The Will of William Strickling
In thinking back on this madcap adventure of researching genealogy, I would have to say that the search for my line of the Strickling family was a prime motivator. My grandmother was Vera Mae Strickling. A tragic tale surrounds her. The daughter of Monroe County Ohio native John William Strickling and Florance Ann Watson, Vera was born in Ravenna,Ohio in 1901. She was a ggrandaughter of famed Indian fighter and Revolutionary soldier Captain John Hontas Baker. Some of the "old timers" who new her, tell me that she was a lovely young woman. She married Harley E. Bowles when she was 18. They had three children, Betty, Donald and Robert. Robert is my father. I have an Ashland ,Ohio newspaper clipping of her untimely demise. It recounts how three young children came home from school,to find their mother with only a "spark" of life left in her as she lay across the kitchen floor, a suicide note beside her and a gas stove on.. .She was 28. My grandmother was not spoken of and growing up, I never knew her name. I once remember my father mentioning that each evening she would comb her hair one hundred strokes. I always wanted to know about her and as an adult I have worked hard to find out all that I can.
I did not know what a monumental project I was starting asI have found that the Stricklings were a large and prolific family and have resettled in many parts of the United States. I have spent a lot of time on researching the pre American origins as well.There is a fair amount of incorrect information circulating and a lot of information still to be uncovered.....
I think that interviewing the surviving Stricklings is an important source of information. I also believe that acquiring whatever documentation is available is important as well. Last year I interviewed Warren Harding Strickling who was born in 1921. He was a cousin of my grandmother Vera. He is in his 80's and lives in a retirement home in Ohio. He was kind enough to let me "pick his brain" until I tired him out. He related that it is very boring in the rest home. His father was Alexander Sweeney Strickling.During the interview Warren said that he was the 13th of 14 children and his parents were Alexander and Bertha Trader Strickling. He said his dad was born when Abraham Lincoln was alive. He and his youngest brother are still living. He said all the other children were born in W.VA. and he and his brother were born in Ohio. His dad bought a farm in West VA. but was not a farmer. ( Fed Census1930 shows Alexander was a "pumper" in the oil fields) His Grandfather was Benjamin Franklin Strickling. Warren spoke with pride of grandfather Benjamins service for the Union Army in the Civil War. (See the pictures section on the main page for a photo I took of his tombstone in Ashland Ohio)
I mentioned primary source material earlier and I am grateful to the active group of genealogists in Monroe Co. Ohio,. Dick Henthorne, Richard Harrington , K.W.Bailey, and posthumusly Catherine Fedorchak have contributed a tremendous boost to my family tree. They have made it possible for much primary material to be made available as well as contributing anecdotal information. Monroe Co Ohio has some sites which are some of my favorites to go back to over and over again . See http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~harringtonfamilies/Strickling.htm and http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohmonroe/
A large collection of CD'S has been made available with scanned images of Monroe Co Ohio BMD'S. The extensive scanning of records has been done by Richard Harrington.I have purchased a number of these. The turn around of requested records from the courthouse is very speedy as well. My recent acquisition is the Will of William Strickling (1800-1870) husband of Elizabeth Braithwaite. He was the son of John Strickling and Elizabeth Timmons both of Harford , MD.
Here is the transcribed will of William Strickling.
In the name of the benevolent father of all, I William Strickling of Monroe Co., Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament.
1st it is my will that all my just debts and charges be paid out of my estate.
2nd I give and bequeath to my brother Joseph Strickling, the sum of one hundred dollars.
3rd I give and devise to my grandson ,Samuel Walker Strickling, the sum of 700 dollars, to be paid to him by my executor Joshua Strickling when he arrives at the age of 21 years, then that sum is distributed according to law.
4th I devise and bequeath to my friend and relative, Joshua Strickling and his heirs my farm situated in Wayne Twp. Monroe Co Ohio, containing about 50 acres and allthe stock. household goods, furniture and other goods and chattle which may be therein at the time of my decease.
5th I do hereby nominate and appoint Joshua Strickling Executor of this my last will and testament hereby authorizing and empowering him to compromise, adjust, release and discharge in such measure as he may see proper the debts, to sell by private sale or in such matter upon sch terms of creditor oherwise as he may see proper all or part of my real estate and deed to excecute acknowledge and deliver in fee simple. I desire that no sale of my personal property be made and that the court of probate direct the ommissi0n of the same in purssuance of the Statute and also that my executor be required to give bond in testimony thereof. I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of January in the year 1870. His x. William Strickling. Witnessed by J.W.Mrris and Daniel Baker
My Strickling line on WORLDCONNECT is here at:
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=SHOW&db=meentzenbowles&recno=4744
This additional information has come to me by way of Richard Harrington. Good news for Monroe County Researchers!
Anna Lucas Strickling was the reporter in the Spirit of Democracy and/or the Monroe County Beacon, for several decades, for a section in the paper called “Buchanan” which covered the Lewisville , Ohio area. As the Buchanan reporter, she covered Lewisville and the area where my grandparents and many other kin lived and were active. I have photographed all of her articles and have burned them onto a CD. This has been so great because her articles read like a weekly “diary” of the area and through them, I have been able to get a week-by-week report on most of my relatives in MC.
and Richard Harrington writes:
I have put the transcript of the will of William Strickling on the website. You can access it at: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~harringtonfamilies/wills.htm#WilliamStrickling Thank you very much. For your information, I have started photographing the Will Books in the record room of the Probate Court. I have photographed the first two (of 49 books) and should have them onto CDs within the week. The William Strickling will is in the first of the two books I have done.
And now for something completely different
Strickling/ Strickland links to England :
http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/sizergh.htm
http://www.rockystrickland.com/stricklandsofsizergh_1.pdf
and lotsa Strickland info- terrific site here:
http://www.rockystrickland.com/strickland.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment