During the years from about 1695 to 1800, there were several individuals in the Stark Family with the given name Christopher. Because the name was used so often in many different descendant branches of the Aaron Stark Family, there have been many interpretations of the data by early researchers which have influenced and distorted the organization of these families. This text will attempt to resolve these issues and put forth several theories that will, perhaps, conflict with the work of others.

Christopher Stark, Sr. was born about or before 1695 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut, the son of William Stark, Sr. and Elizabeth. He is well documented in the Groton Deed Records from 1716 to 1758. He married Joanna Walworth April 1, 1722 in Groton.  There is a record in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 117 (1986), page 151 showing a Christopher Stark is first reported leasing land May 1, 1759 on the Beekman Patent in New York, pays Taxes in Beekman from 1759 to 1769 and again at Pawling, New York in 1772. At some later date the names Azell Stark and William Stark were added to the lease. From the Charles R. Stark text titled, "The Aaron Stark Family, Seven Generations", a son named Christopher Stark, Jr. was born to Christopher, Sr. and Joanna on September 27, 1728. In 1759, this son would have been 31 years old and it is known from other researchers he also moved to Beekman, Dutchess County, New York. According to CRS both Christopher, Sr. and Christopher, Jr. had sons named William. However, there is no mention of a child named "Azell" for either of these men. Therefore, we are left with a question. Who is "Azell" Stark, and what is his relationship to either of these men? Another question would be which Christopher Stark is named on the Beekman Lease? These will be addressed later.

In a text entitled, "Settlers of Beekman Patent", by Frank Doherty, page 510 (Volume not known), Doherty cites the marriage of Mary Bennett and Aaron Stark," son of Christopher and Martha (Vineyard) Stark of Pawling." This Aaron was born in 1755, according to Doherty. Could this Christopher reported to have married Martha Vineyard be Christopher Stark, Jr.? CRS also reports an Aaron Stark, son of Christopher Stark, Jr. born in 1755, listed as individual #212. However, CRS shows no spouse for Christopher, Jr.. The CRS text indicates this Aaron Stark, #212 married four times and had twenty children with these four women. He is reported by CRS to have died about 1835. The Record and Pension Office War Department quoted by CRS shows Aaron Stark, #212 was in Captain Simeon Spalding's Company, 1st. Connecticut Regiment, and this Aaron Stark, #212 is reported to be the son of Christopher, Jr. by CRS. CRS further states, "he (Aaron) and his father were in the battle and massacre of Wyoming July 3, 1778.....From his (Aaron's) place of concealment he saw them take his father out with others and tomahawk him." From this account, one would believe Christopher, Jr. was killed in the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania massacre. However, this is not supported by facts, for Aaron Stark and Daniel Stark are the only Starks reported as victims of this massacre on the Wyoming Valley monument honoring those who died on that day. CRS also reports Christopher Stark, Jr. died in 1777, the same year he reports Christopher Stark, Sr. died. Therefore, from this exercise, the CRS data becomes questionable.

CRS reports Christopher Stark, Sr. had a son named Aaron Stark, reported as individual #88, born March 3, 1733/34 and died July 3, 1778, the same day of the Wyoming massacre. This Aaron married a women named Margaret. Their first child was reported to be Aaron Stark, Jr. reported as individual #228 in CRS. From CRS, "After the troops broke and ran Aaron and his son of the same name also fled and hid themselves in the driftwood along the river. The father was discovered by the savages and taken out and cruelly murdered before the very eyes of the son." Notice how closely this account seems to agree with the above account implying Christopher, Jr. was killed in this massacre. Clearly, it would appear CRS has created two individuals named Aaron Stark with fathers killed in the Wyoming Massacre. The account of a Aaron Stark seeing his father killed in the Wyoming Valley massacre occurred for only one Aaron Stark, and I would theorize he was the son of Aaron Stark, #88 who was the son of Christopher Stark, Sr.. Indeed, Revolutionary War Pension Application #R10072 shows a Aaron Stark made application May 15, 1823 in Beekman, New York for a pension. In his application he states, "Late in 1776 he resided in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (The Wyoming Valley Area) and enlisted in a Company under Capt. Ransom, marched to Morristown to join General Washington , that his Father was killed with most of the others of the militia company....he was saved by remaining in the river....abt. 9 months before the close of the war he deserted to go see his mother at Beekman who had left the Susquehanna Company (Resided in the Wyoming Valley at the time of the massacre) on account of the Indians and removed their with her family". This clearly is our Aaron Stark, #228, son of Aaron Stark, #88 who married Margaret. In his pension he reports his age to be 72, placing his year of birth as 1751.

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Therefore, if my theory Christopher Stark, Jr. did not have a son named Aaron, then who is Doherty referring to in the Beekman Patents? I believe the son born around 1755 to Christopher Stark, Jr.'s spouse was Asahel Stark, the "Azell" mentioned in the 1759 lease agreement. From the Onandago County, New York 1800 census, Asahel Stark is a male over 45 years old. If this was Asahel, then he was born before 1755. This could be the "Azell" mentioned in the Beekman lease.

However, we do find a Christopher Stark living in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1768. He is reported to have served on a jury in that year. To serve on a jury, he should have been 21 years old, setting his latest year of birth as 1747. Descendants of Jonathan Stark, son of William Stark, Jr. who was the nephew of Christopher Stark, Sr. indicate he married Martha Vineyard in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1772, based on the reported birth of their first child, James in 1773. This Christopher Stark family seems to be well documented with records showing, before Washington County, Pennsylvania was formed, he served in the Revolutionary War with Daniel Stark and James Stark as Rangers on the Frontier in the Pennsylvania Militia, 3rd Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. David Williamson. Could this be the same Christopher Stark who married Martha Vineyard who had a son named Aaron born in 1755 reported in the Beekman Patents by Doherty?

First, the Christopher Stark in Loudoun County seems to be young to have had a son in 1755, although, there is nothing to indicate he could not have been born in 1728, the year Christopher, Jr. was born. 1768 could have been the first year he was reported living in Loudoun County after moving there from Dutchess County, New York, assuming this happened which it did not.

There appears to be no proof as to which Christopher Stark is named in the Beekman lease. Senior or Junior could be the named individual. To bring a little order to this, lets list some known facts for Christopher Stark, Sr., Christopher Stark, Jr. and Christopher Stark who married Martha Vineyard in Loudoun County, Virginia.

1. From 1759-69 there is a Christopher Stark living on the Beekman Patent paying taxes during these years in Beekman. He could be either Senior or Junior.

2. 1768; Christopher Stark of Loudoun County, Virginia is a member of a jury in that County.

3. 1768; May, Christopher Stark, Sr. conveys his rights to shares in the Susquehanna Company to his sons, Christopher Stark, Jr., Aaron Stark, and James Stark.

4. 1769; September 12, Christopher Stark, Jr., Aaron Stark, James Stark, and William Stark are living along the Susquehanna River in the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania. They are driven out of the area in November.

5. 1770; Christopher Stark and Joseph Stark are on James Hamilton's Tithable list, Loudoun County, Virginia.

6. 1770; June, Christopher Stark, Jr. and Aaron Stark return to the Susquehanna, but are driven out again.

7. 1772; Early in the year; James Stark returns to the Wyoming Valley with his father, Christopher Stark, Sr. and brother Daniel.

8. 1772; Christopher Stark is reported on the Pawling, Dutchess County, New York tax list.

9. 1772; Christopher Stark is estimated by descendants to have married Martha Vineyard in Loudoun County, Virginia.

10. 1775; Christopher Stark, Daniel Stark, and James Stark on Lt. David Enoch's Roll and list of militia paid off at Fort Pitt in Pennsylvania.

11. 1777; Christopher Stark, Sr. died in the Wyoming Valley of old age and names his son James as executor of his will.

12. July 3, 1778; Aaron Stark and Daniel Stark are victims of the Wyoming Massacre in Pennsylvania. Young Aaron is a witness to his father's death at the hands of the Indians.

13. 1778-1783; Before Washington County, Pennsylvania was formed from Westmoreland County, Christopher Stark, Daniel Stark, and James Stark were reported to be members of the Frontier Rangers, 3rd Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. David Williamson. Source: County Rangers on the Frontiers, Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. XXIII, pages 198-220.

14. 1781; August 1-4, Lt. Christopher Stark, Jr. and Ashel Stark appear on pay roll of Captain William Shepard's Company. He is listed in this document as Lt. Christopher Stark, Jr.

15. 1781; April 25; John Stark picks up the pay of his father, Christopher Stark from the New York militia.

16. 1783; Christopher Stark, Daniel Stark, James Stark, and Jonathan Stark are on the Fallowfield Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania tax list.

17. 1785; February 28, William Stark is sent to pick up the pay of Christopher Stark on behalf of Susanna Stark for his militia wages under Col. John Ressselar. On the same date, William Stark is also to pick up the pay of Asel Stark.

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If one follows the location and time of these Christopher Stark events, it becomes clear we could be referring to three individuals. Clearly, after Christopher Stark, Sr. died in 1777, the references of the Christopher Stark in Loudoun County, Virginia being Christopher, Sr.'s son become difficult to resolve for he must be in this County, the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, and Dutchess County, New York, all at the same time from 1768 to 1772 if he is one person. It becomes even harder in 1781, with Lt. Christopher Stark present at the Saratoga Alert in August of that year at the same time another Christopher Stark is serving with the Washington County, Pennsylvania, 3rd Battalion. in another theater of the war. Again, it is possible one person could have been in all of these places during these intervals, but not very likely. Therefore, this exercise seems to conclude there were two individuals named Christopher Stark serving in the militia. One was with the Washington County, Pennsylvania 3rd Battalion serving under Lt. Col. David Williamson in 1781 while the other, Lt. Christopher Stark, Jr. was serving in Captain William Shepard's Company attached to Col. Cornelius Douty's Regiment from August 1 to August 4 of 1781.

I would theorize the Doherty reference to Christopher Stark and Martha Vineyard on the Beekman Patent was influenced by the errors to be found in the CRS text. Christopher Stark, Sr. married Joanna Walworth April 1, 1722 in Groton. September 27, 1728, they had a son they named Christopher Stark, Jr., born in Groton. He had younger brothers named Aaron, James, and Daniel. Beginning in 1728, we now have two well identified individuals named Christopher Stark.

CRS reports Christopher Stark, Sr. had an older brother named William Stark, Jr. who was born about or before 1689. William Stark, Jr. married Experience Lamb April 13, 1710, probably in Groton and they had a son named Jonathan, born December 10, 1712. On March 3, 1716, William Stark, Sr. deeded 30 acres to his son William Stark, Jr. as a gift with the provision it would be his property for his natural life. Upon the death of William Stark, Jr. the property would then belong to Jonathan Stark, grandson of William Stark, Sr. It would seem likely William Stark, Jr. died before 1736, for Jonathan Stark sells 16 acres of this property that year, which he could not have done if William, Jr. was living.

Jonathan Stark was living in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey in 1734, for he is a witness to a deed transaction in that location. Although he is recorded as a resident of Groton in the 1736 deed transaction when he sells the property, he may have returned from New Jersey to sell the property after the death of his father. Sometime before 1739, Jonathan married Sarah Laycock, probably in New Jersey. About or before 1739, they had a son named James Stark, who was named in 1765 as administrator to the estate of Jonathan Stark, deceased in Hardwick, Sussex County, New Jersey. James is later found to be in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1767 along with brothers William and Joseph. CRS doesn't carry forward the descendants of Jonathan in his book leaving one to wonder who they may have been. Because Christopher Stark is reported on the Loudoun County Jury in 1768, I believe he is a brother of James. Another indication this Christopher is the son of Jonathan Stark and brother of James is the evidence there is a Francis Vineyard living in Loudoun County at this time and speculated to be the father of the Martha Vineyard reported to have married Christopher in 1772.

Although all of the above is not necessarily conclusive, I believe time, place, and opportunity for a Christopher Stark to marry Martha Vineyard would favor her husband being Christopher Stark, son of Jonathan Stark and brother of his son James Stark living in Loudoun County, Virginia from 1767 to about 1774. I believe Christopher Stark, Jr., son of Christopher Stark, Sr. probably lived on the Beekman lease and had sons named William Stark, Asahel Stark, and probably John Stark, this conclusion based on the militia records. He probably married a woman named Susanna, probably with the surname Price, to be addressed in a separate section. He probably died before 1785 and after 1781. For the reasons stated above, I will organize these families as suggested by the above analysis.

There could still be questions to resolve, for CRS reports Christopher Stark, Jr. had a son named Christopher and Aaron Stark, son of Christopher Stark, Sr. is reported by CRS to have named a son Christopher. The possible times of their births, sometime between 1755 and 1770 suggest they probably would not have been a Lieutenant in the militia if born in the latter part of this range. This may require further investigation, for as seen above, there are many family organizational errors in the CRS text.

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