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Israel Putnam, the son of Joseph Putnam and his wife Elizabeth Porter, was born in Salem, Massachusetts. Strictly speaking his parents may have resided in the section of Salem, called Salem Village, which became the town of Danvers in 1757. The date January 7th, 1717, is recorded in the printed vital records.[1] The "Explanations" on page three state: "Double dating is used in the months of January, February and March, prior to 1752, whenever it appears in the original, and also, whenever from the sequence of entry in the original the date may be easily determined." Evidently, it could not be determined from the record, since only 1717 is in the printed record. However, every secondary source lists this date as 7 Jan 1718 or 1717/8. Israel's older sister Huldah was born 29 Nov 1716, so Israel could not have been born less than two months later 7 Jan 1716/7.
First Israel Putnam married Hannah Pope on July 19, 1739, in Salem, Massachusetts.[2]
Second Col. Israel Putnam married Mrs. Deborah Gar[d]ner, June 3, 1767, in Pomfret, Connecticut.[3]
In Dec 1779, Major General Israel Putnam suffered a stroke while returning to join Washington’s army at Morristown, New Jersey, from his home in Brooklyn. He had another stroke in 1782, and on May 29, 1790, after another stroke he died at his home on the green in Brooklyn, Connecticut. His death is recorded in the town of Pomfret, Connecticut.[4] He was buried in the South Cemetery in Brooklyn, Connecticut [5]
, but his remains have since been removed to beneath an impressive statue on the town green. [6]
See wife Hannah's profile.
Israel Putnam's father, Joseph Putnam, died when Israel was just six years old. His mother subsequently remarried Captain Thomas Perley. Israel’s brother, David, was a cavalry officer and an influential and prominent man in the town of Danvers (Salem Village until 1752). These two people evidently influenced the young Israel in his future path.
In 1739, Israel, age 21, received his portion of his father’s estate, a plot of land. He built a house upon the land; married Hannah Pope; and had his first child, Israel Putnam, Jr.
Israel sold his home to his brother David, in 1740, and bought 500 acres in Mortlake Manor, near Pomfret, Connecticut. Here he had a family, farmed, grew fruit trees, raised sheep for their wool, and joined with other townspeople to build schools and a library association. This area became the town of Brooklyn in 1786, shortly before Israel Putnam’s death.
Israel was considered fearless. He acquired his nickname, “Old Wolf,” when he bravely entered the den of a she wolf on his hands and knees, not just once, but three times. He entered first to reconnoitre, the second time he took his gun to shoot her, and the third time to make sure she was dead and triumphantly drag her body from the den.Israel began his military career in 1755, when he joined a force of other patriots to help the British Government rid the area of the French and their Indian allies. In his first fight the scouting troop sent out ahead was ambushed. After falling back in disorder, Israel in one of the companies behind, naturally stepped in to fill the gap left by fallen officers. He was appointed Captain of the company two weeks later. Israel would be active in seven campaigns from 1755-1762 (The Seven Years War).
In 1763, he was Colonel with the campaign to wrest Havana from Spain.
Israel returned home in Dec. 1, 1764. His youngest son was born Dec. 31, 1764. His daughter Elizabeth died suddenly on Jan. 24, 1765, and his wife Hannah died in 10 weeks on April 6. Israel sought the consolation of the Lord and joined the Brooklyn Church. He busied himself farming and eventually remarried.In the years leading up to the American Revolution, Israel was active in the Sons of Liberty and served as Connecticut Assemblyman.
His second marriage brought a new opportunity, he enlarged his wife’s home, and procured a tavern license. The General Wolf Tavern was a huge success. Here he lived with his family, and entertained his friends and guests.
Israel Putnam’s exploits during the American Revolution are well written about and need not be repeated here. [7]
For more information and great stories about Israel Putnam read:
“Our Putnams.” by Charles Somerby Putnam, Jr. 2007. (A pdf download)
“Israel Putnam” by Fanny Greye Bragg at the Conn. SAR website.
"An Essay on the life of the Honorable Major-General Israel Putnam. by Colonel David Humphreys, 1788.
(modern lettering used, spelling preserved)
Israel Putnam Original Burial Place |
In the early 1700's people rarely had middle names. Why and where did Israel acquire his middle name. It's not on his birth or death record or on any, located, contemporary documents, and yet here in the 21st century it exists.
Go to Eben Putnam's History of the Putnam Family pg 89 at Google books or at Archive.org. What's there at the top of the page (and on other pages in the section on Israel)? "Israel (Thomas) Putnam" Eureka! EXCEPT, Thomas is in parentheses and refers to the fact that his second generation Putnam ancestor was Thomas. Eben Putnam used it as a way of keeping track of the family. If you look at other pages you will see similar headings always with the second generation ancestor listed in parentheses. Someone, sometime, thought it was his middle name, used it as such, and it has clung ever since.
Conclusion: Major General Israel Putnam did not have a middle name.
This week's featured connections are Redheads: Israel is 13 degrees from Catherine of Aragón, 14 degrees from Clara Bow, 21 degrees from Julia Gillard, 13 degrees from Nancy Hart, 9 degrees from Rutherford Hayes, 12 degrees from Rita Hayworth, 15 degrees from Leonard Kelly, 15 degrees from Rose Leslie, 14 degrees from Damian Lewis, 15 degrees from Maureen O'Hara, 20 degrees from Jopie Schaft and 31 degrees from Eirik Thorvaldsson on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
Categories: Miller-93757 William Burke Project Revolution | Miller-93757 William Burke Project | Lexington Alarm - April 1775, Connecticut Militia, American Revolution | 3rd Regiment, Connecticut Militia, American Revolution | Continental Army Generals, American Revolution | Died in Military Service, United States of America, American Revolution | American Founding Fathers | Roger's Rangers | Sons of Liberty, American Revolution | Battle of Bunker Hill | Battle of Long Island | Battle of Chelsea Creek | South Cemetery, Brooklyn, Connecticut | Namesakes US Counties | British America, French and Indian War | Connecticut Project-Managed | Notables | French and Indian War | NSSAR Patriot Ancestors
http://www.archives.gov/research/military/american-revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-war-107.jpg
Need to copy relevant data and then perhaps link?
Mike
Hopefully they can be made readable. Thanks Mike