Strain Cemetery
STRAIN CEMETERY
From the records of the Brooke county Historical Society
The Strain Cemetery is located approximately three miles east of St John’s Road, off Eldersville Road, Cross Creek District, Brooke County, West Virginia.
The earliest burial took place at this cemetery in 1804. In August of 1850, a survey was made according to the terms of the will of William Strain and we quote “my will is that the remaining parts of my land be sold except one acre that is the graveyard and one acre around it that no many may occupy for ever and I leave the care of it upon Ebenezer and his heirs to keep it in good repair as it needs it”.
On November 30, 1911, P.R. Strain measured and drafted a chart showing the graves in this cemetery and at that time there was a fence around the entire cemetery. About 1916 the Strain Cemetery was deeded to the Tent Cemetery Association.
The burials are listed according to the chart drafted by Mr. Strain in 1911.
1.Sacred to the memory of William, son of William and Hannah Strain, who died September 14, 1804, age 10 years 2 months 10 days.
2.Small sand stone at head and feet (unmarked)
3.Small sand stone at head and feet (unmarked)
4.Head stone marked “Infant”
5.Unmarked same as “2” and “3”
6.Sacred to the memory of John, the son of William and Hannah Strain, who died June 26, 1804, age 16 years 4 months 7days
7.Sacred to the memory of infant son of John and Hannah Goorley, who died July 27, 1818, age 24 hours
8.In memory of Elizabeth McConnell, who died September 11, 1820 age 78 years
9.Unmarked save by a small rough native sand stone
10.Erected to the memory of David, son of Samuel and Esther Andrews, who died December 28, 1836 age 28 years 4 months 3 days, whose remains lie in Van Wirt County, Ohio. “Repent in time, make no delay; for I was quickly called away”.
11.Sacred to the memory of Esther, late consort of Samuel Andrews, who died May 4, 1837 age 53 years 6 months 3 days “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them” (10 and 11 marked by same headstone; two footstones in place marked D.A. and E.A.)
12.Sacred to the memory of Eleazer Glass, son of William and Hannah Strain, who died June 4, 1820 age 24 years 3 months 1 day
13.Sacred to the memory of John, son of John and Hannah Goorley, who died August 9, 1827 age 3 years 5 months 26 days “Behold our days but a span; alas how frail a thing a man is”.
14.Erected in memory of Hannah, consort of William Strain, who died March 1, 1850 in the 87th year of her age. “God, said my people I will bring again from Bashen hill; yea from the sea’s devouring deep; them again I will bring”.
15.Sacred to the memory of William Strain, Esq., who died May 15, 1831 in the 83rd year of his age. “For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God”.
16.In memory of Nancy, wife of Benjamin Lawrence and daughter of William Strain; who departed this life September 20, 1877 age 76 years
17.William S. Goorley, born October 7, 1816 died July 11, 1888 “Be ye also ready for in such an hour as you think net the Son of man cometh”.
18.George Goorley died October 21, 1850 age 21 years 3 months 15 days
19.Sacred to the memory of Rebecca Cunningham who died May 16, 1835, supposed to be in her 12th year
20.John Goorley died February 3, 1857 in the 67th year of his age “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God”
21.Hannah, wife of John Goorley, died September 30, 1839 in the 49th year of her age. “Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is”
22.Martha J. daughter of William P. and M.A. Strain, died March 4, 1849 age 15 months 17 days Caroline E. daughter of William P. and M.A. Strain, died February 27, 1849 age 3 years 1 month 15 days
23.Elizabeth J. daughter of W.P., and M.A. Strain born June 10, 1850 died December 26, 1853
24.David J., son of E. and G. Strain, died May 12, 1846 in the 18th year of his age
25.Sacred to the memory of Esther Ann, daughter of Ebenezer and Catherine Strain, died February 13, 1854 age 1 year 10 months 13 days “Virgins much too much presuming on your toasted white and red; view me lade in beauty blooming, numbered new among the dead”.
26.Erected in memory of our infant child who died A.D. 1840 Ebenezar and Catherine Strain
27.Ebenezer Strain died March 5, 1875 in his 82nd year
28.Catherine A., wife of E. Strain who died June 4, 1872 in her 75th year
29.Emma V., daughter of William P. and M.A. Strain born June 2, 1859 died August 13, 1861
30.W.P. Strain born January 5, 1817 died March 31, 1888
31.Margaret A. Strain, wife of W.P. Strain born February 19, 1827 died June 7, 1889
32.Unmarked sunken plot of small size – probably infant
ANDREWS
David Lot 10
Esther Lot 11
CUNNINGHAM
Rebecca Lot 19
GOORLEY
William S. Lot 17
George Lot 18
John Lot 20
Hannah Lot 21
Infant Lot 7
John Lot 13
LAWRENCE
Nancy Lot 16
MC CONNELL
Elizabeth Lot 8
STRAIN
Martha J. Lot 22
Caroline Lot 22
Elizabeth Lot 23
David J. Lot 24
Esther Ann Lot 25
Infant Lot 26
Ebenezer Lot 27
Catherine A. Lot 28
Emma V. Lot 29
W. P. Lot 30
Margaret Lot 31
William Lot 1
John Lot 6
Eleazer Glass Lot 12
Hannah Lot 14
William Lot 15
Lots 2, 3, 4, 5 and 32 are unmarked
From the records of the Brooke county Historical Society
The Strain Cemetery is located approximately three miles east of St John’s Road, off Eldersville Road, Cross Creek District, Brooke County, West Virginia.
The earliest burial took place at this cemetery in 1804. In August of 1850, a survey was made according to the terms of the will of William Strain and we quote “my will is that the remaining parts of my land be sold except one acre that is the graveyard and one acre around it that no many may occupy for ever and I leave the care of it upon Ebenezer and his heirs to keep it in good repair as it needs it”.
On November 30, 1911, P.R. Strain measured and drafted a chart showing the graves in this cemetery and at that time there was a fence around the entire cemetery. About 1916 the Strain Cemetery was deeded to the Tent Cemetery Association.
The burials are listed according to the chart drafted by Mr. Strain in 1911.
1.Sacred to the memory of William, son of William and Hannah Strain, who died September 14, 1804, age 10 years 2 months 10 days.
2.Small sand stone at head and feet (unmarked)
3.Small sand stone at head and feet (unmarked)
4.Head stone marked “Infant”
5.Unmarked same as “2” and “3”
6.Sacred to the memory of John, the son of William and Hannah Strain, who died June 26, 1804, age 16 years 4 months 7days
7.Sacred to the memory of infant son of John and Hannah Goorley, who died July 27, 1818, age 24 hours
8.In memory of Elizabeth McConnell, who died September 11, 1820 age 78 years
9.Unmarked save by a small rough native sand stone
10.Erected to the memory of David, son of Samuel and Esther Andrews, who died December 28, 1836 age 28 years 4 months 3 days, whose remains lie in Van Wirt County, Ohio. “Repent in time, make no delay; for I was quickly called away”.
11.Sacred to the memory of Esther, late consort of Samuel Andrews, who died May 4, 1837 age 53 years 6 months 3 days “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them” (10 and 11 marked by same headstone; two footstones in place marked D.A. and E.A.)
12.Sacred to the memory of Eleazer Glass, son of William and Hannah Strain, who died June 4, 1820 age 24 years 3 months 1 day
13.Sacred to the memory of John, son of John and Hannah Goorley, who died August 9, 1827 age 3 years 5 months 26 days “Behold our days but a span; alas how frail a thing a man is”.
14.Erected in memory of Hannah, consort of William Strain, who died March 1, 1850 in the 87th year of her age. “God, said my people I will bring again from Bashen hill; yea from the sea’s devouring deep; them again I will bring”.
15.Sacred to the memory of William Strain, Esq., who died May 15, 1831 in the 83rd year of his age. “For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God”.
16.In memory of Nancy, wife of Benjamin Lawrence and daughter of William Strain; who departed this life September 20, 1877 age 76 years
17.William S. Goorley, born October 7, 1816 died July 11, 1888 “Be ye also ready for in such an hour as you think net the Son of man cometh”.
18.George Goorley died October 21, 1850 age 21 years 3 months 15 days
19.Sacred to the memory of Rebecca Cunningham who died May 16, 1835, supposed to be in her 12th year
20.John Goorley died February 3, 1857 in the 67th year of his age “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God”
21.Hannah, wife of John Goorley, died September 30, 1839 in the 49th year of her age. “Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is”
22.Martha J. daughter of William P. and M.A. Strain, died March 4, 1849 age 15 months 17 days Caroline E. daughter of William P. and M.A. Strain, died February 27, 1849 age 3 years 1 month 15 days
23.Elizabeth J. daughter of W.P., and M.A. Strain born June 10, 1850 died December 26, 1853
24.David J., son of E. and G. Strain, died May 12, 1846 in the 18th year of his age
25.Sacred to the memory of Esther Ann, daughter of Ebenezer and Catherine Strain, died February 13, 1854 age 1 year 10 months 13 days “Virgins much too much presuming on your toasted white and red; view me lade in beauty blooming, numbered new among the dead”.
26.Erected in memory of our infant child who died A.D. 1840 Ebenezar and Catherine Strain
27.Ebenezer Strain died March 5, 1875 in his 82nd year
28.Catherine A., wife of E. Strain who died June 4, 1872 in her 75th year
29.Emma V., daughter of William P. and M.A. Strain born June 2, 1859 died August 13, 1861
30.W.P. Strain born January 5, 1817 died March 31, 1888
31.Margaret A. Strain, wife of W.P. Strain born February 19, 1827 died June 7, 1889
32.Unmarked sunken plot of small size – probably infant
ANDREWS
David Lot 10
Esther Lot 11
CUNNINGHAM
Rebecca Lot 19
GOORLEY
William S. Lot 17
George Lot 18
John Lot 20
Hannah Lot 21
Infant Lot 7
John Lot 13
LAWRENCE
Nancy Lot 16
MC CONNELL
Elizabeth Lot 8
STRAIN
Martha J. Lot 22
Caroline Lot 22
Elizabeth Lot 23
David J. Lot 24
Esther Ann Lot 25
Infant Lot 26
Ebenezer Lot 27
Catherine A. Lot 28
Emma V. Lot 29
W. P. Lot 30
Margaret Lot 31
William Lot 1
John Lot 6
Eleazer Glass Lot 12
Hannah Lot 14
William Lot 15
Lots 2, 3, 4, 5 and 32 are unmarked