Christopher is named in the will of Conrad Strickler, Jr. in 1793 and again in 1798 and is often mistaken as his son. However Conrad, Jr. was only 7 years older than Christopher. Christopher was in the American Revolution. Christopher Strickler enlisted July 4th, 1776 at the age of 28 years from the County of York, PA (PA Archives 2nd Series Vol. II) Thus he was born before July 4, 1748. In 1810 and 1820 he appears in the records of Mercer Co., PA living in Delaware Twp. He left a will in Mercer Co., PA dated 2 April 1823. He mentions among others his grandson Richard Davies. Christopher appears in church records as Strickler but some time after 1781 he started using the name Strickle "dropping the "r". This has lead to some who have tried to make the connection between Christopher Strickler and a Christopher Strigele who immigrated 26 Sep 1765 aboard the ship Molly from Rotterdam. No such connection can be made. It appears that Christopher was indeed Christopher Strickler, a close relative of the Conrad Strickler family. Christopher's children were baptized as Strickler thru Jacob. Then as Strickle. But intermittant records of the church show them as Strickler. About 1799 most of the family moved to Berkley Co., VA (now WV) and then into OH. It appears that Elizabeth remained in PA and settled in Fayette Co. while Chrisopher and Christopher Jr. moved north of Fayette into Mercer Co., PA. Christopher Strickler's parents remain unproved. In a recent book on York Co. Pioneers he is wrongfully identified as a son of Conrad Strickler, Jr.
However this is not possible! Conrad Strickler, Jr. was born in 1738 and Christopher in 1748 (by service records). It is MOST likely that Christopher is the son of Johannes Strickler, oldest son of Conrad, Sr. and thus the oldest nephew of Conrad Strickler, Jr. I have not had time to stop in Mercer on my trips up that way. I want to establish that the Christopher Strickle that appears there is the former Christopher Strickler and not the immigrant Christopher Striggle.
[Frank Duff]