Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Lewis Stirling, slaveholder


Lewis Stirling was the slaveholder of my Morgan and Weathers ancestors. My family lived on his Wakefield plantation in St. Francisville, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. The Wakefield was a large cotton and sugar plantation.

Lewis Stirling was born in 1786 to Alexander and Ann Alston Stirling. On July 14, 1807 he married Sarah Turnbull and resided at the Wakefield which was built in 1834. Prior to that they lived in a log cabin which he built in 1807, the same year that my great-great grandfather, George Morgan, was born on that plantation.

Stirling was a lieutenant in the 10th Regiment of the Louisiana Militia during the War of 1812. he received a commisson as quartermaster of that regiment from Gov. William C.C. Claiborne.

The Stirling had six children: Catherine, Anne, James, Lewis, Daniel and Ruffin. Stirling died in 1858 before the Civil War. During the war, the Stirlings and and a number of their slaves moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana and then to Texas where they lived until the war was over. Lewis Stirling, Jr. served as a colonel during the Civil War.

34 comments:

  1. Greetings! I've enjoyed reading your blog. Lewis Stirling was the owner of my Sterling ancestors. I'm from the lineage of Barika and Sarah Sterling who lived on the Wakefield Plantation along with the Morgans and Weathers. Sarah's daughter Nelly (Barika's step daughter)married Leven and Judy Weathers son Erwin. My lineage continues with Barika and Sarah son Adam and his wife Margaret. I was surprised to learn how many of the Sterling slaves did not keep the name Sterling. Adam's wife Margaret, family did not keep the Sterling name. I am currently trying to confirm Margaret's maiden name. Adam and Margaret's son Ruffin's death certificate states that it was Jones. However I believe I have also discovered their daughter Charlotte's death certificate which states it was Clabon (Claiborne). Margaret's mother, "Big" Hannah parents were Jack "Yanko" and Judy White. According to the 1880 census report Hannah's brother who was also named Jack listed both his parents birth place as (drumroll please).....Africa. This was truly an exciting discovery. I look forward to reading your future blogs

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    1. Hello cousin,

      I would like to communicate with you about the Weathers family. I have seen Barika's name on the Stirling Birth Registers and I plan to review these records for more information now that you have provided me with names that are connected to my ancestors.

      Not all of the slaves took the Sterling name but there are family members who did. I would like to introduce you to Michael Willis who has brought many cousins together who are related to the Morgans, Weathers, Taylors and Sterlings. So could you please provide your name and your email address so that you can be hooked up to the group.

      You, too, have provide some exciting info and the family is growing as a result!

      Patricia Pbj524@aol.com

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    2. Wow I hope you have done DNA thorugh Ancestry. I'm interested if Joseph Sterling was connected. I believe is the Brother of Adam

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  2. I am happy that I was able to add some new discoveries to the family tree. I have some information on the Weathers and Morgans that I will be very happy to share. You may already know what I have. I have your email address and I will contact you soon.

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    1. I am from Lewis Stirling Jr (his son)
      This is sooo exciting !!!

      Please can you reach out to me

      Email: courtneybanks@mybrcc.edu
      Call: 225-439-6433

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    2. Hello my name is Danyale Hall. I have tracked down my lineage that leads back to Lewis Sterling and cecile Bryant who had my great grandfather William Lee. Who was married to Malinda sterling. Linda weathers is the mother of cecile Bryant. I would love to get to know more history and if anyone has visited the sterling plantation

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    3. Danyale Hall, I visited the Wakefield Plantation in 2012 and also descend from Lewis Stirling and Cecile Bryant. Malinda Lee (aka) Linda Stirling was my great grandfather Virgil Stirling's sister. In fact Malinda Lee's name is signed on Virgil Stirling's death certificate. I know the history of the Hall name. I would love to share the history that I know and learn more about Malinda's descendants. Contact me kirkyoung07@yahoo.com

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  3. My name is Volta J. Sterling 3rd ,I came across your blog page wanting to know my families lineage. I was able to do a little independent research from online census reports and family relatives. I was overcome with excitement to know that Lewis Stirling Plantation may have been the birthplace of some of my relatives. I will be back home of Fordoche, LA during the Christmas holidays to explore the records at the LSU library. I was able to find up to my third great-grandparents Prince and Antoinette Sterling. According to 1900 Census Prince was born Oct 1845 and Antoinette May 1855. If there is any information that you know of will be much obliged.

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    1. Hello Volta, Are your Prince and Antoinette the same as the Primus and Antoinette who were slaves on the Sterling Plantation in Wakefield? Antoinette birth year was listed as 1846. Their first born son was Duncan Sterling. If you'd also like to exchange information let me know a way to contact you.

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    2. Volta, my second great grandparents were Primus and Antoinette Sterling. My great grandfather was Duncon Sterling.

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    3. I believe Primus aka Prince is the same person. In the census reports their birthdates both coincide with each other. He is married to Antoinette in both reports. Since my first post, I have now moved back to Louisiana with my Sterling family.

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  4. This is wonderful! I am, too, a descendant of Barika! You have connected many dots for us! Thank you so much!

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    1. Hi Kristie, Its good to see another descendant of Barika! I am from Barika son Adam and his wife Margaret. Are you from that line also? Adam and Margaret had 7 or 8 children together one of which included my 3rd generation grandfather Peter Sterling. Perhaps we can share information and see how we are related if you are interested.

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    2. I came from Lewis Stirling

      Plz reach out to me

      Email: courtneybanks@mybrcc.edu

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. I apologize for year long delay in response! I have very little information as I am just starting to delve into my roots. I will check in more regularly.

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  6. Definitely! My email is jsterling2345@gmail.com

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  7. Ellen Lilly was my great grandmother, she had three children: Jeanette Bremmer, Emily Sterling( father Virgil Sterling) and Naomi Stewart- My Grandmother who is now 86years old now.

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    1. Hi Naomi, my G-Grandma was Emma Sterling, and Virgil Sterling was her father. Jeanette Sterling-Emery was Emma's baby sister, and she lived in St Francisville. I'm not familiar with those names you mentioned...This is interesting. Lol

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  8. Hello Family, I'm Alisha the GGG-Granddaughter of Virgil Sterling, who was Lewis Stirling's Son. I wanted to share with you that we are planning a Sterling Family Reunion which will be held in Lousiana in 2018. We have a facebook page that has almost 400 family members, and it's growing daily. The group is called The Sterling Family. Please come visit, and meet your other cousins. :-)

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  9. that's wonderful, I still have family in Baton Rouge La.
    my Name on FB is Felicia Brantley. waiting for approval.

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  10. do any of yall know a larry sterling ?

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    1. Yes email me ss@gglf.com Connected to Joseph Sterling and Gladys Bergeron

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  11. Hello, looking to see if there any connections here to Samuel Sterling (b. Mar 3, 1850), married to "Matty" Carey and raised a family in Minden, Webster Parrish, LA. Roots go back to Georgia, Scotland and Ireland.

    Also, looking for connections to Joseph Sterling (b. 1850, Savannah , GA), spouse Matilda, father John Sterling, Amelia, and siblings: Thomas, Jack, Henry, Mary, Much Hannah, Laura and John.

    Thank you for working on this labor of love blogpost. We appreciate all of your work!

    Chandra Lynch

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  12. Greetings EVERYONE,
    I am related to Lewis Sterling twice as well as his father. The Sterling family goes into Ireland and Scotland.
    Col.sterling is Catherine Rucker, which im a descendant of the Ruckers. I have many records of the sterling's and Ruckers. If anybody wants any info on all the family lineages feel free to Email me at Hatchetgirl85@yahoo.com

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  13. I read aloud of the comments and I am also Addison from Duncan Sterling which is Louis Sterling brought they do not talk a lot about donkeys during which I see but from my family but also which it pass down the line listen to all these names that I see like Louis them fam all these name is the same names of my mother's uncles all the names but my grandfather name is Danny Sterling which is Duncan song which is mr. Lewis Sterling brother he have a lot of Sterling's they have a lot of Miss Colombia in baton rouge Louisiana it's a small place by 7 you have some Mobile Alabama Chicago day everywhere but my mama never go to a family you would because you know this that side of the family they like on the quiet side so if you would like any information about my family which is my mother's name Mary Jane Sterling which is harder daddy daddy Danny Sterling and his father is Duncan Sterling so my name is Frederick giving phone number to to five 475-0445 my phone number thank you have a blessed day I would love to find out more information the boys have those names

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  14. Sorry if I misspelled a word I was sleep in a little bit.

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  15. I would like any info Possible on the Stirling family please and thank you. Putting everybody in my tree. Please and thank you. Feel free to Email me at hatchetgirl85@yahoo.com

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  16. hi my name is tiana i have the stirlings coming up in my ancestry dna matches my father name is myron sterling and im searching for him thank you

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  17. I am looking for information. I am connected to Lewis Stirling by DNA and others. My line comes from a Joseph A Sterling, I cannot track before that other than the dna link to Lewis.

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  18. Hi my name is Courtney and I’m looking for more information about my family. My dad is the son of James Sterling from wyanoke, Louisiana. I’ve been searching for my family on ancestry

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  19. I’m new to doing research and have only little info I know the name Hall is my grandparents if you know any more info on Hall please feel free to email me at terrywms37@gmail.com I’m on 23andme my name is Terry williams me and my uncles are in the picture )and someone gave me info about st francisville ,LA (sterling)I’m from New Orleans .... please reach out with any more info

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    1. Hi! I am also doing research on the line stemming from Lewis Stirling and Cecile Bryant. My 3rd great grandparents were Voltaire and Charlotte Stirling. Please feel free to email me at Nancia.r.sterling@gmail.com.

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  20. My name is Andrea Deshun Sterling jr i was born in Natchitoches Louisiana i was hoping to get more info on the slaves Lewis brought to Natchitoches to see if i can find where i come from

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