Strange surname families from Winchester, VA to Carlisle, PA 1850-1920

James Strange and Richard Strange in Carlisle, PA may be sons of Richard and Sarah Strange, free African American residents of Winchester, VA. The elder Richard Strange may be a son of Reuben Strange, a former slave freed in 1817 by Edward McGuire of Winchester.

1850 census: Winchester, Frederick, VA
Richard Strange, 36, b. 1814 VA (must be older?); wife, Sarah, 37, b. 1813 VA;
Children: James R., b. 1824; Reuben, b. 1834, Angeline, b. 1837, Wallace K. F., b. 1839; Richard, b. 1842; John, b. 1844
(By 1880 James & Richard were neighbors in Carlisle, PA; Reuben & wife Josephine lived in Philadelphia, PA)

Civil War enlistment record, 1864:
James Strange, 35, farmer in Martinsburg, VA; born in Winchester, VA; enlisted in Boston in Co. K, 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry (USCT)

1870 census: West Ward, Carlisle, PA
Richard Strange, b. 1844 VA, blacksmith; wife Margaret, b. 1838 PA; children Harriet R., b. 1857 PA, John A., b. 1860 PA

1870 death record: Carlisle, PA
Matilda Strange, b. 1845 VA, female, black, married, died of consumption (relative?)

1880 census: 2nd Ward, Carlisle, Cumberland, PA
Head—James R. Strange, 56, laborer, b. 1824 VA; wife Ida, keeps house, 42, b. 1838 VA; Children: Harry, 19, waiter, b. VA; Ellen, 14, b. PA (Named for Ellen Strange, widow of Reuben in Harrisburg?); Edward, 12, b. PA

1880 census: 4th Ward, Carlisle, Cumberland, PA
Boarder—James R. Strange, 40, laborer, b. 1840 VA (in household of Newton & Sarah Cooper)

1880 census: 2nd Ward, Carlisle, Cumberland, PA
Head—Richard Strange, laborer, b. 1846 VA, laborer; wife Jane, keeps house, b. 1851 PA; son Willie Jackson Strange, at school, b. 1871 PA (also lived in Philadelphia and Chicago)

1890 Philadelphia, PA City Directory:
Richard Strange, porter, 719 Erie; Reuben Strange, laborer, 719 Erie (Could be brothers, two sons of Richard & Sarah of Winchester, or could be their son Reuben & grandson Richard.)

1900 census: 62 W. Penn, 4th Ward, Carlisle, Cumberland, PA (1st marriage, 19 yrs)
Head—James Strange, 57, driver of delivery wagon, b. 1842 VA
Wife—Martha Strange, 50, cook, b. 1850 VA

1920 census: 4th Ward, Carlisle, Cumberland, PA
Lodger—James Strange, 76, widower, street laborer, b. 1844 VA (household of Charles & Gale Hodge, no relation)