My Mother's family (The Strouts) moved here from Cornwall, England to Truro, Massachusetts (on The Cape) in 1690. Back then, Maine was still part of Mass. Family members branched off to settle in different areas of New England. Mostly made up of farmers and fisherman here in Maine, our several preceeding generations ranged from Cape Elizabeth on the coast and inland to the Sebago Lakes Region (Raymond).

Two generations of Strouts were Lighthouse Keepers at Portland Head- Joshua Freeman Strout in 1869, followed by his son, Joseph Woodbury Strout in 1886. They were both on hand on Christmas Eve 1826 when the ship Annie Maguire ran aground on the rocks by the lighthouse. Joshua and Joseph threw a lifeline to the ship and helped the entire crew (and families) to shore, one by one. In his book PORTLAND HEAD LIGHT, author William Thompson writes- "The exausting, formidable task was accomplished without injury under the unyielding and fastidious direction of the Strout family."

My mother was born in Raymond, not far from the farm that belonged to HER great-grandfather. Family members still live AND farm there today.