Brief Life History of Rufus
When Rufus Putnam was born in September 1781, in Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, his father, David Putnam, was 28 and his mother, Martha Waters, was 22. He married Sally Sibley on 15 December 1805, in Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. He died on 19 November 1820, in his hometown, at the age of 39, and was buried in West Sutton Cemetery, Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.
Photos and Memories (1)
Do you know Rufus? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (9)
- Rufus Putnam, "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910"
- Rufus Putnam, "Find A Grave Index"
- Rufus Putnam in entry for Lula Putnam, "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001"
Spouse and Children
1781–1820 Male
1785–1820 Female
Children (2)
1806–1822 Female
1819–1849 Male
Parents and Siblings
1753–1795 Male
1759–1830 Female
Siblings (7)
1781–1820 Male
1783–1853 Male
1785–1822 Female
1787– Female
1789–1814 Male
+2 More Children
World Events (8)
1783 · A Free America
Age 2
1786 · Shays' Rebellion
Age 5
1794 · Creating the Eleventh Amendment
Age 13
Name Meaning
English (Middlesex and Buckinghamshire): habitational name from either of two places, in Hertfordshire and Surrey, called Puttenham, from the genitive case of the Old English byname Putta, meaning ‘kite’ (the bird) + Old English hām ‘homestead’.
History: John Putnam emigrated from England to Salem, MA, before 1641, and established a family that was still prominent in Massachusetts four generations later, including the revolutionary war soldier Israel Putnam (1718–90) and his cousin Rufus Putnam (1738–1824), also a soldier, one of the first settlers in OH.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Story Highlight
David and Martha (Waters) Putnam Family, by Eben Putnam (1891)
The History of the Putnam Family in England and America: "Captain David Putnam, (Fuller, Jeptha, Eleazer, John, John), born in Sutton, 26 Jan. 1753; married 15 Jan. 1781, Martha, daughter of Amos and …
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.
