Contributed by American Antiquarian Society through Maine Historical Society
Description
In the early nineteenth century, broadsides and circulars provided in-depth information on various topics, including crime. Printers and post offices sold broadsides like Horrid Murder!, which detailed the Purrinton murders. Broadsides often featured eye-catching titles and imagery—such as the eight coffins printed atop this story—to boost sales.
Captain James Purrinton (1759–1806) murdered his wife Polly and six of their seven children before dying by suicide. Two children, James (19) and Martha (15), survived the initial attack. James, who was wounded, escaped and alerted a neighbor. Neighbors Dean Wyman Jonas Ballard (husband of famed diarist Martha Ballard) discovered the bodies of Capt. Purrinton, his wife Polly, and their five children. Martha Purrinton later succumbed to her injuries. James was the sole survivor.
Although Purrinton expressed financial concerns, and reportedly had a family history of mental illness, his exact motives remain unclear. Before the crime, he wrote to his brother, hinting at his own impending death. The tragedy’s brutality, victim count, and Purrinton’s suicide drew widespread media attention along the East Coast and abroad.
About This Item
- Title: "Horrid Murder!" broadside, Augusta, 1806
- Creator: Peter Edes
- Creation Date: 1806
- Subject Date: 1806
- Location: Augusta, Kennebec County, ME
- Media: Ink on paper
- Local Code: AAS, BDSDS, Catalogue Record #279442
- Object Type: Text
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Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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More to Consider
Item 152258
"Horrid Murder" pamphlet, Boston, 1818
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