ORANGE COUNTY, NC - MARRIAGES - KIRKLAND & STRAYHORN Families

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Compiled by LOUISE T OVERTON   DFGM43A@PRODIGY.COM
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Some white settlers had come to this area of North Carolina as early as
1740, 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 populaton 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 Susquehannah 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 Miram STRAYHORN (daughter of 
*Gilbert and Margaret STRAYHORN)

Sources:
1...Luther M. SHARPE Genealogy, Luther M. SHARPE Papers, William R. PERKINS
Library, Duke University, Durham, NC
2...David I. CRAIG, A Historical Sketch of the New Hope Church, Orange Co. NC
3...Henry Poellnitz JOHNSTON, The Gentle JOHNSTONS and Their Kin, explains
that the names "STRAIN" and "STRAYHORN" refer to the same family.