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1 : Matthew Strickland in Maryland and a Matthew Strickland in Virginia - Are they the Same Person? by Sharon Anderson, July 2003 Fellow researchers: This is my journal of the current state of my research on. Please note that my opinions are my current but are subject to change as I unearth additional documentation. I am comfortable and sure of my conclusions only when I have copies of documentation in hand and I don t have copies of all of them currently. A chart entitled Earliest Stricklands on my home page lists the documents which are in my possession Reading L.C. Strickland s article in the 1982 Strickland Scene 1 inspired me to do my own research. L.C. s article, entitled Two Matthew Stricklands, explained his belief that in two Matthew Stricklands; one in Maryland and one in Virginia. Additional land records shed additional light on this subject which suggest that the two Matthews may have been father and son. Until L.C. s cited sources as well as the Calvert County< Maryland records can be found and examined, they will be assumed true for this analysis as follows: The documents located at the Annapolis, Maryland Hall of Records; Land Grant to James Tanner, dated May 29, 1680; the Calvert County, Maryland testamentory proceedings, Vol 16, ppg 30-31; the Calvert County, Maryland tax rent list and document; and the Calvert County Maryland family records. These two documents are the underpinning of the theory of two Matthews. MATTHEW FROM ENGLAND? Most researchers show that Matthew immigrated from England to the colonies in the latter part of the 17th century. Some show that Matthew was the son of Edward Strickland and Elizabeth Basse and others show he was the son of Jacob Strickland. There is documentation of one birth of a baby Matthew listed on the Family History Library s microfiche records entitled: Crostwai: TE-Cum- Lyth Parish; Westmoreland, England, on page 188: 1) February 20, 1627 (or 1628), Matthew Strickland christed at Crosswaithe-cum-Lyth, Cumbria, England - parents, Jacob (or James) Strickland of Crooke (mother s name unknown) A second citation was found listed on the Rootsweb Strickland Mail List Archives of 1998, where an from a David in England was posted by a mail list subscriber. It contained the following listing: 2) January 14, Matthew Strickland christened at Crosswaithe-cum-Lyth, Cumbria, England - parents Edward Strickland and Elizabeth Basse. (see Attachment 1 at end of this document for the text of the listing from the Mail List Archives) To date, no FHC record has been found of the above birth to confirm the Archive posting. The Family History Library s microfiche records entitled: Crostwaite-Cum-Lyth Parish; Westmoreland, England, on page 188, also listx the following: 2 Nov Ann, daughter of Mathew Strickland of Crostwaithe was christened 20 Nov Edward, son of Mathew Strickland of Barkbooth, was christened Additional records from the Cumbrian Genealogy site ( which features Cumbrian Parish Records from a variety of books of compiled abstracts. The following citation from this site shows an earlier birth to a Matthew Strickland, as father of a son, as follows: STRICKLAND, William: son of Mathew Strickland of Crooke, baptized, 1618 Mar28 (Kendal PR) From the above, we see adult Mathews in 1618, 1630, and 1642 and the birth of two Mathews in 1627 and 1641, in different towns, but within a few miles of each other. More records would be needed to determine if any of these were persons are related, but it doesn t appear that any of these would be the same person. However, this does give us a history of the name Mathew of the correct time and locations in England. This may (or not) mean that our Mathew s name was an historical family name ADULT - Mathew of CROOKE, father of William CHILD Mathew born to Edward of CROOKE ADULT - Mathew Strickland father of Ann of CROSTWAITHE CHILD - Mathew Strickland born to Jacob or James of CROSTWAITHE ADULT - Mathew of BARKBOOTH father of Edward 1 Strickland Scene, Vol 3, No. 2, 2nd Quarter 1982, ppg

2 Map: This map shows the locations of Crook, Crosthwaite, and of Sizergh Castle in northern England, near the Scottish border, in the district known as Lake District, and area within the District known as Cumbria since (Map by Sharon Anderson, June 2003, based various area maps) Crosthwaite-cum-Lyth is located near the Lyth Valley, in Cumbria, England. It is located a few miles Northwest of Sizergh Castle, in present-day Cumbria, known as the Lake District. In 1974, the areas of Wesmorland, Lancanshire were merged into Cumbria. Sizergh Castle, the home of one branch of Stricklands, in located 2.5 miles south of Kendal. From the map above, we can see that Crook is approximately 15 miles from the Strickland Sizergh Castle, and Crosthwaite even closer. If our Mathew was born in Crook or Crosthwaite, the fact that his family lived so near to the Stricklands of the castle suggest that there may have been some relation in the past. As titles and property were handed down to the eldest son, could our Mathew descend from a younger, non-inheriting son? Anything is possible, but records of relationships 2 One of these court actions was: Oct 6, (Boddie s 17th Cent IOW VA, pg 617) - Catherine Pierce appoints Thomas Moore her attorney to answer an action brought against her by Matthew Strickland, witnessed by Robert Kae and William Thomas 3 Page 329, Vol 7, VA Land Office Patents , November 20, 1683: Deed revoking Matthew Strickland s land patent for 902 acres for desertion & failure to seat, to Edward Chilton and Capt. Henry Applewhaithe. 4 The term seating refers to the act of settling on land; building a dwelling, clearing and planting, etc. which was to done within 3 years. 2 would certainly help! One of the Mathews born in England - either the Mathew born in Crook in 1627 or the Mathew born in Crosthwaite in could be the Mathew in Virginia in the 1670s. It is also possible that the Virginia Mathew was born in Virginia or Maryland. At this point, given lack of records, nothing for sure is known. ARRIVAL IN THE COLONIES The first document for the Maryland Matthew states that in May 1680, a James Tanner received a land grant for the transportation of Matthew Strickland (and Elizabeth Loreen Golsam?) to the colonies on the ship named the Globe. This court date of the land grant has been often used as the entry date for the Maryland Matthew Strick-

3 land. L.C. cites a DAR 2 report as stating: Matthew Strickland, Sr. who married Elizabeth Loreen, of Liverpool, England and came to Maryland in 1679 on the HERRON 3. August 4,1699 his land was divided between his sons. When did the Maryland Matthew arrive? A study of the few existing documents of the time shows us that persons who paid their own transport to the colonies received a headright of 50 acres of land. If someone else paid the cost of transport, the arriving person was bound to work off the cost of transportation. This system produced speculators who financed transportation for the land to receive the headrights for land. The headrights were also traded and bought and sold. When applying for land, one only had to produce the headright receipt that they may have purchased or received in trade. Some speculators saved their purchased headrights until they had enough for large acreage. Therefore, the date the court awarded land grants cannot be relied upon as an entry date because the transported person(s) had arrived much earlier and may have never known the person claiming the headright. Usually, a person who paid his own transport, claimed his own headright. A claim for land ganted for the transport of many people, most likely shows the claimant as merely a trader, buyer/seller of headrights and doesn t necessarily mean he was the person who actually transported the listed persons. Therefore, the Maryland Matthew Strickland and Elizabeth Loreen may very well have arrived to the colonies on the ship Herron well before And, perhaps this Matthew was Elizabeth s son, not her husband. It is possible that the son, Matthew Senior, arrived on the Globe before The first record of Matthew Strickland in Virginia is a known reliable document and is dated This Matthew receives a land grant of 902 acres in Isle of Wight County. This document clearly places a Matthew Strickland in what is now Isle of Wight County Virginia in The award of this land was for the transportation of 18 people, which included one Richard Strickland. Unfortunately, the fact that Matthew received land in Virginia does not mean that he resided there. It was most common, due to trading and land speculators, that much of the land awarded was to absentee landlords. Thus far, we have questionable records of Matthew Strickland in Maryland before 1679 and proven documentation of a Matthew in Virginia as early as OTHER STRICKLANDS IN VIRGINIA Other Stricklands who immigrated or were transported to the colonies during the period of Matthew s arrival are: From: Peter Wilson Coldham s The Complete Book of Emigrants and The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage and supplement: Bristol Register of Servants sent to Foreign Plantations, , ed. Peter Wilson Coldham: 18 November 1673: The following apprenticed in Bristol: Henry Strickland to Edward Gibbes, 5 years Virginia 5 October 1674: The following apprenticed in Bristol: Joseph Strickland to Edward GIbbes, 4 years Virginia The Passanger and Immigration Lists Index (citation by each entry) contains two Thomas Strickland s that immigrated to America. 1) Thomas Strickland, Virginia, 1677, Ref 6221, Page 180 2) Thomas Strickland, Virginia, 1691, Ref 6221, Page 368 Through various colonial documents, the following Stricklands were known to be in colonial Virginia: A Robert Strickland and a Mary Strickland were known to be in Lower Norfolk Parish Elizabeth Strickland in Charles County, Virginia A Richard Strickland was among the claimed headrights on Matthew Strickland s grant of 902 acres in Isle of Wight, Virginia. No relationship between the two is known, and no Richard appears on documents reviewed to date. LIFETIMES COMPARED A chart (see Comparison from home page) has been prepared using the known christening dates of the two Matthew Stricklands born in Westmorland County (now called Cumbria) England. Using these beginning dates, a timeline chart of documented events in both Maryland & Virginia show the age each Matthew would be at the time of each event. My present speculation (always subject to change and correction!) is that the Matthew, son of Jacob, probably did not emigrate to the colonies. The average lifespan of a 3

4 male in the colonies or in England at that time was at very most, 55. Matthew, son of Jacob, would ve been 43 or 53 (depending on which date is used) and I believe it unlikely a man of that age would undertake the trip, let alone the hardships of the colonies. Additionally, it seems unlikely that his wife would ve been Elizabeth Loreen (Golsam?). Given the date of christening (see Attachment 2, on pg 5) it is unlikely she would ve married a man of 35 or 47 (depending on the date used for Matthew Jr s birth and the two dates of Matthew son of Jacob s christening). Few records have been found for Matthew Strickland in Maryland, however, the Strickland surname appears on the tax rent list and family records of Calvert County, Maryland for the correct era. However, these documents do not show a Matthew, but do show a Henry, Joseph and John Strickland. There is said to be a document recorded following this Maryland Mathew s death. This record, dated November 1691, was recorded in Calvert County, Maryland was mentioned in the Strickland Scene : Thomas Greenfield came into Court November 1691, Calvert County, Maryland, and requested Letters of Administration of goods and possessions of Mathew Strickland e late of Calvert County, deceased, who died intestate. Whereupan this Thomas Greenfield was directed to give an inventory accounting within three months. (Editor s Note: Photocopies of the original documents referred to in this article are in the Strickland Library Document File. They are negative photocopies, and will not reproduce clear enough to print in the quarterly. NJC) This record reflects that the death had taken place before November 1691 and states that our Maryland Matthew died in testate, or without a will. Leaving no will, there is no way of knowing whether he was married or had children or other heirs. Additionally, no record of the inventory which was ordered by the court has yet to be discovered. Meanwhile, we have court records of the dealings of the Viriginia Matthew and of his health with which to speculate on his possible death date. In 1687, Matthew was too ill to go to court to present a deed selling off some of his land, so he appointed a proxy. In the years 1694 and 1696, it is said that Virginia court records show four law suits were brought by a Matthew Strickland for debts owed him and that one suit was brought against him. This process takes them a few years, when in 1699, the eldest son of Matthew, Matthew Jr. divided his father s property among his brothers, Samuel, Joseph, John and William. (Matthew received two land grants for a total of acres. In 1699, the total acreage known to be divided 4 amongst the sons was 600 acres, however, it is not known how much land Matthew Junior possessed at the time of this division.) It is highly probable that the court actions of and 1696 were those of Matthew Junior and not those of his father. In , a court record clearly shows the patent given to Matthew in 1681 for 902 acres, revoked and reawarded, as Matthew had deserted the land. Although this revocation may have been restored later, there is no document so stating. Given the health of Matthew Senior in 1687, it can be speculated that he died within 2 to 4 years and if so, died between 1689 and This would put the death dates of the Maryland Matthew and the Virginia Matthew in the same time range. The two Matthews then, could in fact, be one and the same individual, subject to discovery of new documentation, of course! Matthew Senior may have never left Maryland and still received land grants in Virginia. The sons may have been sent to seat 6 the Virginia property which he had procurred for them. This scenario would explain Matthew s alleged desertion of the land and failing to seat the first grant of 902 acres in Isle of Wight Virginia. As many did at that time, Matthew may have been an absentee landlord, buying the headrights in order to obtain the Virginia land for his sons and not for himself. This of course is pure speculation, but is based on the documents available. If the above speculation is true, this would place Matthew Senior firmly in Maryland. This Mathew may have been related to the Henry, John and Joseph who appear on tax lists and on will abstracts in Calvert County Maryland, although there is no proof of any relationship to date. This would still not dispute L.C. Strickland s theory of Two Matthews as Matthew Senior plus his son, Matthew Junior, makes two Matthews! It can further be speculated that perhaps Matthew Senior came to the colonies before his family to seat some property and to obtain headrights to obtain land for his sons, and only then sent for his family. Therefore, there would indeed be two arrivals of a Matthew Strickland! INPUT OF OTHER RESEARCHERS? There must be some researchers working on the colonial, immigration era, right? Any feedback and/or additions and corrections are welcomed as the objective of my work is to provide a correct and factual basis for all of us Strickland descendants related to Matthew Strickland. Any documentation or citations that would provide a clear

5 proof of the christening date for Matthew son of Jacob is welcomed. Until proof that differs from the research done in the Parish records in England is unearthed, the date of christening of Matthew, son of Jacob (could also be James) will be relied upon. 20/9/1640 Elizabeth d. of James 24/1/1640 Matthew s. of Edward of Crosthwaite 30/11/1642 Edward son of Matthew of B 23/7/1643 William s. of John of Cartmel Fell (CF) 1/11/1643 Anthony s. of James of CF 17//7/1644 Edward s. of John of CF 18/9/1644 James s. of Tobias of B 22/12/1644 William s. of Miles of Crooke These particular transcripts go to ATTACHMENT 1: THe following was posted on the Rootsweb Strickland Mail List Archives by a subscriber. Evidently, the following had been sent to the subscriber and then posted by them to the Mail List in 1998: (Dates are UK notation - eg 6 April 1589 is 6/4/1589) Births 13/8/1579 Matthew son (s.) of Edward 2/11/1579 Annas daughter (d.) of James 23/4/1581 Edward s. of Edward 23/9/1583 William s. of Edward 11/2/1585 Walter s. of James 25/11/1586 Matthew s. of Edward 1/11/1589 Ann d. of Edward 17/2/1593 James s. of Edward 12/5/1596 Jayne d. of James 11/10/1597 Margaret d. of Symond 19/3/1597 Myles s. of James 8/12/1598 Thomas s. of Thomas 19/11/1599 Elizabeth d. of John 27/1/1599 William s. of William (births missing until 1626) 20/2/1626 Matthew s. of Jac. of Crooke 18/9/1633 Ellen d. of Matthew of Barkbooth (B) 13/3/1635 John son of Jo or Tho (indistinct) of B 28//4/1636 Elizabeth d. of Matthew of B 2/4/1637 James s. of James of B 4/11/1638 William s. of Thomas of Crook 9/11/1638 Ann d. of Matthew of Crosthwaite 22/11/1638 Annas d. of John of Carpmellfell of the Chappell House 16/2/1639 Christabella d. of Gervase of Lyth ATTACHMENT 2: Posted on the Strickland Mailing List October 20, 1998, condensed: LDS FHL in SLC, UT., Northumberland England Christening records: Elizabeth Lorains dated 2 Feb 1657 at Earsdon by North Shields, Northumberland England. Father isanthony Lorains. Three other children, John Lorains (or Loarins) christened in same place on 29 Dec 1656, with same father. Robert Loreine, christened 24 Jun 1657 in Horbury, Yorkshire, England. Grace Loreyne, same father, dated 8 oct 1644, Horbury,Yorkshire, England. Also a marriage record for Anthony Loreyne and Anne Binnes dated 19 Dec 1643 in Horbury, Yorkshire, England. LDS microfilms (for Northumberland) and (for Hornbury). NOTE: Although this could be the Elizabeth Loreen we are seeking, she was too young to be a wife or mother if Matthew Jr. was born in Further, many researchers give Elizabeth s name as Elizabeth Loreen Golsam. Currently, I do not know the source of the name Golsam however, I speculate that the source may be the research work of Mary Curtis of Texas. Mary was the publisher and editor of the Strickland papers, the precursor to the Strickland Scene of the 1980s. Mary has been well known and respected for her research on the Stricklands for decades. 5