Litchfield Ledger

. . . . .

Portrait of Putnam Catlin
George Catlin

Putnam Catlin

Gender:

Male

Born:

April 5, 1764

Died:

March 12, 1842

Home Town:

Litchfield, CT

Later Residences:

Wilkes-Barre, PA
Windsor, NY
Brooklyn, PA
Montrose, PA
Great Bend, PA

Marriage(s):

Mary Sutton Catlin (June 2, 1789)

Biographical Notes:

Putnam Catlin was born in Litchfield in 1764. He served as a drummer in the Revolutionary War. He was admitted to the bar in 1786 and migrated to Pennsylvania shortly after where he farmed. He married Polly Sutton Catlin in 1789 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. George Catlin was the fifth of their fourteen children.

Quotes:

"I am obliged to consider myself as a mere farmer, republican farmer, Beechwood farmer, without a hired man in this hurrying season of the year. How then am I to spare George and James? I admit that your reasoning is just in regard to George but I know not how to spare him at this time. I shall not be able to give him a public education. If he shall persist in the choice of law he will have to glean for himself an education in some law office, perhaps. I may indulge him a year at Litchfield, in the meantime, I will do better for him if it be in my power. Should my 'ship arrive from England' or should I make sale of some land I can spare he may be more favored."

Putnam Catlin to Steuben Butler, May 3, 1815
Collection of the Litchfield Historical Society

Putnam Catlin, ...Esq., came to the township as agent for the Wallace estate of " 14,000 acres of beech and maple lands," receiving land in payment, of which a part was Mr. Sabin's old sugar-camp. He built a fine residence here. The Hop- bottom post-office was established in 1813, P. Catlin, postmaster. The returns for letter postage, the first quarter, were $1.00. In the small frame building erected for the office, his son George, "since eminent on three continents as an artist, and particularly as a delineator of Indian life and features," once taught school. When George was born, his parents resided in or near Wilkes-Barre. His mother's maiden name was Sutton, and she belonged to a prominent family in Wyoming Yalley. Putnam Catlin was admitted as an attorney during the first court in Wilkes-Barre, May 29, 1787. He removed to Windsor, NY., and from there to Brooklyn, then (1810) included in Bridgewater. His aged father resided with him, and died here. Julius, a brother of George, who also had artistic tastes, was drowned, in 1828, at Eochester, N. Y., while sketching the Falls.
Though Putnam Catlin is said to have had an " aristocratic bearing," he was yet truly affable and easily approached. The poor were never turned away from his door. He would say, " I shall always have enough," and would take the clothing, which Mrs. C. thought still serviceable, and give it to the children of others more needy. He encouraged young men to clear land for him; and though it was then the custom to give cattle, or " truck," as payment for work, he would pay to each from two to three dollars in cash, that they might be able to expend something on holidays. Even as late as 1825, for a whole summer's work, a farm-hand received but $10 in cash, the rest being in produce, etc.
While he was cashier of the Silver Lake Bank, he and his family lived for a time where J. S. Tarbell lives in Montrose; and afterwards in the bank building, now owned and occupied by I1. B. Chandler. Afterwards he removed to Great Bend, where he died in 1842, aged 77. Mrs. C. died two years later, at Delta, N. Y., in her 74th year.
He had been a drummer-boy of the Revolution. He was born in Litchfield, Ct., and was there admitted to the bar. In 1814 he was a Representative in the Legislature of Penn'a.
From History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
by Blackman, Emily C. accessed at https://archive.org/details/historyofsusqueh00blac/page/48/mode/2up October 24, 2023
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Profession / Service

Profession:

Lawyer; Agriculture

Admitted To Bar:

1786

Political Party:

Republican

Immediate Family (Why only immediate family?)

George Catlin
Son
LLS (1817)
Mary Sutton Catlin
Wife