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Ray Lindstrom's avatar

Wow, I just never realized that our backgrounds are somewhat similar, in the incarceration area. My great, great grandfather in Sweden was found guilty of murder in 1850. He took exception to someone's insult during a drinking bout and pummeled the poor fellow. Just before he faced the gallows he was granted a reprieve and sentenced to life at the Varberg Fortress Prison...perhaps worse than Sing Sing. However, after ten years, he was granted a parole for good behavior. Christoffer Abrahamson lived an exemplary life thereafter and his grandson, my grandfather, emigrated to America in the early 1900's. The next of our family to be incarcerated was me, as a juvenile, who spent one night at Mrs. Higgins in Tucson in 1958. I have also lived an exemplary life since then. Well, except every once in a while I am found in the company of left wing anarchists. After all, nobody is perfect.

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Eleanor Wootten's avatar

One of my great grandfather's a Paulding lent money to the government at the time of the Revolutionary War for use by the leaders in said war. He was never repaid and sent to debtors prison. No small sacrifice to his family. His Son, James Kirke Paulding never forgave the issue. James Kirke became somewhat influential in New York politics and was appointed Sec. of the Navy under Van Buren. He was part of the Salmugundi gang making fun of the politics in New York City.

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