Excerpt from Historic Homes of Amherst

The Village of Northampton was at this time the home Of a notable family of Strongs, descendants Of Elder John Strong, who was born in Taunton, Eng., sailed from Plymouth in 1630, settled in Dorchester, and afterward made his home in Wind sor, Connecticut. In 1659 he removed to Northampton, where he lived for forty years and became a leader in the town and in the church. He was a man of wealth, a tanner by trade, and car ried on his business near the present site Of the railroad station. In 1663, Rev. Eleazer Mather of Northampton and Parson Russell of Hadley ordained John Strong to be a ruling elder in the church, by the ceremony known as the laying on of hands. A few years afterward Elder Strong assisted in the ordination Of Rev, Solomon Stoddard as pastor in Northamp ton. His first wife died on the passage from England or im mediately after, and her infant child did not long survive her. His second wife, Abigail Ford, Whom he married at Sixteen died at eighty, the mother of sixteen children. The head of this remarkable family lived to be ninety-four, and at the time of his death had been the father of eighteen chil dren, fifteen of Whom were living with families of their own. His grandchildren numbered one hundred and fourteen, and his great grandchildren, thirty-three. The eldest and youngest children of Elder Strong were thirty-nine years apart in age.

These children, strong in nature as in name, inherited from both parents sterling qualities of character which fitted them to become leaders among men. Abigail married Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey of Hatfield, and for her second husband Deacon Medad Pomeroy of Northampton. Elizabeth married Joseph Parsons, also of Northampton, and Experience became the Wife of Zerubbabel Filer of Windsor, who left a good estate. Mary Strong married Deacon John Clark of Northampton, and Sarah was the helpmeet of Joseph Barnard Of Hadley, who followed his father's profession as a Viewer of chimneys and ladders. Hannah married Capt. William Clark and went to live in Lebanon, Connecticut. Hester married Thomas Bissell of Windsor, Connecticut, and Thankful Strong became the wife Of a Mr. Baldwin, Of Milford, Connecticut, Whose family the histo rian was not able to trace. The numerous descendants of these daughters were men Of wealth and learning, eminent in all pro fessions, very religious and in many cases famous for their bravery in battle. Three sons, John Jr., Return, and Ebenezer, were tanners like their father. John and Return settled in Windsor, Connecticut, and Ebenezer carried on his trade in Northampton, and was a ruling elder in the church. Thomas, Jedediah, and Jerijah, the farmers of the family, lived in North ampton. The former married Rachel Holton for his second wife, and died, the father Of fourteen children, nine of whom were under fifteen years of age. Jedediah married three times, and dying at the age of ninety-six left a large family of sons and daughters. Jerijah married Thankful Stebbins, and died on his farm when eighty-nine years old.

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