Martha Stringer
Martha Stringer was born in Duplin County, North Carolina nearly 198 years ago on Friday March 18th, 1825. Her Mother's name was Mary but her Father's identity is a mystery. ( I actually found remnants of Mary's October of 1874 obituary that mentions her Father's name was "John Thalley" which is a connection I don't believe has been uncovered previously.)
Interesting events that occurred around the World during Martha's birth year of 1825 included.
• On February 9th, 1825 after no Presidential candidate receives a majority of United States Electoral College votes following the 1824 United States Presidential election, the United States House of Representatives elects John Quincy Adams President of the United States in a contingent election.
• On March 5th, 1825 Roberto Cofresí, one of the last successful pirates in the Caribbean, is defeated by an international naval force when his pirate flotilla, "The Anne" is captured within the seaward boundaries of the municipalities of Salinas and Guayama, Puerto Rico, in the Spanish West Indies.
• On May 20th, 1825 Charles X is coronated as the King of France.
• On September 27th, 1825 the World's first modern railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, opens in England.
• On October 26th, 1825 the Erie Canal opens, providing passage from Albany, New York to Buffalo and Lake Erie.
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•• The May Stringer House in Brooksville, Florida near where Martha and her Husband, James Cook are buried was originally built in 1855 and sold to this evening's subjects Brother, Dr. Sheldon Stringer after the Civil War. Previously, Dr. Stringer was appointed by Jefferson Davis, President of the (C)onfederacy to be the Surgeon General under Brigadier General Joseph Finegan, who commanded the (C)onfederate States Army in the state of Florida.
The doctor added ten rooms to the house giving it the Victorian appearance it has today. ( I've taken several photos of this amazing home which you can see in the comments. ) The estate also served as the doctor's medical practice for many years. Throughout the mid to late 19th century each family that lived on the property experienced tremendous loss of life from diseases we don't contemplate as fatal or even active in modern times. Although there are several cemeteries nearby, the dead were often buried on the estates grounds of which some graves are known and others are not hence without formal documentation it's not clear where all of the bodies reside. The stunning mansion is known as one of the most haunted houses in Florida.
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•• Martha's family history is intriguing yet sparsely recorded.. In 1836, the Stringers relocated to the Florida territory which is where this evening's honoree married 36 year old, Irish immigrant and military officer, James Cook in Hillsborough County on July 1st, 1849.
•• An article dated March 5th, 1881 detailing this evening's honoree's prominent younger Brother, Dr. Sheldon Stringers life that we will share below, mentions that he was left "fatherless" at age 11 which would have likely been around the year 1847 when Martha was 22. The siblings had another even less recognized older Brother named Alexander. He was the eldest of the trio, having been born @ Burgaw, North Carolina in 1817.
According to the 1850 Hillsborough County, Florida Census, Martha's Husband, James was a stonecutter and along with Martha, the couple lived with a 30 year old Sailor from New York named Michael Wall. A decade later the Cooks remained in Hillsborough County, James was still a stone cutter and they had welcomed a Son, Thomas who was 4 years old by this time. A Florida Peninsular newspaper recollection from that same year, dated October 27th, 1860 tells us "Lieutenant James Cook" was a Militia candidate to become Captain of Beat #2 in Hillsborough County. (Although we know not his role during the American Civil War, he is remembered on an expansive dedication to "The Brave Men who fought in the war between the States" located in an old pioneer cemetery where he rests for eternity.)
After the Civil Wars conclusion Martha and her family relocated to Hernando County, Florida. According to both the 1870 and 1880 Census's, her Husband supported his family as a farmer. Martha's Mother, Mary Stringer passed away on August 22nd, 1874 just two days prior to her 78th birthday.
From this point on there are no identifiable records or publications involving the Cooks. Sorrowfully James would take his last breath on Thursday March 20th, 1884. He was seventy. Martha remained in Hernando County until she too lost her life on July 15th, 1899 a typically hot Florida Summers day. She was 74.
Martha Stringer Cook... Beloved wife, mother, Pioneer