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ALBERT D. PUTNAM BIOGRAPHY AS RECORDED IN: COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES. PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO;
1903 P. 552 - ALBERT D. PUTNAM, one of the highly respected citizens of Danielson, Windham county, is a lineal descendant of that hero of other days, and who as long as this Republic endures will be honored, Israel Putnam. The Putnams have an old and established ancestry, reaching as far into the past as 1580. John Putnam, born about 1580, of Aston Abbotts, County Bucks, England, came to New England, according to family tradition, in 1634; is of record in Salem, Mass., in 1641. He married, in England, Priscilla (probably Gould), who was admitted to the Church in Salem in 1641. John Putnam was admitted in 1647, and was made a freeman in the same year. He was a farmer, and for the times, was exceedingly wealthy. His death occurred in Salem Village, now Danvers, Dec. 30, 1662. Lieut. Thomas Putnam, son of John, was baptized at Aston Abbotts, England, March 7, 1614-5, married (second) at Salem, Sept. 14, 1666, Mary Veren, widow of Nathaniel, a rich merchant formerly of Salem. Lieut. Putnam was prominent in public, military and ecclesiastical affairs, was the first parish clerk of Salem Village, was grand juror and constable, and received a number of important appointments. In 1640 he was an inhabitant of Lynn, a freeman there in 1642, and one of the seven selectmen in 1643. He was admitted to the church in Salem, April 3, 1643, and his death occurred at Salem Village May 5, 1686. Joseph Putnam, son of Lieut. Putnam, was born April 14, 1669, in Salem Village, married, April 21, 1690, Elizabeth, born Oct. 7, 1673, daughter of Israel and Elizabeth (Hathorne) Porter. Mr. Putnam will always be remembered for his opposition to Mr. Parris and the witchcraft trials. He opposed from first to last the proceedings which disgraced Danvers and his immediate relatives and friends at the peril of his own life. He died in Salem Village in 1724-25. Gen. Israel Putnam, son of Joseph, born
Jan. 7, 1717-18, in Salem Village, now Danvers, married (first) at Danvers,
July 19, 1739, Hannah, baptized there Sept. 3, 1721, daughter of Joseph
and Mehitabel (Putnam) Pope, of Danvers. She died in Brooklyn, Conn., Sept.
6, 1765, and he married (second), June 3, 1767, Widow Deborah (Lothrop)
Gardiner, daughter of Samuel and Deborah (Crow) Lothrop, of Norwich, Conn.,
and the widow of John Gardiner, fifth proprietor of Gardiner’s Island.
Soon after his marriage and the birth of his first child Mr. Putnam removed
to Pomfret, Conn., purchasing, in connection with his brother-in-law, John
Pope, about 500 acres of land in that part of Pomfret which, in 1786, became
Brooklyn. This land he became the sole owner of in 1741. He was a thrifty
and highly prosperous farmer, and was an earnest and helpful friend to all
the best interests of the settlement. He was prompt to offer his services
in the French and Indian war when the New England Colonies were called upon
for a large military force, and he was at once placed in command of a company
which he had raised, and he figured more of less prominently in the campaigns
for ten years following 1755-56, acquiring a great reputation as a soldier
and hero. He was promoted major in 1757, and later lieutenant-colonel and
colonel in 1764. He was foremost in making the “stamp act” impossible
in Connecticut, and from the hour of its passage stood forth as a ready
and resolute defender of the imperilled liberties of Between the close of the French and
Indian war and the outbreak of the Revolution, Col. Putnam received many
marks of the confidence of his Of Putnam, Washington Irving wrote: “A yeoman warrior, fresh from the plough, in the garb of rural laborer, a patriot brave and generous, but rough and ready, who thought not of himself in times of danger but was ready to serve in any way and to sacrifice official rank and self-glorification to the good of the cause. He was eminently a soldier for the occasion. His name has long been a favorite one with young and old, one of the talismanic names of the Revolution, the very mention of which is like the sound of a trumpet. Such names are the precious jewels of our history, to be garnered up among the treasures of the nation and kept immaculate from the tarnishing breath of the cynic and the doubter.” Daniel Putnam, son of Gen. Israel, born in Pomfret (now Brooklyn), Conn., Nov. 18, 1759, married, in Boston, Sept. 2, 1782, Catherine, daughter of Shrimpton and Elizabeth (Malbone) Hutchinson, born in Boston April 11, 1757, and was occupied in farming on a large scale, owning some 400 or 500 acres in Brooklyn, Conn. He was a man of much worth, a Whig in politics, and he was a member of the Episcopal Church. His death occurred April 30, 1831, and his wife died Oct. 31, 1844, in Hartford. William Putnam, son of Daniel, born
Jan. 1, 1783, married, April 17, 1805, Mary, born April 17, 1786, daughter
of Ebenezer and Mary (Payne) Spalding, of Brooklyn. Mr. Putnam died in
Brooklyn Dec. 5, 1846, and his wife passed away Dec. 29, 1880. Mr. Putnam
was a farmer in Brooklyn, Conn., and held various town offices. He was
highly respected and held a prominent place in the community and both he
and wife belonged to the Brooklyn Episcopal Church. The children of William
Putnam were: (1) Caroline M., born Feb. 17, 1806, died April 10, 1882.
On Jan. 6, 1834, she was married to Edward Fogg, who was born in Brooklyn,
July 1, 1797, and who became one of the town’s most representative
men. In politics he was first a Whig, but after 1856 a Republican. He
served as judge of probate for several terms, also In recalling the life and services of
William H. Putnam, perhaps the biographer can do no better than to quote
from the Windham County History as follows: “William H. Putnam was
born in Holland, Mass., Feb. 2, 1812, and died July 17, 1889. In childhood
he removed with his parents to Brooklyn, Conn., where the residue of his
life was spent. The best schools obtainable at that early day afforded
him a knowledge of the elementary branches, and the work connected with
his father’s farm occupied his time until his marriage. On the 12th
of March, 1834, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza, daughter of Capt.
John Day, of Brooklyn, Conn., who died on the 27th day of May, 1880. Mr.
Putnam two years after his marriage leased the farm belonging to Capt. Day,
of which he finally became the owner. He cultivated the fertile acres,
and made it his residence until 1877, the year of his removal to the village
of Brooklyn, his son, Albert D., in the meantime succeeding to the farm
interests. Mr. Putnam interested himself with matters pertaining to his
town and as a Republican held various local offices and represented the
town in the Legislature in 1858 (**see footnote) and 1879. His prevailing
modesty and aversion to the excitement attending a To William H. and Eliza (Day) Putnam were born these children: Harriet G., born Dec. 1, 1834, died in November, 1895, unmarried; Mary, born in November, 1835, is the wife of James Perkins, of Danielson; John D., born June 19, 1837, who is a Government official stationed at Los Angeles, Cal., married Helen Lovell, and their children were: William H., Catherine E., Charles P., Sarah L., John D., Dana G., Mary and two who died young; Sarah, born June 30, 1839, died Dec. 23, 1880, unmarried; William, born Jan. 30, 1843, was killed at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864, while serving as a volunteer in Co. C, 12th Conn. V.I.; Catherine B., born Oct. 7, 1848, resides in Danielson; and Albert Day, born Feb. 25, 1852. Albert Day Putnam grew up in Brooklyn, Conn., where he attended the common schools and later the schools of Danielson, this being supplemented with a year at the New Britain Normal School. Prior to this, at the age of seventeen, he began teaching and followed this profession through eight winters, in Brooklyn, attending to farm work during the summers. His first school was on Church street, then for three terms he taught on Allen Hill and four terms in the Christian Corner district. For a time he operated the home farm, continuing until 1888, when he came to Danielson, where he has since made his home. Here he has been connected with the banks of the borough in the capacity of clerk, for a long period being with the Savings Bank, in which institution he is now a trustee, and he is a director in the Windham County National Bank. Mr. Putnam is a Republican in political sentiment, although he takes no very active part. He has, however, always taken a lively interest in educational matters, and for the past ten years has been a member of the school board. The entire family are members of the St. Alban’s Episcopal Church of Danielson. In fraternal organizations Mr. Putnam has been connected with Moriah Lodge, No. 15, A.F. & A.M., for the past twelve years; with Aetna Lodge, A.O.U.W., for some six years; and he is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. On Dec. 6, 1876, Mr. Putnam was united in marriage with Miss Harriet E. Dorrance, daughter of Charles and Jennett (Sharp) Dorrance, and to this union were born: William H., born Feb. 1, 1878, is treasurer of the Uncas Knitting Co., of Danielson; he married Adabelle C. Lyon, and has a son, Lyonel. Bertha Dorrance, born in November, 1879, died at the age of two years. Sarah J. was born July 11, 1882. Eliza Day was born May 16, 1886. Footnote: although it seems that this date should read “1878”, it is reproduced as published. THE DAY FAMILY, the maternal line of Mr. Putnam, includes many distinguished names. Capt. John Day, born March 12, 1756, was a resident of Killingly, and it was in his honor that the village of Dayville was named, he having erected the first house in what is now that pleasant village, and he also built and operated a small mill here. Capt. Day bought a large tract of land in East Brooklyn, and he took a prominent part in local affairs and was very successful in his business ventures. On Oct. 17, 1793, he was commissioned captain of the local militia, his commission being signed by Gov. Samuel Huntington. Capt. Day died March 10, 1838. His parents were James and Mary (Parkhurst) Day, the former of whom died Dec. 25, 1782, aged sixty-six years, the latter surviving until July 28, 1818, dying at the age of ninety-four years. Their children were: Capt. John, born Nov. 12, 1756; Annis, who died April 27, 1848, aged eighty-seven years; and James, Jr., who died unmarried, May 29, 1808. Capt. Day was married Jan. 25, 1781, and his children were: Lucy, born July 15, 1782; Eunice, born Sept. 12, 1783; Polly, born Aug. 2, 1785; Betsey, born Sept. 12, 1787; Calvin, born Dec. 16, 1789; John, Jr., born Feb. 16, 1792, died Jan. 28, 1864; Phila, born April 25, 1794; Susan, born June 21, 1796; Sally, born Dec. 8, 1798; Luther, born April 9, 1801; and Wealthy, born June 28, 1804. John Day, Jr., son of Capt. John, was
born at Dayville and engaged in farming near the place of his birth, though
for a short time after his Reproduced by: Linda D. Pingel – great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct. |
