Ann, Martha, Dick, and Dennis
Luray, Virginia, mid-twentieth century. Gelatin-silver photograph, unknown provenance, collection of Christine L. Howard.
Some of my ancestors enslaved people. As a first step toward addressing this appalling legacy, I have pulled together a list of the people they enslaved below. On this page, I hope to not only compile and share what I’m learning to help descendants and other researchers make connections, but also to center their stories rather than those of their enslavers. Most of the people on this page have ties to Page County, Virginia; a few are from Woodstock, Connecticut.
I am continuing to research each of these individuals, and this section of the site will continue to grow. If you have information or questions about any of the people below, or suggestions about the most helpful and respectful way to present their lives, I’d be grateful if you’d reach out to me via the Contact page.
This page is titled in honor of the first four people whose names I discovered in my ancestors’ records. Sources I have consulted in this research are listed on the individual pages linked below; a general list of works consulted is also available here.
Known by Name in Page County, Va.
Alexander
Alexander was a resident of Page County in 1857, and of Shenandoah County, Va., from about 1857 to 1860. He was likely born about 1807.
More information is available here.
Ambrose
Ambrose, the son of Ann, was born in Hawksbill in 1858 (possibly June). He lived in Page County through at least 1860.
Amanda B.
Amanda, the daughter of unknown parents, was born in River about 1847 and died of a brain affliction on 31 December 1860 at the age of thirteen.
Andrew
Andrew was a resident of Page County as a child in 1845. He was likely born after 1832.
More information is available here.
Andrew Jackson Strother
Andrew was born 14 January 1856 near River in Page County, Virginia, and was the son of Martha of Bixler’s Ferry. He lived in Page County through at least 1881.
Ann
Ann was a resident of Page County in 1846. She was likely born after 1831, and had at least four children, including Rebecca J., Evaline Strother, Harrison, and Ambrose. She lived in Page County through at least 1860.
More information is available here.
Arthur
Arthur was a resident of Page County as a child in 1845. He was likely born after 1832. Associated surnames include Strickler.
More information is available here.
Benjamin F. Strother
Benjamin was born near Bixler’s Ferry on 20 September 1858, the son of Martha. He lived in Page County through at least 1881.
Charles
Charles was a resident of Page County in 1857.
More information is available here.
Charles Daniel
Charles Daniel was born to Martha near River on 15 January 1855, and was a resident of Page County through at least 1857.
More information is available here.
Daniel
Daniel was a resident of Page County from at least 1857 through 1862. The evidence suggests he was born about 1831 or 1832.
More information is available here.
Dick
Dick was a resident of Page County in 1846.
More information is available here.
Dennis
Dennis is known to have been a resident of Page County in 1846, 1850, and 1851, and probably lived there throughout that time. He was likely born between 1824 and 1838.
More information is available here.
Edmund
Edmund was a resident of Page County in 1845. He was likely born before 1832, and may have been born before 1800.
More information is available here.
Emily Jane
Emily Jane was a resident of Page County in 1857, and of Shenandoah County, Va. from about 1857 to 1860. She was probably born about 1850.
More information is available here.
Evaline Strother
Evaline was born about 1853 in Hawkshire, Page County, the daughter of Ann and Isaac Strother. She died in Hawkshire in March 1854 of unknown causes at the age of one.
Harrison
Harrison was born to Ann in Hawksbill in September of 1856. He lived in Page County through at least 1860.
Isaac
Isaac was a resident of Page County in 1857, and may have become a resident of Holt County, Mo. later that same year. He was likely born before 1845.
More information is available here.
Jacob
Jacob was a resident of Page County in 1857. He was likely born before 1845. Associated surnames include Sedwick.
More information is available here.
Jane
Jane was a resident of Page County in 1857. She was likely born before 1800. Associated surnames include Sedwick.
More information is available here.
Manda Bell
Manda Bell was born to Martha on 28 November 1859 in River.
Martha (of Bixler’s Ferry)
Martha is known to have been a resident of Page County from at least 1850 to 1860. She had at least four children—Andrew Jackson, Mary Jane, Benjamin F., and Thomas W. Strother—with Fountain Strother. She was born between about 1831 and 1833.
More information is available here.
Martha (of River)
Martha is known to have been a resident of Page County from 1855 through at least 1860. She was likely born before 1842. She had at least three children, Charles Daniel, Silas Murry, and Manda Bell.
More information is available here.
Mary Green
Mary was born east of Blue Ridge about March 1810, the daughter of James and Sarah Green, and was the consort of a man named Adam. She was a resident of Page County in 1845. She died of typhoid fever in Limestone Mills in October 1856, at the age of forty-six years and seven months.
More information is available here.
Mary Jane
Mary Jane was born near Bixlers Ferry in March 1857, the daughter of Martha. She died there on 3 November 1857 at the age of eight months and two days.
Mary Louisa
Mary Louisa was a resident of Page County as a child in 1845. She was likely born after 1832. Associated surnames include Strickler and Lionberger.
More information is available here.
Nelson
Nelson was a resident of Page County in 1850. Associated surnames include Brumback.
More information is available here.
Rebecca
Rebecca was a resident of Page County in 1845. She was likely born after 1832. Associated surnames include Strickler.
More information is available here.
Rebecca J.
Rebecca was the daughter of Ann, born in Page County in 1852. She died of a “summer complaint” at the age of one in 1853.
Sarah
Sarah was a resident of Page County in 1845. She was likely born after 1832. Associated surnames include Strickler and Jones.
More information is available here.
Silas Murry
Silas was born to Martha (of River) and Charles about August 1857. He died of pneumonia in March 1859 at the age of one year seven months.
Suey Frances
Suey Frances was a resident of Page County in 1857. She was likely born before 1845. Associated surnames include Sedwick and Shenk.
More information is available here.
Thomas W. Strother
Thomas was born to Martha in 1860 on the Catharine Grove farm. His father was Fountain Strother.
Known by Name in Woodstock, Conn.
Jenny
Jenny was a resident of Woodstock as a child in 1772. Associated surnames include Harris.
Rose
Rose was a resident of Woodstock in 1752. Associated surnames include Harris.
Silvia
Silvia was a resident of Woodstock as a child in 1772. Associated surnames include Harris.
Name Unknown
I’m working on compiling information for this section. I hope to have updates soon.