Joseph Sterling and Mary Porter

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Husband Joseph Sterling ¹

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           Born: 1741 - Londonderry, Ireland 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 1813 - ? Westmoreland Co, PA
         Buried:  - Old Salem Church

       Marriage: 

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Wife Mary Porter ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1822
         Buried:  - Old Salem Church

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Children

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1 F Rebeckah Sterling ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: William Robinson (      -      ) 1

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2 F Mary Sterling ^{1 2}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Samuel Marshall (      -      ) 1 2 3
           Marr: 20 May 1791 2 4

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3 F Janet Sterling ⁶

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            AKA: Jenet Sterling 5
           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: James Glenn (      -Bef 1808) 5 6

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4 M William Sterling ¹

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           Born: 1772 - ? York Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Janet McQuiston (Abt 1772-1845) 7

         Spouse: Mrs.  Stuart (      -      ) 7

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General Notes: Husband - Joseph Sterling

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The place of his birth was Londonderry, Ireland, but of Scotch ancestry it is certain. He settled in one of the eastern counties of Pennsylvania, probably in York county, as his indenture for the farm named “Sterling's Nest,” dated 1783, is to Joseph Sterling, of York, Pennsylvania. Another farm bought by him at an earlier date was to Joseph Sterling, of Washington county, Pennsylvania. In Westmoreland county, to which part of Pennsylvania he came in 1780, he purchased a tract of about three hundred acres situated in Derry township. He made for himself a name in Derry township, on what was ever afterward known as “Sterling's Nest.” Here he enjoyed life and vigorously labored to subdue the forests for more than a quarter of a century, during which period he made for himself and family, consisting of a wife and four children, a comfortable home. He became a man of means and much influence in his community. He was not an active factor in politics, but in­tensely loyal to his adopted country and obedient to its laws.

In the recorder's office at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, may be seen a copy of the original deed, which was beautifully inscribed on heavy parchment, the same is still in the possession of the family and well preserved. It is recorded in deed book No. 2, page 360. The instrument was from James Eaton and wife and bears date of June 3, 1793, recorded April 19, 1796, by James Guthrie, recorder. It describes a tract in Derry township, consisting of two hun­dred and ninety-four acres and nineteen perches of land-the old homestead. The consideration was one hundred pounds sterling, lawful money of Penn­sylvania. The original will, made on paper, is also in the hands of the de­scendants, the substance being as follows: “Will of Joseph Sterling: (Dated March 29, 1798). In the name of God, Amen! I, Joseph Sterling of Derry township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, being sick of body, but of sound judgment, mind and memory, calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do this 29th day of March, 1798, make and ordain this my last will and testament, in the following manner and form, and that is to say: That at my death my body is to be buried in a decent Christian way and manner, at the direction of my execu­tors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive it again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estate, where­with it has pleased God to endow me with in this life, I do give, demise, and depose of the same in the following manner and form: After the full payment of my just debts, of my whole estate I bequeath to Mary, my beloved wife, the sum of ten pounds in lawful money, all my household goods, kitchen furniture, beds and clothing, one saddle, one of my best cows, six of my sheep, of her own choice; the free possession of the east end of my mansion-house, part of the kitchen, together with one-third of the profits arising from my farm, during her natural life; the grain to be delivered in the bushel and a sufficiency of hay, fodder, etc., to maintain one horse, one cow, and six sheep. To my loving daughter Rebeckah the sum of one pound lawful money, four years after my decease. To my nephew, Joseph Robison, I do give and bequeath the sum of five pounds lawful money, to be paid to his father four years after my decease for his schooling. To my daughter Mary I do give and bequeath my house clock to be delivered to her at my wife's decease. To my nephew, Joseph Marshall, I do give and bequeath the sum of five pounds lawful money, to be paid to his father, four years after my decease, for the use of said child's schooling. To my nephews, Joseph Sterling and Samuel Sterling, I do give and bequeath ten pounds, to be paid four years after my decease, for the use of said children's schooling. And my large Bible to the said Joseph. All the rest of my personal estate is to be equally divided betwixt my said children, William, Janet, Rebeckah, and Mary, with the exception that Elizabeth (an adopted daughter) shall have a heifer two years old. All my books, excepting my Bible, I leave at the disposal of my loving wife.” Note: It should be remembered that prior to the making of this will, Mr. Sterling had already given a portion of his estate to each one of his four children in land or money. [HWCII 1906, 301]

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General Notes: Wife - Mary Porter

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Among her ances-tors was the once well known preacher, Rev. Porter, who was among if not the first to preach the Word at Congruity.

1 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 301.

2 O. S. Marshall, The Marshall Family (Kittanning, PA: Steam Press of Reichert Bros., 1884), Pg 8.

3 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 537, 557.

4 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 557.

5 James A. McKee, 20th Century History of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1909), Pg 572.

6 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 1044.

7 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 303.