Husband Capt. Martin Strong 1 2 3
Born: 20 Nov 1770 - East Windsor, Hartford Co, CT 1 3
Christened:
Died: 24 Mar 1858 - Erie, Erie Co, PA 3 4
Buried:
Father: Timothy Strong (1719-1803) 3
Mother: Abi Doudy (1742-1792) 3
Marriage: 10 Dec 1811 2 3
Other Spouse: Hannah Trask (1786-1807) 2 3 5 - 16 Jun 1805 3 4
Wife Sarah Drake 3 6
Born: 10 Sep 1778 - East Windsor, Hartford Co, CT 3
Christened:
Died: 15 Jan 1866 or 1867 6
Buried:
Father: Francis Drake ( - ) 6
Mother: [Unk] Webb ( - ) 3
Children
1 F Sarah Ann Strong 3 6 7
Born: 24 Sep 1812 3
Christened:
Died: Aft 1895
Buried:
Spouse: Bethuel Boyd Vincent (1803-1876) 8 9 10
Marr: 24 Jun 1834 3
2 M Francis Drake Strong 3 6
Born: 4 Apr 1814 - Waterford Twp, Erie Co, PA 3 6
Christened:
Died: May 1891 3
Buried:
Spouse: Annabel B. Vincent (1823-1910) 11
Marr: 13 Oct 1846 3
3 M Maj. Martin Strong 3 6
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Timothy Strong 3
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
5 F Lydia Webb Strong 3 6
Born: 26 Sep 1818 3
Christened:
Died: Bef 1884
Buried:
Spouse: Col. Thomas Brown Vincent ( - ) 2 3
6 M Landaff Strong 3 4
AKA: Dr. Laudaff Strong 6
Born: 30 Dec 1821 3
Christened:
Died: 13 Jul 1869 3
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Capt. Martin Strong
He was a surveyor, and came on foot and alone from Connecticut to Erie County, Pennsylvania, in 1795, bringing his instruments with him. He was a Captain in the State militia, and worked at his profession the greater part of his life. He surveyed much of the land southeast of the Susquehanna River, also for the Holland & Population Co., besides doing a good local business in same line.
He was born in East Windsor, Connecticut; having for that day received a good common school education, and full of energy, left his native place early in the spring of 1795 to seek and make a home for himself for life. His outfit was a compass and chain, being determined to be ready for a new country in any capacity, and on foot he first directed his course to the Wyoming Valley, on the North Branch of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, where his native State at that time claimed a large amount of territory; but not being satisfied with the prospects of surveying or procuring land there, he resolved to foot it to Presque Isle, and got to the Indian village at the mouth of Buffalo Creek (where the city of Buffalo, New York, now stands) in July, 1795. But one white man was then living there, and nothing inviting him to remain, he pushed on, and arrived at Presque Isle the last of July, 1795. On his arrival there, he found Thomas Rees, Esq., land agent, and Col. Seth Reed and family, living there in self-made habitations. Those two tents were the only habitations. A company of United States troops were cutting down the forest on Garrison Hill to build a stockade fort, under Capt. Russell Bissell. Gens. Ellicott and Irvine, with a corps of surveyors and engineers, were there to lay out the town of Erie, escorted and protected by a company of State militia commanded by Capt. John Grubb.
The Rutledges having been shot but a few days before by the Indians, as was alleged, it was deemed unsafe to be out much except when prepared for defense. Mr. Strong hired out at once to one of the residents at 50 cents a day, and was set at work to go into the woods to cut and hew planks (puncheons they were then called) to make a floor for a house, which he continued at several days until finished, and then found he must pay for his board, which was 75 cents per day, leaving him in debt 25 cents per day! He refused to pay the difference, and his compass and chain were taken and secreted until he would pay his bill, which soon brought him to terms, and he redeemed them. He then changed to the Holland Land Co.'s surveys, south of the old State Line, since known as the "triangle line," where he soon got employment as a surveyor. A misunderstanding existed between the population and the Holland Company as to their rights adjoining the said line. He was assured by Maj. Alden that to locate a tract in that district would be safe (which proved correct). He located there for life, made a rude habitation, and became a resident on the Summit, 840 feet above the level of Lake Erie, ten miles south of Presque Isle. There were not half a dozen families then living in what is now Erie County, and none near his location. He determined not to winter there alone. In the month of November, he left his rude home and started in a log canoe, made by himself at LeBoeuf Creek (now Waterford), and went down with the current to French Creek, and down that to the Allegheny to Pittsburgh, and, nothing offering to suit him, he offered himself at auction to the highest bidder to work faithfully, and he assured them he knew how to work, and asked who would give him the highest wages and board him? A good, honest yeoman was declared the highest bidder, at $3 per month and board for three months, which he cheerfully accepted, and served so well that his employer offered him 50 cents a month more to remain six months longer. But he declined the advance in wages, and returned by the way he had gone to his rude hut, where, in the spring of 1796, he commenced his pioneer life again, and in surveying and clearing land was unceasing in his efforts to procure a home for himself. In 1810, he purchased the tract north of him adjoining and removed on to that, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Mr. Huidekoper, the agent of the Holland Land Company, always employed Capt. Strong to survey, subdivide and set off, or designate old lines among their lands in Erie County as long as he was able to attend to it, and ever to his death had entire confidence in his ability and judgment and knowledge of the original lines and surveys. The early opening of the salt trade, and vast amount of hauling and travel incident thereto, made his location a sort of depot on the Summit, which made a public house of entertainment desirable and necessary. The locating and making the Erie & Waterford Turnpike past his door greatly added to the business, and during the war of 1812 his location had a successful amount of business there. His never-tiring industry and unceasing energy extended his domains, and cleared land far ahead of all others. His intelligence and social qualities made him friends with all who had intercourse with him. His industry and management were rewarded, and as early as 1830 he had some 800 acres of land paid for, with a very large improvement, good buildings, and more money at interest than any other farmer in Erie County.
When the First Presbyterian Church of Erie was built, Capt. Strong was the only man in Erie County that could lend the necessary money, $800.
He was always a great reader, and always ready to impart from his well-stored mind in conversation. He had a regular system of industry, economy and leisure in their proper places, and though his body long suffered and became impaired, the mind continued clear, bright and undisturbed to the end. After a residence of sixty-three years on the same farm where he located when there were not ten families living in this county, he died in his eighty-eighth year. He had lived to see the population increase to over 50,000 inhabitants, and all prosperous, and died respected and esteemed by a very large and extensive circle of friends and acquaintances.
Capt. Strong, in conversation in a circle of friends ten years before his death remarked: "That any person would think him a fool to make the selection he did, when the whole county was open to him." He said, "That was a mistake; he was not a fool, but he mis-judged in his selection, like many others, and spent the prime of his life in making him a home, and he thought it folly at that time of life to pull up and begin anew somewhere else."
He was born in East Windsor, Connecticut. He moved to Presque Isle (Erie), Erie County, Pennsylvania, in August, 1795, being then twenty-five years of age and unmarried. He purchased 400 acres of well located land, paying therefor, fifty cents per acre, and by a life of determined industry, cleared about 300 acres of it and added 200 acres to the original area. He left to two of his sons a farm of 600 acres, half of it cleared by his efforts and theirs. He was remarkable for his energy and for his many excellencies of character, also for his eccentricities. [GPHWP, 1523]