Stark ¾ Scotland and America

A Bull's head, erased a, r,

(Distilling blood, p, p, r):

Fortiorum fortia tacta.

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Officers

President

Moreau J. Stark

Vice-Presidents

William H. Geer, Yantic, Conn. R. F. D. 1.

Charles S. Jewett, North Lyme, Conn.

Sidney E. Ackley, Chester, Conn.

Secretary and Treasurer

Mrs. Katie F. Jewett, North Lyme, Conn.

Historian

Mrs. Hattie Stark Ackley

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The Stark Family Association

The twelfth annual reunion of the Stark Family association was held at the Golden Spur Inn, at the head of the Niantic river, East Lyme, Conn., Wednesday, August 22, 1907.

There were Forty-five members and friends in attendance.

The day was beautiful and the location ideal. Here we laid aside the cares and thoughts of our hurried lives and lost ourselves in the beauty of sky and forest and river and the pleasure of renewed friendships.

We were especially pleased to have with us Miss Mary E. Stark Graves and Mrs. Nathan F. Graves of Westmoreland, N. Y.

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A shore dinner was served at the noon hour.

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The business meeting was called in the afternoon at 2 o'clock.

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Following the President's words of Welcome, the report of the Secretary was read and accepted.

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Treasurer's Report

1906-1907

Balance in treasury Aug. 21, 1906..... $3.29

Received from membership fees........ 30.00

Received for 3 half-tone cuts.............   6.00

                                                      ¾¾ $39.29

Postage and stationary  .................. $5.69

Printing  ......................................... 40.00

Paid for 3 half-tone cuts and express.   6.35

                                                      ¾¾ $52.04

                                                              ¾¾¾

Deficit  ..........................................         $12.75

After the reading of the Treasurer's report, the statement of $12.75 deficit in the treasury, with suggestion of voluntary contribution to erase the same, was quickly responded to, and soon there was a balance of $1.75 with which to begin the coming year.

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Historian's Report

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and grandmothers of Ye Olden time great and useful in their day and generation.

I have not been able to obtain further information in regard to the Stark Family in Europe, and think it will require the services of a professional genealogist to do so. An International Genealogical Directory has recently been published by Charles A. Bernan of "Pendeen," Bowes Road, Walton on Thames, and is a valuable work, which the Association would do well to purchase. Gilbert M. Stark, a well known lawyer of Saginaw, Mich., writes that he has been interested in the genealogy of his family for some time, and has made such investigation as his time permitted, his descent is from Aaron of Groton, as follows: Aaron¹, William², William³, Zephaniah⁴, David⁵, Henry Mead⁶, George R.⁷, and himself. Henry Meade Stark was born in Pittsford, Vt., in 1793. David Stark was born in Lebanon, Conn., in 1762. Zephaniah Stark was married in Lebanon, Conn. 1757, to Hannah Edgerton, daughter of Joseph and Eunice Edgerton. He understands that William, granson of Aaron, was married twice, first to Experience Lamb, and second to Jane ¾¾, and Zephaniah was a son by second marriage.* He desires information in regard to matters connected with genealogy back of Zephaniah. Mr. Stark Married Miss Helen Little, a descendant of Thomas Little, who was born in Devonshire, England, and came to

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*Editor's Comment: To date, no proof of a second marriage of William Stark (Junior) has been found. The above marriage of Zephaniah is well known, but his parentage has been questioned. For more on Zephaniah, click HERE.

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America in 1630. They have three children, Gilbert, Helen, and Pamela Stark.

Benjamin Graves Allen, formerly of Honolulu, but now President and Manager of the Palo Alto Hardware Co., California, has long anticipated a visit to this State to meet his relatives here. However, he is with us in spirit and wishes his name and that of Mrs. Allen kept on the role. He trusts the reunions may continue indefinitely and that health and prosperity may attend the members of this Association. Mr. Allen has two grown sons, the youngest, W. B. Allen, is married and has two children.

Mrs. Lucette Stark Boynton of Sycamore, Ill., writes that she is interested in all of the name of Stark. and also interested in Daughters of the American Revolution, and is Regent of the Chapter which is named Gen. John Stark.

Mr. Dwight Avery, who has been a member of this Association for several years, died at his home in Norwichtown, Conn., Feb. 8, 1907, after an illness of only four days. he was the son of Capt. John Avery and Abigail Williams, the former being in active service in war of 1812. Mr. Avery was born in Griswold, and educated at the Plainfield Academy. March 24, 1858, he married Harriet C. Stark*, daughter Lathrop Stark and Fannie Saxton, who survives him and is also a member of this Association. Their are three children, Mrs. Frank A. Fuller, Deacon

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*Editor's Comment: Click HERE to review the Stark lineage of Harriet C. Stark.

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Dwight Avery, and Frank Stark Avery. When 22 years of age he united with the church in Pachang, and later with the Congregational church in Norwichtown, and has always been a consistent and faithful worker. He was a direct descendant of Christopher Avery, and his forefathers figured prominently in the Revolution.

Mrs. Louis Frazier's death leaves another empty chair, and the Association sincerely mourns her loss.

Mrs. Estelle Hathaway* was born in Lyme, Sept. 3, 1869, and died in Wethersfield, April 12, 1907. She leaves two sons by a former marriage, Jewett and Harry Rawson, to whom, together with her husband and mother, Mrs. B. A. Rathbun, we extend our heartfelt sympathy. Mrs. Hathaway was the granddaughter of Lucretia R. Stark*, who married Nathan Jewett.

Emily E. Stark**, widow of Edwin Gardner, died January 3, 1907. Mrs. Gardner was the daughter of Abel Stark and Susan Tracy, and was born in Mt. Pleasant, Penn., Sept. 16, 1820. When a young lady she came to Norwich and was married to Edwin B. Gardner of Bozrah, April 16, 1848. with the exception of a few years spent in Colchester, all of their married life was passed in Greenville. Mrs. Gardner was a member of the First Baptist Church, Norwich, where as long as her health permitted she was prominent in church activities. She took great delight in

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*Editor's Comment: Stark Lineage: Estelle (Rathbun) Hathaway [Elizabeth (Jewett) Rathbun⁷, Lucretia (Stark) Jewett⁶, Nathan Stark⁵, Nathan⁴, Abiel³, Aaron², Aaron¹]

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doing good, and her life was an exemplary one. She was deeply interested in her home and family and was a kind and sympathetic neighbor and friend. In death a good woman has passed away, but her memory will linger, where her many kind deeds have made their everlasting impression. Mrs. Gardner is survived by five children, also a sister in Wisconsin.

John Graham Faris was born Nov. 4, 1829, near Wheeling, W. Va., and died at the home of his son, Walter T. Faris, in Perry, Oklahoma, Jan. 27, 1907. His early life was spent on a farm, and at the age of 19, her entered Washington College, Pennsylvania, and graduated there at the age of 24. Shortly after his father died, and in 1856, together with his mother and family, they removed to Henry, Marshall County, Ill. On Aug. 27, 1862, he enlisted as Sergeant in Co. B, 86th Illinois Infantry, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865, having taken part in the various engagements of Perryville, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and the Atlanta campaign, going with Gen. Sherman's Army on its march to the sea, and up through the Carolinas, and was in the grand review at the close of the war in Washington, D. C. He was married at Fairfax, Vt., Aug. 22, 1867, to Miss Anna T. Paris*, a granddaughter of Capt. John Stark. To this union were born six children, Walter T., Villeroy, Edwin and John, who reside in Oklahoma; Mrs. Ethel Faris Trullinger of Liberty township and

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*Editor's Comment: This was Mrs. Anna T. Faris and she was the great-granddaughter of Capt John Stark. This page was corrected in the 1908 yearbook by Mrs. Faris in a letter to the Historian.

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Wilbur, who died in childhood. In the spring of 1876, Mr. Faris moved from Illinois to Iowa. At an early age he united with the Presbyterian church and always took an active part in its maintenance and lived a consistent Christian life.

Mr. Charles Stark has presented the Association with a Stark Bible. On the fly-leaf is written: "This book bot in N. Y. by me. Sept. 13, 1873. William H. Stark."

It contains births, marriages and deaths of the family of Nathan Stark, who married first Rebecca Palmer and second Luranna Lee. The above Nathan was the son of Nathan Stark and Ann Fitch. Mr. Charles Stark has a handsome old chair which belongs to the Fitch family, and is upwards of 250 years old. In connection with historical research and the publication of our genealogy, it would seem that one important object of this Association should be to collect and preserve any documents, relics and records relating to our family. The Bible already presented is an excellent nucleus for such a collection and thanks are extended to the donor for the same. Copies of 1905 and 1906 Annual Reports have been presented to the following societies: New York Public Library; New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston; Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford; State Library of Massachusetts, Boston; State Historical Society 

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of Wisconsin, Madison, and grateful acknowledgement received from each.

We seem to think that all of the great things are the creation of the living and pay little heed to what has been accomplished in the past, and yet we know that 1907 is an anniversary year of many important events. Four years ago our country received the name by which we know it now. Three hundred years ago the first settlement was made at Jamestown. One hundred years ago the first steamboat went up the Hudson river, events, the significance of which it is impossible to conceive, but we do realize that as the great triumphs of the day are developments of what has been accomplished in the past, so are we dependent for the comforts and blessings we enjoy on the lives of Noble men and women who have lived before us. May we honor our fathers and mothers, our grandfathers and grandmothers, even from generations to generation, that our days may be long upon the land which the Lord, our God, hath given us.

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Remarks followed by Mr. Charles R. Stark, in which he related incidents in the life of Gen. John Stark, showing his fearlessness and intrepidity in youth, his intimate relations to Washington and his love for his country. Mr. Stark read a brief sketch

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of the life of Albert Gallatin Stark and the following poem:

Sabbath Evening Reflections

One more bright Sabbath, Lord,

Thou hast vouchsafed us here;

Once more we've listened to Thy word.

Once more we've bowed in prayer.

'Mid this wild waste of Life,

Where Sin and sorrow grow,

Where Wrong and Wretchedness and Strife

And Evil Passions blow:

A bright oasis shines

Thro' the Sahara gloom;

On which grow Celestial vines

And Heaven's exotics bloom.

'Tis the Lord's holy day,

So fertile and so green;

'Tis gemmed with flowers of purest ray

Of more than pearly sheen.

It's like the fields above,

Which Seraphs guard and tend;

Where the blest plants of joy and love

Harmoniously blend.

Oh, Lord, my soul would fain

Ascend beyond the sky;

Would break this worthless, mortal chain ¾

Untrammell'd soar on high.

                                     ¾  Albert Gallatin Stark.

Porterville, Sunday evening, Dec. 6, 1846.

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Officers elected for the coming year:

President.

MOREAU J. STARK, North Plain, Conn.

Vice-Presidents

W. H. GEER, Yantic, R. F. D. I.

CHARLES R. STARK, 41 Chapin Ave., Prov. R. I.

CHARLES S. JEWETT, North Lyme, Conn.

Secretary and Treasurer

MARY FANNY CLARK, Colchester, Conn.

Historian

CHARLES R. STARK, Prov., R. I.

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Voted to adjourn.

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S. Judson Stark

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S. Judson Stark

Tracing back his line of ancestry in the Stark name, S. Judson Stark of West Pittston, Penn., finds himself seventh in descent from Aaron Stark of New London, Conn., who, in the early days of the New England Colonist, had his place among those rugged and brave men who endured the privations and struggles incident to pioneer life, and who, with his sturdy companions, bore an active part in the bloody Indian was of his day, having fought both in the Pequot war of 1637 and King Philip's war of 1675*.

His grandson, Christopher Starke, who was the son of "Deacon" William Starke, moved from Groton, Conn., subsequent to 1754 and located at Oblong, Dutchess County, N. Y. Having in the meantime bought a share in the Susquehanna Purchase, in the spring of 1772, with his three sons, he came into the Wyoming Valley, to enter upon his possessions, where he located at Wilkes-Barre. Thus he became the founder of the Pennsylvania branch of the Stark family and his grave is with us to this day. During the perilous days of the Revolutionary period this family paid its tribute in Service, suffering and blood to the defense of home and country. Both Christopher and his son, James, died before the dreadful Massacre of 

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*Editor's Comment: He may have served in King Phillip's War. See the article entitled, "Did Aaron Stark [1606-1685] Receive a Voluntown Land Grant for Service in King Phillip's War???

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Wyoming on July 3, 1778*: the father dying of old age and the son, enlisting in one of the Independent Companies that was sent to the front, fell a victim to small-pox. Upon that fatal day another son fell under the cruel tomahawk and a grandson escaped, wounded, from the field.

Samuel, the son of James above mentioned, then but seven years of age, was taken by his widowed mother back to her people in Dutchess County, where he grew up and was married, and by his son, Samuel, the subject of our sketch ¾ S. Judson Stark ¾ found parentage, being born in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Penn., in the year 1850. Aside from his ancestry of the name he draws his ancestral blood from old and well-known New England pioneer stock, such as the Marcys, the Conants, the Careys, the Hardings, the Gardners, the Baldwins, the Walworths, and the Birdsalls. His wife, Eva W. (Keeney), is also of old Connecticut stock, which had its full representative share in Indiana and Revolutionary wars.

Mr. Stark obtained his early education from the schools of his native place, followed by three years at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Penn. He is also an alumnus, but not a graduate, of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn., class of 1873, his educational career being finished with a commercial college course in Philadelphia, Penn. entering upon his active business career, he has followed the drug business, the furniture

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*Editor's Comment: Click HERE for more on the Wyoming Valley Massacre.

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business and that of general merchandise and was also Treasurer and General Manager of the Tunkhannock Toy Co. until the plant was destroyed by fire in 1896, and President of the Tunkhannock Bridge Company for upwards of ten years, when Wyoming County purchased the property. Not given to politics, yet he has served for considerable periods on Town Council and School Boards. As a member of the Methodist Epicopal church he has served many years as steward, trustee, Sunday school superintendent, etc. Masonically he has received all the degrees but the 33:1, and from the blue Lodge to the Commandry he has filled the chairs and conferred the degrees. There are two children only in the family, a son, Samuel G., connected with the International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, Penn., for seven years, and a daughter, Elizabeth, at home.

Leaving his native place some years since to become a resident of the beautiful and historic Wyoming Valley, he located at West Pittston, Penn., where he is now engaged in looking after coal interests, the handling of real estate and acting as Secretary-Treasurer of the Stark Land Company of Pittston, Penn.

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*Editor's Comment: S. J. Stark Lineage: Aaron¹, William², Christopher³, James⁴, Samuel⁵, Samuel⁶, S. Judson Stark⁷.

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James Laurence Raymond

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James Laurence Raymond

James Laurence Raymond, son of Oliver Raymond and Mary (Comstock) Raymond, was born April 11, 1828, in Lyme, Conn., and there in the district schools received his preliminary education; completing his studies in the academy in Essex and in Haddam.

His life has been passed on the old family home, and he has become, through his own efforts, one of the largest landowners in the country. His extensive dealing in live stock has given him a wide acquaintance, and caused him to become one of the best known men in his line in Eastern Connecticut.

Mr. Raymond is a Republican. He has served two terms as a representative in the State Legislature and also as State Senator. In 1902 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention. He is a Congregationalist, and both he an his wife belong to the Hamburg Congregational Church.

Their four children were;

(1).   Carrie Lee, born Sept. 3, 1861, married Feb. 12, 1889, Edward lyman Bill, publisher of Music Trade Review, by whom she has three children, Hester

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Raymond, born Jan. 28, 1893: James Raymond, born Sept. 23, 1895, and Winthrop Wight, Born May 4, 1897.

(2).   Mary Comstock, born July 27, 1863, married Oct. 23, 1883, Frederick Stark Fosdick, farmer and cattle dealer. They have no children.

(3).   Hester Laurence, born March 22, 1868, married July 3, 1893, Prof. Edward Burr Van Vleck of Wisconsin State University, and has one child, John Hasbrouck, born March 13, 1899.

(4).   James Laurence, Jr., was born July 18, 1874, united in marriage with Edith May Anderson, Dec. 21, 1895, is a farmer and lives on the David Hillhouse homestead, located on "Raymond Hill," named for his ancestors. the one child of their union, James Laurence, born Feb. 20, 1901, died April 20, 1901.

James Laurence Raymond, descendant of Aaron Stark¹, Aaron², Abial³, Nathan⁴, Anna Stark⁵ (married Nathaniel Comstock), Mary Comstock⁶ (married Oliver Raymond), James Laurence Raymond⁷.

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Nathan Fitch Graves

Honorable Nathan Fitch Graves was the son of Benjamin Graves and Mary Stark. He was born February 17, 1813, in Oneida County, N. Y., whence his father migrated from Connecticut.

His father was a successful farmer and gave his children, after their common school education, as thorough a training as the academis of the country afforded. Nathan was an apt and forward scholar, and at the age of sixteen was competent to teach others. Desirous of further knowledge he passed several years alternating between teaching and study. Choosing law for a profession he was admitted to the bar in 1840. Here he made a favorable commencement in his legal career. In 1844 he removed to Central, N. Y., and was in legal partnership for fifteen years, though in the meantime Mr. Graves entered upon the financial career which drew upon the most valuable portion of his time. The Barnet Bank was organized in 1852 and Mr. Graves became its President. Afterward this became The Fourth National Bank. In 1872 the national charter was relinquished and the institution has since been known as the N. Y. State Banking Company. During all these changes Mr. Graves continued to guide its fortunes, and it maintained

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Nathan Fitch Graves

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its character as a safe, prosperous and well-managed institution.

Mr. Graves felt that after so long and ardous a business course he needed relaxation for his health, and in 1872 he visited, in the company with his wife, the Pacific Coast, and made a tour of the world, contributing valuable articles to the press. On returning from his travels in 1874, Mr. Graves was made Mayor of Syracuse. He had always been public spirited and took much interest in educational matters, and for several year was School Commissioner and President of the Board of Education.

Mr. Graves was an intelligent writer, and possessed one of the best private libraries in the State, comprising more than 10,000 volumes collected by himself, embracing many rare and costly works. His library was frequently visited by scholars from distant points who wished to avail themselves of its treasures. he sustained a lectureship on missions at New Brunswick and also at the University of Syracuse. Mr. Graves was also a liberal patron of the fine arts.

He paid for the erection of a fire-proof library building at Hope College, Michigan, and gave that institution his entire library. He received the degree of LL.D. in 1894.

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Although advanced in years, Mr. Graves continued to act as President of the N. Y. State Banking Co. to the time of his death. For many years he was trustee of the Syracuse Savings Bank and also one of the trustees of the State Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children.

Mr. Graves was twice married, his first wife being Miss Helen Breese of Cazenivia, who died in 1844. In the following year Mr. Graves married Miss Catherine H. Breese, a sister of the first wife. They had no children. Mr. Graves died in July, 1896.

Line of Stark descent: Aaron¹, Aaron², Abial³, Nathan⁴, Mary Stark⁵ (married Benjamin Graves), Nathan Fitch Graves⁶.*

*Editors Comment: The Charles R. Stark 1927 publication, "The Aaron Stark Family, Seven Generations," reports Mary Stark who married Benjamin Graves was a granddaughter of Nathan Stark⁴ and daughter of Abial Stark, son of Nathan. The lineage would be corrected as follows:

Line of Stark descent: Aaron¹, Aaron², Abial³, Nathan⁴, Abial⁵, Mary Stark⁶ (married Benjamin Graves), Nathan Fitch Graves⁷.

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Mary Graves (Stark) Clark

Mary Graves Stark, the youngest daughter of Abial Stark and Mary Griffing, was born Sept. 29, 1834, at Hadlyme, Conn., and was named for her paternal grandmother.

In the third year of her age, the family removed to North Lyme, Conn., which was her home until the time of her marriage. Here she grew up in close touch with nature, useful in the community, taking an active place in choir and Sunday school, a friend to the sick and suffering, and always full of courage and cheer.

Her education was gained in her home and in schools in Norwich and New London. She began as teacher in the public schools at the age of nineteen. The following year she spent at the State Normal School at New Britain, which had opened the year previous )1850). She continued her work as teacher for eight successive years.

The 26th of February, 1860, she married Jonathan S. Clark of Niantic, Conn., a man of genial temperament, business ability and sterling character. His death occurred March 21, 1885, in Colchester. Their children are:

Byron Clark, married Mary Sheffield Lee, daughter, 

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Mary Graves (Stark) Clark

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Lillian Lee Clark; Dr. Homer Clark, married Marian Clark Austin, sons, Hale Austin Clark and Homer Clark, Jr., married second Charlotte; Mary Fanny Clark, Secretary Stark Family Association, 1907-8; Theron Clark, married first Francis Berdina Bell, second Annie L. S. Cocks.

Her home is now in Colchester, Conn., where she enjoys the peace and quite of a well-spent life. She is much interested in genealogical research and relates with vivid interest the family history of her time, and much that is traditional with locations of the homes of the older families.

Line of descent: Aaron¹, Aaron², Abial³, Nathan⁴; Abial⁵, Abial⁶, Mary Graves (Stark) Clark⁷.