Dear David & Jen (and any others interested) David thank you very much for forwarding me archived material regarding previous enquiries and discussions on the Strong stonemasons and possible links with the Wicklow Strongs. To date I have not made a connection with the latter, but that does not mean there is none - I am possibly a different off-shoot. The main purpose for this e-mail is to very briefly introduce the Strong stonemasons. The aim of doing this is to assist anybody trying to trace their family to them. I know a lot of us have missing links between them and our immediate ancestors. Yet a couple of us have grown up being told we are related to the Strong stonemasons who built St Pauls etc - but how!! Well I have been delving very deep and have come up with an idea on how any Strong descendents could be related to these masons. I have recently written to a great-aunt of mine (a Strong) to find out more about her immediate family in the hope that I can turn 'myth' into 'reality' and find the missing link. In writing the letter, I gave a brief description of the Strong masons and how any 21st Century Strongs could be DIRECTLY related to them. Below is an extract from this letter, which I hope will be of interest to any of those wishing to find a link: "... My most interesting finds, to date, have been on the Strong's. Coming over here Mum had told me that we are supposedly related to the Strong's who built St Paul's Cathedral. Myth or not I decided to find out. I have found lots of information on the stone-masons who built St Paul's. They actually lived in a little town called Taynton - just outside Oxford!! Fate or what! They owned a quarry here, as well as one in the neighbouring Cotswold town of Little Barrington (where they also lived). It was from these quarries that they supplied stone and their skills to a number of colleges at Oxford University, the Sheldonian Theatre and the extravagant Blenheim Palace. The main Strong was Timothy, who came from Wiltshire. He lived during the late 16th Century. He built a variety of manors in the Cotswolds. His son, Valentine Strong (don't you love the name!) moved to Taynton/Little Barrington where he built the family home, which still stands today! He also built a number of manor houses in the area. He and his wife, Ann, had six sons and five daughters!! It is from these six sons that come the infamous stone-masons. The eldest being Thomas (b. 1632- d. 1681). Whilst working in Oxford he became acquainted with Christopher Wren, who was a lecturer at the University at the time. Wren asked him to build his design of the Sheldonian Theatre, and obviously liked what he saw. After the Great Fire of London (1666) Sir Christopher Wren was asked to lead the reconstruction programme of the many destroyed churches. Upon which, amongst other stone-masons, he called upon Thomas Strong. Thomas' first work, and supposed test work for St Paul's Cathedral, was St. Stephen's (Walbrook). He was assisted by the well-known and other Cotswold stone-mason, William Kempster. Thomas then signed a contract to do St Paul's and laid the foundation stone in 1675. In order to practice his trade in London he was admitted to the Company of Masons and made free in 1671. He was involved in the construction of a number of other London churches, as well as providing stone for their reconstruction. He also employed a number of apprentices and labour. He died, unmarried, in 1681, passing all his contracts, apprentices and estate onto one of his younger brothers, Edward (bp 1652 - d 1723/4). Edward is seen as the most prominent stone-mason, highly regarded by Wren, and made free in 1680, becoming Master of the Company of Masons in 1696 [this is now debatable as I have discovered contradictory facts from original Company records][NOTE: not a link to freemasons]. He mainly worked on St Paul's Cathedral but worked on other churches in London, Greenwich Hospital and Blenheim Palace. As with Thomas, he had a number of apprentices and a vast team of workmen. He became a very wealthy man - signing contracts with Christopher Wren, Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh. With his earnings he brought property in London and in out-lying areas. Eventually retiring to Hide Manor, Hertfordshire, to live the life of a gentleman. Here he wrote his memoirs (which I am trying to trace). He died at the age of 71. Edward had two or three sons. The records are confusing, and I think one daughter. One of Edward's sons (the other's being Thomas and/or John) was also called Edward (referred to as Edward jnr). Hence the confusion in many records as to which Edward lived where and their number of children! Edward jnr followed in his father's footsteps and is known for placing the final stone on the dome of St Paul's Cathedral (33 years, spent as a family, working on the Cathedral). Edward jnr was also a well respected mason and became Master of the Company of Masons in 1718. Edward knew Christopher Wren's son well and it is said that they visited Paris together in 1698. In 1699, he married Susanna Roberts, daughter of the King's plumber - an esteemed position in those days! They also had a son called Edward. Unfortunately he died of smallpox at the age of 20, while studying at Cambridge University. Edward jnr also owned property in London and Hertfordshire, although records seem to muddle up his properties with Edward snr. However, it does appear as if he and Susanna had two daughters who inherited his wealth and property. In terms of tracing our family history, and to find out whether we are direct descendents of either Thomas, Edward snr or Edward jnr - the only possibility is through one of Edward snr's other two sons - Thomas or John. It appears as if the former son, died unmarried. However, John died in 1757 and appears to have been married. He could possibly be the only link (what with the original Thomas (1st Strong to work on St Paul's) dying unmarried, and Edward jnr's only son also dying unmarried). However, we could have come from one of Valentine Strong's many sons. It is said that descendants of his moved, lived and practiced the skill of stone-masonry and owned a quarry in Box (Wiltshire) and Stanford-in-the-Vale. Stong's also owned a quarry in Warminster, with Egerton Strong living there until his death at the age of 83 in 1964. ..." If anyone can shed any light on 'missing links' - our present day Strong's living in South Africa and the above I would love to hear from you (as requested in a previous e-mail). If anyone would like to ask me any further questions relating to the stone-mason Strong's I would be glad to assist. I would like to think that my records are prettyy accurate. Accuracy being based on original 17th & 18th Century sources, and reading many 20th Century books on architecture etc in England. The latter information sometimes being contradictory, hence the need to refer to as many original sources as possible to validate claims. Best wishes, Nicola ............................................................................ ................................ Nicola Jenkin Projects Manager Best Foot Forward Ltd The Future Centre 115 Magdalden Road Oxford OX4 1RQ England Tel: 01865 250818 Fax: 01865 794586 Mobile: 0781 558 7707 E-mail: nicola@bestfootforward.com Website: www.bestfootforward.com City Limits Project: Ecological Footprint of Greater London: www.citylimitslondon.com 'Sharing Nature's Interest' & a lifestyle calculator: www.ecologicalfootprint.com

Hi Nicola! Thanks for a most informative "treatise"! I can't add anything to what you have produced here... other than to note that the name "Valentine Strong" occurs several times in the Irish Records. I can't help but think there might be some link... and I get back to Valentine Strong's son William and his wife Frances.... We know nothing at present of what happened to them. It is entirely possible they went to Ireland and generated the Wicklow lineage. I hope those interested will keep digging. Someday we may have some answers! Nicola... may I have your permission to post a copy of this message in HTML form on my website... with full credit to you, of course? Regards Dave Strong ================= ----- Original Message ----- From: Nicola <Nicola@bestfootforward.com> To: <strong-l@rootsweb.com> Cc: <jen@campoz.fslife.co.uk>; <dbsandmd@nhb.com>; <patdstrong@aol.com>; <wellsy1@iprimus.com.au>; <judetree49@yahoo.com.au>; <jself@optushome.com.au>; <casement@t-online.de>; <dell@austarnet.com.au>; <mfbstrong@aol.com> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 6:06 AM Subject: A brief - The Strong stonemasons > > Dear David & Jen (and any others interested) > > David thank you very much for forwarding me archived material regarding > previous enquiries and discussions on the Strong stonemasons and possible > links with the Wicklow Strongs. To date I have not made a connection with > the latter, but that does not mean there is none - I am possibly a different > off-shoot. > > The main purpose for this e-mail is to very briefly introduce the Strong > stonemasons. The aim of doing this is to assist anybody trying to trace > their family to them. I know a lot of us have missing links between them > and our immediate ancestors. Yet a couple of us have grown up being told we > are related to the Strong stonemasons who built St Pauls etc - but how!! > Well I have been delving very deep and have come up with an idea on how any > Strong descendents could be related to these masons. > > I have recently written to a great-aunt of mine (a Strong) to find out more > about her immediate family in the hope that I can turn 'myth' into 'reality' > and find the missing link. In writing the letter, I gave a brief > description of the Strong masons and how any 21st Century Strongs could be > DIRECTLY related to them. Below is an extract from this letter, which I > hope will be of interest to any of those wishing to find a link: > > "... My most interesting finds, to date, have been on the Strong's. Coming > over here Mum had told me that we are supposedly related to the Strong's who > built St Paul's Cathedral. Myth or not I decided to find out. I have found > lots of information on the stone-masons who built St Paul's. They actually > lived in a little town called Taynton - just outside Oxford!! Fate or what! > They owned a quarry here, as well as one in the neighbouring Cotswold town > of Little Barrington (where they also lived). It was from these quarries > that they supplied stone and their skills to a number of colleges at Oxford > University, the Sheldonian Theatre and the extravagant Blenheim Palace. The > main Strong was Timothy, who came from Wiltshire. He lived during the late > 16th Century. He built a variety of manors in the Cotswolds. His son, > Valentine Strong (don't you love the name!) moved to Taynton/Little > Barrington where he built the family home, which still stands today! He > also built a number of manor houses in the area. He and his wife, Ann, had > six sons and five daughters!! > > It is from these six sons that come the infamous stone-masons. The eldest > being Thomas (b. 1632- d. 1681). Whilst working in Oxford he became > acquainted with Christopher Wren, who was a lecturer at the University at > the time. Wren asked him to build his design of the Sheldonian Theatre, and > obviously liked what he saw. > > After the Great Fire of London (1666) Sir Christopher Wren was asked to lead > the reconstruction programme of the many destroyed churches. Upon which, > amongst other stone-masons, he called upon Thomas Strong. Thomas' first > work, and supposed test work for St Paul's Cathedral, was St. Stephen's > (Walbrook). He was assisted by the well-known and other Cotswold > stone-mason, William Kempster. Thomas then signed a contract to do St > Paul's and laid the foundation stone in 1675. In order to practice his > trade in London he was admitted to the Company of Masons and made free in > 1671. He was involved in the construction of a number of other London > churches, as well as providing stone for their reconstruction. He also > employed a number of apprentices and labour. He died, unmarried, in 1681, > passing all his contracts, apprentices and estate onto one of his younger > brothers, Edward (bp 1652 - d 1723/4). > > Edward is seen as the most prominent stone-mason, highly regarded by Wren, > and made free in 1680, becoming Master of the Company of Masons in 1696 > [this is now debatable as I have discovered contradictory facts from > original Company records][NOTE: not a link to freemasons]. He mainly worked > on St Paul's Cathedral but worked on other churches in London, Greenwich > Hospital and Blenheim Palace. As with Thomas, he had a number of > apprentices and a vast team of workmen. He became a very wealthy man - > signing contracts with Christopher Wren, Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh. With his > earnings he brought property in London and in out-lying areas. Eventually > retiring to Hide Manor, Hertfordshire, to live the life of a gentleman. > Here he wrote his memoirs (which I am trying to trace). He died at the age > of 71. > > Edward had two or three sons. The records are confusing, and I think one > daughter. One of Edward's sons (the other's being Thomas and/or John) was > also called Edward (referred to as Edward jnr). Hence the confusion in many > records as to which Edward lived where and their number of children! Edward > jnr followed in his father's footsteps and is known for placing the final > stone on the dome of St Paul's Cathedral (33 years, spent as a family, > working on the Cathedral). Edward jnr was also a well respected mason and > became Master of the Company of Masons in 1718. Edward knew Christopher > Wren's son well and it is said that they visited Paris together in 1698. In > 1699, he married Susanna Roberts, daughter of the King's plumber - an > esteemed position in those days! They also had a son called Edward. > Unfortunately he died of smallpox at the age of 20, while studying at > Cambridge University. > > Edward jnr also owned property in London and Hertfordshire, although records > seem to muddle up his properties with Edward snr. However, it does appear > as if he and Susanna had two daughters who inherited his wealth and > property. > > In terms of tracing our family history, and to find out whether we are > direct descendents of either Thomas, Edward snr or Edward jnr - the only > possibility is through one of Edward snr's other two sons - Thomas or John. > It appears as if the former son, died unmarried. However, John died in 1757 > and appears to have been married. He could possibly be the only link (what > with the original Thomas (1st Strong to work on St Paul's) dying unmarried, > and Edward jnr's only son also dying unmarried). > > However, we could have come from one of Valentine Strong's many sons. It is > said that descendants of his moved, lived and practiced the skill of > stone-masonry and owned a quarry in Box (Wiltshire) and > Stanford-in-the-Vale. Stong's also owned a quarry in Warminster, with > Egerton Strong living there until his death at the age of 83 in 1964. ..." > > If anyone can shed any light on 'missing links' - our present day Strong's > living in South Africa and the above I would love to hear from you (as > requested in a previous e-mail). > > If anyone would like to ask me any further questions relating to the > stone-mason Strong's I would be glad to assist. I would like to think that > my records are prettyy accurate. Accuracy being based on original 17th & > 18th Century sources, and reading many 20th Century books on architecture > etc in England. The latter information sometimes being contradictory, hence > the need to refer to as many original sources as possible to validate > claims. > > Best wishes, > Nicola > > > > > ...................................................................... ...... > ................................ > Nicola Jenkin > Projects Manager > > Best Foot Forward Ltd > The Future Centre > 115 Magdalden Road > Oxford > OX4 1RQ > England > > Tel: 01865 250818 > Fax: 01865 794586 > Mobile: 0781 558 7707 > > E-mail: nicola@bestfootforward.com > Website: www.bestfootforward.com > > City Limits Project: Ecological Footprint of Greater London: > www.citylimitslondon.com > > 'Sharing Nature's Interest' & a lifestyle calculator: > www.ecologicalfootprint.com