* Personal grudges: Putnam had a history of disagreements with many of the people he accused of witchcraft. For example, he had been in a dispute with George Jacobs over a piece of land, and he had also unsuccessfully sued Martha Corey for slander.
* Religious beliefs: Putnam was a devout Puritan, and he believed that witchcraft was a real threat to the community. He believed that witches were in league with the devil and that they were capable of causing harm to others.
* Financial gain: Putnam may have also been motivated by financial gain. He could collect the property of those who were convicted of witchcraft, and he could also receive compensation for his time spent investigating witch trials.
It is important to note that not all of the people who were accused of witchcraft by Thomas Putnam were guilty. In fact, many of them were innocent people who were simply targeted because they had a personal grievance with Putnam or because they were members of a marginalized group.