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Frederick Starnes Jr.

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Frederick Starnes Jr.

Birth
New York, USA
Death
7 Apr 1779 (aged 54–55)
Madison County, Kentucky, USA
Burial
Berea, Madison County, Kentucky, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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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 King's Mountain, 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.
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 King's Mountain, 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.


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