Places of residence: Amherst Co. Va, Simpson Co. Ky
Occupation: Farmer
Ky Tax list Simpson Co. 1819-1847. Absolom is alive 1830. Deceased by 17 Sept 1831.
1825 Court records in Simpson Co. Ky show Absolom and Celia. Court doc destroyed.
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V. ABSOLOM STRATTON came from Virginia and settled in Kentucky in the early part of the nineteenth century. In 1781 he was a Revolutionary soldier, and the war records at Richmond show that he was granted a pension. Among his descendants the belief is current that he was born in New Jersey; that he came from Virginia to Kentucky in company with five brothers, four of whom stopped in northern Kentucky, while one went on to Tennessee.
Absolom settled in Simpson County (orginally Warren Co). He married a Miss Ennis, in Virginia, on 16 Dec 1805. After her death he married Celia (Graham) Logan, in Kentucky, in 1822. He was a farmer, and worked also at the carpenter's trade. He belonged to the Baptist church. If he was brought up a Quaker he must have lost his birthright in the society when he became a soldier. He died in Simpson County, about 1831. Three years after his death his widow married Zachariah Morris, a Baptist minister, and was again left a widow in 1848. Later she went to Texas and died at the home of her son, in the spring of 1867, aged about 72 years.
*Source: "A Book Of Strattons", Volumes 1 & 2, compiled by Harriet Russell Stratton, copyright 1908, Vol I, pp 297-298
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This family was filed and approved into the Daughters of the American Revolution, #A779 #558584 and approved March 1997 by Frances Stratton.
*Source: Swanee@amaonline.com
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Absolom Stratton land grant certificate #2284 for 200 acres in Warren Co, KY on waters of Drakes Creek.
Source: Ann Daberko via Ed Phelps
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copies of documents in my possession:
Warren KY, Court Records 1797-1812
Page 75 Bill of Sale from John INNIS to Absalom Stratten and wife Winny Stratten, for $2.00, negro children Sarah and Tom.
The following was written in the Family Bible of Jean Stratton Norcross, daughter of Mark Strattan. This bible is owned by J.A. Hammonds and he graciously provided the following information from the bible:
In the front of the Bible she wrote: "Jean Norcross, her Bible given by her father Mark Strattan and brought out of London by her brother David Strattan in 1755."
Later, on the day of her father's funeral, she wrote:
"My father Mark Strattan departed this life the 3rd day of April in the year of our Lord 1759 in the 69th year of his age. Was buried the next Day having 8 children and 20 grandchildren who followed him to the grave (attended the funeral). He had upwards of fifty grandchildren in his time, he lived a married life upwards of 25 years. He was born at Marketharboroug, Leicestershire in the Kingdom of England and came to America in the year of our Lord 1702. He was buried at the New Schoolhouse lately erected on Robert Braddock's land in Evesham, County of Burlington by the consent of said Robert Braddock and other friends concerned therein -- being the first person laid in said burying ground."
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NOTES: In "A Book of Strattons", by Harriett Russell Stratton, (quoted heavily in my Stratton notes), she refers to a sketch written by Martha Cowperthwaite, great-grandaughter of Mark Stratton, entitled "A history of the burial of the first person in the Orthodox Friends Graveyard at Medford, N. J. She states that this was written many years after the death of Mark Stratten and the death of all of his children. My guess is that she was unaware of the above family bible, and came to the conclusion that Ms. Cowperthwaite's sketch was based upon "tradition" rather than fact. In light of the above family record, I suspect Ms. Cowperthwaite based her sketch on the family bible, not on tradition, and more credence should be lent to the fact that Mark Stratton did indeed come from Market Harborough, England.
There is also a reference to a family tradition that 4 brothers came from England. No proof of that, that I am aware of, but if we place Mark being born circa 1690 (based on his age of 69 in the year of his death 1759), and the family bible says he came here in 1702, he would only have been between 11-13 years old. (give or take a year on the birth year). We don't know if Emanuel, his brother, was older or younger, although based on his making a will as early as 1725, he may well have been older. It seems likely that Emanuel would have come with Mark, and Mark was a younger brother. So, until further proof, I would guess that at least 2 brothers came directly from England.
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In the autumn of 1713 two daughters of Timothey Hancock married Strattons. These two young men, Emanuel Stratton and Mark Stratton, were brothers.
*Source: "A Book of Strattons, by Harriet Russell Stratton,
Chattanooga, Tennessee; 1908, Vol 1, p. 239
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1713 Mark Stratton to Ann Hancock, daughter of Timothy
*Source: First Settlers of Newton Township, New Jersey, by John Clement Sinnickson Chew, 1877. Marriages of Friends Who Were Members of Evesham Meeting, Burlington County, N. J.
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MARK STRATTON lived in Evesham Township, near the present town of Medford, New Jersey. October 8, 1713, he married Ann Hancock, daughter of Timothy and Susannah (Ives) Hancock. His marriage is found on the Haddenfield monthly meeting records.
May 16, 1716, Mark bought 120 acres of land of Felix Leech, a part of which he sold to his brother Emanuel in 1723. In 1755, besides his homestead farm, he owned several other tracts of land, which by his will he divided among his five sons.
He lived to see all his children married into good old Quaker families of the community, and settled in homes of their own, not far from the paternal roof.
Among his descendants, now found in almost every part of our country, are stories of his devout Christian character, and noble, manly appearance, and of the sweet beauty of his wife, and her sisters, "the Hancock girls." According to the record left by "Grandmother Cowperthwaite," Mark died April 3, 1759, aged 67 years, and was buried "in a piece of ground by the new schoolhouse." This piece of ground became the Friends' graveyard at Medford, and many of Mark's descendants are buried there. The exact spot of Mark's last resting place can never be known, but it is greatly to be desired that his many descendants should contribute toward the erection of a tablet in this burial ground (which still belongs to the Friends and is kept in good condition), inscribed with an appropriate inscription to his memory.
*Source: "A Book of Strattons, by Harriet Russell Stratton,
Chattanooga, Tennessee; 1908, Vol 1, p. 248
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WILL OF MARK STRATTON: 1756
I Mark Strattan of Evesham in the County of Burlington in the Western Division of the province of New Jersey (yeoman) being but weak of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be to God therefor as for all other his mercies. Calling to mind the mortallity of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament (that is to say) Principally and first of all I Recomend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it; and my body to the Earth to be buried In a Christian like and Decent manner at the Descretion of my Executor herein after named and touching Such worldy Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I Give Divise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form.
Imprimis It is my will and I do hereby order that In the first place all my Just Debts and funeral Charges be well and truly paid by my Executors as Soon as Reasonably may be.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Dearly beloved wife Ann, All my houshold goods and moveable Estate, and also all the uses and profits of my homested plantation where I now Dwell (being in the occupation of my Son Daniel Strattan) During the time She shall keep Sole and and Remain my widdow.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son David Strattan the Sum of Twenty Shillings proclamation money (having Given him already what I can reasonably afford.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Daniel Strattan his heirs and assigns forever All my aforesaid homested Tract of Land and plantation as it now Stands Divided from the other part of my Said Land which is hereinafter Divised to my other two Sons John and Isaac, provided always that he my said Son Daniel Do well and truly pay or Cause to be paid unto my wife Ann aforesaid the yearly rent thereof During her widdowhood, and also Do after the marriage or Decease of my said wife which Shall first happen) pay or Case to be paid unto my Son Enoch Strattan the Sum of Ten pounds proclamation money and also unto my Son David Strattan the Sum of Twenty Shillings money as aforesaid and also unto my four Daughters (namely) Ruth the wife of Thomas Shinn, Ann the wife of Hugh Sharp, Elizabeth the wife of William Berry & Jane the wife of Joshua Norcross to each and every of them the Sum of Ten pounds money aforesaid and that In Six years after the Decease of my Said wife, provided also that If my said Son Daniel or his heirs Executors or Administerators Do or shall neglect or Refuse to pay the uses and Legacies afore Divised That then and in Such Case it shall and may be Lawfull to and for my Executor aforesaid or his heirs to sell and Convey such and So much the Said Land as Shall be Sufficient to pay the Same Ratifying and Confirming his or their Deed or Deeds to the purchasers thereof.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son John Strattan his heirs and assigns forever All that tract of Land and plantation whereon he Dwelleth which is bounded as follows Beginning at a pine Corner of my whole tract and Corner to John Gosling's land and bounds by Goslings line. South four Degrees East thirty one Chains to a post then by Charles Reads Land North fourteen Degrees East thirty one chains and three quarters to a pine then North Eight Degrees East twenty Chains and three quarters to a post then by a line Run for a Division between John Strattan and Daniel Strattan North Sixty five Degrees West ninteen Chains to a post Corner to Isaac Strattans and by the same South five Degrees West twenty five Chains to a black oak marked for a Corner in Goslings line and by the same South Sixty one Degrees East seven Chains and a half to the place of beginning Containing about fifty three acres.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Isaac Strattan his heirs and assigns forever All that tract of Land where he now Dwells Bounded as follows Beginning at a gum tree Corner to my whole tract and Corner to John Goslings land and bounds by sd Gosling North fifty Degrees East twenty Chains and a half to a pine bush then South forty one Degrees East one Chain and thirty Links to a black oak Corner to Daniel Strattan's land then by the same South three Degrees and a half East thirty nine Chains to a pine in John Strattans line then by the same North Sixty five Degrees West four Chains and ninety Links to a post then South five Degrees West twenty five Chains to a black oak in John Gosling's line then by said Gosling's land the several lines thereof to the place of beginning Containing about Ninty acres
And I Do make ordain Constitute & appoint my son David Strattan only and Sole Executor of this my Last will and testament Ratifying allowing & Confirming this and No other to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal the ninteenth Day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and fifty five.
his
MARK + STRATTAN. [SEAL.]
mark
Signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared by the within named Mark Strattan as his Last Will and Testament In the presence of us
his
William W Garwood, John Prickitt, John Burr Jur
mark
Know all men by these presents that I Mark Strattan of Evesham in the County of Burlington in the Western Division of the province of New Jersey yeoman, have made & ordained the within my Last Will and Testament in writing bearing Date the Ninteenth Day of June In the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and fifty five. I the said Mark Strattan by this present Codicell Do Ratify & Confirm my said Last will & Testament: And Do will & Require That If Either or any of my said Daughters Shall Die before the time apointed in my said Will & Testament for their Receiving their Legacie or Legacies That then and in Such Case It is my my will That her or their Legacie or Legacies who shall be Deceased Shall & may be Equally Divided and paid unto the Survivor or Surviver's of my said Daughters: And my will & meaning is that this Codicell or Schedule be adjudged to be apart of my Last Will & Testament and that all things therein Contained be faithfully and Truly performed as fully & amply as If the Same ware Declared and Sett Down in my said Last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seal this 14th Day of October In the year of our Lord 1756.
his
MARK + STRATTAN. [SEAL.]
mark
Signed Sealed published and Declared by the said Mark Strattan as part & Parcill of his Last Will & Testament In the presence of us
his
William W Garwood, John Prickitt, John Burr Jur
mark
David Stratton the Executor in the within Will named being of the people called Quakers on his Solemn affirmation which he took According to Law did declare that the within writing Contains the True Last Will and Testament of Mark Stratton the Testator therein named & That he will well and Truly perform the same by paying first the Debts of the said Deceased & then the Legacies in the said Testament named so far forth as the goods Chattles & Credits of the said deceased can thereunto Extend and that he will make and Exhibit into the Registry of the Prerogative office in Burlington a True and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said Deceased that have or shall come to his Knowledge or possession or to the Possession of any other person or persons for his use and render a Just and True account when thereunto Lawfully required Affirmed the 8th day of April Anno Domini 1759.
DAVID STRATTON.
*Source: "A Book of Strattons, by Harriet Russell Stratton,
Chattanooga, Tennessee; 1908, Vol 1, pp. 249-252
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Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. III 1751-1760
Calendar of New Jersey Wills
Name: Mark Stratton
Date: 19 Jun 1755
Location: Evesham, Burlington Co.
*Source: Ancestry.com
yeoman; will of. Wife, Ann. Children--David (sole Executor), Daniel, John, Isaac, Enoch, Ruth (wife of Thomas Shinn), Ann (wife of Hugh Sharp), Elizabeth (wife of William Berry), and Jane (wife of Joshua Norcross). Real and personal estate. Witnesses--William Garwood, John Prickitt, John Burr, Jr. Codicil of October 14, 1756, directs, how the bequests to daughters should go in case of daughters' death. Same witnesses. Proved April 8, 1759.
*Source: Ancestry.com
ON the parentage of Ann Hancock:
No record has been found showing the date of Rachel's death, nor that of Timothy's marriage to Susannah, but the following from the public records as published in Vol. XXI, N. J. Archives, page 479, goes to prove that both occurred prior to May 1, 1690:
"1690, 1st d., 3rd mo. Deed: Daniel Mills of Northampton River, Burlington Co., Yeoman to Timothy Hancock on Cropwell Creeek said Co., and wife Susannah, formery Susannah Ives, for 80 acres to be taken up in West Jersey."
And from the same source is a mention of a deed given in 1690, by Walter Humphries of County of Gloucester, England, by his son and attorney, Joshua Humphries, "to Timothy Hancock and his daughter Elizabeth by his former wife Rachel Firman." Several published works claim that Ann, daughter of Timothy Hancock (wife of Mark Stratton), ws the daughter of his first wife. The above proves that this is not true, as Ann Hancock was born August 11, 1691.
*Source: "Stratton: A Book of Strattons, by Harriet Russell Stratton, Chattanooga, Tennessee; 1908, Vol 1, footnotes, pp. 238-239