In glancing over what I have written I see how imperfect, incomplete and unsatisfactory my work has been. And in endeavoring to give some account of the church from her earliest history to the present day it has involved the partial history of families -- and especially of my own -- which might seem presumptuous; but I disclaim every motive save the hope that it might be of use to future generations, enabling them to see their ancestry, and causing them to remember God's promises. And if anything has been preserved which otherwise might have been lost, and which may tend to the glory of God, I am satisfied.

A century and a quarter have wrought great changes in the world, since our ancestors were divinely led to worship God on the hill of New Hope; but through all these changes their representatives are still abiding under the shadow of the old vine. Political and financial convulsions, fire, wars and revolutions have failed to destroy or annul the promise of God to His people. At the same old homes, on the same old plantations are the same old names, and the people still come to worship God at the same old place, near to the graves of their ancestors, and in the midst of sweet associations and hallowed memories. And why is all this? It is because of the love of God in Christ to our fathers and to us their children. Here the gospel has been preached; here its ordinances have been administered, and here immortal souls have been born into the kingdom of heaven.

May the God of all grace continue to bless the people of New Hope; and may you, dear reader, and your children and your children's children -- may all of us and our posterity through all time be found in His service and abide under His shadow.

The End.

John Strayhorn, N.C. - File No. S-7655 Application dated 25 May 1842, Orange Co., NC.  John Strayhorn, a resident of New Hope, Orange Co.,  NC, aged 87.  volunteered for the militia about 1 July 1781.  Was born in Orange Co. 3 Aug 1754.Depositions of James Riggs, 24 May 1842, aged 82, a pensioner.  re: service of John Strayhorn.  And of  Alexander Gattis, 10 May 1842, aged 81; also of Aaron Hunter, 23 May 182, of Staly, NC, Orange Co.,  who stated that John Strayhorn served with his wagon & horses.  John Strayhorn died June 2, 1843, leaving  children (not named).  Served under Cols. Farmer & Capt.. Abraham Allen, Richards, & Perill.  Several of the  documents were sworn to before Samuel Strayhorn, Justice of the Peace.

Found at Denver Public Library, microfiche, G975.6565 c844hi, Jun 26, 1996.

William Strayhorn, N.C. - File No. - S-7650 Application dated 30 Aug. 1832, Orange Co., NC.  William Strayhorn, aged76.  He entered the army of the  Revolution under Capt. James Carrington in 1777 or 1778 as a substitute for his brother John Strayhorn who  had been drafted. (Details of service given.)  Deposition of John Strayhorn& James Hart re: soldier.  William  Strayhorn born in Orange Co., in1756, as his brother John was born 1754 & he always understood he was two years younger than John; born about four miles from Hillsboro.  1833 deposition of Alexander Gattis, a  soldier of the revolution, aged 72;knew William Strayhorn as a private under Capt. Allen.  No family data given.

Compiled by LOUISE T OVERTON

[email protected]

Some white settlers had come to this area of North Carolina as early as1740, it was not until the early 1750's that the population began to grow rapidly. Only 20 residents paid taxes in 1748...1113 paid in 1752.By 1767 Orange County had the largest population of any county in North Carolina.  In the Hawfields settlement located along the Haw River in the center of what would become Orange county, were the BLACKWOOD, CRAIG, FREELAND, KIRKLAND,  JOHNSTON and STRAYHORN families....it is believed that four of these families...BLACKWOOD, CRAIG, FREELAND and KIRKLANDS may have lived near one another in County London-Derry in northern Ireland before moving to the colonies in the same vessel. They arrived in America around 1741 and settled in Paxtang Township along the Susquehanna River in Dauphin Co. Pennsylvania. Between 1743 and 1745 these four families along with the JOHNSTON family and Gilbert STRAYHORN traveled the Great Wagon Road and settled near the Haw River. First settlers of Orange County, NC and who they married.  * denotes first settlers**Joseph KIRKLAND married Peggy BLACKWOOD (daughter of *William and Elizabeth BLACKWOOD) Joseph KIRKLAND and Peggy BLACKWOOD had son William KIRKLAND married Betsy CRAIG daughter of Samuel Craig who was a son of *William and Margaret CRAIG) Betsy Craig's mother was Mary JOHNSTON, daughter of *Charles Wilson JOHNSTON and Martha BLACKWOOD (daughter of *William and Elizabeth BLACKWOOD) William and Betsy CRAIG KIRKLAND had son John KIRKLAND who married Mary Jane STRAYHORN 1851 in Orange Co. NC. Mary Jane STRAYHORN was a daughter of Bryant STRAYHORN and Mary STRAIN. Bryant STRAYHORN was a son of John STRAYHORN and Elizabeth JOHNSTON John STRAYHORN was a son of *Gilbert and Margaret STRAYHORN Elizabeth JOHNSTON was a daughter of *Charles Wilson JOHNSTON and Martha BLACKWOOD (daughter of *William and Elizabeth BLACKWOOD) Mary STRAIN was a daughter of John STRAIN and Miriam STRAYHORN (daughter of *Gilbert and Margaret STRAYHORN)Sources:1...Luther M. SHARPE Genealogy, Luther M. SHARPE Papers, William R. PERKINS Library, Duke University, Durham, NC2...David I. CRAIG, A Historical Sketch of the New Hope Church, Orange Co. NC3...Henry Poellnitz JOHNSTON, The Gentle JOHNSTONS and Their Kin, explains that the names "STRAIN" and "STRAYHORN" refer to the same family. A Gage Web Project

HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY Lincoln County was named for Benjamin Lincoln (1733-1810), a Revolutionary War hero. Lying on the South Carolina border, Lincoln County is surrounded by Columbia, Elbert, McDuffie and Wilkes Counties of Georgia, and Edgefield and McCormick Counties of South Carolina. Lincolnton is the county seat of Lincoln County. Lincoln County, Georgia was created from an eastern portion of Wilkes County in 1796 by an act of the Georgia state legislature. Lincoln County is bordered on two sides by water. The Savannah River flows along the border between Georgia and South Carolina and flows into the backwards L-shaped manmade Clark's Hill Lake, which provides the water supply to Augusta, Georgia. Little River flows from the base of the L and forms a border between Lincoln County and Columbia County. The notorious explorer Hernando De Soto may have passed this way in 1540, certainly he passed nearby. The naturalist William Bartram is said to have passed this way in 1773. In the early days before the white man came, the area where Lincoln County, Georgia, is now was inhabited by the Cherokees and also the Creeks. The land was used as a hunting preserve. The tribes ceded the land in 1773 when Wilkes County was formed. Pioneers, having heard of the beauty of the place, and its excellent resources, had begun to move into the territory as early as 1750. Conflicts between whites and Indians were reported. A massacre by Creeks at a fort put up by the Sherrills-- David and William-- took place in early 1774; several people were slain. A peace treaty was signed later that year. It is impossible to understand Lincoln County history without knowing a bit about Wilkes County which was officially formed in February 5, 1777. This was the time of the Revolution. The people who had come to the area were in the thick of the turmoil. John Dooly, for whom Dooly County was named, and Elijah Clarke, for whom Clarke County was named, were leaders of the Revolutionary faction. As there were many Loyalists in the Georgia settlements, feelings ran high. A very important battle took place in 1779 in Wilkes County at Kettle Creek with General Andrew Pickens leading Clarke, Dooly and others in a surprise attack on the British. Besides overcoming the British, the Revolutionaries were able to take major stores and horses. You may visit the Kettle Creek Battle Ground in Wilkes County; it is off Highway 44(Click here for directions). Elijah Clarke State Park is situated off Highway 378 in Lincoln County on the shores of Clarks Hill Lake and you may visit there; there are cottages, and a boating marina, and a colonial museum with artifacts from the Revolutionary period. Following the Revolutionary War, more land opened for settlement and pioneers poured in. Many came from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.