Union County NJ Archives Biographies.....Erastus G. PUTNAM, 1833 - 1915
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 9, 2008, 3:25 am

Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)

PUTNAM, Erastus G.,
Man of Lofty Character.

  To the long and honorable record of an ancestry traced in England to the year
1199, Erastus G. Putnam added the record of a long life, spent largely in the
service of his fellow men, a life filled with kindly deeds and charitable acts.
From 1872 until his death, October 1, 1915, he was a resident of the city of
Elizabeth, New Jersey. From 1877 he was largely engaged in public service, the
schools of the city and the public health departments receiving at his hands
especially valuable labor, much of it performed without compensation, surely as
a duty and a labor of love. When he did receive compensation, it was returned,
in charitable acts to those he met in distress, more than twice over. While he
was stern in the discharge of his duties as health officer, he was deeply
respected and admired by all with whom he came in contact, and was very popular.

  Mr. Putnam traced his English ancestry to Simon de Puttenham, A. D. 1199. The
family bore arms:

  Arms—Sable, in pale, a stork argent, between sixteen crosses fitchee of the same.

  Crest—On a wreath, a wolf's head, couped gules.

  The American ancestor was Captain John Putnam, of Aston Abbotts, England, and
Salem Village, Massachusetts, one of the brave spirits who aided materially in
founding the colony which has become a proud Commonwealth. The English and
American families through twenty-five generations is thus traced:*


  *This, and the various ancestral narratives which follow, relating to the
Putnam-Woodward families, are from the papers of Mrs. Mary N. (Erastus G.)
Putnam. The personal narratives relating to Mr. and Mrs. Putnam are by a staff
writer.


  The line of descent is as follows: (I) Simon de Puttenham (1199); (II) Ralph
de Puttenham, of Puttenham (1217); (III) Richard de Puttenham (1273); (IV) John
de Puttenham, of Puttenham (1291); (V) Thomas Puttenham (temp. Edward I.); (VI)
Roger Puttenham, High Sheriff for Herts (1322); (VIII) Sir Roger Puttenham
(about 1320-1380).

  (IX) William Puttenham, about 1360-1420, of Puttenham and Pennsylvania;
married Margaret, the third daughter of John de Warbleton, of Warbleton, Sussex,
and Sherfield on London, Southampton, by Katherine, daughter of Sir John de
Foxle, Bramshell and Apuldrefield, and had:

  (X) Henry Puttenham, 1403-1473, of Puttenham, Pennsylvania, Sherfield,
Warbleton, etc; married Elizabeth, widow of Geoffrey Goodluck, and had:

  (XI) William Puttenham, 1430-1492, of the Manor of Puttenham, Pennsylvania,
Long Marston, Sherfield, Warbleton, Tannerigge and Williegh; married Anne,
daughter of John Hampden, the most ancient of English families, claiming descent
from Baldwin de Hampden, who was of note before the Norman invasion; (John, the
father of Anne Puttenham, was Knight of the Shire for Bucks in 1420 and 1430, of
Beds, in 1450, in which year he died. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John
Whalesborough, Knight of Whalesborough, County Cornwall. From John descended
John Hampden, the Patriot, noted for his resistance to the collection of
ship-money, whose mother was Elizabeth Cromwell, aunt to Oliver Cromwell,) and had:

  (XII) Nicholas Puttenham or Puttnam, third son, born about 1460, lived at
Putnam Place in Pennsylvania, and had:

  (XIII) Henry Putnam, younger son, was living in 1526; he had:

  (XIV) Richard Putnam or Puttynham, 1500-1556, of Eddlesborough and Woughton.
married Joan, and had:

  (XV) John Putnam, of Rowsham, Slapton and Wingrave, was buried 27 January,
1568; his eldest son was:

  (XVI) Nicholas Putnam, of Wingrave and Stukeley, 1540-1598, married at
Wingrave, 30 January, 1577, Margaret, daughter of John and Elizabeth Goodspeed.
She was baptized at Wingrave, 16 August, 1556, and had:

  (XVII) John Putnam, of Aston Abbotts, County Bucks, England, was baptized 17
January, 1579. He married Priscilla Gould, probably early in 1612. With their
four children they came to New England and settled in Salem Village, now
Danvers, Massachusetts. He died suddenly on 30 December, 1662. Their third son was:

  (XVIII) Captain John Putnam, baptized at Aston Abbotts, England, died at Salem
Village, 7 April, 1710, "buried by ye soldiers." He was made freeman in 1635. In
1672 he is styled corporal; on the 7 October, 1678, he was commissioned
lieutenant of the troops of horse at the village; after 1687 he is styled
"Captain." He served in the Narragansett fight, and retained his military
manners throughout his life. He was deputy to the General Court in
1679-80-86-91-92. He married, at Salem, 7 March, 1652, Rebecca Prince,
stepdaughter of John Gedney, and had:

  (XIX) Eleazer Putnam, born in Salem Village, 1665; died there, 25 January,
1732-33. In 1690, had been one of Captain William Raymond's company enlisted for
the Canada Expedition. In 1700 he was chosen tythingman for the village, and
again in 1705. He was constable during the year 1708, and surveyor of highways
on Topsfield road in 1711. He married (second) 14 November, 1711, Elizabeth,
daughter of Mr. Benjamin and Apphia (Hale) Rolfe, of Newbury, born there, 15
December, 1679, died 2 January, 1752, and had:

  (XX) Captain Henry Putnam, born in Salem Village, 14 August, 1712; killed at
Lexington, 19 April, 1775. He was an officer in the French War, and did good
service for his country in the subjection of Canada to the English during our
Colonial War. He was a man of experience in military matters, and had earned the
commission of lieutenant, which he held during the Louisburg expedition.
Although exempt from military duty, he accompanied the troops, with his five
sons, to Lexington, and fell in action. He married Hannah, and had:

  (XXI) Eleazer Putnam, born in Danvers, 5 June, 1738, died probably in 1805;
administration on his estate granted 14 March, 1806. He was in Captain Isaac
Hull's company, and received credit for five days' service on the Lexington
Alarm. He married Mary Crosby, of Billerica, published in Charlestown, 20 March,
1761; and had:

  (XXII) Doctor Elijah Putnam, born in Medford, Massachusetts, November 17,
1770, died in Madison, New York, January, 1851. He moved from West Cambridge,
Massachusetts, to Peterborough, New York, in 1801, thence to Madison, March,
1802, where he located and practiced medicine for forty years. He was an
organizer of the Madison County Medical Society, July 29, 1806; was an excellent
physician, a worthy, respected man, and a Christian gentleman. He married
Phoebe, daughter of Captain Abner Wood, born in Madison, died about 1854, and had:

  (XXIII) Hamilton Putnam, born in Madison, New York, 5 September, 1807, died at
Cortland, New York, 15 December, 1892, where he resided more than fifty years.
He was justice of the peace and supervisor of the county many years; a director
of the National Bank of Cortland; and a member of the Presbyterian church. He
married, 20 April, 1831, Jeannette Cleaveland, born January 26, 1812, died 31
July, 1884, daughter of General Erastus Cleaveland, and had:

  (XXIV) Erastus Gaylord Putnam, second son of Hamilton and Jeannette
(Cleaveland) Putnam, born December 23, 1833, in Harford, New York, died in
Elizabeth, New Jersey, October 1, 1915. He was educated at Cortland Academy,
Cortland, New York, and after completing his studies taught school until
completing his years of minority. At the age of twenty-one he left home and went
as far west as Cleveland, Ohio, where he entered his uncle Erastus Gaylord's
wholesale drug house, studying medicine five years under an English chemist.

  At the outbreak of the Civil War he was physically unfit for army service, but
under appointment of Governor Tod served on the Sanitary Commission, where his
medical knowledge was of substantial value. He was offered appointment as
assistant surgeon, but his health forbade acceptance. In 1868 Mr. Putnam, having
returned to New York, was offered and accepted the position of business manager
of Cornell University, residing during his term of office (from 1868 to 1871) at
Ithaca, the seat of the university.

  In 1872 he became a resident of Elizabeth, New Jersey, that city being his
home for forty-three years, until death. He bought the Library Hall drug store
on Broad street, now the site of Proctor's Broad Street Theatre, and there
conducted a very prosperous business. He continued in the drug business until
November, 1887, then sold out to William J. Whelan. For ten years, from 1877 to
1887, he served on the city board of education, was president of the board, and
most earnest in his efforts to furnish the youth of Elizabeth with the best
educational advantages. One result of his efforts was the establishing of the
high school, that grade of school having been established largely as a result of
his efforts. After ten years' service he declined renomination.

  After surrendering the cares of business, and at the earnest solicitation of
many physicians of the city, Mr. Putnam consented to act as health officer,
serving from May, 1888, until he resigned in 1898, being succeeded by Louis J.
Richards. As health officer he had to combat a severe epidemic of smallpox, and
during that period his execution, ability, firmness and devotion was of
inestimable value. So his life was passed, "spending and being spent." His life
was essentially one of usefulness to his fellow men, and his monument is in the
hearts of those who during his long lifetime worked by his side, knew his
devotion and self-sacrificing spirit, and in the hearts of those who benefited
thereby. He sought not worldly honor, but only asked to be of service. His
ancestry opened to him the door of every patriotic order, but he availed himself
of but one, the Sons of the American Revolution, joining as a charter member,
Elizabeth Chapter, No. 1, on April 3, 1891.

  He married, at "Keewaydin," Orange county, New York, January 30, 1867, Mary
Nicoll Woodward, born October 1, 1834, in Ithaca, New York, daughter of William
A. and Frances M. (Evertson) Woodward. Mrs. Putnam is a descendant of Kiliaen
Van Rensselaer, the patroon of the Hudson River Valley, and of Matthias Nicolls,
secretary of the Province of New York from 1664 to 1680, and other eminent
families, her genealogy being fully traced on the following pages. She is a
member of the societies basing their membership on colonial residence and
warlike deeds, and of many women's organizations, active in good works, a lady
of culture, grace and charm, most highly esteemed.

  Four children were born to Erastus G. and Mary N. (Woodward) Putnam, all of
whom died young: i. Mary Evertson, born December 27, 1867, died August 25, 1868.
2-3. Rosalie Gaylord and Harry Barrow (twins), born April 7, 1872, died two days
later. 4. William Hamilton. born November 4, 1875, died three days later.

  Mrs. Putnam continues her residence in Elizabeth, her home on South Broad street.

(The Cleaveland Family).

  Arms—Per chevron, sable and ermine, a chevron engrailed counterchanged.

  Crest—A demi-old man proper, habited proper, having on his head a cap gules,
turned up, with a hair front, holding in his defter hand a spear, headed argent,
on top of which is fixed a line proper, passing behind him and coiled up in
sinister hand.

Motto—Pro Deo et Patria.

  The Cleaveland family traces its descent from Thorkill, a Saxon, who about the
time of the Norman Conquest assumed the name of De Cliveland, maintaining a
country seat in the County of York, England. From him descended Moses
Cleaveland, also known as Moyses Cleveland, the ancestor of Jeannette
Cleaveland, mother of Erastus Gaylord Putnam. From Moses Cleaveland descended
Grover Cleveland, twice President of the United States, and other men eminent in
public life, four of the name having been Governors: Grover Cleveland, Governor
of New York; Chauncey Fitch Cleveland, Governor of Connecticut; Jesse F.
Cleveland, Governor of North Carolina; Alvin P. Cleveland, Governor of Indiana.

  (I) Moses Cleaveland, a descendant of Thorkill De Cliveland, of York, England,
and the ancestor of the American family, was born at Ipswich, Suffolk county,
England, about 1624, died at Woburn, Massachusetts, January 9, 1701. He landed
at Boston or Plymouth in 1635, and spent his life in Woburn and vicinity. He
married, in Woburn, September 26, 1648, Ann Winn, born in Wales about 1646, died
May, 1682, daughter of Edward and Joanna Winn. They had twelve children, including:

  (II) Aaron Cleaveland, born in Woburn, Massachusetts, January 10, 1654, died
there, December 14, 1716. He served in King Philip's War, as did his brothers,
Moses and Samuel; was made a freeman in 1680; became a man of distinction,
prominent in public affairs, and gave his children the best educational
advantages of that day. He married, in Woburn, September 26, 1675, Dorcas
Wilson, born January 29, 1657, died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 29,
1714, daughter of John and Hannah (James) Wilson. They had issue, including:

  (III) Captain Aaron Cleaveland, born July 9, 1680, in Woburn, Massachusetts,
died in that part of Cambridge called Mystic (now Medford), Massachusetts, or at
Norwich, Connecticut, about December 1, 1755. He was a large land owner in
Charlestown lived there from 1710 to 1713, and again in 1738, prior to his
removal to East Haddam, Connecticut. He was admitted to the church at Cambridge,
Massachusetts, October 7, 1711, by profession and baptism, later was a member of
the church at Medford, Massachusetts, and on August 10, 1755, joined the church
at East Haddam. He was a constable in Medford from March 1, 1707, to 1708, was
also a contractor and builder, rating high in business ability. He served as
cornet, lieutenant and captain of militia, and physically was of great stature
and strength. On the records he is styled captain, and on the East Haddam tax
list is named as Aaron Cleaveland, gentleman, his tax rating being given as
£3,000, which classes him as one of the very wealthy men of the town.

Captain Aaron Cleaveland married, in Woburn, Massachusetts, January 1, 1701,
Abigail Waters, born November 29, 1683, in Woburn, died (probably in Norwich,
Connecticut), January 6, 1761, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hudson) Waters.
Among their eight children was a son:

  (IV) Moses Cleaveland, baptized July 19, 1719, at Cambridge, Massachusetts,
died prior to 1761. He married at Wethersfield, Connecticut, Mary Clarke, born
there, June 9, 1724, died at Hopewell, Ontario county, New York, after 1824,
aged over one hundred years, daughter of Thomas and Dorothy (Hurlburt) Clarke.
She married a second husband, a Mr. Bliss. General Erastus Cleaveland was wont
to boast of coming from a long lived race, saying his grandmother Bliss "could
dance a hornpipe at age ninety-five," and furthermore could "touch every note."
They had issue, including a son:

  (V) Moses Cleaveland, born May 23, 1745, at Wethersfield or Norwich,
Connecticut, died at Morrisville, Madison county, New York, 1817. He lived at
Norwich and New London, Connecticut, prior to moving to Morrisville, New York.
He held a lieutenant's commission in a company of cavalry, was stationed at
Roxbury, Massachusetts, during the siege of Boston, and was one of General
Washington's trusted and hard worked scouts. He married at Norwich, Connecticut,
February 20, 1766, Phoebe Fargo, born February 14, 1747, in Norwich, daughter of
Aaron and Sarah Fargo. They had issue, including:

  (VI) General Erastus Cleaveland, born June 20, 1771, in Norwich, Connecticut,
died in Madison, New York, January 27, 1857, aged eighty-five years. He settled
in Madison in 1793, was elected to the New York Legislature in 1806 and in 1808;
commissioned major in 1807, and was colonel in command of the regiment at
Sacketts Harbor, New York, War of 1812; commissioned lieutenant-colonel in 1812,
colonel in 1814, and later was brigadier-general of militia. He was successful
in his business pursuits of the grist mill he built in 1795, the first in
Madison. Later he built two mills elsewhere, started a distillery and a brewery,
a carding machine and a satinet cloth factory, also dealt heavily in cattle for
the New York and Philadelphia markets. He was remarkable for energy, business
ability, skill and perseverance. He married, in Southwick, Hampden county,
Massachusetts, January 8, 1795, Rebecca Berry, of the town adjoining Norwich,
Connecticut. Her brother, Samuel Berry, bought the land on which Madison
Village, New York, is located from Seth Gibson, who at a cost of twenty-five
dollars obtained possession of the land. They had:

  (VII) Jeannette Cleaveland, born January 26, 1817, at Madison, died July 31,
1884, at Middleboro, Massachusetts, on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Grant. She
married at Madison, April 20, 1831, Hamilton Putnam, born in Madison, September
5, 1807, died at Cortland, New York, December 15, 1892 (see Putnam XXIII). They
had:

  (VIII) Erastus Gaylord Putnam (see Putnam XXIV).


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN

VOLUME III
MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
1917


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