Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub
[graphic]

ANCIENT HOUSE ON TROUT FARM, OCKLEY, SURREY.

"*

name Ster, Stere, or Sterre, undoubtedly the ancient form for the more modern Steere, was in vogue as early as the fourteenth century. If this was French in its origin, the word means "a cubic metre." a cubic metre." In the branch of the family that emigrated to this country in the last century from the north of Ireland the tradition prevails, having been embodied in an ancient record covering two hundred and fifty years, unfortunately destroyed by fire, that the Steeres were of Huguenot origin, one Percival Sterre coming from France to England and some members of the family finally settling in Ireland, and later this particular branch coming to Pennsylvania. In a work entitled "Household Expenses of Richard de Swinfield, Bishop of Hereford during part of the years 1289 and 1290,' a kind of daily diary, appears an account of John Steere, a Benedictine monk, who, though not of the diocese of Hereford, petitioned the Bishop for leave to celebrate divine service at a chapel dedicated to St. Tiriac (modernized into Treacle) and situated on a rock at the confluence of the Severn and the Wye, near Chepstow, and received a permit to do so whenever he could go and continue there. The license was dated June 30, 1290. The "History of Hertfordshire," already alluded to,† gives an account of an Inquisition taken at Little Gatedun, 30 May, anno 20 Edward III. (1346), before John de Coggeshale, the King's Eschator, on the oath of Gregory de Northcote, John atte Ponde, Richard de Wygenton, William Morie, Adam atte Stile, John Pouf, William de Hodenhal, John le Ster, John Bonel, Andrew Gunold, testimony was given by each of them respecting Geoffrey that he was the son and heir of Sir Geoffrey de Luce.‡ One John Steere was rector of Felsham in 1467. Families of the Steere name having existed for many centuries in England, the antiquarian naturally expects to find ample materials for his researches in the county histories of that realm. Many of these have been published in sumptuous volumes, illustrated with elegant engravings of old manor houses, churches, ancient ruins and monuments, with picturesque scenery, and furnishing with more or less fidelity some genealogical notes of the principal families there resident. The genealogical departments of these works are, however, very incomplete, most of the information under this head being quite fragmentary and unsatisfactory. In fact, the science of genealogy had hardly reached the stage of accurate and thorough investigation when most of these literary productions were brought before the public. We can only hope, therefore, to find hints which may prove suggestive in making fuller and more fruitful researches in other directions. As far as indicated by these different volumes, which have all been carefully consulted, the county which in the seventeenth * Vol. 2, p. ccxxviii., Camden Society's Pub., early became patronymics of this State, viz., Cogge1853. † Vol. 3.

It is interesting to note that of the ten names here enumerated about three hundred years before the settlement of Rhode Island, four of them very

shall, Wygenton (or Wickenden), Morie (or Mowry), and Ster (or Steere). John Coggeshall, William Wickenden, Roger Moorie, and John Steere were among the early settlers.

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »