ASAPH BENT STRONACH

ASAPH BENT STRONACH was born 30 Dec 1819 and died 6 Oct 1891. In the years between these dates, he kept quite busy. Various records list his occupations as trader, ship builder, farmer and postmaster, as well as being a family man. He married, first, Lucinda Milbury on 6 Nov 1837. She was born 29 Oct 1817, a daughter of Benjamin Milbury. She bore a number of children, dying on 7 Jan 1861. She was laid to rest in a small cemetery at Margaretsville, which overlooks the Bay of Fundy. Asaph married again, this time to Mary Reagh, on 23 Oct 1861. She was the daughter of Abraham Reagh and was born 27 Jan 1835, and died 27 Dec 1904. She is buried in the Old Margaretsville Cemetery, along with Asaph.

STRONACH SHIPS AND SHIPBUILDING

According to information contained in records at the Research Library of the Annapolis Valley MacDonald Museum, in Middleton, NS, Asaph Stronach was known to have built at least one ship. This was the brigantine, "A.B. Stronach", built in Margaretsville in 1874. Another ship, credited by oral tradition as having been built by Asaph Stronach was the brigantine, "Florence". He also had shares in some other ships, two of them being the "J.B.Martin" and the "Oriental". Shipping was an important part of Margaretsville life at this time in its history and oral tradition gives Stronach Beach on the Bay of Fundy shore as one of the sites from where ships were launched.

ASAPH BENT STRONACH; (WilliamG3; Geo.G1) b. 30 Dec 1819; d. 6 Oct 1891; m. (1) 6 Nov 1837 LUCINDA MILBURY, d/o Benjamin; b. 29 Oct 1817; d. 7 Jan 1861; m. (2) 23 Oct 1861, MARY REAGH, d/o Abraham; b. 27 Jan 1835; d. 27 Dec 1904.

Their children (first marriage):

1. WILLIAM BENT STRONACH; b. 26 Mar 1839; d. 14 Oct 1866; m. 5 Dec 1860, RUBY LAVINIA STRONACH, d/o Rev. Abraham; b. 18 Feb 1842; d. 23 May 1925.

2. CHARLES ENGLIS STRONACH; b. 20 Mar 1841; d. 1 May 1862.

3. MERCY ANN STRONACH; b. 12 Apr 1843; d. 27 Feb 1860.

4. EDWIN RUTHVIN STRONACH; b. 19 Jan 1845; d. 10 Jul 1861.

5. FEMALE CHILD; b. 23 Mar 1847, d. 27 Mar 1847.

6. JOHN NELSON STRONACH; b. 24 Mar 1848; d. 22 Apr 1848.

7. THOMAS WESLEY STRONACH; b. 20 Mar 1849; d. 30 May 1849.

8. JOHN PRIMOSE STRONACH; b. 28 May 1850; d. 1938; m. (1) 19 Dec 1871, RUTH HARRIS, d/o Joseph; b. 31 Dec 1849, d. 27 Mar 1886; m. (2) 27 Sep 1893, FANNY SHAW, d/o James; b. ca. 1854; d. 16 May 1912, age 57 years, 11 months.

9. ISAAC MORRIS STRONACH; b. 9 Sep 1854; d. 12 Apr 1894; m. Sep 1883, ADA BAKER CLEVELAND; b. 26 Oct 1860; d. 29 oct 1890.

10. SARAH ELVINA STRONACH; b. 11 Sep 1856; d. 1907; m. 21 Jan 1880, ISAAC T. COULSTAN; b. 17 Apr 1855; d. 30 Nov 1926.

Their children (second marriage):

11. CHARLES EDWIN STRONACH; b. 24 Aug 1864; d. 28 Jul 1915; m. 6 Oct 1887; MAUDE BLANCHE HARRIS, d/o George; b. Mar 1868; d. 5 Jan 1959.

12. WILLIAM INGLIS STRONACH; b. 28 Sep 1866; d. 30 Mar 1867.

13. HELEN RUTH STRONACH; b. 30 Mar 1868; d. 30 May 1868.

14. EMMA L. STRONACH; b. 14 Feb 1870; d. Dec 1900; m. 27 Feb 1890, JAMES GILBERT ROACH; 1857-1901.

15. FLORENCE LEONA STRONACH; b. 9 Jul 1872; d. 12 Jan 1898; m. 5 Sep 1894, GEORGE O. KERR; no further record.

16. ASAPH BLANCHARD STRONACH; b. 28 Sep 1874; d. 14 Aug 1960; m. 20 Jun 1896, ETHEL JEAN GIBSON, d/o Dr. George; 1877-1959.