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Part
4: The Third Generation; Children of William Stark (Senior)
Page
127
Chapter
15
Three
Daniel Starks In Gordon, Connecticut, 1753-1758
{By
Ralph M. Stoughton, Gill Mass., 1956; Contributed by Rodney Schroeder.
Comments by Clovis LaFleur, 2003}
Author’s
Introduction
The
following was taken from a typed text obtained from Rodney Schroeder,
who has the original. The theory presented concludes Daniel Stark, No.
94 on page 14 of the 1927 publication "The Aaron Stark
Family", by Charles R. Stark, was not the son of Daniel Stark, No.
20, recorded on the same page, but actually the son of William Stark,
Jr., No. 17 in this same text. The son of Daniel Stark, No. 20, was
actually the Daniel Stark presented in the Ralph M. Stoughton
publication which follows, who married Lois Culver. The significance of
this article is it will change the parents of Daniel Stark, No. 94,
presented in the Charles R. Stark text, from Daniel Stark, No. 20 who
married Sarah Culver to William Stark, Jr. who married Experience Lamb.
There are several areas of Ralph's dissertation which present weak
arguments which will be strengthened by my comments based on additional
research that has become available.
Clovis
LaFleur
August
8, 2003
Ralph
Stoughton Publication
There
were three adult Daniel Starks in Groton, Connecticut, in the years 1753
to 1758, only two of whom, incorrectly identified as father and son,
have been listed in the genealogy published as THE AARON STARK FAMILY.
The
Daniel Stark who died in November 1787 aged 62 years, and therefore born
about the year 1725, is placed as Daniel Stark Junior, the son of Daniel
Stark born about 1702 and his wife, Sarah Culver. By the will of her
father, Sarah (Culver) Stark is identified as the daughter of Joseph
Culver (Joseph2, Edward1). She was born May 24,
1710. That she was the mother of a son born in 1725 is highly unlikely.
Disproof is found in the fact that the Daniel born in 1725 was called
Junior to distinguish him from his uncle called Daniel born in 1702,
whose son, not born until about 1732 and also called Daniel Junior or
Daniel 2nd, has been overlooked and omitted in the genealogy.
Under
date of March 15, 1753, Daniel Culver, in a very specifically worded
deed, conveyed to "Daniel Stark, Jr., the son of William Stark, Jr.
late of Groton, Deceased," twenty acres of land in Groton.[1] As
the Daniel Stark Junior, omitted in the genealogy, will be identified as
the son of Daniel and Sarah (Culver) Stark, the Daniel Stark born in
1725 must have been the Daniel Stark Jr. of this deed. He was therefore
the son of William and Experience (Lamb) Stark and not the son of Daniel
and Sarah (Culver) Stark. No son Daniel, however, is found among the
recorded children of William and Experience, but the list is incomplete,
and dates of birth for the younger children are uncertain. A son Daniel
could with perfect probability have been born about the year 1725, and
have been the Daniel who married Jemima, born Jan. 1, 1727, daughter of
Jonathan and Sarah (Lamb) Culver. Their first born, a son William, was
evidently named for his grandfather.
So
far as records show, Sarah Culver was the first wife of the eldest of
the three Daniels. They must have been married 1730-31, as Daniel bought
fifteen acres of land from his father-in-law, Sept. 5, 1731.[2] When
Daniel made his will in 1757 he named four children who must have been
the children of this marriage; his oldest son, Daniel, already of age,
his two daughters, Sarah and Desire, both mentioned in the will of their
grandfather Culver {Joseph Culver, husband of Mary Stark} , and his
youngest son, Nathan, who was born about the year 1743 if family record
is correct in giving his age as 87 at the time of his death in
1830.[3] Other children , if any, did not survive. Sarah (Culver)
Stark undoubtedly died not long after the birth of Nathan as she was not
living in 1747 when her father {Joseph Culver} made his will. Daniel
then married Judith Fitch who probably was the Judith born about 1703,
daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Mason) Fitch, as she was the mother of a
son Joseph, presumably named for his grand-father Fitch.[4]
Daniel
Stark, Jr., son of Daniel and Sarah (Culver) Stark has been omitted in
THE AARON STARK FAMILY, and the following is cited to establish his
identity.
__________
1)
Groton, New London County Deed Book 5, page 140.
2)
Groton, New London County Deed Book 3, page 20. [Author’s
Comment: This marriage could have been as early as 1728, when
Daniel Stark received property from his father, William Stark, Sr. as
a gift. Perhaps it was a wedding gift for the newly weds. See Daniel
Stark Timeline, year 1728.]
3)
See Daniel Stark's Will & Probate Record. [Author’s
Comment: The birth year of Nathan is recorded in the Charles
R. Stark Text on page 25 as "95. Nathan, d. 1830, age 87
yrs."]
4)
Author’s Comment: Judith Fitch was more likely to have
been a widow, for she had a son named Joseph, adopted by Daniel, which
would imply she was married before she married Daniel. I question she
was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Mason) Fitch unless she had a
son out of wed lock.
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Page
128
September
3, 1817, Luke and Sally Guyant conveyed to Amos Stark, all title
"that we have or ought to have in and unto the real estate of
Daniel Stark late of Groton, deceased, died possessed of..."
(meaning the father of said Sally Guyant.)[1] On the same day and
recorded on the same page, Amos Stark, the grantee in the foregoing
deed, conveyed to Judith Stark all title "that I have in and to the
real estate thay my Hon. Father Daniel Stark, late of Groton died
possessed of, meaning to include in this deed the right which I have
this day purchased of Luke Guyant and Sally Guyant his wife."
On
August 12, 1824, Mary Starr of Groton (according to copy of the deed,
but possibly a misreading for Mary Stark, an error found in other
instances) also conveyed to Judith Stark all her rights and interests in
the estate of her late father, Daniel Stark.[2]
Judith
Stark, the grantee in these deeds made in the years 1817 and 1824, could
not have been the widow, Judith (Fitch) Stark, but must have been a
Judith named for her, and the daughter of a Daniel Stark who can have
been none other than Judith (Fitch) Stark's step-son, Daniel, the son of
Daniel and Sarah (Culver) Stark.
From
the foregoing it is evident that Amos Stark, Sally Guyant and Mary Starr
(or Stark) were the children of the Daniel unlisted in the genealogy.
Born
about the year 1732, he was of age when his father made his will, and
was made co-executor with his step-mother. He undoubtedly was married at
that time. Positive identification of his wife has not been found, but
she probably was the Lois Stark who witnessed the deed in which he
conveyed five and one-half acres of his inheritance to Timothy Wightman,
May 9, 1759.[3] That she was Lois Culver, sister of Amy Culver who
married in Groton, Apr. 4, 1756, Elijah Newton, Amy being the daughter
of Joseph4 Culver (Joseph3,2, Edward1) and
his unknown wife, must be assumed from the fact that Daniel (as the
legal representative of his deceased wife's heirs) with the other heirs
of Joseph4 Culver conveyed on Apr. 18, 1777 to Joseph5
Culver and his sisters Bethany and Hannah, certain interests in the
estate of Joseph4 Culver. [4] {See comment after Note 4}
The
date of Lois (Culver) Stark's death is unrecorded , but Daniel left a
widow, Sarah, by whom he had two daughters. The records of the first
Baptist Church state "Sarah, wife of Daniel Stark 2nd, was received
into fellowship, Mar. 4, 1775." Daniel's death occurred previous to
the year 1809 when "widow Sarah" Stark is mentioned in a deed
as owning land adjoining land owned by Amos Stark. According to the
probate of her will, and also by the church records, widow Sarah died in
1815. She bequeathed to her two daughters, Abigail and Elizabeth, the
property she had received as her dower right in Daniel's estate.
The
wife of Amos Stark was Deborah, born Mar. 7, 1776 {Maybe 1778}, the
daughter of Timothy and Mary (Holdredge) Lamb, and they had sons, Amos
and Nathan.
Amos
Stark, Jr. was executor of the will of his aunt, Judith Stark who died
unmarried in 1843, and on Oct. 1, 1844 he presented the will of Abigail
Stark, also called aunt, to the Probate Court in New London. By her will
"Nabby Starks of Groton" left all her real and personal
property to her nephew and executor, Amos Starks. He died in New London
between Feb. 5, 1851 the date of his will, and its probate on the 10th
of the same month. He mentioned his wife, Nancy, also James S. Lyman the
Trustee of his estate, Nathan S. Gardner, Emily Ridebeck and the
children of Cyrus Hewitt, no relationships being given.
With
the foregoing evidences establishing the family of Daniel and Lois
(Culver) Stark and their children, Sarah, Amos, Judith, and Mary, is it
not probable that Desire Stark, the wife of Eber Chapman, whose
parentage has long been something of a mystery, was also their daughter,
the namesake of her father's sister. Desire (Stark) Chapman was born
Nov. 26, 1769, and the death of Lois (Culver) Stark must have occurred
soon after that date as Daniel had Married Sarah, his second wife,
previous to Mar. 4, 1775. By tradition, Desire (Stark) Chapman is
supposed to have had one brother and a sister Judith.
__________
1)
Groton, New London County, Connecticut Deed Book 17, page 204.
2)
Groton, New London County, Connecticut Deed Book 18, page 231.
3)
Groton, New London County, Connecticut Deed Book 5, page 68. [Note:
Could be Deed Book 6. Number in original hard to read.]
4)
Groton, New London County, Connecticut Deed Book 11, page 8. [Author’s
Comment: I have a problem with this source as proof Amy and Lois
Culver are sisters. This deed, says "April 18, 1777: William Heath
& Mary, his wife; Eunice Culver, guardian unto Lemuel Culver; Asa
Button and Abigail, his wife; Joseph Colver; Bethany Colver and Hannah
Colver, all heirs of Groton, sold for £ 100 to Daniel Stark of Groton,
about 40 acres of land located in Groton and bounded by land laid out
(this day) to William Heath and his wife Mary; Whitman's land; Asa
Button and his wife Abigail; Joseph Culver and sisters (Bethany and
Hannah); and Lemuel Culver. Signed by Eunice Culver, Asa Button, Abigail
Button, Joseph Culver, William Heth, Mary Heth, Bethany Culver, and
Hannah Culver. Witnessed by Benadam Gallup and Elizabeth Wells."
There is no reference to a Amy Culver or Amy Newton or Elijah Newton in
this transaction so I don't see the connection Ralph's document has that
would say Amy and Lois are sisters. All of the other names fit with
children of Joseph Culver4 but one would not believe Daniel is
necessarily related to anyone mentioned. He was simply sold the land for
the consideration of 100 pounds. There is no reference to Daniel being
an heir to Jospeh Culver of Groton, deceased. Therefore, see the Author’s
comments that follow which provide a better connection of Daniel Stark
and Lois Culver to the Culver family and Daniel Stark, Sr. and his
spouse, Sarah Culver.]
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Page
129
Additional
Comments by Clovis LaFleur with reference to Daniel Stark and Lois
Culver
To
make the connection of Daniel and Lois to the Culver family, one has to
see several other deed transactions that occurred on April 18, 1777.
"April 18, 1777: William Heath & Mary, his wife; Daniel Stark; Asa Button and Abigail, his wife; Joseph Colver; Bethany Colver and
Hannah Colver, all heirs of Joseph Culver of Groton, sold for £ 100 to
Lemuel Culver of Groton, about 40 acres of land "one half of the
Cellar under the Late Dwelling House of our Honored father Joseph Culver
Deceas'd and the Back Chamber and the East Garret in Said House and one
certain Tract or Parcel of Land Situated Lying and being in Groton
aforesaid and is part of the homestaid farm of Said Joseph Culver
Deceased". The land was bounded by "A Lot of Land this Day Set
out to William Heath and Mary his Wife"; and by the property of
Daniel Stark; Robert Stanton; Mrs. Eunice Culver (widow of Joseph
Culver); Joseph Cullver and his sisters [Bethany and Hannah]. Signed by
Daniel Stark, Asa Button, Abigail Button, William Heath, Mary Heath,
Joseph Colver, Bethany Culver, and Hannah Colver. [Groton, CT. Land
Records, Volume 8, Page 106]. This transaction clearly reveals Daniel
Stark is an "heir of Joseph Culver of Groton." In this case 40
acres is being sold to Lemuel Culver for 100 pounds. However, we still
don't see Amy's name mentioned.
"April
18, 1777: William Heath & Mary, his wife; Eunice Culver, guardian
unto Lemuel Culver; Daniel Stark; Joseph Colver; Bethany Colver and
Hannah Colver, all heirs of Jpseph Culver of Groton, sold for £ 100 to
Asa Button and Abigail, his wife of Groton, about 40 acres of land
located in Groton and bounded by land this day laid out to Joseph Culver
and his sisters (Bethany & Hannah Culver); and bounded by the
property of Daniel Stark; Wightman's land; and Moses Culver. Signed by
Eunice Culver, Daniel Stark, Joseph Culver, Bethany Culver, and Hannah
Culver, William Heath and Mary Heath.. Witnessed by Benadam Gallup and
Elizabeth Wells. [Groton, CT. Land Records, Volume 11, Page 232]"
Again, no mention of Amy. However, notice the reference "and
bounded by the property of Daniel Stark; Wightman's land..." Again,
the reference to Wightman, probably the same Timothy Wightman who
purchased land from Daniel, this transaction having Lois Stark as
witness.
It
would appear to me that Ralph's reference to Book 11, page 8 is very
weak in connecting Daniel Stark to the family and none of the above
would appear to provide a link of Lois Culver to Amy Culver. The strong
connection will be found in Volume 8 [Probably Book 8], page 106 which
links Daniel Stark as an heir to Joseph Culver of Groton, deceased.
Volume 11, page 232 then provides the link to Daniel Stark, Junior where
Wightman is mentioned having land which bounds the land that is the
subject of the transaction.
Therefore,
to seal the connection that Daniel Stark (Junior), son of Daniel Stark
(Senior), is related to this Culver family through his wife named Lois
Culver, one needs ;
-
The Probate Record of Daniel Stark
(Senior) [Daniel
Stark Probate Record, Groton, New London County, Connecticut, STARKE
Daniel Groton Packet #5065, 1758] which provides a connection to Desire
Stark, Daniel's sister, and also to Timothy Wightman;
-
The March 17,
1761 documents which link, again, Daniel Stark, Desire Stark, and
Timothy Wightman [Book 4, page 225];
-
Ralph's record showing Lois
Stark was a witness to a deed transaction between Daniel Stark and
Timothy Wightman on May 9, 1759 [Book 6, page 68];
-
The documents
dated April 18, 1777 which show Daniel is a heir of Joseph Culver of
Groton, deceased and the document illustrating Wightman was living near
the land of both Daniel Stark and Joseph Culver, deceased. [Book 8, page
106; Book 11, page 232]
Collectively,
the above provides a much more complete connection of Lois Culver and
her family to Daniel Stark (Junior) who was the son of Daniel Stark,
(Senior) and Sarah (Culver) Stark. Take any of them alone for the proof,
and you don't have a case for the connection. Ralph's mention of the
deed with the given name Lois Stark on it tells us the given name of
Daniel's wife, but the source cited by Ralph to connect Lois to the
Joseph Culver family doesn't make the connection to the Culver family at
all.
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