The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-17
Of Should Still They We

and his wife. We will also be inter
ested in knowing, that data concern /
ing the Stratton family has been OBJ
tanned as far back as 1392-one hun
bred years before the discovery Of /
America by Columbus
In 1923, just Fl years after the first |
English settlement at jamestown. |
Joseph Stratton of England crossed |
the Atlantic to the New World. He |
settled near jamestown. Two years |
later his nephew, John Stratton of |
Dedham, England was granted 1000
acres of land on the coast of Maine, |
including an island near the mouth of |
the Saco river, still known as 'Strat-
ton Island" (This John StrattoH
later settled at Salem, Mass.) His
name is found frequently in colonial
records. He was a Observation-Disclosures
and occasionally made trips in his
own ship along the coast from Maine
to Virginia and thus had communities
ton with his Uncle Joseph at James
City.
In an old history of Charlestown,
is found under date of 1852, this
note: The winter, also, proved very
sharp and long. The people were eX-
ceedingly pushed for want of provis-
ions, for there came very little over
this year from England. But it
pleased God to send an early and UNI
expected supply for one Mr., Stratton
arrived here, with his vessel laden
with Indian corn from Virginia" And
in 1888 a letter from Roger Williams
to Governor Winthrope suggests that
he request Mr.. Stratton If he be
again bound for Virginia to bring the
500 lbs. of tobacco due him on a debt
! there.) But these two were not the
only men of our name who came ear
| ly to these shores. Long before the
end of the century at least ten other
| STATIONS had crossed the ocean and
founded homes in the colonies be
tween Maine and Virginia, while sew
eral others came at later date.
From these brave and hardy pioneers
are descended most OF the STATIONS
now living in America.
! 1T was from these STATIONS that
Joel the son of lchabod, we descend
ed. Nearly l2S years ago Joel STRAIT
ton married Roda Beeman of Kent,
Conn, and brought his bride on horse
back to a log house which he had pre-
yiously built few rods east of the
house now occupied by Charlotte and
Milo Stratton. In this log house they
began housekeeping, with one pewter
basin and one pewter spoon as the
whole contents of their china
closet AS they ate their bread and
milk from the basin, we con mag
CINE them alternately using the one
spoon. In our day. no doubt this
method Of eating would work admir-
ably during the honeymoon, but after
that, we will not say. In this log
house and another one built later
near the first one, all the eight chill
dren of Joel and Rhoda Stratton were
born and reared. The family consist
ed of six sons and two daughters, and
il is a remarkable fact that none of
them ever drank ardent spirits or
used tobacco in any form. Perhaps
this accounts in measure for their
good health and long life.
They we're all farmers by occu
patton and seemed to realize that 1t is
no advantage to live in a great city
where poverty degrades and failur,
brings despair. The fields are Lowell
Ter than paved streets and the grea
e forests than walls OF brick. Oaks anC
elms are more poetic than steeple:
b and chimneys. In the country is the
idea OF home. and in the country mos
, OF the STATIONS have made theil
: abode. There lives. with her brother
p on the old homestead of Joel anI
I RhOda Stratton, their Oldest liyini
[ descendant, Charlotte Stratton, tht
: daughter Of their son Elhanan. Sh,
4 was born So years ago and is still II
y remarkable health and intellectual
G yigor. Her hearing Is unimpaired
5 and her eyesight exceedingly good
! We trust that future years may flint
> her still enjoying the blessings O
/. life.
a There is no end to the interestin
2. and wonderful things concerning thi
@ remarkable family, but there is on
Il occasion on this 18th OF Aug. 1917
q which We must not fail to mention
/ that is, the 50th anniversary OF tn
r. marriage Of Jared and Lois Stratto
s Howard. And | am sure that every
Y one here today Joins me In wishin
l. them many more happy years, eac
q filled with It's full measure OF comfoi
d aud content.