Alexander CORBETT landed in New York in 1795, and shortly afterwards came to Putnam settling in the vicinity of the Corners. his house [a log one], stood a few rods west of William GRAHAM'S tenement house. His wife, Agnes, was a daughter of William HUTTON, none of the CORBET name now [1901] lives in town, save Mrs. Jean [GOURLIE] CORBET, and her daughter, Belle, the latter being a great great granddaughter of the original settler by that name. Mrs. Thomas ANDERSON is also a granddaughter of Alexander CORBET. John GOURLIE married a daughter of William HUTTON about 1800, and settled on lot 18 which he purchased from his brother-in-law, John HUTTON. His house stood near the lake and a little north of the present one. A nephew of his, John GOURLIE, now lives on the same place.35
Putnam, NY, John Gourley, supervisor 1806-1810; William G. Corbet, supervisor 1842-43, 1849, town clerk 1845-47, 1851-54, Justice of Peace 185933
Putnam Academy was built in 1854 at a cost of one thousand dollars; it stands at the corners on land donated by George EASTON. The stock was originally divided into hares of fifty-dollars each and was held by the following people: D. WILLIAMSON, Solomon FRENCH, George E. MEIKLEJOHN, George EASTON, Wm. G. CORBET, Samuel W. HAYNES, M.D., Wm. MCLAUGHLIN, Wm. GRAHAM, Jas. L. CUMMINGS, Alex WILEY, Thos. LILLIE, Jas MCLAUGHLIN, Wm. SHIELL, Robert HUTTON, Robert EASTON, John BACKERS, Rev. Isaac LAW, Jas. BLAIR, Wm. HUTTON and Robert PATTERSON. In this building an excellent school was kept for a number of years, presided over by an instructor of eminent ability and scholarly attainments who did much to mould the thought and shape the purpose of the community; the following are the names of the principals in the order of their service: Joseph MCKRAHAN, Joseph SHORTLEDGE, Joseph THYME, Wm. J. SMITH, Miss. BOUDRY, Mary A. MCLAUGHLIN, Jane EASTON, Margaret EASTON, Judith PERRY, and Mrs. Jean A. CORBET. 36
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of Putnam, NY
The first preaching was probably had about 1798, in the big house by supplies sent from the lower part of the county. The organization of the associate Congregation of Putnam, the first religious body in town was effected in 1803 in Wm. HUTTON'S big house. The persons officiating at the organization were Revs. Archibald WHITE and Robert LANGE, who were a committee appointed for the purpose by the Associate Presbytery of Cambridge. The original members numbered seventeen persons in all as follows:
Wm. HUTTON, Sr. and wife; Wm. HUTTON, Jr. and wife; John GOURLIE and wife; George EASTON and wife; Alex CORBET and wife; Robert CUMMINGS and wife; George WILEY and wife; John ROBERTSON and wife, and Alex MCLACHLAN. The elders chosen at the time of the organization wee: John GOURLIE and Alex MCLACHLAN. A short time afterwards, Wm. SHIELL was added to the number. These original numbers were all of almost all natives of Scotland and now sleep in the churchyard in the shadow of the cliff. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was first observed on the Sabbath following the organization of the congregation, the same persons officiating as did on the other occasion. In the month of April, 1823, Adam DARLING, John W. GRAHAM and Robert SHIELL were added to the board of ruling elders. September 22nd 1864, John LILLIE, Wm. G. CORBET and David EASTON were chosen ruling elders and October 13th following, Mr. LILLIE, and May 26th 1865, Mr. CORBET was ordained and installed. 34 |