Skip to main content

Matralineal Monday: Sarah Bing Still

Sarah Bing Still is my great-great-great grandmother (Sarah Bing - Franklin Still - Pierson G Still - Lloyd P Still - mom - me). Sadly, I do not know much of her. She was born 18 February 1811 in Pennsylvania (I believe East Caln* but still confirming) to Robert and Sarah McWilliams Bing.

On 30 December 1830 she married George David Still, of East Fallowfield. They had six children together. I had found mentioned of George being a trustee at the Methodist Episcopal Church in East Fallowfield in 1841. While it is normally safe to assume at that time that spouses attended the same church, Sarah's obituary notes her as a member of the Washington ME Church in East Fallowfield. 

Sarah passed 13 April 1891 in East Fallowfield of pneumonia. She and George - who preceded her in death - are buried in the Doe Run Cemetery with many other Still family members.

Her obituary was published in the Local on 14 April 1891. It reads:
Mrs. Sarah B. Still, widow of the late Geo. D. Still, died in the 81st year of her age at her residence in East Fallowfield township. She was for many years a consistent member of the Washington M.E. Church, near Caln Station. Her children are: John Still, Caln; Mrs. Margaretta Naylor, West Chester; Robert B. Still, East Fallowfield; Mrs. Jane W. Lewis, West Philadelphia; George W. Still, Doe Run; Frank Still, Mortonville. Death was caused from pneumonia. She was ill but a few days.


I know little of her life before she married George David Still. I have found Robert Bing and his family in East Caln in the 1810 Census. There were seven family members included. In 1810 however the census simply breaks the family down in age and gender groups. The Bing family consisted of one male under 10; three males aged 16 to 25; one male aged 26 to 44 (assumedly Robert); one female aged 10 to 15; and one female aged 16 to 25 (assumedly Robert's wife Sarah). Since Sarah was born in 1811, one can ascertain that she had five older siblings. I have the names for five of her siblings, three of whom were born after her. By 1820 I found Sarah on the census although again the census at that time did not list spouses and children. Robert (spelled Byng on this census) lists three males under the age of 10; one male age 26 to 44 (Robert); three female under 10; and one female aged 26 to 44 (Robert's wife Sarah).

* All townships mentioned are in Chester County, PA.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Coatesville's First Serial Killer

Young Alexander Meyer was a disturbed and angry young man with some major issues. He had failed sixth and seventh grade, and instead of having to repeat eighth grade again, he finally gave up on school. At age 16 he quit Downingtown Junior High. Meyer is not a relative, nor are his victims (that I am aware). I stumbled upon young Alex while reading Tortured Minds: Pennsylvania's Most Bizarre - But Forgotten - Murders by Tammy Mal. On 11 February 1937 Alexander Thweatt Meyer killed young Helen Moyer as she walked home from school in Coatesville along Modena Road. She was not his first. The jury was out only three minutes after hearing Dr. Michael Margolis' testimony on the death of Helen Moyer. The jury determined Meyer had murdered Moyer and should be held for first degree murder. The jury also condemned the parole system which had released Meyer back into the public, after having served just 14 months in Huntingdon Reformatory, for the murder of two other girls - Anna Blasc...

Thaddeus Stevens at the Lancaster Convention Center

Within the Lancaster Convention Center (Lancaster, PA) is a small section dedicated to Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith. The section is known as the Stevens & Smith Historic Site. It is scheduled for development this year. At the moment one can only get a glimpse of it through the Convention Center or by peeking in from the outside. Here at Queen and Vine Streets in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens had his law office. Stevens was an abolitionist. An abolitionist is a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery. Stevens was born 4 April 1792 to Joshua Stevens and Sarah (Sally) Morrill in Danville Vermont. One of four children, he attended Vermont University from 1810 to 1812 when the War prompted its closure. He then went to Dartmouth, where he graduated in 1814. He then studied law and found himself set up in Gettysburg, PA in 1816. He practiced law there until 1828 when he...

52 Ancestors: Remembering the King

Today is Elvis’ birthday. He would have been 80 today.   I was only eight when he died so obviously I am too young to have seen Elvis perform. However, when I hear his music, I go back in time. I am once again that young girl dancing in the living room to Elvis and other greats with my father. Back then girls learned to dance by dancing with their fathers not some video of scantly dressed people doing all sorts of things young ladies should not be doing in public!      What is YOUR favorite memory - either of your father or of Elvis?   52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a weekly genealogical challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small . Look for my weekly posts each Thursday!   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015