HENRYSTR (JOHN?) HENRY and Mary STARR by Linda Sparks Starr MAR 1997 >From Bible record as indexed DAR Maryland State Directory at the Dallas Public Library taken from GA Chapters DAR Vol 3 or 4; copied by "Aunt" Helen Starr Wade 1970s. John Henry Starr b. ca. 1752 MD; died 1827* Morgan Co. GA m. Mary ca. 1777. Soldier from MD in Amer. Revolution Issue: Joshua (Rev) b. 1778 MD d. 1822 Wilkes Co. GA m. Fenton Melear John Elijah b. 1780 MD d. 1832 ** m. Hannah Townsend 15 APR 1805 Green Co. GA Silas b. 1782 MD d. 1857 Newton Co. GA m. Elizabeth Pinkston Benjamin b. 29 JAN 1785 Wilkes Co. GA d. 21 DEC 1851 Spalding Co. GA m. Charlotte Pinkston Samuel Steele b. 1794 Wilkes Co. GA d. 1856 Newton Co. GA m. Hannah Melear [30 NOV 1815 per Marriage Record GA Archives] Amelia Asa D. m. Rhoda Watts Caleb m. * He died by 7 MAY 1821 when his will was probated ** His will is dated 1836, probated 1837 This is the only instance his name appears as John Henry; everywhere else it's simply "Henry Starr". Although I haven't fol- lowed through on "all" instances, from what I have seen, the same holds true for son John Elijah. Dropping the first name "John" is as Germanic as one can get; this is certainly something to keep in mind. There are mistakes in the above; I've asked a correspondent to check the next time he's in the library. It'll be interesting to see how far removed this is from (John) Henry. Benjamin had a son John Henry which may be the source for (John). "Mary" as the name of his first wife is corroborated by Wilkes Co. GA Deed Book UU, page 173, dated 15 NOV 1789 when "Mary Starr, wife of Henry Starr, rel. dower right" [p748 _Wilkes Co. GA Deed Books A-VV, 1784-1806_, abstracted by Michal (Martin) Farmer, Dallas TX, 1996. I don't have a copy of the original. The deed itself is dated 4 NOV 1789.] Life in Maryland The above Bible record indicates his birth in MD; the _DAR Patriot Index_, 1966 lists him as "b. c1752 d.p. 1827 m. Mary --Sol MD". [Sorry the page number was cut off by the researchers who copied this for me.] The STARR genealogy [_They Followed the Sun_, compiled and edited by Marguerite (Starr) Crain and Janell (Turner) Wenzel] cites the following as "proof" this Henry Starr is the one later found in Wilkes Co. GA: _MD Militia in the Revolutionary War_, by S. Eugene Clements and Edward Wright, page 193: "Muster Rolls and Other Lists Montgomery Co." As part of the "Officer and Privates for the Upper Battallion" we find the following surnames/people who made up the 2nd Company: Smith, Hays, Summers, Reeder, Magruder, Clagett, Bennett HAGON, Leonard HAGAN, Newton, Knott, Mattingly, Wood, White, Veitch, Tomlinson, Hardisty, Henry STAR, Collins, Rich'd OWEN, Wayman, Lashley, Stephens, Hunter, Jerrard, Walker, John BENNETT, John PARTRICK, Gaither, Scott, Miller, Ray, Love, Standlers, Jacobs, Lovelace, Jackson, Riggs, Jones, Kyser, Stephens, Col lins, Hoggins, Lawrance OWEN; Stallings, Renegar, Caton. With more knowledge of PINKSTON allied lines than I had before, I'm coming around to thinking this MIGHT BE the same person as the GA Henry Starr. However, except for common surnames, none of the above appear "near" Henry Starr in Wilkes Co. records. It's only by adding PINKSTON allied lines and the PARTRICK/Partrig that I began to see a possible connection and they "mostly" lived in a different tax district than Henry. Brumbaugh published a larger MD militia/ tax list with Henry's name on it; but I can't find my copy at the moment. Maryland Archives spent an hour searching for (John) Henry Starr without finding additional references. Yet his first three sons were born in MD if the Bible record can be believed. Service in the Revolutionary War Between two of us, we've requested National Archives searches for Pension, Bounty Land and Military service on him from MD and pen- sion for GA service. Nothing was found. I personally have not checked the DAR; I doubt that Lillie did. _The Sun_ (p.69) says Henry probably served in Griffith's Flying Camp formed from the Upper Battalion, Lower District, Frederick Co. MD. I THINK they get this from the Clements/Wright book, but they don't say. If I'm correct, it's an "undocumented leap" from one to the other. Life in Wilkes Co. GA People generally left after the fall harvest came in, with high hopes of arriving at their final destination in time for spring planting. Son Benjamin's tombstone says he was born in Wilkes Co. GA 29 JAN 1785. Although it's quite possible, I doubt they left MD fall 1784 and arrived in GA in time for his birth. I therefore approximate their arrival in Wilkes Co. as fall 1783/spring 1784. Benjamin's birth is the first "specific" date we have to pinpoint their arrival; the 1785 tax list is the second. [_Wilkes Co. GA Tax Records 1785-1805_, by Frank P. Hudson, Atlanta:1996.] Al though Henry Starr appears on each "extant" tax list, and was taxed on land he "owned", the steps for obtaining land grants weren't completed until much later. Interestingly, the first land grant is not the one he resided on. I have a copy from GA Archives: Wilkes Co. Land Grant Book QQQ, page 685, dated 25 NOV 1788: to "Henry Starr, his Heirs...Two hundred Acres...County of Wilkes...bounding North wardly by John Gilbreaths and vacant Land, and on all other Sides by vacant Lands..." This is the land he sold (see above) 4 NOV 1789. This parcel was located (now) on the Taliaferro/Greene Co. border. It's interest- ing that son Benjamin later lived in Taliaferro (or was a Justice of Peace there) and son John Elijah in Greene Co. Henry actually lived on the land he obtained per Book WWW, page 36, dated 9 APR 1792. This was the "grant unto Henry Starr his heirs...containing Three hundred and fifty acres...in Wilkes Co...bounding on all sides by Vacant Land..." Tax records for 1792 show a cluster of neighbors around him and his name is listed as "bounded by" in various deeds for adjacent land prior to this date. I don't believe either is Bounty Land for Rev. War service which was 287 1/2 acres. Did officers get more -- 550 acres for instance? The land he resided on was located on the waters of Kettle Creek which flowed into Little River. However, I came across something which pinpoints it a bit more closely. Page 158, Mary B. Warren's _Chronicles of Wilkes County_ within her discussion of the history of Liberty Church: "...built another church on an elevated spot south of the battle ground at Kettle Creek, called Starrs' Hill...They called the church at Starrs' Hill, Salem ...about 1834, the road was moved which passed over Starrs' Hill, and thus put the church in a place extrememly inconvenient of access. So they...built another Salem on land given by Joseph Foster...diminished to seven members when this removal took place. These were ...Daniel...Gresham...FINDLEY...Cassels... now called Phillips Baptist Church." On a personal note: in 1989 we took a genealogical tour through GA and SC. I obtained a topographical map showing the Rev. War battle site. We stopped for a picnic lunch at Phillips Church- they had a covered pavillion with tables adjacent their cemetery. While the family munched, I wandered around looking for familiar names. By the time we meandered to the battle site, we were so "turned around" we couldn't tell which way was south. It's in the middle of a farmer's private field, but has a monument with names of "known" Americans who fought in the battle and some graves. Histories of the battle speak of "War Hill"; Warren says Starrs' Hill was south of the battlesite, which I take to mean across Kettle Creek. Trees along the bank were too tall to see anything on the other side and we were hesitant to wander too far; it was private land with no visible trails to follow. [Note for Henry: Deed Bk II, page 533 24 DEC 1792 is Wm Glass "of Greene" to Joshua STARR of Wilkes for L100 on Little R., 200 acres part of tract granted Glass adj. Finley, STAR, Pointer ..." This would be in (now) Taliaferro or Greene Co.; Benjamin and Elijah are the only STARR/STAIR who appear in index to _Taliaferro Co. GA: Records and Notes_ by Lunceford; but I believe Joshua died before Taliaferro was created. Benj. might have lived on this land, paying rent to the widow; there are no deed for Benjamin in this book. He would have to reside in Taliaferro to be JP there, wouldn't he?] [There's lots of bits and pieces of data in _Early Records of Georgia, Volumes 1 and 2, Wilkes County_ by Grace G. Davidson, reprint 1992 So. Historical Press. Much has been published else where, often in more detail; I cite her below (but I'm not good about "which" vol.) when I haven't another source.] The 1803 Lot tery was open to every free white male 21 years and older who had lived in GA 12 months and paid taxes; he received one draw. Those meeting the above requirements plus having a wife and at least one "legitimate" child received two draws; all widows and "legitimate" children 2 draws; and all families of orphans without parents, two draws. Henry and Joshua met the require ments for two draws (Davidson page 309); Silas for only one draw. (page 319) This proves that Silas wasn't married in 1803, but does it "prove" Henry's wife was still alive? Eligibility for the 1806 land lottery was 1 draw for white males 21 or older who had resided in GA for 3 years; 2 draws for those meeting the above requirements plus having a wife and children under 21; 1 draw for widows with residency, free white females, families of orphans under 21 whose father was deceased; and 2 draws for orphans with both parents deceased IF they weren't successful in 1803 lottery. Joshua, Henry and Benjamin all met the requirements for 2 draws. (page 324) Benjamin was therefore married BEFORE we thought because they had to have at least one child if the rules were strictly enforced. (page 324) These are the only STARRs on the lottery lists in this book. Where are Silas and Elijah? Did Silas get land in 1803? The very last record found on Henry in Wilkes Co. is his purchase at the estate sale for William Evans Sr. 19-20 DEC 1806 and 6 JAN 1807. [p 226, _The Wilkes Co. Papers 1773-1833_, by Robert S. Davis, So. Hist. Pr 1983.] However, I haven't read microfilm of Wilkes Co. records; except for will abstracts in Davidson, this date coincides with the "end" timeframe of the deeds book. Life in Morgan Co. GA I suspect Henry was successful in one of the above lotteries for he appears in Morgan County "by" 1815--my first record on him there. Lack of records doesn't mean I didn't try. GA Dept. of Ar chives and History returned one request (1990) that Morgan Co. "Grantor" Index for 1806-1865 is not available at their depart ment; at the same time, they didn't find "John" or "Henry" Starr in the General Index to Deed Grantees 1806-1865; neither did they find Mary Starr in the "Deeds Grantors & Grantees" Index 1806 1865. The Superior Court Clerk of Morgan County answered my re quest (1987) for deeds with "no time for research". The Probate Court Clerk sent me a copy of Henry's will and also checked for a will of Mary Starr (none). Both 1803 and 1806 lotteries covered land in Baldwin Co.; Morgan was created from parts of Baldwin and Jasper in 1807. Newton Co. where Starrville is located, was created in 1821 from parts of Henry, Jasper, Morgan and Walton Counties. We must remember this was "lottery" land; as I understand it, they didn't have a choice--they got the luck of the draw. A Mary Starr appears on the Morgan Co. 1830 Census "suggesting" John Henry's land was in the area that remained in Morgan Co. However it's very tempting to think he lived in the area that became Starrsville where sons Silas and Samuel resided. The first record I've located for Henry in Morgan Co. is his marriage bond to Mary Martin. [I obtained this copy from GDAH; they did not record the book and page number and I failed to make note as well.] The record states: Georgia Morgan County, To any Judge, Justice of the __?__ or Court Justice of the peace or Minister of the Gospel: You are hereby Authorised to Join together in Matrimony _Henry Starr_ and _Mary Martin_ and for so doing this shall be your sufficient License. Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of January 1815. J. Fannin CC. Georgia Morgan County. I hereby certify that _Henry Starr_ and _Mary Martin_ were duly joined in the bonds of Matrimony by me this 11th day of January 1815. George Chatfield JP. Received this 21st January 1815. Jephthah Fannin CC I received the following from the Courthouse in Madison; it "Certifies that Henry Starr and Polly Jenkins were united in the Holy Bonds of Matrimony by John Nesbet, Probate Judge on the 4th day of August, in the year of our Lord, 1817 As appears of record in my office in Marriage Book M-1, Page 180 This 28th day of February 1991." Since this Henry is the "only" Henry Starr in GA records in this timeframe, I have not questioned him having three wives; three named "Mary" did give me pause though. I obtained a copy of his will from Morgan Co.; I no longer have the specific Will Book #, but the page is 89: In the Name of God Amen. I Henry STARR of the State of GA and Co. of Morgan Being Sick but perfectly Sound in Mind and Memory having taken in Consideration that all men must die and as touching my worldly goods which God has blessed me with I wish them disposed of in the following Manner--- Item 1st I will and bequeath to my well beloved wife Mary Starr the land whereon I Now live containing Fifty acres more or less during her life to have and to hold with all the rights and privilidges attached there unto -- Item 2nd I will to my Wife Mary Starr all my Stock of horses, cattle and hogs and all my household and Kitchen Furni- ture and all my plantation tools -- Item 3rd I will to my Wife Mary Starr Two Negroes to wit Molly and Melain during her life to have an to hold in peacable possession -- during the time of her natural life and laying aside all other wills and testaments, I constitute and appoint this my last Will and testament I Witness whereof I Set my hands this Eighth day of October in the year of our Lord 1818. Signed Henry (his + mark) Starr Signed & acknowledged in presents of us: Humphrey Gelmore, Hugh Means, G. W. Jenkins. Page 90: Georgia, Morgan Co. Personally appeared in open Court Humphrey Gilmore Hugh Means & George W. Jenkins & after being duly sworn Saith that they were present and saw the testator Henry Starr Sign the within Instrument of Writing purporting to be his last Will & testament by making his mark and that they signed the Same as Witnesses in the presents of the testator and each other and further saith that they believe the testator was at the time of Signing the Same in his proper Senses Sworn to in open Court this 7th May 1821 John Crisbet Clk I offer this as proof (John) Henry died BEFORE 1827, but later than 1818 which is another reported deathdate for him. [Specific info in the following is from _The Sun_ or Davidson unless other wise noted.] Clues from Children Data 1. JOSHUA b. 17 OCT 1778 in MD d. 22 OCT 1822 in Wilkes Co. GA m. Fenton MELEAR 9 FEB 1799. He was a Methodist minister. Will was probated 4 NOV 1822. (Davidson p. 152) He owned 123 acres which "has to be" the land near Greene Co. A neighbor was POINTER. The given name "Amelia" is found in the POINTER/POYNER line from NC. One of the witnesses to Joshua's will is Barsheba WRIGHT. He named a dau "Barsheba"--must be a connection. Joshua was gdn for orphans, Elizabeth and Daniel ARNOLD; he also admn the est of John P. MILLER and was gdn of his orphans--unusual; perhaps this because he is a minister rather than family. On other hand, is MELEAR and MILLER the same family? I've seen something that Joshua's middle name is HOWARD; a clue if this is true. 2. John Elijah b. 1780 in MD d. c1837 Habersham Co. GA m. Hannah TOWNSEND 15 APR 1805 Greene Co. He rec'd 30 acre Land Grant in Greene Co. BK J-5 in 1812 (per Lucas _Index ..._) Will dated 26 NOV 1836, witnessed by Wm DORSEY (per Lucas _Some GA Cos._, vol. 7 SoHisPr) Wm Starr sold land in MD to a DORSEY 1750s. Elijah was paid by est Richard WATTS for boarding orphans J. B. and E. J. in 1819; also he was apptd guardian of Betsy J. and Judith B. WATTS (page 305) A note at the bottom est. papers says some accts were made in Greene Co. 1820-22 est Wm KAIN pd E. Starr for board Elizabeth and Amanda Kain. 3. Silas Henry b. 7 NOV 1782 MD d. 17 DEC 1857 Newton Co. GA m. Elizabeth KAIN, widow of John C. Pinkston d. bef MAR 1804. Wm M. KAIN was apptd gdn Greenberry Pinkston, with Silas and "Uncle" Greenberry Pinkston security. Wm M. and Silas were adm of estate John C. Pinkston 1808. 4. Benjamin Franklin b. 29 JAN 1785 GA d. 21 DEC 1851 Spalding Co m. Charlotte PINKSTON, dau of Shadrack c1805. Est of James Lee paid Benj. for coffin. 1820 he paid est Asa Starr $597; Joshua Arnold est paid Benj. for coffin 1822. Sec for bro Samuel as gdn nephew Richard C. Starr. 1821 he gave receipt for full legacy of Richard C. Is FRANKLIN a clue? He might be named for THE BF, but there are several BF Starrs in other lines. 5. Samuel Steele b. 11 OCT 1794 d. 19 AUG 1859 Newton Co. GA m. Hannah MELEAR 30 NOV 1815 by Wm Evans J.P. They were in Newton Co. "by" 17 NOV 1830 when Samuel gave bond as gdn nephew Richard C. Starr. (p294) STEELE is offered as sur- name for Samuel's mother; I suspect it comes from his name. 6. Amelia (nothing further on her unless -- the Elizabeth STARR who m. William LUNSFORD 5 NOV 1812 in Wilkes Co. by Wm Evans J.P. is she. The only "Elizabeth" granddau old enough to marry in 1812 was only 12 and she married as a "Starr" a few years later. This Elizabeth has to be related; these are the only STARRs in Wilkes Co. in this timeframe; she was married by the same JP as Samuel above. 7. Asa D. died by 2 SEP 1817 when will was probated Wilkes Co. m. Rhoda Watts, dau of Richard WATTS for "Rhoda Starr" is listed as legatee in his will. (p305 Davidson). Brothers Benj and Elijah were named admns of Asa's will witnessed by Joshua and Samuel (p.99 vol. 1 Davidson) Asa's son "Richard C." had a cousin "Richard CAPEL", son of Joshua; clue? He had maternal grandfather "Richard". The older son, Samuel F., is not mentioned in later records so probably died. Benj. and Samuel both appear as gdns from time to time. I think Richard resided with Samuel at Starrsville. 8. Caleb. Nothing further known about him. Caleb Starr, founder of the Cherokee STARRs was born 1758 -- the right age to be a younger brother of John Henry except he apparently grew up in PA. The ONLY connection I've found: Elijah's descen- dants in Gordon Co. GA married HARLANs; Cherokee Caleb's wife was Nancy "Nannie" Harlan, a 1/4 Cherokee.