James Strain, Sr.
Abt 1755 - 1789 (34 years)
- Yes, date unknown
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Name James Strain [1] Suffix Sr. Birth Abt 1755 Gender Male 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 was "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]Death 1789 Augusta Co., Virginia 
Burial Augusta Co., Virginia 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 in Augusta Co. by 1780 when he bought 70 acres from William & Ann Gibson. 1780 (Deed Book 23) is the earliest date for a Strain in the Augusta Deed Books.
There are earlier records, though in Augusta Co.. According to Court Order Books, a John Strain was in Augusta County by the 1750s and an Alexander Strain by the 1770s. A Thomas Strain bought land in Augusta Co. in April 1780. James Strain bought a tract from William Gibson in May 1780. How these four Strains are related is not defined clearly any place that I can see.
Most of James's children left Augusta Co., Virginia and travelled down the Blue Ridge to eastern Tennessee, arriving there around 1804-1807.
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Several bits of evidence point to James Sr. as Allen's father.
1) A deed mentions the chain of ownership of the tract James Sr. bought in in Augusta Co. as follows: ". . . by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said Jacob Lease his heirs and assigns one certain tract or parcel of land containing Eighty one acres , lying in the said County of Augusta on the North East Side of the Middle River, being part of a tract of two hundred and thirty five acres first granted to William Hamilton by patent dated the 29th day of May 1760, and by said Hamilton was conveyed to William Gibson who conveyed to James Strain, and by John Strain and other heirs at law of s[ai]d James Stain dec’d was conveyed to the said Isaac Yearout and Bounded as follows . . ."
2) James 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."
3) Allen had a brother named Robert, who also had property in Blount Co.
4) Nancy remarried a "Richard Trotter" (Chalkley, 2.292), and Allen Strain has a son named "William Trotter Strain." [4, 5, 6, 7]
Person ID I11909 Last Modified 9 Mar 2025
Spouse / Partner Agnes "Nancy" McClintock
d. Yes, date unknown
Other Partners:
└─Richard Trotter
d. Yes, date unknown m. 27 Dec 1790
Children4 sons and 4 daughters Family ID F8368 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Apr 2025
- 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 in Augusta Co. by 1780 when he bought 70 acres from William & Ann Gibson. 1780 (Deed Book 23) is the earliest date for a Strain in the Augusta Deed Books.
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Event Map 
Death - 1789 - Augusta Co., Virginia 
Burial - - Augusta Co., Virginia = Link to Google Earth Pin Legend 
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Histories 
Virginia Family Mysteries Branches of these families later migrated to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas.
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Reference Pitard, D. "James Strain, Sr.". Genealogy at Pitard.net. https://ancestors.pitard.net/getperson.php?personID=I11909&tree=1sttree (accessed April 28, 2025).
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