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1903 Stark Family Association Yearbook Historians Report

Editor's Comment:

In the 1903 Stark Family Association Yearbook, the Historian's report was contributed by Mrs. Hattie S. Ackley, of Chester, Connecticut, the Association Historian that year. She was a descendant of Aaron Stark [1608-1685] as follows:

Aaron¹; Aaron²; Abiel³; Nathan⁴; Abiel⁵; Dennison⁶; Lauriston⁷; Harriet Louise Stark⁸ married Sidney E. Ackley.

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REPORT OF HISTORIAN

To those of us who have had the great pleasure of attending these Stark Reunions in the past, it would seem that the main facts in the history of our Family have been so thoroughly demonstrated that nothing of much interest could remain for our Eighth Family Reunion. In one respect this is true; the origin and meaning of our name, and the brave deed which prompted it, are familiar to us all, as is also the fact that the Connecticut branch of the Family descended from one Aaron Stark, who settled at Mystic, Conn. in 1653*; of him I have been able to learn but little; however, it is apparent that the same loyalty to principle, and the same steadfastness of purpose which are characteristics of his descendants to-day, were dominant traits of his character. it is almost incredible that even two centuries and a half could have transformed the dreary wilderness of that day into this great Republic, foremost among the nations of the world; the fact must be beyond even the wildest dreams of our ancestor, yet it is upon the foundation that he and his associates builded that this great Nation stands to-day.

While enjoying the marvels of the present age, it may seem to some of us that the lives of our ancestors during

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*Editor's Comment: Aaron was a resident of Connecticut in 1637 as described in the article entitled, "The Life & Times of Aaron Stark." However, the historian is correct in stating Aaron was not a resident of the region in and around Mystic, Connecticut until 1653, when he was sent by Mason to oversee his land grant in that region.

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peace must have been very tame and limited; let us consider what more dramatic events have taken place in our lives than in theirs. The same great God ruled the universe then as now; the same sun which warmed them was identical with ours; and as Horace Greely said, "If their road to mill and to meeting was longer than ours, they were doubtless as well content and with little suspicion of their ill fortune in having been born in the seventeenth instead of the twentieth century." It is more than probable that as great or even greater improvements will be perfected in future years than have been in the past, and that our descendants will look back upon the present age much as we do upon the past; let us see to it that we leave to posterity as clean a record as did our ancestors to us.

The various branches of the Stark Family are widely scattered, our Secretary being in communication with members from many different States of the Union, many of whom trace their ancestry back to the first Mystic settler. We have authentic information through the descendants of the same that the Family name is also widely distributed throughout Europe; one branch came from Germany, and the same was originally spelled "Starek," the e, however, is no longer used in the German word for "strong;" the family who reside in St. Lewis have been in America but little more than one generation. Another branch trace their ancestry to Wales; 

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they have the same story regarding origin of name, but their coat-of-arms differs from ours.

Another Stark came from north of Ireland in 1849; his name was Andrew, as was also his father's; his sons now reside in Stamford, Conn. We are also in communication with Mrs. Annie S. Faris, of Iowa, whose great-grandfather, Capt. John Stark, was a nephew of Major-General John Stark  ¾ the Bennington hero. Doubtless these all descended from the same (Muirhead), a Scotchman who rescued King James the Fourth from a bull in the forest of Cumberland by the exercise of his great strength. The King gave his rescuer the name Stark, meaning Strong, and authorized him to use as a coat-of-arms, a bull's head distilling dripping blood and the motto in Latin, "Fortiorum, fortia, facta," meaning brave deeds of brave men.

May we ever prove ourselves worthy of our crest. That "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches" could be said to apply to the Starks of to-day, who are well-informed, God-fearing men and women, integrity being one of their principle traits; it is told of one now dead, that because of his strict honesty, he was commonly known as "honest Abial," another, a most estimable man, was called "wicked Abial," to distinguish him from the first; and still another, now one of the oldest and most honored members of our Association, was then known as "little 'bial." Connected with our Family

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are men who stand in their profession, and who deserve the high honors they now enjoy; but we cannot claim all merit for Stark blood alone; as our foremothers were noble women, entitled to every consideration. Molly Graves Stark, the great-grandmother of many of us, was the daughter and sister of brave Revolutionary soldiers; her father was in Capt. Eliphalet Holmes' Co., Col. Selden's Reg't; he served later in several engagements, and was finally killed outside the fort, at the bloody Groton massacre, Sept. 6th, 1781; her brother served four years as a private and drummer, and his memory is greatly esteemed. Statira Lyon Stark was also the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier who served in Capt. James Chapman's Co., of Col. Samuel Holden Parson's 6th Reg't of Continentals; in Capt. Key's Co., of Major Backus's Reg't of Light Horse, and in Capt. Jones' Co., in Col. Latimer's Reg't of Militia at Saratoga.

Hannah Stark Smith, born in 1792, is remembered as being extremely neat and trim in her personal appearance. She was the first person to be baptized in the vicinity of Pleasant Valley, and wove the table linen which has been used from that time until the present at the communion service.

Mrs. Andrew Stark is remembered as being very gifited in "exhortation," as it was called in those days.

Mary Griffin Stark was was very intellectual and hospitable, as well as a smart business woman, rather retiring

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and modest in her manner. Of others equally interesting we hope to be able to learn more in the future.

The origin of this Association may be of interest to any who have not been in touch with it. The idea was suggested by the Misses Emily, Ida, and Jennie Stark, who issued invitations to the near relatives to meet at a picnic at Chapman's Falls, Millington, Conn., Aug. 13th, 1895; twenty-three responded to the invitations, and the occasion was so thoroughly enjoyed that it was decided to continue them, and for three succeeding years similar gatherings were held at Baker's Pavilion, a short distance from the Falls. In 1899 Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Jewett entertained the Family most pleasantly at the Jewett homestead in North Lyme, each reunion being more largely attended and with increasing interest; however, none was held in 1900, owing to a great deal of illness in the Family and the lamented death in August of Miss jennie Stark, one of its originators. the following year we were most cordially welcomed at the home of Deacon Abiel Stark, and it was decided to appoint a committee to draft a constitution; this was done , and at our last reunion, held in Hamburgh, the constitution was adopted and the Association was properly organized.

It was also voted to purchase badge-pins, in design a facsimile of the coat-of-arms.

Death has been busy during these eight years and removed many of our Family, for whom we sincerely mourn.

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As an Association, we are greatly indebted to the late Hon. Benjamin Stark of New London, who had made the genealogical research of Stark ancestry a thorough study.

Resolutions were adopted upon the death of Benjamin Stark, and also upon the deaths of Dea. Frederick Fosdick, Fitch Smith, Henry Stark, Emily Newbury, Jennie E. Stark, Mary Stark Gilbert, Nathan Stark, Joshua Stark, of Wisconsin, and William Stark, Chicago.

The Association to-day is in a most flourishing condition, having now fifty-four members, and may our constitution, "formed in order to make a more perfect union and to bring the widely scattered Family into closer fellowship," be but the beginning of a fraternal Association that shall end with us only when we are called to the Life above: and may future generations preserve the traditions, collect memorials, and rear a structure worthy of the name and race.

Trusting we may all have the pleasure of meeting in 1904, I herewith submit my report.

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Motion made and carried that the report of the Historian be accepted, and the same be entered on the minutes of the Association.

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STORY OF THE ORIGIN OF THE STARK NAME

I

A man once lived in Scotland,

When James the Fourth was King,

Whose name was known as Muirhead

Who did this bold, brave thing.

II

One day the King, while riding, met

A bull, in full rampage;

This Muirhead caught and killed the beast,

In spite of all his rage.

III

"Ho! who is this? and what his name!"

Thus spake the King outright,

"That risked his own to save a life,

 This day he is Sir Knight.

IV

Rise, Muirhead, rise, thou man of might,

My thanks are thus expressed;

Your name is Stark, most noble Knight,

The 'Bull's head' be your crest."