Elizabeth Allen was the daughter of Samuel Allen and Rebecca Smith. Her intestate father (born before 1730) died before 23 Apr 1777 (Orphan Court, Lancaster Bond Bk 3, p 15). Her mother, remarried about 1777, to David Caldwell. All 3 of them disappear in the records. Elizabeth's grandparents were Robert Smith (died between 2 Oct 1755 - 23 Mar 1757, probate in Paxtang, Dauphin County), Mary Smith (dates unknown), William Allen (Feb 1709 - 26 Dec 1784) and Elizabeth Allen (5 Mar 1705 - 3 May 1800). The last two were buried at Old Hanover Presbyterian Churchyard (Elizabeth was married at this church), along with 3 great aunts and uncles. Her great grandparents were William Allen, Sr and Sarah (unknown) of Ulster, Ireland.
According to the 2 Sep 1778 Lancaster County, Account of their Administration of the Estate of Samuel Allen, daughter, Elizabeth, inherited £44 and 6 pence. Siblings Mary, David and Samuel, Jr., received the same and eldest son William received double that or £88 and 1 shilling. Her mother Rebecca and her 2nd husband, David Caldwell received 1/3 or £132, 1 shilling and 4 3/4 pence.
Her Uncle Col. Matthew Smith was in the Paxton Boys (1763-64 & Ben Franklin met them) plus the Paxton Rifleman (1947 Pennsylvania Historical Marker on US 22 says Paxton Rifleman: Under Capt. Matthew Smith and Lt. Michael Simpson, a company of riflemen from Paxton Township marched to Quebec, Canada, to serve with Montgomery in the attack on that city on December 31, 1775. Plus another sign at Warrior Run Church Cemetery says: "COL. MATTHEW SMITH, Capt. of Lancaster County militia with Col. Benedict Arnold on 1775 midwinter march to Quebec. In 1779, served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania Council. Died in 1794; buried here in an unmarked grave.") It is located in McEwensville, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, on Susquehanna Trail. There is a lot of data available about him.
In Oct 1792, she married David Strain, Jr. at Old Hanover Church, then in Dauphin (formerly in 1785 was in Lancaster) County, Pennsylvania. The Historical Sketch of Old Hanover Church by Rev. Thomas Hastings Robinson, 1828-1906, 1878, p 25.
They had 11 known Strain children. Rebecca was born in Pennsylvania and the rest in Virginia.
Rebecca, 1794 - 1869, below
David, 1 Apr 1796 - 1854, below
John, 1799 - 1887, below
Samuel A., 1802 - 1822, below
Eliza, 20 Sep 1803 to "20 Feb 1863" (Saml Heizer)
William Strain, 28 Jan 1805 - 1889 in IIndiana, below
Alexander, 1806 - 1822, below
James, 1809 -? in AR, below
Louisa, 1814 - 1826, below
Mary Jane, 16 Mar 1816 - bef Jul 1859 (Jas H. Cochran), below
Unnamed infant per the 26 Mar 1878 Staunton Spectator with names of burials here ("Infant of David Strain" see photo).
Her first known child was daughter Rebecca, most likely named for her mother and her next child was son David born 1 Apr 1796 in Augusta County, Virginia, named for her husband's father. They also had a Samuel and Eliza, named for parents also. Scottish naming patterns were popular.
I have not found widow Elizabeth Strain (with unmarried children Rebecca and John) on the 1850 Virginia (or any state) census or 1850 slave schedule. Elizabeth's home appears to have been missed or they were away and uncounted. The house and farm remained in the family for another 50 plus years. In 1850, there were no Strains recorded on the Augusta County census. Only in Rockbridge County, did I find her son David and his family. Elizabeth's farm was in the southern part of Augusta County, and David's was just a short distance away, over the border into northern Rockbridge County. So I went back seeking son John's 1860 neighbors in 1850 (Geo McClure 38 - 1822; Wm Hart, 65 - 1795. ) and they were both in Dist. 2 1/2 now (McClure was listed as McCann on Ancestry), but no Strains or similar. I even checked for land owner and neighbor Wm Cochran who sold land in 1860 and found him near the other two above, but no Elizabeth, John and Rebecca.
Augusta County, Virginia Death Register, line 1322: Elizabeth Strain, born in Pennsylvania, died Apr 1857, near South River, Augusta County, Virginia; of "paralesis," aged 87 years, 7 months, white female, married (widowed); Father and Mother's name: Allen, spouse: David Strain.
On the 25 April 1857, Elizabeth died (on her gravestone) and was buried at the Bethel Presbyterian Churchyard.
On the 1860 Dist. 1, Staunton P.O., Augusta County, Virginia census, living next to son and farmer John Strain, 55 (sic) and daughter, Rebecca, 65, were George W McClure 38 and Wm Hart, 65, and their families. So I went back seeking these neighbors in 1850 and they were both in Dist. 2 1/2 now (McClure was listed as McCann on Ancestry), but no Elizabeth Strain or similar.
Her son, John Strain's 1880 Riverheads, Augusta County, Virginia census, states he was aged 77 years and lists both of his parents born in Pennsylvania.
All the children are connected below, except for daughter Eliza Strain. She was married by Rev Francis McFarland, to Samuel Heizer (14 Oct 1802 Virginia to 16 Sep 1875), the son of John Heizer and Agnes "Nancy" Wright, on 4 Sep 1828 in Augusta County, Virginia (DAR, Col. Thos Hughart Chapter, 2nd Marriage Record of Augusta Co., Virginia, 1813 - 1850, Staunton, Virginia). They had 4 known children: David Francis Heizer, William J Heizer, Rev Robert Chapman Heizer and Maria Amanda (Thos H Shearer, "1847 -1925"), between 1834 and 3 Nov 1847 in Virginia and Indiana. She was last on the 1860 Marion County census and husband Samuel was there in 1870, without Eliza. On the 1860 Center Twp., Marion County, Indiana census (farmer Saml, 57, Virginia born, $25K in real estate; Eliza, 56, Virginia; farmer Wm, 21, Indiana; Robt, 16, Indiana and Marie, 13, all Indiana born. They lived next to married son David, 26, his wife Margaret, 21 and Mary, 1 ). On the 1870 Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana census, I last found retired farmer Samuel Heizer, 68, Virginia born and a different younger wife, born in Ohio, Mary A ("Roll") Heizer.
Her gravestone says:
ELIZABETH
WIFE OF
D. STRAIN
died
April 25th
1857
Aged "86" Years
Her age is hard to read in 1993. Older relatives believe it said 86. The Works Progress Administration Inventory Project of Bethel Presbyterian Cemetery by Scioto M. Herndon on 11 Aug 1936 has the exact same wording including "Aged 86 years."
Son John Strain's 1887 Augusta County, Virginia death record lists his mother as Lizzie Strain.
Bio researched and written by LSP, all rights reserved
Elizabeth Allen was the daughter of Samuel Allen and Rebecca Smith. Her intestate father (born before 1730) died before 23 Apr 1777 (Orphan Court, Lancaster Bond Bk 3, p 15). Her mother, remarried about 1777, to David Caldwell. All 3 of them disappear in the records. Elizabeth's grandparents were Robert Smith (died between 2 Oct 1755 - 23 Mar 1757, probate in Paxtang, Dauphin County), Mary Smith (dates unknown), William Allen (Feb 1709 - 26 Dec 1784) and Elizabeth Allen (5 Mar 1705 - 3 May 1800). The last two were buried at Old Hanover Presbyterian Churchyard (Elizabeth was married at this church), along with 3 great aunts and uncles. Her great grandparents were William Allen, Sr and Sarah (unknown) of Ulster, Ireland.
According to the 2 Sep 1778 Lancaster County, Account of their Administration of the Estate of Samuel Allen, daughter, Elizabeth, inherited £44 and 6 pence. Siblings Mary, David and Samuel, Jr., received the same and eldest son William received double that or £88 and 1 shilling. Her mother Rebecca and her 2nd husband, David Caldwell received 1/3 or £132, 1 shilling and 4 3/4 pence.
Her Uncle Col. Matthew Smith was in the Paxton Boys (1763-64 & Ben Franklin met them) plus the Paxton Rifleman (1947 Pennsylvania Historical Marker on US 22 says Paxton Rifleman: Under Capt. Matthew Smith and Lt. Michael Simpson, a company of riflemen from Paxton Township marched to Quebec, Canada, to serve with Montgomery in the attack on that city on December 31, 1775. Plus another sign at Warrior Run Church Cemetery says: "COL. MATTHEW SMITH, Capt. of Lancaster County militia with Col. Benedict Arnold on 1775 midwinter march to Quebec. In 1779, served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania Council. Died in 1794; buried here in an unmarked grave.") It is located in McEwensville, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, on Susquehanna Trail. There is a lot of data available about him.
In Oct 1792, she married David Strain, Jr. at Old Hanover Church, then in Dauphin (formerly in 1785 was in Lancaster) County, Pennsylvania. The Historical Sketch of Old Hanover Church by Rev. Thomas Hastings Robinson, 1828-1906, 1878, p 25.
They had 11 known Strain children. Rebecca was born in Pennsylvania and the rest in Virginia.
Rebecca, 1794 - 1869, below
David, 1 Apr 1796 - 1854, below
John, 1799 - 1887, below
Samuel A., 1802 - 1822, below
Eliza, 20 Sep 1803 to "20 Feb 1863" (Saml Heizer)
William Strain, 28 Jan 1805 - 1889 in IIndiana, below
Alexander, 1806 - 1822, below
James, 1809 -? in AR, below
Louisa, 1814 - 1826, below
Mary Jane, 16 Mar 1816 - bef Jul 1859 (Jas H. Cochran), below
Unnamed infant per the 26 Mar 1878 Staunton Spectator with names of burials here ("Infant of David Strain" see photo).
Her first known child was daughter Rebecca, most likely named for her mother and her next child was son David born 1 Apr 1796 in Augusta County, Virginia, named for her husband's father. They also had a Samuel and Eliza, named for parents also. Scottish naming patterns were popular.
I have not found widow Elizabeth Strain (with unmarried children Rebecca and John) on the 1850 Virginia (or any state) census or 1850 slave schedule. Elizabeth's home appears to have been missed or they were away and uncounted. The house and farm remained in the family for another 50 plus years. In 1850, there were no Strains recorded on the Augusta County census. Only in Rockbridge County, did I find her son David and his family. Elizabeth's farm was in the southern part of Augusta County, and David's was just a short distance away, over the border into northern Rockbridge County. So I went back seeking son John's 1860 neighbors in 1850 (Geo McClure 38 - 1822; Wm Hart, 65 - 1795. ) and they were both in Dist. 2 1/2 now (McClure was listed as McCann on Ancestry), but no Strains or similar. I even checked for land owner and neighbor Wm Cochran who sold land in 1860 and found him near the other two above, but no Elizabeth, John and Rebecca.
Augusta County, Virginia Death Register, line 1322: Elizabeth Strain, born in Pennsylvania, died Apr 1857, near South River, Augusta County, Virginia; of "paralesis," aged 87 years, 7 months, white female, married (widowed); Father and Mother's name: Allen, spouse: David Strain.
On the 25 April 1857, Elizabeth died (on her gravestone) and was buried at the Bethel Presbyterian Churchyard.
On the 1860 Dist. 1, Staunton P.O., Augusta County, Virginia census, living next to son and farmer John Strain, 55 (sic) and daughter, Rebecca, 65, were George W McClure 38 and Wm Hart, 65, and their families. So I went back seeking these neighbors in 1850 and they were both in Dist. 2 1/2 now (McClure was listed as McCann on Ancestry), but no Elizabeth Strain or similar.
Her son, John Strain's 1880 Riverheads, Augusta County, Virginia census, states he was aged 77 years and lists both of his parents born in Pennsylvania.
All the children are connected below, except for daughter Eliza Strain. She was married by Rev Francis McFarland, to Samuel Heizer (14 Oct 1802 Virginia to 16 Sep 1875), the son of John Heizer and Agnes "Nancy" Wright, on 4 Sep 1828 in Augusta County, Virginia (DAR, Col. Thos Hughart Chapter, 2nd Marriage Record of Augusta Co., Virginia, 1813 - 1850, Staunton, Virginia). They had 4 known children: David Francis Heizer, William J Heizer, Rev Robert Chapman Heizer and Maria Amanda (Thos H Shearer, "1847 -1925"), between 1834 and 3 Nov 1847 in Virginia and Indiana. She was last on the 1860 Marion County census and husband Samuel was there in 1870, without Eliza. On the 1860 Center Twp., Marion County, Indiana census (farmer Saml, 57, Virginia born, $25K in real estate; Eliza, 56, Virginia; farmer Wm, 21, Indiana; Robt, 16, Indiana and Marie, 13, all Indiana born. They lived next to married son David, 26, his wife Margaret, 21 and Mary, 1 ). On the 1870 Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana census, I last found retired farmer Samuel Heizer, 68, Virginia born and a different younger wife, born in Ohio, Mary A ("Roll") Heizer.
Her gravestone says:
ELIZABETH
WIFE OF
D. STRAIN
died
April 25th
1857
Aged "86" Years
Her age is hard to read in 1993. Older relatives believe it said 86. The Works Progress Administration Inventory Project of Bethel Presbyterian Cemetery by Scioto M. Herndon on 11 Aug 1936 has the exact same wording including "Aged 86 years."
Son John Strain's 1887 Augusta County, Virginia death record lists his mother as Lizzie Strain.
Bio researched and written by LSP, all rights reserved
Inscription
ELIZABETH
WIFE OF
D. STRAIN
died
April 25th
1857
Aged "86" Years
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