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197. William[9] Stark (Archibald I, 241) (A428). Born, 1 Apr 1724, in

Londonderry, Rockingham Co., NH[179]. Died, 1776, in Long Island, NY. Death(2):

1782 (?)[180]. Census: 1776, in Dunbarton, Merrimack Co., NH.

Stark (1860), "History of Dunbarton": "He was among those to whom the proprietors first granted lands in this town, in the early affairs of which he was an active and prominent agent. He had acquired a good education for the times, was a fair penman, and a prompt man of business. The meetings of the proprietors and of the town were, for several years prior to the erection of the first meeting house, held at his house.

"He was a man of plausible address, possessing a chivalrous spirit and undaunted courage. He was distinguished as a captain of the rangers on the northern frontier; was with Amherst at the capture of Louisburgh, and fought under the victorious banners of Wolfe on the Heights of Abraham. At the commencement of the Revolution, his inclination was favorable to the popular cause. The cannonade of June 17, 1775, at Bunker Hill, the day being fair and the wind being favorable, was distinctly heard at his house on the high lands of Dunbarton, although at the distance of seventy miles. In consequence he mounted his horse and rode with all speed toward Charlestown, but did not reach the American camp until after the action.

"He applied to the State Council of New-Hampshire for the command of a regiment, to which his previous services and military experience amply justified his claim. Had he obtained the appointment, he would have doubtless have proved true to the cause and rendered important service, for, as a soldier, his talents and courage were unquestionable. For reasons best known to themselves, the Council assigned the command to another.

"Stark, indignant at what he considered an unjust and insulting neglect, accepted overtures from the enemy, repaired to New York in 1776, and became a colonel in the British service. He was soon afterward killed by a fall from his horse...

"We have in possession a powder-horn thus inscribed: 'William Stark, his horn. Sandy Hook, 1757 or 1759,' the last figure being indistinct. It is a well-made article, with a metallic mouth-piece, ornamented with sundry devices, and was the work of Captain William Stark...

HRG, from "American Biography": "Served with reputation as an officer of the rangers, had been present at the Surrender of Ticonderoga & Crown Point, had assisted in the surrender of Louisburg by Gen. Amherst & had fought with Wolfe in Quebec."

Moore, Life of General John Stark: "William Stark had located on the high ridge [at Dunbarton, NH] in the central portion of the grant, now the village street, where the view to the West is the finest and the White Mountains, 100 miles away, can be seen on clear days to the North. In his house for some years the town meetings were held. He was a man of good parts and strong character, with energy and ambition and became a leading citizen, remaining such until the disturbances and unsettlements and the unfortunate alignments and family splits due to the strains of the Pre-Revolutionary period. There were two children born while he was still a Ranger Captain...

Upton, Revolutionary New Hampshire (1936): On the 11th of January, 1758, Lord Liuden gave Capt. Rogers orders to increase the corps of rangers by the addition of five companies. By the 4th of March following...one company raised among the indians of Connecticut and the other came from new England. William Stark was appointed captain of one of these. Capt. Rogers subsequently was promoted to a majority and had command of this famous corps. A large portion of it was from this province." (p. 159)

Moore, Life of General John Stark: "Two regiments were being raised (December-January) when Sullivan wrote the General Assembly on Jan. 18, 1776, telling of the distressing news of the failure to capture Quebec and of the death there on the last night of the old year of Gen. Montgomery; 'Col. William Stark now happens to be in camps & says he can undoubtedly raise men. He is well acquainted with the country and with the nature of such a march. I would therefore for the good of the service beg leave to Recommend him unless you have some other person more suitable in view...' A committee was appointed and reported: 'Captain Moulton for the Committee recommended that Col. William Stark, Major Thomas Tash, and Major David Copp be field officers of the new regiment raised for the Continental army at the lines or elsewhere except if Gen. Sullivan had appointed officers for it, such should stand.'

"...The House proceeded to give the Colonelcy to Timothy Bedel, who proved no prize...William Stark...went back to Dunbarton a sore, defeated, and vindictive man and there on the 20th wrote Sullivan a letter whose illiteracy is only equalled by its incoherence. 'No, it must be the son of Moll Bedel who Could not find a man in the country to lend him a Surname...It is the land of my netivety shall I stay and Bare the Scorn Teamly or Shall I go and Seek Bread elsewhere is the great Question.' Later in the year he sought it elsewhere and in New York was appointed by the British a Lt. Colonel. It has often been thought that had he been appointed at home, he might have remained loyal to the patriot cause.

Potter (1856): "'He had been a Captain in the Rangers in the seven Years War, and had served with honor and distinction. After the close of that war, he resided in Dunbarton, then more generally known as Starkstown. Upon commencement of hostilities at Lexington, he sided with the patriots, but did not offer his services immediately - while his son John took open ground against the patriot cause. This fact threw suspicion upon the father, perhaps unjustly. In the winter of 1776, he applied to the committee of safety for leave to raise a regiment with the rank of Colonel and had a strong letter from General Sullivan recommending him for that service, which fact shows that he favored the patriot cause at that time. Soon after, however, circumstances transpired that forced him to leave his country. He was charged with altering a Massachusetts bill of Credit, from sixteen shillings to forty shillings and passing the same to Job Sow of Goffstown. He was examined on this charge and bound over to a higher court in the sum of £1. At the September term of the Court at Amherst, he was indicted for the same offense but made default and his recognizance was forfeited. He had retired within the British lines in New York, where he soon received a commission as a Colonel in the British army. His son was soon after commissioned in the same service.

"John Stinson of Dunbarton was brother of William Stark's wife, Mary. When judgement was entered at Amherst he went on bond for his brother-in-law. The sum of £10 was added to the costs of prosecution and the same became charges against the estates of William Stark when, later, they became legally forfeited. In a petition as late as Oct. 12, 1779, citizens of Weare, Pembroke, Goffstown, and Dunbarton combined in reciting that 'There are now residents in Dunbarton aforesaid, the wives and families of William Stark and John Stinson, who are gone over to the British army.' Relief was asked because of the 'danger of receiving counterfeit money and every evil attending spies, Lurking Villians & cut throats & murderers'...because 'Tories and suspected persons frequently resort to houses of said absentees and (hold) nightly and private meetings there.'

From the Derryfield (Manchester) NH town records: William Stark 3 Sep 1751 appointed to a commission to examine the selectmen accounts, also doorkeeper.

The Diary of Matthew Patten of Bedford, N.H. (1903): 29 Sep 1769- "I went to Capt Willm Starkes per desire of John Hogg to Arbitrate between him and his Coz Robert Hogg but Robt would not come and john promised to pay me a Dollar for my trouble and I tarried at Capt Starkes over night and he would take nothing for my Entertainment..."

3 Sep 1776- "...I went to Robert McGregores and got my shoes mended and I directed him concerning the process aft Col Wm Stark..."

Stark (1860): "The meetings for transacting the proprietors' affairs, and those of the town [of Dunbarton] were generally, for nearly eighteen years, held at the house of Capt. William Stark, until the first meeting-house was erected...The first regular town meeting held in Dunbarton assembled at the house of William Stark, September 3, 1765, where were chosen its first town officers." The proprietors voted Jan 1765 "...That William Stark, William Stinson, and Jeremiah Page be a committee for building and finishing he meeting-house, as far as the money will go for which the four lots of land were sold." William was one of three selectmen in Dunbarton in 1767 and 1772.

"Seventy years ago the common around it [the house of the proprietors] was partially covered with large forest trees, having in its vicinity but two dwelling houses. One of these, the house of William Stark, stood upon the site of the new Congregational meeting-house, on the school lot; the other was that of Doctor Dougall..."

9 Oct 1760: Chosen moderator of prop.meeting, also treasurer of Starkstown.

12 Nov 1760: Part of a committee to "look out highways in said town and to make a record of the same.

12 Sep 1763: Appointed one of three tax collectors and assessors Province of by New Hampshire. To be paid £5 10s. for assessment.

21 Aug 1764: Part of a committee to sell common lots in Starkstown to provide meetinghouse.

13 Nov 1764: Bought lot #12 in First Range at auction for £590.

10 Jun 1761: Put on committee to "to see how the money has been disposed of that hath been raised on each proprietor's right in Starkstown."

3 Sep 1765: Voted town-clerk and Fifth Selectman of Dunbarton.

1771: Dunbarton voted him to select minister with Robert Hogg.

12 March 1771: Proprietors meeting: put on committee to "plan out the common land by the river in this town" (Merrimack River).

4 Jan 1774: put on committee to "settle Bow line."

14 Mar 1775: Dunbarton Town Meeting: On committee to chose minister. With numerous others, protested that the moderator was not chosen legally.

23 Jun 1775: Chosen moderator of town meeting.

1776 Census of New Hampshire lists Wm. Stark of Dunbarton, Merrimack Co., as a non-signer.

"From time to time in the post war years parts of confiscated estates of Benjamin Whiting, George Manserve, and William Stark were released to any creditors of the states." (p.204) [In 1782 the NH legislature had passed an act confiscating the estates of all loyalists absent from the state].

He married Mary Stinson (199) (A429), 22 Feb 1754, in NH. Children:

i. William[8] Stark Jr. Born, 27 Aug 1756, in Dunbarton, Merrimack

Co., NH[53].

ii. John Stark. Born, 1 Nov 1758, in Dunbarton, Merrimack Co.,

NH[53]. Died, 1776, in Chimney Point, Lake Champlain.

145 iii. Archibald Stark III.

iv. Mary Stark. Born, 19 Aug 1762.

v. Stephen Stark. Born, 27 Sep 1764, in Dunbarton, Merrimack Co.,

NH[53].

vi. Thomas Stark. Born, 25 Jan 1767, in Dunbarton, Merrimack Co.,

NJ[53].

vii. James Stark. Born, 22 Mar 1773, in Dunbarton, Merrimack Co.,

NH[53].