On September 20, 1817, Asahel and Sarah Stark of Penfield, Ontario County, New York, sold to Jesse Adams for $1,000, land in township 13, region #4, it being part of the Southwest division of Lot #14. Witnesses were Daniel Wilson and Rufus Henrik. On September 30, 1817, "Sarry" Stark was examined separately [Book 29, p. 80]. This property was purchased by Asahel from Robert Browne of New York, New York in 1813 for $206.48. Asahel Stark was also listed in the 1813 Penfield Assessment Roll with Real Estate valued at $203 and taxes of $0.47. Here again we find Asahel and Sarah, apparently living in Ontario County, New York, just before they are found in Indiana in 1820.

Sometime between 1810 and 1813, Asahel moved from Caledonia, Genesee County, New York to Ontario County. The 1810 census for Genesee County lists "Asel" Stark. He has 2 sons and three daughters living in the home. He and Sarah are probably the male and female over 45 years old. Sometime between 1807 and 1810, he moved to this area from Onondaga County, probably as a result of a Law Suit brought against him and his son, Jasper Stark. In Genesee County, we find one Daniel R. Stark purchased land March 28, 1809. This was probably soon after his marriage to Nancy Hawley, the Hawley family found living close by when Asahel was living in Onondaga County. This would seem to show there was a Asahel Stark and Daniel R. Stark living in Genesee County at about the same time.

Researcher Sharon Reck's [Reck, Sharon, Article titled, "Descendants of Christopher Stark". Reck37719@aol.com] account, "The Descendants of Christopher Stark", reveals, "By the 1800 census, "Asel" Starks was living in Manlius, Onondaga County, New York with 7 sons [5 between 10 and 26] and three daughters. Jasper Starks was nearby in the town of Fabius, age 16-26. I believe that Jasper was the oldest son from the 1790 census. [From Deed Book, p. 266-9] Jan. 1, 1800 Edward Lounsberry of Ulster Co., NY, gentleman, sold to William Stark of Manlius 200 acres, part of lot 24 in Homer, witnessed by William Mitchell and John R. Stark. [This William was the son of Asahel, not his brother.] In May 1802, Asahel Stark of Manlius purchased 200 acres of land lying in Cicero, Onondaga County, NY, the south part of Lot 73, and on May 22, he added the north 300 acres of Lot 73. On the 22 Jan 1805, Asahel Stark of Cicero, sold to Joseph Hosley, Jr. of Sullivan, Chenango Co., NY, 50 acres of land, and on the 6 Mar 1807, Jasper Stark and his wife, Betsy, sold to Asahel Stark 146 acres for $650 lying in Cicero and being part of Lot 73. This was land that had been previously deeded "by Asahel and Sarah, his wife, to said Jasper together with one fourth part of a mill seat against said land as was previously deeded to said Jasper." This last transaction was witnessed by John R. Stark and Benjamin Hosley. From Book G, p. 398, "Elijah Phillips, Esq., Sheriff of Onondaga by writ of testatum fieri facias from the Supreme Court of NY 3 Aug 1807 against Jasper and Asahel Stark at the suit of James Knopp for $260 plus $29.56 damages. Sheriff had sold at public vendure Lot 73 in Twp. of Cicero for $40 to Thaddeus M. Wood and Geo. Hall, highest bidders."

From this paragraph, we find Asahel probably had sons named Jasper Stark, William Stark and John R. Stark. William and John R. Stark would have been born before 1779, to be able to participate in the 1800 deed transaction if they had to be 21 years of age. From above, we know the John R. Stark who served in the War of 1812, was 32 years old in 1814, placing his year of birth as 1782. William Stark is purchasing the land, which would also set his latest year of birth as 1779. It may be possible John R. Stark was older than reported in Louisiana, unless he could have been a witness when he was 18 years old. The 1820 Census for West Baton Rouge Parish, LA records William is in the age range of 26-45 placing his birth between the years 1775 and 1794. If he was near the age of 45, then he could be this William Stark. If John and William were born during the years estimated, then they were born in New York. Also, we find Asahel owned property in Cicero, Onondaga County, NY, the same location of property bequeathed to Sarah Stark by "Ashel" Stark in his 1821 Washington County, Indiana will. It would seem very likely this family living in New York is the same family we found living in Indiana.

In the 1790 census for Pittstown, Albany County, New York, we find Asahel Stark and William Stark [Most Likely Asahel's brother later found living next to Asahel in Penfield, Ontario County, New York] as neighbors of Jonathan Price. Others living close by are Jonathan and Timothy Fuller, the Gifford's, Israel and William Shepherd, and William Richard. All of these individuals had been living in Dutchess County, New York prior to the Revolutionary War and are now living close by in 1790. These names, living so close to Asahel, would appear to provide a link to Dutchess County for both William and Asahel Stark, for these families also appear to be related in various ways perhaps to complicated to unravel in this text.

The text, "New York In The Revolution as Colony and State", Volume I, published in 1904, is a compilation of documents and records from the office of the State Comptroller of New York. On page 125 is listed , "The Militia - Albany County, Fourteenth Regiment". Listed as officers are Lieut. Colonel John Van Rensselaer, Colonel Peter Yates, and others. Shown as enlisted men on page 127 are Asel Stark, Christopher Stark, Christopher Stark, Jr., Asahel Start, Christopher Start, and William Start. The Authors believe the Stark and Start spelling, used interchangeably in these military documents, repeated the listing and there was really only Asahel Stark, William Stark, and Christopher Stark, Jr. [This name with Junior to be proven in a moment] serving in the 14th. Regiment. Later on page 235, John Stark, William Stark, and Asahel Stark are listed as serving in the Fourteenth Regiment, Albany County Militia and receiving Land Bounty Rights. A "Right" was 500 acres. Lieutenants received two Rights while enlisted men received one Right.

The Militia Regiments could only be called out of state for three months and were usually designated by the Colonel's name followed by the County name such as, "Rensselaer's Regiment of the Fourteenth, Albany County". The name of the Colonel was usually found to be sufficient to identify the Regiment. Pay was not always in money and timely or regular. As late as 1784, the large majority of soldiers were still unpaid for their services from 1776 through 1782. On April 27, 1784, the New York legislature passed, "An act for the settlement of the pay of the Levies and Militia for their services in the late war". After certifying the pay of individuals in the various Regiments, the treasurer of the State was required to issue to persons to whom pay was due, or their legal representatives, certificates of indebtedness bearing five percent interest on such certificates. This act provided the opportunity for researcher, Sharon Reck, to find the probable relationship of Asahel Stark, William Stark, and John Stark to their father Christopher Stark, Jr. and their possible relationship to others serving in the 14th. Regiment.

From the Revolutionary War Period Records (Referred to as RWPR in the rest of this text), Roll M859, will be found Manuscripts #12071 and #12072 which state 1] Manu #12071; "28 Feb. 1785 to Col. John Rensselaer. Please to deliver to the bearer, William Stark, the notes that is due to Christopher Stark for his Militia wages and you will oblige your friend. Signed Susanna (Her Mark) Stark; Witnesses William Gifford, John Gifford." 2] Manu #12072; "11 Jan. 1786, Col. John Van Rensselaer. Sir please pay the bearer, William Starke, all the wages due to Christopher Starke, Jr. for service done in your Regiment and this order shall be your discharge for the same for me. Signed Susanna (Her Mark) Stark, Witness Israel Shepard."

Sharon Reck's notes reveal, "William & John Gifford were brothers. John Gifford was born 27 Aug. 1760 in Dutchess County, New York, living at Cambridge, Washington, NY at enlistment. Later he lived with a brother at Pittstown, NY. In 1790 there was Jabez, Benjamin, John, and Joseph Gifford, sons of Benjamin Gifford and Abigail Wing. Mary Gifford born in 1744 who married Timothy Fuller could have been a sister to these Gifford men. The Fuller's daughter, Mehitable Fuller married William Starks. Timothy Fuller and Mary Gifford lived in Pittstown, NY in 1790. Israel Shepard was born in 1746 in Plainfield, Windham, Connecticut. He and brother, William Shepard fought with the 14th Albany County Militia with Asahel, Chris, and William Stark. He also fought in Douty's Vermont Regiment with Christopher Stark, Jonathan Price, and Asahel Stark. Israel Shepard and brother, Daniel, both married in 1766 in Amelia, Dutchess County, NY. Israel is also found in the Pittstown 1790 census."

These relationships, as we will find, are important. Note William Stark is to receive the notes or certificates for Christopher Stark on behalf of Susanna Stark. One note clearly refers to Christopher as Junior suggesting this could be Christopher Stark, Jr. son of Christopher Stark, Sr. who died in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania in 1777. It would appear Susanna is to receive these notes due to Christopher, who it would seem is deceased at the time of this request. Therefore, we can probably say with some certainty Susanna is the widowed spouse of Christopher and that William Stark is perhaps the son of Christopher and Susanna.

Revolutionary War Records show Lieutenant Christopher Stark and "Ashel Stark" were on the payroll of Capt. William Shepard's Company, Col. Cornelius Douty's Regiment, in a Regiment of Foot, of the State of Vermont, from the 1st day of August to the 4th day of August, 1781, in the "Alarm at Saratoga." They were, most probably, a Militia Company from New York assigned to Vermont for 4 days during this crisis. Many of those living in Pittstown in the 1790 census, appear on this pay voucher, suggesting these men were from New York, and not Vermont, further supporting their temporary assignment to the above mentioned Vermont Regiment.

From William Stark's pension application, brother of Asahel Stark, it would appear they may have been living in Pittstown for his pension mentions this was his place of enlistment in May of 1780, serving in the Levis under Col. Harper. The term "Levis" was used where drafts were made from the different militia regiments, and from the people direct as well, and which could be called upon to serve outside the state during their entire term, rather than only three months if in the Militia. William married Mehitable Fuller, hence the possible relationship to the Fullers mentioned previously. To further suggest Susanna could have been married to Christopher, Jr. the 1951 research of Jennie McKee of Greensburg, Indiana, found that on May 24, 1781, Susanna Stark was a member of the Congregational Church of New Concord, Town of Chatham, Columbia County, NY. This town is located in the Oblong adjacent to the Beekman Patent. Now, if the above suggest Christopher and Susanna are husband and wife, and the mentioned William is a son, can we connect Asahel to this family. From RWPR, Roll M859, Manuscript #12051 we find, "8 Jun 1786. Col. Yates, please to let the bearer, Ashel Starke, have my sale notes and I will oblige. Your friend and humble servant. Signed Jonathan Price; Witnesses John Price, Jr., Samuel Price". This would appear to be the same Jonathan Price who was shown on the "Alarm at Saratoga" payroll with Christopher Stark and Ashel Stark. Jonathan's name appears under Asahel's name in this document. These two documents would seem to show there is a relationship between Christopher, Asahel, and now Jonathan Price.

RWPR, Roll M859, Manuscript #14370 perhaps gives us another connection to Dutchess County, NY for Asahel. This record states, "Warrens Bush 27 May 1785. Col. Volkert Vader. Sir, please to pay all my Militia wages due to me, Jeremiah Burch, for my service during the late war in Col. Frederick Fisher's Reg. of Militia in Capt. Joseph Yomens Company or sum others to Gilbert Roseboom Berry and this shall be your discharge four yours to serve. Signed Jeremiah (His Mark) Burch; Witness Asahel Starke" According to the research of Sharon Reck, "Jeremiah Burch was born 1749 in Dutchess., NY and married 29 July 1773 in Dutchess County, Patty Pringle. His grandfather, Jeremiah Burch, was from New London, CT."

However, RWPR, Roll M859, Manuscript #12070, dated 11 Jan., 1786 is perhaps, the most revealing document linking Asahel to Christopher and William which reveals, "Col. John Van Rensselaer, Sir please to let William Stark have the certificates that you have for me for my service done in the Militia and this order shall be your re sate for the sums. Signed Asel Stark; Witness Zacock Scribner." This document along with #12071 clearly shows William Stark was sent to pick up the pay of both Christopher and Asahel. From the above , I would surmise, Christopher, Jr. was the father of Asahel Stark and William Stark. Also, the name of his spouse was Susanna and that Christopher, Jr. probably died between the years 1781 and 1785. Could the above mentioned John also be a son of Christopher?

RWPR, Roll M859, Manuscript #5794 records, "25 April 1781. To Lieut. Peaks. Sir be pleased to pay to my honored father on his order three months wages which is due to me - it being for value received as witness my hand this 25 April 1781. Signed John (His Mark) Stark, Witness Timothy Price, William Richardson. Sharon Reck's notes on this document reports, "With this manuscript was a folded & torn piece of paper which may have been an envelope. On the outside it read; John Starks order 1 or 0 107, James Wail Ja???, Sr., and Christopher Stark. There were Lt. James & Jacob Peck in the Levis under Col. Dubois. Timothy Price lived in Pittstown, NY at the time of his enlistment. A brother, John Price, made affidavit for Timothy's pension in 1832. A Jonathan Price lived between Asahel & Wm. Stark in Pittstown, NY in 1790. Wm. Richardson & Timothy Price fought in the Levis under Col. Dubois with Aaron Stark, Jonathan Stark, Henry Stark, John Stark, & Zadock Scriber. Zadock Scriber also fought in the 14th Albany, Yates Regiment of NY Militia."

This would seem to show John's father, Christopher, Jr. was to pick up the three months pay of his son, making a clear connection of John as being a member of this family. Sharon Reck further speculates, and the Author tends to agree that Susanna Stark was the daughter of William Price, originally on the Beekman lease Christopher bought from Henry Carey. Considerable documentation exists showing there was a close relationship between the Price and Stark families. The 1790 Census for Pittstown shows Jonathan Price is living between Asahel Stark and William Stark and Jonathan served with these men in the Revolutionary War. Sharon suspects a John Price, Sr. was the brother of Susanna who had sons named John Price, Jr. and Jonathan Price, and probably Timothy Price. A final item is William Stark is later referred to as William P. Stark. Would it be possible the "P" stands for Price. Although this is speculation, it would not seem improbable, for all are in the right place at the right time. Therefore, the Author considers Asahel Stark, John Stark, and William P. Stark are children of Christopher Stark, Jr. and Susanna "Perhaps Price" Stark.

Sharon Reck's conclusions, based on the military records and the 1790 census were, "I believe Christopher Stark, Jr. was the father of Asahel, William, probably the Nathan Stark who fought with William in Harper's Regiment, and John [who also later lived in Penfield, Ontario County, New York near Asahel and William and subsequently moved to Clermont County, Ohio]; Susannah was probably Christopher's wife. It's clear that many of their friends were from Dutchess County, New York."

By 1758, we know Christopher, Sr. of Groton, New London County, Connecticut, married to Joanna Walworth, had divested himself of all of his property in Connecticut. January 27, 1758, he sold the land east of Fort Hill to Nathan Niles. I suspect he probably sold all of the property as preparations were being made to move to the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, near present day Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania around 1756. When the French & Indian War started, Christopher, Sr. and his family faced a dilemma. They were now living in New London County without a means of making a living and would have to live on the funds they made from the sale of their property. The Authors believe the family made a decision, probably in 1756-58, to move to Dutchess County, New York and become tenants on the Beekman Patent until the war ended. James Stark, Christopher, Sr.'s son, may have moved to Dutchess County sometime in 1758 for the text, "Aaron Stark Family, Seven Generations", by Charles R. Stark, reports he married Elizabeth Cary that year, daughter of the Reverend Henry Carey, one of the earliest ministers of Dutchess County, although this marriage could have occurred in Groton before Henry Carey moved to Dutchess County.

The Authors speculates the first to make the move to Dutchess County was probably Christopher Stark, Jr. By 1758, he was thirty years old, probably married, and had either one or two young sons. He is most likely the Christopher Stark who received a lease in the Beekman Patent May 1, 1759 in Lot #4 consisting of 341 acres, although we cannot discount the possibility he was Christopher Stark, Sr.. It was the sixth farm in Lot #4, located Northeast of the present village of Pawling. The lease originally belonged to William Cooper along with William Price, John Price and Sarah Price beginning May 1, 1740. William Price then assigned the lease to Henry Cary for 120 pounds March 30, 1751 who then assigned it to Christopher for 200 pounds on the above date. [Reck, Sharon, Article titled, "Descendants of Christopher Stark". Reck37719@aol.com]

Named on the lease with Christopher Stark (Probably Christopher, Jr.) was William Stark and Azell Stark. The landlord usually rented the land to an individual and two others in the same family, sometimes a wife and son or daughter, sometimes to brothers but almost always for "three lives." William may have been Christopher Stark, Jr.'s younger brother who would have been about fourteen years old at that time. From the Manlius, Onondaga County, New York census records of 1800, will be found a "Asel" Stark reported to be over 45 years of age that could be the "Azell" named on the lease. Christopher, Jr. is also believed to have had a son named William P. Stark who is reported to have been born in 1760 from the Revolutionary War Records, who could have been named on this deed at a later date, but if the lease required "three lives" in May of 1759, then William would probably be the son of Christopher Stark, Sr.

Questions still remain as to why this Christopher did not name his relationship to William and Azell or did not name his spouse. This may have been because he arrived with these two in 1759 and the rest of the family followed later. When the Revolutionary War started, the family of Christopher, Jr. was living in Dutchess County. When the British took New York City, many of the families in Dutchess County moved further North to Pittstown, Albany County, New York. By this time, young Asahel Stark had married and probably had either one or two young sons. By 1781, we find him as a member of the Albany Militia from Pittstown along with many others who had been living in Dutchess County.

Therefore, we have shown Asahel was most likely the son of Christopher Stark, Jr. and until about 1817, had lived his life in New York. We see there were land transactions of his sons Jasper, William, John R., Daniel R., all occurring near locations in New York where Asahel was living at the time. From our earlier documentation, we have seen William, John R. and Daniel Stark of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, were brothers and sons of Asahel, making them the grandsons of Christopher Stark, Jr. From all of the documentation shown in this text, we can conclude with a high degree of confidence, the Newton County Stark families described in the beginning of this text are descended from their g-grandfather, Christopher Stark, Jr. son of Christopher Stark, Sr. of Groton, New London County, Connecticut, son of the Baptist, William Stark, Sr. who was the son of Indian Fighter Aaron Stark of Connecticut who migrated from England about 1636 to New England.