* Sex: Male
* Father: Victor Davidse Putman (1721-1765)
* Mother: Margriet Wies (1726- )
2) INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Birth: about 1760, Wantage, Sussex, New Jersey, United States[1]
* Military: 5 March 1778 (about age 18), Sussex, New Jersey, United States[2]
* Census: 1 June 1810 (about age 50), Ulysses, Tompkins, New York, United States[3]
* Census: 1 June 1820 (about age 60), Wayne, Steuben, New York, United States[4]
* Pension: 2 February 1825 (about age 65), Steuben, New York, United States[2]
* Census: 1 June 1830 (about age 70), Barrington, Yates, New York, United States[5]
* Death: 3 October 1835 (about age 75), Barrington, Yates, New York, United States[2]
3) SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Spouse 1: Sarah Mary Kinnan (1761-1841)
* Marriage 1: 20 March 1780 (about age 20, Wantage, Sussex, New Jersey, United States[2]
* Child 1: Victor Putman (1782-1845)
* Child 2: John Putman (1785-1863)
* Child 3: Peter Putman (1788-1855)
* Child 4: David Putman (1790-1855)
* Child 5: Isaac Kinnan Putman (1796-1875)
4) NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
Much of the data presented on the Putman family was obtained from Mark Putman, who published the Putman Family Bulletin for several years. One of his publications, " David Janse Putman," covers the present ancestral line. Additional information about this family is on Mark Putnam's web page at http://www.putmanfamily.org/Family/David%20Janse%20Pottman.pdf (as of April 2017)[1].
Peter Putman was born during the French and Indian War, probably about 1760 in Sussex County, New Jersey, the son of Victor and Margaret (Weis) Putman[1].
He served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Captain Holmes Company in the 3rd Regiment in the New Jersey Continental Line. Enlisting on 5 March 1778, he fought in the Battle of Monmouth New Jersey on 28 June 1778, which was a turning point in the War. Peter Putman later was at the smaller Battle of Pompton Plains, New Jersey. He was probably at Valley Forge during the spring encampment and he also served in Captain Harker's Company in the 2nd Regiment of the Sussex County Militia serving six weeks in 1780. Peter was discharged from the military at the hospital in Princeton, New Jersey 1 October 1780. He attained the rank of Captain following the Revolution in the Sussex County (NJ) State Militia[1,2].
Peter Putman married Sarah Kinnan (or Canaan) on 20 March 1780 in Wantage township, Sussex County, New Jersey, according to his pension record[2]. Sarah was born in June 1761, and her parents are probably John and Martha (Morrison) Kinnan of Wantage township. Peter and Sarah resided in Wantage after their marriage, and then they lived in Sandyston township after the war ended, where they owned land on the Delaware River[1]. They had at least five children, born between 1782 to 1796, probably born in Sussex County, New Jersey[1].
A land deed between Henry Cuyler, perhaps Collier, of Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York, and Peter Putman dated May 19, 1800, indicates that Henry Cuyler had purchased 1,500 acres of land along the Delaware River in Sandyston, New Jersey (from James Parker of Perth Amboy), and on this date conveyed 152 acres to Peter Putman. Witnesses to the transaction were Even Bevens, Mathias Clark, and Thomas Anderson the later an officer of the High Court of Chancery. Consideration was 152 Pounds, or 1 Pound per acre[1].
The 1793 Military Census of New Jersey shows the Peter Putman homestead as located in the Beven's Post Office area north of Peter's Valley. Peter and Sarah bough land in Sussex County in 1801 and 1808[1].
In a June 20, 1808, deed, Peter and Sarah Putman of Sandyston, New Jersey, conveyed 141 perches of land in Sandyston to James Van Auken of the Township of Montague. The consideration was $1,500. Witnesses were Jacob Hornbeck and Isaac Van Auken. The land sold butted the southeast corner of 52 acres Peter Putman had previously sold to Andrew Dingman and he to Jacob Smith[1].
Following the paths of other Revolutionary War veterans of Sussex County, by 1810 Peter Putman may have removed to Seneca County, New York, where a Peter Putman was listed in that year's census near Joseph Cannan and Ephraim Rolfe in the Town of Ulysses. Ulysses became a part of Tompkins County[1].
In the 1810 US Census for Ulysses, Seneca county, New York, the Peter Putman family had[3]:
* one male under age 10
* one male aged 10 to 16 (perhaps son Isaac)
* one male aged 16-25 (perhaps son David, Peter or John)
* one male aged 25 to 45 (perhaps son Victor)
* one male over age 45 (certainly Peter)
* one female aged 10 to 16
* one female aged 16 to 25 (perhaps a wife of a son)
* one female over age 45 (likely Sarah)
During, or shortly after, the War of 1812, the family moved to Wayne township, Steuben County, New York, as did many Revolutionary War veterans. Peter's sons may have worked in the lumbering industry, which was the second most common occupation following agriculture in Steuben County[1].
According to the History of Yates County, New York, Joseph Kinnan, and his wife, and Peter Putnam, and his wife, helped in the founding of the Methodist Church of Barrington in 1810.
In the 1820 United States Census, Peter Putman was listed in the Town of Wayne, Steuben County, New York next to Victor Putman[4]. The household included:
* one male aged over 45 (certainly Peter)
* one female aged over 45 (likely Sarah)
Peter Putman and his sons probably worked in the lumber woods during the winter months and farmed during the summer. Lumbering was a common occupation of Steuben County. Loggers constructed rafts of lumber on Mud Lake just south of Barrington and floated them down the Susquehanna River to Pennsylvania and Maryland[1].
In the 1830 United States Census, Peter Putman was listed in the Town of Barrington, Yates County, New York next to Victor Putman[5]. The household included:
* one male aged 30 and 40 (perhaps son Isaac)
* one male aged 70 and 80 (certainly Peter)
* one female aged 60 and 70 (likely Sarah)
After Peter died, on October 3, 1835, at age 75 in Yates County, New York, Sarah received Peter's Revolutionary War pension[2]. On August 30, 1838, Sarah at 76 years 2 months was living with her son David Putman in Barrington. She afterward lived with her son, Peter, Jr., and died at his home in Springwater, New York, November 22, 1841, at 80 years old[1].
The Revolutionary War Pension File for Peter Putman included the following affidavit and inventory[2]:
"State of New York County of Steuben: On this second day of February 1825 personally appeared in open Court being a court of record for said County Peter Putman aged sixty five years resident in the town of Barrington in the said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath made the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and then 1st May 1820. That he the said Peter Putman enlisted for the term of two years during the revolutionary war on or about the 5th day of March 1778 in the State of New Jersey in the company commanded by Captain Holmes in the 2d Regiment commanded by Colonel Dayton in the line of the State of New Jersey on the continental establishment: that he continued to serve in the said corps until about the 1st October 1780 when he was discharged from the said service at Princeton in the State of New Jersey from the hospital that he was in the battle of Monmouth and also in another battle which was fought in the State of New Jersey, which battle used to go by the name of the Pompton battle: that he received a written discharge from said service signed as the declarant believes by the said Colonel Dayton and which discharge was delivered to him by the Surgeon and which discharge he has long since lost and cannot now produce: that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services except the affidavits of Moor Wilson & John Jolly, that the said Moor Wilson is very old and infirm and is now confined to his bed in consequence of a fall; and that the said John Jolly now resides fifty four miles from Bath in the said County of Steuben, is old and very weak and infirm and cannot as this declarant believes endure so long a journey - That the family of this declarant consists of himself and his wife Sarah aged 64 years, neither of whom are able to work much being afflicted with rheumatism. That he made a declaration in writing of his said services before Thomas McBurney Esq. first Judge of the County of Steuben on the 3d February 1820: that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension except the present: that his name is not on the roll of any State except that of New York, and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension: that he did not wish to be dependent on his country while he was able to maintain himself and wife: that owing to sickness and misfortunes he has become unable to work and is quite reduced in his circumstances - and in pursuance of the act of 1st May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor had any other person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. That I am a farmer by occupation but owing to my advanced age and rheumatic complaints I am not able to do much labor.
........................................................Peter Putman
"Sworn to and declared on the 2d day of February 1825 before me: John Metcalfe, Clerk of Steuben County."
"Property in former Schedule
Real estate I have none
Personal estate
one cow which will be 8 years old next spring $10
two calves which will be one year old next spring $8
four sheep common blood $4
Ten pigs four or five months old very small $2
One old feather bed - been in use thirty years small Slight $4
Two old and worn blankets & one coverlet also old & worn $1.50
Two old linen sheets $0.50
An old indifferent ash bedstead $0.35
An old 3 pail kettle & one other old small kettle both cracked & hooped $1.50
An old table broken & split cost one dollar when purchased $0.25
An old chest been in wear thirty years $0.25
An old small trunk been in use as long $0.13
Three pewter plates $0.38
4 small earthen plates $0.12
2 old knives & 3 forks $0.12
6 old iron spoons $0.18
3 old earthen tea cups &saucers $0.06
One old axe & one old hoe $0.75
One old worn out mowing scythe $0.25
"Schedule of property
Real estate I have none
One two year old steer $8
One yearling heifer $6
Three shotes $3
One chest $1
One small trunk $1
One dinner kettle $1
One tea kettle $1
One pan $0.75
Six earthen plates $0.37
Three chairs $1
One table $1
Three tea cups & saucers $0.12
One large wheel $1
Two earthen crocks $0.25
One bucket $0.25
One churn $0.50
Two Barrels $1
Several knives & forks say 5 $0.25
Two basons $0.50
Two bowls $0.12
One old waggon $15
[Total owned"] $43.62
"And that since the exhibition of the former schedule the following changes have taken place in my property -
The Cow mentioned therein died last spring
The two calves have been killed for provisions for my family
The four sheep have been sold for grain for the use of my family
The four pigs have been killed for provisions for the use of my family
"That I am indebted to Abraham P. Vosburgh Esq. of Penn Yan for a plough which I have since parted with to pay Doctors bill $14
To Daniel Shannon for carding & fulling $12.80
To William Babcock for pork for provisions for my family $10
To. Mrs. Ellsworth for do for do $5
[Total owed] $41.80"
After Peter Putman's death, his widow, Sarah, continued receiving his pension. She wrote an affidavit, which is included in the Revolutionary War Pension File (W 7,501) about her qualifications for the pension on 3 August 1836[2]:
"State of New York
County of Yates.
"Then this 3d day of August personally appeared before Court of Common Pleas of the county of Yates Sarah Putman, a resident of the town of Barrington in the county of Yates and State of New York, aged seventy six years and two months, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Peter Putman, who was draughted out of Hankinson Regiment about the year 1780 under Captain Joseph Horker and served in the New Jersey Militia for about six weeks. She further declared that she was married to the said Peter Putman on the 20th day of March in 1780 that her husband the aforesaid Peter Putman died on the 3 day of October in the year 1835 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
"Sworn to and subscribed on ...................................... her
the day and year above written .......................... Sarah X Putman
before me ................................................................. mark
A.W. Woodworth Co. Ck."
This affidavit by Peter Putman's widow provides more biographical information, including the approximate month and year of her birth and the marriage date of Peter and Sarah (Kinnan) Putman. She recounts additional service by her husband in 1780 for some reason (probably related to the Act of Congress on 4 July 1836).
No death, cemetery or probate records have been found for Peter Putman in Yates County, New York records.
5) SOURCES
1. Mark R. Putman, The Putman Family Bulletin, website (http://www.putmanfamily.org/), "David Janse Putman," Peter Putman sketch, pages 32 to 43 (accessed 27 April 2017).
2. "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files," online database with digital images, Fold3.com (http://www.Fold3.com) : accessed 12 December 2007), Pension application W 17501, New Jersey, Peter Putman of Steuben County, New York.
3. 1810 United States Federal Census, Seneca County, New York, population schedule, Ulysses town, page 297, Peter Putman household, indexed database and digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M292, Roll 36.
4. 1820 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Steuben County, New York, population schedule, Wayne town, page 249, Peter Putman household, indexed database and digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M33, Roll 74.
5. 1830 United States Federal Census, Population Schedule, Yates County, New York, population schedule, Barrington town; Page 244, Peter Putman household, indexed database and digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M19, Roll 117.
Copyright (c) 2017, Randall J. Seaver
Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.
