Same song, second verse... Ira really CAN'T sing!

Ira Emory Stratton if you were alive today your granddaughter , Kathleen, would give you one of her famous lectures for your scoundrel like behavior!


At some point while Ira was married to Mabel, he met Jennie Mae Jennings. Jennie was the illegitimate daughter of Francis Jennings. Ira and Jennie were living together in Berlin, Ma when their first child Ira Emery Stratton (Jr) was born. 

Ira Jr was born the day before his father's divorce to Mabel Brown Stratton was finalized on 13 May 1904.  I am sure Jennie Mae considered no other name for her first child . On Jennie Mae Jennings birth record and her marriage record the place for father was left blank. This must of been very difficult for her given the times she lived in. So I am sure she wanted the world to know that this child had a father and his name was Ira Stratton! (1)

Jennie and Ira did marry the month after their child was born. Jennie was only 19 years old  and Ira was 29. Unfortunately, for Jennie Mae this marriage was not her happily ever after. (2)

The couples second son Ernest Adelbert was born two years later in 1906.(3)

In the 1910 Census Ira was living with his brother Fredrick in Grafton, Ma and he reports that he is divorced. Yes, he was divorced from Mabel but he was very much married to Jennie. (4)Two years later we find Jennie and the two boys in Wiscasset, Maine. She is giving the two boys up for adoption because " their father abandoned us and his residence is unknown" (5)

Ira Stratton Jr was adopted by William H. and Laura Walter when he was 6 years old. His adopted name became Ira H. Walter. Ira Walter lived his entire life in Maine and died there in 1973 at the age of 69. He did marry but I am unsure of children born to him.

Ernest A. Stratton was adopted by Fred and Annie (Walter) Stetson. His adopted name became Ernest A. Stetson. I am hoping that Annie Walter was the sister of William H. Walter and that the two boys were able to maintain a relationship. Ernest also married and died in Maine in 2002 at the age of 96. 

I like to think that Jennie Mae Jennings Stratton found her happy ever after when she married Irvin D. Simmons in 1914. Jennie and Irvin went on to have five  children together. Their first child, a daughter named Jennie Mae, was born a full year after the couple had been married. (6)

Sources

1.  "Birth record of Ira Stratton" ,birth Record for Ira Emery Stratton Jr May 13, 1904 in Millbury, MA
Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910. (From original records held by the Massachusetts Archives. Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004.)

2. "Marriage Record of Ira Stratton and Jennie Mae Jennings", ancestry.com
   Marriage of Ira Stratton and Jennie Mae Jennings June 12, 1904
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.Original data: Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.

3."Birth of Ernest Adelbert Stratton", ancestry.com  Birth of Ernest Adelbert Stratton 1906
Description Year or Place : 1906Source InformationAncestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Original data: Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. Source 

4. "1910 Census for Ira Stratton", ancestry.com, 1910 Census for Ira Stratton and his brother's family Frederick Stratton.
Year: 1910; Census Place:  Grafton, Worcester, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_628; Page:  5B; Enumeration District: 1755; FHL microfilm:  1374641.

5. "Adoption of Ira Stratton and Ernest Stratton", ancestry.com 

Adoption of Ira Emery Stratton to William H. Walter and Laura A. Walter
Source Citation Description
Notes : Probate dockets, file 1 drawer 1, 1912Source Information
Ancestry.com. Maine, Wills and Probate Records, 1584-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Original data: Maine County, District and Probate Courts.
Source Description
These probates from the state of Maine, 1584-1999, can bequeath a wealth of personal details on the decedent and other family members.

Adoption of Ernest A. Stratton to Fred D Stetson and Annie F. Stetson of Waldoboro, Maine
Source Citation Description
Notes : Probate dockets, file 1 drawer 1, 1912Source Information
Ancestry.com. Maine, Wills and Probate Records, 1584-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Original data: Maine County, District and Probate Courts.
Source Description
These probates from the state of Maine, 1584-1999, can bequeath a wealth of personal details on the decedent and other family members.


6. "Marriage of Jennie Mae Stratton to Irvin D. Simmons" ancestry.com, Marriage Record for Mrs. Jenny May Stratton and Irvin D. Simmons
Source Citation
Maine State Archives; Augusta, Maine, USA; 1908-1922 Vital Records; Roll #: 51Description
First Letter of Surname : Source Information
Ancestry.com. Maine, Marriage Records, 1713-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Original data: Maine Marriage Records, 1705-1922. Augusta, Maine: Maine State Archives.
Source Description
Contained in this index are Maine marriage records from 1713-1937. They will include information like surnames, dates, locations, parents’ names, etc.