The first Putmans or Putnams to arrive in California were seeking gold. In the 1850 Census there were JOHN R. PUTMAN 28 from Alabama and JAMES PUTNAM 26 from Missouri. I have no idea who they were or if they are ours.
JESSE MERCER PUTMAN from Hall County, Georgia arrived sick on board a ship in 1850 and died a week later in San Francisco. Jesse was a son of Thomas Putman and Mary Barton Putman.
However by the 1880 census, we were represented by the family of MADISON DEKALB PUTMAN in the San Diego County area and there were two sons of William Putman of Linn County, Missouri, FRANCIS MARION PUTMAN and JEFFERSON ELMORE PUTMAN in Colusa County.
We also find WILLIAM M. PUTMAN son of Elias Putman from Hall County, Georgia, in Butte County.
MADISON DEKALB PUTMAN Jr.
The PUTMANS in Colusa County
