Clarissa Putman, the jilted lover of Sir John Johnson, son of William Johnson, has been the subject of much Mohawk Valley mythology over the years.

The Schenectady County Historical Society (SCHS, 32 Washington Avenue, Schenectady) will host a talk on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. by Peter Betz entitled The Life of Clarissa Putman to sort out fact from fiction by providing a non-fictional mini-biography of her life based on reliable sources.

Peter Betz has served as Fulton County Historian since 2006. A native of Amsterdam, he is a 35-year member of the Library Faculty of Fulton-Montgomery Community College, continuing to serve that institution as Curator of the K.R. Dorn Regional History Collection, Evans Library. He is also active with the Montgomery County Historical Association and the Western Frontier Symposium Committee, among other organizations.

This event is $5.00, free for SCHS members. For more information, please contact Librarian Melissa Tacke at 518-374-0263, option 3, or by email at [email protected]. The Schenectady County Historical Society is wheelchair accessible, with off-street parking behind the building and overflow parking next door at the YWCA.

Illustrations: John Johnson and Clarissa Putnam (provided).