The Sterling genealogy

WILLIAM STERLING OF HAVERHILL, MASS. 335
of the 3 d Church in y e towne." Lydia was b. at Lyme, June 26,
1742, sister of Richard Ransom, who m. her husband's sister
Mary.
From his father's estate, Joseph received about thirty-five
acres of land including the house lot of his father and grandfather.
He was left by his mother her portion of the house on this home
lot, built and occupied by his grandfather Daniel. Here Joseph
lived until his removal from Lyme. His mother also gave him her
blacksmith shop and tools. He followed the occupation of a smith
at Sterling City and tilled his little farm until 1781.
Joseph Starlin was a corporal in the company of militia under
Captain Joseph Jewett, which responded to the alarm sent out
from the battle-field of Lexington, Apr. 19, 1775.
This first conflict of the Revolution was fought on Wednesday
morning. By previous arrangement, messengers were immediately
despatched in different directions to arouse the "minute men " to
arms. The news was brought to New Haven, Conn., on Friday
evening of the twenty-first of April and was from thence discriminated
among the Connecticut villages. It probably reached Lyme
some time during Saturday, the twenty-second.
Joseph saw twenty-nine days' service, returning to Lyme in
the latter part of May. Connecticut records give : " Star-
ling, Corporal, served from July 14 to Nov. 17, 1775," in the
8th Regt., 8th Company. It seems probable that Joseph re-
enlisted after returning home. He was under the same captain
during this service as when responding to the Lexington Alarm.
This regiment " was raised by order of the Assembly at the
July Session, 1775. Recruited mainly in New London, Hartford
and Windham counties. It was stationed on the sound until Sep-
tember 14, when on requisition from Washington, it was ordered
to the Boston camps, and took post at Roxbury in Gen. Spencer's
Brigade, where it remained until expiration of term of service."
(Conn. Men in the War of the Revolution, etc.)
Henry S. Dana in the " History of Woodstock," Vt., says
" Another early settler in the town was Joseph Sterlin. He came
from Lyme, Conn., in 1781, and in company with Jabez Cottle built
a grist mill and saw mill in the south parish on land belonging to