OLOF STILLE
Olof Stille was born on Penningby Manor in Länna parish, Roslagen, Uppland, Sweden. His father was Per Stille, who appears to have been a supervisor on the manor and later lived on the island farm of Humblö, also on the manor. (1)
His wife’s name is unknown. However, emigration records state that Olof left Sweden with a wife and two children.
Children: (2)
Ella, born about 1634.
Anders, born about 1640.
Christina, born about 1643.
John, born in 1646.
Following is a synopsis of information contained in “Olof Stille of New Sweden,” by Fritz Nordström, and “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772,” by Peter S. Craig. Additional information is cited in footnotes.
Olof appears to have immigrated to America after being convicted of crimes related to a dispute with the widow of his former lord. Following is a brief description of the incident.
On April 13, 1638, Olof was tried in an “extraordinary session” of the assizes of Frötuna and Länna for crimes against her Ladyship Katarina Fleming of Penningby Manor, the widow of Erik Bjelke. Olof, who had been a servant of the recently deceased lord, had a history of disputes with Her Ladyship that resulted in fines and prison time. As a result of his antics, he was ordered off his farm at Humblö. However, Olof was allowed to keep his cattle on the farm until the following spring and two of his servants remained there. The key point of dispute in the case was whether one of the servants, a man named Anders, was obligated to the late lord or to Olof.
In any case, Olof ordered Anders to come to work for him. After several months, on March 18, Anders returned to Väsby and began quarreling with Her Ladyship’s servants. She then had him seized as a runaway.
Olof found out about Anders’ situation the next day. Nordström reports that the court was told Olof “went into Jacob of Torpet’s place, where he was told that Anders had been locked up. Then he grabbed a wood-axe and said, ‘I shall get him out, in the name of the bad one.’ … He let himself into Penningby through a secret door, and found the room where Anders was imprisoned, under the very house in which the said Late Lordship lay a corpse. Since the lock was strong he broke apart the masonry, took away the lock and keeper (worth one daler silvermynt), took the servant out, gave him the axe and sent him on ahead. When he himself turned from the wall he bared his sword, which was witnessed by Olof Svensson (who alone was at home in the castle, as the rest of the servant folk were at the census enrollment).
“Then, Olof Svensson testified, Olof Stille swept his sword around, uttered foul language and said, ‘I dare you to come and take me!’ Where upon he fled.
“The others came home then, and wanted to apprehend him, but they were held back because of the risk to their own lives that could involve.”
The court found Olof guilty of robbery – taking Anders, who had been locked up for breach of contract – and condemned to beheading. However, the supreme court reviewed the sentence on May 28 and reduced it to paying a fine and compensation for physical damage to the house.
On May 3, 1641, the manifest for the Charitas shows Olof Stille, his wife and two children – a 7-year-old daughter and a 1½-year-old son – among the passengers bound from Göteborg to the colony of New Sweden in America. The manifest states Olof was a millwright and intended to be a farmer in America. Also among the passengers was Axel Stille, who has been identified as Olof’s brother.
The Charitas and the Kalmar Nyckel left for America in July and arrived at Fort Christina – the present city of Wilmington, Del. – in November.
Olof eventually settled on a tract of land known as Techoherassi, which is now part of Eddystone, Pa. Craig cites a 1702 sources that describes the property: “Techoherassi, Olof Stille’s place, was a small plantation which was built by Swedish freemen, who gave it that name. They were frequently visited by the Indians, as it was on the river-shore, and surrounded with water, like a small island. Olof had a thick black beard from which the Indians had given him the name of ‘the man with the black beard.’ ” The Swedish historian Israel Acrelius covered similar ground in 1759: “The savages stayed much with Olof Stille at Techoheraffi, and were very fond of the old man; but they made a monster of his thick black beard, from which also they gave hi a special name.” (3)
Despite his brushes with the law in Sweden, Olof appears to have been respected enough to get himself appointed as a judge. On July 10, 1643, he sat as one of 10 judges in the trial of an Englishman who tried to establish a settlement nearby. On Oct. 6, 1646, he was chose by the New Sweden’s Gov. Johan Printz to deliver a protest to representatives from the Dutch colony of New Netherlands.
Olof’s rebellious side arose again by 1648, when he became involved in a dispute with Gov. Printz concerning a calf. Then, in 1653, a number of prominent settlers, including Olof, signed a complaint to Printz, who considered it mutiny. Printz had a solider, whom he thought to be a ringleader, shot and ordered that Olof and the local pastor stand trial. However, Printz soon left the colony and the trial apparently never happened. (4)
When the new governor, Johan Rising, arrived in May 1654, Olof signed the oath of allegiance to the Swedish crown.
Rising got himself into trouble when he attacked a Dutch colony at the present site of New Castle, Del. The angered Dutch returned and drove out the Swedish officials and ended that country’s colonial ambitions in North America. However, Olof and other Swedes stayed in their new homeland.
Under the Dutch, the Swedish settlers continued to have a degree of self-government and Olof became one of their magistrates. (5) In addition to these duties, in 1661, the Dutch asked Olof to go to Maryland to try to convince Swedish settlers who had abandoned the Dutch colony to return.
When, in 1664, the English seized the Dutch colony, Olof continued his role as magistrate. He retired in 1675.
The English 1671 census of Delware shows Olof living at Moyamensing. A 1677 tax list show Olof’s household including his son John.
Olof fails to appear in a 1683 census and subsequent documents, probably indicating he was in ill healthy or had died by this point.
(1) “Olof Persson Stille and his Family,” by Peter S. Craig, from www.colonialswedes.org, originally published in “Swedish Colonial News,” Vol. 1, No. 16. Also, “Olof Stille in New Sweden,” by Fritz Nordstrom, and “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772,” by Peter S. Craig, reprinted from the “Swedish American Genealogist,” Vol. VI, Nos. 3 and 4. For detail and explanations, please the articles in “Swedish American Genealogist.” (2) Information on children comes from Craig’s “Olof Persson Stille and his Family.” (3) Acrelius’ account is contained in “Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707,” edited by Albert C. Myers, page 74. (4) More details on this incident in contained in “The 1693 Census of the Swedes on the Delaware,” by Peter S. Craig. (5) Listed as a magistrate for the South River, another name for the Delaware River, in 1657, under “Officers of the Dutch on the Delaware,” in “The Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 2, Vol. 9, page 610.
ANDERS and ANNETJE STILLE
Anders Stille was born about 1640 in Roslagen, Sweden, to Olof Stille. (1)
Married Annetje Pieters, daughter of Pierter Wolfestsen van Couwenhoven, who was a brewer.
Children:
Jacob.
John.
Elisabeth. Married Charles Hedges.
Following is a synopsis of information contained in “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772,” by Peter S. Craig.
In 1641, Anders’ family left its homeland for the colony of New Sweden, which is now the area south of Philadelphia, Pa.
About 1658, Anders moved to the area that is now New Castle County, Del. On Oct. 17, 1683, he was called to testify in New Castle court concerning a land dispute. It is recorded: “Andries Tilly sayeth that he has been 25 or 26 years here in town, and that there were houses on both ends of the ground in controversy but knows nothing of any street.”
In 1671, the English census of New Castle records a household headed by “Anna Pieterson marryed to Andreas —,” who is likely Anders Stille. By 1675, Andries Tilley appears on the southeast side of the Christina River near the present Christiana, Delaware. The land was surveyed for Andrew Tilley on Oct. 5, 1680.
This area was the center of a boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland. Anders and his niece, Elizabeth Ogle, and their neighbor, Jonas Arskin, got involved in April 1684 when 40 or 50 Marylanders arrived in the area to build a fort. On April 5, New Castle County Sheriff William Welch took a posse to Christiana Bridge to interview the local residents and formally protest the Marylanders’ action. On May 30, the new sheriff, Samuel Land, wrote to William Penn that Maryland’s Col. George Talbot and three musketeers had threatened to evict Anders, Elizabeth and Jonas if they didn’t swear obedience to Lord Baltimore. On June 4, Penn wrote to Lord Baltimore to protest.
Soon afterward, the Stille, Ogle and Arskin families moved to White Clay Creek in western New Castle County. However, they appear to have planned the move for at least two years since each family is named in land transactions in 1682. On Sept. 5 of that year, Anders obtained a warrant for land on the west side of the creek, near the present site of Newark. In 1686, he conveyed some of the land to Elizabeth’s sons, Thomas and John, and about a year later exchanged the rest for other land.
Anders appears to have died sometime between this transaction and the 1692 census of the area. He drops from Delaware records following this land swap and the census does not list him among the area’s residents.
(1) “Olof Persson Stille and his Family,” by Peter S. Craig, from www.colonialswedes.org, originally published in “Swedish Colonial News,” Vol. 1, No. 16. Also, “Olof Stille in New Sweden,” by Fritz Nordstrom, and “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772,” by Peter S. Craig, reprinted from the “Swedish American Genealogist,” Vol. VI, Nos. 3 and 4. Much of the information concerning Anders’ relationship with Olof`, Annetje and his children comes not through direct documentary evidence but through analysis of the available circumstantial evidence. For detail and explanations, please see Craig’s work in “Swedish American Genealogist.”
JACOB and REBECCA STILLE
Jacob Stille was born about 1675-80, probably to Anders and Anna Stille, south of Philadelphia. (1)
Married Rebecca Springer before 1710. Rebecca was the daughter of Charles Christophersson Springer and his wife, Maria Hendricksdotter. (2)
Children: (3)
Jonathan, born before 1713.
Andrew, born before 1713.
Mary, born June 22, 1715. Married Charles Hedge.
Peter, born March 8, 1717.
Susannah, born Jan. 19, 1719. Married Justa Justis.
Elizabeth, born April 3, 1721. Married a man named Pollard.
Margaretta, born Dec. 18, 1722. Married Peter Derrickson.
Rebecca, born Feb. 4, 1725. Married John Vanneman.
John, born April 22, 1727.
Lydia, born Jan. 16, 1732. Married John Bird.
The family lived in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, Del. (4)
Jacob was a farmer and served as a warden of Holy Trinity Church in Wilmington, according to “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772,” by Peter S. Craig. The book relates the following concerning Jacob: “Israel Acrelius, pastor of Holy Trinity Church 1749-56 states categorically in his 1758 treatise on New Sweden that Olof Stille ‘was the ancestor of the Swedish Stilles in America.’ Acrelius, 46, n. 10. Acrelius was Jacob Stille’s pastor throughout his stay in America. In his 1754 enumeration of the Holy Trinity congregation, Acrelius lists Jacob Stile, farmer, as speaking and understanding Swedish well, although unable to read (Amandus Johnson Papers, Baich Institute, Philadelphia.) A similar enumeration in 1764 by Pastor Anders Borell again shows that Jacob Stille had a complete understanding of the spoken Swedish language, with the comment ‘This man is unable to read, but has a good knowledge of his Christian doctrine.’ MHT, #116. It may be surmised that Jacob Stille never had an education.” (5)
Jacob’s name appears numerous times in the records of Holy Trinity Church, which was also known as Old Swedes Church. On May 20, 1719, the Swedish congregations in the area sent a number of animal pelts to be presented to patrons in England. Jacob Stille contributed “2 Foxes, 1 Opossum.” On Ascension day 1736, Jacob was chosen to serve as a one-year term as church warden. A contribution of 5 shillings is noted on Jan. 21, 1738 and a payment of 3 pounds toward the building of a “priest house” is noted on April 16, 1751. (6)
While Jacob was a church warden in 1736, the congregation found that land it owned had become quite valuable because it was near the center of the new town of Wilmington. As a result, the congregation appointed men to handle leasing and other transactions related to the land, according to “A History of the Original Settlements on the Delaware & A History of Wilmington,’ by Benjamin Ferris. The congregation “appointed Charles Springer their trustee, who with Jacob Stilly and Garret Garretson, their church wardens, and their successors, were authorized to lease and demise for term of years or for ever, in small lots any part or parts of the said church lands.”(7) A few years later, these lands were the focus of a petition signed by a number of church members, including Jacob Stelly. The petition opposed the erection of a new market building, which would have been far from the church’s land – and its paying tenants. (8) .
Jacob died sometime before Feb. 6, 1774, when his will was proved.
(1) All information from “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772,” by Peter Stebbins Craig, unless noted. (2) “The Stille Family,” page 168, with “Delaware History” magazine, 5:287, n. 37. (3) “The Stille Family,” page 168. The births of Maria and Elizabeth appear in “The Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, Del.,” by the Historical Society of Delaware, pages 223 and 265, respectively. Some of the children are listed in Jacob’s will, abstracted in “A Calendar of Delaware Wills, New Castle County, 1682-1800,” by the Historical Research Committee of the Colonial Dames of Delaware, page 74. The will mentions the following: “Son, Andrew Stilly; two sons-in-law, Charles Hedge and John Bird; dau.-in-law, Mary Stilley; children, Andrew, John, Elizabeth Stilley, alias Pollard; Margaret Stilley, alias Merridith, and Catharine Stilley.” Craig identifies “Catharine Stilley” as the wife of Andrew. (4) Will. (5) “The Stille Family,” pages 167-8. MHT stands for “Membership of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church in Wilmington, Delaware, 1764,” by Richard H. Hulan and Peter S. Craig. (6) “The Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, Del.,” pages 249, 355, 385 and 431, respectively. (7) “A History of the Original Settlements on the Delaware & A History of Wilmington,’ by Benjamin Ferris, page 201. (8) “A History of the Original Settlements,” page 213.
JONATHAN and MAGDALENA STILLE
Jonathan Stille was born before 1713 to Jacob Stille of Christiana Hundred, Del. (1)
Married Magdalena Vanderveer. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary Vanderveer. (2)
Children: (3)
Rebecca, born Jan. 23, 1736. Buried Oct. 5, 1736.
Anna Maria, born Aug. 14, 1737. Married Hans Nebecker.
Magdalena, born about 1738.
Jacob, born Sept. 3, 1739.
John, born about 1742.
Elizabeth, born July 18, 1744. Married Owen Zebley.
Hannah, born about 1746. Married Joseph Gorby.
Dina, born Feb. 27, 1751. Married William Talley Jr.
Sarah, born Feb. 8, 1754. Married Samuel Jordan.
Samuel, born March 21, 1756.
Ephron, born Nov. 14, 1761. Died Nov. 6, 1763.
Another child was born in 1758 but not listed in the church census of 1764.
Jonathan was a farmer in Brandywine Hundred and died of consumption April 21, 1765.
(1) All information from “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772,” by Peter Stebbins Craig, page 168, unless noted. (2) Magdalena’s maiden name is listed in “The Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church,” by the Historical Society of Delaware, page 555. Her parents are listed in “The Stille Family in America.” (3) “The Stille Family in America,” except Dina and Ephron, whose births are listed in the Holy Trinity records on pages 555 and 598, respectively.
JACOB and ANN STILLEY
Jacob Stilley lived near Pittsburgh at the time of the American Revolution.
Jacob was probably the son of Jonathan Stille and Magdalena Vanderveer, who lived near Philadelphia in the mid-1700s. “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772” links this couple with Jacob and says that he was born Sept. 3, 1739. (1)
Married Agnes French on Feb. 5, 1760, at Holy Trinity Church in Wilmington, Del. The congregation was made of Swedish descendants of the original New Sweden settlement near what is now Philadelphia. Agnes is sometimes listed as Ann in western Pennsylvania records. (2)
Children: (3)
Rachel, born Oct. 29, 1760. Married Robert Kennedy.
Uriel, born Dec. 25, 1761. Probably died young.
Jonathan, born May 29, 1763. Probably died young.
Tobias, born about 1769, listed as the eldest son in later records.
John.
Peter, born Dec. 26, 1777.
Hannah. Married John Purcell/Percival (probably Piersol).
Elizabeth. Married William Powell.
Rebecca. Married Christopher McGill.
Probably Sarah, who is said to have died of disease after being kidnapped by native Americans.
The Stilley family probably left the Wilmington area about 1764 since no births are listed in the church records after Jonathan’s in 1763. They eventually moved to western Pennsylvania and appear to have settled near Peters Creek, south of Pittsburgh. A family history recorded along with information from a Stilley family Bible offers the following information: “Jacob Stilley, father of Peter, emigrated from Eastern to Western Pennsylvania with his family about the year 1775. He was of German or Prussian extraction. Jacob Stilley on coming to Western Pennsylvania settled on a tract adjoining the present Jefferson Methodist Church and Cemetery (which was originally a Stilley private cemetery on the tract upon which Jacob Stilley settled upon coming to Western Pennsylvania) located in Jefferson Township, Allegheny Co., Pa.” (4)
Jacob died before Oct. 25, 1779, when his estate was brought before the court of Yohogania County, Va. The records appear in a Virginia court because much of western Pennsylvania was claimed by Virginia at that time and many pioneers preferred to settle under the more generous terms of offered by Virginia. (5)
Regarding Jacob’s death, a listing in a Stilley family Bible indicates that Jacob as accidentally shot by a companion while serving at “Fort McIntosh March 17th about 1778.” (6) However, the fort was not built by Brig. Gen. Lachlan McIntosh until the autumn of 1778, so a death date of March 17, 1779 seems much more likely. The fort, which was located in what is now Beaver, Pa., was a key part of the frontier defenses against attacks by native Americans during the Revolutionary War. (7) The account of Jacob’s death by accidental shooting appears in many secondary sources but I have not found original records that mention the matter.
Family tradition recorded along with the information from the Bible maintains that three of the Stilley children were kidnapped and held by Indians for several years. A Stilley family history states that Rachel, John and Sarah were abducted. Rachel and John were held for about four years near Detroit before they were released. Sarah is said to have died of dysentery at the age of 5 or 6. No date for this abduction is mentioned. John was supposed to have been 8 when taken captive and he supposedly served in Gen. Anthony Wayne’s army in 1794. (8) Wayne’s victory over the Indians brought an end to their wars in Pennsylvania.
Jacob owned 292 acres, according to later court records. (9)
In the 1790 Census, the household of “Stilly (Widow)” is listed as having one male 16 or older, two males under 16 and one female. The following year, Widow Stilley is listed in Mifflin Township, Allegheny County. (10)
(1) “The Stille Family in America 1641-1772,” by Peter S. Craig, the chief genealogist for the Swedish Colonial Society. (2) “The Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, Del.,” by the Historical Society of Delaware, page 712. Jacob is listed as “Jacob Stilley ,Jr.,” probably because he was the grandson of the elder Jacob, who was still alive at that point and very prominent in the church. (3) “Orphans Court Docket I, Allegheny County, Pa. 1789-1820” in “Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Archives,” Vol. 1, abstracted by KTH McFarland, page 29, which cites case No. 275 from March 23, 1801. The births of Rachel, Uriel and Jonathan are listed in “Early Church Records of New Castle County, Delaware, Vol. 2,” Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, pages 136, 139 and 145, respectively. Jonathan is almost certainly a different person than the John listed in estate records from western Pennsylvania. Jacob was born about 1769, according to the 1850 Census of Jefferson Township, Allegheny County, Pa. He is listed as the oldest son in the estate records. There was just less than nine months between Jacob and Nancy’s wedding and Rachel’s birth; 14 months between Rachel’s birth and Uriel’s; and 17 months between Uriel’s birth and Jonathan’s. There is some confusion about the last name of Hannah’s husband, which is listed as Purcell in the 1801 record but appears to be Piersol in a follow-up record from June 10, 1815, which appears on the same page as the 1801 record in “Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Archives.” Peters birth is recorded in a Stilley family Bible transcribed in “Monongahela Valley Family History & Bible Records, Vol. II,” by the Daughters of the American Revolution Monongahela Valley Chapter, pages 144-153. (4) “Monongahela Valley Family History & Bible Records, Vol. II.” (5) “Records of the District of West Augusta, Ohio County and Yohogania County, Va.,” by Richard Loveless, pages 391 and 428. (6) “Monongahela Valley Family History & Bible Records, Vol. II.” page 148. It appears almost certain the Bible record dates from many years after Jacob’s death. The DAR book contains a transcription of a Bible that contained information that was believed to have been recorded by Jacob’s grandson, John B. Stilley, in the mid-1800s. Following the Bible transcript is a family history which appears to be the “official” word on the matter since it is repeated verbatim in “Early History of The Peters Creek Valley and the Early Settlers,” compiled by Noah Thompson, page 41. Concerning the year of Jacob’s death, the Stille history mentioned above also cites March 17, 1778 as the death date. Since the Bible used the term “about 1778,” there appears to have been was some confusion among Jacob’s descendants concerning the year, but not the date. (7) “Fort McIntosh: It’s Times and Men,” by Daniel Agnew, page 5. (8) “Monongahela Valley Family History & Bible Records, Vol. II.” This source appears to contain two separate accounts of this tradition. One is slightly at odds with the other and seems to refer to John as James twice and says the abduction last a “year or two.” This account also says that Robert Kennedy was killed in the raid but this seems unlikely since he is listed in the orphans court records as giving a receipt in 1801. However, this could be a son of that Robert. (9) “Orphans Court Docket I, Allegheny County, Pa. 1789-1820,” page 28, which cites case No. 268 from September 1801. (10) Tax list in “Pennsylvania Archives,” Series 3, Vol. XXII, page 649.
TOBIAS and RUTH STILLY
Tobias Stilly was born about 1769 to Jacob Stilley and Ann Agnes French. (1)
Tobias is said to have married Ruth Piersol. (2)
Children: (3)
Rachel, born about 1796. Probably married Jacob Piersol.
Nancy.
Elizabeth. Married Samuel Hoffman.
John.
Jacob.
Jeremiah. Possibly born 1798.
Rebecca. Married William Walker.
The 1790 Census of Allegheny County records that the Stilleys had two sons and two daughters. Tax records from 1794, show the family in Mifflin Township. (4)
In 1808, Tobias was appointed the guardian of James Gill (perhaps the son of his sister, Rebecca, who was married Christopher McGill). (5)
Tobias is listed among those who lived in the area of Jefferson Township, Allegheny County, before 1830. (6)
Later in life, Tobias was active in the Jefferson Methodist Church in Jefferson Township, according to “Early History of the Peters Creek Valley and the Early Settlers.” The church was formed in 1843 and the “original Board members were: David Canon, Tobias Stilley, Elijah Beam, Jeremiah Snee, and Washington Wright. These men were to keep this job for life, and if death took one, the remaining were to select his successor.” (7)
In the 1850 Census, Tobias is listed as living in Jefferson Township and owning property valued at $3,000. Also in the household is Nancy Robinson, age 50. It’s possible that Nancy was his daughter.
Some sort of disagreement appears to have erupted between Tobias and his son-in-law William Walker. Tobias’ will states, “I will the Remainder of my Estate to be Equally divided twixt My sons John Stilly , Jacob Stilley & Jerremiah Stilley and my daughter Rebecca Married to Wm. Walker. the above legacy to my daughter Rebecca to be in full of all demands that Either Herself or her Husband Wm. Walker has or may have against my Estate. I Will that Should my daughter Rebecca or her Husband Wm. Walker Not be Satisfied with the legacy and Institute Suit or Suits and prosecute the said Suit or Suits to Judgment that then they are not to Receive the above Legacy but to abide by the decision of the law and to Receive no part of my Estate. I will that as Wm. Walker my daughter Rebecca’s Husband has Instituted a Suit against me for the Recovery of a Demand of Some kind Should Wm. Walker obtain Judgement against me that Judgment to be all that he is to Receive form my Estate.” Jacob wrote the will June 14, 1850.
Tobias appears to have been owed a lot of money when he died. Estate records say he had: “1 Judgment Bond with out interest for four years from the 19th of February 1857 the amount of said bond is … 2015.70.” It is uncertain whether this was related to the Walker case or another issue. (8)
Tobias died sometime before June 2, 1857, probably on Feb. 19. (9)
(1) Approximate birth year is from the 1850 Census of Jefferson Township, Allegheny County, Pa. Parents listed in “Orphans Court Docket I, Allegheny County, Pa. 1789-1820” in “Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Archives,” Vol. 1, abstracted by KTH McFarland, page 29, which cites case No. 275 from June 10, 1815. (2) “Monongahela Valley Family History & Bible Records, Vol. II,” by the Daughters of the American Revolution Monongahela Valley Chapter, pages 148. Also, “The History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family in England and America Vol. III,” edited by Clarence E. Pearsall, page 1455. The only Piersols in the Pittsburgh area with children Ruth’s age were Benjamin, who fought in the Revolution and ended up in Monroe County, Ohio, and Jacob, who died in 1783 but left several children. (3) Children are listed in Tobias’ will in Allegheny County Will Book 8, page 497, No. 319. Tobias’ will also mentions the husbands of Elizabeth and Rebecca. NOTE: I have not yet found primary documents that prove Rachel Stilley married Jacob Peirsol, but it seems likely since one of her grandchildren – Sampson Stilly Nye – bore the middle name “Stilly” and the name has no other link to the family. Also, “The History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family in England and America Vol. III,” mentions Rachel was Tobias’ daughter, but that source is unreliable. (4) “A General List of the Taxables in Allegheny County, Sept. 22, 1794,” compiled by Elizabeth J. Wall, page 8. (5) “Orphans Court Docket I, Allegheny County, Pa. 1789-1820” in “Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Archives,” Vol. 1, abstracted by KTH McFarland, page 28, which cites case No. 513 from January 1808. (6) “History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,” by A Warner & Co., page 78. (7) “Early History of The Peters Creek Valley and the Early Settlers,” by Noah Thompson, page 87. (8) Allegheny County Estate Inventory No. 157 of 1857. (9) The February date comes from “Monongahela Valley Family History & Bible Records, Vol. II,” by the Daughters of the American Revolution Monongahela Valley Chapter, pages 148. Witnesses brought his will to probate officials on June 2, 1857. The estate inventory seems to support the idea that he died on Feb. 19.
