This story is about Martha Matilda Purdue who descended from a long line of ancestors who lived in France, Tennessee and Missouri. "Perdue" was the cry ringing through the French countryside 800 years ago as the Normans took up their arms to go into battle. It means "by God's Help." There are many varied spellings of this name. Perduex, Perdew, Perdeau, Pardoe, Pardee, Purdue, Purdy are a few, with families using more than one spelling.