Much like him in his devotion to duty and principle was another of his name, who now appears in this narrative, having come to Fort Edward in a Massachusetts regiment, in which he was a private.

This was Rufus Putnam, who achieved a reputation in later years hardly second to that of Israel; in many respects he surpassed him.

These two have been called cousins; but, to state their exact relationship, Israel's father and Rufus's grandfather were brothers, or half-brothers.

Here is what Rufus Putnam says, in his Memorandum Book of Family Concerns, respecting his American ancestry:...
"I am the youngest son of Elisha Putnam, who was the third son of Edward, grandson of John Putnam, who settled in Salem in 1634....

I was born the 9th of April, 1738, at Sutton, Massachusetts." By this it will be seen that Rufus and Israel Putnam were descended from the same English ancestor, John Putnam; and further, it may be observed, they had many high qualities in common.