David Straw was born in Maine, probably in York County. Many researchers claim he was born in Massachusetts but at the time of his birth that section of Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Prior to 1790 Census, Waterboro, York Co., Maine was named the Massabesic Plantation, owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Valentine Straw and Clement Moody plus other inhabitants signed in 1785 a Massabesic Petition to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for their land recordings and plot surveys that were long overdue in what would later become Waterboro, York Co., Maine. This petition is at the Augusta, Maine Archives.
David was the s/o Valentine and Sarah (Coffin) Straw. David's father Valentine served as "pound keeper" in Waterboro/Waterborough, Maine. According to the New England Genealogical Register David and Sarah Smith filed intentions to marry in Aug of 1793 and were married in October of that same year. Sarah was the d/o Capt John Smith. The Straws and Smiths were close neighbors and two of David's sisters also married into the same Smith family as well as David's brother Israel. Sarah apparently died young in Maine without issue.
By June of 1795 David had relocated to Waterbury,Washington County, Vermont and married for the second time to Mary Cady. She was born in Massachusetts and the d/o Jason and Mary (Ward) Cady. By the 1800 census, several of David's siblings and his parents had relocated to Vermont.
David served as a Methodist minister while living in Waterbury, Vermont. The church records have since burned. He and Mary had 9 or 10 children all born in Vermont.
By 1831 he, along with some of his brothers relocated to Wyandot County, Ohio. David died there in April of 1849 and is buried in the Bowsherville Cemetery.Also buried there are his son Samuel,Samuel's wife and at least 4 of Samuel's children. Although there is no listing or apparent headstone, his wife Mary is probably buried there also.