I've known for a long time now, that William Bond Mason, one of the 1st 48 men who settled in Marietta and General Rufus Putnam had some kind of relationship connection, but didn't know how until I started looking into the genealogy of General Rufus Putnam, then.....BINGO! I found the connection....Here goes: Two of William Bond Mason's sisters were Elizabeth and Martha. Elizabeth MASON married Reuben PUTNAM in 1742. Their children were: Aaron, Jonas, Mason, Rufus, Rufus Austin, Elijah, Abagail, Martha, Catherine, William, and Manning. Martha MASON married Benjamin PUTNAM in 1782. Their children were: Simeon, Rufus, Joseph, Clarissa, John and Maria. Benjamin and Rueben PUTNAM were brothers, both sons of Nehemiah PUTNAM and Sarah MANNING. Nehemiah was the brother of General Rufus Putnam. So with that in mind, that makes Reuben and Benjamin nephews of Rufus. In the book: EARLY SETTLERS OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, by Henry Bond (1855) it gives the MASON genealogy of the descendants of Hugh Mason, in which William Bond Mason is a part of. It also states this about Manning (son of Rueben & Elizabeth (Mason) Putnam) which caught my attention: (95) 4. Manning, b. Ap. 12, 1787; d. Oct. 29, 1838, a saddler, went to Marietta, O., about 1805, where he resided some time with his cousin, Gen. Rufus Putnam, afterwards went to Putnam, Muskingum Co., O., where he m., Ap. 9 1809, Nancy Harer, b. Jan. 16, 1796, dr. of Jacob and Mary Harer. She d. June 25, 1828, and he m. June 4, 1829, Sarah Myers, b. Oct. 28, 1806, dr. of Jacob and Elizabeth Myers, of Putnam, O. (Names and info about his children are also mentioned). Manning was NOT a cousin of Rufus Putnam, but a grand nephew. Am I right? So, William Mason would be Rufus Putnam's nephew in-law. Or as my family would say: "Nef In-Law" lol Debbie Debbie (Noland) Nitsche Diamonddeb@comcast.net WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO HISTORICAL & GENEALOGY "LINKS" http://hometown.aol.com/washcohistory/Intropage1.html