(11 Nov. 1824-7 July 1891), contractor. Born probably in Charlottenburgh Township, GC. Parents: Michael Purcell and his wife Catherine Grant. John Purcell, who settled in Cornwall in 1887, lived there in the house that later became the rectory of the Church of the Good Shepherd. He was the brother of Michael and Patrick Purcell, and like them a contractor. He died barely two months after Patrick, the former MP. In his lifetime, John Purcell attracted less press notice than his two brothers, and is remembered by posterity largely in connection with his will. John Purcell left $15,000 to found a hospital open to all patients. A legal struggle followed over the question of whether this hospital was to be non-sectarian or Roman Catholic. The dispute was settled legally in 1896 in favour of a non-sectarian hospital. In consequence, John Purcell’s money was used for the founding of the Cornwall General Hospital, but the Roman Catholics, in protest, founded the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Cornwall. John Purcell was a Roman Catholic. He was married to (1)—, and (2) Katherine Macdonell, sister of the distinguished Janet Macdonell of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph. Katherine was herself a generous supporter of the Religious Hospitallers.

Senior 317-319 * gravestone of John Purcell, Precious Blood Cemetery, Flanagan’s Point, GC * plaque in memory of John Purcell, Cornwall General Hospital * Harkness 478 * Villeneuve 78 * Fobert 37 * Sister Dolores Kane, Caring People Helping People: the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph of Cornwall 1897-1997 (1996) 6 * Katherine Macdonell: see life of Janet Macdonell and notes there * comment of Bishop LaRocque on the hospital issue: Glengarry News 19 Aug. 1998