John Stringer

[Henry Barraud Hunt, Jr.]

Continuing with the Stringer connection-When Mary Stringer married William Smart she placed her children by Lt Col William Andrews with different families. I have already provided the placements of Mary and Ann Andrews in appropriate homes. Son, John Andrews, died before 4 April 1678 and son Andrew Andrews mar Elizabeth Johnson died in 1688.(See Adventures of Purse and Person, page 76) Mary Stringer mar 2) William Smart. The couple had two children, John Smart who mar Tabitha Hill and Sarah Smart who married John Tankred. John Tankred left a will in 1689 'Abstracts of Wills and Administration, Northampton Co, page 139.  He left to sons William and John and daughters Sarah and Mary. Friends John Custis, Hillary Stringer and Mr. Charles Holden to oversee,There was one more daughter, Smart Tankred, who was born after the demise of her father. Smart Tankred was to become the second wife of Thomas Hunt !!!. See will of Sarah Tankred widow of John Tankred, Abstracts etc., Northampton Co -page 231, where we find the will of Sarah Tankred 1719, and she mentions her daughter, Smart Hunt in her will.

I turn now to supporting documentation that shall give credence that the wife of Capt Hillary Stringer was Mary Andrews, daughter of Lt Col William Andrews and his second wife, Mary Stringer, the sister of Col John Stringer and Stephen Stringer.

"Deposition of Sarah Joyne of Northampton Co, age 86 or thereabouts, sayeth that she was formerly acquainted with Capt Hillary Stringer of Northampton County, and she knew a son of his named John: that sometime after the death of the said Hillary Stringer and his wife, the said John married Margaret Teackle, a daughter of the Rev Thomas Teackle of Accomack and lived with her a year and upwards, and appeared to be a man from the time that his sister Ann married Capt Willett of Northampton County, and that the said Ann was a great while married before her mother and father died;that the said Hillary Stringer departed this life sometime before his wife, at what particular time she cannot remember, but she remembers that the widow of the said Capt Hillary Stringer, after her husband;s decease, was at this deponent;s mother's house, there having been an intimacy in the families as Col John Stringer had brought up  this deoonent's mother, and she also says that the said John Stringer, the son of Hillary, did not marry as aforesaid until sometime after his mother's death, but what age he was at the time of his marriage she cannot undertake to determine Deposition dated 10 May 1769 Accomack Land Causes Accomack Co, by Stratton Nottingham 1990 page 27. 

[James David Douglas]

Lots of information to digest but I'm going to try to get it all sorted out in my head later today.  I think it would be productive if we could ever determine if Col Douglas had children from a previous marriage.  It does seem that he would have made some mention of them in his will if he did, but perhaps there is a reason that he would not ?   It seems that he kept up with his English connections though.  Mary Douglas who we think could be his sister making the long trip to the colonies and then returning to England.  His daughter, Elizabeth who also returned to England must have had connections there and some means in order to finance her trip.  Do we know why she made the trip and do we know if she returned to America ? 

The Stringer / Willett connection is interesting.  There are very likely living descendants today who may could contribute to this conversation.  Lots of possibilities for exploration here.   Although many generations have passed autosomal DNA testing might prove useful if any of these descendants could be found.

And making the English connection to Col Douglas would be another chapter in the story.  I'm hoping t be able to help make that connection.  It would be interesting to discover Col Douglas' "roots".