Bill & Gayle, there is a real disconnect here. The predominant theory is that if there really was a Shubael Stearns, father of Charles and Nathaniel, then he died in the Boston/Watertown/Cambridge area shortly after his arrival (ca. 1631. There are 3 different schools of thought relative to his lineage - those like me who think the legend is too strong to be untrue, but only know that he must have been related to Isaac Stearns, and can't definitively place him in the offspring of William and Emma. Then there are those who believe he was Isaac's brother and place him as a son of William and Emma. Then there is the Threlfall school, who apparently accept a recent work by John B. Threlfall, and that would indicate an entirely different lineage for Charles and Isaac, I believe. I don't have the work or its title, but perhaps we could coax Barb Petty, who apparently has the book, to chime in on this one. We had anticipated a debate when she brought out this info earlier this year, but the list members just didn't get involved. I think that the Threlfall theory ignores the existence of Shubael or Daniel, alleged brothers of Isaac, and Nathaniel, likely Charles places Charles as the son of Charles STERNE and Martha HASALL/LASALL and that this Charles was the older brother of Isaac, and a son of Thomas STERNE and Dorothy PLAMPIN. Whatever the case, I think you need to modify your estimate for the death of Shubael (to ca. 1631) if you accept him as Charles' father. Jim ____________________________ Reply Separator ________________________________ Subject: Shubael Stearns Author: STEARNS-L@rootsweb.com at Internet Date: 7/30/97 10:06 PM Howdy folks, New to the list.... we're looking for information about the family of SHUBAEL STEARNS (b. 1598 Yarmouth, Eng., d. c1653). We know he was the son of WILLIAM & EMMA (RAMSFORD) STEARNS, but don't know much else about him. His son, CHARLES, married REBECCA GIBSON. But what did these folks do.... occupation, hobbies, community involvement, etc.? The closest, good genealogical library is about 2 hours away... so we've turned to the Net. Any help would be appreciated..... Bill & Gayle