The Sterling genealogy

278 THE STERLING GENEALOGY
for thirty-eight years of his life. The inscription on the stone
above his grave reads : " Here lyeth the Remains of Capt. Daniel
Starlin Deacon of the third Church of Christ in Lyme who De-
parted this Life June the 30 th 1747 in the 76 th year of his Age.
Memento Mori."
Captain Sterling left a considerable estate. His real prop-
erty reached, in the values of those times, between £8000 and
£10,000 and his personal belongings were inventoried at over
£800.
What little currency New England had at this time, however,
was greatly depreciated, so it is difficult to state the equivalent
of these figures in money values of to-day. They would amount
to little more than half our present standard of values.
Captain Daniel Sterling's Will
In the Name of God, Amen, the 27 th Day, of May one Thousand,
Seven hundred and forty Seven : I Daniel Starlin of Lyme in the
County of New London and Colony of Connecticut being Sick and
weak in Body, Yet of sound mind and Memory Thanks be to God,
I, Therefore calling to mind the Mortality of My Body and that
it is appointed for all Men once to Die do therefore first of all
Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and my
Body to the Dust to be buried att the Discression of my Executors
hereafter Named And as Touching the worldly Estate with
which it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life ; I Divise
and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner
Imprim r : I Give and Bequeath to my well beloved wife Mary
Starling The one hundred pounds in Capt. Elisha Sheldon's hands
which he owes me and has given me a Note for Dated January 7 th
1745/6 and all the Putor and bed and beding which she brought
with her when I married her and also a Suit of Decent Mourning
Cloaths, to be bought for her and paid for out of my Estate by
nvy Executors. I also give and bequeath to my Said wife the use
and Improvement of that End of the Dwelling House I now live
in (for her to live in personally without Liberty of Leasing the
same to any person or persons what so ever) During the time She
Remains my Widdow; and also the Priveledge that my Son
Joseph Starlin Shall provide necessary fire wood for my said wife
and also that my said Son shall provide my Said wife a Milch Cow
winters and Summers, for her to use, all to be Continued So long