PUTNAM, William Hutchinson,
Investment Broker
William Hutchinson Putnam is a citizen of Hartford, Connecticut, and is active in the various public affairs of this city. The name Putnam is of very ancient English origin and occurs often in English affairs since the time of Edward I. The name may be derived from the word "putte," a well, in Flemish or Low Dutch, having the same meaning as "putt" in Danish, a well. The final syllable, ham, is one of the old forms for house, or hamlet, and takes its rise from the same root as home or the Scotch hame. The entire word therefore means the home or house with a well or spring. The American family first came to Old Salem, now Danvers, Massachusetts.
John Putnam, the immigrant ancestor of William H. Putnam, of this sketch was born about 1580, was baptized at Wingrave, Bucks, England, January 17, 1581. He was a son of Nicholas and Margaret (Goodspeed) Putnam, who were married at Wingrave, January 30, 1577. John Putnam lived with his parents at the town of Stewkeley, England, until his father's death, when he took possession of his inheritance, the English estate of Aston Abbots, where he resided until his removal to the American colony. He lived in Aston Abbots as late as May, 1627,
the date of baptism of his youngest son John. Although the first record of him in New England is of the date of 1641, when his wife was admitted to the church at Salem, it is the family tradition that he arrived in that settlement as early as 1634. John Putnam was a farmer, and
according to the standards of that time very well off. There are deeds on record which show that he wrote an excellent hand. He was admitted to the church in 1647, six years after his wife, and in the same year was made a freeman. His death, according to a family story, was very sudden and took place on the night of December 30, 1662, at the age of eighty years. He was, it seems, perfectly well and to all appearances in good health at supper that night, yet died before going to sleep. He married Priscilla the surname of this lady being unknown, although it is variously stated to be Gould and Deacon. His marriage occurred prior to 1612, but the exact date is lost.
Their son, Thomas Putnam, was also a native of England and was baptized at Aston Abbots, March 7, 1614-15. He came to America with his parents, and in 1640 was recorded as living in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was made a freeman there two years later, and in 1643 was one of the seven selectmen of the town. On April 3, 1643, he was admitted to the Salem church, and the town of Salem granted him fifty-five acres of land. This grant seems to have dated from 1640, at the time when he was living in Lynn. From 1645 to 1648 he was a member of a committee appointed by the General Court "to end small causes under twenty shillings." On September II, 1648, - he was elected a grand juryman in Salem, and was chosen constable of the same town, October 10, 1655. This office in those days carried great authority with it and covered the entire local administration of affairs. Thomas Putnam was a very prominent man in the town in almost all departments of its affairs and served on numerous committees there, as well as being the first parish clerk of the town. On October 8, 1662, he was appointed lieutenant in the local troop of horse. A tax list on record at that time shows Mr. Putnam's name at its head.
His (second) marriage was to Mary Veren which increased his wealth by putting him in possession of considerable properties in Jamaica and the Barbadoes. His house, which is now known as the General Israel Putnam house, in Domus, is still standing, and it was there that his death occurred in Salem village, May 5, 1686. He was twice married, the second time to Mary, widow of Nathaniel Veren, September 14, 1666, and his wife died March 16 or 17, 1694-95.
Their son, Joseph Putnam, was born at Salem village, September 14, 1669, three years to a day after the marriage of his parents. The memory of this gentlemen will always live because of his courageous opposition to witchcraft. It required courage in those days to denounce witchcraft as he did and the proceedings which were taken by his extremely bigoted fellow citizens, and it is stated that Mr. Putnam always kept his best horse saddled so that at a moment's notice he might escape from the town. He must have been a man of unusually broad mind for that day, since he was able to resist a superstition which engulfed such men as Cotton Mather and Samuel Sewall. So great was the danger involved in opposing the witchcraft proceedings of those days, that it is said that if it had not been for Mr. Putnam's good connections it is very likely that he would have suffered severe consequences. He was the father of General Israel Putnam, and was well worthy of the relation that he bore to that splendid man. His death occurred in Salem village in 1724-25.
He married, April 21, 1690, Elizabeth, a daughter of Israel and Elizabeth (Hathorne) Porter, of Salem village, where she was born October 7, 1673, and died in the year 1746.
Their son, Major-General Israel Putnam, was born January 7, 1717-18, at Salem village, in the old house built by his grandfather, Thomas Putnam. The following description of General Israel Putnam was written by his distinguished grandson, General, Judge, Judah Dana: "In his person, for height about the middle size, very erect, thick-set, muscular and firm in every part. His countenance was open, strong, and animated; the features of his face large, well proportioned to each other and to his whole frame; his teeth fair and sound till death. His organs and senses were all exactly fitted for a warrior; he heard quickly, saw to an immense distance, and though he sometimes stammered in conversation, his voice was remarkably heavy, strong and commanding. Though facetious and dispassionate in private, when animated in the heat of battle his countenance was fierce and terrible, and his voice like thunder. His whole manner was admirably adapted to inspire his soldiers with courage and confidence, and his enemies with terror. The faculties of his mind were not inferior to those of his body; his penetration was acute; decision rapid, yet remarkably correct; and the more desperate the situation, the more collected and undaunted. With the courage of a lion, he had a heart that melted at the sight of distress; he could never witness suffering in any human being without becoming a sufferer himself. Martial music aroused him to the highest pitch, whole solemn sacred music sent him into tears. In his disposition he was open and generous almost to a fault, and in his social relations he was never excelled.
General Israel Putnam was educated in the schools of the rural district where he was born and the opportunities in those days were decidedly meagre. He remained in the home of his parents until he had attained young manhood and then, shortly after his marriage, he removed to Brooklyn, then part of the town of Pomfret, Connecticut, where he bought a tract of land of about five hundred acres in the district known as Mortlake Manor. In 1741 he became the sole owner of this land and built a large house there. His district was incorporated in the year 1786 as the town of Brooklyn, and it was largely through the influence of General Putnam that the superb shade trees which line its streets were planted.
General Putnam's military career began with the French and Indian War, where he was a captain in Colonel Lyman's regiment. He fought at Fort Edward and Lake George in 1755. He received his commission of major in 1757 at Fort Edward, and the following year occurred the celebrated episode concerning his capture by the Indians and his narrow escape from death. He was, it will be remembered, actually tied to a tree and a fire lighted about him, when he was saved by the intervention of a chief of the tribe, whom he had treated kindly on the previous occasion of the chief's capture. His final escape however, was effected through General Peter Schuyler, whose influence with the Indians was such that they set him free. General Putnam christened his youngest son after General Schuyler in gratitude for this rescue. In 1759 Israel Putnam was made a lieutenant-colonel and served at Ticonderoga and Crown Point in the expedition directed against Montreal in 1759-60 under the command of General Amherst. He later commanded a regiment in the West Indies, and in 1764 was again in the United States where he marched to Detroit with a Connecticut regiment against the Indians. In the same year he returned to a more private mode of existence and lived for a time on his farm and also kept a tavern in his spacious dwelling house. When the news of the battle of Lexington reached him, he was working in his fields, but left immediately to start for Cambridge. He was appointed brigadier-general, June 9, 1776, and was later raised to the rank of major-general. He was the officer in command at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was given command by General Washington of the center at Cambridge. Later his command was sent to New York and still later to Philadelphia. In 1778 he was again at West Point where he took an active part in the campaign of the following year. He also superintended the defenses constructed at West Point, but during the winter of 1779 suffered a stroke of paralysis which ended his military career. He lived to see the birth of the new nation, but was never able to return to active service in the army. His death occurred October 29, 1790, and he was buried with military and Masonic honors. He married (first) July '9, 1739, Hannah, a daughter of Joseph and Mehitable (Putnam) Pope, of Danvers.
She died September 6, 1765. Throughout his entire life, Israel Putnam performed so many feats of daring, and had so many unusual adventures, that his name became a household word throughout the land.
Their son, Colonel Daniel Putnam, was born at Pomfret, Connecticut, November 18, 1759, and died in Brooklyn, Connecticut, April 30, 1831. Daniel Putnam held a commission of colonel in the Continental Army, and served in the campaigns before Boston, and in the Long Island, and New York campaigns. Daniel Putnam lived on Church street, Brooklyn, in a fine old place, built by his wife's uncle, Nathaniel Brinley, of Boston, who came to Brooklyn to be near his friend, Godfrey Malbone, who lived on the adjoining farm. Daniel Putnam had more than an ordinary education for his time, as his letters show, in which he writes of many things, and of passing events in a clear and interesting style. He carried on his farm on an extensive scale, and was reputed a man of wealth. He was a member of old Trinity, Protestant Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, and was active in the affairs of the Diocese of Connecticut. He married Catherine, a daughter of Shrimpton and Elizabeth (Malbone) Hutchinson, a native of Boston, a great granddaughter of Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson, of Massachusetts Colony, born April 11, 1757, and died in Hartford, October 31, 1844.
Their son, William Putnam, was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, January 1, 1783, like his father, he was a farmer all his life, and held the high respect of the community. He was prominent in its affairs, and held town offices in Brooklyn and Canterbury. His death occurred December 5, 1846. He married, April 17, 1805, Mary, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary (Payne) Spalding, of Brooklyn, Connecticut. Mrs. Putnam was born April 17, 1786, and died December 29, 1880.

Their son, William Hutchinson Putnam, was born in Holland, Massachusetts, February 2, 1812, and when a boy removed to Brooklyn, where he lived until the time of his death. After his marriage he purchased a farm on Allen Hill, Brooklyn, with Captain John Day, his father-in-law, and later bought out Captain Day, and carried on extensive farming operations. Mr. Putnam was also interested in wheat raising, and flour milling in Wisconsin. He was a Republican, and represented his town several times in the Connecticut General Assembly. He was a director of the National and Savings banks of Brooklyn, and a member of Old and New Trinity Church, Brooklyn, in which he held the office of senior warden. His death occurred July 17, 1889. Mr. Putnam married, March 12, 1834, Eliza, daughter of Captain John Day, of Brooklyn, Connecticut.
Their son, Albert Day Putnam, was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, February 25, 1852. He spent his boyhood in his native town, attended its common schools, and later attended the Academy in Danielson, Connecticut, and the New Britain Normal School. He taught several winters. He was a farmer, living on Allen Hill, Brooklyn, on the farm on which he was born, until April, 1888, when he removed his family to Danielson, Connecticut. Mr. Putnam was a Republican, and represented Killingly in the Connecticut General Assembly, and for thirteen years was a member of the Killingly School Board. He was a member of Trinity Church, Brooklyn, and later of Saint Albans Episcopal Church, Danielson. He was a member of Moriah Lodge, No.15, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of Aetna Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was also affiliated with the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. His death occurred in Danielson, December 25, 1905. Mr. Putnam married Harriet Eliza, a daughter of Charles and Jennett (Sharp) Dorrance. Charles Dorrance was born November 21, 1824, at Brooklyn, Connecticut. He was the son of Samuel and Amy (Kenyon) Dorrance, of that town, where he lived until eleven years of age, on his father's farm, when his parents removed to Brooklyn Village. He then attended school at Brooklyn, and later went to Plainfield, Connecticut, where he entered the Plainfield Academy. At the age of twenty-one he returned to his home farm, where he carried on his career as a farmer with a high degree of success. He died in Providence, Rhode Island, February 16, 1899. His wife, Jennett (Sharp) Dorrance, was born September 30, 1832, at Canterbury, Connecticut, a daughter of Williard and Hannah (Hyde) Sharp. She died in Brooklyn, March 4, 1869.
William Hutchinson Putnam, son of Albert Day and Harriet Eliza (Dorrance) Putnam, was born February 1, 1878, at Brooklyn, Connecticut. He attended the public schools at Danielson, Connecticut, whither his parents had removed when he was eleven years old. After completing his studies, he was employed by the Windham County National Bank as a clerk. He remained with this institution for about five years, and was a teller for several years before severing his connection with it. Here he learned something of the detail of the banking business and general business methods. From the Windham County National Bank he went to Boston, where he entered the employ of W. J. Hayes & Sons as a bond salesman. Later he worked for William A. Read & Company, of Boston and New York, remaining with the latter firm about six years, until October, 1912, when he became a member of the firm of Richter & Company, investment brokers of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Putnam is a Republican, and in 1917 was a member of the financial committee of the city of Hartford. He is a member of the Hartford Club, the Hartford Golf Club, the Hartford Canoe Club, Republican Club, and of the Union League Club of New York City. He is also a member of Moriah Lodge, No. 15, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Danielson, Connecticut, and is the fifth generation of his family who has been affiliated with this lodge. He is a member of Columbian Commandery, Knights Templar, of Norwich, of Sphinx Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and the Connecticut Consistory, thirty-second degree.
Mr. Putnam married, March 8, 1899, Adabelle Canney Lyon, daughter of Rockwell Fuller and Jennie Elizabeth (Canney) Lyon, of Danielson, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts, respectively.
Three children have been born to them as follows: Lyonel Hutchinson, August 27, 1900; Marcella Rockwell, May 3, 1902; and Albert Day, February 20, 1904. Mr. Putnam and his family are members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Hartford.
Throughout the Putnams there runs a strong resemblance to a type as follows: Good physique, Saxon features, of good height, inclined to stoutness, but not fleshy, even temperament, honest intentions, fixedness of purpose, high principles satisfied with a fair share of the good things of life, inclined to be too generous, patriotic, more inclined to lead than to be led. These are many deviations for this standard but each generation seems to produce its fair share of this type.