ADJUTANT JOHN PUTNAM AND FAMILY.

For the following brief account of this patriotic man, and family, I am indebted to Mrs. Hannah Pearsons, of Lynn, Mass., his daughter, and give it mainly in her own words:

"My father, John Putnam, was born in Lyndeborough, N. H., in 1760. He served for seven years in the war of the Revolution, and was for some time one of the life-guards of Gen. Washington. He, in common with many others, at times suffered severely from cold and hunger, and manifold hardships. I have heard him say that at one time they were so destitute that he and his comrades ate horse's liver, and he thought it the sweetest mouthfuls he had ever tasted. In battle his right and left hand men had been shot down by his side, while he was preserved.  At the close of the war they were paid off in worthless currency. In his old age he received from the government a pension of ninety-six dollars annually, which was very acceptable. He married Olive Barron, of Lyndeborough, a sister of General Micah Barron, subsequently of Bradford, Vt., and removed to that place in 1787. The inhabitants were then but few, and subject to the various trials of early settlers. Soon after the coming of my parents there was a scarcity of provisions. Articles of living were very dear, and money to buy with hard to be obtained. I have heard my mother tell that one evening when father came home, weary and hungry, she was obliged to confess that they had absolutely nothing to eat.  Almost disheartened, he lay down, and soon droped to sleep. She put on her cloak, and went down to Mr. Ichabod Ormsby's. The good old lady, with whom she had never spoken before, met her at the door, with the exclamation, "You dear woman! come in." Mother told her why she had come; and Mrs. Ormsby promptly gave her bread and butter and meal, with which she joyfully re-turned and furnished her table, and then awoke her husband. When he found what she had done, the strong man wept. They were both not only glad for the kindness of their neighbor, but very thankful. My father for several years was much occupied in building bridges and mill-dams, and in rafting lumber down Connecticut River.  When the last war with England broke out, in 1812, my father, with his two sons, John and Ephraim, in the spirit of heroic patriotism, shouldered their muskets and knapsacks, and went promptly into the service of their country. In this war he acted both as Lieutenant and regimental Adjutant. He was a military man, not from love of dress parade in time of peace, but to render his best services to his country in her times of perilous necessity.

My parents had five sons and six daughters, all natives of Bradford, of whom I give you the following brief notices.

1 Olive Putnam married Moses Collins, of Bradford, By occupation a carpenter. They had fifteen children, and lived to see some of their posterity of the fourth generation.   They removed to Michigan, and died there. 

2 Sarah Putnam married Eber Jones Chapin, a clothier by trade, at South Newbury, Vt., where he died.  They had nine children, among whom were John P. and Eber J. Chapin, successful merchants in Chicago. Mrs.  Chapin, after the death of her husband, lived with her daughter, Sarah Cummins, in Wisconsin, and died there. 

3 Jonathan Putnam married Mary Stockwell. They had eight children. He was a hard-working man, of kind disposition; kind to the widow and fatherless, and others in need of his help. He and his wife remained and died in Bradford.

4 Rebeccah Putnam married Isaac Stockwell. They had nine children.   Two of the sons are successful merchants in Danville, Canada East. These parents both died there.

5 John Putnam married Mary Peckett, of Bradford.  They removed to Wisconsin, where he became a wealthy farmer, and was killed in a reaping machine. They had four children, all now deceased. Their mother was left the last surviving member of.her former family. 

6 Micah Barron Putnam died in childhood, at the age of two years.

7 Hannah Putnam married John Pearsons, of Bradford. They had nine children. Of this family further notice hereafter.

8 Ephraim Putnam married Rachel Stoddard. They had six children. He died in Bradford, where she, in 1874, is still living.

9 Elizabeth Putnam married Israel Prescott, and had one son. She died at East Boston. Mr. Prescott married again, and lives in Bradford.

10 Lucy Putnam married Phelps Bliss, of Fairlee.  They migrated to Iowa. Both died there, leaving nine children, all settled in that State.

11 William Barron Putnam married Esther Brown.  They went to Wisconsin, and with their nine children remain there. At our last intelligence this brother was there successfully engaged in preaching the gospel. 

Adjutant John Putnam, the father of this large family, died in Hydepark, Vt., November 5, 1837, at the age of about seventy-seven years. His remains were brought to Bradford for burial.

Mrs. Pearsons adds, " My mother, having lived with me at Hartford, Vt., for sixteen years, died there, in 1858, at the good old age of ninety-three years and three months.  I conveyed her remains to Bradford for burial beside those of my father, in the principal cemetery there. She had been a member of the Congregational church in Bradford for more than forty years, and loved both the. Church and its pastor. She retained her reason to the last, and died divinely supported and comforted.  Biographie Index

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