| Notes |
- The link to Allen's father James can be called secure, but the link from there back further is unclear. A David Strain has been floated as a possibility, but no evidence backs this up.
This couple was married in VA and almost immediately moved to the area southwest of Maryville in Blount Co., Tennessee, between Nov. 1811 and 1812; John Higgins Strain, their oldest child, was born in TN the next year. During that summer they also became Presbyterians (see the obituary of Jane Higgins). It seems that Allen had visited Tennessee before this, however, since his name appears in court records starting in 1805. These also mention his brothers Robert, John, and James.
Before he left Virginia he was buying and selling land in preparation for a move to Tennessee.
There are these notes about land grants in 1807 to an Allen Strain, in the "Territory south of French Broad." I assume that these are the same Allen:
#755: ROBERT GAUT-5 acres-Blount County-part of original improvement right of JOHN CRAIG-CC SAMUEL BLACKBURN and ALLEN STRAIN Surveyed March 4, 1807
#1364: JOHN RUSSELL-100 acres-Blount County-being part of the original improvement right of JOHN IRVINE on Pistol Creek-CC ALLEN STRAIN and ALEX. McNUTT Surveyed April 27, 1807
Land in Virginia was sold by Allen in Augusta Co. that same year in September; he was selling his portion of the land he inherited from his father:
D. Bk. 34, p. 153 (or p. 158?), Augusta Co., Sept. 28, 1807: Allen Strain collateral heir of James Strain, of ___ Co., Tenn., to Isaac Yearout, 1/8 part of 81 acres of land in Augusta Co.
The other heirs were selling their portions of the land at about the same time. The family seems to have been preparing to move to Tennessee.
There are lots of references to land bought and sold by Allen Strain with the Means family and others in Blount Co.; all take place after 1813. You can also see the names William and John Means as the HOHs living next to Allen Strain in the 1850 census. Thank you to the researchers who have collected these!
-On 20 November 1813 Allen STRAIN sold to William MEANS 175 acres on the waters of Pistol Creek, "corner to William MEANS' survey in Blount County," for a consideration of $300. The land was a claim of Josiah DANFORTH excepted as to warrant. Witnesses were John MEANS, James MCKAMEY, William MCCAMY, and William DELZELL. [Thomas, Blount County Deeds, p. 68; Deed #493; Deed Book I, pgs. 363-364.]
-On 20 January 1818 Ormand MEANS sold to Allen STRAIN 240 acres on waters of Baker's Creek in Blount County, Tennessee, for $500. The land was adjacent property owned by Joseph WILLIAMS/WILSON, James MCCAMY, and John MEANS. The land had been surveyed and granted to William MEANS. Witnesses were John GARDNER and Jake B. HARRIS. The deed was registered November 25, 1818. (Back to William Means will.) [Thomas, Blount County Deeds, p. 92, Deed #702; Deed Book I, pgs. 528-529.] (According to Wood, “ORMAN/ORMOND is an unusual name so I have linked the Orman Means of Pike County, Georgia, with the Ormand Means of Blount County, Tennessee. I do not know for a fact they they are the same person.”)
-Blount Co. DB 2, p 306, #357: Allen & Jane Strain to John Henry, 91 acres on waters of Nine Mile Creek for $500. dated 18 Apr 1823 and recorded 11 Dec 1823. Land adjacent James Henry, Robert Hamble, heirs of John Henry, and John Paten; wit.: David McCamey, Jos. or Jas. Alexander. (BCTD, p 64)
-Blount Co. DB 2, p 376, #439: John Henry to Jas. Dunlap, 91 acres on waters of Nine Mile Creek for $500., dated 13 Sep 1824 and recorded 18 Jan 1825. Lane adjacent Jas. Henry, Robt. Hammel, heirs of John Henry, decd., and John Poland; part of tract granted to Michal Higans and left by will to Allen and Jane Strain and conveyed by them to Henry. (BCTD, p 79)
-Blount Co. DB 3, p 189-90, #866: J. Kerr to J. Prichard 92 acres on waters of Nine Mile Creek for $300. dated 7 Mar 1834 and recorded 13 Jun 1836. Land adjacent Jas. Henry, Robt. Hammill, Tho. Rankin, heirs of John Henry, decd, and John Polan, being part of a Grant to Michal Reagan, "having reference to Michal Reagan Grant for its bearings and conditional line recorded in the last will and testament of Reagan, between Allen Strain and wife and Polly Reagan." (BCTD, p 160)
-Blount Co. DB 4, p 31-2, #924: Allen Strain witnessed this deed between Wm. Gault, Esqr. to Abijah Conger, John Gault and Robert Caldwell, as a school committee. It was dated 8 Mar 1830 and recorded 9 Jun 1830. (BCTD, p 174)
-On 20 February 1832 Allen STRAIN sold to John FOWLER 42 acres on waters of Baker's Creek in Blount County, for $80. The land was adjacent property belonging to John MEANS. Witnesses were David MCKAMY and John MORRIS. The deed was registered on January 8, 1833. [Thomas, Blount County Deeds, 1819-1833, p. 225, Deed #1189, Book 4:346-347.] [8, 9]
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1786 - 1858 (71 years)
[1] 
Census
James Strain, Sr.
. Martha Cornelia Strain
