Putnam, General Israel

Art and Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Warren tendering his services to General Putnam just before the Battle of Bunker Hill [....]" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1875. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e0-f551-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Israel Putnam was an American General in George Washington's Continental Army. He was born in what is now Danvers, Massachusetts in 1718. As a young man, he moved to Pomfret, Connecticut in 1740. He fought during the French and Indian War where he was captured and was scheduled to be burned at the stake. Fortunately, at the last minute, he was spared due to the intervention of a French officer. Following the war, Putnam returned to his life as a successful farmer and tavern owner. At the same time, he was outspoken against British taxation policies like the Stamp Act and he became a founder of Connecticut's Sons of Liberty. When Putnam heard of the skirmishes with the British at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. he immediately offered his services. At the Battle of Bunker Hill, he played a key role in organizing the soldiers against General Howe's British forces. Putnam was also in charge of troops guarding New York City before being replaced by George Washington. Putnam spent the remainder of his service in the military in minor positions. In 1779, he suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed and forced him to retire from military duty. General Putnam died on May 29, 1790 in Brooklyn, CT.

Connecticut History.org http://connecticuthistory.org/people/israel-putnam/ (Make sure to also check out the two articles below about Israel Putnam "Youthful Trailblazer" and "The Last Wolf in Connecticut").

Online book:

Humpheys, Colonel David. The Life and Heroic Exploits of Israel Putnam. Internet Archive. The Library of Congress. 2009. 26 March 2015. <https://archive.org/details/lifeheroicexploi00hump>.

Connecticut History Online. Artifacts related to Israel Putnam. http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm/search/collection/cho/searchterm/israel%20putnam/order/nosort

Document: An oath of loyalty to the United States of America signed by Israel Putnam of Pomfret, Connecticut, a Major General in the Continental Army. The oath declares the United States to be free and independent of Great Britain. Putnam renounces any loyalty to King George the Third and sweats to defend the United States against him.

"Oath of Allegiance to the United States." Connecticut History Online. Connecticut Historical Society, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/cho/id/16169/rec/8>

Document: Receipt for payment to Major General Israel Putnam for his services during the Lexington Alarm in April 1775. Putnam marched a group of Connecticut men to the defense of Boston and received payment of six pounds for his wages and expenses. This receipt is dated April 1, 1776 and is signed by Oliver Ellsworth among others.

Payment to Israel Putnam for Services during the Lexington Alarm, 1776. Digital image. Connecticut State Library: Treasures of Connecticut Libraries. Windsor Historical Society, Windsor, CT, 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://cslib.cdmhost.com/cdm/singleitem/collection/p128501coll0/id/2144/rec/6>.