Gilbert Strayhorn

Gilbert Strayhorn was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in 1715. He was the son of John Streaughan, a Scotchman, who immigrated to America. The Scotchman had three sons, David, Gilbert and John. The original name was Streaughan or Streaghan. This was the Scotch spelling, but in the old deeds of this country, the name was spelled Strean. The name was also spelled Strain and that seems to be the way all of the descendants of David and John have continued to spell it. It appears that Gilbert changed his name from Strai to Strayhorn about 1742. The reason for this change is unknown.

It is an established fact that there was a Nathaniel Strayhorn, born in 1764, in Bucks County (Northumberland County), Pennsylvania and died on December 9, 1847. He was buried at Buffalo (Union County), Pennsylvania. I cannot help but wonder if he could be a son of John, the brother of Gilbert. There is a long and well established line of descendants of Nathaniel and his wife, Olympus Strayhorn.

About 1742, when Gilbert was 27 years old, it is recorded in some deeds to land, that he changed his name to Strayhorn. His explanation was that he simply added a horn to give it sound.

Gilbert came to North Carolina in 1740 and settled in the Hawfields. Shortly thereafter he returned to Pennsylvania and married Margaret Roan, who was the daughter of the widow Hunter. He was one of the founders of the Hawfields Church, later moving to Orange County, and was one of the founders of the New Hope Church. He donated 200 acres of land to this church and was a ruling elder for about 50 years. Gilbert and his sons were among the early contributors to the University of North Carolina (see Dr. Battles History of the University).

Gilbert, his four sons, and sons-in-law, took an active part in the Revolutionary War. The following records were taken from those at Raleigh, that had been removed from Hillsboro, North Carolina. The marriage bonds, prior to the year 1781, had been destroyed by fire. The Orange County Militia fought at the battles of Stones Ferry, June 20, 1779; Camden, August 16, 1780 and Cave Creek, September 12, 1781 (Nash-Francis, Hillsboro - Col. & Rev., Raleigh, 1903, pages 72, 76 and 86). Besides innumberable skirmishes in its own borders, the Orange County Militia participated in nearly all of the important movements in the State and in South Carolina, from Stones to Guilford Court House (Nash-Francis History of Orange County, North Carolina, Booklet V20 No. 2. October 1910, page 104). North Carolina Militia fought at Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Sutau Springs (Davis, C. L., Brief History of North Carolina troops on the continental establishment in the war of the Revolution Philadelphia 1892 - page 27).

Gilbert Strayhorn for services and supplies in the Revolutionary War:

Vol. 11 - page 43-53 Vol. C - Page 43 and 48

Vol. 12 - page 55-2-4 Vol. A - Page 75

Gilbert died February 6, 1803, and is buried at New Hope Cemetery, between Chapel Hill and Hillsboro, North Carolina. They had eight children; four sons and four daughters.

Gilbert moved to Hawfields, North Carolina in 1740.

A Founder of Hawfields Church in 1742.

He changed his name from Streaughan or Streaghan to Strayhorn.

He Died 6, Feb. 1803, buried at New Hope Cemetery, near chapel lHill, NC.

he founded the new Hope Church. Donated 200 acres of land to the Church.

he was Ruling elder of said Church for abt. 50 years.

he and his 4 sons donated to the University of NC.

He married Margaret Roan, (WFT Est. 1730-1764.) on 20 June 1779.

He participated in the battle of Stokes Ferry.

16 Aug. participated in the Battle of Camden.

12 Sep. 1781 he participated in the battle of Cave creek.

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Birth: 1715
Dauphin County Pennsylvania, USA Death: Feb. 6, 1803 Orange County North Carolina, USA

Gilbert came to North Carolina and settled in the Hawfields in 1740 when he was about 25 years old. He was a tailor by trade and after having lived in the settlement a short time, he returned to Pennsylvania and was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Roan. He immediately returned to the Hawfields and settled about one mile south of Mebaneville. He lived at this place two years, during which time his eldest son, John, was born, and then removed into the bounds of New Hope. It was not until the year 1745-5, however, that he got the deeds for his lands. It was about this time that he changed his name from "Strean" or "Streaughn" to "Strayhorn" and when asked the reason for the change he replied "I have simply put a 'horn' to it to make it sound." Gilbert's three nephews (his brother David's sons), Alexander, John and James came to N. C. from Pennsylvania looking for him. They found him in the neighborhood of New Hope and that he had changed his name. They were now going by the name "Strain" and were unwilling to change to "Strayhorn". [This was an account of Gilbert (Strain) Strayhorn's early history of his movement to North Carolina as told by the Reverend David Irvin Craig in his book A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NEW HOPE CHURCH, ORANGE COUNTY, N.C.]

Gilbert's name change is evident when you read some of the following extractions from the ABSTRACTS of the MINUTES of the COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS of ORANGE COUNTY in the PROVINCE OF NORTH CAROLINA, September 1752 through August 1766 that were compiled by Ruth Herndon Shields in December of 1965. The following are some examples of how Gilbert's name was listed:

Court of March 1757, 54-108: "Gilbert STREAM appointed overseer of road from the Court house to the road leading to the Hawfields." [page 33]

Court of March 1760, 38-213: Gilbert STREAN app. Overseer of Cape Fare Road in room of William Craig. [page 59]

Court of February began 17th, 1761, 46-230: Stephen Terry app. Overseer of Road in room of Gilbert STREAN. And 46-46-230: Marks recorded by James Armstrong, Gilbert STREAN, Thomas Linley, Thomas Linley, Sr. William Thompson, & Enos Elmore. [page 64]

IT WILL BE NOTED THAT FROM THIS POINT ON, GILBERT'S NAME REFLECTS "THE CHANGE."

Court of August 1761, 59-255: ..."following persons to attend next Superior Court at Halifax 1st day of September next - as Jurymen - to wit - Mark Morgan, John Alston, & Robert Little, as Grand Jury. John Armstrong, John Stroud, Sr., & Gilbert STRAYHORN, as Petit Jury. [page 72]

Court of May 1763, 27: James McGoing [McGowan?] granted license to keep Tavern. His Securities: Gilbert STRAYHORN & James Hunter. [page 79]

And then from the ABSTRACT of the MINUTES of the INFERIOR COURT OF PLEAS & QUARTER SESSIONS of ORANGE COUNT, N.C., 1777-1788 that were abstracted and edited by Alma Cheek Redden in 1966:

4th Tuesday in May 1777, 1-1 1/2: The court...ordered the following persons be appointed Overseers of the Roads in this County, to wit...Abraham Allen from Gilbert STRAYHORN'S to New Hope...Gilbert STRAYHORN from Hillsborough to the Fork near his house...Wm. Rhodes from the Fork near STRAYHORN'S to the Cross Road. [page 1]

Court of February 1778, 15-29 1/2: Grand Jury, to wit...Gilbert STRAYHORN...

Gilbert's Will was dated 15 January 1783, proved February Court 1903: Sons: David, John, William, James "Grandsons Gilbert and John, sons of David"...house wherein I now dwell with 170 acres". They are both under 21 years. Son-in-law James Hart Grandchildren: Sarah and John Hart daughter and son of James Hart William Ansley 20 pounds, no relationship stated. [NOTE: We know this to be a son-in-law] Son-in-law John Strain Witnesses: John Allison, John Ward, Thomas Scarlett.

[His will taken from the ABSTRACT OF WILLS RECORDED IN ORANGE COUNTY, NC, 1800-1850 by Ruth Herndon Shields, 1958]

Another source for Gilbert's name change is in the following footnote taken from the book, THE GENTLE JOHNSTONS AND THEIR KIN, by Henry Poelinitz Johnston, page 119.

[5] Jane Strain was the granddaughter of David Strain and David Strain was the brother of Gilbert Strain (Strayhorn). Gilbert was the first of the family to change the spelling of the name from "Strain" to "Strayhorn".

Researched and submitted by Strain Hilton Armstrong, the 3rd great-nephew of Gilbert (Strain) Strayhorn

Family links:

Parents:

 John Strayn (____ - 1752)

Spouse:

 Nancy Margaret Roan Strayhorn (1715 - 1802)

Children:

 Sarah Strayhorn Ansley (1746 - ____)*

 John Strayhorn (1754 - 1843)*

 Mary Strayhorn Cabe (1754 - 1802)*

 William Strayhorn (1756 - 1834)*

 James N. Strayhorn (1762 - 1834)*

Siblings:

 Robert Strain (____ - 1753)*

 John Strain (____ - 1768)*

 Gilbert Strayhorn (1715 - 1803)

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: "Aged 88 years"

Burial: New Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery - OLD Chapel Hill Township Orange County North Carolina, USA

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Maintained by: Strain Armstrong Originally Created by: William Clifford Record added: Oct 07, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 30412831 https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=30412831

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Aug 1 2017, 18:53:54 UTC