In regards to Rev. James Stillinger and the Stillinger History I have made a little headway on the research.
Last night I finally got through reading the records and letters
I had received regarding Father James Stillingers life, and find some
interesting information.
James was apprenticed to Robert "Goodloe" Harper from 1816 until he
went into the Seminary. Goodloe had released him from the last 6 months
of his apprentice. Goodloe Harper was the proprietor of the Gettysburg
Sentinel (Centinel) newspaper. James lived in Gettysburg from
1816 on. He said there were only 3 catholics living in Gettysburg
during that time.
In an 1846 letter written by James -
James was trying to sell some " interest tables" - over 800 of
them, and was asking $300.00. James said that in 1837 when he
left Baltimore he left the "interest tables" with his sister, now dead,
"Mrs. Jenkins". (no first name mentioned - and dead by 1846). He
told the person he was writing to that the "tables" could now be
obtained from his niece Louisa Jenkins, and that payment was to be
given to his brother Michael Stillinger in Baltimore.
So - this establishes that James had a brother Michael, which we had
known about, but also had a sister who had married a Jenkins.
In an 1829 letter by James he makes reference that he had neglected to
write to his "Uncle" to inform him of his upcoming ordination. So
here he has an "uncle" - don't know if this meant paternal or maternal.
Other letters state he was 11 months old when the family moved to
Pennsylvania, and from age three he was raised by his
grandparents. He had relatives in Gettysburg and Chambersburg,
none of whom were Catholic but good prospects for conversion.
James mentions in letters that he attended from 1816 - 1820 churches in
Conewago, Taneytown and Emmitsburg all about the same distance to
travel.
In April of 1870, a Father Bradley had visited Stillinger in
Blairsville, and found a Sarah Brownson was with him, and
she was writing a History of Father Gallitzen of Loretto.
Father Stillinger was helping her with that history as well as writing
his own auto-biography. This Sarah Brownson had intended to also write a History of Catholics
in Western Pennsylvania and was apparently researching Father Stillingers
information.
I did some research on this Sarah Brownson, and have found she did
write a history on Gallitzen. Also found that her father Orestus
Brownson was a prolific writer of Catholic History and had published
many books. She must have been following in her fathers
footsteps. Sarah Brownson married in 1875 and died in 1876, not
too long after
Rev. Stillinger who had died in 1873, so she must not have finished her
book on Catholics in Western Pennsylvania. Further search
indicates an Archives in Deleware, New York has the historical papers
of the Brownson families. I have written to this Society to see
if in fact any of Sarah Brownsons research papers do exist there - no
answer as yet.
Other information of Rev. James mentions he was 11 months old when went
to Pennsylvania and was 3 years old when he went to live with
grandparents in
Chambersburg. He said his grandfather was 'Michael Stillinger who died
in 1812 and his mother was of French extract and a daughter of Michael
Labeau. What happened in about 1804, if one or both of his
parents died, or why he went to his grandparents is still unknown.
A Jacob Stillinger and Christina Labough were married in 1797 at First
Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore - so probably were his
parents. There was a Michael Lebo on 1800 census in Baltimore.
I find in Caldwells History of Indiana County, PA - Michael E.
Brown, son of john W. Brown was married to an Isadore Jelly, a niece of
Rev. James A. Stillinger.
A check of 1880 census has a Michael E. Brown and wife Isadore both age
28 living in Blairsville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Also living
with them is a Julia Virginia Jelly, a sister in law.
A check of 1870 census, Blairsville, has a Mary Jelly age 51 with a daughter Isadore age 18. Also listed are Fernando Jelly, 15 and William Jelly age 12.
I also have an unknown William Stillinger from Pennsylvania in my
files. This Wm. Stillinger was born 1830 -1832 in Pennsylvania
and was in the Civil War, mustered in Cambria, Pennsylvania. He
was later found in Wayne / Stark County Ohio with wife Margaret Peggy
Brown who was born in Pennsylvania. He died about 1898 per Civil
War Widows Pension. The wife Margaret Brown is on 1900 and 1910
census. I don't know how he fits in as yet, but is in the area,
and married a Brown??
So what has been learned from all this - James had sisters - "Mrs. jenkins", and a Mary Jelly ( Yealy ).
James had an uncle, per the 1829 letter. Per other Catholic histories - Barbara Stillinger 1783-1856, is sister
of James Stillinger. This Barbara Married Henry gross, and their son
Harmon gross was taught by his Uncle James Stillinger in Gettysburg.
It is believed that Jacob Stillinger was married more than once. and
James had 1/2 brothers and sisters. If daughter Barbara was born
1783, that is before Jacob Stillinger married Christina Labeau in 1797.
It is also possible that James mother had died about 1804, causing the
boys James and Michael to go live with the grandparents and then Jacob
remarried ( this is of course speculation).
1810 Census of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, has Michael with two young
males, that fit ages of Michael born in 1799 and James born in 1801.
A check of Jenkins surname shows many of them in Baltimore and
Gettysburg. A check of Jelly surname shows many of them in
Cambria, Westmoreland, Adams and Indiana Counties in Pennsylvania.
One thing that is cast in stone - the Stillingers had almost all
daughters and very few sons, about 5 to 1. This is true from
1600's clear through to 2004. in Germany or here in US. The name dies
out in most lines due to so few males.
Documented through land, probate, church records, and letters -
James Stillinger's Grt-GF -
Casper Stillinger, b. Cologne Prussia, est about 1700,
in Philadelphia before 1733, bought lots in York 1750. died York about
1774/75. Casper was a stone mason - built stone house on lot 295
in York, and stone house and lot sold to Catholic church in York
1775. Casper's stone house was used as the Catholic church until
1810, when a new church was built. Casper had sons Richard,
Michael, and daughter Barbara who married Joseph Wirt (Wert). It
is believed Casper had other daughters.
James Stillinger's GF -
Michael Stillinger - married in York, wife Maria, Unknown. Son
Jacob Stillinger born in York. The other children of Michael the
GF are unknown. A few other Stillinger in Franklin County,
Pennsylvania. may be his children. Michael moved to Chambersburg
in 1780's.
James Stillinger's Father -
Jacob Stillinger - no dates as yet - estimated born about 1755.
Jacob was in the Chambersburg tax lists 1786- 1800. He
purchased lots in Chambersburg 1787 and 1792.
Known children -
James b. 1801 baltimore
Michael b. 1799 Baltimore
Barbara - b. 1783 md. henry Gross
sister ?? Mrs. jenkins
sister ?? Mary Jelly
Other unknown children??
There was a Joseph Stillinger, son of Richard and grandson of
Casper, who also lived in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in Chambersburg, then
later in St. Thomas. This Joseph had sons and daughters, but little
else is known of his descendants.
Kenneth Stillinger