PUTNAM
Putnam is an ancient English surname, taken from the place name, Puttenham. This town is mentioned in the Doomsday Book (1086). It was a part of the great fief known as the Honor Leicester. The parish of Puttenham is situated in Hertfordshire, near Bedfordshire and Bukinghamshire. The coat-of-arms to which all the American descendants of this lineage are entited is: Sable, between eight crosses crosslet fitchee (or crusily-fitchee) argent, a stork of the last, beaked and legged gules.
Crest: A wolf's head gules.
Putnam is a distinguised named in American history, and boasts two revolutionary heroes - General Israel Putnam and Colonel Enoch Putnam.
(I) Simon de Puttenham is the first of the name of whom there is definite record in England, and was probably the lineal descendent of Roger, who held the manor of Puttenham under the Bishop of Baieux, 1199.
(II) Ralph de Puttenham is supposed to have been son of Simon; he lived in 1217, and held a knight's fee in Puttenham.
(III) Richard de Puttenham lived in 1273, believed to be the son of Ralph.
(IV) John de Puttenham lived in 1291 in the manor of Puttenham.
(V) Thomas Puttenham lived in the time of Edward I. He is said to have married Helen, daughter of John Spigornell. He had sons Roger and Henry.
(VI) Roger Puttenham, son of Thomas, wsa of age before 1315 , and was high sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1322. He married Alina _____.
(VII) Henry Puttenham, son of Roger, lived from 1300 to 1360.
(VIII) Sir Roger Puttenham, believed to be son of Henry, was born about 1320 and died about 1380.
(IX) William Puttenham is believed to be the son of Sir Roger and was of Puttenham, Penne, Sherfield, Warbleton. He married Margaret Warbleton, daughter of John de Warbleton. Children: Henry, mentioned below; Robert, William.
(X) Henry Puttenham, son of William Puttenham, was over sixty years old in 1468 and died July 6, 1473. He inherited the estate of his father. He married Elizabeth, widow of Geoffrey Goodluck. Her will was dated Dec. 25, 1485, and she desires to be buried in the Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin, in All Saints of Istelworth.
(XI) William Puttenham, son of Henry, was born about 1430 and died in 1492. He married Anne, daughter of John Hampden of Hampden, county Bucks. His will was dated July 10, 1492, and was proved at Lambeth, July 23, 1492. He directs that his body be buried before the image of the blessed Virgin Mary in the Chapel within the church of the Hospital of the Blessed Mary, called the Elsingspytell, in London.
Children: 1. Sir George, heir; knight. 2. Edmund of Puttenham; died without issue. 3.. Nicholas, of Penne, ancestor of the American family. 4. Frideswide. 5. Elizabeth. 6. Alionore, married Richard Pigott. 7. Brigide. 8. Agnes.
(XII) Nicholas Puttenham, son of William Puttenham, lived at Puttenham Place in Penne. This estate probably came into the family in 1316 in the time of Roger Puttenham. Putnam Place is now a farm house, and a railway station perpetuates the name. Nicholas was born about 1460. His will was made in 1526. Children: 1. John of Penne. 2. Henry, mentioned below.
(XIII) Henry Putnam, son of Nicolas Puttenham, was living in 1626, probably in Eddlesborough. Children: 1. Richard, mentioned below. 2. John, of Slapton. 3.. Thomas, of Eddlesborough.
(XIV) Richard, son of Henry Putnam, was probably the eldest son and lived at Eddlesborough and Woughton. His will is dated Dec. 12, 1556, proved Feb. 26, 1556-67. He directs that his body be buried in the churchyard at Woughton.
Children: 1. John, mentioned below. 2. Harry, of Woughton, whose will was dated July 13, 1579, proved Oct. 3 following. 3. Jona, married prior to 1556.
(XV) John, son of Richard Putnam, was of Rowsham, in Wingrave, and was buried in Wingrave, Oct. 2, 1573. His wife was probably Margaret, who ws buried Jan. 27, 1568. His will is dated Sept. 19, 1573, proved Nov. 14 of that year. He directs that he be buried in the churchyard at Wingrave.
Children: 1. Nicholas, mentioned below. 2. Richard, of Wingrave, died without issue. 3. Thomas, of Rowsham, died without issue and was buried at Wingrave July 2, 1576; married, Nov. 16, 1574, Agnes Britnell. 4. Margaret, married at Wingrave June 14, 1575, Godfrey Johnson.
(XVI) Nicholas, son of John Putnam, was born about 1540, and lived at Wingrave until about 1585, when he removed to Stewkeley. He inherited property from his father and both his brothers. His will is dated Jan. 1, 1697, proved Sept. 27, 1698. He married, at Wingrave, Jan. 30, 1597, Margaret, daughter of John and Elizabeth Goodspeed. She was baptized at Wingrave Aug. 16, 1556, died Jan. 8, 1618-19, buried at Aston Abbotts. She married (second) Dec. 8, 1614, William Huxley.
Children, baptized at Wingrave: 1. Anne, Oct. 2, 1578, married at Aston Abbotts, Jan. 26, 1604-05, William Argett. 2. John, Jan. 17, 1579, mentioned below. 3. Elizabeth, Feb. 11, 1581; married, Oct. 22, 1612, Edward Bottome. 4. Thomas, Sept. 20, 1584. 5. Richard, living in 1697.
(XVII) John, son of Nicholas Putnam, was baptized at Wingrave, county Bucks, England, Jan. 17, 1579. He was the immigrant ancestor. He inherited the estates of Aston Abbotts. He lived probably in Stewkeley with his parents until his father's death, when he took possession of the estates at Aston Abbotts, where he lived until he went to New England.
He was called husbandman in 1614. He is supposed to have married Priscilla Deacon in 1611 or 1612. He was an early settler at Salem, Massachusetts, and according to family traiditon came there in 1634l but the first record of him is March 21, 1640-41, when his wife was admitted to the church, and in the same year he received a grant of land. He was admitted to the church April 4, 1647. He was a farmer by occupation. His handwriting indicates a good education. He was well off, one of the wealthy men compared to his neighbors.
Before his death he gave farms to his sons John, Nathaniel, and probably to the others also. John received his by deed March 31, 1662. John Putnam died in Salem Village, now Danvers, Dec. 30, 1662, aged eighty years.
Children: 1. Elizabeth, baptized in England, Dec. 20, 1612. 2. Thomas, mentioned below. 3. John, baptized July 24, 1617; died young. 4. Nathaniel, baptized Oct. 11, 1619. 5. Sarah, baptized March 7, 1622-23. 6. Phebe, baptized July 28, 1624. 7. John, baptized May 27, 1627; died April 7, 1710 in Salem; married, Sept. 3, 1652, Rebecca Prince.
(XVIII) Lieutenant Thomas, son of John Putnam, was baptized at Aston Abbotts, Bucks county, England, March 7, 1614-15; died at Salem Village, May 5, 1686. He married (first) Oct. 17, 1643, at Lynn, Ann, daughter of Edward and Prudence (Stockton) Holyoke. Her father was the great-grandfather of Edward Holyoke, president of Harvard College, 1737-69. He Holyoke family was one of the most priminent and aristocratic in the colony.
Ann (Holyoke) Putnam died Sept. 1, 1665. He married (second) at Salem, Nov. 14, 1666, Mary Veren, widow of Nathaniel Veren, a rich merchant formerly of Salem. She died March 16 or 17, 1694-95. In 1684 Mrs. Putnam in the apportionment of seats in the meeting house at the village was seated in the first or principal pew reserved for women.
Thomas Putnam was an inhabitant of Lynn in 1640; freeman in 1642, selectman in 1643. He was admitted to the Salem church April 13, 1643. In 1640 he recieved from the town a grant of fifty acres of upland and five acres of meadows. In 1645 he was appointed by the genearl court to end small causes, an office which was renewed in 1648. Nov. 11, 1648 he was chosen as grand juryman in Salem, and Dec. 10, 1655, constable for the same town. He was also the first parish clerk in Salem village, and was prominent in the local military and ecclesiastical affairs. Besides the offices above mentioned he held the various positions of "layer out of highways," "inspector of bridges," "to care for rates for the minister," etc.
October 8, 1662, the general court confirmed his appointment as lieutenant in the troop of horse. When the general court permitted the inhabitants of Salem Farms to become a separate parish, Oct. 8, 1672, Lieutenant Thomas Putnam was made chairman of the committee chosen to carry on the affairs of the new parish, and on Nov. 25, 1680, he and Jonathan Wolcott were chosen deacons, the first mention of deacons in the village records. Dec. 27, 1681, they were continued in office. In 1682 occures the first list of taxpayers at the village, headed by Thomas Putnam. According to this list, he with his two brothers and their sons-in-law, were by far the wealthiest men in the village. Besides inheriting a double portion of his father's estate, he came by his second marriage into possession of considerable property in Jamaica and Barbadoes.
The homestead of Thomas Putnam, although somewhat enlarged, is still standing, and is now known as the "General Israel Putnam House." It is situated east of Hathrone's hill in the norther part of Danvers, and was occuied by his widow in 1692. His son Joseph also lived here during his opposition to the witchcraft proceedings. There was also a town residence in Salem, situated on the north side of Essex street extending back to North river. He died in Salem village May 5, 1686. His will was dated Feb. 8, 1682-83, proved at Boston, July 8, 1686; in it he gave to his son Thomas and eastern half of his estate in Salem village; to his son Joseph the western half; to son Edward another estate on the western side of St. Peter's street. To each of his children he gave a large estate in Salem village and a valuable piece of meadow.
Mr. Upham in his "Salem Witchcraft" thus sums up the character and position of Thomas Putnam: "Possessing a large property by inheritance, he was not quite so active in increasing it (as his brothers) but enjoying the society and friendship of the leading men, lived a more retired life. At the same time he was always ready to serve the community when called for, as he often was, when occasion arose for the aid of his superior intelligence and personal influence." He wrote a very fine hand, and had evidently recieved a good education.
The will of his widow, Mary, was dated Jan. 8, 1695-96, proved May 20, 1695. Children of first wife, all except Sarah recorded at Salem: 1. Ann, Aug. 25, 1645. 2. Sarah, baptized July 23, 1648, at Salem. 3. Mary, Oct. 17, 1649. 4. Thomas, March 12, 1652. 5. Edward, July 4, 1654, mentioned below. 6. Deliverance, Sept. 30, 1659. 7. Prudence, Feb. 28, 1661.
Child of second wife: 8. Joseph, Sept. 14, 1669, father of Major-General Israel Putnam.
(XIX) Deacon Edward, son of Thomas Putnam, was born July 4, 1654, at Salem village, died there March 10, 1747. He was made freeman in 1690, and Dec. 3, 1690 was chosen deacon of the First Church in Danvers. His name stands second on the list and is followed by the names of thirteen of his descendants who have served in the same office. Like all of his family, he was a farmer, and in his will he styles himself "yeoman." He lived in what is now known as Middleton, but in the last years of his life occupied a house not far from the church at the village. During the witchcraft troubles he was a member of the party which brought charges against so many people. His course in these proceeding shows, however, that he acted only as he believed was right and good for the community. His action was never bitter or vehement; he merely testified as to what he had seen and to what appeared to him to be probable.
In those days when it was somewhat rare to find men outside the ministry who had any literary ability, Edward Putnam appears to have been an exception. He had a good education, and was evidently fond of books and of writing. He was the first historian and genealogist of his family, and his account of the family, written in 1733, is the basis upon which all future work of the same kind has been founded.
He married, June 14, 1681, Mary Hale. His will was dated March 11, 1731, proved April 11, 1748. Children: Edward, April 29, 1682. 2. Holyoke, Sept. 28, 1683. 3. Elisha, Nov. 3, 1685, mentioned below. 4. Joseph, Nov. 1, 1687. 5. Mary, August 14, 1689. 6. Prudence, Jan. 25, 1692. 7. Nehemiah, Dec. 20, 1693. 8. Ezra, April 29, 1696. 9. Isaac, March 14, 1698. 10. Abigail, baptized May 26, 1700, at Salem village.
(XX) Deacon Elisha, son of Deacon Edward Putnam, was born Nov. 3, 1685, in Salem village, died in Sutton, June 10, 1745. In 1723 he evidently lived in Topsfield, and is described as a "husbandman." In that same year, with others, he bought five hunderd acres of land in the Nipmuck country, this being the northern half of the grant of one thousand acres to Colonel Elisha Huntington and Isaac Addington in 1713. One week after the purchase, the land was mortgaged to Thomas Huchinson, of Boston, for six hundred pounds.
He settled in Sutton, but at what date is unknown; possibly in 1725. In the year 1726 the name of Putnam first appears on the Sutton records, the particular mention being that of Elisha Punam and his appointment as one of a committee to treat with the minister. From this time to his death Elisha Punam was prominent in church and town affairs. He was representative to the general court, town clerk and treasurer, besides holding many minor offices. He was admitted to the church in 1730 and chosen deacon in 1731. He was a very useful citizen and much respected.
He married (first), Feb. 10, 1710, in Salem, Hannah Marble, of Salem; (second), Feb. 15, 1713, Susanna, daughter of Jonathan and Susan (Trask) Fuller of Topsfield, born 1695. Children, first five born in Salem village, remainder in Sutton: 1. Elisha, born Dec. 2, 1715-16, mentioned below. 2. Hannah, baptized Sept. 8, 1717. 3. Nehemiah, March 22, 1719. 4. Jonathan, July 10, 1721. 5. Susanna, baptized Sept. 8, 1723. 6. mary, June 12, 1725. 7. Stephen, April 4, 1728. 8. Amos, July 22, 1730. 9. Eunice, July 6, 1732. 10. Huldah, May 25, 1734. 11. Rufus, April 9, 1738.
(XXI) Elisha, son of Deacon Elisha Putnam, was born either in Salem village or Topsfield, Dec. 2, 1715-16, died in 1758, at or near Crown Point. He lived in Sutton, or in that part of the town now called Oxford. During the French and Indian war he served in the provincial army, and during the campaign of 1758 against Ticonderoga lost his life.
He married, March 3, 1742, Lydia, daughter of Philip and Mary (Follansbee) Chase, born Aug. 12, 1722. She married (second) May 26, 1762, John Daniels. Children born in Grafton, Mass.: 1. Andrew, May 2, 1742, mentioned below. 2. Elisha, Dec. 4, 1745. 3. Antipas, July 4, 1747. 4. Jokton, May 1, 1750. 5. Luke, Oct. 5, 1755; served as private in the revoltuion. 6. William, Jan. 7, 1748.
(XXII) Andrew, son of Elisha Putnam, was born May 2, 1743. He lived in Winchester and Greenfield. He married, Jan. 10, 1764, Lucy Park. Children: 1. Lydia, April 20, 1765. 2. Eunice, May 25, 1767. 3. Captain Andrew, March 11, 1769. 4. Malachi, Oct. 14 or 16, 1772. 5. Sarah, July 28, 1774. 6. Peter, Aug. 5, 1776. 7. Stephen, Apr. 8, 1778. 8. David, Jan. 11, 1783. 9. Sally, married, Feb. 12, 1808, Issac Colburn. 10. Lucy, married Jeremiah Ball. 11. Mary, born April 5, 1789.
(XXIII) Malachi, son of Andrew Putnam, was born Oct. 14 or 16, 1772, in Winchester, died in Lowville, New York, aged seventy-five. He married, Sept. 13, 1802, Sarah Blount, born in Herkimer, N.Y., Feb. 7, 1782.
Children: except the last two, born in Lowville: 1. Calvin, March 30, 1804. 2. Minerva, May 4, 1806, died April 27, 1809. 3. Perley, Jan. 24, 1808. 4. Chauncey, May 21, 1810. 5. Harvey, Dec. 10, 1812. 6. John, Jan. 2, 1815. 7. Minerva, July 5, 1817. 8. Sereno James Monroe, Dec. 20, 1820. 9. Seymout, Feb. 2, 1822, in Rodman, New York. 10, Elizabeth Ann, May 18, 1824, in Rodman; married Lewis Campbell (See Campbell).
SECOND ENTRY
This ancient English family traces their ancestry to the year 1199, and to Simon de Putteham and Ralph de Pudeham, who had property in Stivecle, Bucks, England, 1217-18. The name is spelled in a variety of ways in the old records: Puttenham, Puttnam, Puttman, and Putnam. John Putnam, of Salem, Mass., was a descendant of the Putnams of Wingrave and Woughton, England. The coat-of-arms of the Salem family (which, by the way, John of Salem never used, though entitled to do so) is a "Silver stork surrounded by eight crosses, crosslet-fitchee and placed upon a black field." The crest is a red wolf's head. These arms have been borne by the Putnams from early times, and are described by Harvery in his "Visitation of Bucks," in 1566.
The Putnams and Putmans of the Hudson and Mohawk valleys descend from Jan Poutman of Albany, and are of Dutch descent.
(I) John Putnam, of Aston Abbotts, county of Bucks, England, was born about 1580, died in Salem village, now Danvers, Mass., Dec. 30, 1662. Family tradition states that he came to New England in 1634. In 1641 the town records of Salem make first mention of his name, "granted to John Putnam one hundred acres of land."
He was a farmer and exceedingly well off for that early date. He wrote a fair hand, as deeds on records whow. In them he styles himself "Yeoman" and "Husbandman." He was admitted to the church in 1647, his wife in 1641. He was made freeman in 1647. The following account of his death was written in 1733 by his grandson Edward:
"He ate his spper, went to prayer with his family and died before he went to sleep."
He married in England, Priscilla (thought to be Priscilla Gould). Their eight children were all baptized at Aston Abbotts, England: Elizabeth, Thomas, John, Nathaniel (see forward), Sara, Phoebe, and John, baptized May 27, 1627, which is conclusive that the family were still in England at that date.
(II) Nathaniel, fourth chld of John and Priscilla Putnam, was baptized at Aston Abbotts, England, Oct. 11, 1619, died at Salem village, Mass., July 23, 1700. He was a man of considerable landed property; his wife brought him seventy-five acres additional, and on this tract he built his house and established his home. Part of the property is still in the family [1910] and is locally known as the "Old Judge Putnam place."
He was constable in 1656, deputy to the general court in 1690-91, selectman, and always prominent in politics, resligious or town affairs. He was a supporter of Rev. Samuel Parris in his witchcraft persecutions, although he was not so bitter in his feelings, and lived to see the mistake he made. That he should have believed in witchcraft is not strange, for the belief was universal. The physicians and ministers that examined those pretended to be bewitched agreed that such was the case. Upham says that "out of every hundred in Salem ninety-nine believed that such was the fact." There were strong reasons to account for such belief and actions. Upham says, "Enire confidence was felt by all in his judgment, deservedly. But he was a strong religionist, a lifelong member of the church, and extremely strenuous and zealous in his ecclesiastical relations. He was getting to be an old man and Rev. Parris had wholly succeeded in obtaining for the time being possession of his feeling, sympathy and zeal in the management of the church and secured his full co-operation in the witchcraft prosecution."
But the old man could not stand by and see the wife of his old friend, Francis Nurse, sacrificed, and signed a paper with thirty-eight others in her behalf.
He married, at Salem, Elizabeth Hutchinson, born Aug. 20, and baptized at Arnold, England, Aug. 30, 1629. She died June 24, 1688. She was admitted to the Salem church with her husband in 1648. She was a daughter of Richard and Alice (Bosworth) Hutchinson.
Children: Samuel, Nathaniel, John, Joseph, Elizaeth, married Sergeant George Flint; Benjamin, see forward; Mary, married John Tufts.
(III) Captain Benjamin Putnam, fifth son and sixth child of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Putnam, was born in Salem village, Mass., Dec. 24, 1664, died there about 1715. He was a prominent man in Salem and held many town offices. He was always addressed as "Mr." until other titles were given. He was lieutenant and captain of the train band, 1706-11. He was chosen deacon of the church by every vote except his own. He seems to have kept out of the witchcraft trouble excepting signing the certificate of good character of Rebecca Nurse. July 25, 1713, Rev. Joseph Green mentions in his diary the fact of his calling on "Landlord" Putnam, and that he was very sick and out of his head. The eldest living Putnam was usually called "Landlord." He married, Aug. 25, 1686, Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Putnam, but on the Salem records where the births of his children are recorded it states tehy were by his "wife Hanna." She died Dec. 21, 1705. he married (second) July 1, 1706, Sarah Holton.
Children, all by his first wife:
Josiah, Nathaniel, see forward; Tarrant, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Stephen, Daniel, Israel and Cornelius.
(IV) Deacon Nathaniel (2), second son and child of Captain Benjamin and Elizabeth or Hannah Putnam, was born in Salem village, Aug. 25, 1686, died Oct. 21, 1754. He was a "yeoman" and lived in Danvers, Mass., perhaps part of the time in North Reading. He was elected deacon of the First Church at Danvers, Nov. 15, 1731.
He married in Salem, June 4, 1709, Hannah Roberts, died 1763.
Children:
Nathaniel, Jacob, see forward; Nathaniel (2), Archelaus, Ephraim, Hannah, Mehitable, and Kezia.
(V) Jacob, second son and child of Deacon Nathaneil (2) and Hannah (Roberts) Putnam, was born in Salem village, March 9, 1711, died in Wilton, New Hampshire, Feb. 16, 1781. He was a pioneer of Salem, Canada, now Wilton, New Hampshire. He was there in 1738; for three years his wife was the only white woman in the town. During one winter, so deep were the snows and so distant her neighbors, that for six months she saw no one outside her immediate family. Jacob Putnam was a man of great industry and operated a saw mill in addition to his farming. He married, at Salem, Mass., July, 1735, Susanna Harriman, of Danvers. He married (second) Susanna Styles, who died Jan. 27, 1776. He married (third) Patience _____, mentioned in his will, which was proved Feb. 28, 1791.
Children by first and second wives:
Sarah, Nathaniel, Philip, Stephen, Philip, Joseph, Mehitable, Jacob, Archelaus, see forward; Caleb, died in the army in 1776 "Before Ticonderoga;" Elizabeth, Peter, also died in the army in 1776.
(VI) Archelaus, ninth child and seventh son of Jacob and Susanna (Styles) Putnam, was born in Wilton, New Hampshire, Oct. 15, 1749. The sons of Jacob Putnam were all men of importance in the early settlement of Vermont, settling several towns and performing pioneer work that is remembered in the Green Mountain region by Putnam's mill, Putnam's creek, Putnam's bridge, etc.
Archelaus lived with his father in Wilton until the death of the latter, then selling out to Lieut. Oliver Whiting, of Temple (1790), he removed to Andover, where he erected mills. From Andover he removed to Chester, Vt., about 1800. Notwithstanding he had brothers in the revolutionary army and was a relative of General Israel Putnam, he was one of the two inhabitants of Wilton who refused to sign the non-intercourse resolutions of April 1776 and in 1780 he was fined "for not doing his turn in the war." He was strictly a non-combatant and not a Tory or a royal sympathizer.
He married Mary Nichols, a "Mayflower" descendant, who bore him twelve children, all but the two youngest born in Wilton:
1. Archelaus, see forard.
2. Anna, married William Thompson Jr.
3. Mary, married Abijah Allen.
4. Susanna, married Timothy Thompson
5. Huldah, married Joseph Williams.
6. Amy, married Nathan Whilman.
7. Peter.
8. Abigail Elliott, married Jonathan Ransom.
9. Sally, married Henry Edwards.
10. Samuel.
11. Betsey, born in Andover, Vt.; married Charles Wolf.
12. Lydia, married John Pierce.
(VII) Archelaus (2), son of Archelaus (1) and Mary (Nichols) Putnam, and a soldier of the war of 1812, was born in Wilton, N.H., June 11, 1766. He grew up in Vermont and worked in the mills as wool carder and dresser. He married and remained there until about 1828, when, with his brother-in-law, Alvah Wood, he migrated to New York state and settled in Alleghany county at Whitesville, on the headwaters of the Genesse river, Cryders creek. This country was then unsettled and covered with dense forests. He obtained a tract of land and cleared a farm, where he lived the remainder of his days. He married Nancy Wood, of the Vermont family of the name. Children: Amanda, Marcella and Sophronia.
(VIII) Sophronia, daughter of Archelaus (2) and Nancy (Wood) Putnam, married Abraham Martin Parker. (see Parker II).
THIRD ENTRY:
There are separate and distinct families in the United States bearing the above name, one of English descent, the other of Dutch, both names having a common origin and being used interchangeably. The Putnams descending from John Putnam of England, are found spelling their names sometimes Putman, while the descendants of Jans Pootman, of Holland, are sometimes found as Putnam. The origin of the names seems to be from the Low Dutch or Flemish word "Putte," a well, and "ham," a house or hamlet. The Daniel word "putt," designates a well or spring. Near Ghent in Holland is a village called Puttenheim, and in Surrey, England, there is a place called Puttenham.
(I) Jans or Johannes Putnam, of Schenectady, N.Y., was the founder of the Putnams of the Mohawk Valley and northern New York. It is supposed he was born in Holland in 1645. In 1661 he was sixteen years of age and a resident of Albany.
He married Cornelia, daughter of Arent Andriese and Calyntje (De Vos) Bratt. He and his wife were killed by Indians at the burning of Schenectady, Feb. 8, 1690.
On Sept. 14, 1661, Jan Hendrickse Van Ball apprenticed Jan Putnam for three years to Philip Hendrickse Brouwen. Although but sixteen years old at the time, he wrote his name "in a clear and beautiful manner," a somewhat unusual accomplishment for the time and place. When Brouwen went to Schenectady he took the boy with him. In 1684 Mr. Brouwen died. Eighty gulden a year was the amount Jan Putnam received in lieu of outfit. Catyntje De Vos had three husbands, first, Arent Andriese Bratt; second Barnet Jans Van Dilmar; third, Claas Van Brockhoven. Her second husband was killed at the Schenectady massacre of 1690, when Jan and Cornelia Putnam were killed.
Children of Jan and Cornelia Putnam:
1. Arent, a weaver and freeholder of Schenectady in 1720; married Lysbet Akkerman; children: Johannes, baptized 1711; Lodewyck, 1713; David, 1715; Cornelia, 1715; Maritie, 1719; Victor, 1721; Sarah, 1728.
2. Maritse, married (first) Stephen Cofooy; (second) Stephen Bedent.
3. Captain Victory (see forward).
4. David, no trace after 1713.
5. Cornelis, was a freeholder of Schenectady, 1720; married Jacomyntje, daughter of Tennis Viele; children: Cornelis, bap. 1713; Teunis, 1716; Elizabeth, 1717, married Cornelis Groot; Johannes, bap 1720, killed by Indians, 1747; Lowys, bap. 1722; Calalyntje, 1722; Maritje, 1724, married Johannes Van Vranken; Catalyntje, born 1726; Jacob. 1729; Margariet, 1732, married Jacob Van Vraken; Eva, born 1734; Arent, bap. 1736; Eva, born 1734; Arent, bap. 1736; Gysbert, 1741.
The third generation of Putnams, in the Mohawk Valley were firm and outspoken patriots, and it was common for the Tories and Indians to attack Putnam farms and home in preference to others. Many of them lost their lives through their well-known loyalty. Lodewyck Putnam and his son, Aaron, who lived near Johnstown, were killed in one of the raids of Sir John Johnson's men.
(II) Captain Victor, second son of Jan and Cornelia (Bratt) Putnam, was born in Schenectady, N.Y. In 1733 he is called Captain Victor Puttman. In 1715 he was a member of the Second Foot Company of Schenectady, the only Putman on the list, which included every able man between the ages of sixteen and sixty years.
He married, in Albany, Grietje Mable.
Children:
Cornelius, baptized 1707.
Antje, 1709.
Johannes, 1711, killed in revolutionary war.
Pieter, baptized 1713.
Maritie, 1714.
Jacob, 1717.
Arent, 1719.
Catharina, 1721.
Cornelis, 1724.
(III) Arent, son of Captain Victor Putnam, was baptized at Schenectady, N.Y., Feb. 14, 1719. He married Aug. 5, 1743, Elizabeth, daughter of Jacobus Peek.
Children:
Margaretje; Jacobus; Victor; Margarita, married Simon Vedder; Cornelis; Maria; Johana; Clarissa.
(IV) Jacobus, son of Arent Putnam, was baptized Jan. 19, 1746. He is supposed to be the James Putnam who served in De Grass' company, Fisher's regiment in the revolution. He had sons Aaron and John. This family left Montgomery county in 1816.
(V) Aaron, son of Jacobus Putnam, was born about 1780. He left Montgomery county in 1816 and is supposed to have gone north.
(VI) Peter, of whom is found no record.
(VII) Aaron J. D., son of Peter Putnam, was born in 1810, and died in 1871. He was a carpenter, joiner, millwright and farmer, of Lewis county, N.Y.
He married (first) ____ Bronk;
children: Andrew J., Nancy, Sarah, Adam, Elizabeth, Mary, Altha.
He married (second) Margaretta, daughter of Philip Smith.
child: Clarence Eugene.
(VIII) Clarene Eugene, son of Aaron J. D. Putnam, and his second wife, Margaretta (Smith) Putnam, was born in the town of Croghan, N.Y., Aug. 31, 1860. He was educated in the public schools of Croghan and New Bremen. He worked with his father, and became expert in the trades of carpenter, joiner and millwright, at which he worked for ten years. This directed his attention to the industry which has principally occupied his attention. He formed a connection with a large lumbering company with timber interests in the Adirondacks, and has superintended their lumbering business ever since. He was for a number of years general superintendent for the Beaver River Lumber Company, and for eleven years has held the same position with the Carthage Lumber Company.
Besides his lumbering interests, Mr. Putnam owns and cultivates a farm in the town of Croghan.
He is a Republican in politics, and has taken an active interest in the councils of his party, his influnece being largely felt. In 1899 he was elected to represent the town of Croghan on the Lewis county board of supervisors, serving in that capacity four tems, resigning said office in 1909 to accept the office of county superintendent of highways for Lewis county. He is a member of Natural Bridge Lodge, No. 128, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He married (first) in West Martinsburg, N.Y. April 28, 1882, Emma L. Streeter, born in Martinsburg, N.Y., died Dec., 1884, daughter of Hervey and Caroline Streeter.
Child: Clinton S., born March 15, 1883; married Edith Van Amber and had a daughter, Edna Putnam.
Mr. Putnam married (second) Nov. 7, 1888, Anna E., born in New Bremen, N.Y. Jan. 1, 1861, daughter of Christopher and Madeline (Kirschner) Snyder.
Children:
Ada M., born March 16, 1890.
Naomi M., born June 19, 1898.