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Burial record:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11179432/john-strong
http://strongfamilyofamerica.org/elder-john-strong/
In his book The History of the Descendants of Elder John Strong, Benjamin Dwight, the primary genealogist of the Strong family in America, makes the case that Elder John Strong sailed to Mass. in 1630, on the Mary and John, with his wife and 2 children, with the spouse and youngest child dying either en route or shortly after arrival. He then states that Strong married Abigail Ford, another Mary and John passenger, in December, 1630. The problem with this is that she was only 11 at the time. The most recent thought is that Strong and family came in 1635 on the Hopewell. Complicating matters is that he does appear as a probable passenger in synthesized lists for both ships.
Burton Spear in his work, Mary and John 1630 .pdf, clarifies the situation by submitting that Strong did arrive on the Mary and John, as a single man, then returned to England where he married and fathered the two children, returning to America with his family on the Hopewell. After the death of his wife he married Abigail Ford, now 16, probably in December 1635. The birthdates of subsequent Strong children tends to bear this out, as does the fact that Strong took the Freeman's Oath, in Boston, in 1636. Burton Spear also dismisses the idea forwarded by Dwight that Strong was born in Taunton, England, to a Richard Strong, as no records can be found to justify this. Records are available to show that he was probably born to John Strong, son of George Strong, of Chard, Somerset, England, between 1607 and 1610. (Steven Ferry, December 15, 2018.)
All current theories give the father of Elder John Strong as John Strong, son of George Strong. The ascription of Richard Strong as the father seems to come from the work of Dwight on Elder John Strong, based on recollections from Governor Strong. That tome has proved deficient in other areas as well, although it is a valuable source post colonialism. I would recommend that you open the father's page to change the name to John Strong, or at least as John Richard Strong, which does seem to find some favor. (Steven Ferry, December 30, 2019)
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Find A Grave Memorial# 11179432
Name: Elder John Strong, Jr
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Elder John Strong was
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The following is a small excerpt of the rather confusing set of notes on:
http://www.gencircles.com/users/mccoy1/24/data/186
Elder John Strong died 1699; his wife, Abigail Ford Strong died 1688; her father, Thomas Ford died 1676
Others thought to be aboard the ship Mary and John:
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From: The History of the Descendants of Elder John Strong, of Northampton, Mass, by Benjamin Woodbridge Dwight, 1871.
************************** From: http://strongfamilytree.org/getperson.php?personID=I15545&tree=STR06 :
* Although Gov. Caleb Strong believed that Elder John Strong arrived to New England aboard the "Mary and John," Elder John appears to have actually arrived on the "Hopewell" on May 8, 1635.
Medical: Y-DNA Y DNA Results, FTDNA Haplogroup: R1b1c
The following website has more details, as well as the ancestral modal values for Elder John Strong and his descendants who have been tested:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~donegalstrongs/dnaresults.htm
The members of R1b are believed to be the descendants of the first modern humans who entered Europe about 35,000-40,000 years ago. Those R1b forebears were the people who painted the beautiful art in the caves in Spain and France. They were the contemporaries (and perhaps exterminators) of the European Neanderthals. R1b is the most common Y haplogroup in Europe - more than half of men of European descent belong to R1b. Fourteen of the 30 most common haplotypes in the YSTR.org database are typical of R1b.
************************** '''Source:''' http://kinnexions.com/ancestries/strong.htm#JStrong
* "John STRONG -
************************** '''Source:''' http://www.holcombegenealogy.com/data/p185.htm#i9218
* "Elder John Strong was born circa 1605 at Chard, Somerset, England.
************************** Carleton, Hiram. "Genealogical and family history of the state of Vermont; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation." New York, Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co., 1903. pp. 81, 655, 746.
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Born in Taunton, England, he moved to London and later to Plymouth. He arrived at Nantasket, Mass. after a voyage of some 70 days in 1630. He settled in a place they named Dolchester. The grandfather of John Strong was a Roman Catholic. In 1635 he left Dolchester and moved to Hingham Mass and on March 9, 1635 took the freeman's oath at Boston. Shortly thereafter he moved to Taunton where he remained until 1645. From Taunton he moved to Windsor Ct. In 1659 he moved from Windsor to Northampton Mass. In all these town he was one of the founders. He was a tanner and very prosperous. He owned at different times some 200 acres around and in Northampton.
CBW's notes
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ID: I10169
Name: John Strong
[From Dave Clark's web site]
John STRONG ELDER,
John had originally settled in Hingham, MA where he took the freeman oath, later going to Taunton, MA., and few years later, to Windsor, CT where he was operating a tannery by 1647. In about 1659, he was granted "46 and a half acres, twenty-six rods and eleven foot more or less" in Manhan meadows of Northampton by the Rev. Mr. Mather. In addition, he was granted a home lot of four acres, located on Main & West Streets. All of this land had been contributed to Mr. Mather by the earlier settlers in an effort to persuade him, and others, to re-locate to Northampton.
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In an article on the Elder John Strong and his descendants to the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register" Vol.23 1869, this article was prepared about 1779 by Gov. Caleb Strong of Mass.
"Elder John Strong, was born and lived in England, near Taunton in Somersetshire. His father was, Richard Strong who died when John was small. His grandfather, who was Roman Catholic lived to be very old, but died before his grandson left England. Elder John came to America in the year 1630 in the ship Mary and John in company with Mr Warham, Maverick, Mason, Clap and arrived at Nantasket on the 30th. of May that year and settled in Dorchester.
John married his first wife in England, she died on the passage or short time after arriving, leaving two young children, the youngest of which died in two months after its mother.
John married second to Abigail Ford, a sister of Capt. Clap's wife, at Dorchester in 1635.36. John and second wife moved from Dorchester to Windsor, Ct. and with four others was appointed superintendent of bringing settlers to that place. He lived in Windsor for several years than moved to Northampton in the year 1659 where he died April 14, 1699 about 94 years of age. He was the first ruling Elder of the Church of Northampton. Abigail Ford Strong died 6 July 1688. A sister of Johns came with him from England and married a man by the name of Dean. John Strong had 16 children besides those that died young.
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[From SFAA]
HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS:
TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS:
WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT:
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS:
[Land records from "Strong Men and Strong Women" by Jeanne Waters Strong]
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Mary Strong b: 26 OCT 1654 in Windsor, Hartford, Conn.
Hannah Strong b: 30 MAY 1659 in Windsor, Hartford, Conn.
ANCESTOR WITH FDR! 8 gens from him, so 7th cousin, 4 times removed.
He and wife Abigail Ford are common ancestors with Diana, Princess of Wales, and Harry and William!
11 gens from me, and Diana, so 10th cousins. 10th once removed for the boys . . .
In early life, he sympathized with the Puritans and Pilgrims and decided to join them in America.
It is known that he was married and had a child, but it could not be learned whether they died on the passage over or soon after reaching here.
He and a sister, Eleanor, sailed from Plymouth, England on March 20, 1630. The boat was named the "Mary and John" and the captain's name was Captain Squid. It took 70 days to complete the voyage. There were 149 passengers aboard. They landed a few miles southeast of what is now Boston and immediately began to search for a place to make a settlement. When a likely spot was found, they named it Dorchester after their old home in England.
The author states there are very few Strongs in the United States, but what are descendants of this John Strong. He helped found four other settlements and finally settled in Northampton, MA where many of the records are found of this family.
He married again and was the father of sixteen children; when the last child was born, the oldest son was then 39 years of age.
He took a prominent part in the church and was a ruling elder, always being known as "Elder John Strong." He always held a prominent place in the community in which he lived.
He was a Tanner by trade and was considered very prosperous as he at one time owned 200 acres of land.
He resided at Northampton, MA for 40 years.
Emigration: 20 Mar 1630
Plymouth, , England Ship "Mary and John"
Immigration: 30 May 1630
Nantasket, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Will: 1699
Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts
Admitted a freeman 03/09/1636
Moved to Taunton before 12/04/1638
Lived for a time in Windsor CT before returning to MA
Prosperous businessman - tanner and husbandman
His tanyard was on the southwest corner of Market St
He owned two hundred acres in and near Northampton
Residence: 1635
Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts
John Strong was born about 1610 in Chard, Somerset, England. He married about 1632, Marjorie Deane of Chard.
It was May 8, 1635 that John Strong, with his family, set sail aboard the ship Hopewell, from Weymouth, to join the Puritans in Massachusetts. His wife and an infant child did not survive the trip.
He settled briefly at Dorchester and Hingham before moving to Taunton in 1638. He was listed as one of the original purchasers of Taunton, as were the brothers of his first wife, John and Walter Deane and John Richmond.
At about that time he married second Abigail Ford. Abigail had come with her family from Dorchester, Dorset, England in 1630 on the ship Mary and John.
John served as constable at Taunton. Sometime before 1645 the family moved to Windsor, CT where his father in law was a large land holder. After living fifteen years at that young settlement, the Strongs returned to Massachusetts, settling at Northampton in 1660. As well as plying his trade as a tanner, John was appointed the first ruling elder of the church at Northampton. He died there April 14, 1699, his wife, Abigail, preceded him in death July 6, 1688.
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS:
Land records from "Strong Men and Strong Women" by Jeanne Waters Strong
John Strong was ordained and Elder of the church in 1663.
Lands -
14 October 1660 - John Strong bought from John Webb, a parcel of land lying in the Third square and bounded by land of Richard Lyman on the north and the highway on the south and on the sides bordering the land of David Wilton on the east by Samuel Allyn on the west - Seven acres .
John Strong bought another parcel from John Webb, a home lot bounded on the highway east and north and the mill trench on the west containing two acres. Part of this was given to his son Samuel.
John Strong bought another parcel from John Webb, which lies on the south side of Mill River and bounded by the highway east and west, the sides bordering the highway south and Mill River north containing - two acres.
15 October 1660 - Northampton granted to him several parcels of land including a tan yard which was bounded on the east and west by the highway, north by Ralph Hutchinson's land and the common land, and the meeting house hill on the south. John gave this to his son Ebenezer, on 15 December 1688.
The original tan yard contained one quarter acre. It was on King Street Brook a little north of Hampshire Marble Works. The town by vote directed all hides be taken to him to be tanned at his own price because of his reputation for honesty.
15 October 1660 - Northampton granted to him his home lot which was bounded on the highway north and Mill River on the south and bounded on the sides by the land of Capt. Aaron Cooke on the east and Alexander Edwards on the west. John Strong conveyed these parcels to John Webb 18 October 1660.
The home lot granted to him by Northampton on West Street was nearly opposite the Parson's Homestead. He sold it to John Webb, and purchased John Webb's home lot at the corner of Main and South Streets. The property remained in the family for 103 years.
Northampton granted John Strong another parcel of land in Manham Meadow which butts up on the Great River on the east and Mill River on the west containing four Six acres plus. John gave half of this lot to Ebenezer, 15 December 1688.
WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT
4 February 1647 - "Thomas Thorton al his land formerly recorded in figures is sold to Thomas Ford and John Strong where the particulars fully apperar…."
This included a house, out house, yards, orchards and gardens containing about two acres, more or less, bounded north and west by the land of Walter Fyler, south by the rivulet, on the east by the highways, and adjoining at the foot of the hill, in the great meadow, one acre and three quarters more or less bounded north by the land of John Mason and east by the land of William Hill [Windsor Register of Deeds]
Freeman 15 May 1654 of Connecticut.
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Elder John Stronge is the son of John (Richard) Stronge and Eleanor Deane. John (Richard) Stronge died before the birth of his youngest child in 1613. This is well documented in his will. .
After John (Richard) Stronge's death, his wife, Eleanor Deane, daughter of a tanner, married William Cogan (a tanner by trade) before the birth of John (Richard) Stronge's offspring by Eleanor in 1613. Following a west country tradition, the daughter is christened "Eleanor," after her mother. Though she is a "Stronge" by blood, William Cogan refers to her as "my daughter," and raises her as such with the name Eleanor Cogan. .
Young (Elder) John Stronge learns the tanning trade from William Cogan and Eleanor Deane's father, Walter Deane. Sarah Stronge, the future wife of Lt. William Clarke, was born in 1613 to Thomas Stronge, the brother of Elder John Stronge's father. This makes Sarah Stronge the cousin of Elder John Stronge.
(f/g) Elder John Strong, Jr Birth: 1610 Somerset, England Death: Apr. 14, 1699 Northampton Hampshire County Massachusetts, USA
My 10th Great-Grandfather.
His first wife was Margery Deane, daughter of William Deane of South Chard, Co Somerset, England. Margery died in 1635 soon after their arrival in New England on the "Hopewell".
His second wife was Abigail Ford Strong.
He was the son of John Strong of Chard, Co.Somerset. His mother's name may have been Eleanor____Strong, though her origins are not known for certain.
Children(by first marriage): John Strong III and an infant son who was born at sea and died along with his mother shortly after arrival in New England.
Children(by second marriage): Thomas Strong, Jedediah Strong, Josiah Strong, Return Strong(whose first wife was Sarah Warham Strong), Ebenezer Strong, Abigail Strong Chauncy Pomeroy, Elizabeth Strong Parsons, Experience Strong Fyler, Samuel Strong, Joseph Strong, Mary Strong Clark(wife of John Clark), Sarah Strong Barnard Wells, Hannah Strong Clark, Hester Strong Bissell, Thankful Strong Baldwin(second wife of Jonathan Baldwin, and Jerijah Strong.
Family links:
Spouses:
Margery Deane Strong (____ - 1635)
Abigail Ford Strong (1619 - 1688)
Children:
John Strong (1625 - 1697)*
Thomas Strong (1637 - 1689)*
Jedediah Strong (1637 - 1733)*
Return Strong (1641 - ____)*
Ebenezer Strong (1643 - ____)*
Abigail Strong Chauncey Pomeroy (1645 - ____)*
Elizabeth Strong Parsons (1647 - 1736)*
Experience Strong Filer (1650 - ____)*
Samuel Strong (1652 - 1732)*
Joseph Strong (1652 - ____)*
Mary Strong Clark (1654 - 1738)*
Sarah Strong Barnard Wells (1656 - 1733)*
Hannah Strong Clark (1659 - 1694)*
Hester Strong Bissell (1661 - 1726)*
Thankful Strong Baldwin (1663 - 1726)*
Jerijah Strong (1665 - ____)
Note: Monument photograph courtesy of The Moo.
Burial: Bridge Street Cemetery Northampton Hampshire County Massachusetts, USA Created by: lyn m. mosher Record added: Jun 15, 2005 Find A Grave Memorial# 11179432
ELDER JOHN b b. 1605, Taunton, England m. in England, wife's name unknown m. Abigail Ford of Dorchester d. April 14, 1699 Because of his strong Puritan sympathies, John Strong set sail for America from England on the ship Mary and John, arriving on May 30, 1630 at Nantucket, Massachusetts. After helping to found the city of Dorchester, Massachusetts, he moved to Northampton in 1654, and lived here for forty years. He was a leader of the town and a successful businessman. A tanner by trade, he was also ruling Elder in the church. Married twice, he lived with Abigail Ford for 58 years, the mother of sixteen of his children. At the time of his death at 94 years old, he had 160 descendants, 18 children, 15 of whom had families, 114 grandchildren, and 33 great grandchildren. This marker was erected by his descendents.
Immigrated on the "Mary and John" in 1630
His first wife was Margery Deane, daughter of William Deane of South Chard, Co Somerset, England. Margery died in 1635 soon after their arrival in New England on the "Hopewell".
His second wife was Abigail Ford Strong.
He was the son of John Strong of Chard, Co.Somerset. His mother's name may have been Eleanor____Strong, though her origins are not known for certain.
Children(by first marriage): John Strong III and an infant son who was born at sea and died along with his mother shortly after arrival in New England.
Children(by second marriage): Thomas Strong, Jedediah Strong, Josiah Strong, Return Strong(whose first wife was Sarah Warham Strong), Ebenezer Strong, Abigail Strong Chauncy Pomeroy, Elizabeth Strong Parsons, Experience Strong Fyler, Samuel Strong, Joseph Strong, Mary Strong Clark(wife of John Clark), Sarah Strong Barnard Wells, Hannah Strong Clark, Hester Strong Bissell, Thankful Strong Baldwin(second wife of Jonathan Baldwin, and Jerijah Strong.
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Governor Caleb Strong, in 1779, wrote the following article about his ancestor, the Elder John Strong. It was noted by Marilyn Maxfield King that this was published in the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register," Volume 23, in 1869.
"Elder John Strong, was born and lived in England, near Taunton in Somersetshire. His father was, Richard (sic) Strong who died when John was small. His grandfather, who was Roman Catholic lived to be very old, but died before his grandson left England. Elder John came to America in the year 1630 in the ship Mary and John in company with Mr Warham, Maverick, Mason, Clap and arrived at Nantasket on the 30th. of May that year and settled in Dorchester. John married his first wife in England, she died on the passage or short time after arriving, leaving two young children, the youngest of which died in two months after it's mother. John married second to Abigail Ford, a sister of Capt. Clap's wife, at Dorchester in 1635/36. John and second wife moved from Dorchester to Windsor, Ct. and with four others was appointed superintendent of bringing settlers to that place. He lived in Windsor for several years than moved to Northampton in the year 1659 where he died April 14, 1699 about 94 years of age. He was the first ruling Elder of the Church of Northampton. Abigail Ford Strong died 6 July 1688. A sister (Eleanor) of John's came with him from England and married a man by the name of Dean. John Strong had 16 children besides that which died young."
Although Gov. Caleb Strong believed that Elder John Strong arrived to New England in 1630 aboard the "Mary and John," Elder John may actually arrived on the "Hopewell" in 1635. He was listed as "Jon Stronge for himself and family, and goods" in the Index to Ships & Passengers to the American Colonies, Exchequer K.R. 1618-1668 copied from Port Book E 190/876/1. The "Hopewell" sailed from Weymouth, 8 May 1635. It is also possible that, as a youth of 20 that he came with the Winthrop Fleet on the Mary & John, later returning to England to and married first wife Margerie DEANE, and permanently emigrating to the Massachussets Bay Colony aboard the Hopewell with members of the Deane family.
Link to the Passenger List of the Hopewell, from the Strong Family Association of America website.
http://www.strongfamilyofamerica.org/strong/hopelist.html
John probably embarked from Plymouth, England 20 Mar 1630 on the Mary & John, and arrived at Nantasket, 30 May 1630. He apparently returned to England, married, and had two children before sailing again for New England on 8 May 1635 from Weymouth aboard the Hopewell. He settled first at Dorchester, MA, removed to Windsor, CT about 1636, to Taunton by 1638, and to Northampton in 1659 where he was the first Ruling Elder. He had 17 children and 145 grandchildren.
If there is any motto belonging to the ensigns armorial of the Strongs, the author knows not what it is. It was early represented to him by some members of the family, that there was a motto handed down to us by our ancestors, for the ever new inspiration of manly virtue in our hearts; and a grand motto it was for the practical wisdom that it conveys: Tentanda est via! they said that it was; and it is surely good enough to be written in letters of gold over the portals of any human pathway leading onwards and upwards. It has in it the sap and strength of a dozen or more of our best proverbs, such a "Try again:" "Nothing venture nothing have:" "First be sure your are right, then go ahead:" "Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing in the best manner possible:" "Practice makes perfect:" "Don't give up the ship:" "Faint heart never won fair lady:" "Perseverance conquers all things:" "Work and wait:" "Do or die:" "Real success is worth all that it costs."
The author has put this motto fully to the proof in the preparation of this work: and he recommends it to all, young and old, as invaluable in the work of life, in the pursuit of whatever good one may wish to obtain. He is sorry to be compelled to drop itas the family motto. It belongs to the Stronge Family of Lyman Abbey - a baronetcy created in the last century - whose crest is an eagle displayed with two heads, sable, beaked and legged, azure, langued, gules: motto, tentanda est via. This family may be connected in some way - as the resemblance of name and heraldic symbols would seem to suggest - with the Strong Family. If we cannot boast, as we would not if we could, of descent from the kings and nobles of other lands, we may well feel an honest pride in an ancestry whose wealth was wealth of character, and whose patent of nobility they obtained from above in following through storm and shine the footsteps of prophets and apostles and of the Son of God.
The Strong Family of England was originally located in the county of Shropshire. One of the family married an heiress of Griffith, of the county of Caernarvon, Wales, and went thither to reside in 1545. Richard Strong was of this branch of the family, and was born in the county of Caernarvon in 1561. In 1590 he removed to Taunton, Somersetshire, England, where he died in 1613, leaving a son John then eight years of age, and a daughter Eleanor. The name is stated in one record, on what authority the writer knows not, to have been originally McStrachan and to have gone through the following changes, McStrachan, Strachan, Strachn, Strong. John Strong was born in Taunton, Eng., in 1605, whence he removed to London and afterwards to Plymouth. Having strong Puritan sympathies he sailed from Plymouth for the new world, March 20, 1630, in company with 140 persons, and among them Rev. Messrs. John Warham and John Maverick and Messrs. John Mason and Roger Clapp, in the ship Mary and John (Capt. Squeb) and arrived at Nantasket, Mass. (Hull), about twelve miles southeast from Boston, after a passage of more than seventy days in length, on Sunday, May 30, 1630.
The original destination of the vessel was Charles River; but an unfortunate misunderstanding which arose between the captain and the passengers, resulted in their being put summarily ashore by him at Nantasket. After searching for a few days, for a good place in which to settle and make homes for themselves, they decided upon the spot, which they called Dorchester, in memory of the endeared home in England which many of them had left, and especially of its revered pastor, Rev. John White, "the great patron of New England emigration," who had especially encouraged them to come hither.
The grandfather of Elder John Strong was, as tradition informs us, a Roman Catholic, and lived to a great age. The Strong Family has borne out remarkably, in its earlier generations in this country at any rate, the historical genuineness of its name, in its wide- spread characteristics of physical vigor and longevity, and the large size of very many of its numerous households.
Eleanor Strong came with her brother John to this country, when he was but twenty- five years of age, and she was probably several years younger, and married Walter Deane, a tanner, of Taunton, Mass., previously of Taunton, Eng., and became the mother of four sons and one daughter. He was born about 1617, and was a prominent man in the affairs of his new home. Her descendants have been numerous and highly respectable. For various accounts of some of them see N. E. Gen. Register, published at Boston in several volumes, in various places.
In 1635, after having assisted in founding and developing the town of Dorchester, John Strong removed to Hingham, Mass., and on March 9, 1636, took the freeman's oath at Boston. His stay at Hingham was short, as on Dec. 4, 1638, he is found to have been an inhabitant and proprietor of Taunton, Mass., and to have been made in that year a freeman of Plymouth Colony. He remained at Taunton, as late at any rate as 1645, as he was a deputy thence to the General court in Plymouth, in 1641, '3, and '4. From Taunton he removed to Windsor, Ct., where he was appointed with four others, Capt. John Mason, Roger Ludlow, Israel Stoughton, and Henry Wolcott, all very leading men in the infant colony, "to superintend and bring forward the settlement of that place," which had been settled a few years before (1636) by a portion of the same colony that with him had founded Dorchester. Windsor was in fact called at first, and for several years (1636-50), Dorchester.
In 1659 he removed from Windsor to Northampton, Mass., of which he was one of the first and most active founders, as he had been previously of Dorchester, Hingham, Taunton, and Windsor. In Northampton he lived for forty years, and was a leading man in the affairs of the town and of the church. He was a tanner and very prosperous in his business. His tannery was located on what is now the southwest corner of Market and Main streets near the railroad depot. He owned at different times, as appears by records in the county clerk's office, some two hundred acres of land in and around Northampton.
How he obtained his office and title as Elder John Strong will appear by the following quotation from the church records at Northampton: "After solemn and extraordinary seeking to God for his direction and blessing, the church chose John Strong ruling Elder, and William Holton, deacon. They were ordained 13: 3 mo: '63" (or, the year beginning then in March, June 13, 1663, O. S., or N.S. June 24, 1663), "the elder by the imposition of the hands of the pastor" (Rev. Eleazer Mather) "and Mr. Russell of Hadley - the deacon, afterwards by the imposition of the hands of the pastor and elder. Mr. Russell, Mr. Goodwin, and brother Goodman were present from Hadley; Dea. Chapin and Mr. Holyoke from Springfield, who gave the right hand of fellowship to these delegates." How near to the minister himself, so greatly revered, the ruling elder stood in the thoughts of our Pilgrim fathers, is manifest from the functions of his office, as described in the following church record under date of Sept. 11, 1672: "Solomon Stoddard was ordained pastor of the church in Northampton by Mr. John Strong, ruling elder, and Mr. John Whiting, pastor of the second church in Hartford."
His first wife, whose name and family the author has not been able to ascertain, he married in England. She died on the passage or soon after landing; and in about two months afterwards her infant offspring, a second child, died also. He married in December, 1630, for a second wife, Abigail Ford of Dorchester, Mass., with whom he lived in wedlock for fifty- eight years. She died, the mother of 16 children, July 6, 1688, aged about 80; he died April 14, 1699 aged 94. He had had, up to the time of his decease, 160 descendants, viz: eighteen children, fifteen of whom had families; one hundred and fourteen grandchildren (6, John of Windsor; 16, Thomas of Northampton; 14, Jedediah; 7, Return; 10, Elder Ebenezer; 6, Abigail, Mrs. Chauncey; 12, Mrs. Joseph Parsons; 13, Mrs. Zerubbabel Filer; 8, Samuel; 11, Mary, Mrs. John Clark; 7, Hannah, Mrs. William Clark; 4, Hester, Mrs. Thomas Bissell); and thirty-three great grandchildren, at least.
He made over his lands in his life-time to his children, and took bills of those whom he had helped, beyond their share - as of Ebenezer, for land and rent [2]
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Elder John STRONG (1605 – 1699) was Alex’s 9th Great Grandfather; one of 1,024 in this generation of the Miller line.
John Strong was born in 1605 in Chard, Somerset, England. His parents were Richard STRONG and Eleanor DEAN. He married Margerie Dean in 1625 in Somerset, He sailed in on the Hopewell, Master John Driver from Weymouth, Dorsetshire, England on 8 May 1635 with his wife and their two children: John Jr age 2 and an infant plus John’s sister Eleanor age 22.
Some sources state he came to America in the year 1630 the Mary and John from Plymouth in England, in company with Mr. Wareham Maverick, Mason, Clap, etc., and arrived at Nantasket on the 30th of May, of that year, and settled in Dorchester. His future wife Abigail Ford was on board, but John Strong is only a “maybe” on the passenger list.
After Margerie died, he married Abigail FORD in Dec 1635 in Dorchester, Mass. John died 14 Apr 1699 in Northampton, Mass.
John Strong (colonist) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Strong (1610—1699) was an English-born New England colonist, politician, Puritan church leader, tanner and one of the founders of Windsor, Connecticut and Northampton, Massachusetts as well as the progenitor of nearly all the Strong families in what is now the United States. He was referred to as Elder John Strong because he was an Elder in the church.[1]
Early life
Strong was born in about 1610 in Chard, Somerset, England and emigrated to Massachusetts with his pregnant wife and a one-year-old child in 1635 aboard the sailing ship Hopewell. During the 70-day sea voyage, his wife, Marjory Deane (md. 1632) had a baby while they were still at sea. She and their infant child died within two months of their arrival. With a one-year-old son to take care of, John Strong Jr., John Sr. married sixteen-year-old Mary & John (1630) passenger Abigail Ford, daughter of Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde, in December 1635. They settled originally in Hingham, Massachusetts, a New-Plymouth Colony, in 1635. In 1638 he was made a "Freeman" (eligible to vote in town and colony elections and serve in the church), and went to Taunton, Massachusetts. While in Taunton, Strong represented the town in the General Court of Plymouth Colony for four years, from 1641 to 1644.[2]
He later moved to Windsor, Connecticut, on the Connecticut River where he was a leading figure in the new Connecticut colony. In 1659 he moved 40 miles further up the river to the Connecticut River town of Northampton, Massachusetts—then a frontier town surrounded by Indians about 100 miles (160 km) inland from Boston. One of the early settlers of the town, he operated a tannery for many years, helped defend the town against Indian attacks during King Philip's War (1675-1676) and also played an important role in town and church affairs.[3]
In 1661, John Strong was one of the eight men who founded the First Church of Northampton. Of their number, Eleazer Mather, the older brother of Boston minister Increase Mather, was chosen as the first pastor. Two years later, 1663, Strong was ordained an elder of the church. The Puritan pastor Mather died in 1669, and Strong was tasked with finding a suitable minister to replace him. The following year, he and several other church leaders extended a call to Solomon Stoddard, who formally accepted in 1672, and was ordained by John Strong. Stoddard served as pastor for many years, until his death in 1729, and was succeeded by his grandson, Jonathan Edwards, whose subsequent ministry in Northampton would play a major role in the Great Awakening.[4]
John Strong died on April 14, 1699, at Northampton and is buried at the Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton Massachusetts.[5]
Family John Strong was the first of the Strong family to settle in New England, and is the ancestor to most of that name in the United States. He and his two wives had 18 children, 15 of whom survived to adulthood. His descendants include many prominent figures in the early history of the United States, including his great-grandson, Caleb Strong, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, a US Senator, and Governor of Massachusetts from 1800-1807 and 1812-1816. In addition, Strong's descendants included, as of 1889, three other governors, four other Senators, 12 Congressmen, four members of the Continental Congress, and 29 judges, including US Supreme Court Justice William Strong, who served from 1870 to 1880.[6]
References
Occupations:
Tanner, of Taunton, Mass, Deputy/ Windsor, Northampton, "Hopewell" sailed from Weymouth 8 May 1635, w/1st wife, church elder, Elder, tanner, freeman, first constable, juror, Founder of Colonies, Politician, Came on the Hopewell from England
Marriage
Marriage to: Abigail Ford
1605 |
June 10, 1605
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Chard, Somerset, England
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1605
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Taunton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom
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1605
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Tauton, Somersetshire, England
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1626 |
November 26, 1626
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Chard, Somerset, England
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1630 |
March 20, 1630
Age 24
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Sailed for the new world abord the Mary and John
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