Joseph Putnam (1669-1724) was the son of Thomas Putnam (?-1686) and his second wife, Mary Veren (?-1695). In 1690. Joseph married Elizabeth Porter (?-1746), and moved her into the Putnam House, built by Thomas Putnam in 1648. [. . .] Here was born Israel Putnam (1717/18-1790), the famous future General, the youngest, but one, of the thirteen children of Joseph and Elizabeth Porter Putnam. (Find A Grave Memorial# 8046.) [. . .]
A century ago, the Putnam ancestry in England was published in New England Families, Third Series, Vol II, William Richard Cutter, ed. (Lewis: New York, 1915, pp. 1075-76). Many of the Putnam links in New England Families, especially the earlier ones, appear with the caveat "believed to be."
The New England Families ancestry appears as follows: Simon de Puttenham (?-aft 1199), who held the Puttenham Manor, followed by Sir Ralph (?-aft 1217), Richard (?-aft 1273), John (?-aft 1291). Thomas Puttenham I (?-?), married Helen, daughter of _____ Spigornell. Thomas and Helen were the parents of Henry and older brother Roger Puttenham (b/f 1300-aft 1322). Roger was sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1322 and husband of Aliva _____; their son was Henry I (1300-1350), father of Sir Roger Puttenham (abt 1320-abt 1380). Sir Roger was the father of William Puttenham I (?-?) of Puttenham Pen, Sherfield, Warbelton; William's wife was Margaret de Warbelton. Margaret was the daughter of John de Warbelton (?-?) seated at Warbelton, Sussex, Sherfield on London. Margaret's mother was Katherine, daughter of Sir John de Fokle, of Foxle, Bramshel and Apuldrefield.
William and Margaret were the parents of Henry Puttenham II (b/f 1408-July 6, 1473), husband of Elizabeth, widow of Geoffry Goodluck. Elizabeth's will is dated Dec 25, 1485; in it she asked to be buried at the Chapel of St Mary the Virgin in All Saints of Istleworth. Henry and Elizabeth were the parents of William Puttenham II (abt 1430-1492), husband of Anne, daughter of John Hampden (?-?) of Hampden, County Bucks. William's will was dated July 10, 1492 and proved at Lambeth. William directed that he be buried before the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the chapel within the church of the Hospital of the Blessed Mary, known as Elsingspytell, London. The children of William and Anne Puttenham were Sir George (heir and knight), Edmund of Puttenham, Nicholas, Frideswide, Elizabeth, Alionore, Brigide, and Agnes.
Nicholas Puttenham (abt 1460-abt 1526) of Putnam Place, was the father of John and Henry III (1460/75-aft 1526), who probably lived at Eddlesborough; Henry's three sons were Richard, John of Slapton and Hawridge and Thomas of Eddlesborough. Richard Putnam (1490/1500-1556/7) lived at Eddlesborough and Woughton. His will is dated Dec 12, 1556, proved Feb 26, 1557. In it he directed that he be buried at the church in Woughton. Richard was the father of John II, Harry of Woughton and Joan. John Putnam II (1520/25-1568) lived at Rowsham in Wingrave, where he was buried on Jan 27, 1568. John II was the father of Nicholas II, Richard of Wingrave, Thomas of Rowsham, and Margaret, who married Godfrey Johnson on June 14, 1573 at Wingrave.
Nicholas Putnam II (1540/50-1598), son of John II lived at Wingrave and, after about 1585, at Stewkeley. Nicholas' will was dated Jan 1, 1597 and proved Sept 27, 1598. Nicholas married Margaret Goodspeed (1556-1618/19) on Jan 30, 1577 at Wingrave. Margaret was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Goodspeed. Margaret was baptized, Aug 16, 1556 at Wingrave and buried at Ashton Abbots Jan 8, 1618/19. Her second husband was William Huxley. The children of Elizabeth and Nicholas Putnam (all baptized at Wingrave) were Anne (Oct 12, 1578), John (Jan 17, 1579), Elizabeth (Feb 11, 1581), Thomas (Sept 20, 1584) and Richard.
John Putnam (1579-1662), 12th Putnam (Puttenham) in this line, son of Nicholas and Margaret Putnam, was the immigrant ancestor. John lived on his inherited estates at Ashton Abbots until he immigrated to Massachusetts by 1640/41, when he received a grant of land and where his wife Priscilla Deacon (?-?) [Priscilla Gould?]was enrolled in the church in Salem, MA. John was enrolled on April 4, 1647. John and Priscilla were the parents of Elizabeth, Thomas II (1614-1686), John, Nathaniel, Phoebe, and John. Thomas Putnam II was the father of Joseph (1669-1724) and grandfather of the famous Israel Putnam (1717/18-1790) (See ALL OF THE ABOVE I, p. 297.) Three generations of Putnams (John, Thomas, Joseph) were among the few prominent, wealthy families in tiny Salem Villege, MA in the 17th century. [. . .]
Joseph's wife, Elizabeth came from relative wealth. Her father, Israel Porter (1643-1706) was a merchant and holder of extensive lands around Salem Villege.
Israel's parents were Mary ______ and John Porter (?-abt 1673) Israel Porter's wife (and so Elizabeth Porter Putnam's mother) was Elizabeth Hathorne (1649-?), daughter of Anne (Smith ?) (abt 1612-aft 1681) and the prominent Puritan magistrate William Hathorn(e) (1606/07-1681), who became famous as a persecutor of all enemies to the Puritan order, both criminals in the eyes of the state and heretics in the eyes of the church. [. . .]
Putnams, Porters and Hathorns played crucial rolls on all sides of the witch trials in Salem in 1692. Joseph Putnam denounced the toxic hysteria and his father-in-law Israel Porter held to similar opinions and worked unsuccessfully for the release of some of the accused. Meanwhile several Putnam girls and women brought early accusations and testified against the accused, some of whom were interrogated and found guilty by Elizabeth Hathorn Porter's brother, Magistrate John Hathorn. The witnesses provided details of terrifying visitations to which they were being subjected by the "witches" among their own neighbors. Example: two children, Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam accused Bridget Bishop of attempting to make them sign "the devil's Book."
New England Families, our source, states (p. 1077) that Ann Putnam, 12, a granddaughter of Thomas II (daughter of Thomas III) "was the most prominent child" among prosecution witnesses during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and "was the cause of more of the imprisonments than was any other one person." (For some Trial details and the conduct of Putnam family members, see ALL OF THE ABOVE I, page 307-13). New England Families states that in 1706 Ann Putnam "made a pubic confession" of her regretted role as an accuser of witches in Salem fifteen years before. Ann stood while her apology was read before the congregation. Her confession came very late for two dozen people, who were executed because of the hysterical accusations of "weak and excitable" witnesses.
There is some likelihood that young Ann Putnam was manipulated by her parents, Thomas and Ann Putnam, who were active in prodding her and other young girls into making denunciations. After both her parents died in 1699, Ann, age 19, became responsible for raising her siblings, who ranged in age from 7 months to 18 years. Ann never married and died in 1716 at 37 years of age. [. . .]
His many descendents may find encouragement in the example of Joseph Putnam (1669-1724), father of the first Israel. Joseph has been credited with voicing strong objections to the witchcraft hysteria, which pervaded Salem and the surrounding communities in 1692. Joseph Putnam was contemptuous of the proceedings even though his wife's uncle was a prosecutor/judge at the trials and despite threats of violence directed against him by some of his own Putnam relatives. Joseph was probably too well placed to be in any real danger. The witch-accusations suffered not only from an inherent cruel absurdity but also from a class elitism, which found its victims in the lower social ranks. [. . .]
A century ago, the Putnam ancestry in England was published in New England Families, Third Series, Vol II, William Richard Cutter, ed. (Lewis: New York, 1915, pp. 1075-76). Many of the Putnam links in New England Families, especially the earlier ones, appear with the caveat "believed to be."
The New England Families ancestry appears as follows: Simon de Puttenham (?-aft 1199), who held the Puttenham Manor, followed by Sir Ralph (?-aft 1217), Richard (?-aft 1273), John (?-aft 1291). Thomas Puttenham I (?-?), married Helen, daughter of _____ Spigornell. Thomas and Helen were the parents of Henry and older brother Roger Puttenham (b/f 1300-aft 1322). Roger was sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1322 and husband of Aliva _____; their son was Henry I (1300-1350), father of Sir Roger Puttenham (abt 1320-abt 1380). Sir Roger was the father of William Puttenham I (?-?) of Puttenham Pen, Sherfield, Warbelton; William's wife was Margaret de Warbelton. Margaret was the daughter of John de Warbelton (?-?) seated at Warbelton, Sussex, Sherfield on London. Margaret's mother was Katherine, daughter of Sir John de Fokle, of Foxle, Bramshel and Apuldrefield.
William and Margaret were the parents of Henry Puttenham II (b/f 1408-July 6, 1473), husband of Elizabeth, widow of Geoffry Goodluck. Elizabeth's will is dated Dec 25, 1485; in it she asked to be buried at the Chapel of St Mary the Virgin in All Saints of Istleworth. Henry and Elizabeth were the parents of William Puttenham II (abt 1430-1492), husband of Anne, daughter of John Hampden (?-?) of Hampden, County Bucks. William's will was dated July 10, 1492 and proved at Lambeth. William directed that he be buried before the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the chapel within the church of the Hospital of the Blessed Mary, known as Elsingspytell, London. The children of William and Anne Puttenham were Sir George (heir and knight), Edmund of Puttenham, Nicholas, Frideswide, Elizabeth, Alionore, Brigide, and Agnes.
Nicholas Puttenham (abt 1460-abt 1526) of Putnam Place, was the father of John and Henry III (1460/75-aft 1526), who probably lived at Eddlesborough; Henry's three sons were Richard, John of Slapton and Hawridge and Thomas of Eddlesborough. Richard Putnam (1490/1500-1556/7) lived at Eddlesborough and Woughton. His will is dated Dec 12, 1556, proved Feb 26, 1557. In it he directed that he be buried at the church in Woughton. Richard was the father of John II, Harry of Woughton and Joan. John Putnam II (1520/25-1568) lived at Rowsham in Wingrave, where he was buried on Jan 27, 1568. John II was the father of Nicholas II, Richard of Wingrave, Thomas of Rowsham, and Margaret, who married Godfrey Johnson on June 14, 1573 at Wingrave.
Nicholas Putnam II (1540/50-1598), son of John II lived at Wingrave and, after about 1585, at Stewkeley. Nicholas' will was dated Jan 1, 1597 and proved Sept 27, 1598. Nicholas married Margaret Goodspeed (1556-1618/19) on Jan 30, 1577 at Wingrave. Margaret was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Goodspeed. Margaret was baptized, Aug 16, 1556 at Wingrave and buried at Ashton Abbots Jan 8, 1618/19. Her second husband was William Huxley. The children of Elizabeth and Nicholas Putnam (all baptized at Wingrave) were Anne (Oct 12, 1578), John (Jan 17, 1579), Elizabeth (Feb 11, 1581), Thomas (Sept 20, 1584) and Richard.
John Putnam (1579-1662), 12th Putnam (Puttenham) in this line, son of Nicholas and Margaret Putnam, was the immigrant ancestor. John lived on his inherited estates at Ashton Abbots until he immigrated to Massachusetts by 1640/41, when he received a grant of land and where his wife Priscilla Deacon (?-?) [Priscilla Gould?]was enrolled in the church in Salem, MA. John was enrolled on April 4, 1647. John and Priscilla were the parents of Elizabeth, Thomas II (1614-1686), John, Nathaniel, Phoebe, and John. Thomas Putnam II was the father of Joseph (1669-1724) and grandfather of the famous Israel Putnam (1717/18-1790) (See ALL OF THE ABOVE I, p. 297.) Three generations of Putnams (John, Thomas, Joseph) were among the few prominent, wealthy families in tiny Salem Villege, MA in the 17th century. [. . .]
Joseph's wife, Elizabeth came from relative wealth. Her father, Israel Porter (1643-1706) was a merchant and holder of extensive lands around Salem Villege.
Israel's parents were Mary ______ and John Porter (?-abt 1673) Israel Porter's wife (and so Elizabeth Porter Putnam's mother) was Elizabeth Hathorne (1649-?), daughter of Anne (Smith ?) (abt 1612-aft 1681) and the prominent Puritan magistrate William Hathorn(e) (1606/07-1681), who became famous as a persecutor of all enemies to the Puritan order, both criminals in the eyes of the state and heretics in the eyes of the church. [. . .]
Putnams, Porters and Hathorns played crucial rolls on all sides of the witch trials in Salem in 1692. Joseph Putnam denounced the toxic hysteria and his father-in-law Israel Porter held to similar opinions and worked unsuccessfully for the release of some of the accused. Meanwhile several Putnam girls and women brought early accusations and testified against the accused, some of whom were interrogated and found guilty by Elizabeth Hathorn Porter's brother, Magistrate John Hathorn. The witnesses provided details of terrifying visitations to which they were being subjected by the "witches" among their own neighbors. Example: two children, Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam accused Bridget Bishop of attempting to make them sign "the devil's Book."
New England Families, our source, states (p. 1077) that Ann Putnam, 12, a granddaughter of Thomas II (daughter of Thomas III) "was the most prominent child" among prosecution witnesses during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and "was the cause of more of the imprisonments than was any other one person." (For some Trial details and the conduct of Putnam family members, see ALL OF THE ABOVE I, page 307-13). New England Families states that in 1706 Ann Putnam "made a pubic confession" of her regretted role as an accuser of witches in Salem fifteen years before. Ann stood while her apology was read before the congregation. Her confession came very late for two dozen people, who were executed because of the hysterical accusations of "weak and excitable" witnesses.
There is some likelihood that young Ann Putnam was manipulated by her parents, Thomas and Ann Putnam, who were active in prodding her and other young girls into making denunciations. After both her parents died in 1699, Ann, age 19, became responsible for raising her siblings, who ranged in age from 7 months to 18 years. Ann never married and died in 1716 at 37 years of age. [. . .]
His many descendents may find encouragement in the example of Joseph Putnam (1669-1724), father of the first Israel. Joseph has been credited with voicing strong objections to the witchcraft hysteria, which pervaded Salem and the surrounding communities in 1692. Joseph Putnam was contemptuous of the proceedings even though his wife's uncle was a prosecutor/judge at the trials and despite threats of violence directed against him by some of his own Putnam relatives. Joseph was probably too well placed to be in any real danger. The witch-accusations suffered not only from an inherent cruel absurdity but also from a class elitism, which found its victims in the lower social ranks. [. . .]
Joseph Putnam (1669-1724) was the son of Thomas Putnam (?-1686) and his second wife, Mary Veren (?-1695). In 1690. Joseph married Elizabeth Porter (?-1746), and moved her into the Putnam House, built by Thomas Putnam in 1648. [. . .] Here was born Israel Putnam (1717/18-1790), the famous future General, the youngest, but one, of the thirteen children of Joseph and Elizabeth Porter Putnam. (Find A Grave Memorial# 8046.) [. . .]
A century ago, the Putnam ancestry in England was published in New England Families, Third Series, Vol II, William Richard Cutter, ed. (Lewis: New York, 1915, pp. 1075-76). Many of the Putnam links in New England Families, especially the earlier ones, appear with the caveat "believed to be."
The New England Families ancestry appears as follows: Simon de Puttenham (?-aft 1199), who held the Puttenham Manor, followed by Sir Ralph (?-aft 1217), Richard (?-aft 1273), John (?-aft 1291). Thomas Puttenham I (?-?), married Helen, daughter of _____ Spigornell. Thomas and Helen were the parents of Henry and older brother Roger Puttenham (b/f 1300-aft 1322). Roger was sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1322 and husband of Aliva _____; their son was Henry I (1300-1350), father of Sir Roger Puttenham (abt 1320-abt 1380). Sir Roger was the father of William Puttenham I (?-?) of Puttenham Pen, Sherfield, Warbelton; William's wife was Margaret de Warbelton. Margaret was the daughter of John de Warbelton (?-?) seated at Warbelton, Sussex, Sherfield on London. Margaret's mother was Katherine, daughter of Sir John de Fokle, of Foxle, Bramshel and Apuldrefield.
William and Margaret were the parents of Henry Puttenham II (b/f 1408-July 6, 1473), husband of Elizabeth, widow of Geoffry Goodluck. Elizabeth's will is dated Dec 25, 1485; in it she asked to be buried at the Chapel of St Mary the Virgin in All Saints of Istleworth. Henry and Elizabeth were the parents of William Puttenham II (abt 1430-1492), husband of Anne, daughter of John Hampden (?-?) of Hampden, County Bucks. William's will was dated July 10, 1492 and proved at Lambeth. William directed that he be buried before the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the chapel within the church of the Hospital of the Blessed Mary, known as Elsingspytell, London. The children of William and Anne Puttenham were Sir George (heir and knight), Edmund of Puttenham, Nicholas, Frideswide, Elizabeth, Alionore, Brigide, and Agnes.
Nicholas Puttenham (abt 1460-abt 1526) of Putnam Place, was the father of John and Henry III (1460/75-aft 1526), who probably lived at Eddlesborough; Henry's three sons were Richard, John of Slapton and Hawridge and Thomas of Eddlesborough. Richard Putnam (1490/1500-1556/7) lived at Eddlesborough and Woughton. His will is dated Dec 12, 1556, proved Feb 26, 1557. In it he directed that he be buried at the church in Woughton. Richard was the father of John II, Harry of Woughton and Joan. John Putnam II (1520/25-1568) lived at Rowsham in Wingrave, where he was buried on Jan 27, 1568. John II was the father of Nicholas II, Richard of Wingrave, Thomas of Rowsham, and Margaret, who married Godfrey Johnson on June 14, 1573 at Wingrave.
Nicholas Putnam II (1540/50-1598), son of John II lived at Wingrave and, after about 1585, at Stewkeley. Nicholas' will was dated Jan 1, 1597 and proved Sept 27, 1598. Nicholas married Margaret Goodspeed (1556-1618/19) on Jan 30, 1577 at Wingrave. Margaret was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Goodspeed. Margaret was baptized, Aug 16, 1556 at Wingrave and buried at Ashton Abbots Jan 8, 1618/19. Her second husband was William Huxley. The children of Elizabeth and Nicholas Putnam (all baptized at Wingrave) were Anne (Oct 12, 1578), John (Jan 17, 1579), Elizabeth (Feb 11, 1581), Thomas (Sept 20, 1584) and Richard.
John Putnam (1579-1662), 12th Putnam (Puttenham) in this line, son of Nicholas and Margaret Putnam, was the immigrant ancestor. John lived on his inherited estates at Ashton Abbots until he immigrated to Massachusetts by 1640/41, when he received a grant of land and where his wife Priscilla Deacon (?-?) [Priscilla Gould?]was enrolled in the church in Salem, MA. John was enrolled on April 4, 1647. John and Priscilla were the parents of Elizabeth, Thomas II (1614-1686), John, Nathaniel, Phoebe, and John. Thomas Putnam II was the father of Joseph (1669-1724) and grandfather of the famous Israel Putnam (1717/18-1790) (See ALL OF THE ABOVE I, p. 297.) Three generations of Putnams (John, Thomas, Joseph) were among the few prominent, wealthy families in tiny Salem Villege, MA in the 17th century. [. . .]
Joseph's wife, Elizabeth came from relative wealth. Her father, Israel Porter (1643-1706) was a merchant and holder of extensive lands around Salem Villege.
Israel's parents were Mary ______ and John Porter (?-abt 1673) Israel Porter's wife (and so Elizabeth Porter Putnam's mother) was Elizabeth Hathorne (1649-?), daughter of Anne (Smith ?) (abt 1612-aft 1681) and the prominent Puritan magistrate William Hathorn(e) (1606/07-1681), who became famous as a persecutor of all enemies to the Puritan order, both criminals in the eyes of the state and heretics in the eyes of the church. [. . .]
Putnams, Porters and Hathorns played crucial rolls on all sides of the witch trials in Salem in 1692. Joseph Putnam denounced the toxic hysteria and his father-in-law Israel Porter held to similar opinions and worked unsuccessfully for the release of some of the accused. Meanwhile several Putnam girls and women brought early accusations and testified against the accused, some of whom were interrogated and found guilty by Elizabeth Hathorn Porter's brother, Magistrate John Hathorn. The witnesses provided details of terrifying visitations to which they were being subjected by the "witches" among their own neighbors. Example: two children, Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam accused Bridget Bishop of attempting to make them sign "the devil's Book."
New England Families, our source, states (p. 1077) that Ann Putnam, 12, a granddaughter of Thomas II (daughter of Thomas III) "was the most prominent child" among prosecution witnesses during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and "was the cause of more of the imprisonments than was any other one person." (For some Trial details and the conduct of Putnam family members, see ALL OF THE ABOVE I, page 307-13). New England Families states that in 1706 Ann Putnam "made a pubic confession" of her regretted role as an accuser of witches in Salem fifteen years before. Ann stood while her apology was read before the congregation. Her confession came very late for two dozen people, who were executed because of the hysterical accusations of "weak and excitable" witnesses.
There is some likelihood that young Ann Putnam was manipulated by her parents, Thomas and Ann Putnam, who were active in prodding her and other young girls into making denunciations. After both her parents died in 1699, Ann, age 19, became responsible for raising her siblings, who ranged in age from 7 months to 18 years. Ann never married and died in 1716 at 37 years of age. [. . .]
His many descendents may find encouragement in the example of Joseph Putnam (1669-1724), father of the first Israel. Joseph has been credited with voicing strong objections to the witchcraft hysteria, which pervaded Salem and the surrounding communities in 1692. Joseph Putnam was contemptuous of the proceedings even though his wife's uncle was a prosecutor/judge at the trials and despite threats of violence directed against him by some of his own Putnam relatives. Joseph was probably too well placed to be in any real danger. The witch-accusations suffered not only from an inherent cruel absurdity but also from a class elitism, which found its victims in the lower social ranks. [. . .]
A century ago, the Putnam ancestry in England was published in New England Families, Third Series, Vol II, William Richard Cutter, ed. (Lewis: New York, 1915, pp. 1075-76). Many of the Putnam links in New England Families, especially the earlier ones, appear with the caveat "believed to be."
The New England Families ancestry appears as follows: Simon de Puttenham (?-aft 1199), who held the Puttenham Manor, followed by Sir Ralph (?-aft 1217), Richard (?-aft 1273), John (?-aft 1291). Thomas Puttenham I (?-?), married Helen, daughter of _____ Spigornell. Thomas and Helen were the parents of Henry and older brother Roger Puttenham (b/f 1300-aft 1322). Roger was sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1322 and husband of Aliva _____; their son was Henry I (1300-1350), father of Sir Roger Puttenham (abt 1320-abt 1380). Sir Roger was the father of William Puttenham I (?-?) of Puttenham Pen, Sherfield, Warbelton; William's wife was Margaret de Warbelton. Margaret was the daughter of John de Warbelton (?-?) seated at Warbelton, Sussex, Sherfield on London. Margaret's mother was Katherine, daughter of Sir John de Fokle, of Foxle, Bramshel and Apuldrefield.
William and Margaret were the parents of Henry Puttenham II (b/f 1408-July 6, 1473), husband of Elizabeth, widow of Geoffry Goodluck. Elizabeth's will is dated Dec 25, 1485; in it she asked to be buried at the Chapel of St Mary the Virgin in All Saints of Istleworth. Henry and Elizabeth were the parents of William Puttenham II (abt 1430-1492), husband of Anne, daughter of John Hampden (?-?) of Hampden, County Bucks. William's will was dated July 10, 1492 and proved at Lambeth. William directed that he be buried before the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the chapel within the church of the Hospital of the Blessed Mary, known as Elsingspytell, London. The children of William and Anne Puttenham were Sir George (heir and knight), Edmund of Puttenham, Nicholas, Frideswide, Elizabeth, Alionore, Brigide, and Agnes.
Nicholas Puttenham (abt 1460-abt 1526) of Putnam Place, was the father of John and Henry III (1460/75-aft 1526), who probably lived at Eddlesborough; Henry's three sons were Richard, John of Slapton and Hawridge and Thomas of Eddlesborough. Richard Putnam (1490/1500-1556/7) lived at Eddlesborough and Woughton. His will is dated Dec 12, 1556, proved Feb 26, 1557. In it he directed that he be buried at the church in Woughton. Richard was the father of John II, Harry of Woughton and Joan. John Putnam II (1520/25-1568) lived at Rowsham in Wingrave, where he was buried on Jan 27, 1568. John II was the father of Nicholas II, Richard of Wingrave, Thomas of Rowsham, and Margaret, who married Godfrey Johnson on June 14, 1573 at Wingrave.
Nicholas Putnam II (1540/50-1598), son of John II lived at Wingrave and, after about 1585, at Stewkeley. Nicholas' will was dated Jan 1, 1597 and proved Sept 27, 1598. Nicholas married Margaret Goodspeed (1556-1618/19) on Jan 30, 1577 at Wingrave. Margaret was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Goodspeed. Margaret was baptized, Aug 16, 1556 at Wingrave and buried at Ashton Abbots Jan 8, 1618/19. Her second husband was William Huxley. The children of Elizabeth and Nicholas Putnam (all baptized at Wingrave) were Anne (Oct 12, 1578), John (Jan 17, 1579), Elizabeth (Feb 11, 1581), Thomas (Sept 20, 1584) and Richard.
John Putnam (1579-1662), 12th Putnam (Puttenham) in this line, son of Nicholas and Margaret Putnam, was the immigrant ancestor. John lived on his inherited estates at Ashton Abbots until he immigrated to Massachusetts by 1640/41, when he received a grant of land and where his wife Priscilla Deacon (?-?) [Priscilla Gould?]was enrolled in the church in Salem, MA. John was enrolled on April 4, 1647. John and Priscilla were the parents of Elizabeth, Thomas II (1614-1686), John, Nathaniel, Phoebe, and John. Thomas Putnam II was the father of Joseph (1669-1724) and grandfather of the famous Israel Putnam (1717/18-1790) (See ALL OF THE ABOVE I, p. 297.) Three generations of Putnams (John, Thomas, Joseph) were among the few prominent, wealthy families in tiny Salem Villege, MA in the 17th century. [. . .]
Joseph's wife, Elizabeth came from relative wealth. Her father, Israel Porter (1643-1706) was a merchant and holder of extensive lands around Salem Villege.
Israel's parents were Mary ______ and John Porter (?-abt 1673) Israel Porter's wife (and so Elizabeth Porter Putnam's mother) was Elizabeth Hathorne (1649-?), daughter of Anne (Smith ?) (abt 1612-aft 1681) and the prominent Puritan magistrate William Hathorn(e) (1606/07-1681), who became famous as a persecutor of all enemies to the Puritan order, both criminals in the eyes of the state and heretics in the eyes of the church. [. . .]
Putnams, Porters and Hathorns played crucial rolls on all sides of the witch trials in Salem in 1692. Joseph Putnam denounced the toxic hysteria and his father-in-law Israel Porter held to similar opinions and worked unsuccessfully for the release of some of the accused. Meanwhile several Putnam girls and women brought early accusations and testified against the accused, some of whom were interrogated and found guilty by Elizabeth Hathorn Porter's brother, Magistrate John Hathorn. The witnesses provided details of terrifying visitations to which they were being subjected by the "witches" among their own neighbors. Example: two children, Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam accused Bridget Bishop of attempting to make them sign "the devil's Book."
New England Families, our source, states (p. 1077) that Ann Putnam, 12, a granddaughter of Thomas II (daughter of Thomas III) "was the most prominent child" among prosecution witnesses during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and "was the cause of more of the imprisonments than was any other one person." (For some Trial details and the conduct of Putnam family members, see ALL OF THE ABOVE I, page 307-13). New England Families states that in 1706 Ann Putnam "made a pubic confession" of her regretted role as an accuser of witches in Salem fifteen years before. Ann stood while her apology was read before the congregation. Her confession came very late for two dozen people, who were executed because of the hysterical accusations of "weak and excitable" witnesses.
There is some likelihood that young Ann Putnam was manipulated by her parents, Thomas and Ann Putnam, who were active in prodding her and other young girls into making denunciations. After both her parents died in 1699, Ann, age 19, became responsible for raising her siblings, who ranged in age from 7 months to 18 years. Ann never married and died in 1716 at 37 years of age. [. . .]
His many descendents may find encouragement in the example of Joseph Putnam (1669-1724), father of the first Israel. Joseph has been credited with voicing strong objections to the witchcraft hysteria, which pervaded Salem and the surrounding communities in 1692. Joseph Putnam was contemptuous of the proceedings even though his wife's uncle was a prosecutor/judge at the trials and despite threats of violence directed against him by some of his own Putnam relatives. Joseph was probably too well placed to be in any real danger. The witch-accusations suffered not only from an inherent cruel absurdity but also from a class elitism, which found its victims in the lower social ranks. [. . .]
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