Image Placeholder: Beth Purinton Gamache — Genealogy in Action
Growing up, Beth Purinton Gamache knew her close and immediate family—parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. What she never realized was just how large her extended family truly was until she joined MyHeritage and, months later, Ancestry. The discovery was eye-opening.
My First Cemetery
In 2018, Beth visited a cemetery in West Bowdoin, Maine, after her sister-in-law mentioned that many ancestors were buried there. Armed with a camera, she set out on a sunny day and began photographing gravestones—without yet knowing who, or how many, were related to her.
As a child, Beth remembered accompanying her parents on visits to Purinton cousins in West Bowdoin and Bangor, Maine. At the time, those visits held little interest—after all, they were her father’s cousins. Years later, standing in that same West Bowdoin cemetery, she encountered gravestones bearing the surnames Purinton, Purrington, and Purington.
The original surname, Puddington, evolved over time—first to Purrington, then Purington, and finally to Purinton for most branches of the family. Beth recognized some names but not all. Her central question became clear: How are they related to me?
After more than a year of research, many of those questions were answered, thanks largely to information uncovered through MyHeritage and Ancestry.
Joining the Lisbon Historical Society
During this period, Beth joined the Lisbon Historical Society, where she met a remarkable group of people willing to share their knowledge and help untangle difficult family connections. One individual, in particular—Charlie Hall—had more than twenty years of experience on Ancestry and became an invaluable resource.
Charlie even helped resolve some challenging Purinton research and discovered that he and Beth are related through the Goddard family—her mother’s maiden name. Once the Purinton family tree was completed, Beth expanded her research into the Goddard, Croteau (her maternal grandmother’s line), and Day families. Her grandmother Purinton’s maiden name was Day, and Beth spent a full year building those family trees.
Purinton History
Beth can trace her Purinton ancestry back to Devonshire, England, specifically to a small village named Puddington, located about eight miles west-southwest of Tiverton. It is believed that Andrew Puddington, born in 1588, derived his surname from this village.
Over generations, the spelling evolved—Puddington, Pudington, Purrington, Purington, and finally Purinton. Some branches still use Purington, and Beth is convinced they are all related.
My Obsession
Beth readily admits she is fascinated by genealogy. She can easily lose herself in records—births, deaths, marriages, documents, and certificates of every kind. One key lesson she emphasizes is the importance of using multiple platforms to confirm findings.
She regularly compares information across Ancestry, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch, keeping detailed notes to ensure accuracy and draw sound conclusions when connecting individuals to the correct families.
The MyCousins eBook
Fast forward to 2020, and Beth found herself collaborating with Dr. John P. Elcik, IV, on an eBook about the Elcik family. Her husband’s mother’s maiden name was Elcik, but Beth had not previously focused much attention on that family line.
The collaboration proved essential. Working together, John as the primary writer and Beth as the hands-on researcher and editor, they were able to accomplish far more than either could have alone.
Living in Lisbon Falls gives Beth the advantage of proximity—she can visit cemeteries, photograph gravestones, and consult with local historians. She has also reached out to longtime residents, testing memories and uncovering stories that might otherwise be lost.
When John says, “We have traveled far,” Beth knows exactly what he means. Their families have traveled far geographically—and just as far in the depth and reach of their shared research.