This is quite a long message- I believe I have it narrowed down to Tristram descending from Humphrey Purrington and Thankful Harding and related to David Purington (married to Chastina Messenger, b 17 Aug 1798 in NY to Joseph Purington and Margeret Hunter)- part of my belief extends from several facts-

A. David and Tristram lived next to each other most of their lives which included moving from NY to WI at approximately the same time, except for the time Tristram was in Brighton, Washington County, IA it appears that they never lived more than 15 miles from each other so my guess is that they were brothers, however I cannot verify any other children of Joseph and Margaret-

B. I also found an old newspaper article indicating the Tristam was helping his brother in Cuba NY however the spelling of the names was so mangled that I haven't been able to locate it again- the article was around 1815-1840, I think 1817/1827 but I'm not sure- there was mention of a patent but I don't recall if it was a land patent or some other type

C. There is evidence of mental illness along this line- Capt James Scales Purington murdered his entire family except one son who escaped in 1806; the history of Washington County IA notes that Tristram became "deranged"

so I'm hoping what I have can give someone else a jump start and we can go from there- if you want any of the actual records, let me know, except for the newspaper article which if I ever happen upon again, I'm having laminated


Deacon Hezekiah Purington b 1674 and Mary Scammon b 1682
have a child -Deacon Humphrey Purington b 1703 –

Humphrey marries Thankful Harding - their children include James b 1742 who is married first to Priscilla Harding then to Silence Winchell (I could not find children with Silence), Joshua who marries Anna Burrell, and David Purington b Sept 9 1731 who marries Mary Scales

Children for James and Priscilla include
1.Priscilla Purington b: 6 Oct 1764 in Lincoln Co.,Maine
2. infant Purington b: 12 Mar 1766 in Lincoln Co.,Maine
3. Rachel Purington b: ABT 1768 in Lincoln Co.,Maine
4. Susannah Purington b: 26 Jan 1770 in Sagadahoc Co., ME
5. Rebecca Purington b: 19 May 1772 in Sagadahoc Co., ME
6. Fannie Purinton b: 21 Nov 1775 in Sagadahoc Co., ME
7. James Purington b: 25 Feb 1777 in Sagadahoc Co., ME
8. infant Purington b: 21 Feb 1779 in Sagadahoc Co., ME
9. Nathaniel Purington b: 10 Jan 1780 in Sagadahoc Co., ME
10. Ezekiel Purington b: 14 Jul 1782 in Sagadahoc Co., ME

Children of David and Mary Scales include
1. Cpt James Scales Purington- marries Elizabeth Clifford
Kills 7 of his children, wife, and self in 1806 Augusta, Kennebec ME -Brother Hezekiah comes to tend affairs - only one son survives, James b 1789
2. Hezekiah b Oct 21 1761
3. Hannah
4. William b. February 2, 1767
5. Elihu b Apr 18, 1769
6. Thankful b Aug 10, 1771

Child of Joshua and Anna Burrel include
1. Joseph who marries Margaret Hunter Jan 17 1795 Saratoga NY at Reformed Dutch Protestant Church in Schuylerville

Joshua and Anna are the parents of David b Aug 17 1798 New York

Tristram's documented locations with the spelling variations noted:
War of 1812 enlisted in Capt Joseph Towle’s Company (per adjutant general of state of NH – Lucretia was close but not quite on her pensioner’s request- note there are also two pension records for Tristam- one correcting the spelling of his name from Trustriam Purington to Tristram Purinton – 4 regiment sias’ new Hampshire milia)
1817 Tristam is married in Weare NH
1820 census shows Trestam Purrington in Lisle NY (Broome County)
1830 census shows Tristram Purrington in Truxton NY (Cortland County)
1840 census shows T Purrington in Cuba NY (Allegany County)
1844-45 moved to Washington IA per Tristram’s daughter’s obituary
1852 census shows Tristram Purrington in Washington County IA
1855 census shows Triston Perrington in Marion, Grant Co WI (this is also about the time he received his land grant in Mineral Point, Grant Co, WI – I believe Marion is a type-o as Marion is not in Grant Co WI)
1860 census Tristriam Perington in Grant Co WI
1875 census Tristian Purrington in Hickory Grove WI

David Purington b in NY in 1797 (he’s a little harder to make sure he’s the correct one as his name is more common)
1820 census David Purrington Stillwater, Saratoga, New York
1826 Madison County NY (adjacent to Cortland County)
near Allegany County NY approximately 1827-1849- where his children are listed as being born
1840 D Purrington (Puerington) in Cuba NY (Allegany County)
1850 census David Purrington Brooklyn WI (15 miles from Mineral Point WI)
1860 census David Peeryington Brooklyn, Green County WI