Vote Them All Out Like Watertown Did.

     Watertown, Massachusetts was founded in 1630 and for the first four years the church made decisions for the community.  Starting in 1634 a group of leaders (selectmen) was elected to make decisions for the town.  They were usually elected for a one year term.
     In 1638, the selectmen provoked public outrage by granting themselves farms.  The following year several were driven from office and it took years for them to regain their reputation¹.  They were voted out.
     My ancestors, Samuel and Alice Stratton were in Watertown in 1647 although they may have been there earlier.  It is unlikely that Samuel and Alice Stratton were in Watertown in 1638 but I feel confident that they would have spoken up against the corruption.  Several times in the history of Watertown they were vocal against the leaders and accused them of accepting bribes.  
     Our current politicians appear to be equally corrupt.  When they leave office they have millions in the bank.  When they allow the government to be shut down they make sure that they get paid.  Will we learn from our ancestors by voting them out? 


1.  Thompson, Roger.  Divided We Stand Watertown Massachusetts 1630-1680, University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst, 2001

More New Books!

     As we know in order to understand our ancestors we must know the history of their times.  I received three new books in the mail yesterday.  I hope that these books help me better understand the lives of my ancestors.  I have a lot of reading to do but that won't be a problem.  I love to read.
     James David Armstrong left Ireland with his wife and infant daughter in 1849 during the Irish Potato Famine so I ordered the Atlas of the Great Irish Famine edited by Crowley, Smyth, and Murphy.  I am looking forward to this book. I will be reading this book off and on over months because it is a large heavy book.

     Samuel Stratton and his wife Alice arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts by 1647.  My branch of the Strattons stayed in the area for a few generations, so I want to understand this time period. The book that I hope will help with this part of history is Divided We Stand: Watertown, Massachusetts, 1630-1680 by Roger Thompson. I have already found a few references to Samuel, Alice and Richard Stratton.
     Railroad Depots of Central Ohio by Mark J. Camp is my third book.  It will give me a visual of where my grandfather, Lloyd V. Hugus worked.  I don't have any pictures of him working on the railroad. 
      If I miss a day of blogging, you'll know what I 'm doing.