1661 John Strong was a founding member of the church in Northampton, Massachusetts, which first officially gathered on June 18. The record book of the First Church of Christ of Northampton states, [1]
The Church was gathered at Northampton 18.4.1661
The persons that begun that worke were in number 8. viz Mr. Eleazar Mather, David Wilton, William Clarke, John Strong, Henry Cunliffe, Henry Woodward, Thomas Roote, Thomas Hanchett. Messengers that were present, were from 4. Churches. Mr. Pelatiah Glover, Deacon Clap, Thomas Tilstone from the Church of Christ at Dorchester, M. John Eliot Sen, Goodman Williams, from the Church of Christ at Roxbury, Capt. John Pynchon, Deacon Chap in from the Church at Springfeild, Mr. John Russel ye Pastor, Mr. Goodwin, goodman White from the Church of Christ of Christ at Hadleigh, And at the Same day after they had entred into Covenant, they Chose Mr. Eleazar Mather to the office of a Pastor which they had Concluded to doe before, and desired Reverend Mr. Eliot, and Reverend Mr Russel to Ordaine him, which accordingly was done.
1663 John Strong was chosen as Elder of the Church of Christ of Northampton on May 13. [2]
The Elder chosen unanimously, was, brother John Strong, the Deacon bror. William Holton who were ordained the 13. of the .3. mo: 1663. The Elder by the Imposition of ye handes of Pastor and Mr Russell Pastor of Hadleigh, The Deacon afterwardes by the imposition of the handes of Pastor and Elder; The messengers present of the church of Hadleigh Mr. Russell, Mr. Goodwin, bror. Goodman, of the Church of Springleild Deacon Chapin and Mr Holyoake who approovd of, and by their Deligates gove the right hand of felowship.
Research Notes:
The Strongs came to New England with Margery's brothers in 1635.
Gary Boyd Roberts states, [3]
John Strong, born Chard, Somerset, England, ca 1610, d Northampton, 14 Apr 1699, immigrant probably in 1635 (when he was in Hingham, Massachusetts), in Taunton, Massachusetts in 1638, in Windsor, Ct in 1645. and in Northampton in 1660. He was the son of John Strong (ca 1584-ante 26 Nov 1627) of Chard and grandson of George Strong of Chard, whose will dated 26 Nov 1627 and proved 16 Feb 1636 mentions my grandchild John Strong. He m. 2) ca 1636 Abigail Ford, bapt Bridport, Dorset, England 8 Oct 1619, d. Northampton 6 July 1688.
Savage states, [4]
John [Strong was in] Hingham 1635, among first proprietors who drew house lots September of that year, freeman 9 Mar 1637. Next year was of Taunton, and counted there as one of the first propritors, made freeman of that jurisdiction 4 Dec, chosen representative 1641, 2, 3, and 4, and a juror 1645. Three or four years after is found at Windsor, and made freeman of CT May 1651, and soon after 1661 was an inhabitant of Northampton. He was a tanner, one of the pillars at the foundation of the church, Elder 1663.
[1] Church Records, 1661-1845, First Church of Christ, Northampton, Massachussets, image 11, Congregational Library & Archives, [CongregationalLibrary&Archives].
[2] Church Records, 1661-1845, First Church of Christ, Northampton, Massachussets, image 11, Congregational Library & Archives, [CongregationalLibrary&Archives].
[3] Gary Boyd Roberts, "The New England Ancestry of H.R.H. The Princess of Wales," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 136 (1982), 85-103, at 99, [AmericanAncestors].
[4] James Savage, John Farmer, Orrando Perry, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing three generations, Vol. 4 (Boston: Little Brown & Co, 1861), 225-227, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].