The Refugees
Book One -1630 to 1846
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Pub Date Nov 24 2026 | Archive Date Dec 29 2026
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Description
Two centuries. One family. The price of survival in America.
When sixteen-year-old Mary Johnson arrives in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, she dreams of freedom and a new life. But when a desperate act of violence forces her into exile, she must choose between family loyalty and forbidden love, setting in motion a legacy that will haunt her descendants for generations.
A century later, the family is thrust into the upheaval of the Revolutionary War, a time fraught with danger and hardship. While one brother fights as a minuteman, the other is accused of treason, and the hopes of economic and political freedom from their sacrifice dim.
By the 1820s, three siblings abandon their failing Massachusetts farm for the promise of Georgia gold. Their treacherous journey through the antebellum South exposes them to the brutal realities of slavery, the tragedy of Indian removal, and moral choices that will tear their family apart. In their struggles, they discover survival often demands a price too terrible to pay.
Based on the author's ancestors, The Refugees: Family Threads weaves together the stories of ordinary people caught in the sweep of history, bound by blood, faith, and the precious objects that carry their memories forward.
Advance Praise
"A sweeping historical novel following early Puritan settlers across continents and generations as they struggle with faith, survival, identity, and belonging in a harsh New World." -Cam Torrens, bestselling author of the Tyler Zahn suspense series
"A riveting historical fiction narrative!" -Jessica Maffetore, author of Eleanora In Pieces
"With its solid historical grounding and meticulous research, this novel set in the colonial and early industrial periods is a worthwhile read." -Lucille Guarino, bestselling and award-winning author
"This remarkable and detailed story is a must-read for historical fiction lovers." -Paulette Mahurin, bestselling author
"Marie W. Watts crafts an extraordinary look into the past, written with rich detail and fascinating insights. A must-read for lovers of immersive historical fiction!" -R. Ghrist, author of I Am Joey
"With her meticulous research, from Puritans to the Revolutionary War, to the early 1800s and the degradation against the Cherokee nation, we're treated to an engaging story making history come alive." -Linda Rosen, award-winning author of Abandoning the Script
"The Refugees traces Marie W. Watts's ancestors from the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1600s to the 1800s discovery of gold in Georgia that hastened the displacement of Native Americans. These threads remind readers that ambition, inequity, and profound injustice marked the nation's beginnings." -Sharon S. England, JD, MSW, BSW
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781685138257 |
| PRICE | $7.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 378 |
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Average rating from 10 members
Featured Reviews
Ethel F, Reviewer
In 1630 the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts, 10 years after the pilgrims arrived in Plymouth. They left England to have religious freedom. We follow one family from their arrival until 1846. Through the centuries we are privileged to watch the family grow...how they lived, what they thought. We followed the drama of their lives, the times they went through with all the changes that occurred. It was similar to a seedling planted in new soil and watching it blossom. That blossom is now America through the eyes of this family. This is the first book in what will be a series. The story is well told, as it happens to be the author's ancestors. It was well researched and it was read with interest. I'm giving this book 5 stars and will patiently await the next book when it is published.
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