MESSAGE
FROM PEG
My
name is Peggy Stringer Lester. I was born and raised in Washington Co, VA
about two hours from Ashe Co. NC. My
family migrated into Washington Co. VA from Ashe Co., NC between 1850-1854.
I
am trying to trace my Stringer ancestors. My line of Stringers came from
Ireland and migrated into middle VA and on into Caswell Co, NC. My 4 Great
Grandfather Edward Stringer was born 1698/1702.
He was first found in York Co., VA and later in Louisa Co. VA where he
is found in several deeds and other documents.
He married 1. Frances Blackstone and 2. Judith (last name unknown).
It is believed that Frances Blackstone died in Louisa Co. between 1748
and 1752. This is determined
because of early deeds, which carried Frances' name, and later deeds on which
she was not listed.
Edward
remarried to Judith but the date is not known.
We first found Judith listed as Edward’s wife in deeds in Goochland
and Albemarle Counties, VA in 1761. Edward
and Judith and their family migrated to NC from VA. They
may have stopped in SC before moving on to NC as some of Edward’s children
were living in SC. He left a will in Caswell Co. NC (formerly part of Orange
County) written March 10, 1778 and probated June 1779. He named his wife
Judith, sons Reuben (My 3 Great Grandfather) unsure which one of Edwards wives
was his Mother at this time but believe it was Frances Blackstone); Limeledge
married 1. Anny Bly, 2. Jenny Reed, 3. Elizabeth (Betsy) Scott. He died in
Casey Co., KY about 1812; James who was last known to be in Caswell Co., NC;
William married Susannah, last name unknown, and died in Montgomery Co., KY
about 1830; and Edmund, by Edward’s first marriage, married Susannah,
possibly Lovell, and died in Bullitt Co., KY in 1821; daughter Fanny married a
Southerland and was last found mentioned in her Fathers will; Mary Ann married
John Reeves after the death of her father and died in NC before 1799; Agnes
married Robert Whitlock and died in Union district, SC; Tabitha who married
Henry Peed and died in Beaufort Co., NC; Lucia who married an Unknown
Browning; Frances, by his first marriage, married 1. David Via (sometimes
spelled Viers), and 2. John Edde or Eddy.
Frances died in VA between 1791/99; a daughter Elizabeth by his first
wife, who was married to Nicholas Gentry, died ca. 1769 in Louisa Co., VA.
Elizabeth preceded Edward in death and was not mentioned in his will.
A granddaughter, Sarah Stringer, mentioned in Edward’s will is
believed to have been the daughter of Edmund and Susannah.
Reuben E. Stringer was my 3 Great Grandfather (I believe the E. could have
been for Edward but not proven). He
was born in VA sometime before 1755. Recently
found court records from August Co. dated 25 August 1764, order book 8,
involving Reuben and David Via makes us believe he was born before 1750 and
that he could have been the child of Frances not Judith. Also we have his
first child born in 1770 making it seem that he would have been born before
1750. This has yet to be proven.
Reuben was High Sheriff of Greenville, SC sworn in for two years on
Aug. 20, 1787. Bond was given by Ambrose Blackburn, James Blessengame, and
Reuben Stringer in the amount of 1500 lb. lawful money.
I have a copy of this record. On July 16, 1787 Reuben sold two hundred
ac. of land lying on the north side of Suluda River which was an original land
grant to Reuben dated Jan. 21, 1785. The deed was signed by Reuben and his
wife Elizabeth (last name unknown). I also have a copy of the land grant.
Reuben bought 200 ac. of land in Wilkes Co., NC in what was later to become
Ashe Co., NC. He was in the 1800 census of Ashe Co. listed as having four sons
and four daughters. We believe
Jesse Stringer who married Tempy Griffin and who died in Pulaski Co., KY in
1857 was his son; Edward Stringer as born in SC and migrated to Hickman Co.,
TN where he died sometime before 1845 when his estate was settled.
He was married at least twice - once we believe to Rhoda Warren in SC
and another wife married in TN was an Indian lady.
There
has been a third marriage mentioned but I have no proof of this. He was the
Father of the Reuben who was also in TN, and who married Jane and migrated to
Lawrence Co., MO; William Stringer was born in SC and died in Pulaski Co., KY
probably between the 1840 and 1850 census. We do not know the name of his wife
but his children settled in Pulaski Co.; There was a female child born
1774/1784 shown in the 1800 Ashe Co. census that we have yet to account for;
His daughter Susannah Stringer moved to Pulaski Co., KY where she married
Samuel Burton. In her death
record of December 13, 1856 in Pulaski Co. she is shown as the daughter of
Reuben and Elizabeth; We also believe David Stringer who was in Pulaski Co.,
KY was the son of Reuben although we have not been able to prove it.
David married 1.Susan
Kirkham, 2. Nancy Vance, and 3. Sarah Wilson. He died 1840 in Pulaski Co; John
Stringer born 1781 in Wilkes Co., NC and died after the 1850 census in Ashe
Co. NC was my 2 Great Grandfather. He
was married to Susannah Baker; Robert Stringer was born May 4, 1785 in SC and
was in Pulaski Co., KY where he married Mary (Polly) Burton.
He moved to TN and I believe Reuben also moved from KY to TN at this
time. They were found living near
Edward Stringer, the son of Reuben. Robert
died in 1852 in Johnson Co., AR; Elizabeth Stringer born 1790 married John
Hiley Walker in TN and she died March 12, 1824 in Nashville, TN. She is shown
as the daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Stringer. At this time these are all
of the children of Reuben and Elizabeth we can account for although there
should be another daughter according to the 1800 census.
Reuben sold his land in Ashe Co. in 1804, 200 ac to Jacob Baker by oath
of Thomas Calloway. He is found
in the Pulaski Co., KY census with his family in 1810 and sometime between
1810 and 1820 he and Robert, his son who was also in Pulaski Co., KY, moved
with their families to TN where Reuben and Elizabeth were in the 1820 census
of Hickman Co., TN living near Edward, another son.
Robert Stringer had a daughter Jane Plunkett who possessed a family
Bible. This Bible was in a fire
and partially destroyed but the births and deaths survived.
In this Bible we find the deaths of Reuben and Elizabeth Stringer in
Hickman Co., TN. Elizabeth died
October 10, 1823 and Reuben died October 17 of 1823. If not for this Bible
record we would not have their death records as Hickman Co records for these
years were burned.
John
Stringer was my 2 Great Grandfather. He married Susannah Baker the daughter of
Morris Baker and Jane Smith. It
is believed that Morris Baker was the son of James Baker.
Jane Smith was the daughter of Hugh Smith and Janetta. John and
Susannah were married ca.1804. They
were in the 1810 and 1820 census of Ashe Co., NC, in Wilkes Co., NC in the
1830 census, and back in Ashe Co. in 1840 and 1850.
They probably died between 1850 and 1860.
There is a record in the New River Notes of the settlement of the
estate of John Stringer and his Grandson Cameron was listed as executor.
They made their home in the Laurel Springs section of Ashe Co., NC.
John and Susannah had several children namely, Morris B. (possibly
Baker) Stringer who married Sarah Bare. They
lived in Ashe Co., NC; Elizabeth Stringer who was the Mother of William
Stringer in Lumpkin Co., GA and who later married Edmund Burgess; Margaret
Stringer who married William (Billy Buck) Baldwin and; Jefferson Stringer who
married 1. Polly (last name unknown) 2. Catherine Johnson, and 3. Milly
Sheets; Jane Stringer who married George Laxton (not yet proven but believed
by her descendants to be their daughter);; Reuben Stringer who married Sarah
Edge; Winston H. Stringer (my great grandfather) who married 1. Elizabeth
Murry and 2. Mary Murry; Frances (not yet proven to be their daughter) who
married 1. Unknown Wyatt and 2. James Calloway; Charlotte (Charity) Stringer
married Baker Williams; Adeline Stringer was found in the 1850 census with her
family but no further record found; Madison Stringer was in the 1850 census
with John and Susannah but am not sure if he was a son or a grandson. There
was an Elizabeth Stringer who was the Mother of Gaither Stringer but we cannot
find if she was a daughter or a daughter in law of John and Susannah.
John's
son Winston H. ( middle name was possibly Henderson) Stringer was my Great
Grandfather) was born in Ashe Co., NC about 1822 and married 1.Elizabeth
(Betty) Murry (my Great Grandmother) and 2. Mary Murry.
Winston and Elizabeth were in the Ashe Co., NC census in 1850 and in
Washington Co., VA in 1860. Elizabeth
died about 1863/64. Winston, his
sons Thomas and Jefferson were all in the Civil War in the 37th VA Inf. Co. F.
Army of Northern, VA. Winston was released after one year possibly due to the
death of his wife Elizabeth (Betty). Winston moved from Washington Co., VA
after 1860 and lived in Grayson Co., VA with his second wife Mary and his
children. He was in the 1870 and
1880 census of Grayson Co. VA and was in the 1889 tax record of Grayson Co.
Since he was also in the Soldiers
Record of Pulaski Co., KY in 1890 it is believed he went to Pulaski Co. in
1889/90. He was listed as Winston H. Stringer in 1890 in Pulaski Co. and his
home was listed as Somerset. KY. His
second wife was not with him in KY so we do not know if she had died or just
what happened to her. He did take
his Grandson William Rouse, whom he had raised, with him and also Leander
Stringer, believed to be his stepson who took the name of Stringer, was also
there. Winston died in Pulaski
Co., KY in 1896. He is believed
to be buried in the Freedom Road Cemetery in Somerset but no stone can be
found there. Winston’s children were Thomas Henderson Stringer, my
Grandfather, born 1839 in Ashe Co., NC; Jefferson A. Stringer born ca. 1843
Ashe Co., NC married Mary Catherine Watts of Middlesex Co., VA.
He died November 19, 1870 in Middlesex
Co., VA; Catherine (Katie) Stringer born ca. 1846 in Ashe Co. NC married
William Franklin Roberts in Nashville, TN.
She died in Anniston, Calhoun Co., AL April 20, 1881 and is buried in
the Oxford Cemetery there.; Francis A. B. (Frank) Stringer was in the Civil
War in Co. B. 50th VA Inf. He died 20th Nov 1901 in Marion, IN. and
is buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery plot 868. His gravestone has the initials
“USMC”; Harrison B. (Harry) Stringer enlisted in the Civil War at the age
of 16 and was in Co. B 30th Battalion Virginia Sharpshooters.
He was released on oath 31 May 1865 from Ft. Delaware. No further
information on Harry; Nancy Jane Stringer born ca. 1849 married Reeves Osborn
and lived in NC; Margaret Ann Stringer, aka Isabella, born October 19, 1854
Washington Co., VA married Nickerson Rouse. Margaret Ann died January 10, 1878
in Washington Co., VA; Mary Stringer was age 18 and was living with Winston
and Mary in the 1880 Grayson Co., VA census.
She could be either the daughter of Elizabeth or Mary but I tend to
believe she belonged to Elizabeth and that Elizabeth died at the time of her
birth. I have no further knowledge of Mary although there was a Mary Stringer
living with a family in Tazewell Co., VA who was the right age for this Mary.
Thomas
Henderson Stringer, Sr., my Grandfather, was born 6/25/1839 in Ashe Co., NC.
He married 1. Nancy Clark Glenn 2. Margaret Glossip, and 3. Gertrude
(last name unknown). His children by wife No. 1 were Lula Stringer who married
Lembert Myers; Molly Stringer who married William Goodman;
Elizabeth Stringer who married Thomas Seagraves; and Frank Stringer
whose Mother died at his birth. Frank
was adopted out and was raised in Mountain City, TN.
Children by his 2nd wife (my Grandmother) were Frances Dora
Stringer married Ed Davis; Lola Virginia Stringer married Abijah Crutchfield;
Thomas Henderson Stringer, Jr. married America Booth Stringer (his brother’s
widow; Phillip Snapp Stringer
married Mary Howlett; Daisy Rebecca Stringer married William Kelly; Richard
Baldwin Stringer married Nell French; John William Stringer married America
Booth; Paul Jones Stringer married Renda Mae Lester); Alice Pauline Stringer
married Ray Poole. Thomas H. Stringer, Sr. was in the 37th VA. Inf.
Co. F Army of Northern VA, Glade Spring Volunteers.
He fought in such battles as Kernstown, McDowell, Antietiam, Maryland,
Manassas, Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorville, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg,
Horseshoe Wilderness, Winchester, Harpers Ferry, Purcellville, and the Seven
Days Battle of Richmond. He
served with Stonewall Jackson until the day Jackson died. He was captured at
the Bloody Angle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA and was sent to Ft. Delaware,
MD an then on to PA. He was
released on oath at the end of the war. His second wife Margaret died
9/28/1905 in Washington Co., VA. He
married 3. Gertrude (last name unknown) and lived for a time in Greenville, TN
before returning to Washington Co., VA. He
had a daughter Ruth by Gertrude. Thomas
died in Greenville, TN 6/12/1921 while visiting Gertrude who had returned
there while he was a patient in the Old Soldiers Home in Richmond, VA.
He was returned to Washington Co., VA and was buried in the Old Glade
Presbyterian Cemetery beside his second wife Margaret.
Thomas
Henderson Stringer, Jr. was my Father. He
was born in Washington Co., VA 2/19/1877 and died there 7/12/1960.
He married America Booth Stringer, the widow of his brother John, on
February 22, 1922. America and
John had five children James Raymond married Jean Smith; Johnnie married
Beulah Thompson; Frances married Sylvester Logan; Thomas married Marie
McConnell; and Clyde married Maxie Anderson. My Father and America had three
children Hugh Lee married Judy Cress; Joe married Willie Nickols; and Sarah
Margaret (Peggy) married Jack Lester.
Sarah
Margaret (Peggy) Lester born August 17,1929 married Jack C. Lester November
17, 1951 in Glade Spring, VA. Their
children are: Thomas Franklin born September 9, 1952 married Mary Jean Love
(children Thomas Ryan and John David); Martha born October 6, 1856; Jack H.
born August 5, 1961; and William (Bill) born April 26, 1967.
I
am seeking information on Frank Stringer who died in Marion, IN; Harry
Stringer who was last found on his release from Ft. Delaware in 1865; Mary who
was 18 in the 1880 census of Grayson Co., VA and who was living with Winston
and his second wife. The names I am interested in are Stringer, Baldwin, Murry,
Myers, Baker, Burton, Goodman, Rouse, Watts, and Roberts. Also on my
Mother’s family Booth, Crenshaw, Musslewhite, and Buchanan. Also I am trying
to find what happened to my Grandfather's widow Gertrude (Gertrude was his
third wife) last name is unknown who was last known to be in Mosheim. Greene
Co., TN. in June of 1921 and their daughter Ruth Stringer born Ca. 1909-11
last known to be in Greene Co., TN. in June of 1921.
I would love to hear from descendants of Edward, Reuben, John, or Winston
Stringer. Descendants of these families are in North Carolina, Virginia,
Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Washington State, KY, Ok, CA, AR, FL, IN, IL and
other states.
If you have any information or want to exchange information please e-mail me
at jlester@bvunet.net.
Please scroll down for a message from Jack.
A
MESSAGE FROM JACK
My name is Jack C. Lester. I was born April 4, 1922 in Lester's Cove located
in the extreme western part of Tazewell Co., Virginia. My Father was Benjamin
Harrison Lester and my Mother was Myrtle Belle Horne of Camp, Virginia. I am
looking for the ancestors of Jessy Luster (Lester) born ca. 1760-80 who was in
Tazewell Co., Va. in early 1800 until 1818-1819.
Jessy died in Tazewell Co. in 1818-19 according to existing records.
I am trying to find where he came from and who his parents were. Jessy
was married to Nancy (last name not known but could have been Drake or Turner)
who was last found in the 1860 census of Tazewell but I have been told she was
in the 1859 mortality list of Tazewell Co. Nancy was born in Maryland
according to the census records of Tazewell Co., VA. I am trying to find her
parents and place of origin. Jessy was listed in the 1810 Supplement Census of
Virginia found in the Smyth Co., VA Library. He is listed as living in
Tazewell Co., VA and as having one tithable. Nancy is in the regular 1810
census of Tazewell Co., VA. For
some reason Jessy was left off of this census but he was in the 1810
supplement census. Nancy was listed as head of the household from 1820
through 1860 census.
Jessy
bought 25 ac. of land from John Drake for $30.00.
This land was near John Drake’s property. Nancy was listed as owning
land near John Drake also but I have not found a deed for this land. In 1843
Jessy’s land was sold to Meshach Steele by his (Jessy's) heirs who were
listed by name. Nancy was not listed as an heir. John Drake's daughter
Margaret "Peggy" Drake married to Thomas Lester, son of Jessy. John
Drake married Martha Lester a daughter of Abner Luster/Lester and Rebecca
Arthur of Montgomery Co., Va. The Drake's and Lester's lived on the North side
of Clinch Mountain on both sides of the Tazewell-Russell County line.
Jessy and Nancy had nine children that I can account for. They were Mary
"Polly" Lester born ca. 1801 who married Squire Johnson and lived in
Tazewell Co., VA; Thomas Lester born ca. 1803 married Margaret Drake and lived
in Tazewell Co., VA; Harvey Lester born ca. 1805-06 married Catherine Bishop
and migrated to Lawrence Co., KY where he died; Martha "Patsy"
Lester born ca. 1808 married 1. Moses Asbury and 2. Isaac Johnson and lived in
Tazewell Co., VA; Sarah Lester born ca.1810 married James Bostic and lived at
Paint Lick, Tazewell Co., VA; Lindsey Lester born ca. 1811 married 1. Margaret
Gillespie in Tazewell co., VA and 2. Nancy Sturgill Pennington in Lawrence Co.
KY where Lindsey lived until his death; James Henry "Jimmy" Lester
(my Great-grandfather) born 1812 married Jerusha Jane Asbury, there are four
other Lester’s associated with this family but I do not know how they fit
into the family; David G. Lester born ca. 1820 married 1. Matilda Steele and
2. Mary Ellen Essary; Elihu born ca. 1821 married Malinda Asbury.
He was listed as a nephew in Margaret Drake Lester’s will; Timothy
(Major) who was born about 1826 and married Charlotte Charity Blankenship; and
Rachel who was born ca. 1827 and married Isaac Young.
Nancy had three of Elihu’s children and also Rachel living with her
in one census. Rachel listed
Nancy and Jessy as her parents in her marriage record although Jessy had been
deceased about six or seven years. She
could have been a Granddaughter. If
anyone has any information on these Lester’s I would appreciate hearing from
you.
My
Great Grandfather was James Henry (Jimmy or Uncle Jimmy as some called him)
Lester born June 13, 1812 in Paint Lick, Tazewell Co., VA and died April 14,
1888. He is buried in the Lester
Cemetery in Lester’s Cove, Tazewell Co, VA. He married Jerusha Jane Asbury
born September 15, 1817 died December 30, 1891, the daughter of James Asbury
and Catherine Francisco, in September of 1834.
Jerusha is also buried in the Lester Cemetery in Lester’s Cove.
Their children were an Infant girl who was born and died in 1835; Ellen
Elizabeth Lester born ca. 1836 who married Robert Blair Mitchell and went out
west; Angeline Gillespie Lester born March 1837 who married Fullen Spiller
Lester; John Gratton Lester born July 1839 who married Elizabeth (Betsy)
Lester daughter of David G. Lester. John
G. is buried in Hopewell, VA; Thomas A. Lester born October 19, 1842 married
1. Sarah Serena Steele and 2. Louise Lipford; Jesse L. Lester born ca,
1843 married Mary L. Smith; Rees B. Lester born ca, 1845 married Jerusha Jane
Lester; Amanda Evaline Lester born December 2, 1847 married William Dale
Lester; Mary (Drake?) Lester born ca. 1852.
Mary was blind; James Henry Lester born March 21, 1856 married Eliza
Witten Deskins; and Nancy Jane Lester born August 12, 1858 married Allen P.
Lester.
James
Henry (called Henry) Lester, was my Grandfather.
He was born March 21, 1856 in Lester’s Cove at Tazewell Co., VA and
died March 1931 in Lester’s Cove. He
married Eliza Witten Deskins born September 15 1817 died December 30, 1891,
daughter of George Washington Deskins and Wyrinda Parmelia Rader.
Henry is buried buried in the Lester Cemetery at Lester’s Cove in
Tazewell Co., VA, and Eliza is buried in the Maplelawn Cemetery in Tazewell,
VA. Their children were Baby Boy
Lester born and died 1885; Wyrene Permelia Lester born June 1, 1886
married Clifford Dudley Bird. She
died November 10, 1981 in Portsmouth, VA; Benjamin Harrison Lester born
November 17, 1888 Lester’s Cove, Tazewell Co., VA died January 3, 1933 in
Lester’s Cove. He is buried in the Maplelawn Cemetery in Tazewell Co., VA.
He married 1. Myrtle Belle Horne, and 2. Sarah Chapman; Alma Margaret Lester
born August 2, 1893 Lester’s Cove died May 21, 1987 in Danville, VA. She
married Oscar Mustard; Mary Mozelle Lester born November 10, 1896 died August
2, 1994 in Abingdon, Washington Co., VA.
She married Frank Bundy Lester; Rufus Crockett (Joe) Lester born April
24, 1899 Lester’s Cove died October 17, 1945 Bluefield, WV.
He married Ruth Brandsford; Lucille Alise Lester born August 27, 1902
died November 25, 1980 Portsmouth, VA. She
married James Harrison Howard, Sr.
Benjamin
Harrison Lester was my Father. He
married 1. Mrytle Belle Horne, the daughter of James Emmett Martin Horne and
Susan Ellen DeBord. Myrtle came
to Lester’s Cove to teach school and met Ben and they were married.
Their children were Benjamin Harrison Lester Jr. born January 15, 1918
Lester’s Cove and died December 29, 1989 in Richlands, Tazewell Co., VA;
Virginia Belle Lester born February 12, 1919 Lester’s Cove married Eugene
Brown; Elizabeth Ann Lester born May 28, 1920 married Robert M. Ascue.
Elizabeth died 15 Mar, 2005; Jackie Coogan Lester born April 4, 1922
married Sarah Margaret (Peggy) Stringer.
Myrtle Belle died in Camp, Smyth Co., VA on June 29, 1923 when Jackie
Coogan was 13 months old. She is
buried at Camp. Ben married 2. Sarah Chapman. Their children were Ruth Ellen
Lester born April 19, 1925 Lester’s Cove married 1. Fred Yost and 2. Lloyd
Lee; Pauline Lester born November 21, 1927 Lester’s Cove died November 25,
1977 Denver CO; Harry Lee Lester born January 7, 1930 Lester’s Cove died May
7, 1997 Albuquerque, NM. He
married Helen Marie Center; Herbert Dawes Lester born 10 Oct 1932 in
Lester’s Cove. He died 7 June, 1978 in Phoenix, AR.
He married Doris Pelletier.
Jack
Coogan Lester married Sarah Margaret Stringer November 17, 1951 at the
Methodist Parsonage at Glade Spring, VA.
Their children are Thomas Franklin Lester born September 9, 1952
married Mary Jean Love (children Thomas Ryan born November 8, 1991 and John
David born February 28, 1995); Martha Virginia Lester born October 6, 1955;
Jack Harrison Lester born August 5, 1961, and William Allen (Bill) Lester born
April 26, 1967.
I
would be interested in receiving information on the ancestors of Jessy and
Nancy Luster/Lester and any of their descendants. The family names I am
interested in are Lester, Johnson, Bishop, Asbury, Horne, DeBord and any other
family related names.
If you have any information please e-mail me at jlester@bvunet.net