Person:Edward Strode (3)

Edward STRODE was born about 1665 in England, Somerset, Downside. Not a good source for this, ? birth and parentage till further info. He died in 1749 in USA, Virginia, Frederick Co.. Edward Strode (Stroud) settled on Opequon Creek and died in Frederick Co., VA, 1749. ("Virginia Wills and Administrations," by Torrance.)

May have been born on 7 Feb 1673 or in 1663

Taken from Strode Family, by Vic Ledger: "Elston quoting Hutchins from The History and Antiquities of the County Dorset says, 'After the accession in 1691 (correct date 13 February 1689) of Queen Mary and King William to the English Throne, Edward Strode refused to take the oath they demanded of him, and was fined forty pounds. The following year another order was issued by the Justice of the Quarter Session. This order was that the oath be administered again, and if Edward Strode still refused, he should be committed to the gaol.' Perry uses the same quote but note the error in date of accession to the throne in both cases. Neither checked their history books. "The preponderance of evidence is that an Edward Strode, wife and children fled England and went to France and/or Holland. We know it was not Edward Strode (1630-1703) because he died in England in 1703. It must have been Edward (born c.1665), son of Edward of Downside, that fled England. "It is very likely that Edward Strode (born c.1665) with his wife fled to France or Holland in the reign of James II (1685-1688). The Strodes were obviously strong Protestants. In addition, Edward of Downside's various episodes with the Duke of Monmouth and possible complicity of Edward (his son) could have been more than enough reason for him to flee 'with his wife, children and kinfolk.' "If Edward fled England after William and Mary attained the throne (1689), as indicated by Hutchins, there may have been other circumstances that encouraged such action as a fine and threat to send Edward to jail. Obviously, the Strodes were non-conformist and rebellious. "Reports vary as to the destination of the fleeing Strodes. Some contend they went to France to join the Huguenots and, due to persecution, later fled to Holland prior to coming to the New World on the Paysay. Numerous accounts written by various U.S. descendants refer to 'Hollander' or Huguenots (French Protestants). Tradition is not proof, but when accounts from widely differing sources make similar references, there is a strong likelihood of a shred of truth. "It is agreed, I believe, that Edward, father of the Strode children -- George, Samuel, William, Edward, and probably of Martha and maybe Jeremiah, and kinfolk Barnard -- died on the Paysay (bound for America) shortly before docking at port (probably Philadelphia) and was buried in New Jersey. "This voyage must have been in 1697, though tradition says 1703. The 1697 date seems the most logical, given Edward Strode's (1630-1703) will dated 24 September 1697 referring to 'my son, Edward, deceased.' In addition, Elston quotes from Administration of Estates Record Bk. A 1683-1700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that 'the estate of Edward Stroud of Philadelphia, intestate, granted 12 October 1699 to George Strode, chief creditor and next of kin.' "We do not know if and how George Strode was related to the orphans. George Strode was born about 1660 and was taxed on 300 acres in Concord Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1689. "The four male orphans, according to the family history of Edward Strode, would have been 7 to 12 years of age in 1697. Martha and Jeremiah's ages were unknown but probably younger. Barnard, probably a nephew of Edward, was provided for by Nicholas Depui, living at Amwell, New Jersey. The other orphans may have been in New Jersey too. But Elston feels they were bound out after they landed until of legal age near the Strodes in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is just across the Delaware river from New Jersey. "...In The Gosney Family by Georgia G. Winda, 'The Bryans and a family named Strode who were Hollanders but who were living in France, were Protestants and had to flee from their home on account of religious persecution; came to America on the same boat. The Strode parents died on the voyage, leaving three children: Martha, Jeremiah and Samuel. They were in Chester County when Morgan Bryan married Martha Strode in 1719.' Note this quote fails to list all the orphan Strodes that fled Europe. "Elston feels strongly that (c.1690-c.1795) was on the tax lists of Chester County, Pennsylvania from 1718 to 1735. The limiting dates fit together better than could be hoped for. Edward probably was born about 1690, came to the tax lists in 1718-1721 in New Garde, in Marlborough in 1722-35, and lists 150 acres in Chester County, Pennsylvania 29 January 1733. "Some of the Strodes, Bryans and others apparently left Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1734/35 when they secured a 100,000 acre grant in Frederick County, Virginia, later to become Berkeley County, Virginia and still later Berkeley County, West Virginia. "The author believes the family history (given here) of Edward Strode is the most probable. Traditions given in numerous accounts say 'were descended from Edward Strode, Esq. of England.' Also, the names in the Virginia family are remarkably similar to those traced in England. Their names are not common (other than William) in the English Strodes of Devon, famous for the 'one of the five members' of the Long Parliament. The third reason is that the Virginia family tradition in the coat of arms was 'sun, moon and star.' A main characteristic was the 'crescent' (moon) and 'etoille' (star). The Devonshire Strode's arms characteristically were three conies (rabbits)."

1. ↑ Brad Atherton web page, February, 2000.