Born- 16 Aug 1764

At- Hellam Township York, Pennsylvania

Died- 13 Apr 1837

At- Alexis, North Carolina

Buried- Lawson Stroup Cemetery on Rhyne Rd. near Alexis, NC

(1) Married- Mary Molly Edelmann

Marriage Date- 09 May 1789 Lincoln, North Carolina

Born- 24 Feb 1766

Died- 1809

Buried- Unknown

(2) Married- Catherine Master

Marriage Date- 09 Mar 1811

Born- 1768 Lincoln County NC

Died- after 1870

Buried- Unknown

Marker in Lawson Stroup Cemetery near Alexis, NC

Revolutionary Years

Between 1775 and 1783 the Stroup's participated in the Revolutionary War, reputedly making guns and gun powder on their farms. Philip's father (Jacob) received two vouchers for provisions (one for corn, the other not specified) to the American Army.

Philip's older brother received a pension for service in the Lincoln County Militia during the British invasion of their home area in September 1780, when Philip was 15 years old. The Stroup boys were surely among the lads who stood beside the road east of Jacob's farm watching as the despised redcoats " tootled and drummed on the Old Road to Lincolnton". The redcoats got as far as Charlotte before they were repelled and retreated to South Carolina.

Also in 1780, according to tradition, Philip's father, Jacob, aged 56, "fought alongside his two eldest sons (Adam and Peter) with homemade guns." Philip was too young for active service, but he probably helped his father, and uncles make guns and gunpowder.

On Jan. 23, 1781 Lord Cornwallis and his redcoats again invaded Lincoln County, making a quick march in very bad weather. They camped at Tryon Old Court House in the west part of (modern) Gaston.

On Jan 24, 1781 Cornwallis reached Ramsour's Mill, then on the 28th found the Catawba River too swollen to cross, so he fell back to camp at the Killian's Creek home of Jacob Stroup's friend Jacob Forney, a wealthy German millwright and Iron worker from York County, Pa, who by 1754 owned land on a middle fork of Killian's Creek.

In January, Cornwallis locked the elderly Forney's in their own cellar, while he and his staff ate all their food, destroyed their property, broke down fences and stole everything of value. After the "lobster-backs" left, the German community rescued the Forneys, repaired the place and brought in food. Philip Stroup was 18 years old when the Peace of Paris was signed, but the fighting ended two years earlier with no evidence that he was ever drafted.

courtesy of Reiley Kidd from Ethel Belle Stroupe's notes

Philip's Migration to South Fork

About 1769/1770, when Philip was about 5 years old, his parents migrated down the Shenandoah Valley to Central North Carolina, settling on the South Fork of North Carolina's Catawba River.

 He grew up at "The Grove" (of oak trees) on upper Hoyle's Creek between (modern) Alexis and High Shoals in a community made up mainly of families who spoke German, "Cooked German", built Lutheran churches and kept to the "old country ways", probably because many neighbors, e.g., the Dellingers, had been born in Germany.

courtesy of Reiley Kidd from Ethel Belle Stroupe's notes

Philip Stroup Will 1837

Philip Stroup Bio

                PHILIP STROUP, Sr. was born Aug. 16, 1764  near Baltimore, son of JACOB STROUP born 1724 by his 3rd wife, NANCY RHYNE, whom he married in 1762.                 PHILIP was his mother's eldest son, but he had two older half-brothers, ADAM, "born in 1746 three miles from the City of Baltimore", (Revolutionary pension record) and PETER, born c 1755.  Their father had "seven sons, twenty-two children by three wives". 

MIGRATION TO SOUTH FORK

     About 1769/1770, when PHILIP was about five years old, his parents migrated down the Shenandoah Valley to central N.C., settling on the South Fork of N.C.'s Catawba River.                PHILIP grew up at "The Grove" on upper Hoyle's Creek between (modern) Alexis and High Shoals in a community made up mainly of families who spoke German, "cooked German", built Lutheran churches and kept the "old country ways". JACOB was literate, and his third son, PHILIP, received at least enough education to sign his name to documents

REVOLUTIONARY YEARS

     Between 1775 and 1783 the STROUPS participated in the War for Independence, reputedly making guns and gunpowder on their farms. Philip’s father received three Vouchers for Provisions (type not specified) to the American Army. Philip’s older brother ADAM received a pension for service in the Lincoln Co. Militia during the British invasion of their home area in September 1780, when PHILIP was 15.  The STROUP boys were surely among the lads who stood by the road east of Jacob’s farm watching the despised redcoats "tootling and drumming on the Old Road to Lincolnton". The redcoats got as far as Charlotte before being repelled and retreated to South Carolina.

                Also in 1780, according to tradition, Philip’s father, JACOB, aged 56, "fought alongside his two eldest sons (ADAM and PETER) with homemade guns." PHILIP was too young for active service, but probably helped his father, grandfather and uncles make guns and gunpowder. (This is unproven)

                On Jan. 23, 1781 Lord Cornwallis and his redcoats again invaded Lincoln County, making a quick march in very bad weather.  They camped at Tryon Old Court House in the west part of (modern) Gaston. On Jan. 24, 1781 Cornwallis reached Ramsours' mill, and on Jan. 28th he found the Catawba river too swollen to cross and fell back to camp at the Killian's Creek home of the STROUP's friend, JACOB FORNEY, a wealthy German millwright and iron worker from York Co. Pa. who by 1754 owned land on a middle fork of Killian's.  In January, Cornwallis locked the elderly FORNEYS in their cellar while he and his staff ate all their food, destroyed their property, broke down fences and stole everything of value.

                 After the "lobster-backs" left, the German community rescued the FORNEYS, repaired the place and brought food. PHILIP was l8 when the Peace of Paris was signed but the fighting ended two years earlier with no evidence he was ever drafted.

FIRST WIFE MARY EDDLEMAN

     When PHILIP was 25 he married MARY "MOLLY" ADTLEMAN (EDDLEMAN), with Lincoln Co. Marriage Bond purchased May 5, 1789 (4)-bond surety, her brother BOSTON EDDLEMAN. "BASTIAN" ("BOSTON") is the German nickname for "SEBASTIAN".

EDDLEMAN, ADTLEMAN, ADDLEMAN

     The EDDLEMANS may have been STROUP kinsmen from the 1740's in east Maryland.  In 1754 a PHILIP ADDLEMAN owned land in Baltimore Co. at 'Philip's Bough', a location not found on maps.  If Philip's Bough was near Baltimore, PHILIP EDDLEMAN lived near JACOB STROUP who in 1754 owned a 140 acres farm in Major's Choice south of Baltimore. 

                Three N.C. siblings of unknown parentage were associated with PHILIP STROUP:  MARY "Molly" ADDLEMAN, her sister ELIZABETH and their brother SEBASTIAN "BASTIAN" ADDLEMAN. 

HOME PLACE

     If PHILIP STROUP followed custom he brought his bride, MOLLY EDDLEMAN,  to a cabin on his father's land.  In 1792 JACOB deeded land to PHILIP, described as 146 acres on Hoyle's Creek "lying on the Great Road to Lincolnton", apparently where PHILIP already lived.

                (On July 10, 1802, this deed was proved by FREDERICK ROADS in the Lincoln Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions Deeds, with the 1802 date marked out and 1792 written in.)  Philip’s adjoined his father's farm on the east.  He later purchased additional acreage, enlarged his house and eventually owned a substantial farm.

1790 CENSUS

     The Federal Census taker of 1790 for Lincoln County, N.C. listed JACOB STROUP and his married sons as 'SHOUP' or 'STOUP'.

                In 1790 PHILIP 'SHOUP' had: 1 male over 16 (himself), 1 male under 16 (son JOHN D.) and 1 female (wife MOLLY).  They married in 1789, but in 1790 no children yet, but MOLLY was expecting son JOHN D.

1800 CENSUS

     The Federal census taker of 1800 Lincoln spelled their names correctly.  PHILIP STROUP was listed in the census between his father, JACOB, and his half brother ADAM whose land adjoined their father's on the northwest.  PHILIP and MOLLY had 5 children born in the 10 years between census listings; in 1800:

        1 m 26-44 (PHILIP, aged 36)

        1 f 26-44 (MOLLY)

        1 m 11-15 (son John D. was 10)

        1 m 11-15 (census error?  son Jacob was 7)

        1 m -10   (son Moses 6)

        1 m -10   (son David 3)

        2 f -10   (daughters Ann, Elizabeth and Dicy?)

FATHER'S DEATH

     In 1800 Philip’s father drew his will, but had disposed of many holdings as his children married.  He left 5 shillings to each son, including "my son PHILLIP".

                 At this time an English silver shilling had about the same equivalent value as an acre of good farmland.                                                                                                                                                                             

FIRST YEARS AND "FIRST FAMILY"

     PHILIP and MOLLY STROUP had 9 children born between 1790 and 1808. Six were sons whose labor would help make the large farm productive, but, with so many mouths to feed, perhaps the only surpluses they had for sale was from cash crops like cotton, indigo and tobacco.

WIFE MOLLY'S DEATH

SECOND WIFE, CATHERINE MASTER

     PHILIP was 47 when he married his 2nd wife, CATHERINE MASTER, with a Lincoln Co. Marriage Bond purchased May 9, 1811. 

     CATHERINE MASTER, b. ca 1788, was daughter of MICHAEL and MARY MASTER (3), who received a land grant on Clark's Creek northwest of Lincolnton on Dec. 23, 1768.      DANIEL HOKE, who stood Surety for Philip’s second marriage bond, was probably his brother-in-law, assuming he followed social custom.  Therefore, DANIEL HOKE's first wife was probably a sister to either PHILIP STROUP or CATHERINE MASTER. 

MASTER, LE MEISTER, LOWMASTER

     Catherine’s family were reputedly French Huguenots named LE MEISTER who fled from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, but lived in Germany long enough to become thoroughly Germanized before their emigration to Pennsylvania.

                Part of the family remained in York Co., where they were recorded as LAUMASTER and LOWMASTER, and part came to N.C. recorded as MASTER and LEMASTER.

PHILIP'S MOTHER

     After NANCY (RHYNE) STROUP was widowed in the winter of 1804/05 she continued to live at the old JACOB STROUP old home place, now operated by her youngest son MICHAEL who had married JEAN GOODSON in 1800.

                In later years, NANCY reputed moved next door in the home of her eldest son PHILIP and died there. This may account for the family's German Bible "with dates to the 1600's" being in PHILIP STROUP's home, enabling him to pass to his son PHILIP, Jr.

1824 LUTHERAN FUNERAL AT PHILIP'S HOME

     Rev. DAVID HENKLE was a Lutheran circuit riding minister who served churches from South Carolina through central North Carolina and as far west as Indiana.  He kept a diary from 1812 to 1830, one entry being: "Saturday, Jan. 10, 1824.  At PHILIP STROUP's a funeral service."  

     Nobody in Philip’s family has been identified as dying in 1824, including his mother NANCY, so perhaps this funeral service was for an aunt or spinster sister.  Rev. HENKLE's diary proves PHILIP STROUP was Lutheran. The burial was probably next-door in the family cemetery on the old JACOB STROUP farm where graves are marked by fieldstones. 

PHILIP'S SECOND FAMILY

     Between 1812 and 1827, PHILIP and CATHERINE MASTER STROUP raised 9 children from his first marriage, and 9 more born to CATHERINE.  Part of PHILIP and Nancy’s children were recorded in a Bible, said to exist somewhere in the family in Gaston Co. 

LATER YEARS

     PHILIP and his youngest brother MICHAEL were now next-door neighbors, and at their home places, the brothers and sisters came for many years, bringing their children to celebrate family weddings, christenings and funerals.

FAMILY GATHERINGS, 1830'S

      "Whenever the family would gather, they put up long tables under the trees, marveling how many there were to sit down together." 

                 Holidays were "old country" style, "Shooting in the New Year", going house to house, and firing muskets every hour on the hour from dusk until dawn, along with singing, feasting and toasting the New Year

.

PHILIP'S 1836 WILL

                In the name of God Amen, I PHILIP STROUP of the County of Lincoln and State of North Carolina, being in good health Agreeable to Age and of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God, Calling unto mind the mortality of my boddy (sic) and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul in 

þ to the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my boddy (sic) I Recommend to the Earth, to be buried in decent Clothing, burial at the Discretion of my Executors, nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Recover the Same Again by the power of God, and, as touching such Worldly Estate Where With it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, Demise and dispose of the Same in the folowing (sic) manner & form.

                First I give and bequeath to my Wife CATHERINE her muntainence (sic) on this land and all the Stocks, horses and Cattle, Sheep and hogs to be kept on Said place to be made a ceport (sic) for the family till the youngest Child become of Age or the Widow dies or Shood (sic) marry, then the Above property And lands Shall belong to HENRY STROUP, LEVI STROUP, JOAN STROUP, JOSEPH F. STROUP, PHILIP STROUP, PETER STROUP, SOLOMON STROUP, ROSANN STROUP, NANCY STROUP and my wife a child’s part if she marry or a Childs part when the youngest becomes of Age the Above property to be Divided  Amongst the Above Written names --

                I give and bequeath to my son ELI STROUP one cow and calf.  I give and bequeath to my son JOHN STROUP one dollar.  I give and bequeath to my son JACOB STROUP One dollar.  I give and bequeath to my son MOSES STROUP one Dollar.  I give and bequeath to my son DAVID STROUP One dollar.  I give and beqeath to my son JONAS STROUP One Dollar.  I give and bequeath to ELIZABETH STROUP my Daughter one Dollar.  I give and bequeath to DICY STROUP my Daughter one Dollar.  I give and bequeath to ANN STROUP my Daughter one Dollar.  I give and bequeath to SUSA STROUP my Daughter one Dollar.

                And I do here by uterly Disalow (sic) & Disanull all and Every other form testament Wills legacy bequest and Executor by me PHILIP STROUP to enny (sic) Wise before named Willed and Bequeath Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and testament in Witness Where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 8 day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty Six and do Appoint HENRY STROUP & LEVI STROUP my two sons to be my Executors.

                In Witness my hand and Seal.

                                                    His

                                           PHILIP    X     STROUP

                                                    Mark

Test.

JOHN A. MC GINNAS, Jurat

JOHN P. HOVIS, Jurat                                                                                                                                                                           

PROVED JULY 1837

                July Sessions 1837.  The within will was duly proved by JNO. MC GINNAS and JOHN P. HOVIS, the witness, then to be recorded.  

ANALYSIS OF PHILIP'S WILL

                Philip’s heirs were his widow CATHERINE, but only part of his children.  His executors were sons HENRY and LEVI.  

                 After his (unnamed) youngest child came of age, all the property was to be sold and the proceeds divided between his children: HENRY, LEVI, JOAN, JOSEPH F., PHILIP JR., PETER, SOLOMON, ROSEANN and NANCY STROUP.  Apparently 9 others had received their share earlier because 8 children were willed a token $1.00: JOHN, JACOB, MOSES, DAVID, JONAS, ELIZABETH, DICEY, ANN and SUSA (N).  Son ELI received a cow and calf.  

PHILIP'S DEATH AND BURIAL

     PHILIP STROUP, Sr.'s last illness apparently required more care than could be provided at home by his wife and young daughters, because he was taken to the home of his son MOSES STROUP in Ironton, a few miles NE of Hoyle's Creek.  He died there April 13, 1837.

     His widow CATHERINE, 18 children and dozens of grandchildren, survived him.  His body was not returned to Hoyle's Creek, but buried in the STROUP family cemetery at Alexis, across a branch and in the woods from the home place of his grandson BARTLETT STROUP.  This rural cemetery was on land BART received from his father, MOSES STROUP. 

     Tombstone:  PHILIP STROUP, d. Apr 13, 1837, age 62 years, 7 months, 27 days.  (His Bible record says "born 1764".)  

WIDOW CATHERINE STROUP

     For about the next 15 years, Philip’s widow, CATHERINE, stayed on at the Hoyle's Creek home place raising several young daughters.

GASTON CO. 1846 -1849

     In 1846, Gaston County was formed from south Lincoln, and included Hoyle's Creek.  The first Gaston Co. Tax List, 1846, Capt. FERRIS' Company:  CATHERINE STROUP, Head of Household.

                1847 Gaston Tax List, High Shoals Company: CATHERINE STROUP, Head of Household. 1848 Gaston Co. Tax List, Capt. RHYNE's Company: CATHERINE STROUP, Head of Household.

                In 1849, CATHERINE was not on the Gaston Co. Tax List, an oversight, as she still headed a household there.

1850 FEDERAL CENSUS

     The 1850 Federal Census for Gaston Co.: Head of household, CATHERINE STROUP, 62.  Personal property value $280.  NANCY STROUP 20. SUSANNAH STROUP 42.

                Living near CATHERINE in 1850 were her son, SOLOMON LEANDER STROUP and wife CAROLINE (SENTER) STROUP.  

ESTATE SETTLEMENT

     By the terms of Philip’s will, his heirs would inherit their final portion after his youngest child became of age.  NANCY, one of the younger children, reached 18 in 1851, but the birth date of daughter DICY isn't known.

                Sometime thereafter, Philip’s executors sold the family farm and divided the proceeds among 10 heirs, being the widow CATHERINE and 9 of Philip’s 18 children.

                The final division seems to be intended to even out his children's inheritances, probably because some had received a portion of goods or land when they married.

CHILDREN DIVIDED BETWEEN CHURCHES

     His sons MOSES STROUP and JOSEPH FRANKLIN STROUP moved to farms near Cherryville, spoke English, changed their life style and joined Salem Baptist Church.                

                Others, including son JONAS, remained on Hoyle's Creek, clung to "old country ways", preferred their services in German, read aloud from their German Bibles, and belonged to Christ Lutheran Church in Stanley, a few miles south of Hoyle's Creek.

WIDOW AND SOME CHILDREN TO MISSISSIPPI

     After the sale of Philip’s farm on Hoyle's Creek, several of his children moved to Mississippi where land was cheaper, so their inheritances bought more land than it would in central North Carolina. Also, the continual planting of cotton and tobacco without letting the land lie fallow between had depleted the land and made it less productive.

                The little wagon train of STROUP relatives settled in north Mississippi near the Tennessee state line along the boundary between Tippah and Marshall Cos., Mississippi.  In 1870, their new farms became part of newly formed Benton County, Mississippi.

     Philip’s family members who moved to Mississippi included his widow CATHERINE, his son, PHILIP, Jr., his daughter ROSANNA STROUP and her husband, ISAIAH W. PHILIPS, his daughter JOANNA STROUP and her husband SILAS H. PHILIPS.  Philip’s grandson EPHRAIM, son of ELI STROUP, followed them later.

WIDOW CATHERINE, 1870 MISSISSIPPI

     The Federal Census of 1870 for Mississippi showed CATHERINE STROUP, age 86, in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, ISAIAH W. and ROSANNA (STROUP) PHILLIPS.

THE IMMIGRANT'S GERMAN BIBLE

     PHILIP STROUP, Jr., b. ca 1816, who inherited "the immigrant's German Bible with family records to the 1600's", took it to Mississippi in the 1850's.  After his wife died, he decided to move to Texas, and his sister ROSANNA begged him to leave the Bible with her, but he "took it practically over my dead body," as she later told her grandson, WHIPPLE T. BLACK.

                PHILIP, Jr. later moved to Arkansas, and gave the immigrant's Bible to his first cousin ALEX STROUP born 1808, N.C., who moved to Georgia, became a wealthy tavern owner, then moved to Pulaski Co., Ark.

                In the 1940's, C. D. STROUP, Sr. invited his cousin WHIPPLE T. BLACK to be guest speaker at the STROUP Reunion at Alexis.

                Mr. BLACK told the Reunion group stories from his grandmother about the immigrant's German Bible, and how he's tried to find it by his driving to Arkansas during the Depression "but my Model T flivver broke down on the Arkansas roads and I had to go home".)  Perhaps PHILIP, Jr. gave the German Bible to ALEX STROUP because his son, MONROE STROUP, was a physician in Fort Wayne.

THE IMMIGRANT'S LOST BIBLE

     In the 1980's, an extensive search was made for this old German Bible, inquiring by mail and phone to cousins all along the route taken by PHILIP STROUP, Jr., in Alabama, Collin Co., Tx., and into Arkansas.

                Eventually, a cousin in Collin Co., Texas, JEMIMA (STROUP) NUCKLES , located JESSE ARDELL STROUP, of Texarkana, Ark., who said this German Bible had been owned by his father.  He thinks that "about 1935 when it was stolen by moving men, along with Grandpa's gold medals and gold teeth!" 

                Compiled by Ethel Stroupe (formerly Vochko), 30322 Benecia Ave., Laguna Niguel, CA 92677.  Version of May 16, 1993.