Like the Hedges family, the Stilleys also had origins in New Castle County, Delaware. Jacob Stilley, yeoman of Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, and his wife Rebecca Springer had a sizable family, most of whom are named in his will of September 14, 1771. Although he did not leave New Castle County himself, several of his children did. Reference has already been made to Mary Stilley, born June 22,1715 as Maria, daughter Jacob Stelle and wife Rebecca. She married Charles Hedges in 1736 and came to the Hedges area north of today's city of Frederick. Her brother Peter Stilley, born March 8, 1717, also came . He had "Saplin Ridge" surveyed for 100 acres on January 15, 1742. It lay "near Chidley Matthews' land" just north of Rock Creek and today's forks of U.S. Highways 40 and 40-Alternate by the golf course. On May 20,1749 Peter Stilley resurveyed his tract to increase its size to 295 acres, and in 1793 his son Peter Stilley, Jr. added 65 acres more, calling the whole "Neighbor's Agreement." According to the Moravian missionary August Spangenberg, Peter Stilley in 1748 was a vestryman and "Vorsteher" in the English church who, because of his friendship with neighboring Moravians, had been called to account. He was Constable of Middle Monocacy Hundred in 1778. In his will of July 25, 1765 Peter Stilley devised his plantation to his son Jacob, but also provided for sons Peter and John. His wife Mary also left a will dated September 30, 1784, which named daughters Estelle, wife of John Kennedy, and Rebecca, wife of Benjamin Ogle.
