Discover when Robert Carter’s name first appeared in public records. Learn about Robert’s personal business success from year 1688 including getting married. Go behind the scenes and learn inheritance logistics following Robert’s half brother’s death. Determine just how big Corotoman Plantation was including where it got positioned geographically. …

We look into the giant victory balls that kept on rolling during William Henry Harrison’s 1840 presidential campaign. Then we welcome Jerry Landry of the Presidencies of the United States podcast to talk about Harrison’s rise to fame and the most likely explanation for his death just one month into his term. Find out more at plodpod.com. Join our P…

Learn what type of family John Carter came from in England including his connection to Robert Carter. Get an in depth analysis behind how the Carters benefited under King Henry VIII’s Reign. Discover why 1635 was an important year for John Carter. Find out what John Carter got tasked with come January 1641 including land acquisition dealings betwee…

Get an understanding behind why the year 1607 became significant for England. Learn what the original primary intent was behind Virginia Company of London’s purpose. Determine if settlers achieved everything laid out per instructions from Virginia Company of London. Go behind the scenes and discover how one man’s voyage to the New World wasn’t so s…

Discover exactly what happened to British General Thomas Gage following the debacle at Bunker Hill. Find out what exact role Margaret Gage might’ve played in the lead up to Concord. Learn if British Colonel Alexander Leslie managed to move forward despite his regiment’s retreat from Salem. Get an in depth analysis into how Salem’s Maritime Economy …

We dig into the eerie presidential death cycle known as Tecumseh’s Curse or the Zero-Year Curse. Tracing the origins of the legend to Native American revenge, planetary alignment, and even Satan, we look at the facts and fantasies behind this pattern—and how it had a real-life impact on the presidency. Find out more at plodpod.com and send your loc…

Determine just how different the situation was for British Troop Forces as they made their way into Concord from Lexington. Agree if by early afternoon of April 19, 1775, lessons from Salem were still on the minds amongst militia commanders. Go behind the scenes and discover whether or not British Troop Units were well protected as they engaged Col…

Agree if in fact the news behind Colonel Leslie’s retreat had spread quickly to neighboring towns outside Salem. Discover just how intense printing a newspaper was in Colonial Times. Learn how many days after February 26 did a newspaper in Massachusetts first go about publishing an account regarding Colonel Leslie’s retreat. Get introduced to Essex…

Discover what came about following Richard Derby Senior moving nearby where Colonel Alexander Leslie was currently positioned. Figure out if Colonel Leslie and other 64th Regiment of Foot Officers decided upon another efficient strategy behind getting the crowd to disperse. Learn what Captain John Felt of Salem overheard while following Colonel Les…

Get introduced to British Officer Alexander Leslie including his family upbringing. Discover what type of ship HMS Lively was including her role within the greater British Fleet Network. Find out if any written letters regarding correspondence between General Gage & Colonel Leslie exist entailing plans about a raid on Salem. Receive an accurate bre…

We dig into the truth and lore about the mysterious life and death of Sarah Shelton Henry, Patrick Henry’s wife—a woman who suffered from mental illness and was confined in the basement of their home in Beaverdam, Virginia. This local lore was suggested by our listener Klayr. An essential source in putting this episode together was the book "In Sic…

Explore differences between taverns and inns. Get an understanding behind why British Officer Spies in Captain William Brown & Ensign Henry DeBerniere had to be careful when frequenting Inns/Taverns. Agree if Engineers in uniform were considered to be the most common mapmakers. Understand why Sunday was so important including what was and wasn’t to…

Determine firsthand if British Soldiers had served as permanent fixtures in the American Colonies before 7 Years War ended. Go behind the scenes and learn how previous conflicts paved the way for French & Indian War. Learn how British Officers & Soldiers eventually came to view both Colonial Militia Forces & Indians. Discover how many Indian People…

Get introduced to Ebenezer Richardson. Understand what unravels on Thursday February 22, 1770, involving Ebenezer Richardson including the event that follows less than two weeks later. Learn why Parliament passed the 1773 Tea Act including actions engaged by Bostonian’s come December 16 of that year. Discover how Parliament responded in the afterma…

We welcome James Bish and Dr. Richard Gardiner to talk about why they strongly believe the story of George Washington and his father’s cherry tree is not a myth—and that the real myth is that the story has been firmly debunked. James Bish is the author of I Can't Tell A Lie: Parson Weems and the Truth about George Washington's Cherry Tree, Prayer a…

Find out when English Colonists first settled in present day Salem including the original settlement’s name. Get to know Englishmen Roger Conant & John Endecott including their job roles. Learn about the Puritan’s as well as their religious beliefs. Discover what Salem refers to including the working relationship between Roger Conant & John Endecot…

Agree if it’s fair to say that conflict amongst people of two or more parties has been a permanent fixture since ancient civilization times. Go behind the scenes and discover how conflict onto itself proved inevitable after 7 Years War ended in 1763. Understand how emerging victoriously in time of war can either unite or divide an imperial nation’s…

Go behind the scenes and learn how French Civil Engineer Augustin Jean Fresnel invented Fresnel Lenses. Determine exactly just how many lighthouses remain active along the Great Lakes including total number which still retain their Fresnel Lenses. Learn about various achievements which U.S. Lighthouse Board made during its nearly 60 Years in existe…

In the first part of our deep dive into one of the greatest myths in American history, we explore Mason Locke Weems—the complex character behind the story of young George Washington taking a hatchet to his father's favorite cherry tree. Who was this book-peddling parson, and how did this story become so popular and so debunked? You'll definitely wa…

Learn how an insurance company come year 1957 went about investing in more than just natural resources. Discover which insurance company sought to invest money into having a ship who could navigate safely through the nearly completed Saint Lawrence Seaway. Determine if this ship which was officially completed in 1958 became the first laker built to…

Figure out how many lighthouses Lake Superior has total including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula’s rise to economic stardom following admittance into Union after 1837. Learn everything there is possible about the Apostle Islands including a European Historian who was responsible for giving them their official title. Discover if there are any lighthouse…

Get introduced to Michigan’s oldest city dating back to 1668 including the roles played by both Saint Mary’s River & Rapids. Discover how the Soo Locks came into play including their presence in both Canada and United States. Learn just how significant of a role French Missionaries Claude Dablon & Jacques Marquette played in establishing Michigan’s…

20 years after William Howard Taft’s famous possum and taters feast inspired the failed Billy Possum toy, a real live Billy Possum wandered into the annals of presidential—and baseball—history. This is his story. Check out our Season 4 episode "The Rise and Fall of Billy Possum" and Howard’s just-published article in Smithsonian Magazine about Bill…

Discover exactly how many historic lighthouse structures including range lights are still used today in Lake Michigan within Wisconsin’s Door County. Uncover exact number of both confirmed and unconfirmed shipwrecks listed for Door County, Wisconsin. Receive an in-depth report about 285 Foot Long Wooden Ship SS Australasia including her unfortunate…

Determine what exactly makes Lake Michigan so different from Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, & Superior. Discover where Michigan derived from per the Ojibwe People. Understand why Jean Nicolet was an important figure during 1630’s including the various Indian Tribes that Western European Explorers came upon. Learn if shipping increased heavily along La…

Discover how more than one weather pattern system impacted the Great Lakes Region per U.S. Upper Midwest & Southwest Ontario Canada between late October into early November 1913. Find out what hurdles faced the U.S. Weather Bureau involving storm forecasting in 1913. Get an in depth analysis behind when the storm first struck Lake Huron including f…

Discover how Lake Huron’s name came about. Figure out what narrow body of water drains Lake Superior starting at the end of Whitefish Bay into Lake Huron. Learn what towns, cities, & villages call Lake Huron home per Michigan & Ontario, Canada. Go behind the scenes and determine if Michigan got admitted into the Union around same time Fort Gratiot …

We kick off Season 6 with a deep dank dive into a hoax about the early presidents and cannabis that fooled a Surgeon General in 1971 and is still claiming victims today. It’s the straight dope on the relationship between hemp and presidents like George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. Find out more at pl…

Discover the number of actual islands which exist on Lake Erie including how far back they date. Learn the differences involving Lake Erie’s Western & Eastern Ends regarding rocklike formations. Go behind the scenes and learn everything there is to know about Glacial Grooves at Kelley’s Island, Ohio. Determine if in fact French Explorers were the f…

Season 6 premieres this Presidents Day, and it's focused on some of the biggest and weirdest myths in presidential history. From cherry trees to bath tubs, we're digging into the drama, personalities, and real stories behind these legends. Find out more at plodpod.com Consider joining our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthrough…

Learn exactly how many U.S States are surrounded by Lake Erie’s Waters’. Discover which U.S. City is the largest on Lake Erie. Determine if Lake Erie was carved out by glacier ice along with discovering its maximum depth level. Determine if Erie became the last Great Lake to be explored by Europeans. Get introduced to Thomas Talbot. Learn which Lak…

Find out just how many lighthouses are on Lake Ontario including where the majority of them can be found. Discover what the Huron/Wyandot Indian Tribe refer Ontario as name wise. Learn exactly what the name Sodus refers to from an Indian standpoint. Explore firsthand what became of Sodus Bay after War of 1812 ended including something grand taking …

Learn what river happens to be Lake Ontario’s primary water source. Find out which Canadian Cities comprise Lake Ontario’s Northern & Southern Shorelines. Discover what International River connects Great Lakes to the North Atlantic Ocean. Understand what a tributary represents along with discovering connection between Genesee River and Lake Ontario…

Agree if ships and their crewmen have been navigating Earth’s Waters as far back as Early Ancient Civilization Times. Determine what was implemented into place if a port wasn’t nearby. Learn about an archaeological project involving lighthouse construction during Ptolemy II’s Reign from 280-247 BC which had never been previously achieved. Discover …

During our hiatus ahead of Season 6, we're excited to share this fascinating episode of a podcast called Historical Blindness. In this episode, host Nathanial Lloyd digs into the conspiracy theories surrounding the Illuminati in America, including the role they played in the Election of 1800 between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Check out Histor…

Learn what specific act of kindness Lafayette performed just before he officially departed the United States. Discover if France still operated under a monarchy government by time Lafayette himself returned home. Determine if Lafayette returned back onto the political scene not long after returning to France. Understand what Lafayette’s Grand Tour …

Determine if Marquis de Lafayette had the opportunity to visit with Andrew Jackson one on one following 1824 Presidential Election outcome. Learn which southern state became the first to have a city be named in Lafayette’s honor. Discover where Lafayette’s travels took him between March - April 1825 including noteworthy people he met along the way.…

Determine what major political event activity took place in the United States between October 26 - December 2, 1824. Get an idea regarding what questions America as a nation got presented with come year 1824. Learn what Lafayette had requested roughly a quarter of a century earlier. Go behind the scenes and get introduced to American Politics from …

While we’re on hiatus before Season 6 debuts, we’re excited to share this episode of Presidencies of the United States, an excellent podcast hosted by our good friend Jerry Landry. Howard is Jerry’s guest on this special episode where they talked about one of Howard's favorite topics: the wild Election of 1800. Check out Presidencies of the United …

Learn firsthand if any portrait paintings of Lafayette had been made prior to 1824. Determine if it’s fair to say that spending extra time in Washington D.C. allowed Lafayette more means for leisure purposes. Go behind the scenes and learn how far back Lafayette’s relations went with Native American People’s. Find out whom Lafayette met Indian Chie…

Discover who Lafayette met in person come April 29, 1781 just a couple of months prior to Yorktown Siege Campaign. Learn how many days it took Lafayette and his party to reach their end westward destination from Richmond, Virginia starting November 2. Find out who Lafayette himself got reconnected with after 35 Years come November 5, 1824. Go behin…

Learn where Lafayette returned to come October 18, 1824. Understand why two o’clock on the afternoon of October 18 was so important. Get an in depth analysis behind how old the town was prior to year 1781 including some unique facts. Discover if Lafayette was joined by another Continental Army Officer where objective before them involved trying to …

Go behind the scenes and learn what official measure took place prior to 1824,155 Years earlier come October 21, 1669. Discover what happened on Saturday October 16, 1824 involving Lafayette. Learn everything possible about Lafayette’s visit to a port city located right outside Washington D.C. including his meeting noteworthy people. Agree if it’s …

Discover which city in Maryland Lafayette and his party arrived into come morning of October 7, 1824. Learn if Lafayette had visited this Maryland city 40 years earlier when he last visited America. Determine if the city he visited had experienced an event 10 years earlier that was opposite of celebratory purposes. Understand significance behind Me…

Remembering 39th President Jimmy Carter, we share the quirky story of Carter's encounter with a distressed swamp rabbit while fishing in Georgia—and how it turned into front page news. This was originally part of our Season 3 episode "Cara Finnegan & Photographic Presidents." Find out more at plodpod.com Behold our brand new 2025 Presidential Pets …

Learn what Congress had enacted 4 Years prior to 1824 involving expansion and slavery. Determine if there was in fact an equal number of Free & Slave States by February 1819. Go behind the scenes and discover which political party was facing near collapse prior to 1824. Discover Marquis de Lafayette’s real official name including the year he was bo…

We're joined by Bennett Rea of Cookin' with Congress to talk about his historical culinary adventures and our team-up to recreate a massive Yorkshire Christmas pie like the ones George Washington unsuccessfully attacked each year at Mount Vernon. You can find Cookin' with Congress at https://www.cookinwithcongress.com/ and on Instagram & TikTok @co…

Learn exactly how old the United States was in 1824 including milestone that she was soon nearing. Determine if it’s fair to say that America by 1824 had bid farewell to many Revolutionary War Officers including Statesmen. Find out if any Revolutionary Leaders were still alive come 1824. Discover exactly how many states were in the Union by 1824. G…

We look at the wild life of Rebecca, President Coolidge's pet raccoon. She was sent to the Coolidges to be part of their Thanksgiving dinner, but Calvin and Grace instead fell in love with the critter—and the press couldn't get enough of Rebecca's scandalous behavior. Our thanks to veterinarian Dr. Jake Levin for his insights on raccoon as pets. Ch…

Learn exactly how Clyde Cross once again triumphed the Coast Guard shortly after rescuing Novadoc Crew. Discover what had taken place come Friday November 15 in Lorain, Ohio following aftermath between November 16-17. Determine what exact big find occurred come May 1972 off Little Sable Point. Understand importance behind Ludington, Michigan’s Lake…