William Starling probably came to the colonies as an indentured servant and was one of 9 persons brought to the colonies by Jonathan Gills prior to March 6, 1647 (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]

1658 - William Starling leases 160 acres for 99 years from John Smith of Nuswattocks. This land was originally patented by Henry Pendenden later tranfered to George Smith and George Smith transfering 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]

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]

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]

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]

1693, November - At sixty eight years of age he writes his Last Will and Testament.

Will of William Sterling 1693/98

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I William Starling of the County Northhampton in Virginia beinge of Sound and perfect sense & memory (Praised bee God) Doe make thus my last Will and Testamt. hereby Revoking and Dis-anulling all other & former Wills whatsoever; Impri[m]is I comit and Comend my Soule to Almighty God hat gave it and hoping (through the meritts of Jesus Christ my Redeemer) that after this sinfull life is Ended to Enjoy Eternal life & happinefs with him in heaven: my body to the Earth from whence it was taken de-sireinge the Smae may have a decent and christian Buriall./ Item I give Will and bequeath onto my Son Richard Sterling my plan-tation att Pocomole in Accomack County containinge three hundred Acres land to him and his Heirs forever, Alwayes provided my Lovinge wife Eliz. Sterling bee not debarred of the benfit of the Range of the said Land for her Stock during her widowhood and noe longer the true untent and meaninge is if in Case the Liver &c on the Said Land Shall Refuse the lookinge after her said Stock putt my desire is she shall have the liberty to Seule them on the said Land duringe the Said terme for the performance of the same. / Item I give unto my Said Son Richard Sixteen head of cattle (vizt) Eight cowes to be delivered him at my plantation att Pocomoke, by my Executrix hereafter mentioned and Eight Steeres he to have first chois of All those (wo Excepted) As also I give my Said Son A younge Grey horse named Dragon, two Mares, the one Bonny, and the other bought of Wescott, two feather beds, Bolsters, two pillows, two Ruggs, one of them a greene plaine Rugg, the other a Red yarne Ditto [Rugg], one paire of Blanketts, two Suitts of Curtains and vallances, one Daernex, the other green. Also Eight dishes great and small, Six plates, A sett of Tooles, A dozen Napkins, my chest and one more chest, and one Brass ffurnace- only my wife to have the use of that five years or till she can better provide her selfe, as also all my wearing apparrell (except one hatt) also Six flagg chaises and five Barrells of corne./ Item my desire is my Boate be a Reamine Between my wife and Son. / Item All the Remaininge part of my Estate not herein given (or by former Deeds more Especially) Are Acknowledged in open court for this County of Northampton bearinge date of the 28th of Novenbr 1693: and one other by me made now in possession of Capt. John Custis both [but] which is my Reall will they be Void, Nihilated, and Noe Effect I give my Lovinge wife, all both Reall and personall: moveables, and immoveables, plate, Jewells, Rings, money, goods, merchanidese, &c Either in Virginia or Else where and her Disposeing, heires &c Hereby Appointing my Said wife my whole and Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In Testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Seale

William W. Sterling Test
his mark

ye Seale


Wm kendall
John Wescott Signum
Robt. R. Browne Endored

Noth.ton P October the 28th Anno Dom 1698 Then the last Will and Testam{en]t of Wiliam Sterling Deced was Exhibeited to the Court by Elizabeth his Widoie and Executrix: who desirred that a probate might me granted her thereon. And was Accordingly proved in open court of the Said county by the corporal oath of John Wescott and approved and attested of as and authentick probate and orded to the county to give his Testimony thereto for further confirmation of the said probate.
Test Dan Neechee Cl Ct) Recordt Test Dan Neechee Cl Ct)

North.ton Pt ______ By Major Robbins
A Probate of the same tenour as these Recorde in Folio 506 in this Booke granted to Elizabeth Sterlinge widow & Executrix of Wm Sterlinge her late husband his last will and Testamt.

Dated the Tenth day of Noverbr Anno Dom 1698
John Robins
Recordd. Dan Needhee Cl Ct
[Northampton co., VA., Order Book 13 (1689-1698, pp.513-515]

sources:

Ancestral Rolls, South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution, Compiled 1938 by Mrs E. T. Crawford, State Registrar.
Mann, Col. Robt. Neville and Catherine Creek-Mann, Camp-Kemp Family Hist., Vol. II, 1969
Landrum, Dr. L. B. O. . History of Spartanburg County, South Carolina 1900, reprinted 1954.
Williams, E. Russ, Jr.The Kemp, Turner and Roberts Families on Little Silver Creek, Washington Parish Louisiana. 1992, Williams Genealogical Pub., 514 Cole Ave, Monroe, LA 71203

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