DoHistoryMartha Ballard's Diary OnlineThemes site maptech helpabout sitesearch

 
poster about the murders
Click on the image above to enlarge.

The Purrinton Murders

Capt. James Purrington, a respected citizen of Bowdoinham, moved his family to the Ballard neighborhood of Augusta in August of 1805. The reason has been forgotten. Through the following winter and spring, the family integrated into the neighborhood, appearing now and then at the Ballard house.

In July of 1806, the neighborhood was shocked by the murder of Mrs. Purrington and her six children. The murderer was the husband and father, Capt. Purrington, who then killed himself. One Purrington daughter, Martha, lingered with injuries for three weeks before dying at Jonathan Ballard's house. One Purrington son, James, escaped and survived with minor injuries.

Martha Ballard prepared the bodies for burial and helped some with Martha Purrington's care. She and the townspeople attended the funerals. Surviving Purrington family members -- son James, brother Hezekiah -- boarded at the Ballard house after the murders while they attended to the family's affairs.

What was the reason for the murders -- a suicide gone bad? An abusive father? Religious confusion? Personal anguish? No one knows for sure.

Both the film A Midwife's Tale and chapter nine of the book A Midwife's Tale deal with the Purrinton murders.


 
  There are 17 entries for this theme:
1-10 | 11-17
next 7 >

 

December 13, 1805, Friday

view full Diary page

13 6

 

 

Clear. [                                   ]. Rosanna Cottle who is living with Son Jona has had fitts the night past. Cyrus went to mr Ketons and bot [1]1/3 Bushel wheat. he was at Son Pollard, Shee Sent me 14 lb Pork, 1_Do Lard and Sausages 2 lb for which I giv her thanks. mrs Purington made me a visit. mr Hartwell Came with his famely [                ] hous. he Came here for fire. mrs Purington here. Rosana Cottle had fitts last night.
 

 

February 18, 1806, Tuesday

view full Diary page

18 3

 

 

Snowd. mrs Heartwel here for herbs, one of her Childn is unwell. Capt Puringtons little Sons for Do for their marm, Shee being unwel. I have been altering my Green Coat, took out 1 breadth and made it over again. mr Ballard took Care of ye Barn and wrote Letters to Sent to Boston. at home.
 

 

April 10, 1806, Thursday

view full Diary page

10 5

 

 

Clear Some Part of the day and very Cold. mr Ballard went to Son Jonas, made A head bord for the Beadsted he fixt yesterdy. I took down that in my Bed room and put that which he has altered. finisht the mitt I began yesterday and knit part of another. Polly Purington here for herbs for her marm who is unwell. meriah here, Says her marm is Some better. at home. Hannah here, Says Samuel is very unwell yet.
 

 

May 3, 1806, Saturday

view full Diary page

3 7

 

 

Clear. Betsy washt my N. room & kitchen. mr Ballard been to the Settlement, bot 3 lb Pork, _ gn Spirit, pint brandy, _ Snuff. wilm Cypher here at Evning, mr Ballard Paid him one Dollar. Betsy went home. Peter Wiman & James Purington here for Bm Giliad, apple trees & Curent Bushes. at home.
 

 

May 7, 1806, Wednesday

view full Diary page

7 4

 

 

Cloudy & some rain. I remove Banking from ye west door round to ye East door and did other matters. mrs Purington here aftern, took Tea with us. at home.
 

 

May 9, 1806, Friday

view full Diary page

9 6

 

X. Birth Benn Chases Daugt. XX.

rainy part of ye day. I removd a plumb tree from my gardin and Sett it in ye Corn field. Sett Curent Shoots and did Some washing. was Calld at 4h 30m pm to go and See mrs Chace who was in Labour. Shee was Safe Deld about 6 of a Daugt. I left her and infant Cleverly and reacht home at 8h 30m Evng. was Conducted there and home by Capt Purington. at mr Chaces. Birth 1st for this year. Decr 17nth receivd 9/ by Chaces work.
 

 

July 9, 1806, Wednesday

view full Diary page

9 4

 

 

Clear and warm. my Husband & I were awake at 3h ys morn by mrss Heartwel and Gillbard who brot us ye horrible tydings that Capt Purington had murdered all his famely Except his Son James who must have Shared the Same fate had he not been So fortunate as to make his Escape after an attempt was made to take his life. he was wounded with an ax, he fled in his Shirt only and alarmd mr Wiman of ye horrid Scein, who immediately ran to Son Jonas. they two went to hous where the horrid Scein was perpetrated. my Son went in and found a Candle which he lit and to his great Surprise Said Purington, his wife & Six Childn Corpss and Martha, he perceived had life remaining, who was removd to his house. Surgical aid was immediately Calld and Shee remains alive as yet. my husband went and returnd before Sun rise, when after takeing a little food he and I went on to the hous, there to behold ye most Shocking Scein thal was Ever Seen in this part of ye world. may an infinitely good God grant that we may all take a sutable notis of this horrid deed, tearn wisdom there from. the Corps were removd to his Barn where they ware washt and Laid out Side by Side. a horrid Spectakle which many hundred persons Came to behold. I was there till near night when Son Jona Conducted me to his hous and gave me refreshment. the Coffins were brot and ye Corps Carried in a Waggon & Deposited in Augusta meeting hous. at the hous of Capt Purington to behold A Dreadful Scean indead. him Silf & wife & Six of his Childn all Dead Corps.
 

 

July 10, 1806, Thursday

view full Diary page

10 5

 

 

Cloudy, raind aftern. my husband and I attended at the Sollom funeral of James Purington & his famely which he murdered. there was a Prayer made by Revd mr Stone, a Discoarse Delivd by A mr Taylor from Prov 25 C 28 V, he that hath no rule over his own Spirit is like a city broken down and with walls. there were a vast number of people attended, the performance was on a Stage which was Erected before the meeting hs. the houses near were Crouded, the Streat Crouded & ye tops of Buildings Covered with people. Said Puringtons remains were Lodged in the Porch with the ax & raisor which he made use of to Deprive his famely & him Silf of life were on his Coffin. his Dear wife & 6 Childns remains laid in the ally before the Boddy Pews. a Sollam specttacle to behold. may we all learn a profitable lesson from this Dreadful Scein and may it pleas the God that rules Sanctify this affliction to the Surviving retalives and to us all. the funeral proseeded from the meeting hous, went over kenebeck Bridg then turnd and went up the hill South and Down Second Street, turnd at the Jail & went to ye grave yard. he was intered without the [walls]. at the meeting hous to attend the funeral of Purington and famely.
 

 

July 11, 1806, Friday

view full Diary page

11 6

 

 

Clear. mr Purington, his 2 Daugts & James P. took Breakfast, he & James Dind, he & James Supt & Sleep here. mr Ballard been houghing Corn. I have Bakt wheat & bn Bread and Done other Matters. Old mr Babcock & mrs Wiman here. at home.
 

 

July 12, 1806, Saturday

view full Diary page

12 7

 

 

Clear. I have Done my hous work, got Dinner for mr Parington, his Daught, James and 3 aprisers. then was allmost or rather quite giving up for a time. after I recovered a little was requested to go to my Sons where I receivd a pair of Sheets for 2 Do & 2 Shifts which I Carried to Lay out ye [Dead]. at Son Jonas. Martha P. is very Low.
 
 
  There are 17 entries for this theme:
1-10 | 11-17
next 7 >




home your interests who was Martha? Martha's diary book film doing history archive on your own
browse | search | stories & themes | lens | decoding | transcribing | about diary | about online diary