Frederick Starnes Jr. (1724 - 1779)

Born 16 May 1724 in German Flats, Herkimer Co., NY

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1779 at age 54 in Madison, Kentucky, United States

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Frederick Starnes Jr. has German Roots.

Biography

Biography

Frederick, Jr. was born in 1724. Frederick, Jr. Starnes ... He passed away in 1779. ^[1]

Fredereick Starnes Jr. ^[2]

Birth: 1724 New York, USA Death: Apr. 7, 1779 Madison County Kentucky, USA

According to the book "Of Them That Left A Name Behind," by the late Herman Starnes of Monroe, NC. and H. Gerald Starnes, Frederick Starnes, Jr. (c.1724-1779), his brother Joseph Starnes (c.1730-1779) and a kinsman, Michael Moyer, may have been buried at the site of this cemetery after they were killed by the Shawnee Indians on 7 April 1779. The only survivor of the massacre, termed "Starns' Defeat," was Joseph Starnes, Jr. (1755-1844), who escaped, being chased by the Indians for more than a mile, and later reached Boonesborough. Col. William Whitley led a company of men who found the bodies and buried them. One account refers to the group as the party of Capt. Starnes. Both Frederick and Joseph had served in the French & Indian War, but I do not know which was a Captain, or if it was a courtesy title.

Frederick and Joseph were sons of Frederick Staring/Starns/Starnes/Stearns (c.1700-1774/5), who had come with his father Adam, uncles Valentine and Nicholas, and other unnamed members of their family from near the village of Alzey in the Palatine region of what is now Germany to America in 1710. The name was originally Staring, pronounced something like Stah-rentz, and went through various spellings after they arrived in America. They arrived in New York in June, 1710. Frederick married Mary Goldman (born c.1703), daughter of Conrad Goldman, another Palatine immigrant. They lived at Herkimer, NY until after 1733, spent a brief time in Pa., and were in southwestern Virginia by about 1740.

Frederick, Jr.'s wife's name was Mary, and Joseph's wife was Katherine. It has been suggested that they may have been sisters named Carlock/Guerlach, and that a third sister, Caroline, married a third Starnes brother, Adam. This has not been proved. The Starnes brothers took up lands in Mecklenburg County, NC, and also vast tracts on the Virginia frontier in what is now Kentucky. They were on a scouting expedition for more lands when they were killed. Michael Moyer, the third man killed, was described by Joseph Starnes, Jr. as his brother-in-law, so it is likely that he was married to a daughter of Joseph, Sr., though he could possibly have been brother to an unknown first wife of Joseph, Jr.

Frederick. Jr. & Mary's children were: Capt. John Starnes (1745-1780, a Soldier of the Revolution killed at the Battle of Camden, SC, m. Margaret Speck), Jacob Starnes (c. 1750-1812, a Soldier of the Revolution and Indian fighter, m. Elizabeth South, lived in Kentucky, d. in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana), Valentine Starnes (c.1752-1782, killed at the Battle of Blue Licks, Kentucky), Conrad Starnes (c. 1755-c.1800, m. Margaret Brown), Charles Starnes (c.1756-c.1807, m. Caty, perhaps Catherine Beaver), David Starnes (1758-c.1833, m. Barbara Starns, lived in Mecklenburg Co., NC, now Union Co., 5th great grandfather of the present writer), Frederick Starnes III (c.1765-c.1816, m. Mary Fisher).

Frederick's will suggests there were other children younger than David. Jacob and David are the only sons mentioned in his will, in addition to "all the rest of my children." John is proved as a son of Frederick by his brother Valentine's will. I wonder if Valentine and Charles weren't younge than the dates I have for them...or they and Conrad may actually have been sons of one of Frederick's brothers.

Family links: Parents: Frederick Starnes (1700 - 1775) Mary Goldman Starnes (1703 - ____)

Spouse: Mary Carlock Starnes*

Children: John Starnes (1745 - 1780)* John Starnes (1745 - 1780)* Valentine Stearns (1752 - 1782)* David Starnes (1758 - 1833)* Frederick Starnes (1765 - 1816)*

Siblings: Frederick Starnes (1724 - 1779) Leonard Starnes (1726 - 1782)* Joseph Starnes (1730 - 1779)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Pilot Knob Cemetery Berea Madison County Kentucky, USA^[3]

• WikiTree profile Starnes-159 created through the import of Harrington _ McLaurin .ged on Aug 1, 2011 by Linda Griffin. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Linda and others.

• Source: S536813853 Repository: #R536794466 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=12132211&pid=296

No REPO record found with id R536794466.

• Barry Keith, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Barry and others.

• Information compiled by Scottie Starnes : http://sharing.ancestry.com/4838695.pdf?h=f547c3

https://www.geni.com/people/Frederick-Starnes-Jr/6000000026179342046

Frederick was born in 1724. He was the son of Frederick Starnes, Sr (Starnes-142) and Mary Goldman (Goldman-151). He passed away in 1779.

Killing of the Starnes Brothers and Michael Moyer

By Emory L. Hamilton

From the unpublished manuscript, Indian Atrocities on the Clinch, Powell and Holston Rivers, pages 75-76.

In his pension statement (1), Joseph Starnes, of Burke Co., NC, says he was born in November, 1755, on Smith’s River, but could not say whether in Virginia or North Carolina. Smith’s River is the river that runs through Martinsville, VA. He further states:

I was once in a company of four in the year 1779, April 7th, over on a water course in Virginia, back of the settlements towards Boonesborough, where we were fired upon by about 25 or 30 Indians, and my father, (Joseph Starnes, Sr.) my Uncle Frederick Starnes, and brother-in-law, Michael Moyer were shot and I made my escape, although they saw me for upwards of a mile and kept firing on me, but I made my escape in the cane and undergrowth.

If they were hunting, as Joseph Starnes states, "on a water course back of the settlements towards Boonesborough", then the Starnes brothers and Michael Moyer were most likely killed in the present Wise County. In 1779 the settlements lay along the Clinch River and Wise County would be directly back of them, although the possibility of Lee County cannot be ruled out, as Powell Valley was a great hunting area in early days, however, it would not have been back of the settlements, although it did lie toward Boonesborough.

The Starnes brothers were very early settlers on the New River and Holston River, with perhaps the first record of their settlement being in the Augusta Co. Survey Book, which says, "a survey of 500 acres on the west side of Woods River (New river) known by the name of ‘the old Starnes place", dated 30th of October, 1746. Frederick Starnes was living on the Holston when he administered the estate of Jacob Goldman (site of V. P. I.) which was probated May 28, 1757.

Mary Goldman, widow of Jacob, may have been a sister to Frederick Starnes, others think her to have been a sister of Humphrey Baker, who with Annie, his wife, live din the bounds of present day Washington Co., VA, before 1754. Others contend that Mary Starnes was a daughter of Jacob Goldman, and that Annie, wife of Humphrey Baker, was born a Goldman.

The Carlock family also come in for a strong connection with the Starnes, Goldman and Baker families, for in 1811, Conrad Carlock leaves his property to "his sister’s two sons, Adam and Samuel Starnes," and there is little doubt that Conrad Goldman and Conrad Carlock were named for the same common ancestor. (2)

The will of Frederick Starnes was proven in Washington Co., VA, on May 18, 1779. Witness to the will was Francis Byrd and Jessee Bounds, both of whom lived in present day Scott Co., VA. Appraisers of the estate were Elisha Dungins, Robert Reaugh, Conrad Hennigar and Jessee Bounds, with the widow, Mary Starnes as Executrix. Children mentioned in the will are sons, Jacob and David Starnes.

At a court held for Washington Co., VA, on May 18, 1779, Katherine Starnes was granted administration on the estate of Joseph Starnes, deceased, with Jessee Bounds, William Bates, William Russell, Jr., and George Bader as appraisers of the estate.

As further proof that the Starnes were early settlers on the Holston can be found in a court held for Botetourt Co., VA, on the 14th of February, 1770, where Frederick Stern is appointed Constable for that precinct upon Holston where he lives.

Joseph, Jr., and Peter Starnes were at the battle of Kings Mountain in the Company commanded by Capt. William Neal and Lt. William Russell, Jr., the latter a son of Gen. William Russell.

(1) Pension Statement S-6700, National Archives

(2) Courtesy of Gordon Aronhime, Bristol, VA

This file contributed by: Rhonda Robertson

Frederick Starnes II

Written by Scottie Starnes:

Frederick Starnes, II

Frederick Starns, born ca. 1724 in New York (probably Herkimer County, NY). He was the second born son of Frederick Starnes and Mary Goldman. Frederick II married a woman named Mary. We do not have any documentation to what Mary's last name is. Some researchers seem to belive her last name was Carlock (Gerlach). Though this is highly plausible due to both the Starns and Carlock families living in the same areas at the same time, there is no documented evidence to support this theory.

Frederick live in the German Flatts and Schoharie area of New York until around 1741. He went south into Pennsylvania with his father Frederick Sr. and other members of the family from 1741 to 1743 and settled near the Juanita River. From here, the family moved down into the New River area of Virginia from 1744 until around 1770 and eventually settled his family into the Holston River area of Virginia in 1770.

Frederick's father, Frederick Sr., was attacked July 3, 1755 by several Shawnee Indians, who had fired upon and wounded him. Frederick was able to return fire and escape the attack. Another attack upon the settlers happend at Draper's Meadow on July 30. Almost everything, including settlers, was wipe out, killed or wounded. These types of Inidan attacks continued up until the Cherokee Expeditions.

Frederick and his brother Joseph were both involved in the Cherokee Expeditions (1759-1760) both being Sgts. in Col. Richard Richardson's battalion of the Cherokee Expeditions near Franklin, North Carolina.

In the year of 1770, Frederick was appointed Constable in Botetourt County Court February 1770 "for that Precinct upon Holston's River where he lives." (By order of Council December 16, 1773 and being a part of the Loyal Company Grant surveyed for: "Frederick Stern (Frederick Starnes II), 176 acres of land on both sides of Clapboard Branch, the waters of the middle fork of Holston's River ~June 1, 1774)Frederick also signed a petition, which was received by the Virginia Convention on June 10, 1776, asking the the county of Fincastle be divided. His son's John (Capt. John) and Jacob also signed this petition.

Starn's Defeat ~ April 7, 1779

Sometimes in the spring of 1779, Frederick and brother Joseph, along with Joseph's son, Joseph Jr. and son-in-law Michael Moyer departed their homes in Washington County, Virginia and ventured into the Kentucky wilderness in search of new lands to settle and farm.

Frederick's son, Jacob Starns, was already in Kentucky, assisting Daniel Boone with the construction of Fort Boonesborough. Joseph Starns, Jr. had volunteered during the Revolutionary War and was in the Washington County Militia.

During his service, Joseph had been to Fort Boonesborough on a relief expedition. It is assumed that Jacob and Joseph informed their fathers about the beautiful, awe-inspiring lands to be found in Kentucky, free for settling. No doubt that this is the reason Frederick and his brother Joseph set out to meet up with Jacob at or near Fort Boonesborough so the family could scout out suitable land for the family. So the family set out and followed the "Wilderness Trail" that Daniel Boone and 31 axemen (was Jacob one of these axemen?) constructed back in March 1775. The route of the Wilderness Road made a long loop from Virginia southward to Tennessee and then northward to Kentucky, a distance of over 200 miles.

From the Long Isand of the Holston River (today Kingsport, TN) the road went north through Moccasin Gap of Clinch Mountain, then crossed the Clinch River and crossed rough land (called the Devils Raceway) to the North Fork Clinch River. Then it crossed Powell Moutain at Kanes Gap. From there it ran southwest through the valley of the Powell's River to the Cumberland Gap. After passing over the Cumberland Gap the Wilderness Road forked. The southern fork passed over the Cumberland Plateau to Nashville, TN via the Cumberland River. The northern fork split into two parts. The eastern spur went into the Bluegrass region of Kentucky to Boonesborough on the Kentucky River (near Lexington).

This route was known to be very dangerous. Not only would the family have to keep constant watch for small bands of Indians, the trail was known to draw robbers and criminals. Anyone who traveled this trail had to be well armed.

Knowing the dangers, Frederick Starns made his last will and testament before leaving his home.

Will of Frederick Starns

In the name of God Amen, I Frederick Starns of Washington County in the Commonwealth of Virginia being of perfect health, praised by God for his mercies, make constitute this to be my last will and testament as followith~~I give and bequeath to Mary my well beloved wife one black mare which I had from my son Jacob Starns and her saddle likewise her thirds of all my estate~I likewise give and bequeath to my son David, thirty pounds Virginia and ever child younger than him twenty five pounds like money-and the remaining parts of the estate to be equally divided amongst all my children (first paying all my just debts).

The whole estate to be in the hands of Mary my wife and she is to have the whole management therof until the children become of age. Except she marries, then the executors to manage or otherwise the children under age to choose their own guardian if they think fit in witness hereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of August in the year of our Lord 1778

Signed, Published, and Sealed by the above named Frederick Starns jun. and his last will and testament in presence of us: (signatures) Francis Bird, Jesse Bounds, Conrad Henniger (Washington County, Virginia Minute Books, at a court for Washington County, May 18, 1779, Book 1, p. 55)

Frederick assigned Conrad Kerlock and Georg Hiser to be his executors. Boone and his 31 axemen began working on "Fort Boone" on April 1, 1775. The fort was built on the souther bank of the Kentucky River.

Those listed as having been living within the fort are Jacob and Joseph Jr. and Valentine Starnes.1) Petition from Boone’s Fort October 16, 17792) *"Fort Boonesborough" by Judge William Chenault, written for Courier-Journal April 11, 19073) History of Kentucky by Collins-a list of Captain John Holder’s Company at Boonesborough Jun 10, 1779

Once Frederick, Joseph and Joseph Jr. reached the fort, they immediately met up with Jacob and began scouting the surrounding area for suitable land. We do not know the exact amount of time it took the family to reach Fort Boonesborough, but it had to take close to two weeks to travel the 200 miles to the Kentucky River (Madison County, KY).

During this time, it is acceptable to conclude that the family stayed with Jacob inside Fort Boonesborough. It was around April 1779 when the Starnes family would experience the worst disaster of the Revolutionary War. This event would be recorded in Kentucky history as "Starns Defeat."

On April 7, 1779, Frederick his brother Joseph and Joseph's son, John Jr. and son-in-law, Michael Moyer along with 8 other men from the fort, set out to scout some land south of Fort Boonesborough.

About 25 miles south, the party reached a watercouse known as the "Lower Blue Licks Creek." This would take them back onto the Wilderness Trail.

Eventually, they entered the narrow Blue Licks Creek valley just below the headwater springs. Here, on the banks of the creek, in a heavily wooded area close to the Blue Licks Springs, a large group of Indians attacked the Starnes-led group. It had to be absolute horror for our ancestors. Joseph Starnes, Jr. was the only survivor.

In his sworn Pension Statement, Joseph describes what happened:

"I was once in a company of four in the year 1779, April 7 over a watercourse in Virginia back of the settlements towards Boonesboro where we were fired on by about 25 or 30 Indians, and my father (Joseph Starnes), my uncle (Frederick Starnes) and brother-in-law Michael Moyer were shot and I made my escape although they saw me for upwards of a mile and kept firing on me, but I made my escape in the can and other undergrowth."

Joseph was the lucky one. He eventually made his way back to Fort Boonesborough and informed the settlers inside of what had happened. Colonel William Whitley and a small party of armed men went to investigate the claim. Joseph Jr., more than likely set out with Col. Whitney to show him the area of this attack. Once the site was found, the men laid witness to the gruesome scene. Col. Whitney would later described what he found:

“Starns Defeat was in March (April) 1779 Frederick Starn, Joseph Starn & ____________ Starn (Michael Moyer) was killed Blue Lick now Madison County I buryed them Frederick eyes were taken out by the Birds Joseph Starns foot I could not find the other Starns (Michael Moyer) was cut to pieces he being quite opulent and his heart taken out" 1)

Whitney Papers, Vol. 9 - Draper Manuscripts-Kentucky Papers (Register, Kentucky State Historical Society, July 1938) Vol. 36, No. 116, p. 200

The account of "Starnes Defeat" is also described in the a pension statement given by George Michael Bedinger. He describes arriving at Fort Boonesborough on April 7, 1779 and finding the fort in distress under the command of Capt. John Holden with only about 15 men. He states that the fort was under distress due to the Starns group leaving a day or two before his arrival. His story continues with him stating that the group, lead by Capt. Starnes (Frederick) having fell into the hands of Indians.

In his statement he also claims that Joseph made it back to the fort two hours after he arrived. 1) George Michael Bedinger Pension Statement & Application W.2992

Joseph Jr. would leave Fort Boonesborough as a Militia guard escorting prisoners back to Washington County, VA. On his return, he would inform the family about the deaths of Frederick, Joseph and Michael Moyer. This would only be the first devistating lose during the Revolutionary War. Many more tragedies would happen during this time.

Frederick and Mary Starnes had seven (7) known children:

John Starns; Jacob Starns; Valentine Starns; Conrad Starns; Charles Starns; David Starns and Frederick Starns III.

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Barry Keith, Jan 5, 2012
2. ↑ WikiTree profile Starnes-148 created through the import of export.ged on Jul 19, 2011 by Chérie Naegele. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Chérie and others.
3. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26800912 Created by: John Field Pankow Record added: May 13, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 26800912

"Pennsylvania, Church Marriages, 1682-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WF-P2JY : accessed 17 July 2019), Frederick Starn and Cath. Biddis, 09 Jun 1771; citing Christ Church Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, various churches and archives, Pennsylvania; FHL microfilm 823,996.

http://sites.rootsweb.com/~varussel/indian/37.html

• unconfirmed: https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/e/f/Rick-Heflin-Ohio/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1161.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26800912/frederick-starnes