Lt. Nathaniel Putnam

DEACON ? NathanielPutnam

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Putnam-86

Profile last modified 17 Mar 2021 | Created 30 Dec 2010

Nathaniel Putnam (1619 - 1700)

Deacon [uncertain] Nathaniel Putnam

Born 11 Oct 1619 in Aston Abbots, Buckinghamshire, England

Son of John Putnam Sr. and Priscilla (Gould) Putnam

Brother of Elizabeth Putnam, Thomas Putnam Sr., John Putnam, Sarah Putnam, Phoebe Putnam and John Putnam Jr.

Husband of Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Putnam — married 2 Jan 1652 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Father of
Samuel Putnam, Nathaniel Putnam, John Putnam, Joseph Putnam, Elizabeth (Putnam) Flint, Benjamin Putnam and Mary (Putnam) Tufts

Died 23 Jul 1700 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Nathaniel Putnam migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1620-1640).

Biography

Nathaniel Putnam was born about 1619. He was the son of John Putnam and Priscilla Gould. Nathaniel was bapt. at Aston Abbots, 11 Oct. 1619.[1]

Arrival in Salem, Massachusetts

From Pioneers of Massachusetts:

"Putnam, Nathaniel (who deposed 30 (1) 1685, [aged] about 65 years, that he had lived 46 yrs. in Salem,) m. Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Hutchinson"; thus the year of arrival in Salem would be c. 1639.[2] (Note: The "(1)" refers to the month, Old Style, which is March.)
Nathaniel Putnam was one of three influential immigrant brothers, became head of the prominent Putnam family of Danvers, MA after his brother Thomas died in 1686. Nathaniel was smart, perceptive and energetic, very active in business and skilled at it. With his father John Putnam, Nathaniel left Aston Abbots, Buckinghamshire, England about 1634 and came to New England. He married Elizabeth Hutchinson in 1651. Before 1673, he and his brother John invested in an ironworks on lands they owned in nearby Rowley. When the financially-troubled enterprise burned in 1674, they sued the managers for negligence. [3]

For years, Nathaniel joined his neighbors in protesting that Salem Village ("the Farms," later Danvers) was too far away from Salem for its men to be expected to share in mandatory guard duty there. For that and other reasons, he wanted Salem Village to become independent from the town of Salem. In 1669 a Salem court ordered him to apologize publicly over this issue or pay a fine of 20 pounds.

In 1681, second in wealth only to his brother Thomas, Nathaniel was taxed 9 pounds 10 shillings, while Francis Nourse was only taxed 18 shillings and Samuel Nourse and John Tarbell were each taxed one pound four shillings. He lived on 75 acres acquired from his father-in-law Richard Hutchinson. Even after Danvers built its own church in 1672, (Nathaniel served on the first building committee), a Salem constable seized two and a half acres from his front yard because he refused to pay taxes to support the Salem Town congregation. He was a steadfast servant to the Danvers church. With his relatives and neighbors (but not his wife), he put his stubby signature on the first Danvers church covenant on Nov. 19, 1689. Church Covenant, Salem Village, 1689 "We do, in some measure of sinceritie, this day give up ourselves unto God in Christ, to be for him and not for another, at the same time renouncing all the vanities and Idols of this present evil world..." Nathaniel knew the Nourses for forty years. His land holdings bordered on the Nourses to the south, and the two families bickered about the property line. Yet when Rebecca Nourse was accused of witchcraft by some of his Putnam relatives, Nathaniel defended her, writing to the court, "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." Thirty other neighbors signed a similar letter.

Putnam Gen p. 22: "In 1694, Nathaniel and John Putnam testified to having lived in the Village since 1641. Nathaniel Putnam 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....

He was constable in 1656, and afterward 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."[4].

Birth: 11 OCT 1619 in Aston Abbotts, Bucks County, England 1 Baptism: 11 OCT 1619 Aston Abbotts, Bucks (Baptismal Register) 1

Christening: Source: _History of Salem, MA_, Vol. II, 1638-1670, by Sidney Perley, Salem, MA, 1926, 'CD-ROM,' Vol. 2, p. 109, (James R. Taylor, turmoil2@c-zone.net).

Marriage: Source: The Hutchinson Family: or the Descendants of Barnard Hutchinson, of Cowlam, England, compiled by Perley Derby, Essex Institute Press, 1870, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 7; History of the Town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, by Abiel Abbot Livermore and Sewell Putnam, Lowell, Mass., Marden & Rowell, Printers, 1888, p. 415.

Occupation: Yeoman (Derby, p. 7)

Deacon of First Church in Salem Village (now Danvers), Massachusetts, (A Genealogy of the Hutchinson Family of Yorkshire, and of the American Branch of the Family Descended from Richard Hutchinson, of Salem, Mass, by Joseph Lemuel Chester, David Clapp & Son, Printers, 1868, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 23).

Occupation: Constable 1656

Occupation: Deputy to General Court 1691

Event: Admitted to Church, Salem Village, Essex, MA Misc 1648 Salem Village, Essex, MA From J. B. Felt's "Annals of Salem" 2nd Edition, 1845 Nathaniel admitted to the 1st Church of Salem-1648, Resident of Salem--1641

Father: John Putnam b: 17 JAN 1577/78 in Aston, Abbots, Buckinghamshir, England Mother: Priscilla Gould b: 3 JUN 1582 in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, England Marriage1Elizabeth Hutchinson b: 20 AUG 1629 in Arnold, Notinghamshire, England

Married 3 Sept 1652 Salem

Children

Samuel Putnam b: 18 FEB 1652/53 in Salem Village, Massachusetts
Nathaniel Putnam b: 24 APR 1655
John Flint Putnam b: 26 JAN 1656/57 in Salem Village, Massachusetts
Joseph Putnam b: 29 AUG 1659
Elizabeth Putnam b: 11 AUG 1662 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co, MA (md. Sgt George Flint
Benjamin Putnam b: 11 AUG 1662 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts
James Putnam b: AFT 1652
Mary Putnam b: 15 SEP 1668 in Salem Village, Massachusetts
Sources: Abbrev: v13t2652.FTWTitle: v13t2652.FTWRepository: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ryder10&id=I4947

Court Record

At court in June 1666 aged about aged 46 Nathaniel Putnam deposed that later end of January 1664, Bray Wilkins by Providence having his house burned...Nathaniel and others contributed to help Wilkins...[5]

In Dec 1652, Nathaniel Putnam and Richard Graves differed over a son of Graves who was then a servant to Putnam. The matter was referred to Capt. Hathorne and Henry Bartholomew. EQC 1-276 [6]

Salem Witch Trials

Name: Nathaniel Putnam, Sr Admitted to church 1648 Salem Village, Essex, Massachusetts. He was a leader in the witchcraft hysteria, but supported Rebecca Nurse From "Life of Israel Putnam" by Increase Tarbox:

Involved in Salem Witchcraft trials. At first, he believed in trials. Later, he changed his mind and started to petition in opposition.[citation needed]

April 21, 1692: Mary Black, negro of Lt. Nathaniel Putnam was accused with several others, by Thomas Putnam and John Buxton of Salem Village, 'of acts of Witchcraft' on Anna Putnam and Marcy Lewis. Cleared by proclamacion, January. 11. 1692/3: Mr. Nathaniel Putnam of Salem Village. his negro.' [7]
May 30, 1692: Lt. Nathaniel Putnam and Joseph Whipple made complaints against Elizabeth Fosdick, wife of John and Elizabeth Paine, wife of Stephen, 'for sundry acts of Witchcraft' committed on the 'bodies Marcy Lewis and Mary Warren of Salem Village' . [8]
June 1, 1692: Nathaniel Putnam was one of the witnesses summoned about indictments against Joseph Willard, who was later executed on August 19, 1692. [9]
June 29, 1692: Nathaniel Putnam Sr., at the request of Francis Nurse, regarding his wife Rebecca, testified that he differed with the opinions of her neighbors and he never heard of what she was 'now accused with'. [10]
Will

WILL OF NATHANIEL PUTNAM[11] (Paragraphing used to facilitate ease of reading.)

In the Name of God Amen, I Nathaniel Putnam of Salem, in ye County of Essex in ye province of ye Massachusets Bay in New England being in perfect health & strength & sound in mind & Memory, yet Concidering that old age is come upon me & ye vncertainty of my life doe make This my last Will & Testament hereby revoaking all former & other wills by me heretofore at any time made.
Imprs I resigne my soule to God whoe Gane it & my body to decent burial hoping for a gloriours resurrecon in & through ye merits of my blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ to whome bee Glory foreuer.
And For my Outward Estate which God hath bestowed on me I Giue bequeath & bestow ye same as hereafter in this my will is expressed.
Itm. I Giue vnto my daughter Mary Tuft ye wife of John Tuft one hundred and Twenty pounds in money to be paid by my Executor hereafter named within three yeares after my decease to which with ye fifty pounds which I formerly gave her is in full & ouer & aboue what I promised her on marriage.
It. I Giue vnto my said Daughter Mary ye one half of my household goods that were in ye house when my wife Deceased in ye quality & condition that ye said goods shall be at my departure.
Itm. I Giue vnto my Grandchildren ye sons & daughters of my daughter Elizabeth Flint Deceased, viz: to Mary who hath a lame hand twenty poundes in money & to ye others Eight Ten pounds a peice if they shall ariue at Age, viz: ye sons at Twenty one yeares & ye Daughters at Eighteen yeares or marriage to be paid by my Sonn John Putnam to each of my said Nine grand children as come to age as aforesaid.
Itm. I Giue vnto my Sonne John Putnam besides about an hundred acres of vpland & about sixteen acres of meadow which I haue already Giuen him by deed of Gift: viz: I giue & bequeath vnto him all my land & meadow which I haue lying on ye Northwesterly side of ye Riuer Caled Ipswich Riuer scituate in Salem bounds in seueral peices containing in ye whole about Seuenty acres be ye same more of less.
Itm. I Giue vnto my said Sonne John Putnam about one hundred & sixty acres of land adjoyning to ye hundred acres of land which I formerly gaue him by deed of Gift being his homestead he paying to my sd nine grand children ye legacies hereby giuen them.
Itm. I Giue to my Said Sonne John all ye remainder of that land (Besides what I haue sold) That I formerly purchased of William Joggog: all to be to him & his heirs foreuer.
Itm. I Giue to my said sonne twenty pounds in money to be paid him by my Executor in three years after my decease.
Itm. I Giue to my said Sonne halfe my wearing apparell.
Itm. I Giue to my sd son John Thirty pounds to be paid by my Executor within one yeare after my decease in graine & cattle at money price: which legacies with ye hundred pound I gaue him formerly for land sold which I had of Wm. Jeggly is in full of his portion.
Itm. I Giue vnto my sonne Benjamin Putnam my homestead that is my farme that I now dwell on as alsoe all my other lands & meadows whether in possession or reuersion wheresoeuer scituate lying & being which are not perticularly in this will otherwise disposed off. to be to him & his hiers Foreuer.
Itm. I Giue to my Sonne Benjamin all my personall Estate whether money Cattle corne Debts or other estate what ever.
Itm. I make & constitute my said sonn Benjamin Putnam to be ye sole Executor of this my last will & Testament.
Lastly. I Desire & apoint my Good friend Capt. Samuel Gardner & Sargt John Leach to be ouerseers of this my will.
Itm. My Will further is that neither of my two sonns shall sell any of ye lands hereby Giuen them nor any wayes dispose od ye same vntill ye Seuerall legacies & payments in this my will Giuen & apointed be respectively paid and fulfilled or Security Giuen for payment of ye same: & ye lands respectiuely to stand bound for fullfilling of ye same.
It. my will is that in Case either of my sonns should neglect & refuse to pay what I haue ordered them to pay or any differences arise either betwixt my two sonns or betwixt either of them & ye Legatees. Then & in such case my will & desire is that my said ouerseers heare & determine ye same & that Euery one acquiesce in what they shall doe.
In Testimoney that this is my last Will & Testament I haue herevnto set my hand & seale this 21 Day of February 1698-9, & in ye Eleuenth yeare of ye Reigne of William ye 3d of England &c. King defenr of ye faith.
Signed Sealed published Nathaniel Putnam [seal.]
& declared in psence of vs

Henry West
Henry West Juner Essex ss. Before ye Honble
Stephen Sewall Jonatha Corwin Esq. Judge of
Margaret Sewall Probate of Wills &c. August
12th 1700 Majr Stephen Sewall, Henry West Senr & Henry West Junr all pesonally Appeared and made Oath they were prsent and did see Natha Putnam Signe Seal & heard him publish and Declare this instrument to be his last Will and Testament and that he was then of A Disposing mind to there best undestanding & that they then subscribed as Wittnesses in his psence.
Sworn Attest John Higginson Regr.
Vpon wch this Will is proued Approued and allowed being pEsented by ye Executor therein named. Viz: BenjaPutnam.
Attest John Higginson Regr.
Essex ss. Probate Office.
Salem, Dec. 28, 1889.
A true copy of original will and probate on file in the office.

Attest, Ezra D. Hines, Asst. Register.[11]
Death

Nathaniel died Salem Village, 23 July 1700 age "about 79 or 80".[12][13][14] Salem Village later became Danvers.

Nathaniel Putnam, Sr., July 23, 1700, a. abt. 80 y. [15]

Death: Sources: The Hutchinson Family: or the Descendants of Barnard Hutchinson, of Cowlam, England, compiled by Perley Derby, Essex Institute Press, 1870, Salem, Massachusetts, p. 7; Salem VR, 6:171, (James R. Taylor, turmoil2@c-zone.net).

Sources

↑ A history of the Putnam family in England and America, page 3
↑ The Pioneers of Massachusetts, A Descriptive List..., Charles Henry Pope, published by Charles H. Pope, Boston, Mass., 1900, p. 376 https://ia801407.us.archive.org/25/items/pioneersofmassac00pope/pio...
↑ http://biographiks.com/pleasant/salem.htm
↑ Upham's Witchcraft
↑ New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635 for Nathaniel Putnam Ancestry.com link
↑ New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635 for Nathaniel Putnam Ancestry.com
↑ Salem Witchcraft Papers No.136.1: Salem Witch Trials : Documentary Archive and Transcription Project, http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/home.html http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/archives/MA135/large/MA020r.jpg
↑ Salem Witchcraft Papers No. 058: Salem Witch Trials : Documentary Archive and Transcription Project, http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/home.html
↑ Salem Witchcraft Papers No. 137 and SWP No. 137.14: Salem Witch Trials : Documentary Archive and Transcription Project, http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/home.html
↑ Salem Witchcraft Papers No. 94: SWP No. 94.10 Salem Witch Trials : Documentary Archive and Transcription Project, http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/home.html
↑ 11.0 11.1 Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)
↑ A history of the Putnam family in England and America. Recording ...,
↑ Vital Records of Salem Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Vol. VI – Deaths. Salem, Mass: The Essex Institute, 1925.
↑ "Danvers Church Records." Transcribed by the late WM. THADDEUS HARRIS, Esq., NEHGR 13:56.
↑ Massachusetts Vital Records.org -- Salem, Essex, Deaths P
See also:

Attached Documents.
A History of the Putnam Family in England and America (subtitled "Recording the Ancestry and Descendants of John Putnam of Danvers, Mass., Jan Poutman of Albany, N.Y., Thomas Putnam of Hartford, Conn."), Eben Putnam, The Salem Press Publishing and Printing Co., Salem, Mass., U.S.A., 1891; available on-line at Google Books or archive.org; Nathaniel is No. 5 in this book (Generation II) and his main entry is on page 22 (image 113 of 517 in the archive.org PDF)
Stearns, Ezra S. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) Vol. 2, Page 844
The Salem Witchcraft Papers, Nathaniel Putnam

Of these children, only John, Benjamin and Mary survived their father. In 1694, Nathaniel and John Putnam testified to having lived in the village since 1641. Nathaniel Putnam was a man of considerably landed property. His wife bought him seventy-five additional acres and on this tract he built his home and established himself.

Putnam Family of Salem Village - Page 3

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Salem VillageJohn Putnam, Jr. (1657-1722) - John Putnam was referred to as "John, Jr." in the witch trial documents to differentiate him from his uncle, by the same name. He was born to Nathaniel Putman and Elizabeth Hutchinson Putnam on March 26, 1657 in Salem Village. He would marry Hannah Cutler on December 2, 1678 and the couple would have 15 children. John and his large family lived on a farm in Salem Village that was located west of Hathorne's Hill near the Ipswich river. His cousins, Thomas and Edward Putnam lived nearby. For unknown reasons he had the nickname of "Carolina John." John was appointed to several minor political positions and also worked as a road surveyor. During the witchcraft excitement, he was serving as a constable in Salem Village.

He and his first cousin, Edward Putnam, signed the complaint that put Rebecca Towne Nurse behind bars, as well as the complaint against four year-old Dorcas Good. Along with other members of his family he would also swear out complaints and testify against numerous other people including Martha Allen Carrier, Giles Corey, Bridget Bishop, Mary Easty, Sarah Cloyce, and many others. During the trial of Rebecca Nurse, Mary Easty , and Sarah Cloyce, he would give a deposition blaming the death of their eight week old child, who appeared to be having fits, on witchcraft. In the same deposition he would also say that he, too, had been afflicted and was taken by a strange type of fit. Later, when the whole witch affair was over, several of the wronged members of the church met at his home in 1698, where the majority agreed to live and "love together." This was just one week after the ordination of the Reverend Joseph Green. Putnam died in September, 1722 in Salem Village.

John Putnam, Sr. (1627-1710) - Referred to as "John, Sr." in the witch trial documents to differentiate his testimonies from those of his nephew's, this John Putnam was the son of the original patriarch, John Putnam and his wife, Elizabeth Gould Putnam. He had a son named John, but he had already died by the time of the witch trials. He also had a son named Johnathan, who does appear in the trial documents. John Putnam was christened on May 27, 1627 in Aston Abbotts, Bucks, England and immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his parents in about 1634. He married Rebecca Prince on September 3, 1652. The two settled in Salem Village and would have ten children. Before 1673, he and his brother Nathaniel invested in an ironworks on lands they owned in nearby Rowley. When the financially-troubled enterprise burned in 1674, they sued the managers for negligence.

The Putnams were active in the village church and in 1683, when the Reverend George Burroughs' salary was halted for his services, he simply stopped meeting his congregation and left for Maine. The Salem Village committee, which included John Putnam, Sr., threatened to sue him for leaving his post. Being a man of honor, Burroughs returned to Salem Village to settle accounts, which included money owned to him as well as debts he owed to others of the community. Upon his return, he was threatened for arrest on a complaint made by John Putnam. Though it was found that Burroughs did not owe Putnam any money, he spent one night in jail. The next day, the moneys owed to Burroughs were paid and he in turn, paid his debts. Obviously there was some bad blood between the pair, that would later rise again almost a decade later.

When the witch accusations began in 1692, one of the first to be accused was Sarah Warren Prince Osborne, with whom the Putnams were in a legal battle with. Sarah, who had previously been married to Robert Prince, thought to have been John's wife's brother, had remarried after her first husband died and was allegedly attempting to take over her sons inheritance. The powerful Putnams had stepped in to save their nephews, James and Joseph Prince, from being cheated. Osborne would die in prison just a few months later. He and his wife, Rebecca, would also testify against the Reverend George Burroughs, who would be hanged on August 19, 1692. He would also give depositions against Rebecca Towne Nurse, Martha Allen Carrier, and John Williard, all of whom would be executed. The only person that he gave testimony against, that didn't see the end of a noose, was Sarah Smith Buckley. John Putnam died on April 7, 1710.

Jonathan Putnam (1658-1739) - Born to to John Putnam and Rebecca Prince Putnam on March 17, 1658 in Salem Village, Jonathan would grow up to marry Elizabeth Whipple in about 1681. Elizabeth died either while she was giving birth to her only child or, shortly thereafter in August, 1682. Her son died a few months later. Jonathan then married Lydia Potter in 1683 and the couple would eventually have nine children. Jonathan Putnam built a house, not far from his father's on the Topsfield road. He was a successful farmer and active in the community, chosen to the grand jury in 1683, and as a highway surveyor the following year. He also served as a selectman for a number of years. Serving in the Salem Militia, he rose to the rank of Captain. Like his father and other members of his family, they saw it their duty to protect their nephews from Sarah Warren Prince Osborne, who they claimed was cheating their nephews out their inheritance. When the witch hysteria broke out in 1692, Sarah Osborne was one of the first to be accused. Jonathan would testify against her, as well as Mary Easty, Rebecca Nurse, Dorcas Good, John Williard and Sarah Buckley.

Nathaniel Putnam (1619-1700) - The son of the original patriarch, John Putnam and his wife, Elizabeth Gould Putnam, Nathaniel was baptized on October 11, 1619, at Aston Abbotts, Bucks, England. He immigrated with his parents to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in about 1634. He married Elizabeth Hutchinson in 1650 and the two would have seven children. For years, Nathaniel joined his neighbors in trying to make Salem Village independent from Salem Towne. In addition to wanting the village to have its own church, he also protested that Salem Towne was too far away for its men to be expected to share in mandatory guard duty there. Because he was so outspoken, in 1669 a Salem court ordered him to apologize publicly or pay a fine of £20. When Salem Village built its own church in 1672 he served on the building committee.

Before 1673, he and his brother John invested in an ironworks on lands they owned in nearby Rowley. When the financially-troubled enterprise burned in 1674, they sued the managers for negligence. In 1681, Nathaniel was second in wealth only to his brother Thomas, and lived on a 75 acre spread he had acquired from his father-in-law Richard Hutchinson. In 1886, after his brother, Thomas, died, he became head of the prominent Putnam family. During the witchcraft hysteria of 1692, he signed complaints against Elizabeth Fosdick and Elizabeth Paine, and would also serve as a witness against John Willard and Sarah Buckley. Nathaniel died on July 23, 1700 in Salem Village.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-putnam3.html#Nathaniel Putnam

______________________

(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.

http://dunhamwilcox.net/me/me_bio_putnam.htm

GEDCOM Source

@R450171231@ Millennium File Heritage Consulting Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,7249::0 1,7249::10375148

GEDCOM Source

@R450171231@ U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc 1,7486::0 Place: Salem, Massachusetts; Year: 1640; Page Number: 204 1,7486::4825731

GEDCOM Source

@R450171231@ Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9069::0 Massachusetts, Essex County, Probate Records; Author: Massachusetts. Supreme Judicial Court (Essex County); Probate Place: Essex, Massachusetts 1,9069::3659772

GEDCOM Source

@R450171231@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0 Book Title: A History of the Putnam Family in England and America, Recording the ancestry and descendants of Jo

Nathaniel Putnam most likely emigrated from Buckinghamshire, England to Salem, Massachusetts in 1634 when his parents came.

Deputy to the General Court
Constable
Served as a Selectman