Military Service |
A William Strain from Ireland enlisted in Capt. Mercer's Company on 7 Aug. 1755. He was aged "29, 5'6", a sawyer, dark complexion, short, well-set, scar on his forehead, bow legged." He later appeared on payrolls in Sept. and Oct. 1756.
In 1757 a William Strain enlisted in Frederick in Col. Washington's company. This man is "49, 5'5 1/2", sawyer, from Ireland, red face, bowlegged, sandy hair." Unless 49 is an error, this would not be the same man.
A James Strain does appear on Revolutionary War records in Charleston, South Carolina. I have no idea whether he is the same person. [2, 3] |
Notes |
- James’ parentage is not clear. He was likely Scots-Irish, and likely followed the Scots-irish immigrant pattern, arriving through Philadelphia and migrating through Pennsylvania before the Revolution and then down through the Blue Ridge. James was there by abt. 1780.
A John Strain was in Augusta County by 1771, when there is a reference to someone else’s deed being at the “corner John Strain’s survey.” I have seen no clear evidence to connect him to John or a David Strain, though they are possibilities of course. These theories are out there.
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Land records:
Augusta Co., Deed Book 23, p. 261, May 10, 1780: James Strain from William Gibson & wife Ann, 70 a. in Augusta Co. on north side of Middle River of the Shenandore [sic]. Test. Robert Poage, Alexander Reed, David Gibson, William Gibson, Ann Gibson.
There are also land records in Augusta Co. for a Thomas Strain and wife Elizabeth in 1782 (selling land), and a David Strain in 1795 (buying land).
James Strain appears as a taxpayer in Augusta Co. in 1782.
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Several bits of evidence attest to the fact that James Sr. is Allen's father. Also as evidence see the deeds selling the land inherited from James by his children from his estate (he died intestate); these are kept on his children's and his wife's pages.
1) he had a son named Allen, according to Chalkley's record of the argument over his estate; this is recorded in Chalkley, 1.424:
"SEPTEMBER, 1807 (A to Z): John Strain vs. Connelly.—James Strain, father of complainant, died intestate, 1789, leaving land. Descended to his children, Robert, James, Allen, Polly, Jinney, Nancy, Peggy and complainant. Polly married David Connelly and died, leaving Arthur Connelly and James Strain Connelly, infants of five and seven years."
2) Allen had a brother named Robert, who also had property in Blount Co.
3) Nancy remarried a "Richard Trotter" (Chalkley, 2.292), and Allen Strain has a son named "William Trotter Strain."
Most of his children left Augusta Co., Virginia and travelled down the Blue Ridge to eastern Tennessee, arriving there around 1804-1807. [4]
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