Robert Sterrett
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Robert Sterrett 33. Robert Sterrett (of William3, Robert2, Benjamin1).
Married Margaret McComb, who evidently pre-deceased him, as his will which is on file in Erie County probates, Book A,
registered December 8, 1824, he of Millcreek Township, says he is to be buried beside his wife, Margaret.
They removed from Cumberland County to Erie County in 1804, and settled on the farm now owned by T. S. D. Sterrett, at Sterrettania, which then contained four hundred acres of land. Erie County histories make the statement that Robert bought this land, later selling it to his brother James, but the original deed of this land has recently been found, by which it seems that James Sterrett contracted for this 400 acres of land through Thomas Rees, Esq., June 1, 1797, and received the deed for the same from the Population Land Company under date of August 15, 1808. It seems likely that Robert came to Erie County in 1804 to hold the land for his brother James, and to make the necessary improvements called for in the contract of sale. In 1807 Robert left this farm and settled on the reserve, four miles west of Erie, on the Ridge Road.
Robert and his wife, Margaret, had a gift of forseeing things, according to family tradition. When their son was attending college in Cumberland County, one night Mrs. Sterrett awoke, called her husband, and told him that their son was hurt. They got up, prepared bandages, etc., and started on horseback for Cumberland County. On coming to a certain farmhouse, she told Robert that their son had come thus far, and was in that house. They went in, and found all as she had seen it, in her dream.
Robert predicted the exact time of his death, and sent all of his friends word to that effect, inviting them to come and take dinner with him. When seated around the table, he asked the blessing but said that he would not eat until he reached the world beyond--then fell back and died just as he had predicted, some weeks before.
Robert Sterrett gave service in the Revolutionary War as private in Captain Joseph Sherer's company, 4th Battalion, Lancaster County Militia, under Col. James Burd, March 25, 1776.
Children:
+51. i. William, m. Elizabeth Morrow.
+52. ii. Malcolm McComb, d. Oct. 16, 1860; m. Susanna Lowther.
iii. Robert, b. 1786; d. Aug. 1, 1852; m. Ann Humphrey, who
d. May 20, 1849, ae. 51 years. No issue. Buried Erie
City cemetery.
iv. James, b. 1795; d. Jan. 11, 1869, ae. 74 years. Unm.
Buried West Springfield, Erie County.
v. Margaret, m. (???) Henry, settled in Illinois; family not
complete, but had at least Eliza Henry, Benjamin Franklin
Henry, M.D., and a daughter, who married (???)
Burson.
vi. Jean, or Jane, m. (???) Large of Virginia.
vii. Mary, d. unm.
viii. Elizabeth, d. unm.
Married Margaret McComb, who evidently pre-deceased him, as his will which is on file in Erie County probates, Book A,
registered December 8, 1824, he of Millcreek Township, says he is to be buried beside his wife, Margaret.
They removed from Cumberland County to Erie County in 1804, and settled on the farm now owned by T. S. D. Sterrett, at Sterrettania, which then contained four hundred acres of land. Erie County histories make the statement that Robert bought this land, later selling it to his brother James, but the original deed of this land has recently been found, by which it seems that James Sterrett contracted for this 400 acres of land through Thomas Rees, Esq., June 1, 1797, and received the deed for the same from the Population Land Company under date of August 15, 1808. It seems likely that Robert came to Erie County in 1804 to hold the land for his brother James, and to make the necessary improvements called for in the contract of sale. In 1807 Robert left this farm and settled on the reserve, four miles west of Erie, on the Ridge Road.
Robert and his wife, Margaret, had a gift of forseeing things, according to family tradition. When their son was attending college in Cumberland County, one night Mrs. Sterrett awoke, called her husband, and told him that their son was hurt. They got up, prepared bandages, etc., and started on horseback for Cumberland County. On coming to a certain farmhouse, she told Robert that their son had come thus far, and was in that house. They went in, and found all as she had seen it, in her dream.
Robert predicted the exact time of his death, and sent all of his friends word to that effect, inviting them to come and take dinner with him. When seated around the table, he asked the blessing but said that he would not eat until he reached the world beyond--then fell back and died just as he had predicted, some weeks before.
Robert Sterrett gave service in the Revolutionary War as private in Captain Joseph Sherer's company, 4th Battalion, Lancaster County Militia, under Col. James Burd, March 25, 1776.
Children:
+51. i. William, m. Elizabeth Morrow.
+52. ii. Malcolm McComb, d. Oct. 16, 1860; m. Susanna Lowther.
iii. Robert, b. 1786; d. Aug. 1, 1852; m. Ann Humphrey, who
d. May 20, 1849, ae. 51 years. No issue. Buried Erie
City cemetery.
iv. James, b. 1795; d. Jan. 11, 1869, ae. 74 years. Unm.
Buried West Springfield, Erie County.
v. Margaret, m. (???) Henry, settled in Illinois; family not
complete, but had at least Eliza Henry, Benjamin Franklin
Henry, M.D., and a daughter, who married (???)
Burson.
vi. Jean, or Jane, m. (???) Large of Virginia.
vii. Mary, d. unm.
viii. Elizabeth, d. unm.