Thursday, October 23, 2008

Lt. Col. Hugh Maxwell





Hugh Maxwell 5th great granduncle silhouette by Frederick Chapman, 1781 and memorial monument located in the South Cemetery in Heath, MA. Hugh was wounded in the battle of Bunker Hill and survived the winter at Valley Forge. He died and was buried at sea in 1799. One of the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Major General Israel Putnam "Old Put"

Israel Putnam being rescued from being burned alive during the French and Indian War. Click on picture.







2nd cousin 8x removed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Putnam

Like his cousin, Brigadier General Rufus Putnam, Israel fought in both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. Israel was the officer in command at the battle of Bunker Hill which was mostly fought on Breed's Hill. That's one version. Other versions have Col. William Prescott in command. Both men were there and history records that they both made a good accounting of themselves. However, as a former member of the military, I'm pretty certain that generals don't usually report to colonels. O.K., here's another version from the notes of Major Thompson Maxwell: There were three hills involved in the battle, Breed's Hill, Bunker Hill and Winter Hill. Generals Putnam, Heath, Sullivan and Colonel Prescott were all at Bunker Hill and Putnam had overall command. Click on this link for details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bunker_Hill Click on the following link to read of his exploits including crawling into a cave on his hands and knees to kill the last wolf in Connecticut.http://members.tripod.com/~compmast/putnam/putnam.html

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Brigadier General Rufus Putnam


3rd cousin 7x removed.
"The Father of Ohio", Surveyor General of the United States 1796-1803. Fought in the French and Indian War as well as the Revolutionary War. Established Marietta, Ohio as the first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory.
One of the original members of the Society of the Cincinnati. See the "Notable Ancestors" blog entry below for more information.