Person:John Stirling (16)

Unlikely Marriage Record

There are some internet trees claiming that this John Sterling was married to a Hannah Railton on 18 April 1734 in London, England, but in looking at the approximate birthyears of their children, it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that this John Sterling is the same one that married some 35+ years before his children were born. This appears to be wishful thinking by some researchers that did not look to see if the marriage date made sense with the available information on this family. Additional research is needed to determine the identity and parentage of this John Sterling's wife Hannah.

Will Transcript

Will of John Sterling

In the name of God Amen, I John Sterling of the County of Knox and Territory south of the River Ohio being sick and seal of body but of perfect mind and memory and calling unto mind the mortality of my boddey [sid] and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recomend my sole [sic] unto the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the descretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the resurection, I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and demise [devise] and dispose of the same in the following manner and form,

First I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Hanna Starling the whole and sole right and title of the plantation until her death or marriage with all the movables thereunto belongin[g] and at her death or marriage my son Samuel Sterling to have the whole and sole right and title to the plantation taking out of the estate now what will pay for the land and next to my dearly beloved daughter Margret out of the property I own in Virginia, first of all she is to her bed and furniture and saddle and one hundred and thirty three collars and one-third of a dollar at her marriage if that is agreeable to her Mother and the family to be paid in property or money which every suits the Executors to pay it in and to my son James Sterling Sixty-six dollars and two thirds of a dollar in money or property at the discretion of the executors and to my daughter Neley one dollar and all the remainder of my estate to be at the disposal of my wife at her decease and I appoint and ordain my wife & son Samuel Sterling to be whole and sole executors of this my last Will and Testament in witness whereunto I have set my hand and seal, this seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five.

[Signed] Jo[h]n Sterling

Signed sealed and published and declared by the said John Sterling as his last Will and Testament in his presence and in the presence of each other have hear to set our names.

David Scott

Pat Sharkey

April 3, 1797

N.B. Whereas a negro wench named Clara has come into my hand since the date of the within will, the said wench Clara I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Hanna Sterling to her and her Heirs forever

Signed Sealed and delivered in presents of[f]

William Stockton

William Aikman

[Signed] Jo[h]n Sterling

Notes

John Stirling d. Apr 1797 Knox Co., TN

md. Hannah who d. 1814/1815 Knox Co., TN

Their Children--

1. Margaret/Peggy md. 17 Jun 1800/1801 Knox Co., TN to Joseph McAlister

2. Samuel b. 1770-1780 d. 1836 Knox Co., TN who md. Polly Murphy 15 Jan 1807 Knox Co., TN

3. Eleanor Neley md. Henry Sterling 1st, then Thomas Scott on 15 Feb 1819 Knox Co., TN

4. James d. 1799. (probably didn't marry since he willed all to his sister Margaret and his brother Samuel.

Margaret/Peggy's husband, JosephMc Alister, and brother Samuel were both witnesses to Henry Sterling's will (husband of sister Eleanor). There supposedly was a big court battle involving Henry Sterling (husband of Eleanor) and the estate of Eleanor's father John Stirling.

Jennifer Endsley

1.   Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008.

   Name John Sterling
   Residence Date Abt 1795
   Residence Place Knox, South of River Ohio
   Will Date 7 Dec 1795
   Probate Date 3 Apr 1797
   Probate Place Knox, Tennessee, USA
   Inferred Death Year 1797
   Inferred Death Place Tennessee, USA
   Item Number 3
   Item Description Guardian Books, 1792-1821