Roberts-Barnes-Lister-Strain Line
By Don Taylor

Roberts/Barnes – Ancestor #45

Nancy Strain was probably born in Pennsylvania, possibly during her family’s relocation from South Carolina to Ohio. She married William Lister of Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1822 and possibly had five children with him before her untimely death at the age of 42.

Nancy Strain is in my Roberts-Barnes Ancestry Public Tree[i], and has a Family Search profile: KZVD-GJR.

List of Grandparents

• Grandmother: 5. Essie Pansy Barnes (1903-1982)
• 1^st Great-grandmother: 11.  Marada Mae Lister (1867-1932)
• 2^nd Great-grandfather: 22. Nimrod Lister (c. 1826-c. 1890)
• 3^rd Great-grandmother: 45. Nancy Strain (c. 1802-1844)
• 4^th Great-grandfather: 90. Samuel Strain (1762-1845)

Birth – 22 April 1802 (probably in Pennsylvania).

Find-a-Grave suggests that Nancy was born on 22 April 1802.[ii] Her son’s, William Marcus Lister, death certificate indicates that Nancy was born in New Jersey.[iii] However, the 1880 US Census for her son, Nimrod Lister indicates his mother (Nancy) was born in Pennsylvania.

The 1880 US Census was 40 years closer to the event, so I prefer Pennsylvania for Nancy’s birthplace.

Marriage – Probably June 1822.

License #600 for William Lister & Nancy Strain marriage was issued on 17^th of June [1822].  I have been unsuccessful finding an exact wedding date.

Children of William and Nancy (Strain) Lister

Name	Born	Married	Died
James Alfred	1 Oct 1822	Mary Jane Southward	7 Mar 1869
Nimrod	c. 1824	Malinda Evans	7 Apr 1888
Sarah	c. 1831	Aaron Dean	?
William Marcus	2 Aug 1832	Elizabeth Krohn	8 Jul 1921
James M.	c. 1840		?

Adulthood

1830 – US Census – William appears in the census living in Walnut, Pickaway County, Ohio. I presume Nancy is the 20–29-year-old female in the household (She was 28).

Death/Burial – November 1844.

Nancy died on 23 November 1844, presumably in Pickaway County, Ohio. She was buried at the New Holland Cemetery, New Holland, Ohio. She was 42 years, 7 months, and 1 day old at the time of her death.[iv]

Events by Location

• Pennsylvania – Birth, 1802
• Ohio, Highland County – Marriage, 1822
• Ohio, Pickaway County – Death, 1844
• Ohio, Pickaway County, New Holland – Burial, 1844
• Ohio, Pickaway County, Walnut Township– 1830 Census

Conflicts

Birth locations for both Nancy and William are inconsistent between sources.

Actions / Follow-up

1. Continue working on finding William and Nancy in the 1840 Census.
2. Research BMD & other records for the children.

---

Endnotes:

[i] Ancestry Public Trees – This number changes. It is the number of trees on the day I was writing this sketch.
[ii] Find-a-Grave – Inscription on marker says “Nancy, wife of William Lister died Nov. 23, 1844 – age 42 ys, 7m, 1d., suggesting a birthdate of 22 April 1802. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38330722/nancy-lister
[iii] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011 (Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana, Indiana State Board of Health), Ancestry.Com, William Marcus Lister – Died 8 July 1921. Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1921; Roll: 10.
[iv] See Endnote [ii] – Find-a-Grave above.