One of my favorite stories is of John Wattles. He was born in 1641 in Scotland, although I haven't found where exactly. John was a supporter of King Charles II, and fought against Oliver Cromwell and England in the Third Civil War. After the Scots were defeated by Cromwell's army at the Battle of Worcester, John was taken prisoner, along with thousands of other men. On 8 Nov 1651, 300 prisoners, including John, began their sentences. They were loaded onto the ship the John and Sarah, and set sail for the Colonies in the New World, having to pay for the journey themselves. (John was listed as John Woodall on the ships manifest).
Only 272 made it across the Atlantic alive.
They were "sold" as indentured servants to Mr. Thomas Kemble of Charlestown. Generally, the Scots were sold for 20 pounds for a term of 8 years, at which time they would be set free. John was bought by Mr. Samuel Richardson, one of the original proprietors of Woburn, Massachusetts. Mr. Richardson died in 1658, and John was listed in his will as property worth 5 pounds, which is the value of the 2 years left on his sentence. He was released in 1660.
Upon release, John was given 15 acres of land in the new town of Chelmsford, which was still a frontier town. He settled on the 15 acres, built a home, and began his new life. On Christmas Day in 1666, he married Mary Gould, who was originally from Braintree, near Boston. Over the next six years, they had 3 children...Mary, Rose and William. Although his wife and children's names appear in church records, his does not. He remained true to the teachings of the faith he had fought to uphold in Scotland.
in 1671, the native American's in the area began to show signs of discontent with the people who had started to take over their land. Four years later, the discontent had erupted into a conflict known as King Philip's War. Chelmsford was attacked in the winter and spring of 1676, and John Wattles was killed in one of the attacks. He died as he had lived, both in Scotland and in the colonies...in defense of his country.
In May 1676, a court awarded payment to the survivors of the attacks. The Wattles family received a payment of sixteen shillings, eight pence, which I roughly calculate as about $700 today.
The family lived on...Mary remarried and had 5 more children, and John's 3 children all lived full lives.
As always, I'm amazed at the bravery, perseverance, and just plain awsome-ness of my ancestors, and the lives they lead that made me who I am.
