The surname Stearns appears to be occupational in origin. Research indicates that it can be associated with the English, meaning "the severe, austere man". You may find other meanings for the Stearns family name. Many surnames appear to have more than one origin. With more extensive research on the Stearns name you may have difficulty finding it with the exact spelling which you use today. Language changes, carelessness and a high degree of illiteracy (sometimes the man himself did not know how to spell his own name) compounded the number of ways a name might have been spelled. The town clerk could have spelled the name the way it sounded to him. The different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence. I have found spelling variations of the Stearns surname to be Stearn, Starn, Starne Stearnes,Starnes. It appears that the German name of Stern and Sterner were also variations of the Stearns name. I feel certain that there are other variations also.

JOHN A. STEARNS, dob: 1795, born in North Carolina and eventually settled in Kentucky

Married:  Elizabeth, dob 1798, born in North Carolina

Their Children:

 John W, dob 1821
David H, dob 1823
Caleb,dob 1832****

Note: Isaac Caleb Stearns and Elizabeth Dicken was married on 10 October 1850 at Travisville, Tennessee. The following information was extracted from a pension application, case of Elizabeth Stearns and reads as follows: Case No 835610

On this 14^th day of July, 1906, at Snow, County of Clinton, State of Kentucky, before me personally appeared Elizabeth Stearns saying:

I am 71 years of age; my address is Snow, Kentucky. I have no occupation.

I am an applicant for pension as the widow of Isaac C. Stearns, who was a soldier during the Civil War as a private and corporal in Co E, 13^th Kentucky Vol. Cav. He also served in Co. C, 32^nd. Reg. And served nine months. He enlisted in the 13^th Ky. Cav. About September, 1863, and was discharged January, 10, 1865. My husband rendered no service other than as above in the U. S. Army and never served in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marines. My husband died at his house, September 7, 1905, the cause of death being due to paralysis. He was stricken with paralysis about 2 years ago and was worse after his stroke. My husband was on pension at the time of his death under the Act of June 27, 1890, at the rate of $12.00 per month on account of disease of rectum.

Isaac was born and reared within six miles of this place and I have resided here and in Cumberland County, Ky., about all my life. My parents were John and Nancy Dicken.

The soldier and I were married at Travisville, Tennessee. I was living with my parents on Indian Creek, about six miles from here , at the time of my marriage. I was then going on 16 years of age. My birthday was March 15, and I was married October 10, 1850. My parents objected to my marriage with soldier so Isaac and I ran away and went to Tennessee to get married. Isaac's brother, Fil, Neal Connor and Isreal Piercy went with us and witnessed our marriage. These witnesses have been dead for years. We went to the house of the man who performed the ceremony for us and were married in his house. I do not remember the name of the man but I think it was something like connor. This man's family came in and witnessed the ceremony. He had a wife and some daughters.

We left home in the afternoon and went. The ceremony was performed right away. In fact we did not sit down. We immediately started on our return trip. We returned to the home of Neal Connor, who had married the sister of my husband. We got back about noon, I guess, and we had our wedding supper there. My husband and I remained there about 1 week. The marriage records verifying the date of my marriage have been burned in Fentress Co., Tennessee, and I am therefore unable to furnish records as evidence of my marriage.

After remaining at the home of Mr. Connor a week, my husband and I went to the home of my husbands father, John Stearns, where we remained a couple of weeks. My father then got in a good humor with me and came and took my husband and me home with him where we remained that year and made a crop. My husband and I lived together from our marriage to his death. We were never separated or divorced. He and I reared these ten children, the youngest of which is 29 years of age.

I have no brothers living. I have two sisters: Mrs. Sallie Ann Appleby, Whetstone, KY.; Mrs. Irene Burchett, Cumberland City, Ky. Irene is about 7 years younger than I and Sallie is 2 years younger than I.

My husband has no living brothers or sisters. He was the youngest of his family.

When my husband died, he left me this house and four acres of land. One of my sons, Granville Stearns, bought the place and gave us the place during our lifetime. I have no means of support except that furnished by my children.

I do not desire to be present at the hearing but my attorney will represent me in this matter.

Signature

Note: The following information is copied from a Declaration for Pension. State of Kentucky, County of Clinton.

On this 7^th day of November, 1898, personally appeared before me, Clerk of the County Court, Isaac C. Stearns, aged 66 years, a resident of Ida, Clinton County, Kentucky, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical ISAAC C. STEARNS who enrolled on the (no day listed) of __________, 1863, in Company E of the 13^th regiment of Kentucky Cavalry commanded by Capt. Lowe, and was honorably discharged at Camp Nelson, Kentucky on the 10^th day of January, 1865; that his personal description is as follows:

Age 32 years; height 5 ft. 11 in.; complexion, fair; hair, light; eyes, blue. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, he served at or near Camp Nelson in the State of Kentucky, in the Fall of 1864, he contracted piles and rheumatism and newrhalgia in his face that resulted in eye disease and loss of eyesight. That he also served in Company C, 32^nd regiment, Kentucky Volunteers and was honorably discharged. That since leaving the service he has resided in the counties of Clinton and Cumberland in the State of Kentucky, and his occupation has been that of a farmer.

That he hereby appoints L. G. Campbell of Albany, State of Kentucky, his true and lawful attorney to presecute his claim. That his Post Office address is Ida, Clinton County, Kentucky.

Signature

U.S. PENSION OFFICE 11 November 1898