Genealogical
And
Personal Memoirs
Relating To The Families Of Boston And Eastern Massachusetts.

Prepared Under The Editorial Supervision Of
William Richard Cutter, A. M.

Historian Of The New England Historic Genealogical Society
Librarian Of Woburn Public Library
Author Of "The Cutter Family," "History Of Arlington," "Bibloigraphy Of Woburn," Etc. Etc.

Volume III.
New York Lewis Historical Publishing Company
1908




[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

POOR [trans. note: at beginning of this article it states "For early generations see Daniel Poor I." I have no idea where that part is located, and I sure wish they'd put all the stuff on a surname on ONE place.] (III) Thomas Poor, son of Daniel Poor (2), and grandson of Daniel Poor (1), the immigrant, was born at Andover, Mass., 1703, and died there in 1778-79. According to Abbott he had but one son, Thomas, but the will of Thomas Poor shows that Abbott has given an extra generation in this lineage. The will of Thomas Poor was dated July 27, 1778, and proved May 4, 1779, bequeathing to wife Mary, children Thomas, Enoch, Daniel, Joseph, Mary Faulkner, "Sure," (Sarah), Abraham, Anna Parsons, Mary Cromme, and her three children, his grandchildren - Mary, Sarah and Susanna Cromme. Abraham was executor. Children: 1. Colonel Thomas, who settled in Methuen where he died in 1804; will proved Dec. 3, 1804; wife Miriam, children: i. Stephen; ii. Caleb, of Shelburne, Maine; iii. Polly, married Abiel Lovejoy; iv. Hannah, married William Whittier; v. Phebe, married Moses Plummer; vi. Sarah; vii. Nancy, married Robinson Frye; viii. Suzee, married Daniel Frye; ix. Enoch, resided at Methuen; x. Thomas, resided at Methuen, the two latter having the homestead. 2. General Enoch, settled in Exter, New Hampshire, became major-general of the N. H. troops in the revolution and a very prominent and honored citizen of that state. 3. Deacon Daniel, lived in the south parish of Andover; died 1814; will dated 1808, bequeathing to wife Hannah; children: i. Daniel A., of Portland, maine, trader; ii. Nathaniel, of Brunswick, Maine, trader; iii. Elizabeth, married Captain Peter Coburn; iv. Hannah, married Ezra Abbott; v. Mary, married Joshua Bradley; vi. Sarah, married Rev. James Kendall (or Randle?); vii. Ann, married Rev. Joshua Bates; viii. Pamely, married Amos Clark. 4. Deacon Joseph, of Danvers. 5. Mary, married ____ Faulkner and ____ Cromme. 6. Sure (Susan). 7. Abraham, mentioned below. 8. Anna, married ____ Parsons. (IV) Lieutenant Abraham Poor, son of Thomas Poor (3), was born in Andover about 1740-50, and died there 1819. He was executor and residuary legatee of his father's will. He was a soldier in the revolution in Captain Thomas Poor's company of minute-men, Colonel James Frye, April 19, 1775, and later that year; second lieutenant in Captain William Hudson Ballard's company of the same regiment in 1775, reported for commission by the council of Massachusetts and the recommendation sent to General Washington. He was permanently injured by musket ball at battle of Bunker Hill, Nov. 8, 1775. His will was dated April 9, 1819, and proved May 18, 1819. Children mentoned in his will: 1. Stephen. 2. Sarah, married ____ Robinson. 3. Mary, married ____ Johnson. 4. Frederick. 5. Elizabeth. 6. Anna. 7. Abraham, Jr. 8. Enoch. 9. Pamela. 10. Joseph, mentioned below. (V) Joseph Poor, son of Abraham Poor (4), was born in Andover about 1775. He was executor and residuary legatee of his father, inheriting the homestead at Andover. He married Mary Barker. He was a farmer and cabinet maker at Andover all his life. Children, born at Andover: 1. Henry, removed to New York. 2. William, carriage manufacturer, Andover. (see section quite a ways below) 3. Jonathan, carriage manufacturer, Andover. 4. George, locomotive engineer on the Boston & Maine railroad. 5. James. (VI) James Poor, son of Joseph Poor (5), born at Andover, April 13, 1813, died Oct. 22, 1882, in North Andover. He was a farmer at Andover, and for twenty-five years superintendent of the state farm at Tewksbury, Mass. He married Susan Morse, born in Methuen, Feb. 9, 1811, died Aug. 29, 1894, in Andover, daughter of Nathaniel and Susanna Morse. He was a Unitarian in religion and a Republican in politics. Children, born in Andover: 1. George Horace, Jan. 21, 1841; lawyer at Andover and Boston, and trial justice at Andover thirty-eight years, and representative in general court of Mass. in 1872, and held many local offices. 2. Nelson P., born July 16, 1845; resides in Cleveland, Ohio. 3. Sarah, bprn Nov. 3, 1848; for a number of years teacher in North Andover public schools. 4. James C., mentioned below. 5. Albert, mentioned below. (VII) James Clinton Poor, son of James Poor (6), was born in Andover, June 25, 1852. He received his education in the district schools of his native town. At the age of fourteen years he went to Tewksbury with his father and was employed for seven years as herdsman and butcher. In 1874 he went to North Andover as superintendent of the Lake View farm of William A. Russell, a position he filled for nineteen years. Mr. Russell made a specialty of Holstein cattle, and Mr. Poor made two trips to Europe to buy stock for him. In 1892 Mr. Poor began farming on his own account, buying his present farm of sixty acres, most beautifully situated on rising ground with a superb view of North Andover and part of the city of Lawrence. Mr. Poor has continued to breed Holstein cattle very successfully in his own dairy and has a herd of sixty-five at present. He had been very successful in taking premiums at cattle shows and agricultural fairs with his cattle. He served as expert judge at Madison Square Garden, New York, associated with the late Thomas B. Wales, of Iowa City, Iowa, at the International Dairy Show held in New York, and at the Brockton Fair for eighteen consecutive years. Mr. Poor was selectman of North Andover for several years, and representative in the general court of Massacuhsetts in 1900 and 1901. In 1906 he was elected county commissioner of Essex county for a term of three years. He is a trustee of the Stevens Memorial Library at North Andover, and of the John Tyler Barker Free Academy of West Boxford. He is a Republican in politics, and has always been active in local affairs. He is a member of Cochickewick Lodge of Free Masons; of Wauwinette Lodge of Odd Fellows; of Lincoln Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen; of North Andover Grange, Patrons of Husbandry; the Essex Club and the Village Improvement Society. He married, at Tewksbury, Mass., 1874, Elizabeth M. Frost, born in Tewksbury, daughter of Charles E. and Hannah M. (Dane) Frost, of Tewksbury. Children, b. in N. Andover: 1. Bessie, 1875; married John T. Chadwick, of Boxford, Mass. 2. Willard H., 1877, a contractor. 3. Florence, 1889. 4. Benjamin Perley, 1892; student in N. Andover high school. (VII) Albert Poor, son of James Poor (6), was born in Andover, Nov. 21, 1853. He received his early education in the schools of Andover, graduating from the Johnson high school; then attended Hibbard's Commercial College at Boston; later entered Harvard College, graduating with the class of 1879, and subsequently graduated from Harvard Law School. He worked his way through college, and assisted many young men to acquire an education. He was much interested in his native town, serving as chairman of its Park Commission, and president of the Village Improvement Society and of the Indian Ridge Association. He was interested in the history of his town, and was orator of the day for the celebration of the town's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary in 1896. The address was scholarly, learned, instructive and refined. In 1898 he was a member of the legislature of Massachusetts, representing Andover for one term. He died June 11, 1900, and in his death the community lost an earnest man and upright citizen. [note: the next part goes back a generation or so.] (VI) William Poor, son of Joseph Poor (5), was born in Andover, Mass., about 1800. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and learned the wheelwright trade. He became a prominent manufacturer of carriages. He married Hannah Gleason White. Children, b. at Andover: 1. Joseph William, mentioned below. 2. Charles H. 3. Martha. 4. Julia. (VII) Joseph William Poor, son of William Poor (6), was born in Andover July 22, 1830. He was brought up and educated in that town and for an occupation followed carriage making. He married, Feb. 25, 1856, Abby M. Reynolds, born Sept. 23, 1833. Children, b. at Andover: 1. William George, mentioned below. 2. Minnie White, born May 9, 1863, married John N. Cole, speaker of the Mass. house of representatives; children: i. Abbie Elizabeth; ii. Margaret; iii. Philip Poor. iv. Dorothy Cole. 3. Lincoln, born April 18, 1865, died Oct. 24, 1902. 4. Ray, born March 20, 1875, died Oct., 1897. (VIII) Rev. William George Poor, son of Joseph William Poor (7), was born at Andover, June 13, 1858. He attended the public schools of that town and was graduated from the Punchard high school of Andover in the class of 1875. He taught the district school at Ballard Vale, in Andover, for two years, and then finished his preparation for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, where he graduated in 1878. He entered Dartmouth College and was graduated there with the degree of A. B. in 1882; he studied for his profession in Yale Divinity School, graduating in 1885 with the degree of B. D. He was ordained in May, 1885, at the Free Church of Andover (Congregational) and located at Paola, Kansas, remaining as a preacher until May 9, 1889, and soon after became pastor of the Second Congregational Church at Chicopee Falls, Mass. He accepted a call to Keene, New Hampshire, and in Januray, 1894, became pastor of the First Congregational Church in that place. After five years in that pastorate, on June 1, 1899, he resigned on account of ill health. He rested two years and after regaining his health, supplied the pulpit of the Pawtucket Congregational Church of Lowell, Mass. for the next two years. He became minister of the Topsfield Congregational Church, Sept. 1, 1903, and continued until his resignation went into effect Sept. 1, 1908. He married, May 9, 1889, Hattie M. Taylor, born Dec. 1, 1860, daughter of Cyril and Julia A. (Ingalls) Taylor, of Paola, Kansas. Children: 1. Bertha Winnifred, born at Chicopee Falls, Mass., Feb. 21, 1890, graduate of the Danvers high school, class of 1907; student in State normal school at Salem, class of 1909. 2. Joseph Victor, born at Chicopee Falls, Nov. 6, 1892, student in Topsfield high school. 3. Jessie Elizabeth, born March 22, 1895, at Keene, New Hampshire. PUTNAM Putnam is an ancient English surname, taken from the place-name, Puttenham. This town is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086); it was a part of the great fief known as the Honor of Leicester. The parish of Puttenham is situated in Hertfordshire, near Bedfordshire and Buckinghanshire. The coat-of-arms to which all the American descendants of this lineage are entitled 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. (I) John Putnam, son of Nicholas Putnam, was baptized at Wingrave, county Bucks, England, Jan. 17, 1579. He was the immigrant ancestor. He probably lived in Stewkley with his parents until his father's death, when he took possession of the estates at Aston Abbotts, which he inherited, where he lived until he came to New England. He was called husbandman in 1614. He married Priscilla Deacon, in 1611 or 1612. He was an early settler at Salem, Mass., and according to family tradition came there in 1634; but the first record of him was 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. His handwriting indicates a good education, and was 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, 1653. John Putnam died in Salem Village, now Danvers, Dec. 30, 1662, aged eighty years. Children & dates of baptism: 1. Elizabeth, bap. in England, Dec. 20, 1612. 2. Thomas, bap. March 5, 1614-15. 3. John, bap. July 24, 1617, died young. 4. Nathaniel, bap. Oct. 11, 1619, mentioned below. 5. Sarah, bap. March 7, 1622-23. 6. Phebe, bap, July 28, 1624. 7. John, bap. May 27, 1627, died April 7, 1710, in Salem; married Sept. 3, 1652, Rebecca Prince. (II) Nathaniel Putnam, son of John Putnam, was born in England, Oct. 11, 1619, and baptized at Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire, England, Oct. 11, 1619. He died at Salem, July 23, 1700. He was a prosperous farmer and settled in what is now Danvers, He married Elizabeth Hutchinson, daughter of Richard and Alice (Bosworth) Hutchinson. She was born in Arnold, England, Aug. 20, 1629, baptized there Aug. 30, and died at Danvers, June 24, 1688. Both were admitted to the church at Salem in 1648. Part of the original homstead at Danvers is still known as the Judge Putnam place. Nathaniel Putnam was constable in 1656 and deputy to the general court in 1690-91. He was prominent in church and town, serving for some years as selectman. He had great business ability and activity and was a man of unusual powers of mind, "of great energy and skill in the management of affairs and of singular sagacity, acumen, and quickness of perception. He left a large estate." He was involved in a lawsuit over the ownership of the Bishop farm, so called, and his side of the controversy was successful in 1683. During the trouble over the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Bayley he was an opponent, but when Mr. Bayley was dismissed he was one of those who contributed land, May 6, 1680, to make a farm for him. He had the rank of lieutenant. He was one of the four messengers to Rev. Samuel Parris to obtain his reply to their call. As the head of the large and influential Putnam family he was known for years as "Landlord Putnam." He was a leader in the witchcraft delusion which had its centre in Salem and Salem Village, where he lived. Upham says of him, "Entire confidence was felt by all in his judgement and deservedly. But he was a strong religionist, a life-long member of the church and extremely zealous in his ecclesiastical relations. He was getting to be an old man (at the time of the Delusion), and Mr. Parris had wholly succeeded in obtaining for the time possession of his feelings, sympathies and zeal in the management of the church, and secured his full co-operation in the witchcraft prosecutions. He had been led by Parris to take the very front of the proceedins. But even Nathaniel Putnam could not stand by in silence and see Rebecca Nourse sacrificed." Children of Nathaniel Putnam, b. at Salem Village: 1. Samuel, born Feb. 18, 1652, died young. 2. Nathaniel, born April 24, 1655, died young. 3. John, born March 26, 1657, mentioned below. 4. Joseph, born Oct. 29, 1659, died young. 5. Elizabeth, born Aug. 11, 1662, married Sergeant George Flint. 6. Benjamin, born Dec. 24, 1664, died 1750; married Elizabeth Putnam. 7. Mary, born Sept. 15, 1668, married John Tufts. (III) John Putnam, son of Nathaniel Putnam, was born at Salem Village, now Danvers, March 26, 1657, and baptized in Salem, Sept. 6, 1657. His farm was in that part of Danvers west of Hathorne's Hill near the log bridge across the Ipswich river. Part of it is or was lately owned by George H. Peabody. He was known as "Carolina John," and as John Putnam, Jr. He was constable of Salem during the witchcraft trials. At one time Mercy Lewis, one of the "afflicted girls," had been living at his house as a servant and in May, 1692, he testified, apparently in good faith, as to a fit she had when she was bewitched. A week after the ordination of the Rev. Joseph Green, a church meeting was held at the house of John Putnam in 1698 and several of the wronged members of the church again met with the majority and all agreed to live in "love together." John Putnam was frequently tythingman, surveyor of highways, and served in other town offices. His will was dated Nov. 30, 1721, and proved Oct. 1, 1722. He married, in Salem, Dec. 2, 1678, Hannah Cutler, born Dec., 1655, daughter of Samuel and Eliza Cutler. Children: 1. Hannah, born Aug. 22, 1679. 2. Elizabeth, Nov. 26, 1680, married March 12, 1701, John Phelps. 3. Abigail, b. Feb. 26, 1682. 4. Samuel, Nov. 5, 1684, mentioned below. 5. Josiah, Oct. 29, 1686. 6. Joseph, baptized July 1, 1688. 7. Mary, born Sept. 29, 1688 [trans. note: it is highly unlikely that she could have been born less than 3 mos. after Joseph's baptism.] 8. Susanna, born April 11, 1690, married Nov. 1709, Isaac Buxton. 9. Joshua. 10. David. 11. Rebecca, born Aug. 16, 1691. 12. John, born Aug. 16, 1691. 13. Sarah, born March 5, 1693. 14. Amos, born Jan. 27, 1696. 15. Priscilla, born May 7, 1699. (IV) Samuel Putnam, son of John Putnam, was born in Salem Village Nov. 5, 1684, and baptized Feb. 8, 1685, at Salem. He was at one time a large landowner in Danvers, but lost most of his property by becoming surety for a friend. He removed to a small farm which he owned in Sudbury, where he died Dec. 20, 1753. He was a short, thick-set man. He married at Salem Oct. 19, 1709, Mary Leach, born March 3, 1684-85, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Flint) Leach. Children, b. at Danvers: 1. Samuel, born Feb. 24, 1711-12. 2. John, Oct. 8, 1715, mentioned below. 3. Daniel, Nov. 27, 1717. 4. Elizabeth, Dec. 2, 1719, married ____ Robbins. 5. Hannah, July 7, 1722. 6. Nathan, b. June 7, 1725. 7. Mary, Feb. 13, 1729, married ____ Whitcomb, of Boston. (V) John Putnam, son of Samuel Putnam, was born at Danvers, Oct. 8, 1715, baptized May 6, 1716, died at Oswego, in April, 1762. He was given a farm in Framingham by his father, and settled there. When is father met with financial difficulties, John was obliged to give up his farm, not being able to prove the title. His home was on the south side of Green Hill about three-quarters of a mile from the spot where Wadsworth and his men were slain in 1676. It is said that the loss of his farm so disheartened him that he enlisted in the army during the last French and Indian war. He died in the service at Oswego, New York. He married, at Sudbury, April 25, 1737, Sarah Maverick, eldest daughter of James and Mary Maverick, of Sudbury. Children: 1. Elizabeth, born in Sudbury, Jan. 18, 1738, died unmarried. 2. Samuel (twin), born 1740, mentioned below. 3. James (twin), born 1740, died young. 4. Jesse, born at Framingham, March 25, 1743. 5. John, born in Sudbury, June 3, 1746. 6. Nathan, born July 15, 1749. 7. Enos, born June 8, 1752. 8. Daniel, born Sept. 27, 1755, was at Concord, April 19, 1775. 9. Asa, born Sept. 5, 1758, was in the revolution. 10. Sarah, born Sept. 25, 1761. (VI) Dr. Samuel Putnam, son of John Putnam, was born in 1740. He studied his profession under Dr. Amos Putnam and was in the French and Indian war with Dr. Amos as a "waiter." He practiced in Salisbury and Reading, Mass., and finally in Lynnfield. He was found dead April 27, 1789, at Lynnfield, aged forty-nine years. His widow Elizabeth was appointed administratrix Nov. 6, 1789, James Bancroft and Amos Putnam sureties on the bond. Dr. Putnam married, in 1761, Elizabeth Kimball, who died Oct. 24, 1804, aged sixty-nine. Children: 1. Betsey, born April 3, 1762. 2. Samuel Kimball, Feb. 27, 1765, died Nov. 21, 1847, married Mary Tarbell, who died Sept. 22, 1798. 3. Mary, Sept. 23, 1766, married, Dec. 4, 1803, Nathaniel Cumming. 4. Sarah, March 6, 1768. 5. John, Sept. 2, 1769, died Sept. 19, 1778. 6. William, Sept. 1, 1771, died Feb. 3, 1836. 7. James, Aug. 5, 1773, died at Lynn, Oct. 1, 1776. 8. James, mentioned below. (VII) James Putnam, son of Dr. Samuel Putnam, was born in Lynnfield, Nov. 23, 1777, and baptized Dec. 7 following in the Congregational church. He spent his life in Lynnfield. He died Nov. 18, 1807, a comparatively young man. He married Betsey Richardson, who married second, at Saugus, Nov. 26, 1815, William Hitchings. Children, b. in Lynnfield: 1. James, June 6, 1801. 2. Samuel, May 17, 1802, mentioned below. 3. John, Oct. 10, 1803, married (intention dated Aug. 1, 1830) Mrs. Jane Mansfield. 4. Elizabeth, April 25, 1805. (VIII) Samuel Putnam, son of James Putnam, was born at Lynnfield, May 27, 1802. He lived at Lynnfield, Lynn and Saugus and went west where he died. He married, at Lynn, Rebecca Patch. Children, b. at Lynn: 1. John, March 15, 1824, cordwainer, married Nov. 15, 1849, Mary B. Smith, daughter of Simeon and Sarah Smith. 2. Samuel Beckford, March 1, 1826. 3. Julia Ann, Oct. 20, 1827. 4. and 5. Charles and Maria A., twins, died young. 6. Charles Lovell, Jan. 2, 1832, mentioned below. 7. Emily Louise. (IX) Charles Lovell Putnam, son of Samuel Putnam, was born at Saugus, Jan. 2, 1832. He was educated in the public schools and learned the trade of carpenter. He followed his trade as journeyman and builder for many years in Saugus and vicinity, and for a time conducted a grocery store. He died Dec. 23, 1889. In politics he was a Republican. He married, April 7, 1856, Elizabeth Palmer Harriman, born in Eaton, New Hampshire, Jan. 24, 1828, died at Saugus, March 17, 1897., daughter of Stephen Harriman. Children, b. at Saugus: 1. Marion Victor, Oct. 25, 1850, mentioned below. 2. Charles Edgar, Dec. 16, 1865. (X) Marion Victor Putnam, son of Charles Lovell Putnam, was born in Saugus, Oct. 25, 1859. He was educated in the public schools of that town and in a commercial college in Boston. He began his business career as bookkeeper with the T. C. Evans Advertising Company of Boston, and continued with this hosue for twelve years. He then became accountant for the firm of Pettingill & Company, advertising agents, of Boston, and soon afterward was made general manager of the company. He was with this house until March, 1904, when he becama a member of the firm of Wood, Putnam & Wood, general advertising agents, having their principal offices in Boston. Mr. Putnam has made his home in his native town. He is a Republican in politics, and keenly interested in public affairs. He has been town auditor, trustee of the public library for six years and selectman three years in Saugus, and has been a member of the town finance committee which recommends the annual appropriations of the town. He is prominent in Masonic circles, past master of William Sutton Lodge of East Saugus; member of Tabernacle Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Melrose Council, Royal and Select Masons; past teminent commander of Beauseant Commandery, Knights Templar of Malden; past district deputy grand master of the Seventh Masonic District of Massachusetts; and has taken the thiry-second degree in Masonry. He married first, May 21, 1890, Lilliam S. Oliver, b. Dec. 27, 1869, died Nov. 13, 1890, daughter of Joshua and Emma Oliver, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married second, June 25, 1895, Emily M. Oliver, born April 28, 1868, sister of his first wife; one child, Constance, b. Feb. 10, 1908.