General Notes

John Strode (note that the locational "de" was dropped from the family name) was born at mid-century, between the two debilitating wars. He probably never saw a time of national tranquility, although much of the upheaval may not have reached into the daily lives of the Strodes. He grew up in Somerton, Somersetshire and married Joan Okle in her home town of Shepton Mallet in the same county sometime around 1469. They had at least one child, a son. Fragmentary information by one researcher indicates that John Strode may have achieved knighthood, which had been missing from the family for four generations, but this hypothesis is unconfirmed by any other source. While England was still tied up in a battle for the throne, notable events were taking place in other countries. Guttenberg of Germany invented movable type making widespread printing possible, Copernicus first theorized that the earth and other planets rotate around the sun, French physician and astrologer Nostradamus wrote his book of prophesies, Henlein of Germany made the first watch, Columbus found the new world for Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain and Vespucci explored South America. It also was the era of legendary artists Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci. (Taken from: A Family History, by Donovan Faust)