The prominent old colonial American and Puritan Putnam family founded by John and Priscilla (Gould) Putnam in the 17th century, in Salem, Massachusetts. Many notable individuals are descendants of this family, including those listed below. John Putnam was born about 1580 and came from Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire, England. He was married to Priscilla Gould and they settled in Salem. They were the parents of seven children: Elizabeth, Thomas, John, Nathaniel, Sara, Phoebe, and John. Their eldest son, Thomas, was the father of Thomas Putnam and Deacon Edward Putnam, who were involved in the Salem witch trials and were partially responsible for the executions of those convicted of witchcraft. Notable members Albigence Waldo Putnam (1799–1869), historian Ann Putnam, Jr. (1679–1716), accuser at Salem Witchcraft trials Brenda Putnam (1890–1975), sculptor Carleton Putnam (c. 1902–1998), aviator, activist & author David Putnam (1898–1918), World War I air ace Frederic Ward Putnam (1839–1915), American anthropologist, Harvard University George Putnam (1889–1960), great-great-grandson of Judge Samuel Putnam, founder of Putnam Investments; his son George Putnam, retired chairman Putnam Investments; and grandson George Putnam III, Chairman, Putnam Investments George D. Putnam (born 1948), screenwriter George Haven Putnam (1844–1930), book entrepreneur & publishing-family member George Palmer Putnam (1814–1872), book entrepreneur George P. Putnam (1887–1950), publisher, author, explorer, & publishing-family member; husband of aviator Amelia Earhart Gideon Putnam (1763–1812), entrepreneur Harriet Putnam Fowler (1842–1901), author & poet Herbert Putnam (1861–1955), American library administrator & publishing-family member Israel Putnam (1718–1790), American General Jake Putnam (born 1956), Emmy award winning journalist, author, US Osuna Cup Team, Senior Olympic tennis player James Jackson Putnam (1846–1918), neurologist Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi (1842–1906), American physician Palmer Cosslett Putnam (1900–1984), Wind power pioneer and author, builder of the Smith–Putnam wind turbine Brigadier General Paul A Putnam (1903-1982), American Brigadier General United States Marine Corps, Commander during the defense of wake Island during World War II Justice Samuel Putnam (1768–1853), Massachusetts Supreme Court justice, who wrote the opinion in Harvard College v. Amory, which established the Prudent man rule in US Law Robert Putnam (born 1941), American political scientist, Harvard University Rufus Putnam (1738–1824), American soldier Seth Putnam (1968–2011), American musician, from Newton, Massachusetts Thomas Putnam (1651–1699), landowner in Salem during the Salem witch trials William Lowell Putnam (1861–1923), American jurist & banker George Putnam (newsman) (1914-2008), Emmy award winning investigative journalist & news broadcaster Family tree John Putnam (c 1580–1666) m. Priscilla Gould Thomas Putnam (1614–1686)