Preliminary and Cautionary Notes: The Cumbria Database has been constructed with the use of
genealogical programs. Initially, in the time-frame 1988-1991, it was built using a DOS based program called Family History System,
copywrite, 1988, by Phillip E. Brown, Tallahassee, FL. In late 1998, the data was transferred to Ultimate Family Tree,
copywrite, 1997, Palladium Interactive, Inc. Because of the presentation of this genealogical data in this format, one has a
tendency to accept it as "fact". NOTHING COULD BE MORE ERRONEOUS! This database was constructed from
"second-hand" data obtained in the first instance from the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (LDS) 1988 International
Genealogical Index. The original parish records have NOT been reviewed. Certain of the data has been enhanced through
addition of information gleaned from the following sources:
DESCENDANCY from analysis of IGI's for Cumberland; Westmoreland, Lancashire, Dumphrieshire
SPECULATION RE SURNAME Origins based upon G.McD.Fraser,"The Steel Bonnets" (1989),p.360-373.
Cumbria Family History Society Strays List;
C.R.Huddleston,"Cumbria Families & Heraldry"(1978),p.328-9;
Gen.Sir Kenneth Strong,"Intelligence at the Top"(1969),p.2-4;
Correspondance with Grace Strong, Drake,Sask.;
Correspondance with David Scott, Leicester, England;
Conversation with Robert Strong, Seattle,WA, 1986;
Email exchanged with Angela McCarthy
Department of Modern History
Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: The New Zealand Ireland Connection
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/7271
The descendancy commences with an "Unknown (Arm?)Strong. This fictive person was created to support discussion of the
possibility these Strongs are descended from a progenitor member of the notorious Armstrong Clan of Border fame. See
Scottish and Border Research
The next record, Edward Strang(e)/Strong, gives fictive dates to set him in the proper time frame. He is based upon C.Roy
Huddleston, "Cumberland Families & Heraldry"(1978), p.328-9: Edward Strong was "admitted to the customary tenement of
Rattenrow, nr. Durdar, c.1600... the property was farmed by succeeding generations...and, in 1937 the property was owned
by James Rowland Strong, of Yew Tree, Thursby. Present head of family in 1978 was solicitor Peter Strong", of Carlisle,
Cumberlandshire.
The first record from the IGI is that of James Strangge. Birth and death dates are again fictive; however, there is a marriage
record in the IGI, joining him to Elizabeth Page. Early records being "spotty", Randall Strange and Symond Strang are found
only as the next oldest records in IGI and as fathers of certain children. Much of the rest of the descendency is based on imputing
relationship of Randall and Symond to early named Strongs. Other descendencies at later dates are based on IGI relationships.
Again, however, it was necessary to impute relationships in many instances, and there is NO DIRECT PROOF that most of these
relationships exist. It should be emphasized as well that not all of the IGI data has been included in this database.
Work remains to be accomplished.
The following guidelines were used in imputing relationships:
1) All surnames spelled "Strang", "Strangg", "Strange", Strangge", "Strong", "Stronge", etc., are assumed to be variant spellings.
2) The IGI records were exhaustively screened for, first, children born to an identifiable couple of parents; for example:
Thomas Strangg (various spellings) and wife Mary, parents of:
Anne Strange, b. 2 Feb. 1668 in St. Mary's Parish, Carlisle
Thomas Strong, b. March 1670 in St. Mary's Parish, Carlise
Frances Strongg, b. 15 Dec. 1678 in St. Mary's Parish, Carlise
Second, the IGI records were then screened for any marriage between Thomas Strangg and a Mary, in this case found to be Mary
Jackson.
3) It was assumed that individuals tended to stay in the same parish; therefore priority was given to matching Thomas Strong,
b. March, 1678 with parents named Thomas and Mary in St. Marys, rather than similarily named parents in another parish. If
desirable or necessary, second priority was given to matches in immediately adjoining parishes where known, or sometimes in
the parish of the bride if it could be shown that subsequent children were christened by appropriately named parents.
4) The birth dates are really baptismal records, based on the date christening took place in the local parish of the parents.
5) The IGI data did not include death dates. Due to the fact the Family History System program produced ages based
on entry of a birth date, artificial death dates were introduced in order to avoid absurd ages such as 323 years, etc.
Ages were a useful analysis tool in evaluating matches between parents and children.
6) Often a child was found to have been christened by two parents in a certain year. Subsequently, the same parents would be
found christening a second and even a third child with the same name in following years. In these cases it was assumed the first
child had died and was being "replaced" with the subsequent child. Therefore, a fictive death date was introduced for the first
child, which would be before the birth of the second child with the same name, but after the birth of another, differently named child
of the same sex.
7) Where data external to the IGI could be found, as in Huddleston, etc., it was used to verify, correct, and/or amplify the
imputations from analysis of the IGI.
8) In the end, there remains sheer speculation for some of the matches; which will have to be revised as new data develops in the
future.
The following is a List of the Parishes of the Diocese of Carlisle, which happens to be nearly co-extensive with the
English County of Cumberland. This presentation is from a List published in the 1987 Cumbria Family History Society's
Directory of Members' Interests:
CONCENTRATIONS OF STRONGS indicated by asterisks **** and "bolding"
DIOCESE OF CARLLSLE - List of Parishes (extra parochial and modern excluded)
(keyed to MAP OF DIOCESE OF CARLISE, below, by numbers to the right of the named parish)
NOTE: The parishes bolded and asterisked are largely bunched together within the Diocese, geographically.
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