The Descendants of Joseph Strock of 1757 by Ronald Wesley Strock traces the lineage of Joseph Strock, a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania and later moved to Ohio. This work is a continuation of an earlier 1932 genealogical sketch and is dedicated to the memory of Edwin E. Strock, whose efforts laid the foundation for updating and expanding the family history.
Edwin Strock began his research in 1958 after obtaining a copy of the 1932 publication, noting inaccuracies and the need for further updates. Over the years, he gathered substantial information through correspondence, cemetery visits, and archival research. After his passing in 1977, his son, Ronald Wesley Strock, took up the task of organizing and completing the project, ensuring the most accurate record possible.
This book touches on Joseph Strock’s origins in Württemberg, his migration to America, and his role during the Revolutionary War. It also explores his descendants, with careful attention to correcting past errors and clarifying uncertainties in the family narrative. Though minimally documented, it was extensively researched, and as such, The Descendants of Joseph Strock of 1757 remains a valuable resource for those seeking to research the genealogy of Joseph Strock.
The Descendants of Joseph Strock of 1757
Who is Joseph Strock?
Joseph Strock was born in 1748 in Württemberg, Southwest Germany, near the Rhine River in the region known as the Lower Palatinate. His early life was shaped by turmoil—his father perished in an uprising around 1750, forcing his widowed mother to flee with her children. Accompanied by her nephew, she led Joseph and his brother, John, to Alsace-Lorraine in northeastern France. There, she remarried a man named Sassaman.
At age nine, Joseph embarked on a new life in America. The family likely settled near Philadelphia, though little is known of his mother and stepfather afterward. Joseph, like many young immigrants, was bound out to a farmer until he turned 21 to repay his passage. This arrangement, common in the era, provided him with basic schooling, and he learned to read and write. Though the details of these years remain uncertain, he likely lived near Philadelphia or Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
It is alleged, that in 1769 or 1770, upon reaching adulthood, Joseph wed Susanna “Anna” Bensinger in what was then Brunswick Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Their union was short-lived—Susanna died soon after giving birth to their son, Henry. Whatever sorrow or resentment Joseph bore, he severed ties with the boy, and Henry may have been raised by Joseph’s brother, John, in Lebanon. Family lore suggests Joseph disinherited Henry, perhaps blaming him for his mother’s death. It is alleged that after his second marriage, he never spoke of his first wife or son.
The preceding paragraph is highly suspect. No record of this marriage exists. No record of the birth of Susanna “Anna” Bensinger exists or any other record, such as grave, church, etc., unlike other members of her family. That Henry was born, is undoubtable, but who his parents are remain suspect, and as Ronald Wesley Strock states in this book, is more likely to be a son of Heinrich (Henry) Strock who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753. I’ve included the information here because there has been almost 100 years of identifying this Henry with this family.
In 1779, Joseph married Betsy Bensinger (alleged sister of Susanna), at Valley Forge. He established a farm northwest of Philadelphia, in old Berks County, where he and Betsy raised six children. During the harsh winter of 1777–78, while Valley Forge served as the encampment for the Continental Army, Joseph often visited—perhaps supplying food and goods. He later recounted seeing General Washington in prayer among the trees, quietly withdrawing so as not to disturb him. He also served under Washington at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War.
In 1815, Joseph moved west to Ohio, eventually settling in Mahoning County. He wrote his will in Canfield on January 3, 1825, adding a codicil on March 19, 1832. His death likely occurred between March and October 1832, as his will was proven that October in Trumbull County, Ohio (Volume 6, Page 441).
A relic of his journey from Europe—a modest old trunk, scarcely large enough for a single fancy dress or a gallon of moonshine—remained a treasured family heirloom, still making appearances at Strock reunions in the 1970s.
Source
Strock, Ronald Wesley, The descendants of Joseph Strock of 1757, Osceola, Indiana : Ronald W. Strock, 1984.