John Starr I (abt. 1684 - 1739)

Born about 1684 in Long Island, New York Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 27 Jul 1739 at about age 55 in Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony [uncertain]

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Biography

John Starr I was born about 1684 in Long Island, New York Colony, son of Capt. Josiah Starr (1657 - ~1715) and Rebekah (Unknown) Starr (~1665 - 1739).

His siblings were:

1. Benjamin Starr (1683 - 1754)
2. Thomas Starr (~1687 - <1734)
3. Rachel (Starr) Benedict (~1690 - 1765)
4. Josiah Starr II (1693 - 1778)
5. Rebecca (Starr) Dibble (~1696 - <1733)
6. Samuel Starr (~1697 - 1744)
7. Comfort Starr Esq. (1706 - 1763)

John married Sara Bennedick (~1680 - <1780)

John married Rebecca Cornell (1685 - ~1739) Their children were:

1. Sarah (Starr) Hoyt (1706 - 1768)
2. Rachel (Starr) Taylor (1708 - 1741)
3. Capt. John Starr II (1711 - 1788)
4. Mary (Starr) Benedict (1714 - 1796).

John died on 27 Jul 1739 in Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony aged ~55. He is buried in Wooster Street Cemetery, Danbury, Connecticut.

In 1767, his heirs received a distribution from his brother, Comfort Starr's estate.^[1]

Research Notes

"Capt. JOHN STARR,—son of Josiah 391, Thomas 7, Dr. Comfort 1,—b. in 1634, probably on Long Island ; was young when his parents settled in Danbury. He owned a large tract of land in the Beaver Brook district, where he lived, in the northeast portion of the town. A large part of this land lay within the present limits of the town of Brookfield (Incorporated in 1788), and remains in the possession of his descendants until this day.

It is evident he was a man of wealth and prominence in Danbury, for in 1731, '33, '34, and '35 he was sent as Deputy to the General Court,—a position of great honor in those days, and the record shows that he left a large property to one, at least, of his daughters. He was chosen May 10, 1723, Lieut., and May 14, 1733, Captain of the North company or "train band," and Oct. 9, 1739, the company was warned to meet to fill the office made vacant by the recent decease of Capt. John Starr.

He was buried with his kindred in the ancient burial place in Danbury. He left no will. Administration on his estate was granted to his sons, John and Jonathan, Sept. 18, 1739; inventory taken Sept. 23 by his brothers, Benjamin and Josiah, and Nov. 20 Josiah was appointed guardian to his son Eleazer, he being under age for choosing one.

There being no will, and the town records destroyed, no trace is left of even the name of his wife."^[2]

Inventory was taken on 23 September 1739 and recorded at Fairfield. It mentions daughters Mary (eldest), Sarah (second), and Rachel (third).^[3] The inventory included an enslaved man, his name not mentioned.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ “Probate records v. 1-3 1744-1782”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892K-TFT3 : 23 February 2023), FHL microfilm 007627321, image 312-321, Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol 2, 1745-1775, Pages 215-232.
2. ↑ A history of the Starr family of New England, from the ancestor, Dr. Comfort Starr, pg 303-304
3. ↑ History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896 By James Montgomery Bailey, pg. 15 - https://books.google.com/books?id=rF4EAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA15
4. ↑ “Probate Records, v. 6-8, 1717-1750”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92K-T298  : 7 May 2022), FHL microfilm 007627301, image 729 Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol 8, 1725-1740, Page 487-490.

• Hill, Susan Benedict. History of Danbury, Conn. 1684-1896 (Burr Printing House, New York, 1896) Page 15 & Page 505
• Burgis Pratt Starr, A history of the Starr family, of New England : from the ancestor, Dr. Comfort Starr, of Ashford, County of Kent, England, Hartford, Conn. : Case, Lockwood & Brainard (1879), p.267
• No 2662, pg 324-325 - A Genealogical History of the Hoyt, Haight, and Hight Families By David Webster Hoyt (1871)
• https://gw.geneanet.org/tdowling?lang=en&n=starr&oc=4&p=john
• History of Danbury, Conn. 1684 - 1896. James Montgomery Baily, Susan Benedict Hill Pub. 1896 Burke Printing House. Note: Mentions a Jonathan Starr on three occasions. Nephew of Joseph Taylor. Also mentions several John Starr's who need to be sorted out.
• Probate Files Collection, Early to 1880; Author: Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut; Volume: 270