Seth Putnam

M, #888, b. May 19, 1695, d. Nov 30, 1775
Relationship8th great-grandfather of Malcolm Kenyon McKown Jr.
Father*Sergeant Thomas Putnam b. Jan 12, 1652, d. May 24, 1699
Mother*Ann Carr b. Jun 15, 1661, d. Jun 8, 1699

Family

Ruth Whipple b. Oct 27, 1692, d. Feb 1, 1785
Children

Chronological Events

Birth*May 19, 1695 Seth Putnam was born on May 19, 1695 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
 He was the son of Sergeant Thomas Putnam and Ann Carr
Marriage*Sep 16, 1718 Seth Putnam married Ruth Whipple, daughter of Joseph Whipple and Sarah Fairchild, on Sep 16, 1718 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Death*Nov 30, 1775 Seth Putnam died on Nov 30, 1775, at age 80 at Charlestown, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States.1 
Burial*Dec 1, 1775 He was buried on Dec 1, 1775 at Forest Hill Cemetery, Charlestown, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States, Find A Grave Memorial# 23116833.2
Book Excerpt* 
Source: Published in the The Putnam Lineage, Eben Putnam, 1907. Also check out "The History of Billerica" by Rev. Henry A. Hazen, printed in 1883

Seth Putnam was one of the earliest of the Danvers Putnams to go forth into the wilderness and make a home for himself and family. In March 21, 1719 he bought from Samuel Walker, for L200, a house and sixty acres of land in Billerica, N H, now Billerica, Mass. His farm began at Shawshin bridge and was bounded by the river on the west, and Hugh Ditson, south, whose line could not have been far from the highway to Woburn. Here he lived until 1750 when he removed to wilderness post Number Four, now Charlestown, N H., where he died Nov. 30, 1775. His wife Ruth died Feb. 1, 1785, aged 92. This frontier post had been fearfully exposed to Indian attacks, and but three of the original grantees had settled there. In 1746, Number Four had been abandoned by the inhabitants who took up their abode for the most part in Groton, Lunenburg and Leominster, Mass.

In 1747, the place was again garrisoned and on 21 June 1751, a company of the settlers was organized with Phineas Stevens as captain. On the rolls
of the company are found the names of two sons of Seth, viz., Ebeneazer and Thomas. The father was at Charlestown but not on the company rolls. Ebenezer Putnam also served under New Hampshire in 1755. In 1755 upon a petition of the inhabitants of Charlestown, fourteen in number, among whom were Seth and Ebenezer Putnam, Massachusetts again garrisoned the town. There had been ten Indian attacks between 1753-1755, and New Hampshire had failed to afford the town any protection.

On the 18th February 1754, a committee which had been appointed by New Hampshire to examine into the claims of persons to lands at Charlestown, reported forty-three claims besides the heirs of Obadiah Sartwell. Among the forty-three were Mr. Set Putnam, Ebenezer Putnam and Thomas Putnam, to each of whom was set apart 1/64 of the whole. At the close of hostilities, Charlestown was no longer a frontier town and by 1760 a tide of emigration set in which soon filled the country with desirable settlers and gave the inhabitants of old Number Four, among them the Putnam family, the opportunity long wished for, to cultivate their farms and establish a flourishing town.

Seth Putnam helped form the first church at Charlestown and was one of the first ten members. He seems to have been highly respected by his neighbors. On 14 Aug., 1753, the first town meeting at Charlestown was held and Seth Putnam was chosen tything man.
On his tombstone is the following inscription:
"The memory of the just is blest."
on his wife's,
"Sweet soul we leave thee to thy rest till we shall meet thee above with Christ."3
 

Citations

  1. [S134] New Hampshire - Death Record - State Archives.
  2. [S58] Gravestones - Death Cert, Find-A-Grave, BillionGraves.
  3. [S805] Site - One World Tree (SM), online at http://www.ancestry.com