Family/Spouse: Sarah CRAM. Sarah was born on 27 Jun 1719 in Lyndeborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; died on 15 Oct 1777 in Lyndeborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Ens David PUTNAM was born on 6 May 1753 in Lyndeborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; died on 3 Jul 1826 in Lyndeborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; was buried in S Cemetery, Lyndeborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire.

Nathaniel married Hannah ROBERTS. Hannah was born on 20 Sep 1685 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts; died in 1763 in Salem Village [Danvers], Essex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Religion: Puritan - Salem Village Church
• Witchcraft connection?: Y
• Witch Description: Signed petitions in favor of the accused, including Rebecca Nurse

Notes:

m1 Hanna TARRANT
m2 Elizabeth PUTNAM
m3 Sarah HOLTEN
——
Constable, collector, selectman, deacon, officer in militia. He was supporter of the accused in witch trials. His signature and his wife Sara are of certificate of character for Rebecca Nurse. "The Goods were depends of his family" [Putnam, E. p.1-57f]

Benjamin married Sarah HOLTEN on 1 Jul 1706 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. Sarah was born about 1682 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Religion: Puritan - Salem Village Church
• Immigrant?: Y
• Witchcraft connection?: Y
• Witch Description: Testified at Salem Witch Trials. His testimony wasn’t pro or con, but he merely stated facts as he saw them.
• Baptism: 11 Oct 1619, Aston Abbots, Buckinghamshire, England

Notes:

Nathaniel Putnam was one of the principals in the great lawsuit concerning the ownership of the Bishop farm. His action in this matter was merely to prevent the attempt of Zerubabel Endicott to push the bounds of the Bishop grant over his land. The case was a long and complicated affair, and was at last settled to the satisfaction of Allen and Putnam in 1683.

December 10, 1688, Lieutenant Nathaniel Putnam was one of the four messengers sent to Rev. Samuel Parris to obtain his reply to the call of the parish. Parris was afterwards installed as the minister of the parish, and four years later completely deceived Mr. Putnam in regard to the witchcraft delusion. That he honestly believed in witchcraft and in the statements of the afflicted girls there seems to be no doubt; that he was not inclined to be severe is evident, and his goodness of character shows forth in marked contrast with the almost bitter feeling shown by many of those concerned. He lived to see the mistake he had made. That he should have believed in the delusion is not strange, for belief in witchcraft was then all but universal. The physicians and ministers called upon to examine the girls, who pretended to be bewitched, agreed that such was the fact. Upham states that ninety-nine out of every one hundred in Salem believed that such was the case. There can be no doubt that the expressed opinion of a man like Nathaniel Putnam must have influenced scores of his neighbors.
His eldest brother had been dead seven years, and he had succeeded to the position as head of the great Putnam family with its connections. He was known as "Landlord Putnam," a term given for many years to the oldest living member of the family. He saw the family of his brother Thomas Putnam afflicted, and being an upright and honest man himself, believed in the disordered imaginings of his grandniece, Ann. These are powerful reasons to account for his belief and actions.
The following extract from Upham brings out the better side of his character : "Entire confidence was felt by all in his judgment, and deservedly. But he was a strong religionist, a lifelong member of the church, and extremely strenuous and zealous in his ecclesiastical relations. He was getting to be an old man, and AIr. Parris had whoily succeeded in obtaining, for the time, possession of his feelings, sympathy and zeal in the management of the church, and secured his full co-operation in the witchcraft prosecutions. He had been led by Parris to take the very front in the proceedings.
But even Nathaniel Putnam could not stand by in silence and see Rebecca Kurse sacrificed. ? curious paper written by him is among those which have been preserved : "Nathaniel Putnam, senior, being desired by Francis Nurse, Sr., to give information of what i could say concerning his wife's lile and conversation. I, the above said, have known this said aforesaid woman forty years, and what I have observed of her, human frailties excepted, her life and conversation have been to her profession, and she hath brought up a great family of children and educated them well, so that there is in some of them apparent savor of godliness. I have known her differ with her neighbors, but I never knew or heard of any that did accuse her of what she is now charged with."
http://www.biographiks.com/pleasant/salem.htm

Nathaniel married Elizabeth HUTCHINSON on 2 Jan 1652 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard HUTCHINSON and Alice BOSWORTH) was born on 20 Aug 1629 in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 24 Jun 1689 in Danvers, Essex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Religion: Puritan - Salem Village Church
• Immigrant?: Y
• Baptism: 30 Aug 1629, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, England