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Hi, Pat. Well, based upon what little you've provided, my assistance is going to be similarly limited.
So, you believe your husband's line is Scots-Irish, then. Most of us are and our origins in Scotland are mostly in the lowland Borders regions, with particular emphasis upon Dumfries. Does this mean that's where your line came from? Not necessarily. There are Reas whose line came directly from Scotland to America. There are Reas whose line came from the Scottish highlands and whose ancestors were once named MacRae (or MacRea, McRea, etc. spelling doesn't matter; it's all the same name) who dropped the "Mac" or "Mc." This has been confirmed by my own Rea Surname DNA Project (which I encourage your husband to join):
http://garyr50.tripod.com/Rea_Surname_DNA_Project.htm
In your case, it looks like (from what you've said) you have a Scots-Irish line, though the origin point in Sterling is rather unusual (though not at impossible).
Clearly, John was, as you say, an immigrant to America and Pennsylvania was one of the most common places for the Scots-Irish to settle in. My own line also came from Northern Ireland to Pennsylvania, in 1774.
You mentioned that John was born in 1702. Was this in Scotland or Ireland? If Ireland, it is most likely you'll be looking for him in Northern Ireland. Same thing, if Scotland was his birthplace. More likely is that he was born in Northern Ireland, as the Plantation era had pretty much ended before 1700. Most of it occurred during the 1630s.
Since your William Rea was born in 1670 in Sterling, though, this may, as I said, be an unusual case. It may also be that William was either the immigrant to Northern Ireland from Scotland, or it may even be that his father or grandfather was, in which case, he was born in Northern Ireland. I'm just telling you what possibilities could be, based upon what little you've told me and what I've learned, myself through trial and error. Hope this helps.
Gary
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