The tentative family tree that I found stuffed in the front of the Strange family binder reminded me of another member of the family who I had researched. Mary Strange, Reverend Thomas's daughter, had lived life as one of those wonderful family connections, a spinster. Even more important, she was an educated woman. Somehow the Northampton Record Office had copies of some of the letters she had sent.
I'm not sure how that came about because I noted down the name and address on the envelope of Mary's letter that I transcribed. The addressee was Mr. Norton Townshend, Avon, Ohio, North America, which goes someway to proving one of the people in that tentative family tree. Why a copy of her letter to America was held at a UK record office was open to question but it's a great source. The date of the letter was 1837 and I'm not sure how much I'll be able to find out about this nephew in America at that time. I have done very little US research at this point and none in this area of the country.
I'll have other information to follow up on too as Mary Strange left various bequests in 1842 that I want to know more about. Spinster's wills can be a treasure trove when searching for family connections. Besides, most of the people named in her will were in England, a place where I'm more familiar with the records available.
Sources:
Northampton Archives, Northampton, UK – personal search for
Strange family letters etc
PCC wills pre 1858 – accessed when databases were simpler. Research guides at The National Archives can provide further information this research https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/wills-1384-1858/
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