Theresa (Chapman) Purinton (1819 - 1876)

Born 4 Jun 1819 in Bethel, Oxford, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Stephen Purinton — married 6 Oct 1842 in Bethel, Oxford, Maine, United States

Descendants

Died 1 Sep 1876 at age 57 in East Harpswell, Harpswell, Cumberland, Maine, United States

Biography

Theresa was born in 1819. She was the daughter of Samuel Chapman and Desire Curtis.^[1]

She married Stephen Purinton (1813-1912) on 6 Oct 1842 in Bethel, ME.^[2] They were the parents of:

Mary Merrill Purinton 1843-1882

Frank Henry Purinton 1845-1909

Eunice Emeline Purinton 1848-1884

John Merritt Purinton 1850-1851

Alice McKeen Purinton 1856-

Caroline Chapman Purinton 1859-1921

She passed away in 1876 (see notes). She is buried in Cranberry Horn Cemetery.^[3]

Research Notes

If she passed away in 1876 as listed on her tombstone, why is she listed in the 1900 census?? Theresa C. Purington, 80, born 1819, mother of 6 with 3 still living, married for 56 years to Stephen Purington, 86, farmer, with daughter Carrie C. Purington, 40 and single, living with them in Harpswell, Cumberland, Maine. Probably a case of miscommunication or dementia? Her daughter Caroline apparently died unmarried, was another sibling also present and mistaken for her mother?

• "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMLD-TQD : Tue Oct 03 21:24:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Stephen Purington and Theresa C Purington, 1900.

New Note The 1880 U.S. Census lists Stephen Purington as a widower indicating that Theresa must have died before 1880, presumably on 1 Sep 1876, as stated on her gravestone, and the Maine, Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1980.

• 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1880; Census Place: Harpswell, Cumberland, Maine; Roll: 478; Page: 360b; Enumeration District: 037
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #44221059 (accessed 14 April 2024)
  Stephen Purrington (66), widowed, Farmer, head of household in Harpswell, Cumberland, Maine, USA. Born in Maine.

Note: the family name is spelled variously in records, and possibly changed spelling over the next generations. Purrington, Purington, Parrington need further research. Stephen Purington (1764-1843) is likely her husband's father and it appears the same spelling differences were in play. Purinton is on grave marker.

Sources

1. ↑ "Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F43N-LX8 : 14 January 2020), Thirza Curtis Chapman, 1819.
2. ↑ "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4FM-XX7 : 14 January 2020), Thuresa C. Chapman in entry for Stephen Purinton, 1842.
3. ↑ "Maine, Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, ca. 1780-1980," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJP-YY7Y : 1 March 2021), Theresa C Purinton, 1876; citing E Harpswell, Cumberland, Maine, United States, Cranberry Horn Cemetery, Maine State Library, Augusta; FHL microfilm 1,316,202.

• FamilySearch
• "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6JL-8CT : Fri Oct 06 01:46:43 UTC 2023), Entry for Stephen Purington and Theresa C Purington, 1850.
• "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDHL-HX9 : Thu Oct 05 09:42:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Stephen Parrington and Thresea C Parrington, 1860.
• "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6D6-B9X : Thu Oct 05 04:39:50 UTC 2023), Entry for Stephen Purmton and Theresa C Purmton, 1870.
• Find a Grave
• "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24N-BDM7 : Tue Oct 31 23:23:45 UTC 2023), Entry for Frank H Purinton and Stephen Purinton, 27 Mar 1909.
• "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24N-BH43 : Tue Oct 31 19:24:41 UTC 2023), Entry for Caroline C Purington and Theresa Chapman, 11 Mar 1921.