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Subject: [MDCECIL] Cecil Co. & Axel Steel/Stille/Still-mentioned with ref. to Sheffield Plantation
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 11:34:44 EST


Ellen and others,

Does anyone know where one might find information on Axel Steel/Stille
(as per Ellen's note), his residence, history in MD? I know he was the
brother of Olaf Stille and that they arrived with the early Swedes in Fort
Christina. I read a short reference by another researcher a couple of years ago that
referred to him as Axel Still, but when I wrote to him about his sources, he
chose not to respond to me. (sniff. sniff.)

Why do I want to investigate Axel?

I have been searching for my Still/Stille ancestors for a LONG time.
My grandmother and great-grandfather always stated they were descendants of
the original Swedes. Of course, my g-grandfather was not born until 1873, so he
wouldn't remember!

One of the most reknown researchers of Swedes in DE says that he does
not think my Still/Stille family were members of the Swedish community because
by the middle 1880s most of my family had dropped the final 'e' from their
name. (He said that Swedish Stilles changed their family name spelling to
"Stilly" or "Stilley" because the Swedes pronounced the 'e' at the end of Stille --
as opposed to the English pronunciation of names that ended with a silent
'e.'

He also said that he had traced Olaf Stille's family and didn't
believe Olaf had descendants that moved to the border of Kent and Sussex Co. in DE.
He also was certain that Axel Stille had no children and that anyone in MD
who spelled his name "Still" in records was making a mistake that Axel would not
have made (back to the pronunciation issue, again).

Still (no pun intended!), until I can get more information, it seems
foolish of me to simply disregard my family traditions out of hand until I can
find evidence that places us with another Still family and heritage, or until
I can find evidence that puts us together with the Swedes.

Perhaps information on Axel Still/Stille/Steel can add pieces to my
puzzle -- or show me that I am working on the wrong puzzle!

Can anyone help with some references to Axel Stille/Still/Steel? For
example, Ellen, where did you find the reference to Axel Steel [Stille] and
John Wheeler nar Mount Harmon?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer!
Karen Carter
Minneapolis, MN

In a message dated 2/20/2004 8:14:13 AM Central Standard Time,
writes:

> There are documents in the early 1700s for Sheffield Plantation on
> the north side of Back Creek by the Sassafras River (not to be confused with
> the Back Creek that is now part of the C& D canal) "by the lands of Axel
> Steel [Stille] and John Wheeler", which would indeed place these properties
> close to Mount Harmon.
>


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