John Stark, Son of Christopher Stark, Jr.?

From the research of Sharon Reck and Mrs. H. S. McKee, John Stark of this text was probably born about 1763/1764 in Dutchess, County, New York and died June 30, 1841 in Neville, Claremont County, Ohio. [Note 1] He married Catherine Neff November 11, 1786 at present day Fonda, New York in the Dutch Church of Caughnawaga [The community of Caughnawaga was later named Fonda.] which gives the date and states that, "Jacob Neff/Neef's daughter Caty met ein Niew Englander, John Starks." The same Church records show Jacob and Catherine Neef Baptized their son Jacob on May 12, 1765. Therefore, we know this family was living in this region before the Revolutionary War.

Caughnawaga, located on the Mohawk River about 30 miles west of Schenectady, New York was the scene of many skirmishes during the Revolutionary War and the area where Jacob "Neef" and his wife Catherine Angst/Aunchs lived before the war, which probably provided the opportunity for John to meet and marry Catherine when she was about 16 years old. [Note 2]

There is only one record which links John to Christopher Stark. New York Pay Voucher, Manuscript #5794 consists of three scraps of paper of which one appears to be an envelope, on which is written John Starks order #180-107, the name James Wail...J? [torn], and Christopher Star? [torn]. The second scrap of paper says, "copy of" and the third records, "To Lieut Peaks, Sir, be pleased to pay to my Honourd father on his order three months wages which is Due to me ... it Being for Value Received as witness my hand this 25th of april 1781. Signed John Stark. Witness Timothy Price, William Richasson." [Note 3] Timothy Price served with Christopher, William, and Asahel in the 14th Regiment of the Albany County Militia.

However, there is a record that a John Stark served in the 14th Regiment with Asahel and William Stark. On page 235 of the text, "New York State in the Revolution as Colony and State", Volume I, is listed these three Stark names, all serving in the Albany County 14th Regiment who applied for "Bounty Rights" for service in this Regiment. The name Christopher would not appear in these records for he died before 1786 and would not have applied for his "Bounty Right." Also appearing on this page of the referenced text is the name "William Richison." This would more than likely be our John Stark of this text.

According to Sharon Reck's Research, there were three military units in New York with a Lieut. Peak (s). None had a John Starks among the enlisted men. However, a John Stars was in the 2nd Regiment of the Albany County Militia under Lieut. Jacobus H. "Peek" and Major Jelles Fonda [Resident of Caughnawaga] and Capt. Wilson.

From the research of Mrs. H. S. McKee, John and Catherine had children named; 1] Daniel who married Jane Kennedy, 2] Ace or Asa, 3] James, probably born before 1793, 4] Lizzie who married Daniel Collins??, 4] Polly who married Doctor Parmer??, 5] Nancy who married Anthony Jones, 6] Isaac who married Catherine Wollem, 7] Henry, born in 1805 who married Sarah Ann Ogle, and 8] John, born April 2, 1806 who married Charity Meeker daughter of Jonas Meeker. John was born in New York according to the 1850 census. Mrs. McKee's source of these names is the granddaughter of John and Catherine Stark.

Although the 1790 census reveals there was a John Stark living in Pawling, Dutchess County, New York along with Aaron Stark and James Stark, it is believed this was not the John Stark of our text. He is listed as head of the house with one male over 16, one male under 16, and three females living in the home. He was probably a brother of cousin of Aaron and brother of James, although this is not confirmed. This John is ruled out as our John of this text because he is not located where we believe he should be if married to Catherine Neff.

Sharon Reck speculates our John could have been living in the home of one of his Neff In-laws in 1790 and listed as a member of their household. Listed in the 1790 census for Montgomery County, New York is Johannes Nafe which included three adult males over 16 years old.

On April 8, 1814, John Stark and Daniel Stark and their wives, Kate and Jane, sold land in Penfield, Ontario County [Became part of Monroe County in 1821], New York to Samuel Thompson of Penfield for $950 off the east side of the Northwest division of lot 2 in T13, R4, in the presence of James Stark. James would have probably been a son of John and Catherine as would Daniel, believed to be the oldest son. John and Daniel had purchased this land March 4, 1813 from Ebenezer Waton for $439.39.

The family lived in Penfield, New York until 1818 when they moved to Neville, Clermont County, Ohio. John owned timber land, a mill on Maple Run about 1 mile from where the stream empties into the Ohio River, and other property in Neville, Ohio. [Note 4]

As indicated above, Daniel Stark married Jane Kennedy in 1810 in Penfield, New York. [Note 4] John Starks, son of John and Catherine. as stated above, married Charity Meeker and they had children named; 1]Mary Jane Starks, Sarah Starks, Harriet Starks, Alvira Starks, Randolf James Starks, Anna Maria Starks, Milissa Ellen Starks, John Powell Starks, William Henry Starks, and Charles F. Starks. [Note 5]

There is very little evidence Susanna Stark/Start, born about 1772, was a daughter of Christopher Stark, Jr. She is known from Revolutionary War Pension Application Records made by her husband's sister, Zerviah Goff [W1752; Widow of Jacob Goff]. Zerviah and her brother, Daniel Waldo, who married Susanna Stark, were children of John Waldo, who was a deacon of the Baptist Church of White Creek Village, New York from 1779 to 1781, and his spouse Jemima Abbott. From the New York Revolutionary War Pay Vouchers, we know Nathan Stark was in White Creek in July of 1784. [Note 1] Christopher Stark, Jr.'s probable widow, Susanna, requested his pay while living in St. Coic, located in White Creek township in 1785 and 1786. [Note 2, Note 3]

Jonathan Waldo, first cousin of Daniel Waldo, is also reported to be in St. Coic in 1785. [Note 4] By the 1790 census, both Nathan Stark and Daniel "Walden" as well as Peter Hartwell who married Olive Waldo, sister of Zerviah and Daniel Waldo. All were listed on Page 188 of the 1790 census for Granville, Washington County, New York. The Waldo Family Bible reveals; 1] Daniel Waldo married Susanna "Start" November 15, 1786, 2] Olive Waldo married Peter Hartwell December 13, 1774, and 3] Zerviah Waldo married Job Goff December 8, 1785. [Note 5] By 1800, Nathan Stark was on page 588 of the Washington County Census with only two females in his household while Daniel "Waldow" was on Page 571 and one James Stark was on page 572.

I am tentatively proposing that the above Susanna Start married Daniel Waldo and was the sister of Nathan Stark and daughter of Christopher Stark, Jr. and Susanna Perhaps Price. From the military records, we know John Waldo, Sr., John Waldo, Jr., and Jonathan Waldo fought in Yates 14th Albany County Regiment along with Christopher, Asahel, and William. Jonathan Waldo, who married Abigail Allen, was Daniel's first cousin, son of Shubail Waldo who was the brother of John Waldo, Sr.

The name Waldo can also be found on the Leases of the Beekman Patents. Samuel Waldo was first listed April 17, 1759 and continued on the lease through 1769 and then is found on the Pawling Tax list in 1778. Jonathan Waldo first appears on a lease January 6, 1762 [Jonathan married Ann Palmer May 25, 1762 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut] and continued on the lease until 1769 in Beekman and then in Pawling in 1770. Samuel Waldo of Pawling was Pastor of the South Dover Baptist Church [See "Settlers of the Beekman Patent", Volume II, page 226]. Samuel's father was Shubael Waldo of Norwich, Connecticut [See Norwich Vital Records, Part 1, page 163].

When one considers all of the above and then the entry in the Waldo Family Bible, which states, "Daniel Waldo was married 15th November, 1786 to Susanna Start", the evidence, although circumstantial, seems to indicate Susanna was a daughter of Christopher Stark, Jr. [Note 5]