John Stark (1652 - 1703)

Born 1652 in New London, New London, Connecticut

Husband of Elizabeth (Packer) Weeks — married 1686 in Groton, New London, CT

Descendants

Died 8 Sep 1703 at about age 51 in New London, Connecticut

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Biography

John Stark was born about 1654 in Stonington, Connecticut. His parents were Aaron Stark, Sr. I and his wife Sarah Fish. John Stark was a participant in King Philip's War in 1675. He would have been 16 or older to be in this war, hence his latest year of birth would have been 1659. Since he was younger than Aaron, he was probably born between 1656 and 1659. New London County, Connecticut Court Records Vol. 5, page 109 Text: Probate record of Aaron Stark, Sr. father of John Stark, mentions sons Aaron, William, and John.

Before 1684 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut, John married Elizabeth Packer, daughter of John Packer and Elizabeth Friend. Article date August 16, 1922: From New London court records dated July 17, 1705, daughter of John Stark and Elizabeth Packer, Elizabeth Stark, received her share of John's estate. She had to be 21, hence her latest year of birth was 1684 and John Stark and Elizabeth Packer were married before this year.

Together they had at least two children:

1. Elizabeth Stark (1686-1727) m. John Newberry
2. Hannah Stark (1688-1768), m. Isaac Fox

John Stark passed away on the 8th of Sept. 1703 in New London County, Connecticut. After his death his wife re-married John Weeks / Wicks.

Burial details unknown. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157120758/john-stark: accessed 26 August 2023), memorial page for John Stark (1652–8 Sep 1703), Find A Grave: Memorial #157120758; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Gene Stephan (contributor 48184541).

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: LKW6-Y5W

Places to check

• New London County, Connecticut Court Records. Vol. VII, page 36 Text: Property John Stark inventoried for his widow. Dated July 9, 1690

Research Notes

Biography of John Stark, by Compiled Clovis LaFleur Since John Stark is known to have served in King Philip's War, the Author speculates his latest year of birth would have been 1659. The reasoning for this estimate is John would have had to be 16 to serve in the militia in 1675. He served in the militia in King Philip's war from 1675 to 1676 and received a 1701 land grant from Voluntown for this service. From the New London County Court Records, dated September 17, 1678, John was fined for being out at night with Samuel Packer, Mary Fish, and Margaret Culver. The Author believes he married Elizabeth Packer, possibly in or before the year 1684. As will be shown later in the text, Elizabeth was the sister of Samuel Packer. Her parents were John Packer and Elizabeth Friend, to also be proven in the following text.

The Author has not seen a document that says John Stark married someone named Elizabeth Packer. However, from the New London County Court Records, Vol. VII, page 36 dated July 9, 1690, the property of John Start, deceased, was inventoried for his Widow. According to Helen Stark, New London County Court Records also show John Stark died in 1689 and on September 16, 1690, his estate inventory was presented at court, but not accepted.

[Note: 5] However, the County Court Record dated February 6, 1693/94 shows, "Richard Christopher’s contra (means against or more likely the plaintiff) John Weeks deft (means defendant). Goodes taken up of him by your wife (formerly Widow Stark in the time of her widowhood) 10 pounds coffin, 6 pounds, 18 shillings." [Note: 8a] The records quoted refer to the widow of John Stark who later married John Weeks before February 6, 1693/94, had an unpaid debt to Richard Christopher’s, apparently for his making the coffin of John Stark. However, from Helen Stark's research, a New London Probate Record dated September 20, 1705 states, "John Weeks of New London, husband of Elizabeth, late wife of John Stark, late of New London". [Note: 5] Clearly from this record it would seem John Stark married a woman named Elizabeth and is probably the first document revealing the name of his spouse. In 1709, John Weeks is a Deputy Sheriff for a record from the New London County Deed Records, Book 1, page 60 reports; "A survaie on a tract of land belong to Samll Rogers of Westerly in the Collony of Road Island the sd Land is taken by execution for Mr. John Arnold of New London: and for him seazed by John Weeks deputy sheriff: April the 11 1709, the Execution bares date December 27th 1708..."

Passages from an article by Helen Stark say, "The original probate papers state that he (John Stark) was a Lieutenant, and that he died in 1689, also that his widow married John Weeks. John and Elizabeth Weeks had among six children recorded, Mary Weeks, b. 1695, Joshua Weeks, b. 1697, and Friend Weeks, b. 1703. John Weeks died 1712 and James Packer was bondsman with the widow Elizabeth for his estate. And in 1739, Friend Weeks, Joshua Weeks and Mary and John Stanton, all of Norwich, released claim to the estate of Richard Packer of Groton. James and Richard Packer were sons of John Packer: Richard probably a son of John Packer's first wife Elizabeth (Friend). Can it be learned why the children of Elizabeth Weeks had a claim to the estate of Richard Packer? Was it because she was his sister?" [Note: 8b] Helen has raised some valid questions. Naming a child Friend seems to also be a good indicator that Elizabeth Weeks was Elizabeth Packer and she used the surname name of her mother to name one of her children. The Groton records show John Weeks and Elizabeth had children named, 1) John born November 5, 1693, 2) Mary born April 7, 1695, 3)Joshua born March 19, 1697, 4)Margaret born May 17, 1699, 5)Lenard born May 17, 1701, and 6)Friend born February 17, 1703.[Note: 8c] This would seem to agree with Helen's analysis for in this list is Friend, Joshua, and apparently Mary who could have married John Stanton.

Elizabeth Packer, according to Packer Family Researchers, was born about 1669 and was the daughter of John Packer and his first wife, Elizabeth Friend. John and Elizabeth (Friend) Packer had other children named John Packer, Jr., Samuel Packer, Richard Packer, Sarah Packer, Tamsen Packer, and Mary Packer who married Ephraim Culver. These researchers show this Elizabeth Packer had brothers named Samuel Packer and Richard Packer which seems to support Helen Stark's argument the spouse of John Stark who later married John Weeks was, indeed, this Elizabeth Packer.

If this Elizabeth Packer married John Stark, then when might they have married? From the Groton Deed Records dated July 17, 1705, we find, "I Doe hereby Acquite & Discharge my said furthere Claimes Interest or demands of me the said Elizabeth Starke to the Estate of my Honnored fathere John Starke Deceased as having any further right or Interest in said Estate, & Doe declare my selfe to have full power by age in the Law provided to act." [Note: 9] This is Elizabeth Stark, recorded in this document as the daughter of John Stark and whose mother was Elizabeth Packer, as proved earlier. To "be of age to act" she would have had to be twenty-one years old. Therefore, the latest year of birth of the daughter of John Stark and Elizabeth (Packer) Stark named Elizabeth would have been 1684. The Author would speculate from this that John Stark and Elizabeth Packer most likely married before 1684, assuming this daughter was the oldest. This would seem to imply Elizabeth Packer was about fifteen years old when she married John Stark if born in 1669 as suggested by the Packer Family Researchers.

The Charles R. Stark text relates John Stark and Elizabeth Packer (He shows John's spouse only as Elizabeth) had daughters named Hannah and Elizabeth, probably born between 1686 and 1689. The Groton Vital Records, Book 1, page 117, show Elizabeth Stark married John Nubery April 5, 1707 and in the same Records, Book 1, page 110, the marriage of Hannah Stark and Isaac Fox is reported to be April 21, 1707. Groton, New London County Deed Records, Book 1, page 35 records this transaction; "John Nuberry of Groton, weaver, for a valuable sum of money paid by Isaack Fox of Groton yeoman, sell, one messuage tenement of land, being in the town of Groton lying by and partly on the hill west of William Starks, be the number of acres, more or less which land came to me by the heirship of my wife formerly Elizabeth Stark daughter to John Stark late of New London, deceased, which land lyes undivided between me and my brother Isaack Fox of Groton aforesd: that is to say I John Nubery do sell to Isaack Fox … 20 Nov 1708. Signed: John Newberry, Elizabeth A. Newberry her mark. Wit: Nehemiah Smith Junr, Andrew Davis. Ack: 20 Nov 1708 and recd: 5 Jan 1708/9." The term "messuage tenement of land" means, "a dwelling house with the adjacent buildings and yard within the fences and the adjoining lands used in connection with the household." (From Webster's Dictionary, definition of the word, "messuage")

From the above deed, we can see John Newberry was married to Elizabeth Stark, daughter of John Stark, deceased. Also, the statement, "undivided between me and my brother Isaac Fox" means "between me and my brother-in-law Isaac Fox". Elizabeth and Hannah must have inherited the property of their father John Stark when they became of age. This was clearly shown in the above deed when Elizabeth received her property in 1705. This property was part of the original homestead of Aaron Stark, Sr. which was inherited by John from his father. Isaac is purchasing the part received by Elizabeth because he is a farmer while Newberry is a weaver, probably not needing or wanting a farm. New London County Probate Records, found by Helen Stark, indicate John Stark's daughters petitioned for their share of their father's estate on June 9, 1707, just a few months after they married their respective spouses.5 Records from Voluntown also show they sold the property John received as a grant for his service in King Philip's War, at about the same time.

However, since Hannah is not mentioned in this deed transaction, we need more proof she is Isaac's spouse. From the same Deed Records, Book 1, pages 567 and 568; "Isaac Fox and Hannah Fox of Groton for 400L paid by Aron Stark of Groton, quit claim unto Aron Stark, all right, Lands which of right did formerly belong to our father John Stark late of New London deceased, 9 May 1721. Signed Isaac Fox, Hannah Fox. Wit: Humphry Avery, John Walsworth. Ack and rec: 9 May 1721." This is the sale of the above property to Aaron Stark, III, son of Aaron Stark, Jr. and grandson of Aaron Stark, Sr. this illustrates Isaac Fox married a women named Hannah whose father was John Stark, deceased, who must have been the sister of Elizabeth Stark, if Elizabeth's husband was the brother-in-law of Isaac.

Notes: 5) Same Ref. as (3); Helen's source was New London County Court Records, (Formerly at Norwich, now (In 1937) in State Library at Hartford)

8a) New London County Court Records, Vol. VII, page 119.

8b) Stark, Helen; Article prepared in 1937 titled, "Known Facts & Authorities"; Transcribed from this article by Clovis La Fleur, Author

8c) Groton, New London County, CT Deed Records, Book 1, page 843; The births of John Weeks his children in Groton, John 5 Nov 1693, Mary 7 Apr 1695, Joshua 19 Mar 1697, Margrett 17 May 1699, Lenard 17 May 1701, Friend 17 Feb1703

9)Parkhurst Manuscript, by Charles Dyer ParkHurst, Vol. 25(S), page 3e; Whereas I have this day Received of my Father in law John Weeks, my full part & proportion of Land, housing and orchard, by the advice, consent & influence of my Uncle Samuell Fish, & my uncle Josiah Haines and yeew sheep which are secured to me by a bill signed by my said fathere and in consideration of the Receipt of the above Land housing orchard &c I Doe hereby Acquite & Discharge my said furthere Claimes Interest or demands of me the said Elizabeth Starke to the Estate of my Honnored fathere John Starke Deceased a shaving any further right or Interest in said Estate, & Doe declare my selfe to have full power by age in the Law provided to act In this afaire, and I the said Elizabeth Stark Doe acknowledge the receipt of an Iron Kitle, and a chest, and upon the receipt of all the above mentioned Lands housing orchards &c which I acknowledge the receipt of as above Doe Againe Conferme it by seting hereunto my and & seal In New London, Alias Groton, this 17th of July 1705. Signed Elizabeth (Her Mark) Stark; Witnessed by Nehemiah Smith, John Bayly; Elesebeth Stark personally appeared and acknowledged the within writen signature to be her free act and deed before me. Signed Nehemiah Smith, Justice; The within writen acquittance is given Insteed of one signed by the within named Elisabeth Starke, which said Acquitance is lost from John Weeks, as he declares and afermes to whom it was given, upon which this is given; N. London, July 17 1705; As attest Nehemiah Smith, Samuell Avery, Samuell Fish, Josiah