Roll of Honor
Incident
Watch Officer Jonathan Houghton succumbed to wounds received while on duty one week earlier when he was attacked by a man with an ax while patrolling Broad Street in the area of State Street.
It is not known what provoked the attack. Watch Officer Houghton was struck above his hip and died of his wounds seven days later. The man was convicted and hung in March 1826.
Watch Officer Houghton was survived by his wife and 15 children. His widow received a pension of one year's wages.
It is not known what provoked the attack. Watch Officer Houghton was struck above his hip and died of his wounds seven days later. The man was convicted and hung in March 1826.
Survivors
Watch Officer Houghton was survived by his wife and 15 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-DDF10808- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
201 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Watch Officer Houghton served with the Boston Watch.
Thank you for your service to the Boston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Watch Officer Jonathan Houghton is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Boston Watch, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jonathan Houghton's cause is highlighted.
How Jonathan Houghton Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jonathan Houghton is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jonathan Houghton was killed by edged weapon; axe.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Boston Watch are honored on badge.nw.
