Let me say - none of these are my families but this is just some tid bits I have picked up along the way. Strickland was a North Carolina family - as was the Reavis/Reeves and Robertson families. These seem to have traveled together or at least to same places. Strickland marriages can be found in 1760s in Edgecombe County North Carolina. James Robertson (1742-1814) one of the founders of Nashville, TN - his wife was Charlotte Reeves a daughter of a Presbyterian minister. I have not notices the Strickland in the early history of TN - back when it was North Carolina, but they might have been there. Seems a group of these went to Kentucky and moved west from there - Tabitha Strickland born 1781 died 1848 in Indiana, married 1802 Warren Co Kentucky to Isham Reavis who was born 1781 NC, died 1825 Indiana. some of the siblings of this Reavis moved on to Illinois and married into Green, Strickland and Turney families there. Some of the Reavis who married in 1799 Kentucky, died in 1844 MO. Look at Fayette Co Illinois, Bond Co Illinois for some of the Strickland, Reavis, etc. say in ca 1835 or so. So this groups migration would be NC in late 1700s with a move thru what is today Tennessee, arriving in Kentucky ca 1800, then some on to Indiana, Illinois and MO. A common migration route. But....look at this. Samuel Smith Strickland born 1807 Kentucky died ca 1885 in Arkansas, married a Jane Robertson. His brother John also married a Robertson. These families ended up in Searcy County Arkansas. (later their dec. went to OK and Texas). Samuel Smith Strickland - his children: a daughter born 1828 Mississippi son born 1831 Alabama children up to 1840 being born in Alabama son 1844 Mississippi dau 1846 Tippah County, Mississippi some of the Stricklands stayed in Alabama, but this one at some point moved to Searcy Co Arkansas where they married into Campbell and Turney, etc. During the Civil War these Stricklands were Union people, one being killed during the war. The Robertson family in Searcy Co Arkansas - are written about in a book - History and Folklore of Searcy Co Arkansas - and talks about a Vincent Robertson born ca 1799 Kentucky, his daughter was born 1834 in Arkansas. It says this Robertson family came from Wayne County Tennessee to Searcy Co AR traveling and stopping along the way from 1828 to 1830....and helped found the first county seat of Searcy Co AR. There were in politics and were leaders in the community.... (are they connected to the Robertson out of NC who help found Nashville, TN?) Isham Reavis must have been a Rev. War hero or something in NC as his name is used a lot in the family in later generations.... so it would seem that the Strickland family began in NC, some moved to KY and west, some to Alabama and then Arkansas, and some got mixed up and went to Kentucky but then to Arkansas.....I think the Reavis, Robertson and Strickland which I find in TN, Illinois, Alabama and Arkansas are all from the same North Carolina families.....but that is just what I think and I have not proved it. Hope this might give you someplace to look for your Strickland before 1860. mary hlm@qtm.net