EDSON WINTHROP STRONG – The Strong” of Hatfield, Massachusetts, are one of the oldest New England families of English origin. Elder John Strong, son of Richard Strong, was born in Taunton, Somersetshire, England, in 1605, whence he removed to London, and afterwards to Plymouth. Having pronounced Puritan sympathies he sailed on May 20, 1630, from Plymouth to America and settled at Dorchester. On March 9, 1634, he took the freeman’s oath at Boston, Massachusetts. In 1635 he removed to Hingham and later to Taunton, where he remained as late as 1645, as he was deputy to the General Court in Plymouth in the years 1641, 1643. 1644. From Taunton he removed to Windsor, Connecticut, and in 1659 to Northampton, where he lived for forty years. He had a tannery in that place and on June 13, 1663, was ordained an elder of the church. He married (first), in December, 1630, and (second) to Abigail Ford, who died July 6, 1688, at the age of eighty. Elder John Strong died April 14, 1699 at the age of ninety-four and was father of sixteen children, one of whom was Thomas B., of whom further.
(II) Thomas B. Strong, son of Elder John Strong, was born about 1631. He married and among his children was Waitstill, of whom further.
(III) Deacon Waitstill Strong, son of Thomas B. Strong, was born January 18, 1703, died February 22, 1767. He was a farmer at Northampton, Massachusetts, where he was made a deacon in 1743, and later moved to Southampton. He married, November 23, 1736, Esther Root, and had a son Waitstill (2), of whom further.
(IV) Waitstill (2) Strong, son of Deacon Waitstill Strong, was born October 24, 1746, and died September 13, 1835, at the age of eighty-eight. He was a farmer of Southampton and removed in 1803 to Huntington, Massachusetts. On March 20, 1774, he married Rhoda Clark, a native of Northampton, and had a son Horatio, of whom further.
(V) Horatio Strong, son of Waitstill (2) Strong, was born March 19, 1785, in Southampton, Massachusetts, and died at Hatfield, August 3, 1857. On June 31, 1813, he married Sarah Elwell, of Westhampton, who died August 13, 1874. He was a drum major in the War of 1812 at Boston. He settled in Boston after the war and was the father of five children: 1. Parmenas Lysander, of whom further. 2. Amarah Elwell, born June 11, 1818. 3. Horatio, born June 9, 1820, died November 10, 1892. 4. Sarah Anne, born December 12, 1823, married January 4, 1844, Ebenezer Dwight, died June 5, 1847. 5. Rowena, born April 14, 1826, married (first), December 16, 1846, Edward Phelps Billings, who died November 6, 1848; married (second), May 28, 1850, Osborne W. Cleveland, of Williamsburg.
(VI) Parmenas L. Strong, son of Horatio Strong, was born November r2, 1815, died January 24, 1901. He married, September 16, 1840, Miranda, daughter of Thomas Frary, of Hatfield, who was born December 14, 1813, and died February 9, 1890. The children of this marriage were: 1. Alvin Lyman, of whom further. 2. John Marshall, born May 24, 1848. 3. Sarah Jane, born October 28, 1851 ; married, December 28, 1881, George E. Searle, of Easthampton. 4. Harriet Maria, born May 23, 1858.
(VII) Alvin Lyman Strong, son of Parmenas L. Strong, was born April 30, 1843, and married, November 1, 1866, Anna B. Searle, of Huntington, who was born September 22, 1843. He was a member of the Company K, Fifty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil War, and the father of four children: 1. Gertrude Alice, born August 26, 1867; married, January 1, 1891, Frank E. Milendy; she died April 13, 1897. They were the parents of one son, Roland A., born August 5, 1884, died May 23, 1899. 2. Edson Winthrop, of whom further. 3. Eugene Searle, born September 10, 1873; married Anna Knight, and has one son, Royce Knight, born June 20, 1905. 4. Mabel Maria, born August 9, 1877.
(VIII) Edson Winthrop Strong, son of Deacon Alvin L. and Anna B. (Searle) Strong, was born December 5, 1869, at Hatfield, and after obtaining his education in the local schools and at Smith Academy went to the home farm, where he remained for fifty-five years. In 1913 he built a new residence. He takes a great interest in public affairs. He was superintendent of water works fourteen years; is chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and was on the Board of Assessors for eleven years. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and for years has been treasurer of the Men’s Club of his church.
Edson W. Strong married (first), March 31, 1898, Hattie Maria, daughter of Henry W. Bardwell, who died January 29, 1903; he married (second), June 2, 1922, Clara B. Bardwell, who is a sister of the late Mrs. Strong. There is one son by his first marriage, Ralph Bardwell, born February 19, 1901, and lives in the family home.