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?