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Volume II, Migration to New York, Indiana & Other Places
William Stark, Son of Christopher Stark,
Jr.
Page 5 of 8
Copyright © 1997, Sharon Reck; Edited by Clovis LaFleur, March 2002
See Copyright Notice
Note: The text that follows consists of; 1]Biography of William Stark, 2] William Stark's Revolutionary War Pension Application, and 3] Records from the Penfield, Surrogate Court, Monroe County,
New York State.
Biography of William Stark
Although the evidence is circumstantial, it is believed the
William Stark who died in Penfield Township, Monroe County, New York on July
24th, 1827 was the son of Christopher Stark, Jr. and Susannah Perhaps Price. He
was born about 1760 in Dutchess County, New York, probably on the Beekman
Patent, where Christopher Stark entered the name William Stark and the name
"Azel Stark" on the lease sometime between the years 1759 and 1770. [Note 1] William's Revolutionary War Pension application, made September 11,
1822, mentions he was 62 years old which would place his year of birth as 1760.
[Note 2] He married Mehitable Fuller about 1783 to 1788. [Note 3]
There is no direct evidence that this William Stark is the
son of Christopher Stark, Jr. His close proximity to Asahel Stark in Penfield
leads me to this conclusion. The evidence suggesting he is a son of Christopher,
Jr. is the name William Stark on the Beekman Patents, mentioned above, and the
1785 and 1786 New York Revolutionary War pay vouchers allowing William Stark to
collect certificates of pay for a Christopher Stark, probably deceased, on
behalf of his widow Susannah Stark, and the pay of his brother, Asahel Stark.
From the New York Revolutionary War Records, we also know a Christopher Stark,
Asahel Stark, and William Stark served in Yates Regiment of the 14th Albany
County Militia. [Notes 4, 5, 6, & 7]
Williams Pension Application indicates he entered his service
in the Revolutionary War in the spring of 1780 in Pittstown, Albany County, New
York and served for nine months. He was initially under the command of Capt.
Joseph Harrison in a regiment commanded by Colonel Warner and was then delivered
over to Major ?Hughs? of Schenectady and went with him to Fort Stanwix. He was
honorably discharged after nine months in Schenectady, probably about January or
February of 1881. Both Schenectady and Fort Stanwix are located on the Mohawk
River with Schenectady just north of Albany and Fort Stanwix west on the Mohawk
River near present day Rome, New York. [Note 2]
December 9, 1787, a William Stark witnessed the Last Will & Testament of
Michael Overocker in Tomhannock, Rensselaer County, New York. This would be a
few miles north of Pittstown. Michael Overocker was a member of the 14th
Regiment of the Albany County, NY militia as was another witness to the will,
Peter Yates. [Note 8] The 1790 census for Pittstown Township, Albany County, New
York records as head of the house, William Stark, with one male over sixteen and
two females living in the home. In this census he is listed as living next door
to his older brother, Asahel Stark. It would appear William may have married
just prior to this census and one of the females is his spouse while the other
may be an infant daughter.
The Green, Chenango Co., NY 1800 Census shows William Stark as head of the
house. Living in the Household are; 1 male 26-45, 1 male under 10, 1 female
16-26, and 1 female under 10. This is probably the William Stark of this text
who would be the male in the 26 to 45 year old age group if he was born in 1760
as reported in his Revolutionary War Pension application. The Penfield, Monroe
Co., NY 1820 Census again reveals William is the head of the house. Living in
this home are; 1 male over 45, 1 male 10-16, 1 female over 45, 1 female 16-26,
and 1 female 10-16. Again, because of the Pension application mentioned above
and William's Surrogate Court record in Penfield, we must presume this to be our
William Stark.
William Stark applied for a Pension Application in 1822 which was granted in
1823. Because he reports in 1822 in his application his wife is
"weakly,", Mehitable Fuller probably died after the date of the
application and before July 24, 1827, the day William died, for she is not
mentioned in the Penfield Surrogate Court Record. Although the above census
records suggest William and Mehitable had children, no records of their names
have been found to date.
To confirm William is the possible son of Christopher Stark, Jr., we need to
examine several other men named William Stark who were living in New York at
about the same time. Many researchers have mistaken William P. Stark, who died
in Sweden Township, Monroe County, New York, July 31, 1829, with this William
Stark who died in Penfield of the same County. However, examination of the
records has shown William P. Stark, 32 years old at the time of his death, was
the son of James Stark, Jr., and the grandson of James Stark, Sr., younger
brother of Christopher Stark, Jr. Therefore, William Stark of our text was a first cousin of James
Stark, Jr. and William P. Stark was our William's 2nd cousin, once removed.
Now let's examine the whereabouts of William Stark, son of Christopher Stark,
Sr. and the brother of Christopher, Jr. The Charles R. Stark text records this
William was born in February of 1745 and died in 1795. He married Mary
"Polly" Carey, daughter of Nathan and Mary Carey of Dutchess County,
New York. This marriage probably occurred about 1762. He lived in Dutchess
County until 1773. At Pawling Precinct in that County, he deeded a half share,
two hundred acres of land, from the Connecticut Purchase in the Wyoming Valley
to Henry Carey, probably a brother of his father-in-law, Nathan, and
father-in-law of his brother, James Stark, Sr. This deed retained 200 acres for
William. Within a month, William's family moved to the Wyoming Valley. After the
Wyoming Valley Massacre, William returned to Dutchess County, New York. Because
he died in 1795, we can confidently proclaim he was not the William of the 1800
census mentioned above.
However, as recorded in the Charles R. Stark Text, this William Stark did
have a son named William Stark, Jr., born Feb. 13, 1765 in Dutchess County, New
York. This William Stark, Jr. married Elizabeth Halstead Jan. 31, 1791. He moved
to the Wyoming Valley with several other members of the James Stark family. He
died in 1833. Because this marriage occurred after the 1790 census, we can
presume he would not have been the William Stark recorded in the 1790 census for
Pittstown. Therefore, by elimination, I believe the William Stark depicted in
this text is the son of Christopher Stark, Jr. and the grandson of Christopher
Stark, Sr. and Joanna Walworth. He would also be the William Stark who served in
the 14th Regiment of the Albany County, New York Militia with his father
Christopher Stark, Jr. and his brother, Asahel Stark.
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Notes:,
1] New York Genealogical and Biography Record, Vol. 117 (1986), page 151,
contributed by Frank J. Doherty. [Return to Text]
2] Rev. War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Applications Files; Roll Series
#M805, Application File #S42387. See full text at end of biography. [Return to Text]
3] Date of 1783-1788 is estimate made by Clovis LaFleur based on 1790 census
data from Pittstown, Albany County, New York. Source of marriage to Mehitable
Fuller; "Northfield on the Genesee The Story of a Frontier Town", book
compiled by Margaret Schmitt MacNab, Katherine Wilcox Thompson and Shirley Cox Husted, published 1981. Page 187; Quote "Mehitable Stark, born 1763,
daughter of Joseph Fuller who came to Penfield before 1810, married William
Starks. Joseph Fuller was the son of Timothy and Mary Gifford Fuller." Page
294; Quote "When William Stark died 24 July 1827, he was a resident of
Penfield. Where he is buried is not known, nor is he accorded the recognition
given veterans. This he should have, because the inventory of his modest estate
shows $36.33 cash received from a pension claim."] [Return to Text]
4] Revolutionary War Period Records, Roll M 859, Manuscript # 12071. Feb. 28,
1785, Vol 7, p. 155]. St. Cook [ See Manu #12005 above for presence of Jonathan
Waldo at St. Coyek in May 1785 and #12036 for others associated with Col. Yates]
To Col John Rensselar. Please to Deliver to the Barer William Stark the notes
that is due to Christopher Starks for his militia wagers and you will oblige
your friend, Susanna Stark. Witness William Gifford and John Gifford. {Note From
"Settlers of the Beekman Patent," we know that William Gifford was
born in Dutchess County about 1755 and from the "Abstracts of Revolutionary
War Pension Files," we know that John Gifford was born 27 Aug. 1760 in
Dutchess County, New York; he lived at Cambridge in Washington County, New York
at the time of his enlistment and was later living with his brother at
Pittstown, Rensselaer County, New York; he also enlisted there and served with Ens. Joseph Gifford, who may be related to Mary Gifford, b. 1744, who married
Timothy Fuller and was the mother of Mehitable Fuller who married William Stark
known to have lived in Penfield, Ontario County, New York near Asahel Stark.]
5] Revolutionary War Period Records, Roll #M859, Manuscript #12070. Aug. 20,
1785 [Vol 7, p. 185]. Corl John Van Ransselar, Sir Please to let William Stark
have the certificates that you have for me my Servis Don in the Melisha and this
order shall be your Resate for the Sums. Signed Asahel Stark. Witness "Zacock"
Scriber [Note Zadock Scriber was in Yates Regt.]
6] Revolutionary War Period Records, Roll M859, Manuscript #12072. Jan. 11,
1786 [Vol 7, p 155] St. Cuick [This place, also transcribed St. Coyick or Coyek
is almost certainly St. Coic, which was an early Dutch settlement in the
southeast corner of White Creek Township located in the southeast corner of
Washington County, New York --- see next manuscript #12273]. Col. John Van
Rensellar Sir, please pay the Barer William Starks all the wages due to
Christopher Starke, Junr for service done in your Regment and this order shall
be your discharge for the same form me. Susanna Starke. Witness Israel Shepard. [Isreal and William Shepherd were also in Douty's Vermont Regiment. Isreal was
born 1 Apr. 1746 in Plainfield, Connecticut; married Hannah Pitcher about 1766
in Amenia, Dutchess County, New York and applied for a Revolutionary War Pension
in Madison County, New York.]
7] New York in the Revolution, Vol. 1, published 1904, pages 127 & 235. [Return to Text]
8] Rensselaer County Wills, Phillips Collection, Volume 1, pgs 1,2. [Return to Text]
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Census Records
Pittstown Twp, Albany County, NY 1790 Census
William Stark, 1 male over 16, no males under 16, 2 females.
Green, Chenango Co., NY 1800 Census
William Stark, 1 male 26-45, 1 male under 10, 1 female 16-26, 1 female under
10.
Penfield, Monroe Co., NY 1820 census
William Stark, 1 male over 45, 1 male 10-16, 1 female over 45, 1 female
16-26, 1 female 10-16.
_________________________________________________
William Stark Revolutionary Pension Application. Appeared
in Court Sept. 11, 1822
State of New York, Monroe County. On This Eleventh day of September 1822
personally appeared in open court being court of common pleas in and for the
said county and ?constitutes? a court of record by proceeding according to the
course of common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in [Not legible] of amount
and keeping a record of its proceedings and requiring as such court by the laws
and judicial decisions of said State, William Stark aged sixty two years,
resident in the town of Penfield in said County who being first Duly sworn
according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary
war as follows --- That the said William Stark entered in the spring of the year
one thousand seven hundred and eighty, into the service of the United States in
the town of Pittstown in the State of New York for the time of nine months in
the company commanded by Joseph Harrison in a Regiment Commanded by Colonel
?Warner? of the regular service belonging to the [Not legible; perhaps something
"New Hampshire" but this is not certain] that he was delivered over to
Major ?Hughs? of Schenectady and went with him to Fort Stanwix and at the
expiration of said nine months was Honorably discharged at Schenectady and that
he is subject to fits and ?am? curse with the Rheumatism and has a ?very? weakly
wife -- and that he made application for a Pension on the seventh day of May
1818 -- And I do Solemnly Swear that I was a resident citizen of the United
States on the Eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
and that I have not since that time, by gift sale or in any manner, disposed of
my property or any part thereof with an intent whereby so to diminish it as to
bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled, " are
out to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the
United States in the Revolutionary war [Not legible] on the Eighteenth day of
March 1818." and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for [Not
Legible] any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any
income other than which is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me
proscribed viz; one cow valued at $12, one mare & colt $45, four hogs $10,
one old chest $1.25, one pair of old Andirons $1.50. Amount in value of property
exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is eighty five dollars -- in testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court on
this twentieth day September 1822. Signed A. H. Rochester, Dep Clk
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Records from the Penfield, Surrogate Court, Monroe County,
New York State
Document #1 Estate of William Stark. I, John Fuller, do solemnly swear
and declare that William Stark late of the Town of Penfield in the County of
Monroe is dead, and that he left no last will or testament as far as I know or
believe; and that I will faithfully perform the duties of administrator to his
estate. Signed John Fuller. Sworn before me this 1st day of August 1827, by
affirmation. Signed O. E. Sibley, Surrogate.
Document #2 Petition of Gurhan Durham, Esquire, friend of William Stark
late of Town of Penfield in County of Monroe, dec., Respectfully sheweth; That
the said William Stark on or about the 24th day of July died in the Town of
Penfield being at or immediately preceding the said time of his death,
inhabitant of the said County of Monroe. That the said deceased has left no will
or testament, as far as your petitioner has heard or been able to discover that
in the opinion of your petitioner, it is proper and necessary that some discreet
person have the care and management of the personal estate of said deceased for
the benefit of all interested. And your petitioner further sheweth that all the
goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased do not exceed in value the sum
of $250. Dated, Aug. 1, 1827. Signed Gurham Dunham. On back of petition L. B. A.
128, Penfield, Filed 1st Aug. 1827.
Document #3 Administration Bond John Fuller, Joseph Fuller, and Elihu
Waits bound for $500, dated, Aug. 1, 1827. Signed John Fuller, Administrator of
Estate of William Stark.
Document #4 Inventory, March 28, 1828, by affirmation, John Fuller.
Inventory of William Stark of Penfield [No day or month given, year is given]
1827. Signed James Lovett, Daniel Fuller, Jr. Sworn before Girthour Dunham, J.
P., Aug. 2, 1827. Selected items of Interest One horse, wagon, and harness ...
$22.00, 1 mare, 8 halters, 1 pairs of fetters ... $58.00, Kitchin equipment,
farm tools, dishes, crockery ... $???, A quantity of corn, beans, potatoes on
the ground ... $2.50, 1/2 of quantity of hay in barn ... &5.00, Household
furniture and bedding ... $???, 1 note against Reuben Merrill ... $6.00, Money
received from R. Merrill for sheep sold to his son ... $12.00. Filed, Mar. 24,
1828
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