Catherine Ann (Mullen) Strong (1836 - 1922)

Born 20 Feb 1836 in Roscommon County, Ireland

Wife of Jason Bunce Strong — married 16 Apr 1866 in Sacramento, California, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Dec 1922 at age 86 in Seattle, Washington

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joann Haines [send private message]

Biography

Catherine (Mullen) Strong was born in Ireland.

In 1846, at just 10 years old, Catherine came, alone, from Roscommon County, Ireland to Boston, Massachusetts. The story passed down to her descendants is that Catherine’s family could afford passage to America for only one child, and Catherine was chosen. More likely, Catherine’s passage was paid by a sponsoring family, and she was chosen to go because she was old enough to work. (Old enough at age 10!!)

Catherine’s last sight of Ireland was of her father, Thomas Mullen, collapsing on the dock as her ship pulled out of harbor. Whether he collapsed from grief or as a result of famine, she never knew. (The Irish Potato Famine began in 1845). She never knew whether he lived or died.

Catherine was an indentured servant to a wealthy Boston family that later relocated to San Francisco, California. Catherine's first marriage was to John Bannon in Sacramento, California on August 21, 1862. John died just 2 years later, on November 29, 1864, of tuberculosis. He is buried at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sacramento. John and Catherine had no children.

Catherine next married Jason Bunce Strong on April 16, 1866 in Sacramento, California. Catherine and Jason had 4 children, but only 2 lived to maturity, Cornelia and Charles. Sadly, Charles lived only to the age of 35. Cornelia, however lived to the age of 82. Catherine lived near or with her daughter, Cornelia, until her death at the age of 86. ^[1]

Sources

Family stories

Haines, Kathryn Chittenden, "Strong Family Roots."

1862 - 1st Marriage to John Bannon in Sacramento, California on August 21, 1862:

• "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLDK-BWG : 8 December 2017), John Bannon and Catharine Mullen, 21 Aug 1862; citing Sacramento, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 1,302,097.

1866 - 2nd Marriage to Jason Strong on April 16, 1866:

• ”California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLD2-2M2 : 8 December 2017), Jason B Strong and Catharine Bannon, 16 Apr 1866; citing Sacramento, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 1,302,097.

1870 - Census, living in Yolo, California with husband and children, Cornelia and Charles:

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNXW-QGW : 8 June 2019), Jason B Strong, 1870.

1880 - Census, living in Andrews Creek, California with husband and children, Cornelia and Charles:

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6PK-KLF : 19 August 2017), Catherine Strong in household of Jason B Strong, Andrews Creek, Shasta, California, United States; citing enumeration district ED 94, sheet 99B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,082.

1900 - Census, living in Seattle, Washington in daughter, Cornelia’s household with husband, Jason, and granddaughters, Madeline, May, Grace, and Kathryn:

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMPN-XVS : accessed 13 February 2020), Catherine Strong in household of Conelia Kenn*En, Precincts 3 and 4 Seattle city Ward 3, King, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 92, sheet 5B, family 112, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,745.

1910 - Census, living in Seattle, Washington with husband:

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGJH-HM7 : accessed 13 February 2020), Catherine A Strong in household of Json B Strong, Seattle Ward 9, King, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 170, sheet 1B, family 15, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1661; FHL microfilm 1,375,674.

1919 - Death of husband, Jason Bunce Strong on December 13, 1919:

• "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3GH-H76 : 10 March 2018), Catherine A. Strong in entry for Jason Bruce Strong, 13 Dec 1919; citing Seattle, King, Washington, reference 3231, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 1,992,658.

1920 - Census, living in daughter’s household with her four granddaughters and 2 of their husbands.

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHN5-KGB : 4 February 2021), Catherine A Strong in entry for Cornelia Hennekin, 1920

1922 - Death Certificate of Catherine In Seattle, Washington (at home at 4106 Burke Avenue, Seattle) on December 17, 1922. Certificate gives the names of her parents, Thomas Mullen and Delia Nolan Mullen.

• "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3GN-PTC : 10 March 2018), Catherine Ann Strong, 17 Dec 1922; citing Seattle, King, Washington, reference 2917, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 1,992,968.

1949 - cited in death record of daughter, Cornelia Alice Henneken in Seattle, Washington on December 25, 1949.

• "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3YP-6RY : 10 March 2018), Catherine Mullen in entry for Cornelia A. Strong Henneken, 25 Dec 1949; citing Seattle, King, Washington, reference 21151, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2,032,817.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Joann H..

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Joann H. for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Joann and others.