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Volume 4

Descendants of Jonathan Stark & Sarah Lacock;

The Kentucky Stark Families 

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Page 48

Daniel Stark was the son of Jonathan Stark and Sarah Lacock. In Loudon County, Virginia, Daniel Stark, William Lacock, Francis Vinyard & William Wood were reported on McIlhaney's tithable list; while James, William and Joseph Stark and their Uncle, Nathan Laycock, were reported on Hamilton's list. Daniel would have been 21 years of age or older, establishing his birth year as earlier than 1747.[1] He most likely married Elizabeth Wells in Loudon County no later than in year 1767.[2] Although the surname of Elizabeth Wells is disputed by many researchers, Stark family researcher Donn Neal has provided convincing circumstantial evidence that "Wells" was most likely correct. [3]

 James Stark, Daniel Stark (with his wife Elizabeth), Joseph Stark, and William Stark, were documented as living in Loudoun County in 1767 in approximately the same location as William Lacock, Nathan Lacock, Francis Vineyard, William Wood, and Abner Howell and were most likely brothers of James Stark and sons of Jonathan Stark and Sarah Lacock.

The 1768 James Hamilton Cameron Parish tithable list, compiled within the jurisdiction of Loudoun County, Virginia reveals William Laycock, James Stark, William Stark, and Joseph Stark were living very close to each other. Also reported on Hamilton's list was Nathan Laycock, his residence most likely near these men. On McIlhaney's list was Francis Vineyard, William Wood, and Daniel Stark, the latter two living in close proximity to each other. However, Daniel was not recorded as a resident of Loudoun County in 1768, nor were his brothers Christopher, Joseph, or William. Could these men have moved to Redstone Fort in 1769? Later records disclose Christopher Stark and Joseph Stark were on the Loudoun County tithable list with William Wood in 1770. After 1768, no record of Daniel Stark can be found in Loudoun County nor can records for James Stark be found after 1769.

April 3, 1769, the Pennsylvania Proprietary Land Office opened. Over the next two years, pioneers moved in large numbers into the region afterwards known as Washington County, Pennsylvania. When on March 9, 1771, Bedford County was formed from the western part of Cumberland County, it included this region. Pitt Township and Springhill Township were created at that time, the latter taking in the region which was south of present day Washington, Pennsylvania. The 1772 tax-rolls for Springhill Township, Bedford County, reveal 308 landholders, 89 tenants, and 58 single freemen, most from Virginia and Maryland. Virginia did not attempt to establish court jurisdiction over this part of Western Pennsylvania until late 1773 and early 1774.

William Wood was on the Loudoun County tithable list in 1770. By the end of 1770, William was at Redstone and settled near Ten Mile Creek. This was where William was converted to the Baptist faith. He preached in neighborhoods in conjunction with John Corbley (Crossley), Rev. Mr. Majors, Rev. James Ireland, & Rev. Mr. Swingler.[4] Christopher Stark Wood was born March 9, 1772, to William and Sarah Wood in Fallowfield, Washington County, VA/PA.[4] Because these place names did not exist in 1772, Christopher would have been born in what was still Bedford County, Pennsylvania.

James Stark, Daniel Stark, Christopher Stark, and William Wood participated in Dunmore's War for which they were paid at Fort Pitt in October of 1775. However, at the beginning of hostilities, their place of residence is not known with certainty. They all may have been living near Pigeon Creek which would have placed them about five miles west of the Monongahela River and half-way between Redstone and Pittsburgh.

Records from Dunmore's War report Daniel Stark and Christopher Stark served in Colonel William Crawford's Frederick County, Virginia Regiment under Captain Joseph Mitchell, their company commander. Two others serving in Captain Mitchell's Company were Lieutenant Nathaniel Fox and Sergeant Zophar Ball. The length of service of Captain Mitchell, for which he was paid 79 pounds and 10 shillings, was 159 days.[5]

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Assuming hostilities ended before the end of October 1774, Mitchell's pay period probably ended about November 1, 1774, implying his pay period began about May 20, 1774. Therefore, the Stark brothers could have served in Colonel William Crawford's Regiment between May 20, 1774 and November 1, 1774. From the above historical account, William Crawford departed his home with 100 men May 8^th for Fort Pitt, where other men of the surrounding area militia were to assemble. By the time Crawford was ready to leave Fort Pitt for Wheeling he had a command of between two hundred and three hundred men, many apparently living on both sides of the Monongahela River and as far east as Laurel Hills. Its possible some of these men traveled over the mountains from Frederick County, meeting at Steward's Crossing before proceeding on to Fort Pitt with Crawford. Joseph Mitchell could have been one of these men. Because Pigeon Creek was in close proximity to Stewart's Crossing, the Stark brothers could have also been among those who assembled at Steward's Crossing. Once the men had assembled at Fort Pitt, they surely were organized into companies, not all of the men in each company necessarily from the same region but assigned to regional Captains.

The above historical account reveals the region between the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers had been mostly evacuated. Allowing Daniel and Christopher time to move their families to safety on the east side of the Monongahela River between April 30^th and May 20^th, they probably had time to travel to Fort Pitt to participate in the militia assembly or assigned to Mitchell's Company May 8^th at Steward's Crossing. If they served in William Crawford's Regiment, then they most likely participated in much of the activity attributed to his regiment during Dunmore's War.

Without doubt, Daniel and Christopher participated in the construction of Fort Fincastle if they were part of William Crawford's Regiment when he departed Pittsburgh in early June. Nathaniel Fox was a Lieutenant in Mitchell's Company and was one of those wounded when Angus McDonald's command was ambushed near the Muskingum River August 2^nd. Logic would suggest Daniel and Christopher, as members of the same company, were members of McDonald's expedition to the Shawnee villages located on the Muskingum River. However, as the historical accounts mention, William Crawford was ordered to stay at Fort Fincastle with about 200 to 300 men to protect the Fort and residents in the area. Therefore, Mitchell's Command would most likely have been temporarily assigned to the expedition, which would have been McDonald's prerogative as the ranking officer on the scene.

Likewise, it cannot be said with certainty that Captain Mitchell's Company traveled back to Fort Pitt with Crawford in late August or early September; for surely some men would have stayed at Fort Fincastle in the event the Indians renewed their attacks across the Ohio. Again, one can only speculate that the Stark brothers may have participated in moving the cattle and supplies from Fort Pitt to Wheeling as related in the historical account. Assuming Captain Mitchell's Company participated in concert with William Crawford's Regiment after September 30, 1774, then one would have to presume they would have participated in the Regiment's activities throughout the month of October 1774 and the skirmish with the Mingo's late in October. At the conclusion of the War in late October, Crawford's regiment must have been relieved or disbanded by November 14, 1774, the date Crawford wrote his letter to George Washington from Stewart's Crossing. However, did the Stark brothers complete their tour at that time and return to their families?

The records of payment for Dunmore's War reveal John Connolly was in Command of the West Augusta County Battalion . After Lord Dunmore's return to Redstone November 17 and from there to Williamsburg, Connolly resumed command of the forces remaining in the District of West Augusta. Although a treaty had been signed and honored by the Shawnee, there were other Indian tribes which did not want to honor the agreement. Therefore, as a safety precaution, one would have to presume companies of men would have been garrisoned at forts on the Ohio River as a first line of defense in the event these tribes chose to renew their raids.

Within Connolly's command was Lieutenant David Enoch, brother of Henry Enoch. Recall Henry had built a blockhouse on Ten Mile Creek about 1770. The length of service of Lieutenant Enoch, for which he was paid 79 pounds and 10 shillings, was 132 days.[1] Serving in Enoch's Company was Sergeant Zophar Ball, the same Sergeant who served in Joseph Mitchell's Company. Private Peter Nieswanger later reported he had first served under Captain Peter Helphinstone before being assigned to David Enoch's Company. Those men appearing on the rosters of both Joseph Mitch ell's Company and David Enoch's Company were: Daniel Stark, Christopher Stark, John Reese, Reese Gaddis, William Carter, Abraham Sutton/Suttin, Phillip Vavell/Varvill, George Keaner/Kinder, John Henry, Micheal Spencer, William Morris, Elijah Morris, Archibald Morris, and Alexander Keith. Of the thirty-four privates in Enoch's Command, at least fourteen had served with Mitchell. Other names that might have been part of Mitchell's command could have been Sergeant Jonathan Frazee / Private Jonathan Frazer and Private Benjamin Frazee/Frazer). Private James Stark was reported as a member of this command, probably joining after returning to the region with the other Stark Families sometime in November.[1]

Where these men may have lived before Dunmore's War has not been fully researched, but circumstance suggest all of the men in Enoch's Command most likely lived between the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers, staying behind to protect their families who were returning to their homes. If David Enoch's pay period started on November 1, 1774 and ended 132 days later, then the men in his company served until about March 12, 1775.

While the above has not established a place of residency for the Stark Family after 1772, the brothers participation in Dunmore's War suggests they were living between the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers at the time of the massacre of Chief Logan's relatives at Baker's Cabin on April 30, 1774. Their service in Mitchell's Company would seem to imply they came from Frederick County, Virginia, the regional name given to their Regiment commanded by William Crawford. However, the historical account clearly reveals Crawford was a Westmoreland County official on April 30, being appointed a Major in the Virginia militia after April 30. Therefore, it would seem reasonable to expect men under his command were not all residents of Frederick County. Many were probably members of the local militias that assembled at Stewart's Crossing, Pittsburgh, and Wheeling.

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An even more compelling reason for believing they lived in the region was their service under Lieutenant David Enoch. The Enoch family was documented living on Ten Mile Creek by 1772 and historical accounts report they had build a blockhouse only two miles from the Monongahela River on that same creek. One could easily speculate David Enoch's men lived near the Blockhouse, providing protection in that region against Indian attacks, and that these same men had served earlier in Joseph Mitchell's Command. If this were true, then the men in Enoch's command could have been living near the blockhouse. This would be only one of several possibilities, for they could have also garrisoned any of the several forts built along the Ohio River.

What is known for sure is James Stark, Daniel Stark, Christopher Stark, and William Wood were paid at Fort Pitt for their service in Dunmore's War, which would at least suggest they were living near Pittsburgh by October of 1775 and their participation in Dunmore's War further suggests they could have been living over the mountains in the boundary disputed region before April 30, 1774.

The publication entitled Pennsylvania Archives,", 3rd Series, Volume 23, has a list of "Rangers of the Frontier" who were paid for active service between the years 1777 to 1783. On page 215 will be found Christopher Stark, Captain Abner Howell, Daniel Stark, John Vinyard, and Thomas Vineyard. On page 216 will be found Captain Abner Howell, Daniel Starks, James Vinyard, Captain Abner Howell (appearing twice on this page), John Vinyard, Thomas Vinyard, Daniel Starks (appearing twice on this page), and James Vinyard (appearing twice on this page). Therefore, men from the Stark, Howell, and Vineyard families appear to have served between 1777 and 1783, although the precise times of service is not known from this publication.

In the Pennsylvania Archives," 6th Series, Volume 2, will be found additional entries for these surnames. Page 118 begins the Class Roll of Captain Abner Howell's Company. On page 119, Daniel Stark was listed as 2nd Sergeant; Francis Venin (probably Vineyard) and Christopher were on the 1st Class Roll; on the 2nd Class Roll was John Venard (probably Vineyard); on the 4th Class Roll was Elisha Lacock. On page 120, William Venerd (probably Vineyard) was on the 5th Class Roll; on the 7th Class Roll was John Stark and Joseph Stark; and on the 8th Class Roll was James Veneard (probably Vineyard) and Isaac Lacock.

The following men were reported in the 1783 Fallowfield Township, Washington County Tax List:[1]

The tax list suggests Jonathan [the younger], Daniel, and Christopher Stark were living in Fallowfield Township, most likely near or with William Wood and their brother James Stark. However, Somerset Township was created April 3, 1782, from parts of Fallowfield, Nottingham, Strabane, and Bethlehem. The Washington County Somerset Township Warrantee Map in the Pennsylvania Archives places William Wood's property within this township with its eastern boundary on the line between Somerset and Fallowfield Townships. The 1783 tax list provides the best documented evidence of the place of residence in 1783 of these men with the surname Stark and suggests their probable place of residence prior to that year.

In 1786, James Stark, Jonathan Stark, Daniel Stark, Christopher Stark, Joseph Stark, and John Stark were reported on the Nelson County, Virginia (later became Kentucky) tax list.[2] Reverend William Wood moved his family from Pennsylvania (departing from Devore's Ferry on the Monongahela River, about halfway between Redstone and Pittsburgh), down the Ohio River, landing at Limestone, Fayette County, Virginia (later Kentucky), around noon on December 31, 1784. The Limestone Baptist Church, with the Reverend William Wood as minister, was organized early in 1785. The charter members were William Wood, Sarah Wood, James Turner, John Smith, Luther Colvin, Priscilla Colvin, Charles Tucker, Sarah Tucker and Sarah Stark.[3] Charter member Sarah (Lacock) Stark was the mother of Sarah (Stark) Wood. Other members of this Church had been residents of Washington County — some living near Pigeon Creek.

In 1787, all of the brothers were reported living in Nelson County for Daniel Stark and his son, Jonathan D. Stark were reported on the tithable list of James Rogers. James and Christopher were on the tithable list of David Cox, his district approximately in the same location as the previous years, probably northern Nelson County and the southern part of present day Spencer County. Apparently, Joseph had moved further south, most likely down Froman Creek towards Bardstown. He appears on the 1787 tithable list of Gabriel Cox, his district located immediately north of Bardstown.

From 1788 thru 1791, James, Daniel, Joseph, Christopher, and John are reported on the tithable list of Joshua Hobbs, his district described as the same general area as that of David and Gabriel Cox. Jonathan Stark [the younger] continued to live near Elizabethtown until late 1791 or early 1792, when he apparently removed to the Cox Creek region.

James Stark was a resident of Nelson County, appearing on the Nelson County tax list of Gabriel Cox in 1792 — the list compiled in November of 1792. Reported was James with 142 acres and one male over 21 living in the home. February 11, 1792, a bond was made in Nelson County for Jonathan J. Stark — son of James — to marry Rachel Stark (daughter of Daniel Stark). The consent of both fathers was required and a witness was Jonathan D. Stark; a brother of Rachel and son of Daniel Stark. Therefore, both of these families were still living in Nelson County as late as February of 1792.

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Page 51

Joseph Stark, Daniel Stark, and his son Jacob appear on the 1792 tax list of Shelby County. Because all of Nelson County was south of the Salt River before and after the formation of Shelby County, these families evidently had moved to a location in Shelby County which is north of the Salt River. The 1794 Shelby County tax list of Thomas Shannon Esq. reveals Joseph Stark owned 398 acres on are near Elk Creek and a later deed reports this property had boundaries on Elk Creek and Wolf Creek — a tributary of Brashear's Creek with a western branch that came near Elk Creek north of Taylorsville. This may have been where Joseph and Daniel moved and as we will see, were later joined by James, Christopher, and John. Listed on the 1794 Shelby County tax list were James, Christopher, Daniel, John, and Joseph Stark.

Now living in Shelby County between Elk Creek and Wolf Creek, the five remaining brothers would live in this region until 1799. James was on the Shelby County Tax list that year and would remain in Shelby County until he died in 1821. On June 1, 1799, Henry County began operation as a new County, created from the northern portion of Shelby County. Beginning in 1800, the following men with the surname Stark appeared on the Henry County Tax Lists. 

Daniel Stark was first reported as a resident of Henry County in 1800 and was on the tax list every year through 1809. His son, Abraham, appears with Daniel in the 1800 and 1801 record; is absent or not reported in 1802 and 1803; reappears in 1805; was again absent in 1803 through 1807; and was a resident again in 1808. Another son, Charles Stark, was reported as a resident in 1802, probably the year he reached the age of 21; and was reported every year after through 1809. Daniel Stark (Junior) was reported: 1800; 1801; ----; 1803; 1804; ----; ----; ----; 1808; being absent or not reported as shown. David Stark was reported: 1800; 1801; ----; 1803; 1804; 1805; 1806; 1807; 1808; 1809. Jacob Stark was reported: 1801; 1802; 1803; 1804; 1805; 1806; 1807; 1808. Jonathan D. Stark was reported: 1800; 1801; ----; 1803; 1804; ----; ----; ----; ----; ----.

In 1800, Joseph, Daniel, Christopher, and John were reported living on the patent of John Craig, located on Floyd's Fork. A later deed further suggests all of these men were living in approximately the same location near or on Floyd's Fork.

"10 Jan 1808 Charles Lynch to Daniel Smith for $400 … land in Henry Co. on the waters of Floyds Fork 146 1/2a part of a 1350a patented to Dr. John Knight bounded as follows …corner to John Stark … with Daniel Stark's line … corner to Joseph Stark … Jno Starks corner … Signed by Chs. Lynch by Wm. Taylor atto. in fact for sd Lynch … Ack by Will Taylor attorney in fact for Charles Lynch …" [Source: 1808 Henry County, Kentucky; Deed Book 3, page 474] 

The tax list clearly reveals Joseph, Christopher, Daniel, and John were residents of Henry County after October of 1799 — the last year they appeared on the Shelby County, Tax List. The 1808 Deed provides proof Joseph, Daniel, and John were living in close proximity to each other in that year. February 17,1807, their was a Henry County, Kentucky bond for marriage of James Edwards to Mary Stark, consent given by Mary's parents, Daniel and Elizabeth Stark, and witnessed by her brother, Jacob Stark. Daniel was not recorded in the 1810 census record for Henry County, suggesting he had moved elsewhere. The following deed suggests they had moved from Kentucky to the Indiana Territory after the 1809 tax list was composed:

Dec 4: Know all men by these presents that we Daniel and Elizabeth Stark do pay unto Jacob and Charles Stark the Plantation whereupon we now Live Signed: Daniel Stark senr.; Elizabeth X Stark her mark. Wit: Abraham Stark. Abraham Stark ack.: 14 Mar 1811 / 1810 Dec 4: Know all men by these presents that we Jacob and Charles Stark do bind ourselves our heirs &c pay unto our father and mother Daniel and Elizabeth Stark a Good comfortable maintenance as long as they live, it being for value Received of them as witness our hands and seals this day and date above mentioned. Signed: Jacob Stark, Charles Stark. Wit: Abraham Stark. Jacob and Charles Stark ack. their signatures 14 Mar 1811 [Clark Co, IN DB 6:97-98]

This deed suggests Daniel and perhaps Elizabeth were in poor health. We can say with certainty Daniel and Elizabeth were living December 4, 1810. The acknowledgments of the deed occurring in March of 1811 may suggest both had passed by this date. Let us now turn to the children of Daniel and Elizabeth.

Page 52

Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

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