Act 1 G

One of the wealthiest landowners in Salem, Thomas Putnam is a vindictive, bitter man who holds longstanding grudges against many of the citizens of Salem, including the Nurse family for blocking the appointment of his brother-in-law to the position of minister. Putnam pushes his daughter to charge witchcraft against George Jacobs, for if he is executed, his land will be open for Putnam to purchase.

Ann Putnam suspects that there is some paranormal reason for the stillborn deaths of seven of her children and blames Rebecca Nurse. She is naturally overprotective of her daughter, Ruth.