Person:Jonathan Strickland (2)

"Jonathan was a millwright by trade and his work brought him to the Delaware River at the present day border of Pike County, Penn., and Orange County, New York. He probably moved to that area soon after his marriage to Susannah Stowe on November 5, 1761, at Granville, Massachusetts. He operated an up and down mill on the river near Shohola Falls. This was at the point where the Delaware River was crossed most frequently of any place north of Stroudsburg since it offered the safest passage. The great majority of New Englanders and New Yorkers going westward chose this route. Consequently Jonathan did a brisk business.

"As a prominent resident of the area Jonathan supported various revolutionary organizations. He was a member of the Allegiance to the Revolutionary Committee of Orange County and the "Pledge of Association" formed in 1775 in Port Jervais, New York. He wa a member of the "Committee of Safety" organized in Orange County, N. Y., in 1775. This was the governing body prior to organization of the Continental Congress. As a member of that committee Jonathan acted as overseer of highways.^[3]

Before 1790, he crossed Delaware River and settled in Upper Smithfield. In Deed Book 1, it shows property near “Reamers Creek” and a mill owned with John Jr. and Jeremiah Rosencrants (his in-laws).^[4]

"Jonathan was at Stone Tavern, Penn., in 1790 according to the census of that year. He moved to Strickland Hill near Springville, Penn., in about 1806^[5]

"Jonathan Strickland, Sr., came from Waterbury, Conn., in 1808 and settled on the Meshoppen Creek, in the eastern part of Springville, the present [1887] residence of his grandson Theron, where he died in 1816, his wife, Susanna, having died the year previous. Two of his sons stopped at Easton, Pa.; another son, Jonathan Jr. (1772-1853), married Polly Sutton) 1772-1866), sister of Samuel Sutton, Sr., an early settler of Springville, and in 1812 came from Russel Hill, Wyoming County, and settled on the farm where Samuel Shook now resides, with a family of eight children. Two of his daughters also resided in Springville; one married Samuel Sutton, Sr., and the other was the wife of Jerimiah Rosencrant. His youngest son, Sylvester, came with the parents to this homestead." A footnote states, "The political affiliations of the Strickland family to the present generation have been with the Whig and Republican parties." ^[6]

"The deaths of the others [first adult settlers] occured thus:-- From 1810-20, ... James Rosencrants, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Strickland, Sr., ..." ^[7]

Text References

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Rev. Garford F. Williams. Jonathan Strickland of Simsbury, CT. (Susquehanna County Historical Society Newsletter, 6(1), May 1995).
2. ↑ Strickland, Kenneth Fennimore, and Garford Flavel Williams. Descendants of John Strickland, early American pioneer. (United States?: s.n., 197-?).
3. ↑ Strickland, Kenneth Fennimore. Descendents of John Strickland, Early American Pioneer
4. ↑ Williams, Rev. Garford F. Jonathan Strickland of Simsbury, CT
5. ↑ Strickland, Kenneth Fennimore. Descendents of John Strickland, Early American Pioneer
6. ↑ Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville. Centennial History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Note the timing asserted here is incorrect given census records show Jonathan in Smithfield in 1790.
7. ↑ Blackman, Emily C. History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania