death, removed to Virginia where he died. Thomas Pearsall, Sr. divided his time between Virginia, Kent Island and Long Island.

On p. 984 the compilers go on to say that in New Amsterdam the Pearsall brothers were greatly aided by Tymen Jansen who had befriended them when they were prisoner of Governor Wouter van Twiller, and by "Jans Jorrisen" (sic), the son of the Dutch governor of "the Delaware Country" who was long a friend of their family. And finally:

..In locating his land in Maryland, Thomas Pearsall selected lands in St. Michael's Hundred where his name appears in the special tax lists of 1642......Thomas Pearsall died 1642, and Mark Pheypo was made the administrator of his estate in Maryland.

Referring back to p. 966, it is alleged that Thomas Pearsall married Mary Brent, daughter of William Brent of Gloucestershire and London, England, and that their children were Thomas, Henry, Nicholas, George and Samuel, presumed ancestors of a great majority of the Pearsalls in America. So much for the account of this Thomas Pearsall, so-called, which we have quoted in its essentials.

We are willing to concede the possibility that Thomas Pursall, as he is almost invariably termed in records available to us, was a son of Edmund or Edmond Peshall or Pearsall, merchant of London. This may be reasonable in spite of the statement made in The Genealogy that descendants "all without exception spelled the family name as Pearsall when they reached the New World." At no time in any authoritative record, have we found that Thomas Pursall ever spelled his name Pearsall. Further, we do not find proof that Thomas Pursall was son of Edmond Pearsall (et var.) either in The Genealogy or in any other source. Evidence to prove the connection is not forthcoming; all the extraneous biographical background and interpretation of historical journals and documents change the present conditions not one iota.

In vol. 6 of the Maryland Historical Magazine, p. 270, the following is recorded:

12 ffebr 1641
Thomas Pursall demandeth 200 acres of Land for transporting into the Province himself and 1 man servant called James Linch.
Lay out for Thomas Pursall 200 acres of Land in any place not afore disposed of about the Herring Creek.....

It was "Mr. Persall" whose name was given on the tax list of 1642 recited previously; it was this entry, perhaps. which gave rise to the statement that this meant "a man of authority. A man who exercises the chief control over something or some one."