The Ball That Hit Putnam-Mr. Augustus Mead Says He Has Found It-and is Positive it's the One. (1901)

Greenwich Graphic: Saturday, November 30, 1901, Page 4.

Authentic history, as well as popular opinion, as that of the many bullets fired at the daring General Putnam in his mad ride down the hill which bears his name, one passed through his head covering, and this has been verified, for the same bullet has been found.

While excavating in the repairing of the drive at the east side of his residence on the Post Road, men in the employee of Mr. Augustus Mead discovered this Revolutionary relic embedded in some three feet of earth. Mr. Mead is strong in his belief that this is the same ball that passed through the General's hat, and luckily so, for it is a three pounder, and if it had pierced the head instead of the hat, history must needs have been re-written, and instead of the thrilling account of a daring plunge down seventy-four stone steps, we would have had simply "Another fearless general killed in a skirmish between the British regulars and the Colonial patriots."

This now innocent, unassuming and harmless appearing piece of Revolutionary warfare we believe, with Mr. Mead, is the bullet which might have caused a change history and deprived the schoolboy of what is near and dear to his heart – stories of adventure and daring, and if a thorough scientific and scholarly  investigation should be had, with employment of algebra, geometry, or the higher mathematics, taking the hypothesis: the position of the rider, the angle at which the bullets were fired, and the distance traveled, together with other data, the only logical and current deduction would be as we have stated.

We are told that a picture of Putnam can be traced on the cannonball, with a date when it struck him. We have this on the authority of Mr. John Dayton, whose word is to be relied on.

But to be serious with regard to this cannon ball. Opposite this place on the farm of Jabez Mead, often in ploughing, English coins were turned up, and the supposition is, that is more or less skirmishing was carried on in this locality during the Revolution, this evidence of British soldiers is accounted for, as in the case of this old relic of long ago.

Greenwich's Oldest Voter (1902)

Greenwich Graphic: November 8, 1902, Page 1.



Mr. Smith Mead, the oldest voter in town, went to the polls on Tuesday and cast his vote. Mr. Mead is close to 93 years of age. He has never failed to cast his ballot at an election since Andrew Jackson ran for the presidency in 1833, and he was 23 years old at that time. When the Republican party was formed in 1836, Mr. Mead became identified with it, and he has cast his ballot for the candidates since that date. 

In 1824 he met the Marquis de Lafayette when he passed through this town on his triumphal tour, and enjoys the distinction of being one of the very few living persons who shook the hand of the great French soldier. 

Mr. Mead is in fairly good health, and his mind is clear. He loves to sit down with a friend and talk of the Greenwich of years ago, and his fund of knowledge on the growth of the town is remarkable.