The Sterling genealogy

INDEX OF EMIGRATIONS TO AMERICA 219
of Octorara. Mr. Sterling was the pastor of these churches until
the year 1765, a period of about eighteen years. As a preacher
he is said to have possessed much power, but was of an impetuous
disposition and very much disposed to have his own way and
in the later years of his ministry he was frequently involved in
difficulties with the Session and the people of his congregation. . . .
At length he was arraigned before the Presbytery on account of
some occurrences not necessary to be detailed here and on the 24th
of April, 1765, was deposed from the office of the ministry. He
resided within the bounds of the congregation of Doe Run and
died in West Marlborough township in August, 1765, about four
months after his deposition. He was married but left no descend-
ants. I can give no account of his relations, except that a
brother James Sterling was concerned in the settlement of his
estate. He was a native of Ireland."
JAMES STERLING. Probably brother of the Rev. Andrew,
above. His name first appears in a survey for 250 acres, April
11, 1738, in Bucks County, Penn., and again July 22, 1743, for 60
acres in the same county. He was taxed in Ridley rate, Chester
Co., up to 1780. (Penn. Archives, 3d Series, Vol. XXI, p. 116,
and pp. 162-3, Vol. XXIV.) There are a number of other sur-
veys credited to a James Starling, in Cumberland, Chester and
York counties, between 1768 and 1780, but they likely refer to
Maj. James Sterling of Burlington, N. J., q. v. (Ibid., Vol. XXI,
3d Series, Vols. XI, XII.)
James Sterling, a young man, possibly son of the above, had
a horse tax of 20 shillings in Strabaun township, York
county, 1779, and paid a poll tax of 10 shillings the succeeding
year. (Ibid., 3d Series, Vol. XXI, pp. 116-249.)
The same James, it is inferred was the James Sterling who,
in 1783, had to his credit 6 acres of land, a horse and two
cattle in Springhill township, Westmoreland Co., Penn.
(Ibid., Vol. XXil, p. 427) and who, in 1785, was taxed 3
shillings, 11 pence, in the newly erected county of Fayette,
Penn., in Springhill township. Fayette county was estab-
lished by an act of the General Assembly, Sept. 26, 1783,
being taken from Westmoreland Co., and comprising that
portion of Fayette as it now stands, west of the Youghiougheny
river. James Sterling appears to have been in what
is now Monogalia Co., West Va., then a part of Westmore-