April 10th, 1961-Abd Queen Mary with photos

 

• April 10th, 1961
• Abd Queen Mary
• Cloudy-Mild-Showery

Docked at Cherbourg at about 8:30 AM. Thrilled to see the coastline of France as we came in.  After breakfast we were permitted to leave the ship and go exploring. Most of the people walked but we took a taxi about the city.  Another passenger asked if he could join us and he spoke very good French was able to interpret much from the driver that we might have missed. Went up on Fort Roule 107 meters high and looked over Cherbourg.

Saw the Musee de Liberation. Thought we would be wrecked going down the steep pitches with the driver gesturing with both hands off the wheel.  Fort Roule was the site of fierce fighting during the 2nd WW, 35000 Germans were trapped on the Peninsula and the Eng + Am's bombed it unceasingly for 5 days.

Our taxi driver told us the the Germans had headquarters in Cherbourg for two years prior to the outbreak of the war.

Frenzy of packing. We will go through customs about 9:00 pm. Will call Jim from Southampton. We are now in sight of the English coast.* 

Docked at Southampton and was through customs by 11 pm. Boat train very comfortable.  Much prefer the English system of side cars to our American aisle trains. "Put" and I had train compartment to ourselves and were able to relax. Jim was waiting with the car, and the ride to Brentwood was very comfortable.

Meadow House where Jim and Ann live with Clarissa (age 5) is charming with a gracious, hospitable atmosphere, reflecting its occupants.  Had tea and went to bed about 3 a.m. I do so like the English system of lavatory and bath separate, with basin and running water in the room.

*Southampton Solents

Comments: I believe Jim was a nickname for my first cousin once removed, Amos Weldon Putnam and the Ann they mention was his wife Ann Elizabeth Campbell.  Amos would have been Ervin's ("Put's") nephew.

Meadow House at Brentwood

Meadow House at Brentwood

Ervin and Clarissa at Meadow House

Clarissa and Mary at Meadow House

Mary at Meadow House

Ann and Mary at Meadow House

Photo Friday: Possibly from photos from the David Wright-Florence Smith Wedding

 I'm not sure all these belong together but here is what I have put together.

David Sanders Wright and Florence Smith Wedding-August 16th, 1919

April 6th, 1961 Queen Mary with photos

I am reposting some of these because my cousin had scanned the associated photos and shared them with me.  

• April 6th, 1961
• Queen Mary
• Rough sea, moderate to heavy swell Cloudy-Milder WNW wind

Today we reported to the immigration inspector with our passports. Took a chance on the Captain's Tote for the day (mileage in 24 hrs) and picked the correct number of miles. Got 1 pound note, 2 half crowns and 2 shillings all of which took me a little time to figure out.  The initial investment was 35¢, so it was a good profit $3.43.

Wonderful entertainment this evening in the Smoking Room-International Dances and a good vocalist. A game of bingo with very fine stakes.

Ervin on the Queen Mary

Mary on the Queen Mary

Ervin on the Queen Mary

Generation 2 now moved to the website

 I keep combining things over to the website.  These are for my Great Grandparents.  Here is the most recent biographies.

• Putnam
• Amos Putnam(1863-1936)
• Cora Margaret Carpenter(1872-1964)
• Connelly
• Frederick Patrick Connolly(1859-1921)
• Mary Ann Weatherby (1862-1939)
• Wright
•  David Joy Wright (1851-1908)
• Jane Caroline Reed(1846-1936)
• Smith
• Merrick Luther Smith(1892-1937)
• Catherine Ellen McCann(1861-1955)

General John J. Pershing

 Here is the picture of General John J. Pershing referenced in the last post as well as a picture of the Washington Monument from 1920.

General John J. Pershing, Washington, D.C. 

Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. 1920

More information on the early lives of Mary Connelly and Ervin Putnam

Thanks to my Uncle and my cousin, I now have a little more information on the early lives of Mary Gertrude Connelly and Ervin Earl Putnam.  This includes some more photos.  I'll post the facts here and then incorporate them into their biographies.

• Between 1918 and 1923, Mary Gertrude Connelly worked at the US Veterans Hospital No. 44 in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. She was the secretary to the President of the Hospital. The terms stenographer and secretary were interchangeable at that time. Mary is listed as a stenographer in the 1920 Census while living at 50 Cedar Street in Cambridge, MA with her mother and siblings. Mary’s father was frequently away from home, typically back in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island. Ervin Earl Putnam worked at the US Veterans Hospital No. 44 in West Roxbury as a lab technician and met Mary Connelly there.
• When the new veterans’ hospital opened in Northampton, MA, both Mary and Ervin were transferred there from West Roxbury. Mary continued as secretary to the hospital President and Ervin became both the X-Ray Technician and the Lab Technician.
• In November, 1920 Mary Connelly played the part of Joan of Arc in a play that may have been performed in Washington, D.C. During this time, Mary stayed with her sister Helen Connelly who lived at 1515 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C.
• During one of her trips to Washington, D.C., Mary encountered General John J. Pershing who allowed her to photograph him on the steps of what looks like a government building.
  
  

Bedroom at 50 Cedar Street, Cambridge, MA

Odd and End Room at 50 Cedar St, Cambridge, MA

Living Room at 50 Cedar St, Cambridge, MA

Mary Ann Weatherby and Mary Connelly, 5 Cedar St, Cambridge, MA 1922

US Veterans Hospital No. 44 in West Roxbury, Massachusetts

Mary Connelly in a play costume in living room at 50 Cedar St, Cambridge, MA-1918

Mary Connelly, Unknown, Unknown, Maud Connelly and Helen Connelly

Mary Connelly (Center) at the U.S. Veteran's Hospital, West Roxbury, MA

Mary Connelly at work Veterans Hospital No. 44 Roxbury, MA-1922

Ervin Putnam and Mary Connelly-1922

EE Putnam Lab Technician US Veterans Hospital No. 44

Here is a link to the information  have posted to the blog and their combined biographies on the new website:

• Ervin Earl Putnam
• Blog
• Biography
• Mary Gertrude Connelly
• Blog
• Biography

Photo Friday: 1920-Ervin Putnam at Chamberlain Lake

 

Ervin Putnam at Chamberlain Lake

Bulletin of the American Friends of Puttenham, Volume XVII, Number 1, February, 1999

AMERICAN OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF PUTTENHAM

Volume XVII, Number 1

FEBRUARY, 1999

PUTNAMS IN THE NEWS 

On Dec. 31 Nancy Putnam Hollister, Lt. Governor of the state of Ohio, was sworn in as governor in Columbus in a ceremony attended by about 100 people from her hometown Marietta, former governor George Voinovich, the entire cabinet and many state legislators. Gov. Voinovich has resigned to begin his term in the U.S. Senate while Nancy will take over new duties as a state representative following eleven days as governor, the first woman to have held the position. Although she promised not to introduce any new legislation during her term she had no chance to rest since immediately after she took office Ohio was hit by some of the worst weather in recent years including heavy snowfall. She also had a chance to sign into law a bill she had worked hard to craft that protects farmland from unrestricted development. 

Congratulations to Andrew C. Putnam and Sheri Gaynor who were married in Glenwood Springs, Co., on Jan. 28, 1997. Andrew is the son of members H. Chase and Mary Putnam of Warren, Pa. 

Betty Jo Putnam Carpenter of Rutherford, N.C., has been selected by Converse College of Spartanburg, S.C. as recipient of its alumnae Career Achievement Award for 1999. Betty Jo graduated from Converse in 1949 with an A.B. degree in Voice and Music Education .. The Converse School of Music is nationally recognized and has been called "the Julliard of the South." 

AN AMERICAN SCIENTIST REMEMBERED

F.W. Putnam

In February, 1998, the American Association for the Advancement of 

Science celebrated its 150th anniversary. In the December 18th issue of its Publication, "SCIENCE", Mildred S. Dresselhaus authored an article reviewing the history of the organization. As a Fellow of the AAAS I was delighted to see the recognition given to Frederick Ward Putnam (1839-

1915) who was president of the Association in the 50th year of its existence. Dr. Putnam was a Harvard anthropologist and archaeologist who did  research on the Adena and Hopewell cultures of the mid-West and saved from oblivion the most famous of their works, the Serpent Mound of southwest Ohio.­

Of additional interest is the fact that Dr. Putnam was the father of Eben Putnam to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for his enormous work on Putnam family genealogy, published between 1890 and 1910. 

THE GIDEON PUTNAM HOTEL 

Over the years I have received numerous questions about the origin of this famous hotel in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Member Janet Kral of Syracuse, NY, has now provided the answer in the form of an article (source unknown) entitled "The Story of Saratoga and Gideon Putnam" as well as a book "Durkee's Reminiscences of Saratoga" compiled by Cornelius E. Durkee. The area is famous for Burgoyne's defeat in the Revolutionary War battle as well as for its mineral springs. The springs were well known to the Iroquois who had used them for many centuries before Sir William Johnson found them to be useful in restoring his strength in 1767. However, development had to wait for the arrival of Gideon Putnam 22 years later. 

Twenty-five year old Gideon and his bride, Doanda, came from Sutton, Ma., settled beside High Rock Spring, and soon became the owners of a sawmill, shipping staves and shingles down the Hudson River to New York City. Eventually, however, his thoughts turned to the springs and he purchased an acre of land beside Congress Spring where he built a guest house, naming it "PUTNAM'S TAVERN & BOARDING HOUSE" for the accommodation of 70 guests. By 1805 his mounting fortune enabled him to add an additional 130 acres to the site and he began to develop a proper village, setting aside land for the village to use as sites for a church, school and graveyard. Gideon's boarding house grew till it became nearly twice its original size. Another hotel was built and named the "Columbian". Looking to the future when even these accommodations would prove inadequate, Gideon determined to build a hotel grandly suited to the village's growing popularity as a spa. He would call it Congress Hall, in tribute to the growing fame of Congress Spring. 

In 1811, working along with his carpenters he was severely injured in a fall from a scaffold. Impatient to continue, he went back to work before he was fully recovered, fell ill, and died on Dec. 1, 1812, at the age of 48. Doanda and her five sons and four daughters continued his work to completion of the grand hotel. The Putnam family remained attached to the original boarding house, eventually renaming it "Union Hall". By 1909 the springs had so deteriorated from misuse and uncontrolled bottling that the state purchased two square miles of spring-bearing land adjacent to the city and for 'eight years let the springs rest. Then during the depression the State, to provide jobs, developed as a public facility a Reservation known locally as "The Spa" and "Spa Park." 

Gideon (Stephen, Elisha, Edward, Thomas, John) is described in more detail in Eben Putnam's "History of the Putnam Family in England and America" , #549, p. 280. He and Doanda (Risley) first moved from Sutton to Middlebury, Vt., and then to Rutland, Vt., and Saratoga Springs. 

Members who might be interested in staying at the beautiful "Gideon Putnam Hotel" can get further information from Janet Kral. Janet also sent me information about and photos of the hotel. 

A CHOCOLATE MEMORIAL 

For many years Putnams traveling north of Boston on Rt. 1 at Danvers will have noticed the large sign advertising "Putnam Pantry Candies". Those who stopped would have learned that the store was built on land owned by the Putnam family since 1640 or so and is located adjacent to the "Putnam House", a home that had been owned by the Putnam family since it was built about 300 years earlier and that had been the birthplace of General Israel Putnam. So the name "Putnam Pantry Candies" can be viewed as a memorial to the General. Much more recently a young man named Shane Danford opened a chocolate candy manufacture and sale location on Putnam St. in Marietta, Ohio, and named its high quality products "Putnam Street Chocolates". Since this Putnam Street had been named to honor the same General in a town whose original settlers included several of his sons the chocolates also can be viewed as a memorial. Shane now has moved around the corner onto Front St. and has renamed his product "Putnam Chocolate" ... a divine, yet decadent experience. General Putnam can be characterized as the first folk hero of the American Republic. As a lover of chocolate I think no better memorial could be found for his life.

LUCK - THE KEY TO RESEARCH 

My ancestor, Aaron Putnam, left New Salem, Mass., in 1805 to be one of the first settlers of Houlton, Me. For many years I have tried to locate his property in New Salem with no success. Now as the result of an incredible accident I think I know where it was. My son, David, in Presque Isle, Me., was given a copy of a history of Houlton published in 1958 by my grandmother, Cora Putnam. In it was a very old, yellowed piece of paper recording Aaron's sale of his "New Salem" land on April 3, 1805, to Constant Ruggles for $4400.00. The land consisted of 80 acres in New Salem, 20 acres in New Salem, 100 acres in Shutesbury and Wendell and 10 acres in Shutesbury. Since these three towns come together at a point it is likely that the land was quite close to this junction point. To complicate matters the record of the deed is in Greenfield, Ma., not New Salem or Shutesbury. 

Another example of this sort of thing was precipitated by receipt of an article from Bradford Bond, a friend in Marietta. This item, found in his grand-father's effects, is called a "Historical Address" presented by Louis I. Holway of New Port Richey, Florida, at the dedication of the new library building of the Charles B. Danforth Public Library of Barnard, Vermont in the Universalist Church at Barnard, July 14, 1927. In it are references to Jennie Gifford Putnam and Jessie Putnam Wheelock. When I searched my computer file under their names nothing turned up till I searched under Barnard, Vt. There I found that this was the birthplace of Harold Putnam, author of "The Putnams of Salem Village." In the genealogical section of his book I found that Jessie Putnam was the sister of Harold's grandfather, Willard Cushing Putnam. It's a small world! 

ANOTHER MAINE STORY 

Thanks to David Putnam again for the following story from the Bangor (Maine)Daily News: Fred L. Putnam of Houlton won't be returning his Selective Service registration card, despite the fact that not doing so is a violation of federal law (5 years in jail or $250,000). The card in fact should have been sent to his grandfather who would have been 118 rather than 18 on the date requiring his registration. The Post Office delivered the notice to the nearest Fred L. Putnam they could find even though he lived seven miles away in New Limerick. Fred thinks the  problem is an early example of the Y2K fiasco, the Selective Service blames the error on the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles an Motor Vehicle people blame it on Fred who didn't send them a copy of his death certificate. 

THE BOOK CORNER 

David Puttnam of "Chariots of Fire" and "The Killing Fields" fame has turned his attention from directing world-class films and presidenting Columbia Pictures to authoring a book entitled "Movies and Money" (Alfred A. Knopf, 339 pp., $27.50). In the words of Elissa Adams in a review in the Dec. 17 issue of "The Christian Science Monitor", "the stars of Puttnam's cinema saga are not Chaplin or Spielberg, Goldwyn, Wasserman, Valenti, and Rank (but rather) the bankers, producers, distributors, agents, and political lobbyists behind the scenes". She adds "Puttnam's writing is clear and practical.. .. at the very least, when the next Schwarzenegger movie grosses millions overseas, you'll understand why."

Every person likes to see his name in print especially when it appears in an unlikely manner. This happened to me last year when I came upon a 1997 book entitled "Arctic Cairn Notes - Canoests' reflections on the Hanbury-Thelon and Kazan Rivers". On page 132 was a copy of a note left on Aug. 14, 1977 by a small party of canoeists of which I was a member. The cairn in which it had been left is located at Kazan Falls just south of Baker Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories and the note contains the names and homes of the six members of the party. This river was first visited by white men in 1894. It was first canoed for recreation in 1964 and even today is one of the least known rivers in arctic Canada. In 1977 only three parties traveled it and in the 320 miles of our trip (21 days) we met three white surveyors and one eskimo family. 

 MISSING PERSONS 

Greg Grant Putnam is searching for information about his great-grandfather, Ulysses Grant Putnam, born April 12, 1864, Dallas Cty., IA, married Nackey Earley, died Nov. 21, 1925. 

My wife, Caroline, is searching for information about the parents of Joseph Sanders (Saunders?, Sanderson?), b. 17 Aug 1764, d. Dec. 1829, bur. New Ipswich, N.H., and Charlotte Dawes, b. Boston, 18 mar 1786, d. Northampton, MA, 18 May 1846. 

NEW MEMBERS 

New members welcomed to the American Friends of Puttenham since those listed in the previous issue of the Bulletin are: 

Nancy Hallberg

Port Matilda, Pa.

George Waldo Emerson
Newport, R.I. 

Judith L. Parker

Milford, N.H.

Barbara B. Turner

Pacific Grove, Ca.

Judy M. Dwyer

Longwood, Fl.

Rand M. Putnam
La Habra, Ca.

Allan Ray Putnam

Orleans, Ma.

Charles H. Browning

Palo Alto, Ca.

Arline L. Larson

Fort Lauderdale, Fl.

Robert E. Long

Tulsa, OK

Editor Robert E. Putnam

This is an addition based on the LUCK - THE KEY TO RESEARCH section.  Base on the description, Aaron Putnam's land would have been around here:

Added David Sanders Wright and Florence Edna Smith's info to the website

 Here are the links:

• David Sanders Wright
• Florence Edna Smith

Start of a new website

 I am now starting to move much of the information into a standing website.  It is still pretty draft but here are a few of the things I have gotten moved.  

• Biography of Ervin Earl Putnam
• Ervin's World War I diary
• Biography of Mary Gertrude Connelly

Hopefully, this is a better way to organize things.  I'll keep adding and let you know when new things are posted.

Bulletin of the American Friends of Puttenham Volume Volume XV, Number 3, December, 1997

BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF PUTTENHAM

VOLUME XV, NUMBER 3

DECEMBER, 1997

"THE ARTE OF ENGLISH POESIE"

A number of years ago "The Arte" and its disputed authorship were mentioned in the Bulletin. At that time the relationship of its most likely author, George Puttenham, to the Putnam family was noted as was an error in this relationship made by Eben Putnam in his "Putnam Lineage". Stimulated by receipt of a large amount of information from my English cousin, Mr. Charles Hurray-Willis, I feel the time has come to treat this subject more thoroughly. 

In his letter to me, Charles, the grandson of Frank Houlton Putnam of Houlton, Maine, and Marjorie Weldon of London, England, having a strong interest in the subject, makes the following somewhat edited plea: 

    "Your support is needed for the recogniti6n of a brilliant literary figure living in England in the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603). George Puttenham's name has been languishing in obscurity and misunderstanding for 400 years. It is about time we gave him the credit he deserves. Not only was he one of the most original writers in the 16th century but he also was an important influence on William Shakespeare (1564-1616) and Ben Jonson (1572-1637). Host of his works/poems have been lost (perhaps through intentional destruction by enemies in the religious controversy of the times) but fortunately three significant works and a collection of original letters in his own hand have survived." 

Charles has provided summaries and some photocopies of G.P. 's works. These are available from the Bulletin editor for the cost of copying (6 cents/page). Photocopies of the original manuscripts can be obtained from Charles at a cost of about 70 pence { $1.10) per page plus postage. The high cost of the latter is due to the care required in handli11g the 400 ­year old manuscripts. A description of the works follows. 

1. "Partheniades". An unpublished collection of 17 poems (555 lines) presented as a New Year's gift to Queen Elizabeth now in the British Museum Library. This unique collection is the only surviving example of his poetry and needs to be published in a modern version along with a modern appraisal of the life and times of G.P. 

2. A "Justification of Queen Elizabeth in relation to the Affair of Mary Queen of Scots", commissioned by Elizabeth in 1581 and in the original hand of G.P. has never been published. At present it is in the Camden Society Museum Collection in the British Museum. It consists of a 24- page preface and 67 pages of the Justification.

3."The Arte of English Poesie" was published anonymously in 1589 and was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. There are facsimile copies of the original publication of 1589 owned and signed by Ben Jonson in the Library of Congress. Ten copies in the public, university and college libraries of London, Oxford and Cambridge were accessible in 1936. The best modern version is that by Gladys Willcock and Alice Walker, published in 1936, Cambridge Univ. Press. This work contains 102 pages of preface and introduction together with 315 pages of G.P. 's writings. The introduction contains an excellent summary of what is known about Puttenham's life and works. This work will be discussed further in the next issue of the Bulletin, as will my cousin's thoughts on the possible connection of George Puttenham with John Putnam's removal from Buckinghamshire to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1640/41. 

BOOK REPORTS 

Chase Putnam of Warren, Pa., earlier this year sent to me a delightful book entitled "English Prelude", a work describing a tour of England which emphasized the places of origin of many of the original settlers of New England. Written by Marguerite Allis and published by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1936, it is arranged by County and covers nearly 300 hamlets, villages, towns and cities. In addition it is illustrated with drawings by the author. On page 224 there is a short paragraph devoted to Puttenham and its relation to the Putnam family and on the previous page there is the lovely drawing of "Puttenham Manor" reproduced below This 16th century farm house is very similar in style to that of the oldest section of the Washingtons' home, Sulgrave Manor, in Northamptonshire, built about the same time. To show that very little has changed between 1936 and 1991 this drawing is compared with a photo taken at the same spot from which Marquerite Allis' drawing was made. The photo was taken by Larine Biggs of Wichita, Ks., during the AFOP visit to Puttenham in 1991. The Americans at the table are Larine's brother, Hadley Wait, and Caroline and Bob Putnam.

Puttenham Manor

Halbert's, Inc., of Bath, Ohio, is at it again. This time they are advertising a book called a "Putnam history book" that promises that your own name is mentioned. Attorney Harold Putnam of Vero Beach, Fl., has contacted Chief of Police George Reuscher of the Bath Police Dept. to determine that the name Raymond J. Putnam used in their advertising is indeed fictitious. Your name is mentioned by way of a listing of telephone book-derived addresses of Putnam families all across the country; otherwise the book is devoted entirely to generalities and information of little historical significance. It is not likely that either the Chief of Police or the Postal Service will be able to stop this misrepresentation so it's a particularly irritating case of caveat emptor. 

According to an advertisement by Warner Books, "Whistled Like A Bird" by Sally Putnam Chapman (with Stephanie Mansfield) is "the untold story of Dorothy Putnam, George Putnam and Amelia Earhart." It further states that "just before she died, Dorothy Binney Putnam entrusted her diaries to her granddaughter, Sally Putnam Chapman. Now, years later, Sally Chapman is ready to share their contents and take a piercing, heartfelt look at her grandparents, their world-famous friend Amelia Earhart and the turmoil, passion, and tragedy that filled their lives. They quote Mary Lovell, author of "Sound Of Wings", an earlier book about George Putnam and Amelia Earhart, as saying that Chapman's book is" A wonderful and important addition to the Amelia Earhart genre. I could not put it down and hope it enjoys the huge success it deserves. " I have not seen a review that comments on its literary value.

LETTERS FROH MEMBERS 

I never cease to be amazed at the frequency with which our members discover relatives in the most unlikely ways. As the most recent example, Bill Putnam of Carthage, Mo. writes as follows: "In 1988 Charlie Phillips and I were elected to the Board of Directors of Hardware Wholesalers, Inc. We are both in the lumber/hardware business - he in Reedsburg, Wi., and I in Southwest Mo. We had never met but, with our wives Cindy (mine) and Ginny (his), soon became good friends. I served as Chairman of the Board in 91-92 and he in 92-93. Somewhere along the way he mentioned he had a 'great grandmother' who was a Putnam. We never checked it out till we visited the Phillips in Reedsburg last month {Aug. 97)." 

In summary Bill states that he and Charlie are ninth cousins, their common ancestor being John Putnam of Aston Abbotts, Bucks, and Salem Village, Mass. Bay Colony. They both were born in 1943. The probability of that happening after 9 generations is about the same as winning a state lottery. 

MISSING PERSONS

On Aug. 1, 1997 The American Air Museum In Britain at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, was opened officially by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The event was commemorated by publication of a beautiful Opening Ceremony Programme. One of the featured photos in the Programme was taken on July 6, 1944 and shows Princess Elizabeth after she christened the  B-17G bomber "Rose of York" named in her honor. The princess posed for the photo with 306th Bomb Group Commanding Officer Colonel Claude Putnam. Can any of our members identify this American officer?

Paul and Janice Putnam are searching for information about Paul's great grandfather, William Putnam, b. Sept. 5, 1835 and d. July 30, 1903. He married Julia Ann Foster Dec. 27, 1854 in Hamilton Cty, Il. They had eight children, Thomas, James, Richard Henry, Barney, Lou, Martha Hatila and twins Mandy and Winnie. It is possible that William was the son of Bennet Putnam and his wife Sarah who are listed in the 185@ census for Hamilton County, Il., with 6 children, one of whom matches William's age.

A FOOTNOTE TO HISTORY 

Last week I watched with great interest Public Television's series called "LIBERTY" about the American Revolution. The last section dealt with the difficulties in the country between the end of the war and the formation of the United States from the united States of the Declaration of Independence. Very brief mention was made of the farmers' uprising in Massachusetts, called Shay's Rebellion, typical of the internal threats to the new idea of Liberty. One of the people caught up in this event was General Rufus Putnam as described in a "HISTORY OF PELHAN, NASS. ", by C. O. Parmenter, published in 1898.

Daniel Shays had been commissioned a captain in Col. Putnam's regiment in 1779 and then left the service the following year. He returned to Pelham and was elected several times to offices there. In 1786 he became involved in the farmers' economic troubles and was chosen to lead them in their defiance of the Courts and laws which ultimately led to armed rebellion. Shays defended his action in the rebellion in an interview with Gen. Putnam seventeen days before he led an attack on the Springfield, Ma., armory. Gen. Putnam reported the interview to Governor Bowdoin in a letter from his home in Rutland, Ha., dated Jan. 8, 1787. 

"Sir:-As I was coming through Pelham the other day I met Mr. Shays in the road alone, where we had a conversation, some of which was of a very particular kind. I shall state the whole, by way of dialog, as far as I can recollect; but in order to understand the meaning of some parts of it, it is necessary you should know that the week before they stopped Worcester court the last time, I spent many hours with Shays and his officers, endeavoring to dissuade them from their measures, and persuade them to return to their allegiance. 

    Mr. Shays-Do you know if the petition drawn up at Worcester has been sent to the governor or not?

 
    Putnam-I am surprised to hear you inquire that of me; you certainly ought to know whether you have sent it, or not - however, since you ask the question I tell you I have been credibly informed that so late as last Friday it had not been presented. 

    Shays-They promised to send it immediately, and it was very wrong they did not; but I don't know that it will alter the case, for I don't suppose the governor and council will take any notice of it. 

    Putnam-You have no reason to expect they will grant the prayer it. 

    Shays-Why not? 

    Putnam-Because many things asked for it is out of their power to grant; and besides that since you and your party have once spurned at offered mercy, it is absurd to expect that another general pardon should be ever granted. 

    Shays-No! Then we must fight it out.

    Putnam-That as you please, but it's impossible you should succeed -....."

The report goes on at great length but Gen. Putnam failed to convince Shays to give up the project. The attack on the armory was a failure and Daniel Shays subsequently disappeared from American history. He is best remembered by way of the Daniel Shays Highway, U.S. Rt. 202, through Pelham, Ma.

ODDS AND ENDS 

In August, 1997, the Marietta Brewing Co. (Restaurant and Brewery) opened at 167 Front St., Marietta, Oh., the first brewery to function here after many decades. Recently Caroline and I joined another couple for dinner there. The food was excellent but the high point was sampling their Putnam Porter, the specialty of the day. The restaurant was so busy that I could not get to the manager to find out whether the brew was named for the main street (thus after Gen. Israel Putnam) or for Gen. Rufus Putnam, the leader of the group of New Englanders who first settled Marietta in 1788. In any case it did justice to its name. 

INTERNET HOHE PAGE 

Thanks to my son, Andrew, we now have a Home Page on the Internet complete with photos, arms and historical data. The address is http://www.iwaynet.net1~akputnam/home.html I reach it quickly by searching "puttenham". The photos of the church are lovely. 

NEW MEMBERS 
A new member welcomed to the American Friends of Puttenaham since those listed in the July, 1997, issue is: 

Wayne Putnam, M.D. 
Halifax, N.S. Canada

Editor Robert E. Putnam 

Photo Friday: Trying to save a photo

 I was going through more of the papers I have and discovered a bunch of loss photos.  I think they are mostly tied to my Great Grandmother Florence Smith, but this one seems to be different.  It was glued onto a piece of cardboard and is highly degraded.  I may send it out to an expert to see if they can really restore it, but here is my attempt.

Original Scanned Photo

After Partial Restoration

The second photo is after I have messed with the colors a bit.  You can obviously see the 2 figures in front, but really can't tell that much more.  I believe this is the West street house.  If so, that could be Great Grandmother Jane Caroline Reed in the front, and possibly either Edward or David Wright on the bike.  I then would put the photo in the 1890.  

Bulletin of the American Friends of Puttenham Volume VIII, Number 3 June 1991

My father published a bulletin for the American Friends of Puttenham through at least 1999.  I am not sure when he started by he was publishing Volume 8 in 1991.  In a way, this blog is an extension of his bulletin.  I found some of them in amongst the papers I have and thought I would post them on line as the internet wasn't really a thing when he was putting these out.  I have not edited anything except removing people street addresses for privacy reasons.. The formatting is not the same because it would be difficult to recreate on a website.  Here is the first one I found.  

BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF PUTTENHAM

VOLUME VIII, NUMBER 3

JUNE, 1991

VISIT TO ENGLAND 

The time for our tour of Puttenham and vicinity is now set for Sunday, Sept. 8 through Wed., Sept. 11. In addition, those who are interested will travel to London on the 12th to visit the British Museum to see the Domesday Book. So far, eight individuals have completed their plans to attend: Edith Thornton of Rocky Hill, Ct., David Putnam of Wilbraham, Ma., Dr. Dickson Putnam and his sister of West Plains, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. Jack Putnam of Visalia, Ca. and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Putnam of Marietta, Oh. Anyone else who plans to come should let me know as soon as possible so that accommodations can be secured. Directions for travel to Aylesbury, Bucks, from London or other cities in England will be provided in the next month. All local travel from Aylesbury to hotels and to tour sites will be provided for the group. A detailed itinerary also will be provided in July. At the moment we can say that Saturday will be a day of informal exploration and meeting of St. Mary's church members and Sunday will start with a service in the church of our ancestors and finish with dedication of the new church hall. In between, we'll have an opportunity to study the historically important area around the church and village. The next three days will be spent in touring the spots that are important in Putnam family history as well as other sites in this extremely beautiful section of England.

PUTNAM MIGRATION INTO THE MID-OHIO VALLEY 

In tracing the descendants of a given family in the U.S. it is frequently found that the geographical distribution of the family is remarkably broad, resembling a tree growing from a single town in the East and branching out into many of the 50 states. In the cases of John Putnam of Salem Village and probably of Thomas Putnam of tidewater Virginia, descendants can be found in all 50 states 350 years after arrival in North America of John and Thomas. Because of this it is tempting to assume that members of the Putnam family found in a small area are all descended from an original settler of the area (of course this is not true for large metropolitan areas). That this is a very bad assumption is shown by the example of the area centered in Marietta, Ohio, and covering a circle with a radius of 20 miles. Putnam immigration ­into this area of Ohio and West Virginia can, in fact, be traced to six and perhaps seven different family lines spanning a period of more than 200 years. 

Marietta, itself, was settled in 1788 with the arrival of a flatboat bearing 48 revolutionary war veterans from Massachusetts. The leader was General Rufus Putnam and the group included Allen and Jethro Putnam. Rufus and Allen were not closely related (3rd cousins, once removed). Jethro came from Danvers, as did Allen, but we don't know their relationship except that they were not brothers. Today there is not a single family named Putnam in this entire area descended from any of these men nor am I aware of any individuals descended from their daughters. Yet there is a very large number of Putnam families. How this came to be is a fascinating story. Most (but not all!) of the Putnam family members to be found in the Marietta area today are actually descendants of General Israel Putnam. Not all the members of the Ohio Company came out with the original 48. One who did not was Colonel Israel Putnam, son of the famous general. This Israel came overland a short time after the flatboat arrived, took up land in Belpre, just south of Marietta, and brought out his large family in 1790. His sons all remained in the Belpre/Marietta area and from them are descended many hundred present a residents. 

In Cairo and Elizabeth, West Virginia, are two members of the AFOP, Sandra Harper and Marjorie Mayes. who descend from John Jeptha Putnam, born in 1762 in Sutton, Hass., died in Bath, Virginia, in 1837. John's children spread out into western Virginia before the Civil War leaving a considerable number of descendants in today's population in our area of interest. But, as we have already discovered, one must be careful not to draw any conclusions about other Putnams in the same area from this fact. In Belmont , West Virginia and Marietta, Ohio, live two sisters, Deloris Putnam Morris and Violet Putnam Blair, also members of the AFOP. These ladies descend from an old V1rginia family which is almost certainly that derived from the Thomas Putnam who came to Virginia in 1647 from Chesham, England. One of the members of is family, John M. Putnam, moved west of the Appalachian Mts. from Fauqler County between 1845 and 1873. This family finally reached the area of interest after 1900 and has contributed a significant number of individuals to today's population. 

And where does my family fit in all of this? Nowhere! We are late comers to the area, having arrived from Salem Village via New Salem ,Mass., Houlton, He., Northampton, Mass., and Wilmington, Delaware, only in 1967. And to find a common ancestor with any of the others we have to go all the way back to John of Salem Village and his sons. 

MORE CIV1L WAR LETTERS 

Several weeks ago we were delighted to have an unexpected visit from member Stephen Morgan Wells, recently retired manager of the Susse Motel in Portsmouth, N.H., and his wife Betty. Steve is one of the descendants of the Col. Israel Putnam mentioned in the previous section and his family is from Athens, Ohio, home of Ohio University (founded by Rufus Putnam, among others). Steve was on what proved to be a successful search for reliable evidence of his ancestry. As a result of this visit he has provided a fascinating collection of letters from a soldier in the Union army, Lt. David P. Putnam, to his parents in Athens. David was born in Marietta in 1841 and was a brother of Stephen's great-grandfather. The letters span his service career from late in 1862 till after the end of the war in 1865 and are virtually a week-by-week record of the war in the West including Sherman's campaign in Georgia. The letters will be serialized in "The Tallow Light", a publication of the Washington County (Ohio) Historical Society, and will be donated to the Ohio Historical Society. 

THE ANCESTRY OF THE CHILDREN OF DEACON EDWARD PUTNAM 

Member Harry Brawner of Menlo Park, Ca., has provided the following account of the ancestry of Mary Hale, wife of Edward Putnam, which may be of interest to their many descendants in the AFOP. 

"The nine children of Deacon Edward Putnam and their descendants are all very much Putnams, but they also share another fascinating ancestry. Edward was born in Salem Village, Mass., (baptized July 4, 1654), the second son of Thomas and Ann Holyoke Putnam, and there married Mary Hale on June 14, 1681. 

Mary Hale also was born in Salem Village on July 15, 1660, the daughter of Judge Thomas and Mary Hutchinson Hale. The judge was well known and highly respected and himself New England born. His father, another Thomas, was the immigrant ancestor settling with this wife, Thomasine, in Newbury, Mass., where he became a selectman before dying there on Dec. 21, 1682. his birthplace was Walterstone, Herefordshire, on the Welch border. The date was June 15, 1606. 

This Thomas' father was William (1568-1634) who held the honor of  High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, the home county of the Putnam family. Thomas' mother was Rose, a daughter of Sir George Bond, Lord Mayor of  London in 1587, at the time of the Spanish Armada threat. Sir George's wife was Winifred Leigh. 

Lady Winifred, in turn, was the daughter of Sir Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London in 1558, the momentous year in which Mary I, "Bloody Mary", was succeeded on the throne by the great Elizabeth. Sir Thomas and his spouse, Alice Barker, retired to Stoneleigh Abbey in Warwickshire. The home is occupied by the Leigh family to this day. 

The Leigh family is authenticated for another eleven generations previous to Sir Thomas beginning with Haman de Leigh, whose son was married around 1160 and was lord of High Leigh Manor in Chestershire. One other Leigh deserves mention. Sir Thomas' great,great grandfather was Sir Piers Leigh who fought as a young man with distinction at the battle of Crecy in 1346 in support of the Plantagenet King, Edward III. He continued in his loyalty to this royal family even as the throne was usurped by the Lancastrian, Henry IV. The latter heartlessly ordered the execution of the old man and Sir Piers was beheaded in Chester in 1399." 

PUTNAMS IN THE NEWS

Can one of our members identify the Jennifer Putnam who is shown in the Associate Press photo below? 

Associated Press

Pressing for revival

Jennifer E. Putnam holds a photograph of her great-great-grandmother Julia Ward How, who wrote the lyrics to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Putnam wants the song to become part of the next welcome-home parade for Persian Gulf War troops, July 4 In Washington, D.C. "It could become the anthem of a new age," Putnam says. 

Member Hamilton S. Putnam of Concord, N.H., recently gave two lectures before the N.H. Historical Society and at the Bicentennial Celebration of the N.H. Medical Society. His topics were the 388 years (sic) of N.H. medicine and the part played in it by Dr. Josiah Bartlett, the Society's first president, first governor of N.H. and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Hamilton was executive director of the Society for 38 years and currently is director of the John P. Bowler, M.D. Memorial Library. He is the author of "COUNTRY ON FIRE", a history of the period of the French and Indian wars (1755-1764) and the part played in it by his ancestor, Israel Putnam.

In the November, 1990, issue of the Bulletin we reported two newspaper articles about Todd Putnam of Seattle, Wa., and his publication "National Boycott News". The Wall Street Journal also recognized news in this item but didn't get it on their front page until the April 24, 1991 issue. Then they did it up properly with a long article. The first paragraph is worth quoting since it sums up the  Journal's tongue in cheek treatment of the story. "(Todd Putnam) sorely needs a new pair of shoes, but he can't wear leather - the company has been accused of exploiting the black community.  Rubber and plastic are also out, because they don't recycle well. And he has even had to stop buying his Chinese-made all- cotton shoes because of the Tianenmen Square massacre."

MISSING PERSONS

Information is needed about Polly Putnam of Tyringham, Mass., who married Nathaniel Gleason on 13 June 1795 in Tyringham. Nathaniel was born on 1 Nov. 1773 in Ward, Mass., and was living in Becket at the time of his marriage. Contact Caroline W. Putnam, wife of the Editor, if you know anything about Polly. 

Larine Biggs, 6115 Jaqueline, Wichita, Ks., wants to contact anyone who is descended from Levi and Charlotte (Estes) Putnam who lived in the Dwight, Illinois, area about 1840. One daughter, Hannah, married Clark Wait. 

IN MEMORIAM

Wichita, Ks., architect, Wendell Parks, died at the age of 88 on March 16, 1991, in Wichita. He was a descendant of Gen. Israel Putnam and a relative of members Larine Biggs and Hadley Wait also of Wichita. 

NEM MEMBERS 

New members welcomed to the American Friends since the April issue of the Bulletin are:

William B. Putman, Jr..

Hyannis Port, Ma.

Marjorie F. Mayes

Elizabeth, W. Va. 

Leonor Carrasquilla Castello

Bogota, Columbia, S.A.

Marjorie R. Atherton

Morris, Ct.

Robert A. Putnam

Winter Spr., Fl.

Marlynn D. Clements

Mansfield, Oh.

Donna R. Carlson

Austin, Tx.

K. Troy Putnam

Radnor, Oh.

Wendy V. Smith

Rexdale, Ont., Canada

Robert E. Putnam, Editor

Dave Wright Tribute Very Proper At This Time; Legion to Name Field In His Honor

 DAILY HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE, NORTHAMPTON, MASS., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1956

Dave Wright Tribute Very Proper At This Time; Legion to Name Field In His Honor

Walter Salvo is in charge of the dedication of the high school football field to David S. Wright, beloved former coach. Salvo has requested all athletes who were formerly associated with Wright in high school days either to contact  him or to be present at the ticket window of the field just before the game in order that a fitting tribute be made to "Dave" on his day. The field will be dedicated in conjunction with the Booster Day weekend sponsored by the local American Legion Post. Northampton High football team plays Adams in a Class A League game Saturday afternoon to climax the Booster Day program. 

Baseball was his first love and basketball was the sport in which he enjoyed the most success, yet a football field is being named in his honor.

The David S. Wright Field, adjacent to Northampton High School, where he taught from 1919 to 1956 and turned out championship teams as coach and athletic director, will be dedicated in Mr. Wright's honor this Saturday at the school's annual football Booster Day program.

Dave Wright enjoyed much success at Northampton High School, of which he is an alumnus. He retired to his Alma Mater, as coach and teacher in 191, following a short tenure at Searles High. Immediately, Dave began to carve a niche for himself and for the school he represented by the turning out of championship basketball teams. He made himself the widest known, best loved, and most respected member of the coaching fraternity. HE made Northampton High the source of the basketball surface and spread the fame of the "bandbox" gym far and wide.

Strangely enough, football was one sport in which the school fared poorly under Wright's guidance, despite the fact that "brawn and beef" were plentiful in those days. There were many lean years in which an NHS team failed to score a solitary point, but men were developed as well as character.

Baseball, First Love

Baseball was a sport in which Wright delighted and he often donned the mask and mitt and chest protector to play himself for semi-pro and amateur teams in the city.

But basketball was his strong sport and under "Coach's" tutelage, Northampton High became the first and only team in Western Massachusetts to win the New England Interscholastic Basketball Championship at Newport, R.I., a team captained by Northampton's present tax collector, Joe Mew. This was in 1932.

Others on that championship club included Earl Peavey, Bob Ryan, Milt Allen, Jim Manning, Bolec Mozuch, Buck Pollard, Mitch Rutkowski, Dick Kopp, and Bob Sullivan.

A few years ago, on the occasion of Wright's completion of 30 years of service to the city, he was tendered a testimonial banquet by his multitude of friends and pupils.  At that time, he was labelled "a builder of men." He still is. The testimonial was evidence enough of what fans thought of this quiet, unassuming gentleman for they gathered from far and wide to acclaim his genius and every class since 1919 was represented.

Many Good Hoop Teams

Wright had many good hoop teams, many of which are compared with one another. The 1929 team went to Philadelphia and had such stars as Howard "Dippy" Miles, Chet Janus, Chet Rutkowski, Joe Allen, LeRoy Barnes. A 1923 team went to Chicago, led by Joe Zaborowski and Jimmy Zachzewski.

Stars were as plentiful in those days as one sees in the skies. There were John Gordon, Red Vichules, Dave Ziff, the numerous Sullivans, the several Allens, the Rutkowski family, Wally Salvo, Bill Saner, Charley DeRose, Hopper Miller, Ray Kneeland, LeRoy Barnes. You get the idea as you stop to think. And as each name comes back to your nostalgic memory, you think of some game won on a last minute basket in an unexplainable manner, a last minute touchdown or a "squeeze play," bunt, one of Wright's favorite baseball tricks.

1929 Most Fruitful

The year 1929 was perhaps the most fruitful for over-all events. The basketball team went through 23 straight games without a loss and in its third game at Philadelphia, bowed out of the tournament for its first setback. In addition to those mentioned previously as being members of that team, there were Joe Lojko, Jack Meehan and others. In baseball, the year was one of the most successful with Barnes, Butch Wydra, Bud St. John, Battler Young and the other basketball stars shinning on the dimand as well as on the polished surface.

In 1941, the team went into the New England basketball tourney at Manchester with a 16-5 record, but went out gracefully. Fred Barry was captain of that team.

Wally Novak starred in the 1946-1947era, and going back to 1928, there was Al Culley among others who helped the school and Wright; to a good baseball record. In 1925, Leo Gustavis, "Dutex" DeRose, Buck Allen, Bill Saner, "Dinty" Sullivan were stars of the Gridiron.

A 20-3 record was compiled in basketball by the 1926 team which had Al Krukowski, John Miller, Gene Allaire, Ed Cerrti among its members.

Builder of Men

And so it goes, in days gone by and in retrospect, Wright had many pupils to whom he taught the fundamentals not only of sports but the fundamentals of character. This is best evidenced by the manner in which many of his star athletes conducted themselves following their their high school days.  Many are in the public limelight, have gone on to a successful career in the business world. have starred on collegiate athletic teams, all of which reflects on Wright's character moulding.

Dave gave up active coaching, sport by sport, first with football when Tommy Eck came in about 1938. Baseball and basketball active coaching duties were given up a few years later, but Wright was given the assignment as director of athletics, a post he filled admirably.

He is known best to his students and pupils as "Coach."

The fact that the new athletic field is being dedicated in his honor is true attestment to his genuine popularity. It's quite a contrast to the days when football was played at the Driving Park (Fairgrounds). Fans were very few in those days, and when the hat was passed, there was very little change jingling, and no "foldin' money." The sidelines were barren of fans and the field itself was usually in poor condition. Linemen were usually students, not paid officials. Equipment was not of the best caliber and there was no dressing table. Arnica and liniment was the tonic for the weak and ailing. Adhesive tape was bought in small spools, there was trouble in paying officials, and football was a deficit, both financially and in game won.

Legion to be Commended

The Booster Day idea was originally conceived by a group of the local sports enthusiasts, headed by Herb Purseglove. This group paved the way for what us now known as the American Legion sponsored Booster Day program. It's a great idea and creates plenty of pep. The Legion is to commanded for its activities of behalf of the school.

Dave Wright retired from the Northampton public schools system this past June, but he will not be forgotten. Many are the teachers who, when they now meet Wright, tell him how much they miss his wry grim, his words of council. They all wish him good health, for it was a stroke which caused the lovable mentor to "toss in the sponge."

He gets around these days, but is limited in his activities and things he enjoys.

It's interesting to recall that when the present high school edifice was being built, in 1935, a writer suggested that the gymnasium be named the David S. Wright gym.  The words at that time were "what better way could be offered as a vote of appreciation, recognition and fulfillment of a dream, than to name the new gym after the modest, unassuming high school mentor."

Dave Wright's career as a coach is completed. The career has been studded with brilliance and heartaches, with pleasure and dismay, but in the long run we are sure that Wright can sit back, relax and receive the plaudits of his many fans who say "well done, Dave."

SAYS MAYOR IS WRONG IN WRIGHT CASE

 SAYS MAYOR IS WRONG IN WRIGHT CASE

Walter Salvo Takes Side of His Former Coach on Pension

Northampton, Aug. 8--A former schoolboy three-sport star at Northampton High School today took the side of David S. Wright, a member of the high school faculty for the past 38 years, in the latter's attempt to retire under the veterans' pension system and said, "the City of Northampton owes him that much, at least."

Walter Salvo, real estate agent and trustee under the Oliver Smith will, who played four years of baseball, basketball, and football under Wright during the latter's coaching days, stated Mayor James Cahillane should not be allowed to use the case of another School Department employee who retired last year as an example in refusing Wright's request.  

Salvo referred to a former member of the faculty at Smith's Vocational School, whose request to retire under the veterans' pension system a year ago was also turned down by Mayor Cahillane. Since then, the teacher in question, Chares Kilpatrick, accepted the state teacher's retirement pension and therefore, cannot change to the veterans' pension regardless of any future rulings.  

"This city would never be able to repay Mr. Wright for the service he has given in his long career to the School Department and the thousands of athletes who have had the privilege of learning under him.  This veterans' pension would not be a gift," Salvo said. "Wright has earned it and the law says he is entitled to be served under that system."

Salvo, also a football star at Columbia where he played end under Lou Little for two years, 1930-31, said he speaks for several other former students and athletes of Wright. "We all feel the same way," He said, "although we are not city officials and therefore cannot take an active part in the fight."

"Mayor Cahillane sets himself up above the laws of the state when he refuses to allow such a request," Salvo continued. "The law has been checked several times in recent weeks by many of us residents, including lawyers, and we find no place where the mayor has the right to take such a course of action."

The local businessman said he brought up the matter in a conversation with the mayor last Saturday and added, "but I didn't get any favorable results. Mayor Cahillane is using a previous case as a wedge as a means of making a decision in the Wright matter."