Stearns Isaac b. d. 19 JUN 1671

- 1671

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Gender Male

_UPD 12 AUG 2009 21:51:26 GMT-5

Died 19 Jun 1671 [1, 2]

Person ID I5379 Alan Donald Vibber

Last Modified 08 Dec 2009

Family Barker Mary, d. 02 Apr 1677

Married Y [1]

Children

1. Stearns John, b. Abt 1631, d. 05 Mar 1668/69

Family ID F2301 Group Sheet

Notes	Five hundred years ago, more or less, when the population of England had become sufficiently dense to make surnames necessary, some Englishman assumed the name of Sterne. He may have taken it from the sign of the Sterne, or starling, (which is the symbol of industry), which he displayed in front of his place of business, or it mav have been taken from some event in which a starling was concerned;but of this there is now no record or means of knowing. In England the name was, and it seems still is, sncllcd Sterne, two notable instances of which are the names of Richard Sterne, Lord Archbishop of York, and Lawrence Sterne, the distinguished novelist, author of "Tristam Shandy" and other works; hut in America it is spelled Stearns. Sternes. Sterns, or Starns, and Starnes, the last two forms being distinctly southern. The changes probably commenced in the pronunciation, and extended to the writing of the name, which, in Winthrop's journal and in the early town and county records of Massachusetts, appears as Sterne. In every instance where the lineage of this family lias been traced back it has been to one of the following : Isaac, Charles, or Nathaniel. What relationship existed between the three is not known. Isaac in his will calls Charles "My kinsman." It is noticeable, however, that all three named their sons Isaac, Samuel, and John, while the sons of Isaac named their sons Nathaniel. The belief is entertained by many of the Stearns descendants that three Sterne brothers Isaac, Daniel and Shubael— came to America together; that Daniel died unmarried, or without issue; that Shubael and wife leaving two sons, Charles and Nathaniel, to the care of their uncle Isaac. Research in England has thus far failed to find parents, brothers, or sisters of Isaac Stearns, the emigrant from .England. In the genealogy of the Stearns family published in 1901, over eleven thousand persons were mentioned. Among these were one hundred and thirty- two graduates of colleges, universities, etc.; eighty- three clergymen: eighty physicians; fifty-nine lawyers; twelve principals of academics and high schools; twelve professors of colleges; one chancellor of a state university: one dean of a divinity school; three presidents of colleges; one superintendent of instruction (Argentine Republic) ; eleven authors; five editors; one bishop of Pennsylvania: one general manager of railroads; one president ofrailroads; one president of a telegraph company; twenty farmers; two governors; three lieutenant governors; two secretaries of state; eleven state senators; thirty-six colonial or state representatives; two speakers of the house; two supreme court judges; five mayors: two generals; tw-enty-two colonels; eleven majors; fifty-six captains; and one hundred and eighty-two private soldiers. (I) Isaac Stearns, the immigrant ancestor, embarked at Yarmouth. England, in the ship "Arabella," April 12, 1630, and arrived on tire Massachusetts coast in company with Governor Winthrop, Sir Richard Saltonstall. and Edward Garfield, ancestor of the martyr president. He came from Nayland, England, and was accompanied by his wife Mary and two daughters, Mary and Ann. Mr. Stearns settled at Watertown, Massachusetts, and was among the first freemen established there in 1631. He was selectman several years, and died June 19, 1671, being survived nearly six years by his widow, who passed away Anril 2, 1677. Beside the children above named they had John. Isaac, Sarah, Samuel, Elizabeth and Abigail. John is supposed also to have been born in England. (Mention of Isaac (2) and Samuel and descendants appears in this article). The surname Stearns is of STEARNS English origin, the spelling varying from Stearns, Sternes, Sterns, Straus, to Sterne and Stern. It is a well-known name in the counties of Nottingham, Berks, Norfolk, Hertford, Suffolk, and Cambridge. The oldest coat-of- arms known in the family is that of the Archbishop of York (1664-1683), viz: Or, a chevron between three crosses flory sable. Crest : a cock starling ppr. The arms at that time were doubtless in use for many generations. (I) Isaac Stearns, the immigrant, was born in England and embarked for America on April 8, 1630, in the ship "Arabella," with Sir Richard Saltonstall and family, Governor \Vinthrop and many others, arriving at Salem, Massachusetts, June 12, following. Three other ships were in the same party. They preferred Watertown to Salem and Stearns among others made his home there. He had a home- stall in 1642 at Watertown, on the east side of the highway, bounded by land of John Warren, John Bisco and the Pequasset Meadow. He was admitted a freeman May 18, 1631, and was selectman several years. In 1647he and Mr. Bisco were appointed by the selectmen "to consider how the bridge over the river shall be built, and to agree with the work-men for doing it, according to their best discretion." This was the first bridge over Charles river. He was a tailor by trade as well as farmer. He died June 19, 1671, and his will was proved in October following. He married Mary Barker, daughter of John Barker, of Stoke Nayland, Suffolk, England. The wife of John Barker was Margaret, and >he married second —— Munnings, of Gaynes Colne, Essex, and gave a letter of attorney August 24, 1640. John Barker was a clothier by trade. Mary (Barker) Stearns died April 2, 1677. Children: i. Mary, baptized Januar}- 6, 1626, at Xayland; married July 9, 1746, in Woburn, Isaac Learned. 2. Hannah, baptized October 5, 1628, at Nayland ; married December 25, 1650, Henry Freeman. 3. John born about 1631. 4. Isaac Jr., born January (i, 1633 ; mentioned below. 5. Sarah, born September 22, 1635 ; married June 7, 1655, Deacon Samuel Stone. 6. Samuel, born April 24, 1638; died August 3, 1683. 7. Elizabeth. born 1640; married April 13, 1664, Samuel Manning. 8. Abigail, married April 27, 1666, Deacon John Morse.

Sources

[S232] Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation, Lewis publishing company, Chicago, (Name: The Lewis publishing company, 1908;), 385 (Reliability: 3).
[S230] Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, William Richard Cutter, (Name: Lewis historical publishing company, 1908;), 777 (Reliability: 3).