William Starling Family

Only Surviving Child
Richard Starling	b. c1669 Accomack Co., VA #	d. 1710 Accomack Co., VA	m. Martha

According to most researchers, the Starling/Sterling families came from England. They are also known as Scottish and great numbers of Scots were forced into northern Ireland. In the Scotch-Irish book we find how complicated it is to follow this particular family. "In the sixteenth century, when writing had become a common accomplishment, a man often spelt his own name six or seven different ways in a single letter. The surname of Stirlings (of Keir) is found in their family papers, spelt in sixty-four different manners. No wonder that the name of Smith should run through the shapes of Smith, Smyth, Smythe.)"[Hanna]

1635- William Sterling is transported to the colonies on the ship Primrose from Gravesend, the Port of London on July 27 and probably reached Virginia in late Autumn. William is transported as a servant for Capt. William Roper. The ship manifest contained this:

"Theis vunder-written names are to be transported to Virginia, imbarqued in the Primrose, Capten Douglass, Mr., Certificate vnder ye Ministers hand at Gravesend, being examined by him touching their conformitie to the Church Discipline of England. The men have taken the oaths of Allegeance & Suremacie."[Original lists of Persons of Quality, Emigrants, etc., John C. Hotten, London, 1874]
William gave his age at the time of the sailing as 18. His passage was paid by William Roper who received 100 acres of land as head rights. According to the Sterling Genealogy, this William Sterling is the earliest record of the name of Sterling in this country. [Sterling 229]

"At a monthly Courte held at Accomack the first day of August the anno Dmi. 1637, Present, Capt. John Howe, Comander &c, Mr. Nathaniel Littleton, Mr. Am. Amdrews, Mr. Wm. Burdett, Capt. Wm. Roper, Capt. Wm. Stone."
"Whereas Leifteunte Willm Roper doth make yt appear unto this Courte that there is one hundred Acres of land due unto him, Itt is there upon ordered that the Sd land bee granted and Confirmed unto ye sd Left Roper beinge due for transportation of his wife and one servante, vizt, Willm Sterlinge." (P. 77)[Sterling 229]

Jonathan Gills was given 50 acres of land for transporting William Sterling, Aug. 3, 1640. At the same time Gills received land for having paid for the transportation of his wife, Frances, Philip Watkins, William Smart, Timothy (unreadable), Thomas Wignall and Roger Barroe. (Vol. 2, p. 15) At the nearly the same time Capt. William Roper claims 100 acres for transporting Willm. Sterling in 1637. Gills' claim was not filed until March 6, 1647. In 1647 Thomas Wright filed for 250 acres for transporting William Sterling but as the writers of the Sterling Genealogy, "It would appear that it was pretty expensive job transporting colonist, unable to pay their passage to America and one might be led to think that William Sterling arrived in sections. It may be stated, however, that "head-rights," as claims for the transportation of intending colonists were called, were transferable and had a value corresponding to a bond and were bought and sold as such until the full amount of land allotted to each had been granted." [Sterling p229] (Va. Patent Bk, 2, p. 112./also Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. 1, p.170) Gills received a land grant of 450 acres on Higer's Creek in Northhampton County for transporting this group. It should have taken William Starling five to seven years to free himself from his indenturedness putting his freedom at about 1654." [Williams. p. 351]

"William Sterling was a cooper and planter. In the former occupation he made the casks or hogsheads in which tobacco was stored and shipped and as a planter, he raised tobacco, that being the only crop of that day, save such as were raised for home consumption. Tobacco was the money of the Colony, it being given and received for most debts and charges. Its customary value was supposed to represent one penny per pound." [Sterling 230]

"In a list representing 'A true account of Such Prsons as have been baptized married & buried in Hungar's parish, from ye 25th of March Ano 1660, unto ye 25th of March 1661,' is given the marriage of William Sterling to Margaret Edwards, Sept. 20, 1660. (Vol. 7, p. 92) William might have been a widower at this time as he was at least 35 in 1660 and more likely 40 years of age. William married again before July, 1687 to Elizabeth Clarke, the daughter of George Clarke. According to a deposition made July 28, 1687, when she gave her age as "27 or there-abouts' and another, given May 29, 1689, wherein her age is given as '29 years or thereabouts,' she was born in 1660, being therefore some 40 years his junior."[Sterling 230]

1655- William Mellinge, 600 acs. Northhampton Co., 17 Mar. 1655, p. 26, (41). On S. branch of Anancock, W. on Ekeks branch. Trans. of 12 pers: Fra. Cutt, Roger Barr, Wm. Sterlinge, Timothy Trallop, Phillip Watkins, Alex. Wignal, Tho. Wignall, Wm. Smarth, Henry Mitchell, Grace Lewis. [Nugent 329]

1658 - William Starling leases 160 acres for 99 years from John Smith of Nuswattocks. This land was originally patented by Henry Pendenden later transferred to George Smith and George Smith transferring to John Smith. It was located in Northampton County near Cowpen Branch and lands previously held by Jonathan Gills. [Williams. p. 351]

1660, September 20 - William is a member of the Hungars Parish Register when he now feels possible to marry Margaret Edwards. [Hungar Parish Register Returns for 1660-61 , W&M Q(1st Series) Vol. XVIII(18), p. 180 as referenced by Williams. p. 351]

1665 - William purchases 120 from William and Anne Mellinge, "part of the Thomas Graves 200 acre patent, which lay on_______."[Williams. p. 351]

William was involved in numerous court actions in the Court Records of Northhampton county.
1666, Nov. 28. "The difference depending betweene Will Starlinge ptt and John Dike ddett is refered to the next court." 9P. 30, Vol II) Wat the difference was does not appear in the next court's proceedings. "8th of Januarie" 1669. "Itt is ordered that Major Will Andrewey, High sheriff shall make paymt. unto Will Starling for 4 Months service of the Majd Seruant in Cap of Nihil dicit att the next Court of John Dike." [Sterling 231]

1668 - He purchased another 200 acres from Henry Rosee which had been part of a patent of John Sturgis and lay adjacent to a 300 acres patent issued to Edward Smith on the Machipongo Creek. [Williams. p. 351]

1670, Feb. 28. William Sterlinge was drawn as a part of a grand jury for the following year. He obtained a judgment of "Two Thousand six hundred sixty and foure pounds of Tob. & Casks" against John Roode as agent of the estate of Henry Wallcott. (P. 100, Ibid.)[Sterling 232]

1672 - He purchased another 300 acres of a 600 acre patent of Daniel Foxcroft then of Elizabeth City County. He is described as a "cooper" in these documents. With these several purchases he becomes part of the "landed class".
[Williams. p. 351]

1673-4, Jan. 28 - "The difference depending between Wm. Sterlings plt. & DAn ffoxcroft deft. att the request of atty. Wm. Whittington as security and on ye behalfe of the said ffoxcroft is referred to the next Court, the said Whittington still standing obliged for the appearance of the said ffoxcroft then.: (P. 242, (Ibid.)[Sterling 232]

Apr. 28, 1674. "Jno. Tankhard att fr Wm Sterlings.
Charles Holden att fx Wm Whittington.
The difference depundinge between William Sterlinge plt & Wm Whittington dft is by consent of the said court judgment was "Granted agt Wm. Whittington to Wm. Sterlinge for the sume of Twenty Pounds Sterlinge currant money of England itt appearing and by Bond forthwith to bee pd. with costs of suit." (P. 259)[Sterling 232]

July 2 - "Mr. Tankard att fx Wm. Sterlinge."
The judgment against Whittington being unpaid, it was ordered by the court that the sheriff levy an attachment against Whittington's property for the sum of 800 pounds of tobacco and casks. (P. 268)[Sterling 232]

Apr. 29, 1672.
"Upon a Non Est Jucutus attach. is this day granted to Wm. Sterlinge agt ye estate of John Juncke as attorney of Wm. Crabb for ye sum of fflouerteene Thousand and one hundred Ninety & two pounds of Tobacco and casks, ye Sd Sterlinge putting in Security accordinge to Law in Such cases made the probided." (P. 126, Vol. II)[Sterling 232]

William Starling was one the early colonial leaders who addressed a long protest over the act to the Colony's House of Burgesses. in 1675. Their protest was over the division of their county for the benefit of a few , the lack of protection from the Indians, sale of liquor near the courthouse, and the exemption of some from paying their fair share of the taxes. They further demanded freedom from some many features which also went against their ideas of proper social behavior and a better court system. [Williams. p. 351]

Unfortunately some of his social consciousness did not include slavery. He did own slaves. "This day Wm. Sterlinge brought his colrd boy to Court Named John Wyrd to habe their Judgement of his age, whom they judged to be fourteene years of age." (P. 160, Ibid.)[Sterling 233]

1688 - William and his wife Elizabeeth had a quarrel with "Edward Carter, Negro slabe to Thos Pigot." It was claimed by the slave that he was first attacked by Elizabeth, but it was satisfactorily proved to the Court that the black "had insolently abused her, strikeinge he several blowes and tore her hood to peises of her head" and the Court's sentence was the slave was to receive "Thirty lashes on his bare back, well laid on accordinge to act." (P. 300, Vol. 12) [Sterling 234]

1690, July 29 - William made a deposition that gave his age as "66 yeares or thereabouts," which would have made the his year of birth 1624. Various other depostions also give different ages. Our primary researchers believe that he probably didn't know his exact age but probably could not have been under 16 at the time of emigration. [Sterling 228]

1693, November - At sixty eight years of age he writes his Last Will and Testament.There are at least two known versions of the will. The last will here was used in court by Elizabeth to prove her position.