Christopher Stark, Sr. was probably born before or in the year 1695, son of William Stark, Sr. and his wife Elizabeth, and grandson of Aaron Stark, Sr. (1608-1685) and his wife Sarah.¹ Christopher had a older brother, William Stark, Jr. who was probably born before or in 1689. This would place the earliest year of birth for Christopher as about 1690, after the latest year of birth for his older brother William, Jr.² This birth probably occurred in what later became Groton, New London County, Connecticut.

In October of 1698, William Stark, Sr., his spouse Elizabeth, sons William, Jr., and Christopher were baptized in the Stonington, Connecticut Road Church.³ Christopher's younger sister, Phebe, was born in March of 1700 and baptized in the same Church July 6, 1701.⁴ Daniel Stark, the youngest child in this family was born between July of 1701 and 1704, the latest year it is believed Daniel could have been born from the Groton, New London County, deed records.⁵ Around 1704, Christopher's father began his relationship with the First Baptist Church of Connecticut started at about this time (See Biography of William Stark, Sr.).

January 31, 1715/16, William Stark, Sr. deeded to Christopher as a gift, property bounded by the property of Isaac Fox.⁶ The Isaac Fox property was the land William Stark, Sr.'s brother, John Stark, had received upon the death of Aaron Stark, Sr. in 1685. John Stark died in 1689 and his spouse, Elizabeth Packer, daughter of John Packer and Elizabeth Friend, very soon after married John Weeks. When John Stark's daughters, Elizabeth Stark and Hannah Stark, married, the inheritance of this land passed on to them. Elizabeth had married John Newberry, a weaver, while Hannah had married Isaac Fox., a yeoman.⁷ Isaac Fox then purchased Elizabeth's share of this property from her husband John Newberry November 20, 1708, the deed signed by John Newberry and Elizabeth A. Newberry.⁸ The land was sold by Isaac Fox and Hannah Fox, May 9, 1721 to Aaron Stark, III, son of Aaron Stark, Jr. and grandson of Aaron Stark, Senior for 400 pounds.⁹ From the 1708 description, this property was located on the western boundary of William, Sr.'s property owned at that time and obtained from his father's will.

On March 24, 1717/18, William Stark, Sr. deeded the rest of his homestead to Christopher, which included the new house at that time where William, Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth lived.¹⁰ However, the deed stipulated these conditions "reserving only that the sd William Starke shall have the premises above menshoned to possess and improve during his natural life & if sd William Starks now wife shall outlive him then she shall have the lower roome in the new house and one third part of sd land for her maintainance during her widowhood but in case she shall marey again to have nothing." Therefore, on the death of William, Sr. , the property would be Christopher's to possess and improve after the death of his father. If his Mother were to still be living at the time, Christopher was to provide her with a place to live in the new house at that time on this property provided she did not marry again after William, Sr.'s death. Therefore, Christopher could not dispose of the property with the house on it until both his Mother and Father died. It would seem William, Sr. and Elizabeth continued to live on and improve this property and Christopher was to make a home for himself and his future spouse on the property he received in January of 1715/16.

On the same day, March 24, 1717/18, William Stark, Sr. also sold one acre and a half of land to the Baptist Church for 6 pounds. Christopher was one of the church members participating in this purchase.¹¹

Christopher witnessed a deed exchange between his brother William, Jr. and Abiel Stark December 13, 1718.¹² For valuable consideration, William bought this property from Abiel. Abiel was the son of Aaron Stark, Jr. and William's cousin. This deed was acknowledged in Lebanon, Connecticut in January, 1719, implying Abiel Stark sold this land in preparation for a move to this township north of Groton and west of Norwich.

In later documents, Christopher is reported to be a yeoman, which would seem to indicate Christopher settled down to improving and farming the property he received from his father. On April 1, 1722, Christopher Stark married Joanna Walworth in Groton.¹³ Joanna was born in 1695 at Fishers Island, New York. She was the daughter of William Walworth and Mary Abigail Seaton. William and Mary Abigail immigrated from England in 1689 aboard the same ship where they met and then married in 1690 soon after arriving in New England. They first settled on Fishers Island, just off the coast of Connecticut but belonging to New York, where they managed the farm of Governor Fitzjohn Winthrop of Connecticut. Their first four children were born at this location. Later, between 1699/1701, they established a residence at Groton, Connecticut, where William became a prominent land owner. William claimed he was descended from Sir William Walworth, Knight, of London, England, although this has not been verified by the Authors. Mary was descended from one of the earliest families of Scotland. She was 20 years old and an only child when, after the death of her father in London, she emigrated to New England on the same ship as William.¹⁴

There is a record from the Groton, New London County, Deed Records, Book 1, pages 738-739 dated April 6, 1721, a year before Joanna married Christopher, where Joanna sold to her brother John Walworth for 50 pounds , her right to any land she received from her Father, the late William Walworth of Groton, deceased.

February 23, 1723, Zerviah Stark was born to Christopher and Joanna.¹³ In this same year, Christopher exchanged properties with his father, William Stark, Sr.. On August 19, for a valuable consideration paid by his father, Christopher sold four acres to William which had formerly been purchased by William from Valentine Wightman February 10, 1710. This was part of the 20 acres William sold to Wightman in 1708. It would appear this four acres came to Christopher as part of the gift from his father January 31, 1715/16.¹⁵ On August 20, 1723, Christopher sold 151 acres of his land he received from his father, William, Sr. back to William, Sr. for 200 pounds. In exchange on this same day, Christopher bought 150 acres lying south of the County Road from his father for 300 pounds. October 13, 1726, Christopher and William, Sr. would exchange this property back to their original ownership.¹⁶ On May 6, 1728, William Stark, Sr. would deed 100 acres of this land lying south of the County Road to his youngest son, Daniel Stark, as a gift.

The reasons for these apparent swaps of land is not apparent to the Authors. These properties were close by and adjacent to each other. The transactions in 1726 came 7 months after William Stark, Sr. prepared his will on February 7, 1726. The last exchange could have been made to correct an error in the will. In this will he bequeathed all his lands to Daniel south of the County Road as would appear by deed of exchange from Christopher which clearly belonged to Christopher at the time the will was prepared.¹⁷  However, after these 1726 transactions, Christopher again owned all of the original land he received as a gift from his father, which seems to have been north of the County Road.¹⁸

April 10, 1725, Christopher was a witness to the Gideon Cobb quitclaim to property sold to him by William, Sr. in 1718. September 29, 1725, Christopher sold 20 acres to Nathaniel Nile, Jr. for 30 pounds and on the same day was a witness to the sale of 40 acres to the same Nathaniel, Jr. by Aaron Stark, now recorded as a resident of Colchester, Connecticut. On October 1, 1725, Christopher also witnessed the articles of agreement between Aaron Stark and Nathaniel Niles on this property transaction. In this same year, William, Sr. deeded, as a gift, a wood lot to Thomas Walworth, Joanna's brother, who had married Christopher's sister Phebe.¹⁹

As already mentioned, William Stark, Sr. prepared his will early in 1726. I believe this will was prepared because William had suffered an illness or some other calamity, for it seems from this time to William's death in 1730, there is an urgency to the land exchanges that occur during these four years. William, Sr. sold 4 to 5 acres to John Stark, son of Aaron Stark, Jr. and William's nephew, where Joanna was a witness.²⁰ On August 1, 1726, Joanna gave birth to a daughter she would name Phebe, after her sister-in-law.¹³ Several other transactions occurred where William, Sr. sold property to Christopher, deeded property as a gift to his son Daniel as mentioned above and generally seemed to be divesting himself of all of his property. During these years, Christopher Stark, Jr. was born on September 27, 1728 in Groton and his younger sister, Elizabeth, was born December 23, 1730.¹³

In 1729, William prepared a deed where he relinquished control of the property he had originally given to Christopher under condition William and his wife could continue to live there until William died and his wife Elizabeth would live in the house if she did not marry again. The deed stated, "Serjant William Stark of Groton Yeoman for love and affection unto my son Christopher Stark of Groton husbandman and also for the reason of the insufficiency of two deeds of gift from me to Christopher the one baring date 1717 and the other 1718...".²¹ The Authors believe this deed then allowed Christopher to sell this property consisting of 250 acres to John Smith for 1500 pounds on August 30, 1729.²² William Stark, Sr. would die September 8, 1730.

From 1730 to 1742, Christopher and Joanna settled down to raising a family and tending the farm given to them by William, Sr.. Children born during these years were Aaron Stark, born March 3, 1732/33, James Stark, born May 22, 1734, and Mary Stark, born February 26, 1738.¹³ In 1742, Christopher bought a total of 60 acres from April to November for a total amount of 638 pounds. This property was sold by the heirs of John Fanning as fourths of their share of the property. December 2 of the same year Christopher sold 43 and one-half acres to Nathan Niles for 790 pounds.²³ January 27, 1758, the above 60 acres was sold by Christopher to Nathan Niles.²⁴ According to CRS on page 11, Christopher and Joanna's last two children, William Stark and Daniel Stark, were born in February of 1745 and probably before 1750, respectively.

By 1750, Christopher, Sr. is approaching 60 years old. From other accounts of this region of Connecticut at this time, the area was becoming more heavily populated, land more expensive to purchase for farming, and the fertility of the soil was becoming depleted after a century of poor soil management. Many of the descendants of the early Connecticut settlers began to look to the west for more fertile farm land at cheaper prices. The site of present day Wilkes-Barre, lying in Northeast Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna River became the focus of much interest by 1753 in Connecticut. It seemed that King Charles II had granted charters to both Connecticut and Pennsylvania at different times. The King knew very little about America and maps were very poor at that time. By 1750, both authorities claimed the land and would send settlers to this region leading to later conflict. The Connecticut Charter was granted first in 1662, while the Pennsylvania Charter was not granted until 1681.

On March 29, 1753, a petition for the formation of the Susquehanna Company was presented to the Connecticut Assembly, asking that the petitioners be allowed to build settlements on the Susquehanna River under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. In Windham, Connecticut, the Susquehanna Company was formed July 18, 1753 by several hundred individuals with the avowed purpose of establishing a settlement along the banks of the Susquehanna in furtherance of the Connecticut claim to the region. Christopher was not one of the signers of the petition, but on May 7, 1754, he and many of his neighbors paid five pounds for a full share in the company. The land along the banks of the Susquehanna River was purchased from the Iroquois Indians in Albany, New York July 11, 1754. Christopher Stark, Sr.'s name is on the list of grantees along with his brother-in-law, Thomas Walworth, the brother of Joanna who had married Christopher's sister, Phebe Stark.²⁵

This geographical area, later to be known as the Wyoming Valley, had been settled earlier by families from Dutchess County, New York. Abraham Utter and his family resided in this county until 1750 with his wife and eight children. His business was principally tilling land on shares or as a tenant farmer. Because all of the land in the area was owned by landlords, he could not hope to purchase property of his own. In 1749, the family decided to move to the Wyoming Valley along with several of his neighbors. They organized an association consisting of eleven families. After encountering many difficulties and making numerous sacrifices, the eleven families had organized seventeen trains made up of Oxen and Forty-four cows. Proceeding from Dutchess Co., New York to the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, the trains started their journey on April 5, 1750. The distance was not so great, but their route lay through dense forest. They had various difficulties to overcome like roads to make and bridges to build over various streams. They camped several nights in the woods. After surmounting all these obstacles they finally reached their destination on April 14, 1750.²⁶

King George's War, which lasted from 1744 to 1748, had ended by 1750 and most settlers believed the territorial claims of England and France in North America had been settled. However, all this war had accomplished was to set the stage for the last of four wars, called the French & Indian War by the colonists, fought between England and France from 1689 to 1763. As French and English settlements expanded, land claimed by each began to be the same. The French at this time held most of settled America including much of Canada as well as land West of the Allegheny Mountains and along the Mississippi River down to New Orleans. In 1749 a group of Virginian businessmen secured a grant of 500,000 acres of Ohio Valley land for the purpose of building settlements, despite French claims the same year on the same land. The French had been there first as explorers and fur traders, but it was the English who settled and stayed. The Iroquois Indian Confederacy had begun to permit these English settlements. The French, fearing the loss of the Ohio fur trade, in 1753 built a chain of forts at the Eastern end of the Ohio Valley on land claimed by the British. In retaliation, the British attempted to built a fort on a site which would later become Pittsburgh, but were driven off by a French flotilla. The French then built a larger fort on the site which they named Fort Duquesne.

Virginia Governor Dinwiddie sent 22-year-old Lieutenant Colonel George Washington to secure the British Fort believed to have been built. Upon arrival he found the French in command of the Fort. Washington established a base to wait for reinforcements and try and take the fort. Near Great Meadows located south of the Fort , Washington surrounded and attacked a party of 33 Frenchmen. Ten French were killed, and some 22 were captured. The French sent out 900 men to avenge this slaughter. Washington, upon hearing of the advance, built a crude stockade which was named Fort Necessity. The French badly beat Washington and he signed a document, prepared in French, that he thought stated that he attacked the party at Great Meadows, when in fact, the documents he signed stated he assassinated the party. The disclosure of the attack set off a world war beginning in 1756. This action has been credited as having started the "Seven Year's War" and was the first action in the North American French & Indian War. With the start of hostilities, the Susquehanna Company was forced to delay it's plans to settle the Wyoming Valley, which would be an area of conflict between the two warring nations.

Abraham Utter's family did not fair very well during this period for in 1757 their home was attacked by marauding Indians with many members of the family killed and taken prisoner by the Indians. Although Abraham survived because he was not home at the time of the attack, he would never recover from the horror of the mutilation of his family he found when he returned home. Two of his younger daughters would survive, living with the Indians for one year before being released to their families who had returned to New York.²⁶

By 1758, we know Christopher, Sr. 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 Pennsylvania around 1756. When the 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 the 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 may have moved to Dutchess County sometime in 1758 for CRS 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 speculate 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.²⁷

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, the Authors have found a "Asel" Stark reported to be over 45 years of age that could be the "Azell" named on the lease. This would suggest he would have been at least four to five years old in 1759 if he was born before 1755. There will be more later to prove a link of this "Asel" to Christopher Stark, Jr.. Christopher, Jr. is also believed to have had a son named William 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.

Nothing further was done by the Susquehanna Company from 1756 until 1761 when a meeting was held at Windham, Connecticut. Due to changes in the participants in the Company, there were now 588 holding a "whole share" and 165 that held half shares. In August of 1762, a company of ninety-three men started from Windham on horseback to form a settlement along the Susquehanna River.25 This first settlement was made at Mill Creek north of present day Wilkes-Barre. There were no children in this first group, but in May, 1763 some settlers came with their families. The settlement was destroyed when Captain Bull and his Delaware Indians massacred some twenty of the inhabitants on October 15, 1763.²⁸

Despite this set back the settlement continued to slowly grow. From 1759 to 1769, Christopher Stark appears on the Beekman Tax List and as a lessee on the Beekman lease in Dutchess County and October 14, 1762, Christopher, Sr. and his son James appear as witnesses on a deed executed at Beekman's Precinct.^25,27 However, because of the errors made earlier, settlers from Pennsylvania and Connecticut were now convinced each had rights to the land and conflicts over ownership of the settlements became hostile. To hasten settlement of the area, the Susquehanna Company offered extra shares of land for the first forty who would settle there before May of 1768. On January 25th of 1768, Christopher, Sr. conveyed his right to his sons, Aaron, James, and William. This deed was made in Beekman Precinct, Dutchess County, New York and was witnessed by Joanna Stark and Christopher Stark, Jr.^25a

December 20, 1769, Christopher Stark, Sr. conveyed his right in the Groton Baptist Church meeting house to Elder Wightman. He was recorded as a resident of Oblong, Dutchess County, an area on the border between Connecticut and New York. Witnesses to this exchange were James Stark and Daniel Stark. From this, we can say the latest year of birth for Daniel Stark was 1748, twenty-one years before this event.^25a

On November 5, 1768, the British government signed the Fort Stanwich Treaty, which established a diagonal line across Pennsylvania and opened up territory east of the line for settlement which included the Wyoming Valley. On the same day, the representatives of the "Six Indian Nations" deeded all of the land in the province to Thomas and Richard Penn. Pennsylvania interpreted this to mean all of the land including the Wyoming Valley. The Susquehanna Company was determined to occupy the region and sent forty men to the area. They arrived February 6, 1769 and were promptly arrested for trespass by Sheriff Jenning of Northampton County, Pennsylvania and Captain Amos Ogden who had established a trading post at Mill Creek. They were placed in the Easton jail, but some escaped while the rest were released on bail.

In June of 1769, Thomas Walsworth was among two hundred and sixty men to arrive with Major John Durkee. They erected Fort Durkee on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna and named their town Wilkes-Barre. A Pennsylvania force led by Colonel Turbutt Francis invaded the Wyoming Valley in July with considerable fanfare demanding the surrender of Fort Durkee. The Yankees declined the Colonel's courteous offer and the good Colonel returned to Pennsylvania with silent drums and trailing banners. By September 12, 1769, Christopher, Jr., Aaron, James, and William had arrived at the Fort. In November, Sheriff Jennings and Captain Ogden, with a large force of Pennsylvanians, captured Major Durkee and drove the Yankees from the valley and destroyed the settlement.

Members of the Stark family regrouped in Dutchess County to plan their next move. Captain Zebulon Butler assumed command of the Yankees in January of 1770 and recruited Lazarus Steward and the Paxtang Rangers to the Yankee cause. He compensated the Rangers with the grant of Hanover Township. The Paxtang Rangers had been outlawed by Pennsylvania and with prices on their heads had openly defied Pennsylvania authority for years. The Rangers arrived in the Valley in February of 1770 and drove the Pennamites from the Valley. Christopher Stark, Jr. and his brother Aaron returned to the Valley again in June of 1770 to again take possession of the families shares of land.

Captain Ogden regained temporary possession of his trading post but was forced to surrender in April. Construction then began on the celebrated Forty Fort in Kingston Township west of the Susquehanna. Captain Ogden returned in the fall with a large force and captured Fort Durkee. At this change of fortunes in the settlement, Christopher Stark, Jr. returned to Dutchess County to the Beekman Patent and made no further attempts to settle in the Wyoming Valley. The Yankees recaptured Fort Durkee in January of 1771 and the Pennamites then erected Fort Wyoming nearby. The Yankees then laid siege to Fort Wyoming in July and the First Yankee-Pennamite War ended on August 20, 1771, with the capitulation of Fort Wyoming.

In September of 1771, James Stark wrote from Pawling Precinct (Pawling was set-off from Beekman's Precinct in 1768) to Captain Zebulon Butler, commanding the Yankee forces in the Valley, "I have hired the bearer thereof, Timothy Pearce, to go on the same right for two months. At the end of two months, I will come and take possession of it myself." On October 23, Aaron Stark arrived to claim his share and October 31, James Stark arrived to claim his share. Early in 1772, James returned to Dutchess County to collect his family, brother Daniel, father Christopher, Sr. and mother Joanna. They returned to the Valley in early spring of 1772. Pawling Precinct deed records show William Stark sold 200 acres (Half share in the Susquehanna Company) to his father-in-law, Henry Carey, May 20, 1773. By the end of 1772, the families of Aaron Stark and James Stark had taken up residence in the Wyoming Valley along with their brother Daniel, father Christopher Stark, Sr. and mother Joanna Walworth.²⁵ In June of 1773, William Stark and his family along with his in-laws had moved to the Valley.

After fifteen years of blood letting, destruction and rebuilding of settlements, Indian massacres, and exodus and return, the Yankees of Connecticut were finally in control of the region. They now turned their attention to clearing the land and building small farms, building new forts and strengthening old ones and beginning to create communities and fit places for people to live. Little by little, the settlers began to venture further from the stockades believing the questions between them and Pennsylvania had been permanently resolved.

From 1772 to 1774 the settlers lived in relative peace, not being a part of Connecticut or Pennsylvania. The Connecticut authorities, not supporting the Susquehanna Company settlers during the final three years of conflict between the Yankees and Pennamites, now seemed to conclude the people had proved their ability to hold the Wyoming Valley and backed them in their ownership of land in the valley. Connecticut passed an act in January, 1774, which created the town of Westmoreland, which extended from the 41st degree of North Latitude to the New York line and from the Delaware River to fifteen miles west of the Susquehanna River which was then annexed to Litchfield County, Connecticut. Within this town, the districts of Wilkes-Barre, Hanover, Plymouth, Kingston, Pittston, North, Lackaway, and East were created. In 1774, the total inhabitants of Westmoreland were counted at 1,922 men, women, and children and considered large enough to become a separate county. It subsequently became the county of Westmoreland, Connecticut defined as embracing 60 x 120 miles.

The four years of peace was broken, in December 1775, when Colonel Plunkett invaded Westmoreland with six hundred Pennsylvania militia. Colonel Zebulon Butler posted his regiment behind a natural rampart of rocks above Nanticoke Falls on the west side of the river. The Paxtang Rangers, granted Hanover for their help during the earlier hostilities, occupied the east side and protected the Yankee flank. Plunkett advanced on the morning of December 25 and thus began the Battle of Rampart Rocks. The battle raged all Christmas day. The Pennamites suffered severe casualties and broke and fled shortly before dark. Yankee losses were slight. But, by now the Revolutionary War had begun and several actions had already occurred by December of 1775. The battle of Lexington had taken place in August and Bunker Hill was fought in June. Yet, here we find Connecticut and Pennsylvania renewing hostilities over the Wyoming Valley. Soon after this , these differences were put aside for the good of the colonies, but would resume again after the war.

For those researching the Christopher Stark, Sr. family, the creation of Westmoreland County is important in understanding the organization of Connecticut participants in the Revolutionary War. While the Wyoming Valley is today within the bounds of the State of Pennsylvania, fighting men living in this area before the Revolutionary War were considered members of the Connecticut militia. Therefore, many members of Christopher, Sr.'s family will show on the rolls of the Connecticut Militia, not the Pennsylvania Militia.

The settlements were becoming alarmed, for they had received word the British, under Col. John Butler (his command was mostly Canadians and Indians) was at Oswego, and now the people of the valley were convinced the savages were in alliance with the British. On August 23, 1776, the United States Congress, at the urgent request of Col. Zebulon Butler, resolved to station two companies at Westmoreland for the defense of the inhabitants. Robert Durkee and Samuel Ransom were elected Captains of these companies and given the authority to recruit soldiers from Westmoreland County. James Stark joined Captain Samuel Ransom's company September 17, 1776. Their purpose was to defend Westmoreland County from Indian attacks and the British.

However, as history tells us, Washington was retreating after the British General Howe captured New York. His 3,000 men were forced to keep moving through New Jersey and crossed the Delaware River December 8th causing Congress to immediately take measures to move from Philadelphia to Baltimore. Before moving however, the Congress "resolved" on December 12, that the two companies raised in the town of Westmoreland, be ordered to join George Washington, with all possible expedition. Ransom and Durkee promptly obeyed and were with Washington by the end of 1776, leaving Westmoreland defenseless. These companies were placed under the command of General Dickinson and first saw battle January 27, 1777, at the battle of Millstone. July 20, 1777, James Stark died in camp from a small pox epidemic which struck the command. His body was returned to Westmoreland and he was buried at the Upper Wilkes-Barre Township in the old burying ground.²⁹

In 1777, Christopher Stark, Sr. died of natural causes. His will dated 1777, provides for his son, James to receive his homestead with the proviso that he should take care not only of his mother, but of his grandmother, also.²⁵ James had an oldest son named James, Jr. born December 12, 1760. Could this be the James named in the will and he is to provide for his mother, Elizabeth Carey, and grandmother, Joanna Walworth? It is related by Carey descendants that James, Jr.'s grandmother Carey was deceased several years prior to 1777. Because James, Sr. and Christopher, Sr. died so close in time, this is perhaps the James mentioned in the will.

Signs of an invasion from the North into the Valley became apparent and Congress, on March 17, 1778, authorized Westmoreland County, Connecticut to raise a company for the defense of the town. Aaron Stark, his son Aaron, Jr., William, and Daniel, were recruited and joined this company . By May, the settlements were frantic and appealed to Congress to return their men to the defense of the valley, but the authorities continued to hold these men to support General Washington.

Col. Zebulon Butler assumed command of the Westmoreland defenders at Forty Fort June 29, after British Col. John Butler invaded the Valley on that day. The British troops, consisting of about 250 of Butlers Rangers and an equal number of Indians quickly captured Fort Jenkins and then Fort Wintermoot. Under the command of Col. Zebulon Butler at Forty Fort were 230 enrolled men, seventy old people, boys, civil magistrates, and other volunteers, the bulk of able bodied fighting men having been sent to reinforce General Washington. Among the defenders at Forty Fort were Aaron Stark, son of Christopher Stark, Sr., his son of the same name, Daniel Stark, the youngest son of Christopher, Sr., and James Stark, Jr. oldest son of James Stark, Sr. and Elizabeth Carey.

Early on the morning of July 3, Col. John Butler sent messengers to Forty Fort demanding a surrender. Col. Zebulon Butler immediately called a council of war and asked if he should parley with the enemy for delay until reinforcements should arrive. Many believed they could execute a surprise attack on the British troops who had bivouacked at Fort Wintermoot. The latter strategy prevailed. This would prove to be a fatal error in judgment.

The forces of Brant and Col. John Butler were at Wintermoot's Fort, opposite Pittston. The little band, on the afternoon of July 3rd, numbering about 350 of the sturdiest remaining settlers, under the command of Colonel Zebulon Butler, left the fort amid the prayers of dear and devoted kindred. Old men, whose hands were tremulous and unsteady; young ones, unskilled in years--marched side by side to the place of conflict. Among the 350 were Aaron Stark, Sr. his son Aaron Stark, Jr. and Daniel Stark. So great the emergency at this time, so much to be won or lost by the coming battle, that none remained in the fort save women and children.

Moving rapidly up the west bank of the river, the Yankee Colonel Z. Butler cautiously led his forces within half a mile of Wintermoot's. Here he halted a few minutes, and sent forward two volunteers to reconnoiter the position and strength of the enemy. They were promptly fired upon by the British for their Indian Scouts had already apprised them of the Yankees departure from Forty Fort. The British Colonel J. Butler promptly formed his forces into line of battle; the Provincials and Tories being placed in front toward the river, while to his right was concealed a large number of Indians.

About four in the afternoon the battle began; Col. Z. Butler ordered his men to fire, and at each discharge to advance a step. As the Yankees advanced, pouring in their platoon fires with great vivacity, the British line gave way. At this time, the Indians engaged the Connecticut Troops from their left flank. For half an hour the battle raged with each side giving and taking fire from the other. However, it became apparent the Connecticut force was vastly out numbered. Orders were given by the Connecticut forces for one Company to wheel back, so as to form an angle with the main line, and thus present their front instead of flank to the Indians on their left. On the attempt the savages rushed in with horrid yells. Utter confusion now prevailed on the left. Seeing the disorder, and his own men beginning to give way, Col. Z. Butler threw himself between the fires of the opposing ranks and rode up and down the line in the most reckless exposure. "'Don't leave me, my children, and the victory is ours." But it was too late. When it was seen that defeat had come, the confusion became general. Some fought bravely in the hopeless conflict, others fled in wild disorder down the valley toward Forty Fort or Wilkes-Barre without their guns, pursued by Indians whose belts were soon reeking with warm scalps. Another group of Indians moved in behind the fleeing forces, cutting off their retreat to Forty Fort. All was lost and the fleeing Connecticut men were forced to run for the river, in hopes of reaching Wilkes-Barre Fort on the other side..

A group of men including Aaron, Sr., Aaron, Jr. and Daniel, ran for their lives and hid in driftwood along the banks of the river. The Indians searched and towards night fall, found Aaron, Sr. and Daniel. They were tomahawked and scalped before the eyes of Aaron, Jr. who remained concealed and was not detected by the Indians. Aaron, Jr. then fled to the home of his grandfather, Christopher Stark, Sr. before eventually escaping the battle and making it back to Dutchess County.

Aaron, Sr.'s wife had taken refuge at Forty Fort. After the Fort was taken by the British, she along with some other women and children were allowed to leave unmolested and they made their way back to Dutchess County, she with five of her children. On the night of July 3rd, William Stark and his family made their way to Wilkes-Barre Fort from which they along with others, started for the Delaware River and finally back to Dutchess County.

James Stark's widow, Elizabeth Carey, on hearing about the massacre, took her small children with her into the corn fields and hid. After the Indians had passed she made her way back to her home to find all of the buildings destroyed. She gathered what belongings she could find and made her way on foot to Dutchess County. When she arrived at her sister's home, she was a picture of misery and destitution. She never rallied from the death of her husband a year earlier and then the massacre which destroyed her home. She passed away August 12, 1778, probably her spirit broken, another belated victim of the massacre. Elizabeth Carey's oldest son James was serving in Captain Simon Spalding's Company and received a musket ball in one of his legs and was one of the last to leave the Valley, eventually arriving safely in Dutchess County.

The massacre had finally dislodged the Christopher Stark, Sr. family from the Wyoming Valley. After so many attempts to settle, the painful memories and horrors of that day were too much for this family to attempt to return to the Valley. Only William and his family would return for awhile, but then leave by 1790 and return to Orange County, New York. Most surviving members of the family would settle in or near Dutchess County until the end of the Revolutionary War.

Christopher Stark, Jr. and his family were living in Dutchess County at the time of the Wyoming Valley Massacre and probably housed many of the refugees from that horrible day in their home. By 1778, Asahel Stark had married Sarah Dark and probably had one small child. His brother, William would have now been 18 years old and youngest brother John was perhaps 14 to 16 years old. They would have heard the stories from the survivors and joined to fight the British who they felt were responsible for the slaughter that took place on that day.

Military 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 company from New York assigned to Vermont for 4 days during this crisis.

The text, "New York In The Revolution as Colony and State", Volume I, published in 1904, is a 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 military documents, repeated the listing and there was really only Asahel Stark, William Stark, and Christopher Stark, Jr. 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

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

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. deceased in 1777 as mentioned earlier. 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. Also, many of these names appear on the pay voucher issued as a result of the Saratoga Alarm, suggesting these men were from New York, and not Vermont, further supporting their temporary assignment to the above mentioned Vermont Regiment. As we will find later, "Asel" Stark also is shown in the Pittstown 1790 census, suggesting many of the people of Dutchess County had migrated to this area either before the war or soon after. From William's pension application, 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 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 Authors tend 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. Thus ends the story of Christopher Stark, Sr. and his son Christopher, Jr..

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