Cornelius Victor Pootman

 Cornelius (Victor, Johannes) 

    Cornelius Victorse Potman, or Putman, was baptized December 25, 1724, at the Reformed Dutch Church of Schenectady.

About 1745, he married Lybetie, or Elizabeth, Pruyn, born in 1726 the daughter of Franz Pruyn Jr., and Margaret Macklier. Frans Pruyn was a farmer.
Cornelius was called "Boss Putnam," and inherited from his father the land at Caudaughrity on the west side of Schoharie Creek where he lived with his family.
During the spring of 1756 during the French and Indian War, the Colony of New York took measures to fortify the route between Schenectady and Fort Oswego. The route went from Schenectady along the Mohawk River and then Wood Creek, Oneida Lake, and finally Oswego River.
August 7, 1756, Sir William Johnson contracted "Boss Potman," to build Mohawk Fort--a stockade around the Mohawks Castle that stood next to Fort Johnson (Sherry Miller, 1991).
History of Montgomery and Fulton, Cos. describes some of the events that took place in the lives of Cornelius and his children during the Revolution:
Cornelius, or "Boss" Putman’s homestead was called “Cadaughrity.”
Cornelius partnered with Saltz in the purchase of the Shucksburg Patent, which was near Cadaughrity Hill on the banks of Schoharie Creek.
Of his five sons, Francis, John, Victor, Henry, and Peter, the last, Peter, kept the homestead.

    Peter was a boy at the time of William Johnson's descent during the Revolutionary War on the Mohawk Valley in the spring of 1780 and was staying over night with a son of Barney Hansen at the Hansen house near Tribes Hill.  Peter was not harmed, but the Indians carried off his clothes and sacked the house.  Peter followed up the marauders, and found his clothes, which they had thrown away at various points along the road to Col. Vischer's.

Col. Vischer's house had been fired by the savages, who had also killed the inmates, but the flames had made little progress and were extinguished by the youth with a tub of sour milk, which he found in the house.
In the autumn of that year, Johnson, accompanied by Brant, made his second foray upon the Mohawk Valley. Coming from Schoharie over Oak Ridge, Brant's Indians, after burning the houses of Marcus Hand and Richard Hoff, west of Mill Point, proceeded to Cornelius V. Putman's. His family had fled across the creek, and Cornelius, on the approach of the enemy, after letting out his hogs, set fire to the buildings and stacks and departed.
One of the Indians laden himself with tobacco from the barn. The only property that remained was a stack of peas, a hogshead of wheat, which had been hid in a shanty in the woods, against such an emergency, and the hogs, which Mr. Putman had turned loose.
With this remaining property the family began life anew building a log house, which was ready for occupancy before winter.
Peter Putman left this place to his adopted son, Putman Van Buren, and he to his son, Martin.
Peter Putman built a large brick house for his Van Buren son and made other improvements on the estate, but himself always lived in his old house and in winter drove his white-faced sorrel horse before a paneled box-cutter, with a back about a foot higher than the owner's head as he sat against it, he being a short person.
Of his five sons, Francis, John, Victor, Henry, and Peter, the last, Peter, kept the homestead.

    Peter was a boy at the time of William Johnson's descent during the Revolutionary War on the Mohawk Valley in the spring of 1780 and was staying over night with a son of Barney Hansen at the Hansen house near Tribes Hill.  Peter was not harmed, but the Indians carried off his clothes and sacked the house.  Peter followed up the marauders, and found his clothes, which they had thrown away at various points along the road to Col. Vischer's.

Col. Vischer's house had been fired by the savages, who had also killed the inmates, but the flames had made little progress and were extinguished by the youth with a tub of sour milk, which he found in the house.
Cornelius V. Putman was a thrifty business man and accumulated a large bit of property.
Cornelius made his will April 17, 1798, two days before he died. In it, he styled himself "of Charlestown, yeoman." In the will, Cornelius made his son Victor C. Putman and his close friend and nephew Garret Putman executors.
To his son, Francis, Cornelius willed the land in Tribes Hill where Francis lived. To Victor C., he had previously given land in Schenectady, which Victor had sold. To Henry C. Putman's sons, Cornelius gave the lot once occupied by Henry on the road from Jeremiah Smith's to Garret Putman's in Suybees and Corries Patent.
Peter, the youngest son, received the homestead near Schoharie Creek, and Catherine inherited land in Mabie's Patent.
In his will, Cornelius mentioned all his children except Johannes who had died during the Revolution.
Cornelius died April 19, 1798, and was buried at the cemetery on his farm. Elizabeth died March 21, 1812. Years later, descendants re-interned their remains at Auriesville Cemetery.
Children:
1. Francis. Francis was baptized 4 May 1752 by a missionary of the New York Trinity Church.

2. Victor C. Victor was born 31 May 1756 and baptized 8 August 1756 by a missionary of the New York Trinity Church.

3. Johannes C. He was born 21 March 1759 and baptized 6 May 1759 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Caughnawaga.

4. Henry C. Henry was baptized 12 September 1761 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Caughnawaga.

5. Peter. Peter was born 13 August 1764 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Caughnawaga.

6. Catherine. She was born 17 September 1767.

7. Margaret.