Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]


[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]



PUTNAM

The lineage of a very large part of Putnams of New England is traced to John Putnam, the immigrant, and ancestor of several prominent citizens of the early days of Massachusetts. The name comes from Puttenham, a place in England, and this perhaps from the Flemish word putte, "a well," plural putten and ham, signifying a "home," and the whole indicating a settlement by a well.
Some four or five years after the settlement of Salem, Mass., it became necessary to extend the area of the town in order to accomondate a large number of immigrants who were desirous of locating within its jurisdiction, and as a consequence farming communities were established at various points, some of them being considerable distance from the center of population. Several families newly arrived from England founded a settlement which they called Salem Village, and the place was known as such for more than a hundred years. It is now called Danvers.
Among the original settlers of Salem Village was John Putnam. He was the American progenitor of the Putnams in New England, and among his descendants were the distinguished revolutionary geneals, Irael and Rufus Putnam. Much valuable information relative to the early history of the family is to be found in the "Essex Institute Collection." In common with most of the inhabitants, they suffered from the witchcraft delusion but were not seriously affected.

(I) The first ancestor of whom definite knowledge is obtainable is Rodger a tenant of Puttenham in 1086.

(II) The second genearion is represented by Galo of the same locality.

(III) Richard, born 1154, died 1189, presented the living of the church of Puttenham to the prior and canons of Ashby.

(IV) Simon de Puttenham was a knight of Herts in 1199.

(V) Ralph de Puttenham, a juryman in 1199 held a knight's fee in Puttenham of the honor of Leicester in 1210-12.

(VI) William de Puttenham is the next in line.

(VII) John de Puttenham was lord of the manor of Puttenham in 1291 and a son of William. His wife "Lady of Puttenham, held half a knight's fee in Puttenham of the honor of Wallingford in 1303."

(VIII) Sir Roger de Puttenham, son of the Lady of Puttenham, was born prior to 1272, and with his wife Alina had a grant of lands in Penne in 1315. He was sheriff of Herts in 1322, in which year he supported Edward II against the Mortimers. His wife, perhaps identical with Helen, is called a daughter of John Spigornel, and was married (second) to Thomas de la Hay, King's commissioner, knight of the sheer, in 1337, who held Puttenham with reversion to the heirs of Rodger Puttenham, and land in Penne in right of his wife.

(IX) Sir Rodger de Puttenham was pardoned by the king in 1338, probably on account of some political offense. The next year he was a follower of Sir John de Molyns, and was a knight of the sheer from 1355 to 1374. He had a grant of remainder after the death of Christian Bordolfe of the manor of Long Marston, in 1370-71. He had a second wife, Marjorie, in 1370.

(X) Robert, son of Sir Rodger de Puttenham, in 1346, held part of a knight's fee in Marston, which the Lady of Puttenham held. He was living in 1356.

(XI) William, son of Robert de Puttenham of Puttenham and Penne, was commissioner of the peace for Herts in 1377, and was called "of Berk Hampstead." He was sergeant-at-arms in 1376. He married Margaret, daughter of John de Warbleton, who died in 1375, when his estates of arbleton, Sherfield, etc., passed to the Putnams. They had children:
Henry, Robert and William.

(XII) Henry, son of William and Margaret (Warbleton) de Puttenham, was near sixty years of age in 1468, and died July 6, 1473. He married Elizabeth, widow of Jeffrey Goodluck, who died in 1486, and was probably his second wife.

(XIII) William, eldest son of Henry Puttenham, was in possession of Puttenham, Penne, Sherfield, and other estates. He was buried in London, and his will was proved July 23, 1492. He married Anne, daughter of John Hampden, of Hampden, who was living in 1486.
They had sons:
Sir George, Thomas and Nicholas.

(XIV) Nicholas, third son of William and Ann Puttenham, and Penne, in 1534, bore the same arms as his elder brother, Sir George.
He had sons:
John and Henry.

(XV) Henry, younger son of Nicholas Putnam, was named in the will of his brother John in 1526.

(XVI) Richard, son of Henry Putnam, was of Eddelsboro in 1524, and owned land in Slapton. His will was proved Feb. 26, 1557, and he left a widow Joan.
He had sons:
Harry and John.

(XVII) John, second son of Richard and Joan Putnam, of Wingrave and Slapton, was buried Oct. 2, 1573, and his will was proved Nov. 14 following. His wife Margaret was buried Jan. 27, 1668.
They had sons:
Nicholas, Richard, Thomas and John.

(XVIII) Nicholas, eldest son of John and Margaret Putnam, of Windgrave and Stukeley, died before Sept. 27, 1598, on which date his will was proved. His wife Margaret was a daughter of John Goodspeed. She married (second) in 1614, William Huxley, and died Jan. 8, 1619.
Children:
John, Anne, Elizabeth, Thomas and Richard.

(I) John, eldest son of Nicholas and Margaret (Goodspeed) Putnam, was of the nineteenth generation in the English line, and the first of the American line. He was born about 1580, and died suddenly in Salem Village, now Danvers, Mass. Dec. 30, 1662, aged about eighty years. It is known that he was a resident of Aston Abbotts, England, as late as 1627, as the date of his baptism of the youngest son shows, but just when he came to New England is not known. Family tradition is responsible for the date 1634, and the tradition is known to have been in the family one hundred and fifty years.
In 1641, new style, John Putnam was granted land in Salem. He was a farmer and exceedingly well of for those times. He wrote a fair hand, as deeds on file show. In these deeds he styled himself "yeoman"; once, in 1655, "husbandman." His land amounted to two hundred and fifty acres, and was situated between Davenport's hill and Potter's hill. John Putnam was admitted to the church in 1647, six years later than his wife, and was also a freeman the same year. The town of Salem in 1644 voted that a partrol of two men be appointed each Lord's day to walk forth during worship and take notice of such who did not attend service and who were idle, etc., and to present such cases to the magistrate; all of those appointed were men of standing in the community. For the ninth day John Putnam and John Hathrone were appointed. The following account of the death of John Putnam was written in 1733 by his grandson Edward: "He ate his supper, went to prayer with his family and died before he went to sleep."
He married, in England, Priscill (perhaps Gould), who was admitted to the church in Salem in 1641.
Children, bap. at Aston Abbotts:
Elizaeth.
Thomas, grandfather of General Israel Putnam, of the Rev. war.
John.
Nathaniel, more info follows, but way down, keep scrolling.
Sara.
Phoebe.
John.

(II) Captain John (2), second son and third child of John (1) and Priscilla (Gould) Purnam, was born at Aston Abbotts in May, 1627; buried in Salem Village April 7, 1710. He was admitted a freeman in 1665; served as a deputy to the general court in 1679; and was captain of a local militia company.
March 7, 1650, he married Rebecca Prince, stepdaughter of John Gedney, and sister of Robert Prince, of Salem Village.
Children:
Rebecca, Sarah, Priscilla, Jonathan, James, Hannah, Eleazer, John, Susanna and Ruth.

(III) Captain Jonathan, fourth child and eldest son of Captain John (2) and Rebecca (Prince) Putnam, was born in Salem Village March 17, 1659; died there March 2, 1739. He erected a dwelling house on the Topsfield road, not far from his father's homestead, and it is recorded that he was a farmer in excellent circumstances.
He married (first) Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Whipple. She died in early womanhood, and the oldest inscription in the Wadsworth burying-ground reads: "Here lyes the body of Elizabeth, ye wife of Jonathan Putnam, aged about 22 years; Deceased ye 7th of August, 1682." Jonathan married (second) Lydia, daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth (Whipple) Potter, of Ipswich, Mass. Her will was made Sept. 14, 1742, and proved April 8, 1745.
His first wife bore him one son:
Samuel, who died in infancy.
Children of 2d wife:
Lydia, Elizabeth, Ruth, Susanna, Jonathan, Esther, Jeremiah (died in infancy), Joshua (died in infancy) and David.

(IV) Jonathan (2), fifth child and eldest son of Captain Jonathan (1) and Lydia (Potter) Putnam, was born in Salem Village, May 8, 1691. He was a lifelong resident of Salem Village and a prosperous farmer. He died Jan. 17, 1732.
He married about 1714, Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Putnam. In 1736 she became the second wife of Captain Benjamin Holton, son of Benjamin and Sarah Holton, of Salem. He died in 1744, and the following year his widow married (third) Edward Carlton, of Haverhill.
Children:
Jonathan, died in infancy; a second Jonathan; Nathaniel; David; Elizabeth died in infancy; Mary, and another Elizabeth.

(V) Jonathan (3), second child of Jonathan (2) and Elizabeth (Putnam) Putnam, was born in Salem Village July 13, 1715; was baptized July 31 that year, and died Dec. 1, 1762. He was one of the prominent men of the villagve at the same of its incorportaion as the town of Danvers, 1757, and held some of the town offices, such as tythingman, constable, etc.
Nov. 2, 1736, he married Sarah Perley, born May 12, 1716, daughter of Lieut. Thomas and Hannah (Goodhue) Perley, of Boxford, Mass.
Children:
Jeremiah, Sarah, Jonathan, Hannah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Nathan, Levi, Perley and Aaron.

(VI) Captain Jeremiah, eldest child of Jonathan (3) and Sarah (Perley) Putnam, was born in Salem Village, oct. 31, 1737. At the age of eighteen years he entered the colonial militia for service in the French and Indian war, serving in Captain Andrew Fuller's company from Feb. to Dec., 1756, in the expedition to Crown Point. He also served under Captain Fuller from March to Nov., 1758, and April 6, of the following year he reenlisted in Colonel Plaisted's regiment. As a member of Captain Jeremiah Paige's company he responded to the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775, and May 11 of that year he enlisted in the continental army as a sergeant. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of ensign, and while serving as such in the disastrous operations on Long Island under Colonel Hutchinson, he was taken prisoner by the British. He was finally mustered out with the rank of captain, having attained the record of being a brave and efficient officer.
His gravestone in the Plains cemetery at Danvers bears the following insciption: "Captain Jeremiah Putnam, who died Sept. 16, 1799, aged 62. An officer under the immortal Washington."
On Feb. 3, 1763, he married Rachel Fuller.
Children:
Thomas, Eunice, Jeremiah, Apphia, Elijah, Levi and Rachel.

(VII) Captain Thomas, eldest child of Captain Jeremiah and Rachel (Fuller) Putnam, was born in Danvers Oct. 8, 1763. As a youth he went to sea, and becoming a master mariner, was for many years in command of vessels hailing from Salem. He died in Danvers Jan. 22, 1822. He was a member of the Salem Marine Society.
He married Mary Fitts, of Ipswich, Mass. (baptized May 15, 1763), daughter of James and Mary (Dutch) Fitts. She was a descendant in the sixth generation of Robert Fitts through (II) Abraham, (III) Richard, (IV) Isaac, (V) James. Robert FITTS, an immigrant from England, was one of the early settlers in Salisbury, Mass., going there in 1640 and receiving land grants. In 1662 he removed to Ipswich, where he died May 9, 1665, leaving a widow Grace, and a son Abraham. The latte married (first) Sarah Thompson, and (second) Rebecca Birdly.
Children of 1st wife:
Sarah, died young; Abraham; Robert, died in infancy; and another Sarah.
Children of 2d wife:
Robert, Richard and Isaac.

Richard Fitts, third son of Abraham and Rebecca (Birdly) Fitts, married Sarah Thorne, and settled in Salisbury. His children were: Isaac, Sarah, Nathaniel, Martha, Richard, Ward, Daniel and Jerusha.
Isaac Fitts, eldest child of Richard and Sarah (Thorne) Fitts, resided in Salem and Ipswich. The Christian name of his first wife was Bethia; he married (second) Mrs. Mary Noyes, a widow, daughter of Thomas and Judith (March) Thorley, of Newbury, Mass. His first wie bore him twelve children: Isaac, Rebecca, Bethia, John, Sarah, Jeremiah, Ruth, Abigail (died young), George (died in infancy), James, Abraham, and another George. Of his second union there was one daughter, Abigail.
James Fitts, fifth son and tenth child of Isaac and Bethia Fitts, was born in 1718. He married Mrs. Mary Dutch, of Ipswich, a widow, and reared five children: Abigail, Hannah, Sarah, James and Mary. The latter became the wife of Captain Thomas Putnam, as previously stated. They were the parents of seven sons and two daughters. Six of the sons followed the sea.

(VIII) Jeremiah S., son of Thomas and Mary (Fitts) Putnam, was born in Danvers, Mass. Nov. 29, 1797, and died April 5, 1877. He was graduated from Bowdoin College, and while studying medicine began to teach school in the town of York. At the conclusion of his studies he settled permanently in that town. He bought out the heirs of the Samuel Sewall estate, which was afterward occupied by his son and grandchildren. Dr. Putnam resided in York about fifty-six years, of which fifty-four were spent in the practice of his profession. He was one of the most eminent and popular medical men of his day. The magnitude of his practice is shown by the fact that he assisted at the birth of more than three thousand children.
He married Ruth Sewall, who was born in York, Aug. 20, 1799, and died March 17, 1860, daughter of Samuel Sewall.
Children:
Mary Hannah, born 1829, died 1843.
George W. S.

(IX) George William Sewall, only son of Jeremiah S. and Ruth (Sewall) Putnam, was born in York, Jan. 27, 1831, and died April 9, 1899. He attended both district and private schools in York, for some time superintended the farm for his father, and for a number of years was engaged in the grocery business in Kittery in association with Daniel Norton. He received an appointment as writer in the navy yard at Kittery in 1862, and held this office for a period of twenty years, driving home every day except in bad weather, thus being enabled to superintend the home farm at the same time. He was afterward at home for some time, attending to a variety of duties, being trial justice for a period of thirty-five years, and had a great deal of probate work. He took the contract for mail and express to all the offices in the town in 1885, and managed this business until the railroad was built. He then assumed charge of the passenger, mail and express delivery from the depot, and the passenger delivery to York, York Village and York Corner, in which he was interested up to the time of his death.
He was an active worker in the interests of the Republican party, and was town auditor for ten years; chairman of the board of health for many years; representative to the state legislature in 1873; and was a member of the town school board in 1894-95. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a charter member of St. Aspinquid Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and previous to joining that was a member of St. Andrews Lodge of the same order. He also belonged to Riverside Lodge and Dirigo Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He married, Dec. 22, 1856, Triphena J. Remick, daughter of Enoch and Sally (Kingsbury) Remick, who had children:
Mary K., Ann, Sarah A., Joseph K., Triphena J., Betsey A. and Jane R.

Enoch Remick, who was a native of Eliot, Maine, was a farmer, ship-carpenter and merchant. He died at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife died at the age of fifty-five years.

Mr. & Mrs. Putnam had children:
1. Jeremiah P., born Dec. 4, 1857, died in boyhood.
2. John B., born Dec. 1, 1859, died in early manhood.
3. William S., see forward.
4. Mary H., born July 16, 1864; married Rev. J. M. Frost of Bengal, Maine; children: Emma, Harold P., Joshua C. and Ruth.
5. Sarah E., born Aug. 10, 1866, died in childhood.
6. Joseph Perley, born Dec. 28, 1867; married Sophia N. Marshall; children: Nathaniel M., Marguerita T., Roger A. and Freeman P.
7. Ruth E., born April 14, 1871; assistant cashier York National Bank.
8. Jeremiah C. R., born Dec. 23, 1873.

(X) William Sewall, third son of George W. S. and Triphena J. (Remich) Putnam, was born Nov. 4, 1861. He was educated in the distrcit schools near his home and the New Hampton Literary Institute, New Hampshire, and was at first a clerk for Leighton & Son, of Portsmouth, in whose employ he remained two years. For a further two years he was with W. G. Moulton, and then became associated with his father in the passenger and express business, an enterprise which has since been incorporated under the name of Putnam Express Company, of which Mr. Putnam is treasurer. He opened a cafe in York in 1888, furnishing chiefly ice cream and confectionery. Mr. Putnam is interested in various business enterprises and has taken an active part in encouraging the growth of the town as a summer resort. In company with Mr. F. Varrell he has erected a large number of handsome cottages for the accommodation of summer guests. He bought out the general store of Varrell Brothers, and this has been incorporated under the name of the Putnam Grocery Company.
He is a Republican in his political affiliations, and is a member of the town committee. He was appointed postmaster at York Harbor in 1897, and has held that position since that time. He is also tax collector of the York Village Corporation.
He is a member of St. Aspinquid Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of York; Unity Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of South Berwick; Bradford Commandery, U. T., Biddeford; Maine Council, R.S.M., Saco; Kora Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., Lewiston; and of Riverside Lodge and Dirigo Encampment of Kittery, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He married, 1887, Fannie L., daughter of Andrew P. and Lucy Jane (Grant) Fernald, both members of old York county families.
Children:
1. William F., born Sept. 29, 1888; graduated from York high school, and is now (1908) a partner of his father in the Putnam Grocery Company, and clerk in the postoffice having entire charge during the summer months.
2. Betty R., born 1898.

[trans. note: Now go back and pick up a new lineage down from John and Priscilla Putnam (I)]

(II) Nathaniel, third son of John and Priscilla Putnam, was baptized at Aston Abbotts, Oct. 11, 1619, and died at Salem Village, 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 himself. Part of his property has remained uninterruptedly in the family. It is now (1908) known as the "old Judge Putnam place." He was constable in 1656, and afterwards deputy to the general court, 1690-91, selectman, and always at the front on all local questions, whether pertaining to politics, religious affairs, or other town matters. "He had great business activity and ability, and was a person of extraordinary 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." Nathaniel Putnam was one of the principals in the great lawsuit concerning the ownership of the Bishop farm. His action in this matter was merely to prevent the attempt of Zebubabel Endicott to push the bounds of the Bishop grant over the land. The case was a long and complicated affair, and was at last settled to the satisfaction of Allen and Putnam in 1683.
Dec. 10, 1688, Lieut. Nathaniel Putnam was one of the four messengers sent to Rev. Samuel Parris to obtain his reply to the call of the parish. Parris was afterwards installed as the minister of the parish, and four years later completely deceived Mr. Putnam in regard to the witchcraft delusion. That he honestly believed in witchcraft and in the statements of the afflicted girls there seems to be no doubt; that he was not inclined to be severe is evident, and his goodness of character shows forth in marked contrast with the almost bitter feeling shown by many of those concerned. That he should have believed in the delusion is not strange, for belief in witchcraft was then all but universal. The physicians and ministers called upon the examine the girls, who pretended to be bewitched, agreed that such was the fact. Upham states that ninety-nine out of every one hundred in Salem believed such was the case. There can be no doubt that the expressed opinion of a man like Nathaniel Putnam must have influenced scores of his neighbors. His eldest brother had been dead seven years, and he had succeeded to the position as head of the great Putnam family with its connections. He was known as "Landlord Putnam," a term given for many years to the oldest living member of the family. He saw the family of his brother Thomas Putnam afflicted, and being an upright and honest man himself, believed in the disordered imaginings of his grandneice, Ann. These are powerful reasons to account for his belief and actions. The following extract from Upham brings out the better side of his character: "Entire confidence was felt by all in his judgment and 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 Mr. Parris had wholly succeeded in obtaining, for the time, possession of his feelings, sympathy and zeal in the management of the church, and secured his full cooperation in the witchcraft prosecutions. He had been led by Parris to take the very front of the proceedings. But even Nathaniel Putnam could not stand by in silence and see Rebecca Nurse sacrificed. A curious paper written by him is among those which have been preserved:
"Nathaniel Putnam, senior, being desired by Francis Nurse, Sr., to give information of what I could say concerning his wife's [life? illegible] and conversation. I, the above said, have known this said aforesaid woman forty years, and what I have observed of her, human frailties excepted, her life and conversation have been to her profession, and she hath brought up a great family of children and educated them well, so that there is in some of them apparent savor of godliness. I have known her differ with her neighbors, but I never knew or heard of any that did accuse her of what she is now charged with."
In 1694 Nathaniel and John Putnam testified to having lived in the village since 1641.
He married, in Salem, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Alice (Bosworth) Hutchinson, of Salem Village. She was born Aug. 20, and bap. at Arnold, England, Aug. 30, 1629, and died June 24, 1688. In 1648 both Nathaniel and his wife Elizabeth were admitted to the church in Salem.
Children, all b. in Salem:
Samuel, Nathaniel, John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Benjamin and Mary.

(III) Captain Benjamin, youngest son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Putnam, was born Dec. 24, 1664, at Salem Village, and died at the same place about 1715. He was a prominent man in Salem and held many town offices, being tythingman at the village in 1695-06, and constable and collector in 1700, and was selectman in 1707-1713, and was often on the grand and petit juries. He was chosen to perambulate the bounds between the towns of Salem and Topsfield, which was his last appearance on the records, in 1712. he held the position of lieutenant and captain, was in the Indian war, and received titled in 1706-1711. It appears that he was imprisoned at one time, but for what cause does not appear.
Among the signatures to the certificate of character of Rebecca Nurse, the names of Benjamin and his wife Sarah appears. Rev. Joseph Green, in his diary, mentions calling on "Landlord Putnam" and that he was sick and out of his head. Dec. 30, 1709, he was chosen deacon of the church of the village. His will, dated Oct. 28, 1706, was proved April 25, 1715. He gives to his son (minister at Reading) "one hundred and fifty pounds for his learning," Overseers, Uncle John Purnam an Captain Jonathan Putnam." All his children but Josiah are mentioned.
He was married Aug. 25, 1686, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Putnam (according to Colonel Perley Putnam), but on the Salem records the births are recorded as by wife Hannah. His first wife died Dec. 21, 1705, and he married (second) July 1, 1706, Sarah Holton.
Children:
Josiah, Nathaniel, Tarrant [see below, scroll down], Elizabeth, Benjamin, Stephen, Daniel [see below, scroll down], Israel and Cornelius. (Mention of Tarrant and Daniel and descendants appears in this article.).

(IV) Deacon Nathaniel, second son of Captain Benjamin Putnam, was born Aug. 25, 1686, in Salem Village, and died Oct. 21, 1754. He was a yeoman, and lived in Danvers, and probably part of the time in North Reading, Mass. He was elected deacon of the First Church at Danvers, Nov. 15, 1731.
He was married June 4, 1709, to Hannah Roberts, who died about 1763.
Children:
Nathaniel (died young), Jacob Nathaniel (died young), Sarah, Archelaus, Ephraim, Hannah, Nathaniel, Mehitable and Kezia.

(V) Jacob, second son of Deacon Nathaniel and Hannah (Roberts) Putnam, was born April 20, 1712, and died in Wilton, New Hampshire Feb. 10, 1801. He was a pioneer of Wilton, N. H., and probably located there in 1738, for in June, 1739, Ephraim and Jacob Putnam and John Dole, all of Danvers, made the first permanent settlement in Wilton. For three years his wife was the only white woman living in the town, and during one winter the snow was so deep and the neighbors so far away that she saw no one outside her family for six months. The brothers Jacob, Ephraim and Nathaniel were all early settlers at Wilton, but finding the Indians troublesome they returned to Danvers, and a second time settled at Wilton and Lydeborough. He was a man of great energy, and at one time operated a sawmill beside working on his farm, and in his later years made cans.
He married (first) in July, 1735, Susanna Harriman, of Danvers, (second) Susanna Styles, who died Jan. 27, 1776 and (third) Patience, mentioned in his will, which was proved Feb. 28, 1791.
Children:
Sarah, Nathaniel, Philip, died young; Stephen, Philip, Joseph, Mehitable, Jacob, Marchelaus, Caleb, Elizabeth and Peter.

(VI) Stephen, third son of Jacob and Susanna (Harriman) Putnam, was born Sept. 24, 1744, in Wilton, and died in Rumford, Maine, June 29, 1812. He bought a farm in Temple, New Hampshire, and built a grist mill. He signed the assocation test in 1776. Soon after he removed to Rumford, Maine, where his son Stephen had settled, and built a girst mill. He was a very influential and useful citizen, very ingenious and "Jack at all trades."
He married Oliver Varnum, who was born in Dracut, Mass. March 7, 1742.
Children:
Stephen, Olive, Samuel, Esther, Mary, Elizabeth, Israel, Abigail, Rachel, Jacob Harriman and Ruth.

(VII) Samuel, second son of Stephen and Olive (Varnum) Putnam, was born May 29, 1768, probably in Temple, N. H. He married first, Lucy Styles, who died Feb. 2, 1804, and married second, Sept. 16, 1806, Betsey or Elizabeth, daughter of Ebenezer Cobb, of Norway, Maine.
Children by 1st wife:
Lucy, Samuel, Jesse, Fanny (died young), and Jeremiah.
Children by 2d wife:
Hiram, Lois, Ira, Cyrus, Fanny, Betsey, Lydia, Ivy Atwood, Martha and Mary.

(VIII) Samuel (2), eldest son of Samuel (1) and Lucy (Styles) Putnam, was born Jan. 7, 1795, in Rumford. He was a blacksmith by trade, and lived in Rumford, Mexico and Greenwood, and died in the latter place in 1854.
He married first Susan Poor, daughter of Nathan Adams, and second Sylvia, widow of Daniel Bisbee, whose maiden name was Stevens, of Sumner, Maine.
Children:
Eliza Ann B., Charlotte Adams, Charles A.V., Mahalon Chaplin, Laura Amanda, Harrison Whitman (died young), Samuel Harrison and Augustus.

(IX) Charles Adams Varnum, eldest son of Sameul (2) and Susan Poor (Adams) Putnam, was born May 28, 1824, in Rumford, Maine. He learned the printers' trade, and in connection with Ossian Dodge published a literary paper in Boston, called the Boston Museum, of which Mr. Putnam was editor.
He married Ellen T. Harrington, of Shrewsbury, Mass., a daughter of Adam Harrington, of that town. She was the author of several books, and also contributed to periodicals under the pseudonym of "Thrace Talmon."

(IX) Harrington, only child of Charles A. V. and Ellen T. (Harrington) Putnam, was born June 29, 1851, at Shrewsbury, Mass. After studies at the Grafton (Mass.) high school and the Worcester Academy, he entered Colby College and graduated in the class of 1870. He read law with E. B. Stoddard, of Worcester, and completed his preparation for the legal profession (after studies at Heidelberg) at the Columbia Law School, where he received the LL.B. degree in 1876. He has since practiced in New York, firm of Wing, Putnam & Burlingham, being chiefly engaged in the branch of admiralty and shipping. Colby College conferred the degree of LL.D. in 1906.
In 1904 he married Mildred Smythe, daughter of William G. Smythe, of Providence, Rhode Island. A son, Harrington, Junior, was born Oct. 31, 1906.

[trans note: now we go back in time again to Benjamin Putnam's son Tarrant].

(IV) Tarrant, third son of Benjamin and Hannah (or Elizabeth) Putnam, was born April 12, 1688, in Danvers, Mass., and died in 1733 at Salem Village. He inherited the homestead from his father under his will dated Oct. 28, 1706. Administration of his estate was graned on his estate to his widow Elizabeth, who was then with child, March 10, 1732. Elizabeth Putnam gave bonds with Nathaniel and Jonathan Putnam. The will was probated April 9, 1733.
He married, June 8, 1715, Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Giles) Bacon, born Nov. 26, 1695, died Aug. 23, 1761.
Children, b. in Salem Village:
Tarrant, Elizabeth, Solomon, Mary, Gideon, Israel and Sarah.

(V) Deacon Tarrant (2), eldest son of Tarrant (1) and Elizabeth (Bacon) Putnam, was born April 3, 1716, in Salem Village, and died Aug. 27, 1794, in Sutton, Mass. He removed from Danvers to Sutton, and was admitted to the church there by letter from the Danvers church in 1747. He owned a large tract of land in Sutton. He left all his real estate to his son Israel. In 1775 General Israel Putnam rode through Sutton on his way to Bunker Hill, and stopped at the deacon's and had dinner. The flagstone from which he mounted his horse is still shown.
He married Dec. 9, 1742, Priscilla Baker, of Topsfield, Mass., who died March 16, 1812, aged eighty-nine.
Children:
Tarrant, Molly (died young), Elizabeth, Priscilla, Sarah, Martha, Rebecca, Lydia, Molly and Israel.

(VI) Captain Israel, youngest son of Tarrant (2) and Priscilla (Baker) Putnam, was born May 22, 1767, in Sutton, and died Feb. 23, 18__, in Sutton. He was a cousin and close friend of General Israel Putnam. He kept a general store in Sutton for many years.
He married (first) Jan. 29, 1795, Hannah, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Dudley) Woodbury, who died Sept. 20, 1795, and (second) April 21, 1796, Hannah, daughter of Lazarus and Hannah (Chase) LeBarron, who was born Jan. 22, 1776.

(VII) Dr. Israel (2), son of Captain Israel (1) and Hannah (Le Barron) Putnam, was born Dec. 25, 1805, in Sutton. He graduated from Brown University, also Bowdoin Medical School. He began practice at Wales, Maine, and in 1835 he removed to Bath, Maine, where he acquired a large practice, and also took a priminent place in municipal affairs, being mayor of Bath from 1859 to 1865, and again in 1867. His administration was very able, especially during the trying times of war. He was bluff and frank in manner, liberal to the poor, not accepting fees when his patient could ill afford to pay. He was much respected as physician, magistrate and citizen.
He married, Jan. 10, 1834, Sarah Emery, daughter of William and Annie (Emery) Frost, of Topsham, Maine, who was born June 25, 1817.

(VIII) William Le Barron Putnam, LL.D., son of Dr. Israel (2) and Sarah Emery (Frost) Putnam, was born May 26, 1835, in Bath, Maine. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1855. He practiced law in Portland, Maine, until he was appointed judge of the United States circuit court, having twice refused appointment to the supreme court of Maine. He was mayor of Portland in 1869 and 1870. He was Democrataic candidate for governor in 1888. he was plenipotentiary to negotiate with Great Britain a settlement of rights of American fishermen in Canadian waters, in 1887. He was a member of the Behring Sea Commission in 1896-98.
He married, May 29, 1862, Octavia B., daughter of Nathaniel and Sally (Roberts) Robinson, of Augusta, Maine, who was born Nov. 18, 1836, in Augusta.

[trans note: we now go back again to a son of Benjamin and Hannah.]

(IV) Rev. Daniel, sixth son of Benjamin and Hannah Putnam, was born Nov. 12, 1696, in Salem Village, and died June 20, 1659, at Reading, Mass. His father left him in his will one hundred and fifty pounds, for his learning. In 1718 the North Precinct of Reading voted to give him twenty acres of land if he would be their minister, also "to build Mr. Putnam an house 28 feet long, 19 feet wide and 15 feet stud, a lenter on the back side 10 feet stud, three chimneys from the ground, and chamber chimney, and convenient parlor, and convenient well, in lieu of the 100 pounds, if Mr. Putnam finds nails and glass for the house." He was not ordained until 1820, at which time the church had thirty-nine members. He was their minister thirty-nine years, and added one hundred and ninety-four persons to the church, baptized four hundred and ninety-one, and married one hundred and eleven couples.
He married Feb. 25, 1718, Rebecca Putnam, born Aug. 16, 1691.
Children:
Rebecca, Daniel, Aaron (died young), Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joshua, Aaron, Bethia and Susanna.

(V) Deacon Daniel (2), eldest son of Rev. Daniel (1) and Rebecca Putnam, was born Nov. 8, 1721, in Reading, and died Nov. 5, 1774, in same town. He was elected deacon of the church in North Reading in 1754, was selectman of Reading in 1763-68-71, and in 1773 represented his town in the general court. June 4, 1774, Hannah Putnam, spinster, was appointed administratrix on his estate.
He married Hannah, daughter of Henry and Hannah (Martin) Ingalls, of North Andover, Mass., who was born Sept. 12, 1723, and died May 11, 1761, in Reading.
Children:
Henry, Daniel, Joshua, Rebecca, Aaron and Sarah.

(VI) Henry, eldest son of Deacon Daniel (2) and Hannah (Ingalls) Putnam, was born May 7, 1755, at North Reading, and died Nov. 27, 1806, at the same place. He was a man of influence in the community, and was chosen deacon of the church in 1778. He responded to the alarm of April 19, 1775, and served nine days in Captain John Flint's company.
He married, Nov. 9, 1775, Mary Hawkes, of Lynnfield, Mass., who died Jan. 21, 1794, and (second) Lucy, daughter of Peter and Ann (Adams) Tufts, of Charlestown, who married (second) in June, 1811, Jacob Osgood. She cared for James Otis, the patriot, for many years, and he was killed by lightning in her house.

(VII) Henry (2), son of Henry (1) and Mary (Hawkes) Putnam, was born June 28, 1778, and died Jan., 1827, in Brunswick, Maine. He graduated from Harvard College in 1802, served in many town offices in Brunswick, and in 1808 was named as chairman of a committee to petition the president to withdraw the Embargo Act. He was representative from Brunswick in 1813.
He married, Sept. 13, 1807, Catherine Hunt, daughter of Joseph Pease Palmer, of Roxbury, Mass., who was born in 1793, and died Dec. 12, 1889. She taught school in Brunswick from 1807 to 1825, when she removed to New York.
Children:
Henry, born 1808, died 1815.
Catherine, b. 1810, died 1827.
George Palmer, mentioned below.
Elizabeth, b. 1816, died 1875.
Anne, b. 1819, died 1869.

(VIII) George Palmer, son of Henry (2) and Catherine Hunt (Palmer) Putnam, was born Feb. 7, 1814, in Brunswick, and died Dec. 20, 1872, in New York. He received his early training, with his sisters, in his mother's school, a well-known and popular institution of Brunswick. He enjoyed the sports of the times and region, skating on the Androscoggin river winter and boating up and down the same in summer. When he was eleven years of age he was offered an apprenticeship in Boston to the mercantile business by the husband of his mother's sister, John Gulliver. The latter's son, John Putnam Gulliver, was of the same age as young Putnam, and they became companions in the business training and work of the store. This establishment was devoted chiefly to carpets, and its owner was a man of strict puritanical views. The boys slept together in the rear of the store, and were chiefly occupied in keeping the place in order. There were few holidays, and the business day a long one. The Sabbath was observed with full New England strictness, including morning and evening prayers at home, Sunday school, and two long church services. No reading was permitted on the Sabbath except in works of devotional character, and there were very few books then available to the young men. Young Putnam had a strong taste for reading, and in later years he often referred to the "literary starvation" which he suffered in Boston, and also referred to the compunctions of conscience he experienced when surreptitiously reading a volume of Miss Edgeworth's tales. This belonged to the forbidden class of fiction, and its reading was looked upon as a frivolity. He remained with his uncle in Boston about four years, and decided in 1829 to try his chances of securing a livelihood in New York City. From Brunswick he journeyed to Boston by sea, and again took ship thence to New York. Here he very soon became engaged in literary work, and during the first year after his arrival, when he was fifteen years old, he began a historical manual which was completed in three years time. In 1833 he completed and published through West and Trow a weekly chronicle entitled the Publishers' Advertiser. He undertook to review the current publications, which in that year included the first volume of Bancroft's "United States," Abbotts' "Young Christian," Mrs. Sigourney's "Sketches," and Cooper's "Letters to My Countrymen."
His first introduction to the book trade was made very shortly after his arrival. He speaks of his first studies as concerning paragraphs in the papers beginning "Boy Wanted." His second application was made at a little book and stationery store on Broadway, near Maiden Lane, where he engaged himself to do errands, sweep, etc., for which he was to receive a wage of $25 a year, and board in the family of his employer, Mr. George W. Bleecker, who lived over his store. For a short time he was engged as a canvasser in the interst of a quarto monthly published by Mr. Bleecker, which took him on a cruise up the Hudson river. He was subsequently employed as first clerk in the Park Place Home, an emporium of literature and art, and still later was general clerk and messenger for Mr. Jonathan Leaavitt, in a two-story building at the corner of John street and Broadway, Mr. Leavitt being the leading publisher of theological and religious books. About this time Mr. Daniel Appleton, founder of the great house of D. Appleton & Company, became connected with Mr. Leavitt. In that era an edition of one thousand copies of a new book was the average, and those of five hundred copies were as usual as any exceeding two thousand. After Mr. Appleton had established his own business, he and Mr. Leavitt published jointly an edition of one thousand copies, including some four hundred pages, prepared by young Putnam, entitled "Chronology, an Introduction and Index to Unviversal History." It had been prepared originally for his own benefit as a reference. It was his custom in these times to repair to the Mercantile Library, then recently opened, after the closing of the store where he was employed, which was usually after nine o'clock. He read almost exclusively works of history. In the shop of Mr. Leavitt he was advanced to two dollars per week, and after a few months to four dollars. With this large income he felt able to buy a seat in church. In 1833 he entered the employ of Wiley & Long, publishers and booksellers. In 1840 he became a partner, and the firm was styled Wiley & Putnam, Mr. Wiley being about one year the senior of Mr. Putnam. At that time the Appletons and J. & J. Harper were the leading publishers in New York, and the principal retail bookstores were Stanford & Swords. A very large proportion of the books then sold in New York were improted from England. In the firm of Wiley & Putnam the publishing division was in charge of the junior partner, while the senior gave his attention chiefly to the selling. Mr. Putnam held to the view that contemporary authors should have their proper share in the publication of their works, and he became intimately associated with Bryant, Matthews, Halleck, Cooper & Fay. In 1840 he made his first business journey to England, in the effort to establish a closer relation between the book trades of the two countries, and in 1841 he made a second journey to London and established a branch house in that city in Paternoster Row, the old-time center of the London book trade. The business of this agency was the sale of American books and the purchase of English publications for sale in the U. S. Thus began the great publishing hosue, now having a world-wide reputation, and known as G. P. Putnam's Sons, and which still (1908) maintains a London publication office. The firm of George P. Putnam was established in 1848, and in 1853 began the publication of Putnam's Monthly, which is now in the fifty-sixth year of its existence.
In 1862 Mr. Putnam was appointed by President Lincoln collector of internal revenue of New York, and this position he acceptabley filled for three years. His activities in connection with the spread of literature and art were numerous, and he was a founder, and at the time of his death honorary superintendent, of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 1872 he was chairman of the American committee on art at the Vienna Exposition.
His literary work was early recognized by Bowdoin Colelge, which conferred upon him in 1853 the honorary degree of A. M. The career of Mr. Putnam furnishes an excellent example of the fact that a liberal education is not indispensable in the development of one's best powers if he be an earnest and painstakin student. He was accustomed to refer humorously to the granitng of this degree as a reward for his services in spreading the alarm on one occasion, when a fire broke out in the college buildings at Brunswick, while he was a small boy.
He married, in May, 1841, in New York, Victorine Haven, born in 1824, daughter of Joseph Haven and of his second wife, Mary Parsons Tuttle. Joseph Haven was a son of......

(Trans note: the next two pages are missing, so there'll be a gap here. Whether or not the Putnam material ended on those missing pages we shall see, but I suspect it did. Hmmm. If these two pages show up later I'll insert them here.).

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