It is not known when this family came to America, probably sometime between 1627, the birthdate of their last child, and 1650. The following is from The Putnam Family, by Eben Putnam: "John Putnam was a farmer and exceedingly well off for those times. He wrote a fair hand as deeds on record show. In these deeds, he styles himself yeoman, and once, in 1655, husbandman."

John and his wife Priscilla (Gould) Putnam had seven children, all baptized at Aston Abbots, England:

• Elizabth, bpt. 20 Dec. 1612; admitted to the church in Salem in 1643.
• Thomas, bpt. 7 March 1614/5; m. (1) Ann Holyoke, daughter of Edward Holyoke; m. (2) Mrs. Mary Veren, widow of Nathaniel Veren.
• John, bpt. 24 July 1617; died in infancy.
• Nathaniel, bpt. 11 Oct. 1619; m. Elizabeth Hutchinson, daughter of Richard Hutchinson.
• Sarah, bpt. 2 March 1622/3.
• Phoebe, bpt. 28 July 1624.
• John, Jr., bpt. 27 May 1627; m. Rebecca Prince.

In his History of Salem, p. 31, Sidney Perley wrote, "Robert Prince appears as a servant, with Bethiah and Lydia, probably his sisters, in a tavern of John Gedney in 1651. Rebecca Prince, perhaps another sister, married John Putnam and was called 'stepdaughter' by Mr. Gedney."

John Putnam, Jr., came to America with his parents and siblings. They lived in Danvers, then called Salem Village, Massachusetts. In 1665, John was made freeman and was one of the largest taxpayers in Salem Village. He was influential in all matters relating to town or church government and, in 1668-1670, signed a petition requesting that a minister be allowed to conduct services at the "farms." In 1672, he was styled corporal; in 1678, commissioned lieutenant of a troop of horse; and after 1687, was called captain. He was a deputy to the General Court in 1677, 1680, 1686, and 1691.

Captain John. Jr., and his wife Rebecca (Prince) Putnam had ten children, all born in Salem Village, MA:

• Rebecca, b. 28 May 1653; m. (1) John Fuller, son of Thomas Fuller; m. (2) John Shepherd, son of William Shepherd.
• Sarah, b. 4 Sept. 1654; m. John Richardson, son of Richard Richardson.
• Priscilla, b. 4 March 1657; m. Joseph Bailey, son of John Bailey.
• Jonathan, b. 17 March 1659; m. (1)Elizabeth Whipple, daughter of Thomas Whipple; m. (2) Lydia Potter, daughter of Anthony Potter.
• James, b. 4 Sept. 1661; m. (1) Sarah -----; m. (2) Mrs. Mary Rea.
• Hannah, b. 2 Feb. 1663; m. Henry Brown, son of Henry Brown.
• Eleazer, b. 1665; m. (1) Hannah Boardman, daughter of Daniel Boardman; m. (2)Elizabeth Rolfe, daughter of Benjamin Rolfe.
• John, b. 14 July 1667; m. Hannah -----.
• Susanna, b. 4 Sept. 1670; m. Edward Bishop, son of Edward Bishop.
• Ruth, b. Aug. 1673.