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     Israel Putnam was born on 7 January 1717/18 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co., Massachusetts.^3,2 He was baptized on 2 February 1717/18 in Salem Village.¹ He married first Hannah Pope, daughter of Joseph Pope and Mehitable Putnam, on 19 July 1739 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married second Deborah Lothrop, daughter of Samuel Lothrop and Deborah Crow, on 3 June 1767.³ He died on 29 May 1790 in Brooklyn, Windham Co., Connecticut, at age 72.³ He was originally buried at South Cemetery in Brooklyn, Windham Co., Connecticut. His remains were re-interred in the base of the Israel Putnam Monument in Brooklyn when it was completed in 1888.⁴
     He served with distinction during the French and Indian War, signing up as a private in 1755 at age 37, and rising through the ranks to the rank of colonel by the end of the war in 1763. On 8 August 1758 he was captured by the Kahnawake (Mohawk) Indians during a military campaign near Crown Point, New York. He was reportedly about to be burned alive, but was saved by a rainstorm and the intervention of a French officer. He also survived a shipwreck in 1762 during a British expedition against Cuba.⁴
     After the war he returned to his farm in Connecticut, where he became fairly prosperous, both as a farmer and tavern keeper.⁴ He was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1766, and helped found the state's chapter of the Sons of Liberty.⁴
     On 20 April 1775 he was working in his field when word arrived about the Battle of Lexington and Concord the previous day. He is said to have left his plow in the field, rode 100 miles to Cambridge in eight hours, and offered his services in the Revolution. He was well-known because of his earlier exploits in the French and Indian War, and was named a major general.
     When the Continental Army was created on 14 June 1775, the Continental Congress appointed Putnam and three others as major generals under George Washington. He was a principal leader at the Battle of Bunker Hill just three days later, on 17 June. At the Battle of Long Island in August 1776 he was forced to retreat, and the Congress blamed him for the defeat, although Washington apparently did not. In October 1777, at the Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery he was fooled by British diversionary tactics, leading to the loss of the forts. An inquiry found that the loss wasn't his fault, but instead the result of an insufficient number of troops. In another incident, he hesitated when ordered by Washington to forward troops to him, and Washington assigned him to recruiting duty in Connecticut. However, he later commanded three brigades in the Eastern Division, and in 1779 was in command of the right wing of the army. He suffered a stroke in December 1779, ending his military career.⁴

More Information / Background

• Israel Putnam
  
• Israel Putnam Monument.
  

     Sarah Porter was born on 24 August 1675.¹ She married Abel Gardner.¹

     Abel Gardner married Sarah Porter, daughter of Israel Porter and Elizabeth Hathorne.¹

     John Porter was born on 24 September 1677.¹ He married Elizabeth Fisk on 11 July 1706.¹

     Elizabeth Fisk married John Porter, son of Israel Porter and Elizabeth Hathorne, on 11 July 1706.¹

     Mary Porter was born on 22 September 1681.¹ She died on 28 June 1682.¹

     Israel Porter was born on 4 April 1683.¹ He married Sarah Putnam on 12 September 1706.¹

     Sarah Putnam married Israel Porter, son of Israel Porter and Elizabeth Hathorne, on 12 September 1706.¹

     Benjamin Porter was born on 4 September 1685.¹ He died on 22 August 1691 at age 5.¹

     Anna Porter was born on 17 June 1687.¹ She married William Elliot Jr. on 21 October 1708.¹

     William Elliot Jr. married Anna Porter, daughter of Israel Porter and Elizabeth Hathorne, on 21 October 1708.¹
     He was from Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹

     William Porter was born on 12 February 1689.¹ He married first Edith Herrick on 1 February 1708/9.¹ He married second Mary Batchelder on 8 December 1725.¹

     Edith Herrick married William Porter, son of Israel Porter and Elizabeth Hathorne, on 1 February 1708/9.¹

     Mary Batchelder married first (?) Kettle before 8 December 1725.¹ She married second William Porter, son of Israel Porter and Elizabeth Hathorne, on 8 December 1725.¹

     John Porter was born about 1595.¹ He married Mary (?), probably in England.¹ He died on 6 September 1676.¹
     He probably emigrated from England to Massachusetts about 1636, with his wife Mary and one or two of their children.¹ He settled in Hingham, New Plymouth Colony.¹ He is named as a neighbor in a 1635 land grant there, but Davis indicates that this entry is questionable, and may have been made several years later.¹ He received land grants in Hingham on 1 and 2 September 1637 that included "a seven-acre house lot at the northeast corner of the common, a planting lot, a 'great lot' on the east side of the river, salt marsh at Layford's Liking meadows, fresh meadow at Crooked meadows, a planting lot at Plain Neck, salt meadow at Wear Neck, and fresh meadow at Turkey meadows," totaling 66 acres.¹ He was granted 24 additional acres at Nantasket in 1637/38, but it was later found that this land was outside the town's boundaries, and he was granted other land to take its place.¹
     He served as constable in Hingham in 1641, was chosed to rate the town's estates, and was elected as a Deputy to the General Court on 20 May 1644. This was after he apparently had moved to Salem, based on the date his wife joined the Salem church.¹
     In May 1643 be bought a large farm north of Skelton's Neck in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, from Samuel Sharp.¹ He apparently moved to Salem early in 1644, when his wife was admitted to the church there.¹ He later bought the large Downing and Bishop farms, as well as many smaller ones, and became the largest land owner in Salem.¹ He was known as "Farmer Porter," even though he was a tanner by trade.¹ He finally sold his land in Hingham in 1648, to Nathaniel Baker.¹
     He served as selectman in Salem from 1646 to 1662 (except for three years), and in 1668 and 1671. He was on trail jurys in 1646, 1651-54, 1664, and 1669, and on the grand jury in 1647, 1649, 1650, 1656, 1658, 1659, and 1666. He represented Salem as Deputy to the General Court in 1668, and was constable in 1669. He also frequently served on committees to lay out land and roads, and to determine the Salem town limits.¹
     He was apparently very religious. In 1644 he was part of a committee that was to watch for those not paying attention to the services at the meeting house, or who didn't attend without good cause.¹ In 1652 he testified against John Brackenbury and Henry Bullock for wearing inappropriate clothing, and against several others for being absent from the meeting house.¹
     On 2 January 1664/65, before the marriage of their children Joseph Porter and Anna Hathorne, he and William Hathorne made a contract in which Major Hathorne agreed to give Anna £50 within two years of her marriage, and Sergt. Porter agreed to give Joseph the Downing farm and a 1/2 acre lot in Salem on his wedding day, plus "£50 in horses, cattle, hides, cider, corn, and money" within one year.²
     His will was dated 28 April 1673, and proved 26 September 1676. His wife Mary was executrix, and was left half of his personal property and his best feather bed. Also, during her lifetime, she was to receive one third of the income from his houses and land. To his son John, "who by his rebellious and wicked practices hath been a great grief to his parents and hath greatly wasted my estate," he left £150 to be paid in three yearly payments by his sons Joseph, Benjamin, and Israel. To his son Benjamin he left the lands that had formerly been Bishop's farm, 553 acres of other lands, and £100 to be paid in two yearly payments. To his son Joseph, who had earlier been given the former Downing farm, he left £5, and also 40s to each of Joseph's children. To his grandson John, son of his deceased son Samuel, he left £10, to be paid at age 21. To his son Israel, he left his home place and the adjoining orchards and land, plus 60 acres at Skelton's Neck, and his interest in a sawmill near there. He left the remaining 150 acres at Skelton's Neck to his sons Joseph, Benjamin, and Israel. To his daughters Mary and Sarah, he left 435 acres of land to be divided equally, plus £50 each, to be paid after five years by his son Benjamin. He also left Mary's children 40s each. He left 40s each to Rev. John Higginson, Cornelius Baker, John Glover, and £5 to the poor of Salem. Whatever remained was to go to his children Joseph, Benjamin, Israel, Mary, and Sarah. The overseers were his friends Edmund Batter and Hillard Veren, who also received 40s each. The witnesses were Samuel Danforth, Peter Oliver, and Thomas Brattle Jr.¹
     His estate was valued at £2753, most of it land. It included books worth £3, clothing worth £20 (a large sum, says Davis), two negro servants worth £40, and three English servants worth £20.¹

     Mary (?) married John Porter, probably in England.¹ She died on 6 February 1684/85.¹
     She probably emigrated from England to Massachusetts about 1636, with her husband John and one or two of their children.¹ She was admitted to the church in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, on 5 May 1644.¹
     She was executrix of her husband's will, dated 28 April 1673 and proved 26 September 1676, and was left half of his personal property and his best feather bed. Also, during her lifetime, she was to receive one third of the income from his houses and land.¹

     John Porter was born about 1634.¹ He died on 16 March 1684 unmarried.¹
     He was a sailor, and made trips to England and the West Indies.¹
     He was also the black sheep of the family, and was sent to the house of correction in 1661 for abuse of his parents and the authorities.¹ In a letter to his parents dated 18 November 1661, and in a petition to the court, he seemed to be genuinely repentant.¹ In 1663 he forfeited his bond for not keeping the peace, and was sent to Boston for trial before the Court of the Assistants.¹ He was again committed in June 1668, based on a complaint against him by John Barnes, one of his father's servants.¹ He was was sued by his father in 1674, based on a claim he had made to some of his father's land at Skelton's Neck. The court ruled that they had agreed in 1670 to submit disputes to arbitration, and that the arbitrators had said that the land was his father's, but also awarded him £150 for his share.¹
     In his father's will, dated 28 April 1673 and proved 26 September 1676, he was left just £150, because of "his rebellious and wicked practices [that] hath been a great grief to his parents and hath greatly wasted my estate".¹

     Samuel Porter was born about 1636.¹ He married Hannah Dodge, daughter of William Dodge.¹
     He was mariner, and had a large farm in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ His will was dated 10 February 1658/59, just before leaving on a trip to Barbados, and proved 28 June 1660.¹

     Hannah Dodge married first Samuel Porter, son of John Porter and Mary (?).¹ She married second Thomas Woodbury on 2 December 1661.¹

     John Porter was born in 1658 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² He married Lydia Herrick about 1680.¹ He died on 8 March 1753 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts.²

     Lydia Herrick was born on 26 September 1666 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She married John Porter, son of Samuel Porter and Hannah Dodge, about 1680.¹ She died on 12 February 1736/37 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, at age 70.²

     Joseph Porter was baptized on 9 September 1638 in Hingham, New Plymouth Colony.¹ He married Anna Hathorne, daughter of William Hathorne and Anne (?), on 27 January 1664/65 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^2,3 He died on 14 December 1714 at age 76.⁴
     On his wedding day, as a result of a contract between his father John Porter and his new father-in-law William Hathorne, his father gave him the Downing farm and a 1/2 acre lot in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was also to receive "£50 in horses, cattle, hides, cider, corn, and money" within one year.⁴
     In his father's will, dated 28 April 1673 and proved 26 September 1676, he was left just £5 since he had earlier been given the former Downing farm. He and his brothers Israel and Benjamin also received 150 acres at Skelton's Neck. Each of his children also received 40s.¹
     He was a tanner and farmer, with part of his farm in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴ He frequently served on committees to determine the boundary between Topsfield and Salem, and in Salem also served on the grand jury in 1677, and as constable in 1681.⁴
     In 1681 the neighboring town of Wenham took some of his property for taxes, claiming that part of the Downing farm laid within its limits. Lieut. John Putnam and Israel Porter (Joseph's brother, presumably) were appointed by Salem to take the issue to court, which ruled in favor of Joseph.⁴
     In 1696 he bought twenty acres on the south side of the Ipswich River in Topsfield from the widow Sarah Williams.⁴ His house, now in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts, was still standing in 1959.⁴
     His will was dated 15 July 1713, and proved 17 January 1714/15. To his son Joseph he left his homestead, including his house and barn, and the former Downing farm. He also left Joseph a one-acre lot along the main street in Salem, all of his farm implements, and a negro boy. To his son Samuel he left the house and land that he had built for Samuel on the occasion of his marriage to Judith Dorman, plus 110 acres. To his sons Nathaniel and William he left 30 acres each. He also left his land at Skelton's Neck to each of his four sons (Joseph, Samuel, Nathaniel, and William) to be divided equally, as well as his clothing and indoor property. To his daughters Anne, Mary, Abigail, Hepsibah, Ruth, and Mehitable he left £50 each, in addition to what they had already received.^4,5
     His son Joseph was named executor of his will, but died at about the same time. His sons Samuel and Nathaniel were then named as administrators of his estate. In 1719/20 his son Joseph's widow Mary, after her remarriage to George Bixby, sued Samuel and Nathaniel on behalf of her three children by Joseph, saying that they had acted extravagantly and had kept exhorbitant fees. She and her husband George appear to have handled the final disposition of the estate, indicating that she had won her case.
     In the inventory of the estate the homestead farm was valued at £900. Robin, a negro boy about 13 years old, was valued at £40. Three silver cups were valued at £4, £3, and 18s.⁴

     Benjamin Porter was baptized in November 1639 in Hingham, New Plymouth Colony.¹ He died on 7 January 1722/23 at age 83.¹
     He lived with his brother Israel.¹
     In his father's will, dated 28 April 1673 and proved 26 September 1676, he was left the lands that had formerly been Bishop's farm, 553 acres of other lands, and £100 to be paid in two yearly payments. He and his brothers Israel and Joseph also received 150 acres at Skelton's Neck.¹ In 1700 and 1701 he deeded the land that his father had left him to his brother Israel, and to the sons of his brother Joseph.¹

     Jonathan Porter was baptized on 12 March 1647/48 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died before 1676.¹

     Sarah Porter was baptized on 3 June 1647.¹ She married Daniel Andrew.¹
     In her father's will, dated 28 April 1673 and proved 26 September 1676, she and her sister Mary were left 435 acres of land to be divided equally, plus £50 each, to be paid after five years by their brother Benjamin.¹

     Daniel Andrew married Sarah Porter, daughter of John Porter and Mary (?).¹

     Anna Hathorne was born on 12 December 1643 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.² She was baptized on 17 December 1643 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ She married Joseph Porter, son of John Porter and Mary (?), on 27 January 1664/65 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^4,3 She died before 14 December 1714.¹
     As a result of a contract between her father William Hathorne and her new father-in-law John Porter, she was to receive £50 within two years of her marriage.¹