Thomas Putnam | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 22, 1652 [O.S. March 12, 1651] (1652-03-22)[Note 1] |
| Died | June 3 [O.S. May 24], 1699 (1699-06-04) (aged 47) Salem Village,Province of Massachusetts Bay[1] |
| Known for | Accuser in theSalem witch trials |
| Spouse | Ann Putnam (née Carr) |
| Children | 12, includingAnn Putnam |
| Parents |
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Thomas Putnam (March 22, 1652 [O.S. March 12, 1651] – June 3 [O.S. May 24], 1699)[3] was a member of thePutnam family, a resident of Salem Village (present-dayDanvers,Massachusetts, United States) and a significant accuser in the notorious 1692Salem witch trials.
Thomas Putnam was born on March 22, 1652 (new style March 12, 1651) inSalem Village,Massachusetts Bay Colony, a son ofLieutenant Thomas Putnam Sr. (1615–1686) and his first wife, Ann Holyoke. He wasbaptized on February 16, 1652, at the First Church of Salem. He marriedAnn Carr on September 25, 1675, at Salem Village. Ann was born at Salem Village on June 15, 1661, the youngest daughter of George and Elizabeth Carr. They had twelve children:Ann Jr., Thomas, Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Deliverance, Timothy, Experience, Abigail, Susanna and Seth; two who died young. Thomas served in the military and held the rank ofSergeant, fighting inKing Philip's War. He also served as parish clerk.[3][1]
Despite being the son of one of Salem's wealthiest residents, Putnam was excluded from major inheritances by both his father and father-in-law. His half-brother, Joseph, who had benefited most from their father'sestate, married into the rival Porter family inSalem Town, fueling ill will between the clans. Putnam, his wife Ann, and their daughter Ann Jr. all levied accusations ofwitchcraft, many of them against extended members of the Porter family, and testified at the trials.[2] Putnam was responsible for the accusations of 43 people, and his daughter was responsible for 62.[4]
Both Putnam and his wife died in 1699, leaving their ten children orphans, two children having predeceased them.[5]
InArthur Miller's 1953 play,The Crucible, Thomas Putnam is married to Ann Putnam, and together have a daughter, Ruth Putnam, who is afflicted with a grave illness, similar to that ofBetty Parris. They both have lost seven children in childbirth and point to witchcraft as the cause of it. Putnam appears in Act 1 and is apparent during Act 3. He manipulatesReverend Parris into taking his side, urging him to see that it is witchcraft that is making Salem go mad. He uses the witch trials to get the other villagers' land, such asGiles Corey's. Giles later takes Putnam to court regarding the issue.
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