Mary Painter, born in the 1810s in Ohio, married Abraham Strait on 1 December 1836 in Franklin County, Ohio. Census records indicate she was born from about 1811 to 1817. According to her Franklin County death record, she died on 20 January 1877 in Mifflin Township at the age of 64—thus born about 1813.

Mary Painter is a probable daughter of Elizabeth (née Redd) and Isaac Painter, junior, a couple married in 1799 in Frederick County, Virginia. After passing through Fairfield County, Ohio, Elizabeth and Isaac Painter settled in Franklin County's Jefferson Township in 1814 (or soon afterwards). Isaac Painter was elected justice of the peace there in 1821 and 1835, and enumerated there in 1830. The marriage ceremony of Mary Painter and Abraham Strait was performed by Jacob Smith, a Jefferson Township justice of the peace.

The Abraham and Mary Strait family farmed in Franklin County, where they were enumerated from 1840 through 1860 in Jefferson Township, and in 1870 in adjoining Mifflin Township. The couple's children (probably all born in Jefferson Township) are believed to include—

• Lucinda Strait Day, Armstrong (b. 25 Dec 1836)
• Jemima A. Strait Genther (b. 25 Aug 1837)
• George Washington Strait (b. 27 Apr 1840)
• Andrew Jackson Strait (b. 4 Sep 1841)
• Elmira Strait Karch, Nicks (b. about 1843)
• Mary Jane Strait Piper, Fenstermaker (b. 4 Apr 1845)
• Rachel Elizabeth. Strait Sherman (b. 14 Oct 1845)
• John Henry Strait (b. 2 Feb 1847)
• Margaret AngelineStrait Baker, Coulter (b. 5 Sep 1848)
• Emma Strait Clark (b. 4 Mar 1853)
• Hannah Strait (b. about 1854) [*]
• Benjamin David Strait (b. 4 Sep 1856)
• Rosa Strait (b. about 1862) [*]

[*] Not linked in FAG.

Burial

Burial place remains unknown. Possibly either Mifflin Cemetery or Riverside Cemetery, both near Gahanna, Mifflin Township, Franklin County. "Interment books for burials in the historic sections of both Mifflin and Riverside Cemeteries were lost in a fire many years ago," according to the Mifflin Township website.

Notes

Although most online genealogies indicate that her middle name was Jane, no record shows this. Death certificates for her children George W., Andrew J., Mary J., Rachel E., John H., and Benjamin D. report "Mary Painter" as mother's name; Lucinda's has "Pollie Painter" and Margaret's (inexplicably) has "Pauline Cuthbertson."

The list of children demands further research. In the 1850 to 1870 U.S. Censuses, their ages were reported inconsistently. The Hannah who married William H. Hamilton was the daughter of William Strait. The Rosa who married Nicholas H. Benedict was the daughter of Sophie (née Evans) and John Nelson Strait.

If Mary's parents were Elizabeth (née Redd) and Isaac Painter, junior, and if born in 1813, then she was likely born in Fairfield County, Ohio.

"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XD5H-TTG: accessed 23 Nov 2012), Abraham Haight and Mary Painter, 1836; citing reference p 152, FHL microfilm 285142. Abraham Strait indexed incorrectly as Abraham Haight.

"Ohio, Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F6JK-9PY: accessed 01 Dec 2012), Mary Strait, died 20 Jun 1877, Mifflin Twp., Franklin Co., Ohio. Reportedly born in "Mifflin" and was "Wid"—widowed. Cause of death blank.

Research Notes

Mary Strait (née Painter) having sons named George Washington and Andrew Jackson supports the supposition that her parents were Elizabeth (née Redd) and Isaac Painter, junior. That couple are believed to have had a son named George W. and there were many sons in this Painter family named George Washington. That couple also had a son, and many grandsons and great-grandsons, named Andrew Jackson.

The 1836 marriage was performed by Jacob Smith, J.P., yet Isaac Painter and Jacob Neiswender were justices of the peace for Jefferson Township for the 1835-38 term. Jacob Smith, senior, was J.P. in 1817-20, 1820-23, 1823-26, and 1826-29; Jacob Smith, junior, was J.P. in 1838-41, and 1841-44.

Reviewed 14 January 2024.