Among the early settlers of old Stratfield (now Bridgeport, Connecticut), came Nathaniel Sherwood and his wife Mary Sherman. In 1743 their daughter, Eunice Sherman Sherwood, was born, of the same stock as the heroes of the Civil War 100 years later – General William Tecumseh Sherman and his brother, Senator John Sherman.

Eunice had a lonely childhood; her home, a tiny schoolhouse, and a cluster of Indian wigwams alone occupied a two-mile stretch of road, where now rise palatial homes. At the age of seventeen she danced at her sister Esther’s wedding with the brother of the groom, Abijah Sterling, a tall commanding man, six foot three, and later called "one of nature’s noblemen." When they married a few years later, they built a house on his grandfather’s homestead, which is still standing on North Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut.

On the nineteenth of April 1775, the Lexington Alarm called men to arms. Abijah Sterling marched as a Sergeant with the Connecticut Troops to the relief of Boston. In the summer he returned to his home only to enter the army again and become a lieutenant. History mentions him as "fighting gallantly" at the Battle of Ridgefield, April 1777, "amid the rout and slaughter." Later we find him as captain, commanding a company in the Fourth Connecticut Regiment.

On a visit to his home, he heard of two Bridgeport soldiers lying dangerously ill of dysentery at Harlem, near New York, sixty miles away. Driving his horse and chaise there, he hunted up the men, got them on the chaise, and walked at the head of the horse the entire distance back to their homes and friends. This incident was left on record by David Sherman, one of the sick men thus rescued.

And what of Eunice Sterling in these troublous times? At war’s call she was left with a little fair-haired boy of four years at her knee and another in her arms and in the dark days following, still another son was born to her. She heard of the midnight raiding parties from Long Island, plundering the helpless homes a mile away from her; she saw with horror the red flames of the burning town of Fairfield, three miles away. She gathered together her boys and set the oak bar to brace the door, knowing how utterly useless it would be against the axe or fire of the midnight marauders along that lonely road. Yet we never think of Eunice Sterling as cowering behind that barred door. She commended her little family to her Heavenly Father and laid down to sleep. In after years, her six sons grown to manhood, marked for physical courage and the courage of their convictions, brave men and true, with their mother’s spirit impressed upon them, lived to call her blessed.

No portrait of Eunice Sterling, either as maid or matron, has descended to our times. Family tradition tells us that she was tall and fair, generous to a fault, of unswerving truth, and utterly fearless. We read of maids who –

"Can a warrior’s spirit feel,

And belt him with his band of steel,

Buckle his spurs upon his heel,

And send him forth to fame."

We fancy of such was Eunice Sherman Sterling.

Captain Abijah and Eunice Sterling lie in long sleep in the old Stratfield burying ground in Connecticut. The Mary Silliman DAR chapter of Bridgeport sought out their neglected graves and has honored their memories with befitting monuments.

Compiled by Katherine Sterling Lewis, March 26, 1917