Line 9.2, Anne Walcott; Never praise a sister to a sister

As a small child of seven, Anne Walcott witnessed the hysteria of the pending Salem witchcraft trials in her own home. How this impressed her young mind as she witness the behavior of her sister and her friends that brought suffering and death to many innocent people can only be guessed at. We don’t know a lot about Anne. She is seldom in the Salem Records but she was involved in the horror just because of who her half-sister and her cousin, Anne Putnam were.

Anne Walcott was born 17 January 1685/86 in Salem, Massachusetts, the daughter of Jonathan Walcott and his second wife Deliverance Putnam

She married Joshua Felt son of Moses Felt and his wife Lydia Mains on15 January 1712/13 in Salem, Essex, MA

Died before 16 June 1736

Putnam’s children were:

1.   Moses Felt born 22 December 1714 in Boston, Suffolk, MA and died at sea 13 June 1780. He married Mary Potts Pettee

2.   Jonathan Felt born 03 June 1719 Dedham, Suffolk, MA, died 16 May 1786 in Peterborough, NH. He married Lovewell Welds.

3.   Aaron Felt born 21 June 1716 in Rummey Marsh, Lynn, MA and died 1769 in Lynn, MA. He married Mary Waite the daughter of Peter Waite and Sarah Pierce. She was born 28 April 1716 in Lynn, MA and died there 05 September 1767.

4.   Anne Felt about 1722 and died age 94 in Andover, MA. She married Robert Russell of Andover, MA.

    The Salem birth records list Anne’s birth and later her marriage to Joshua Felt. The Felt family was an adventuresome one, having been among the first Englishmen to settle in what would become the state of Maine. Joshua was probably born in Maine but by 1712/3 when he married Anne Walcott, he was living in Salem. Just by the fact that he was living in Salem, he must have known about the witchcraft trials but that did not deter him from courting and marring the sister of one of the accusing girls. Anne, like her mother, married at a rather older age then most women of her generation. She was just short of 27 years of age when she married Joshua. One, again, can wonder if the influences of the dark cloud that lead to the trial kept her segregated from the joys of courting. That she married a man not raised in the town could also be an indication of the grief that darkened her family. Her sister, Mary, the accusing girl, married at age 21 to Isaac Farrer the son of John Farrar of Woburn, Massachusetts. Why Mary seemed to move on to marriage and children at a younger age then her innocent half-sister, is only known now to God. But surely the shadow of the witchcraft trial haunted the Walcotts for their whole lives.

We can’t know the state of Anne’s faith. She was of the second generation of Massachusetts born Puritans and with the horror of the trials, her faith may have been tested more so then others of her generation. The fiery zeal of the original Puritan settlers in the New World was tempered with each generation, leading to a less vigorous display of religious passion as the younger generations took their place in society and the church. Joshua Felt came from strong Puritan stock. His grandfather George Felt emigrated with the future Governor Endicott and settled in Charlestown. Old George lived to into his eighties and seems to have been a faithful Puritan. With this background, one might think that the children and grandchildren would be strong in their faith as well, but that is not always true. We know the Felts were involved in the church as their children were baptized there but that is all we know from the records. However, the Felts in the following generations seemed to have stayed with their God so even with the shadow of the witchcraft trials looming over her, Anna may very well have been a strong woman of faith.

Anne and Joshua Felt’s children were born in different village near Boston between 1714 and about 1722. Anne Walcott Felt died sometime before 1736, when Joshua took Dorcas Gould, the widow of Anthony Buxton, as his second wife. Joshua lived at least another eight years after marring Dorcas as she was named his widow in her will made in 1747.

Several of Anne and Joshua’s grandchildren would take an active part in the American Revolution. Jonathan, Joshua and Samuel Felt were present at the battle of Lexington and Concord that started the war. Despite being involved, even just by association, in one of the biggest controversies in American History, Anne managed to raise children who gave back to their country. I can only hope that she was able to realize that God the author of the sad chapter in Salem’s history.

***SOURCES***

1. Felt Family Gen. Internet http://home.att.net/~rialots/datl.htm

2. Internet Rick Ingersoll, http://www.my-ged.com/db/page/inger

3. http://familytreemaker.com "Al & Judy Sporny's Genealogy"

4. Colonial Families of the United States by George Norbury Mackenie, Vol. VI

5. Salem Vital Records, Vol. I, Births, Pub by the Essex Institute, 1916

6. http://familytreemaker.com "Yet Another 'Descendent of John Putnam'"

Line 9.1 Jonathan Walcott; Father of an Accusing Girl

Line 9.1

Jonathon Walcott

Father of an Accusing Girl

It’s hard to imagine Jonathan Walcott as anything but a grim boy and man. His father was at odds with the religious status quo of Salem, Massachusetts and his daughter was caught up in the fiery of the Salem Witchcraft Trails. But Jonathan was considered a well like man who stood by his responsibilities and faith with resolve even when it lead him down a road to hysteria.

Jonathan Walcott was the son of William Walcott and Alice Ingersoll

He married 1. Mary Sibley, born 1644 the daughter of John Sibley. She died 28 December 1683 in Salem, Mass.

     2. Deliverance Putnam the daughter of Thomas Putnam and his first wife Ann Holyoke

He died 16 December 1699 in Salem, Massachusetts

Jonathan Walcott’s children by Mary Sibley were:

   1.   John Walcott born 07 December 1666 in Salem, Mass. and married Mary ?.

2.   Hannah Walcott born 06 December 1667 in Salem, Mass

3.   Jonathan Walcott born 01 September 1670 married Priscilla Bayley

4.   Joseph Walcott born 25 September 1673 in Salem, Mass and died there 30 June 1674

5.   Mary Walcott born May 1675. She was one of the accusing girls in the Salem Witchcraft trail. She married Isaac Farrer

6.   Samuel Walcott born 12 October 1678 in Salem. He married Katherine ?

Jonathan Walcott’s children by his second wife, Deliverance Putnam were:

7.   Anne Walcott born 17 January 1685/86 and married Joshua Felt

8.   Thomas Walcott born 25 March 1688 and died 5 June of the same year

9.   Thomas Walcott born and died in 1689

10.  William Walcott born 27 March 1691 in Salem, Mass, died 13 November 1777. He married Mary Felt the sister of Joshua Felt

11.  Ebenezer Walcott born 19 April 1693 in Salem, Mass. He married Elizabeth Wiley.

12.  Benjamin Walcott born 23 April 1695 in Salem, Mass. He married Abigail Waters

13.  Prudence Walcott born 10 July 1699 in Salem, Mass. She married Edward Hircum.

Jonathan was the son of William Walcott or Wolcott and his wife Alice Ingersoll. Alice’s parents were Richard Ingersoll and his wife Agnes (Ann) Langley. A letter written by Matthew Craddock of London to Capt John Endicott in 1629 mentions Richard: “one Richard Haward and Richard Inkersall, both Bedfordshire men, hyred for the Company, with their famylis, who wee pray you will be well accomodated, not doubting but they will orderly demean themselves."7 It is possible that Richard Ingersoll and his family came over from England with Rev. John Higginson in 1629 on the Mayflower II. “Mayflower, William Peirce, Master, left Gravesend in Marsh with thirty-five passengers, mostly from Leyden, Holland, destined for Plymouth. She arrived May 15 ... Richard Ingersoll of Sandy, county Bedford to Salem; with Mrs. Anne Ingersoll, George Ingersoll, Joanna Ingersoll, John Ingersoll, Sarah Ingersoll, and Alice Ingersoll.”7 Alice Ingersoll’s brother Nathaniel, born in Salem after the family left England, also played a large role in the witchcraft trails. He ran the village inn and tavern, playing host to villagers and travelers alike and to the trial itself.

 Jonathan Walcott was admitted freeman and elected captain of the military company at Salem in 1690. He was a Wheelwright made the wheels for the guns for the fort at Winter Island, near Salem, which may have been why he was made captain in the Salem Militia. He served in King Philip's War 1675-6. He was a taxpayer in 1692 at Salem Village, which is now the town of Danvers, in 1692. The land he owned was next to his Uncle Nathaniel Ingersoll who served as corporal, sergeant and finally as lieutenant of the all-important militia at Salem.  The Walcott house was also near the Rev. Parris’s parsonage where the accusing girls who would be involved in the witchcraft trail meet.

Salem Village and Salem Town were at odds with each other. They were also living in a tense situation with the Indians and were always watching for signs of trouble. Jonathan married and raised his family in this stressed atmosphere and though he was known to oppose violence in other situation, was sucked into the frenzy that ensnared his daughter, niece by marriage and his neighbors. Jonathan became involved as a protective father and concerned churchman. His involvement was not as clear as his brother-in-law, Thomas Putnams but it included arresting some of the accused “witches.”

WARRANT FOR THE ARREST OF ELIZABETH PROCTOR AND SARAH CLOYCE (APRIL 4, 1692): 

Aprill. 4'th 1692

There Being Complaint this day made (Before us) by capt Jonat Walcott, and Lt Natheniell Ingersull both of Salem Village, in Behalfe of theire Majesties for themselfes and also for severall of their Neighbours Against Sarah Cloyce the wife of peter Cloyce of Salem Village; and Elizabeth Proctor the wife of John Proctor of Salem farmes for high Suspition of Sundry acts of Witchcraft donne or Committed by them upon the bodys of Abigail Williams, and John Indian both of Mr Sam parris his family of Salem Village and mary Walcott daughter of the abovesaid Complainants, And Ann Putnam and Marcy Lewis of the famyly of Thomas Putnam of Salem Village whereby great hurt and dammage hath beene donne to the Bodys of s'd persons above named therefore Craved Justice.
You are therefore in theire Majest's names hereby required to apprehend and bring before us Sarah Cloyce the wife of peter Cloyce of Salem Village and Elizabeth proctor the wife of John Procter of Salem farmes; on Munday Morneing Next being the Eleventh day of this Instant Aprill aboute Eleven of the Clock, at the publike Meeting house in the Towne, in order to theire Examination Relateing to the premesis aboves'd and here of you are. not to faile Dated Salem Aprill 8'th 1692
To George Herick Marshall of the County of essex

John Hathorne

Jonathan Corwin   Assists

Salem

The reverberating horror of the trial and then the realization that the real victims of witchcraft were the ones falsely accused must have cast a greater sorrow over the Walcott family. They went on to lead “normal” lives but how normal a life can one lead when one realizes the horror and wrong done to their neighbors, their town, and themselves. “John Hathorne” who signed Elizabeth Proctor and Sarah Cloyce’s arrest warrant was the ancestor of Nathaniel Hawthorn who wrote “The Scarlet Letter” in penance to his ancestor’s involvement in the trials. Surely, Jonathan and his family must have felt guilt and hopefully remorse that changed their hearts toward following a gentler faith.

Jonathan died 16 December 1699 two years after Salem’s day in remembrance of those falsely accused and killed because of the hysteria generated by a group of young girls getting involved with witchcraft. We can only hope that Jonathan and Deliverance Walcott found some peace with God.

***SOURCES***

1. Felt Family Genealogy, Internet http://home.att.net/rialots/dat10.htm

2. Internet Rick Ingersoll http://wwwmy-ged.com/db/page/inger/4658

3. The Devil Discovered, Salem Witchcraft, 1692 by Enders A. Robinson

4. Salem Vital Records, Vol. III, Deaths

5. Salem Vital Records, Vol. II, Marriages

6. Familytreemaker.com "Yet Another 'Descendants of John Putnam'"

7. Massachusetts and Maine Families by Walter Goodwin Davis

8. Ancestors of Dorr Eugene Felt by Alfred L. Holman, 1921

9. The History of Salem, Mass. by Sidney Perley Vol. III 1671-1716, pub. 1928

10. "The Walcott Family of Salem" by John B. Wolcott, Internet, http://members.nbci.com/XMCM/wolcott/salem.htm

11. SALEM WITCHCRAFT; With an Account of Salem Village and A History of Opinions on Witchcraft and Kindred Subjects by Charles W. Upham

10.  Warrant for the Arrest of Elizabeth Proctor and Sarah Cloyce, April 4, 1692

Line 9, William Walcott; Ties that Bind; Ties that Sever

The Walcotts were involved with the Salem Witchcraft trials as closely as the Putnams. Their problems with Salem began a few generations earlier with a Walcott who marched to a different drummer and, for the sake of his faith, caused disturbances in his own way.

William Walcott was born 1608 in Devon, England

Married Alice Ingersoll the daughter of Richard Ingersoll and his wife Agnes (Ann) Langley

Died 21 July 1644 Salem, Essex, MA

William and Alice’s children were:

1.   John Walcott born about 1632 Salem, Essex, MA married Mary Thorley and died 30 September 1690, Springfield, Hampton, MA

2.   Alice Walcott born Salem, Essex, MA married Ralph Hutchinson

3.   Abraham Walcott born Salem, Essex, MA married Ruth Hooper

4.   Jonathan Walcott born Salem, Essex, MA married 1. Mary Sibley and 2. Deliverance Putnam

5.   Elizabeth Walcott born Salem, Essex, MA, probably died young

When I first began to research the William Walcott, I thought “Oh, oh, another bad boy.” In 1642 William Walcott was whipped for his idleness by the Salem, Massachusetts Court. Their records note  " William Walcott for refusing to bring his child to the ordinance, neglecting willingly family duties, etc."  'William. Walcotts wife children & estate committed to Richard Inkersell his father in law 27:10:1643 to be disposed of according to God and the said Wm. Walcott to bee & remained as his servant.'"

Next I found William Walcott being banished from Salem. But when I learned that there was a law passed in the colony that “banished” all those who opposed infant baptism near the time that William left Salem, I began to wonder if maybe he was a part of the growing “Antinomianism” movement that Anne Hutchinson was preaching in Boston and which caused her to be banished to Rhode Island. (See Line 10.1) Antinomianism was the belief that grace and faith alone were the only things necessary for salvation; that through the acceptance of God’s grace religious law was no longer necessary. They believe in Sola Fide, faith alone. If William Walcott was indeed of the antinomianism it might explain his “idleness” was of a religious nature rather then a physical nature. It may also have been why he disappeared from Salem by 1644 when the law regarding infant baptism was passed.

My next discovery was that the “neglecting” of his family was indeed related to Antinomianism as Roger Williams, the founder of the Baptist movement, was censured and banished at the same time for advocating adult baptism among other beliefs. William’s neglect was probably in regards to his “neglect” of baptizing his children.

Roger Williams fled Salem and along with Anne Hutchinson and her family founded the colony of Rhode Island. Roger Williams had left England, as did many of the original settlers of Massachusetts, in order to preach freely. He arrived in Salem as early as 1631 as the pastor of the church in that town. He spent a short time preaching in Plymouth but returned to Salem. However, his theology troubled the people of Salem and he was forced to flee Salem and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The local Indians in what is now called Narragansett Bay befriended him and he was able to buy land from the Narrangsett Chiefs, Canonicus and Miantonomi. He called his acreage “Providence” in gratitude to God.

William Aspinwall, the “public notary” for Boston made several references to a William Wolcott, assumed to be my ancestor.

“Valentine Hill granted a tre. of Attr. (power of attorney) to Joseph Grafton (a Salem merchant ship owner) to recover & Receive the Bills of Tristram Dodge, William Woolcot & William Davies or any other in Newfoundland with absolute power &c.” Another entry of the same year records that Ambrose Butland of Tarmond in Devonshire, mariner, gave to Nicholas Butland of Tarmond his power of attorney to collect from 'Wm Wolcot of Stoke near Tingmouth in Devonshire, sometimes mr of the ship called Goodwill and Prosper of London in the full and just summe of ten pounds sterl committed to him of trust by the said Appearer in fferry land in Newfoundland about 3/4 of yeare hence...'

A William Walcott was found in Maine in 1651 as a shoals witness. The next year Salem records declare “means were taken by the court to preserve his estate” indicating that he had not returned to Salem. In that same year Robert Goodell of Salem owned 30 acres of land that had originally been William Walcott’s. Whether William died in Maine or returned to Salem is not known. He did however, leave a troubled legacy in his heirs and certainly to his son Jonathan.

***SOURCES***

1. Internet Ray Parsons http://members.tripod.com/ray970

2. Internet Rick Ingersoll http://wwwmy-ged.com/db/page/inger/465

3. Massachusetts and Maine Families by Walter Goodwin Davis

5. Torrey Supplement Edited by Melinde Lutz Sanborn

6. New England Marriages Prior to 1700 by Clarence Almon Torrey

7. Familytreemaker.com "Ancestors of Colby Heisig Tilleton"

8.  "The Walcott Family of Salem" by John B. Wolcott, internet, http://members.nbci.com/XMCM/wolcott/salem.htm

9. "The Great Migration Begins" Richard Ingersoll

10.  "The Parents of Jonathan Hayens of Newbury and Havenhill, Massachusetts, and Some of their descendants" by Mrs. William C. Clark, of Elkins Park, Penn. the American Genealogist" #107, Vol. XXVII no. 3, July 1951, page 129

11.  Roger Williams Family Association http://www.rogerwilliams.org/biography.htm

Line 8.2 Deliverance Putnam Walcott, Caught between a Niece and a Step-Daughter

While not prominent in the records of the Salem Witchcraft Trials like her sister-in-law, Ann Carr Putnam, Deliverance Putnam had the dual role of being the aunt of one accusing girl and the stepmother of another. Her own child, Anne Walcott, was only six or seven when the Trials occurred yet I can’t help but image the dark, frightening cloud it cast over Anne, her mother Deliverance, her father Jonathan Walcott and her stepbrothers and sisters.

Deliverance Putnam was born 05 September 1656 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Married Jonathan Walcott, 23 April 1685, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Died 16 December 1699, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Putnam’s children were:

1.   Anne Walcott born 17 January 1685/86 Salem, Essex, Massachusetts married Joshua Felt

2.   Thomas Walcott born 25 March 1688 and died 05 June 1688 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

3.   Thomas Walcott born and died 1689 Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

4.   William Walcott born 27 March 1691, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts married Mary Felt, sister of Anne Walcott’s husband, Joshua Felt. William died 13 November 1777, Cumberland, Providence, RI

5.   Ebenezer Walcott born 19 April 1693, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, married Elizabeth Wiley

6.   Benjamin Walcott born 23 April 1695, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts married Abigail Waters

7.   Prudence Walcott born 10 July 1699, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, married Edward Hircum

    Deliverance’s birth record was recorded in Salem, Massachusetts: “Deliverance Putnam 5: 7m: 1656, d. Thomas Putnam and Ann.” Her marriage record was recorded there 29 years later:     “Jonathan Walcutt, 2dm., and Deliverance Putnam, Apr. 23, 1685” She was a rather older bride but as her older sister Anne married at age 20 and her other two older sisters died young, she may have delayed marriage in order to take care of the children left behind when her mother died a few days short of Deliverance’s sixth birthday.

The name "Deliverance Walcott" is listed in the Salem church covenant along with other Putnams, including her brothers, John Putnam, and "Nathanell" Putnam. Also on that list were Samuel Parris and his wife, Elizabeth who played important parts in the Salem witchcraft trails as well as Nathaniel Ingersoll, the uncle of Deliverance’s husband through his mother Anne Ingersoll.

Deliverance’s older brother was Thomas Putnam, the father of one of the major players in the Salem Witchcraft Trials, Ann Putnam. It can be expected that Deliverance and Thomas’ families saw each other, if not on a daily bases then at least several times a week. What the relationship was like between Deliverance and her sister-in-law, Ann Carr Putnam, is easy to imagine, Ann’s daughter and Deliverance’s step-daughter were both part of the group of girls that later became known as the “accusing girls” in the trails. While not one of the other two women, along with Ann Carr Putnam who seemed to be an influence in the appending tragedy, Deliverance must have been drawn to her sister-in-law for no other reason then that she was her sister-in-law. There definitely was an influencing relationship between Mary Walcott and her step-cousin, Ann Putnam. The sister-in-law, Ann Carr Putnam seems to have been a woman of determination but also one easily swayed by the hysteria that came from her daughter jumping head first into witchcraft. There was also the bonding of Putnams and others in Salem Village by their bitterness towards those in Salem Town. It was easy to transfer the fear generated by the hysteria the accusing girls created to the feared and distrusted people of Salem Town.

The trials began in the spring 1692 and continued until January of 1693 when the people of Salem began to sense that the bloodbath they were creating had gone out of control. Tituba, the West India slave of the Rev. Samuel Parris, who had introduced the girls to witchcraft practices, was sold to a new master shortly afterwards. The Rev. Parris left town. Four years later in 1697, Salem had a day of fasting in regret of their part in the hysteria of the trials as well as in remembrance of those who died unjustly.

Deliverance died in 1699, three years too soon to hear the General Court had declared the Salem Witchcraft trials as unlawful. Seven years after Deliverance’s death, her niece, Ann Putnam publicly apologized for her part in the trials. Deliverance’s stepdaughter never public ally repented.

***SOURCES****

1. Felt Family Genealogy / Internet http://home.att.net/~rialtos/dat10.htm

2. Americans of Royal Descent by Charles H. Browning

3. "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England" by James Savage

4. Salem Vital Records, Vol. I, Births

5. Salem Vital Records, Vol. II, Marriages

6. Internet http://users.deltanet.com/~hilander

7. Salem Vital Records, Vol. III, Deaths

8. Internet http:www.wwn.net/teverett

9. The History of Salem, Mass. by Sidney Perley Vol. III 1671-1716, pub. 1928

10.  "The Parents of Jonathan Hayens of Newbury and Havenhill, Massachusetts, and Some of their descendants" by Mrs. William C. Clark, of Elkins Park  Penn. the American Genealogist" #107, Vol. XXVII no. 3, July 1951, page 129

11. Salem Witchcraft: With an Account of Salem Village and A History of Opinions on Witchcraft and Kindred Subjects  by Charles W. Upham, Frederick Ungar Pushing Co., New York, fourth Printing 1969 (originally published 1867)

Line 8.1 Thomas Putnam Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

It started with Cain and Abel. Brother against brother; neighbor against neighbor. While the Puritans had a heart for God, they also were human beings full of jealousy and bitterness. The bitterness that started between neighbors ran through brothers and their sister, setting the stage for an evil influence.

Thomas Putnam was 7 March 1615 in Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England the son of John Putnam and his wife Priscilla (possible Deacon)

Married 1. Ann HOLYOKE and 2. the widow Mary Veren

Died and buried

Thomas and Ann Putnam’s children were:

1.   Anne Putnam born 25 June 1645 Salem, Essex, MA; died 14 November 1676, Salem, Essex, MA married William Trask

2.   Sarah Putnam born before 30 July 1648 Salem, Essex, MA

3.   Mary Putnam born 17 August 1649 Salem, Essex, MA; probably died young

4.   Thomas Putnam born 12 March 1650/51 Salem, Essex, MA; died May 24, 1699 married Anne Carr

5.   Edward Putnam born 04 July 1654 Salem, Essex, MA; died 10 March 1746/47; married Mary Hale

6.   Deliverance Putnam born 05 September 1656 Salem, Essex, MA; died 16 December 1699; married Jonathan Walcott

7.   Elizabeth Putnam born 30 August 1659 Salem, Essex, MA; died 06 August 1722; married Joshua Bailey

8.   Prudence Putnam born 28 December 1661 Salem, Essex, MA; died 20 September 1721; married 1. William Wyman and 2. Peter Tuffs (who was the brother of my ancestor Mercy Tuffs)

Thomas and Mary Putnam’s children were:

   9. Joseph Putnam born 14 September 1669 Salem, Essex, MA; died May 1724; married Elizabeth Porter

Thomas Putnam was the eldest son and child of John Putnam and his wife. He was born in Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England and immigrated to the North American English colonies sometime before 1640 with his parents and siblings. It can be speculated that the Putnams came to Massachusetts in order to worship freely as puritans. There was little reason for them to leave England as John Putnam had a fair sized estate inherited from his father Nicholas Putnam. The Putnams certainly sound like good respected Puritans in the Salem records so the best bet on the reason for coming to the New World was to worship God in the Puritan way.

    Thomas Putnam’s first wife, Anne Holyoke was the daughter of Edward Holyoke and his wife Prudence Stockton, daughter of Rev. John Stockton, was rector of the Kimcote and Walton parish for nearly 35 years. Thomas and Anne Putnam had eight. When Anne died, Thomas married his second wife Mary the widow of Nathaniel Veren and trouble began to brew.

After coming to Massachusetts, Lt. Thomas Putnam and his first family first lived in Lynn, Massachusetts, although Salem granted him "fifty acres [of upland] and five acres of meddow." In 1640 His father, John received a one hundred acres grant at this time.

Thomas was admitted to the church in 1643 but still had dealings in Lynn when the General Court declared: "Mr. Thomas Layghton, Edward Burcham, & Thomas Puttman are appointed by this Courte to end smale causes for ye towne of Lynne for ye yeere ensewing" 18 June, 1645. 

Unlike his father, Thomas stayed busy in the town’s affairs. He became a Lieutenant on Oct 8, 1662. He was a grand-Juryman in Salem and later a constable. He was the first parish clerk of Salem. He was “Layer out of Highways”, “Inspector of Bridges.” He shared an office with his son-in-law Jonathan Wolcott (Jonathan and Deliverance Putnam Wolcott were my ancestors):  "… Lt. Thomas Putnam and Jonathan Wolcott supply the place of deacons for ensueing;" However, from the beginning there was a divide in Salem between “Salem Village” and “Salem Town.” The relationship with Thomas and his children of his first marriage became estranged in 1666 when he married as his second wife, the wealthy and influential widow of  Nathaniel Veren. This marriage made him a very wealthy man, bringing in property from far away Jamaica and Barbados. He enlarged his house and this was where is son and only child by Mary was raised. In 1682 Lt. Thomas Putnam is the wealthiest person in Salem Village. Mary had connection to Salem Town, which divided the strongly religious Putnams further because of the more worldly nature of the inhabitance of Salem Town.

Thomas wrote his will in February of 1682/3. It was proved in Boston three years later on 8 July 1686. Thomas gave estates to each of his children, Thomas Jr., his oldest son and young Joseph, his only child by Mary Veren, received the greatest shares.  The children of Anne Holyoke, while receiving an inheritance felt slighted that their young half-brother had received an unfair amount of the inheritance. The eastern half of his property was left to Thomas, and the western half to Joseph. Edward got a smaller estate in the town, on the western side of St. Peter's Street, to the north of Federal Street. There wasn’t much love lost between the children of Anne Holyoke and their stepmother as they felt she and her friends had pressured Thomas Sr. into giving the youngest of his children a larger share of the estate then what was normally given a youngest child.

The children by his first wife attempted, unsuccessfully, to break this will, claiming that undue influence was used to obtain for Joseph more than his share of the estate.  Mr. Charles Upham in his Salem Witchcraft thus sums up the character and position of Thomas Putnam in contrast with his brothers "Possessing a large property by inheritance, he was not quite so active in increasing it, but enjoying the society and friendship of the leading men lived a more retired life.  At the same time he was always ready to serve the community when called for as he often was, when occasion arose for the aid of his superior intelligence and personal influence,"

Thomas Putnam died 5 May 1686, leaving in his wake the unfolding story that haunts Salem, Massachusetts to this day.

***SOURCES***

1. New England Marriages Prior to 1700 by Clarence Almon Torrey

2. "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England" by James Savage

3.  The Devil Discovered, Salem Witchcraft 1692 by Enders A. Robinson

4.  Salem Vital Records, Vol. III, Deaths

5. Salem Vital Records, Vol. II, Marriages

6. A Register of the Ancestors of Door Eugene Felt and Agnes McNulty Felt compiled by Alfred L. Holman

7. "England Ancestry of John Putnam of Salem, MA" by G. Andrews Moriarty Jr., The American Genealogist, Vol. 15, p. 8-15, 1938

8. Genealogical And Personal Memoirs Relating To The Families Of Boston And Eastern Massachusetts. Prepared Under The Editorial Supervision Of William Richard Cutter, A. M.

9. Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com

10. Salem Witchcraft: With an Account of Salem Village and A History of Opinions on Witchcraft and Kindred Subjects  by Charles W. Upham, Frederick Ungar Pushing Co., New York, fourth Printing 1969 (originally published 1867)

11. The Will of Thomas Putnam (Sr.)

Line 8 John Putnam, Toil and Trouble

The zealousness of the Puritans can be greatly admired but even holy zealousness can turn to toil and trouble. The Putnams, faithful in their belief of God, were also drawn to the dark side of their religion and it was from the Putnam Family that one of the early colonial most troubling and dark bit of history was born and bred.

John Putnam baptized 17 January 1579/80 in Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England the son of Nicholas Putnam and his wife Margaret Goodspeed

Married Prisiclla (possibly a Deacon)

Died 30 December 1662 in Salem, MA

John and Priscilla Putnam’s children were:

1.      Thomas Putnam born in Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, Englandmarried 1. Ann Holyoke and 2. Mary

2.      Elizabeth Putnam born 20 December 1612 Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England

3.      John Putnam born 20 December 1612 Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England, died young

4.      Nathaniel Putnam born 11 October 1619 Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, died 23 July 1700 Salem, Essex, MA married Elizabeth Hutchinson

5.      Sara Putnam born 07 March 1620/21 Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England

6.      Phoebe Putnam born 28 July 1624 Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England

7.      John Putnam born 27 May 1627 Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England, died 07 April 1710 Salem, Essex, MA married Rebecca Prince

John Putnam, son of Nicholas Putnam and his wife Margaret Goodspeed, was born and grew up Ashton Abbots, Buckingham, England. Aston Abbots is a parish on the Hertforshire border when the Putnam family’s ancestor originated. After his father’s death, John took possession of Nicholas’ house and lands in Aston Abbotts. In 1614, his mother, Margaret Goodspeed Putnam married William Huxley. John’s name appears on the license as one of the sureties.

John married a woman named Priscilla. There is some indication that she was Priscilla Deacon from Corner Hill in Hamel Hempstead. By 1610 the first of their seven known children were born. Seventeen years later, John, their youngest child was born. By 1640, when the children were grown John, Priscilla and sons Thomas, Nathaniel and John and their families were in Salem, Massachusetts.

The sense of Christian brotherhood was not one of peace and compatibility in Salem Village and Salem Town. Almost from the start feuds and complaints jabs the peace of Salem Village. In retrospect, the line between accusers and “witches” was drawn up soon after the settling of the Village.

Salem records described John as husbandman and yeoman. He was well off and as educated as any many in the town. He did not join the church until 1647 but seems to have been busy with his farm and family duties. John and Priscilla’s three sons who came to Salem produced large families so that the name of Putnam was very promenade in Salem for many years. But, of course, their name would forever be connected to with the notorious witchcraft trail that would color Salem for years to come.

John died 30 December 1662 at what was then Salem Village but is now called Danvers. He was eighty. "He ate his supper, went to prayer with his family and died before he went to sleep." Many years later a stone was erected in the Wadsworth Cemetery in honor of John and his wife and his son Capt John Putnam and his wife Rebecca.

***SOURCES***

1. New England Marriages Prior to 1700 by Clarence Almon Torrey

2. "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England" by James Savage

3.  The Devil Discovered, Salem Witchcraft 1692 by Enders A. Robinson

4. Salem Vital Records, Vol. III, Deaths

5. Salem Vital Records, Vol. II, Marriages

6. Internet Derick Sibley Hartshorn www.co.catawba.nc.us

7. "History of the Putnam Family"

8. "England Ancestry of John Putnam of Salem, MA" by G. Andrews Moriarty Jr., The American Genealogist, Vol. 15, p. 8-15, 1938

9. Genealogical And Personal Memoirs Relating To The Families Of Boston And Eastern Massachusetts. Prepared Under The Editorial Supervision Of William Richard Cutter, A. M.

10. Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com

11. http:www.billputnam.com "Descendants of John Putnam" by Bill Putnam

12. "John Putnam" Familypedia, http://familypedia.wikia.com/wikia/John_Putnam_(1580-1621)

My Putnam line:

Richard Puttenham born about 1350

John Puttenham

John Puttenham

Richard Puttenham married Joan ?

John Putnam died 1573; married Margerie ?

Nicholas Putnam married Margaret Goodspeed

John Putnam married Priscilla [Deacon?]

Thomas Putnam married Ann Holyoke

Deliverance Putnam married Jonathan Walcott

Anna Walcott married Joshua  Felt

Aaron Felt married Mary Waite

Aaron Felt married Tabitha  Upton

Abiatha  Felt married Jesse Anson Braman

Anson Amos Braman married Mary Marshall

Martha Ann (Matty) Braman married James Harvey Chubb

Otis T. Chubb married Caroline Belle Maltby

Line 7, Richard Ewen, Southern Purity

Before continuing onto the darker side of the Puritan movement, I would like to remark on my “Southern” roots. The colony called “Maryland” after the Princess Henrietta Maria, who married the ill-fated Charles I, was to become the home to colonists of many different Christian religious denominations. My family roots go back to many of the sects, including the Puritans, Richard Ewen and his family being the first of my Maryland Puritans.

Richard Ewen was born about 1605 in England.

Married Sophia Ewell

Died after 1665 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland

Children:

1.   Elizabeth Ewen born 06 June 1630 West River, Anne Arundel, MD married Richard Talbott

2.   Richard Ewen died 12 January 1674/75 The Clifts, Calvert Co., MD

3.   John Ewen died 06 April 1664 Anne Arundel Co., Maryland

4.   Susanna Ewen married John Billingsley and died 09 February 1662/63 Anne Arundel Co.,

     Maryland

5.   Anne Ewen died 07 December 1663 Anne Arundel Co., Maryland

6.   Sophia Ewen died 09 February 1674/75 Anne Arundel Co., Maryland

While most Puritans followed Winthrop and his fleet to New England, a few brave souls ventured to Virginia and then Maryland to settle in the swamps and forests of a warmer climate. Richard Ewen and his family were among the Puritans who sought freedom to worship by coming to the New World. Why they went south instead of to the Puritan haven of Massachusetts is unknown. But there was opportunity in Maryland and Puritans were going “south” as well.

Richard Ewen was probably born in England. The family name also spelled Ewens, Owens, Owings. He married a young woman named Sophia, whose surname is in debate but Ewell seems to be the most common suggestion. A Richard Ewen was given 150 in Upper Norfolk Co., VA in the mid-1640s and it very well may have been my Richard Ewen.

The first Baron Baltimore visited what would become the colony of Maryland in 1628. He had converted to Roman Catholicism shortly before the death of King James I for whom he had been the principal secretary. James I’s son, Charles I, married the French princess who gave her name to Maryland. Their marriage was a loving and faithful marriage but in his love for Henrietta Maria, Charles converted to her Catholic faith much to the distain of the growing Puritan movement in England. In 1628, the Catholic Baron Baltimore visited what would become the colony of Maryland. On his return to England, he asked Charles I for a land grant in this area to settle persecuted English Roman Catholics so they could freely worship. This grant was given to Cecilius Calvert, son and heir of Baron Baltimore after the latter’s death in 1632. In 1634, Cecilius’ brother Leonard brought over colonists who were made up of Catholic gentry as well as Protestants. All seemed well in Maryland, except for William Claiborne, who lost Kent Island to the greedy Baltimore boys.

Meanwhile, back in England, the English Civil War began. Despite an ocean separating Maryland from England, the Civil War between the Royalists and Parliament had a direct influence on Maryland. The Catholic Lord of Maryland, of course, sided with the doomed Catholic King Charles. Leonard Calvert hurried home to England to consult with Cecilius leaving Giles Brent as acting governor. Captain Richard Ingle was arrested sometime later for his adamant and loud support of Parliament. He escaped and joined forces with William Claiborne, still bitter about losing Kent Island.

Leonard Calvert returned to Maryland as Claiborne and Ingle created the “Plundering Time” by causing trouble throughout the colony of Maryland. This finally ended in 1646 when Leonard Calvert returned from exile in Virginia. Leonard died the next year and William Stone was named governor of Maryland. While England had declared the Commonwealth, Virginia remained loyal to the King. This in turn led to persecution of the Puritans in that colony. Governor Stone allowed some of these Puritans to settle in Providence located at the present-day Annapolis, Maryland.

Richard, his wife Sophia, their five children and three servants were among the Virginia Puritans who settled in “Providence”. He received 1000 acres of land. Their nearest neighbors were Edward Lloyd (just opposite present day Annapolis), Richard Bennett and Richard Talbott, a Quaker, who married Ewen’s daughter, Elizabeth. But life in the New World was often full of unsettling experiences and the unrest between the Royalists and the Parliament continued to affect the peace between the Catholics and the Puritans in Maryland.

Captain Roger Heamans, by the power given to him by the Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, came to Maryland in 1655 and stripped Stone of his governorship. Stone didn’t take this very well. He challenged Heamans’ authority, taking records, rallying his troops, and relocating north of Providence where he plotted to attack the Puritan settlement of Providence. The short battle that followed became known as the Battle of the Severn. The Puritans in less then an hour took control and Stone and his troops were taken prisoner.

Richard Ewen was among those who sat on the council of war following the Battle of the Severn that condemned Governor Stone, along with other Royalist to death for their treason against the English Commonwealth. Only four Royalists were executed. Stone and Josias Fendall, who became governor in 1656 after Lord Baltimore regained control of Maryland, were allowed to live. Richard Ewen was among the Provincial Council who had arrested Fendall and sentenced him "to go to the place from whence he came a prisoner, and there abide in safe custody untilt his matters of government in the Province of Maryland be further settled by his Highness Lord protector." Fendall was allowed to take an oath to obey the present government. He later became governor of Maryland at which time, ironically, the very same Richard Ewen who tried him after the Battle of the Severn, was appointed Commissioner and Justice of the Peace and held his first court date on July 23, 1656. He joined the assembly the following year and later was a justice representing Anne Arundel County. Richard was a busy man, farming his land, serving in the house of Burgess, being sheriff of Anne Arundel County in 1664 and 1665 and as an officer of the militia for five years, as well as being a husband, father and faithful church attendee.

It is unknown when Richard died but it was probably sometime after 1665 when his name was last recorded. Maryland didn’t have the Puritan fascination with records and there were few records kept of births and deaths.

***SOURCES***

1. Ancestry.com World Tree Project "Willis - Black"

2.  "Early Families of Southern Maryland, Vol 2" The Lawrence Family

1.   Anne Arundel Gentry, Vol 1; Burgess Family

2.   http://genealogy.Iv/MDBios/anne_arundel.htm

5.  Battle of the Severn, Wikipedia, http://en.wilipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Severn

My Ewen line:

Richard Ewen married Sophia Ewell

Elizabeth Ewen married Richard Talbott

Elizabeth Talbott married Benjamin Lawrence

Elizabeth Lawrence married John Gassaway

Nicholas Gassaway married Elizabeth Hawkins

Elizabeth Gassaway married Charles Sellman

Margaret Sellman married Joshua Hobbs

Anne “Nancy” Hobbs married George Burkheart

Polly Burkheart married William Hopkins

Cynthia Hopkins married Samuel Thomas Miller

Eliza Miller married Josiah Maltby

Caroline Bell Maltby married Otis T. Chubb