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James STRONG
(1746-Bef 1806)
Mary
John STRONG
(1770/1775-Bef 1848)
1st Mrs. John Strong
(-1820/1830)
Hiram STRONG
(Abt 1809-1850)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
Rebecca SCRIVNER

Hiram STRONG 1

  • Born: Abt 1809, probably Smith County, Tennessee 1
  • Marriage: Rebecca SCRIVNER 1
  • Died: 1850, Missouri 2
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bullet  Research Notes:

That Hiram was a son of one of the five Strong brothers who appear in the 1820 census for Smith County, Tennessee, seems almost a certainty based upon his marriage to Rebecca Scrivner of Smith County, Tennessee. In turn, these brothers are accepted as the sons of James Strong, who died in Rockingham County, North Carolina, in or before 1805, thus connecting Hiram to the Strong family of Virginia, whose place in history has been assured by the scholarship of James Robert Rolff and Robert T. Strong, Jr. (My DNA also shows a connection to this line. See the Strong DNA Study at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~donegalstrongs/dnaresults.htm) However, which Strong brother was Hiram's father is more problematical.

The five Strong brothers were John, Samuel, Thomas, James and William. Thomas and William can probably be eliminated because the 1820 census does not show any males in their households between the ages of 10 and 16, which is where Hiram should appear based on his age of 11, as extrapolated from the 1850 census. (The 1840 census confirms Hiram was born before 1810.) Samuel had one such child, but that is thought to be Martin Strong, because he was born in Henry County, Virginia, where Samuel was married. (Martin and Hiram married Scrivner sisters and appear to have moved in tandem to Missouri via Illinois.) That leaves John and James.

As between John and James, only John presents evidence he lived in Smith County about the time Hiram was born. Furthermore, John is the only Strong brother known to have lived in the vicinity of several Scrivner families at the time Hiram and Rebecca married, which was probably in the late 1820's. Moreover, John's second wife, Sarah, and adult unmarried daughter, Mary, filed a creditor's claim in the Estate of Benjamin Scrivner, Dec'd. Although the nature of the claim is not stated, I suspect it was for personal services rendered to Benjamin and his wife during their final years, when little, if any, Scrivner family then lived in Smith County. Thus, John is the only Strong brother known to have lived near the Scrivners and to have interacted with them. As to James, no Smith County record has been found for him after 1820.

I had hoped that the probate records for Mary Strong, who died intestate in Lincoln County, Tennessee, might provide direct evidence that Hiram was one of her brothers, but her list of heirs is incomplete. However, the discovery of an older sister named Martha seems significant. Hiram appears to have been born between Martha and Mary and he named his first two daughters Martha and Mary.

While I will continue to look for direct evidence that John was the father of Hiram, I am satisfied the circumstantial evidence strongly supports this conclusion.

Addendum:
In 2010, I obtained a copy of undated correspondence written by Bertha Dell (Strong) Young, granddaughter of Hiram Strong through son James, to her cousin, Ethel Dixie (Finley) Sanford, great granddaughter of Hiram Strong through son Eli. This correspondence was provided by Sharry Roundtree (otrees@zirkel.us), a granddaughter of Ethel, and provided family information to assist Ethel in obtaining a delayed birth certificate. Although Bertha did not know the name of her grandfather or where he came from, she does say that her grandfather's brother's house still exists about 6 miles from Barnett, Missouri. That would of course be Martin's home. Query whether Bertha knew of the exact relationship between her grandfather and Martin, especially since she didn't even know her grandfather's name. Still, the possibility Martin and Hiram Strong were brothers rather than first cousins should be kept in mind.
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bullet  Death Notes:

Hiram's date of death had to occur between 31 Aug 1850, the date his household was enumerated in the 1850 census for Newton County, Missouri, and 5 Oct 1850, the date Rebecca purchased land in Cole County, Missouri. He presumably died in Missouri, but no estate records have been found. I do not expect his estate was formally administered, given the facts he then owned no land and whatever personal property existed probably fit on the wagon that was returning the family to Cole County after an aborted move to Texas. Nor would it seem likely a family in transit would have been subject to claims by creditors. Rebecca, as surviving spouse with minor children, probably became the sole heir by acquiescence, even though strictly speaking guardianships might have been in order.

It is presumed that the family did make it to Texas, given the statement to that effect in the obituary for Nancy Strong Sharples. They couldn't have stayed there long for they did not leave Cole County until after 21 Aug 1849 and were on their way back when they were enumerated in Newton County on 31 Aug 1850. They presumably lived near the Martin Strong family in Collin County, Texas, whose household was enumerated there on 7 Dec 1850 and who also returned to Cole County in 1852.

How Hiram died is unknown, although a letter exists which may provide a clue. This letter was written on 15 May 1851 by Lawson Scrivner of Eldorado County, California to Joel Stinson, his brother-in-law, of Victoria County, Texas. While relating family news, Lawson references a letter he had received from John (presumably his brother) as follows: "John's letter states the painful news of the death of Uncle L(?) James Scrivner and Martin Strong. Martin shot himself, for what cause the letter does not state."

There is no question that Martin Strong did not die until the 1890's. Hiram Strong, on the other hand, almost certainly died in 1850. It seems likely that as the family news was passed from person to person, Martin's name was substituted for that of Hiram. Was his death by a self-inflicted gunshot wound an accident or was it suicide? The letter suggests suicide, but query whether this second hand version (at best) can be relied upon, especially since we already know the wrong Strong was identified.

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bullet  Noted events in his life were:

1. Land Patent: 1837, Cole County, Missouri. 4

Dated 2 Nov 1837
Hiram Strong purchased the NE1/4 of the NE1/4 of Sec. 9, Twp. 43-N, Range 13-W, containing 40 acres.

2. Deed: 1837, Cole County, Missouri. 5

Dated 14 Nov 1837, Filed 22 Dec 1837, Bk C:65
Thomas Hewit Taylor and Amy/Anna his wife of Cole County to Hiram Strong of Cole County; $150 for the SE1/4 of the SW1/4 of Sec. 3, Twp. 43, Range 13, containing 38.32 acres.

3. Military Service: 1838, Cole County, Missouri. 6 7

Hiram and Martin Strong both appear as privates on Mormon War payroll records of Captain Roberson's (also transcribed as Robeson, Robertson and Robinson) 6th Division, 1st Brigade, 2nd Company, Missouri Militia, also referred to as Cole County Riflemen. Receipt of pay was acknowledged by each man's mark. The payroll record for Capt. Robeson's first trip was for 64 men. It covered a period of 10 days ending 2 Oct 1838, when the men were discharged. The payroll record for Capt. Roberson's second trip was for 57 men. It covered the period from 30 Oct 1838, when the men were mustered, to 17 Nov 1838, when they were discharged.

It is unlikely Hiram or Martin ever saw any real action in connection with the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, which was concentrated in Caldwell, Daviess and Ray Counties. The mustering of the Cole County Militia on or about September 23, 1838 appears to have been the result of Gov. Lilburn W. Bogg's 18 Sep 1838 order mobilizing 2000 troops, which was in response to reports from Militia commanders of conflicts between Mormons and vigilantes in Daviess County. But on September 24, 1838, after Gov. Boggs had ridden to Boonville to prepare to lead the troops into western Missouri, he received word from Militia commanders in Daviess County that the outbreak of disturbances had been contained. Thereupon, he directed all troops called out by his 18 September order be discharged.

Nor does Captain Roberson's second trip seem likely to have engaged his men in combat. The mobilization of 30 Oct 1838 appears to have resulted from Gov. Bogg's infamous "extermination order" of 27 Oct 1838, which was issued in response to reports of renewed Mormon depredations and the attack by Mormon troops on Militia forces at Crooked River in Ray County. In that order to General Clark, Gov. Boggs declared, "[t]he Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace -- their outrages are beyond all description." Events came quickly to a head at Far West, Caldwell County, the stronghold of Mormon settlements. By 30 Oct, Missouri Militia troops had gathered on the edge of Far West. Demands for unconditional surrender were made on 31 Oct and about this time the Mormons in Far West learned that the Missouri Militia had attacked another settlement at Haun's Hill on the eastern edge of Caldwell County and the reports were that it was a massacre. Facing superior forces and the threat of extermination, Joseph Smith on 1 Nov instructed his people to surrender. Since the surrender took place only two days after Captain Roberson's men from Cole County had been activated, it seems unlikely they were involved in the events in Caldwell County. If they ever even made it to Caldwell County, it seems likely their role would have been limited to policing the surrender.

Those interested in why the Mormons and western Missourians became embroiled in conflict and ultimately war, ending with the surrender and expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri, should read Stephen C. LeSueur's book, The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri. It is a scholarly, objective work, which finds plenty of shared blame for what happened. With each side believing it was the aggrieved party and with ever escalating retaliations, it had all the earmarks of the modern day strife in Northern Ireland, the Balkans and the Palestinian West Bank. There is a saying that those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. I don't think knowing history makes much of a difference. Human nature being what it is, history repeats, period.

4. Census: 1840, Cole County, Missouri. 8

Household of Hiram Strong: 1 male under 5, 2 males 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 30-40; 1 female under 5, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 30-40.

Hiram is presumed to be the male age 30-40.

5. Deed: 1849, Cole County, Missouri. 9

Dated Feb 1849, Filed 26 Feb 1849, Bk I:165
Richard Morris and Elizabeth his wife of Moniteau County to Hiram Strong; $250 for (i) the NW (fractional) 1/4 [and] the W1/2 of the NE1/4 of Sec. 31, Twp. 44, Range 13, containing 109.10 acres, and (ii) the E1/2 of the NW1/4 of Sec. 36, Twp. 44N, Range 14W, containing 80 acres.

6. Land Patent: 1849, Cole County, Missouri. 10

Dated 30 Mar 1849
Hiram Strong purchased the SW1/4 of the NW1/4 of Sec. 10, Twp. 43-N, Range 13-W, containing 38.43 acres.

7. Deed: 1849, Cole County, Missouri. 9

Dated 21 Jun 1849, Filed 13 Aug 1849, Bk I:117
Hiram Strong and Rebecca his wife to Charles Ring; $500 for (i) the NE1/4 of the NE1/4 of Sec. 9, Twp. 43, Range 13, (ii) the NW1/4 of the NW1/4 of Sec. 10, Twp. 43, Range 13, (iii) the SE1/4 of the SW1/4 of Sec. 3, Twp. 43, Range 13, (iv) the NW1/4 of the SW1/4 of Sec. 3, Twp. 43, Range 13, and (v) the SW1/4 of the NW1/4 of Sec. 10, Twp. 43, Range 13. [Transcribed signatures show Rebecca, but not Hiram, signed by her mark.]

[Note that the documents pertaining to the acquisition of parcel (ii) have not been located. See Events for Rebecca Scrivner Strong for the acquisition of parcel (iv).]

8. Deed: 1849, Cole County, Missouri. 9

Dated 21 Aug 1849, Filed 19 Mar 1850, Bk I:236
Hiram Strong and Rebecca his wife to Thomas J. Scott; $250 for (i) the E1/2 of the NW1/4 of Sec. 36, Twp. 44, Range 14, containing 80 acres, and (ii) the NW fractional 1/4 and the W1/2 of the NE1/4 of Sec. 31, Twp. 44, Range 13, containing 109.10 acres.

[These and the other 1849 sales appear to be in preparation for moving to Texas. The acknowledgment for filing for this last of the deeds was made in person on 21 Aug 1849, after which they presumably, together with Martin and Margaret Strong, moved to Collin County, Texas, at least for a short time.]

9. Census: 1850, Newton County, Missouri. 1

Dated 31 Aug 1850
Dwelling 39, Family 39
Hiram Strong, age 41, male, farmer, born in Tennessee
Rebecca Strong, age 41, female, born in Tennessee
John Strong, age 18, male, farmer, born in Illinois
Eli Strong, age 17, male, farmer, born in Illinois
Mary Strong, age 14, female, born in Missouri
Andrew Strong, age 12, male, born in Missouri
Nancy Strong, age 10, female, born in Missouri
James Strong, age 8, male, born in Missouri
Moses Strong, age 6, male, born in Missouri
Margaret Strong, age 4, female, born in Missouri
Sarah Strong, age 1, female, born in Missouri


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Hiram married Rebecca SCRIVNER, daughter of Moses SCRIVNER and Nancy HENLEY.1 (Rebecca SCRIVNER was born about 1809 in Smith County, Tennessee and died after 1870 in probably Moniteau County, Missouri 11.)


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Sources


1 1850 Census, Newton County, Missouri, FHL Film No. 443,616, Pages 323B-324A (Neosho Twp., Dwelling 39, Family 39).

2 Letter from Lawson Scrivner of Eldorado County, California to Joel Stinson of Victoria County, Texas, dated 15 May 1851. Transcribed 5 Apr 1991 by Bruce G. Davis of Houston, Texas, a great great grandson of Joel and Polly Stinson (copy of transcription and original letter provided by Doris Scrivner Collier). Lawson was the brother of Joel Stinson's wife, Polly, and a first cousin of Rebecca Scrivner Strong, wife of Hiram, and Margaret Scrivner Strong, wife of Martin.

3 James Robert Rolff, Strong Family of Virginia and Other Southern States (Published by James Robert Rolff, Oak Forest, Illinois, 1982), FHL Call No. 929.273 St 88r, FHL Microfiche No. 6,100,949, Chapter 11, Pages 220-234. Jim's e-mail address is jrolff@cox.net

4 Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States, General Land Office Records, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Document No. 9099.

5 Deed Records, Cole County, Missouri, Vols. B-C, 1833-1839, FHL Film No. 901,450.

6 Naomi Emmich, transcriber, Cole County, MO Militia Pay Rolls, ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/mo/cole/military/militia.txt.

7 Stephen C. LeSueur, The 1838 Morman War in Missouri (University of Missouri Press, Columbia, Missouri, 1987).

8 1840 Census, Cole County, Missouri, FHL Film No. 014,855, Page 93. The FHC index for the 1840 census for Missouri identifies the only Strong entry for Cole County as Hardin Strong. After examining the actual census film, I have concluded this is Hiram Strong.

9 Deed Records, Cole County, Missouri, Vols. H-I, 1847-1851, FHL Film No. 901,453.

10 Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States, General Land Office Records, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Document No. 26784.

11 1870 Census, Moniteau County, Missouri, FHL Film No. 552,292, Page 420 (Moreau Twp, Dwelling 29, Family 30).


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