Information from the files of the Flower Memorial Library’s (Watertown, N. Y.) Genealogy Dept. - sent to me as a form of reply to my letter to the Dept. about my Putnam Lineage. January of 1993 (by Shirley Farone). The “Notes” which appear in this reproduction are my notes while I’ve typed it and they refer to current thoughts. Remember, now, this was something from their files -- not written to me personally, so it isn’t known just who was central to the query. by Shirley Farone

“As early as 1820 a Christopher and Isaac Putnam were residing on Point Peninsula, of which 30 acres were where they resided and the 300 acres which they quit-claimed to Mr. Bucklin were on what “is called the French Tract.”. Book P of Deeds - 250.

Note: Just as one goes to Point Peninsula, N. Y. from the Watertown-Cape Vincent Rd. there is a what is called the Putnam Cemetery on the leftside. I believe this not to be my Putnam family, but rather from the German Putmans of the Mohawk Valley. Mrs. Phyllis Putman of the Lyme Heritage Center in Chaumont is a good researcher on this line.

Feb. 3, 1842, Vincent Le Ray by his attorney Patrick Somerville, deed to John P Putnam of the town of Lyme, Jefferson county, N. Y., consideration $363.00, land in the town of Lyme, part of Lots #414 & 415. It bordered on Hiram Herrick, and went down to the water on the bay.

Also on same date from Fowler to John P. Putnam, consideration 359.62, part of Lot #415, 50 acres.

These entries from Book R-3, pps. 423, 425.)

This was apparently on what is now the main road leading out of Three Mile Bay towards Cape Vincent. On the atlas of 1864, A. N. Putnam is shown as residing on Lot 414, and it was probably part of the same land deeded to John P. Putnam above. His children at this time were young and possibly John P. Putnam had a son, A. N. (above) later. Census record could tell that.

Note: This is probably about where the Putman Cemetery is located.

Surrogate’s Court at Fonda might show wills of a John and aaron.

Or, Johnstown, Fulton county, could be tried -- the Surrogate’s Court.

The old Stone Arabia “Caughnawaga” church records are, I have been told, in the Utica Public Library.

Note: I am not aware that the Caughnawaga church at Fonda is the same as the Stone Arabia Church. I believe they are different churches -- the Stone Arabia church being out near Palatine Bridge and the Caughnawaga church on the main street of Fonda (church in ruins). As to the Utica Library, I have visited there, but am not armed, personally, with the demeanor needed to work effectively with those in charge - couldn’t establish a rapport with them -- they are very protective of what they have there -- and I’m a researcher who wants to explore. If you go there, be sure of the hours -- when I was there years ago, the Dept. didn’t open until 1 p.m. Of course, I was in pursuit of my Putnams.

Ephrata and Oppenheim were once part of what is now the town of Palatine, Mont. Co., but are not in Fulton Co. I think that apparently these Putnams (sic) lived in this locality. The early Deeds might show something, but it is a slow job to study them.!

Note: I believe a portion of the Putmans to which this unknown writer is referring lived North of the Canal, about 2 miles west of Amsterdam.

Notice that John Putnam, page 2, had a son named Christopher. This would point towards that early Christopher as a possible relative. He may have encouraged some of his relatives to come up to Jeff. Co., especially as had land on Point Peninsula. A study of census and deeds might show interesting data.

Alongside this text was the obit of Perley J. Putman (spelled wrong, no doubt) -- this Perley was the grandson of Parley Putnam, and the son of Alfred Putnam - of the Town of Clayton - later, the Town of Orleans in Jefferson County, N. Y.

The following obit appeared in the February 16, 1938 edition of the Watertown Daily Times:

PERLEY J. PUTMAN*

AGED 76, DIES

-----------

(Special To The Times)

Lafargeville, Feb. 16 -- Perley J. Putman, 76, this village, died at 7:50 this morning in the House of the Good Samaritan, Watertown, where he had been a patient since Feb. 9.

Mr. Putnam had been afflicted with heart disease for the past years (sic.) Death was attributed to pneumonia. Mr. Putnam was injured in a fall about two weeks ago.

He was born in the town of Clayton in October, 1861, a son of Alfred and Sarah Lingenfelter Putnam. During his early years he was interested in trotting horses and usually owned one of them.

He had travelled quite extensively through the west and had spent several years on horse and cattle ranches there. By occupation he was a carpenter.

In his later years Mr. Putman had lived in rooms adjoining his barn. He never married.

Surviving him are a half-sister, Mrs. Georgia Heyl Jerome, and a nephew, Manford J. Jerome.

The body was removed to the William R. Box company funeral home in Watertown and later was brought to this village.

PUTMAN -- In the House of the Good Samaritan, Feb. 16, 1938, Perley J. Putman of Lafargeville, aged 76 years. Funeral services Friday at 2 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Manford J. Jerome at Lafargeville.

Note: Perley was born in October of 1861 and died 16 February of 1938.

***********

In a letter of transmittal, dated January 10, 1993, from volunteer Frances Bouchard, there were a few pertinent sentences, beyond the usual pleas to make sure I sent the money for the copying fees:

“I am also sending some of Mr. Rice’s material, which does not go back before John Putnam.”

Note: The referral is to the works of Leland Rice of Cape Vincent, a Putnam descendant who was one of the few researchers on this family. I believe his son is living in Carthage, N. Y. (see my database). Leland is dead, and I saw something last week that indicated his wife is still living. 6/2002

I am not sure what happened to all his genealogy papers. I don’t seem to have the Rice works which were supposed attached to this letter. Probably because it was not new to me -- I think I may have gotten it from another Putnam researcher -- some of the material was originally from a Flora Booth who is still living in Salt Lake City, Utah. (6-1-2002), Correction: (6-10-2007 - I now believe that Mrs. Booth may have been Flora Peck and there is indication that she died in 1947. The matter of Flora Booth's identification has not been resolved.

Also, a paragraph, thusly:

“Also I did find Augustus W., Chandler, Nancy, and Washington Putnam in the 1850 Vermont census from Whitingham, in Windham County. Whether this information has any bearing on your research, I do not know........”

* * * * * * *

Again from the Flower Files -- this one with a name and address stamped on: Mrs. Theon G. Edwards, Star Route, Watertown, N. Y. Telephone #315-782-5813 - there was no date on the item. It was handwritten:

Polly Putman, of Whitingham, Vt. (near Mass. line) born 1794. She married Bowen (b. 1792) Wait (one of six brothers) who migrated to Rodman, Jeff. Co., about 1818. Bowen’s brothers were named Nathan, John, Job, Benjamin and William. Dennis and Thomas were also family names.

Polly & Bowen’s children were named Adaline, Martha, Sabra, Elon, Almeron, Mary Melissa, Phebe Jenette, Lydia, Martin and Adelia.

John D. Putnam born 1765 and wife Hannah born 1763 (sic), natives of VT also migrated to Clayton, Jeff. Co. about 1818. They were known to have three children, Polly, Asa, and Perley (or Parley) who was born about 1797. John Putman (sic) was a descendant of Gen. Israel Putnam as was my grandmother, Polly. Could John D. & Hannah be the parents of Polly Wait?

Ariel Edwards born 1781 at Haddam (sic), Conn. came to Rodman about 1802. His sons were Daniel, Nelson, Rufus, William, Alanson, Ariel, Paul and Charles L.

Return to Shirley Farone's Homepage