William Starr of Jefferson County, Ohio

William Starr of Jefferson County, Ohio

The following information was graciously submitted by Dorcas who has researched her Starr line many years to add flesh and bones on her ancestor. Much appreciation to her for shaing the awesome information to help others researching this line. Plesae contact Dorcas if you have a connection to her ancestor!

William STARR

b. 1 Mar 1744
d. 11 Mar. 1843, Ohio
m. Sarah NEAL who d. aft 1840

Our family tradition says that his name was John STARR and that he lived in Scotland. While on business in London, he was impressed against his will by the British, and woke up aboard ship enroute to America "to fight the rebels". When the ship landed at Long Island, he deserted and went as far away from there as he could. After the Revolution, he lived awhile in Pennsylvania, but died in Ohio at the age of 104. That would place his birth around 1842. While there are some elements of this story that are true, some facts are in conflict with the story.

From: REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN OHIO, Daughters of the American Revolution, p. 212. In the collection of the Ohio Historical Society Library, Columbus, Ohio. Researched July 1982. "LOCK (alias STARR) WILLIAM, Jefferson County. Enl Browns Mill Frederick Co Va Dec. 1779 U S Service. His real name is William Starr but aft secession fr British army changed it to Locke enl by that name in American service. Capt of Cavalry Va Milit: servd 2 yr; was b. Mar 1 1754, in letter June 12 1843 said he was 'dead'. Pens appl 8-28-1832 allowed 12-30-1833 in Jefferson Co ross twp res. Ref Bur Pensions D. C. Rept by State D.A.R. Listed in "Va Men in Rev". p. 280 frm Jefferson Co Ohio ae 89. (JD)

From: ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, Revolutionary and 1812 Wars Section. From documents at the Federal Records Center, Laguna Niguel, Orange County, California: [Letter from E. W. Morgan, acting commissioner, to Galen H. Swimley of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, dated 26 June 1930]

"I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.8857, it appears that William Starr, an Englishman, was born March 1, 1744, place not stated. He was pressed into British service, at London, early in the Revolution and landed at Long Island, where he deserted from the British Army and changed his name to William Locke. "While living in Frederick County, Virginia, he enlisted in December, 1779, and served as a private in Captain Reed and Armistad's Independent Company of Virginia Light Dragoons under the command of Colonel Armand. He was engaged at the siege of Yorktown and was discharged in September, 1781 or 1782. "He was allowed pension on his application executed August 25, 1832 while living in Ross Township, Jefferson County, Ohio." This was a Revolutionary War pension in the amount of $100 per year.

From: PATRIOT INDEX, Daughters of the American Revolution, p. 420. In the collection of the Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois, researched July 1982.

"STARR, WILLIAM, b. Mar. 1, 1744, d. Mar. 11, 1843, m. Sarah Neal"
Listed in "Va Men in the Revolution". p. 280 frm Jefferson Co Ohio ae 89.

From: Transactions of the Historical Society of Berks County (PA): embracing papers contributed to the society. Found on Ancestry. URL: http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/BookView.aspx?dbid=14610&lid=dvm_LocHist000764=00114-1&rc=514,651,656,682;1256,846,1335,880;1516,1146,1598,1182;350,1553,437,1583;1711,1914,1798,1944;206,1961,285,1992;615,2038,693,2069;1709,2030,1797.....

"The first school house of the Friends in Maldencreek, a log building, was erected in 1780, and the second, a stone building in 1807. . In 1784 the teacher was Thomas Pearson. He was succeded by Joseph Jacobs, who was succeded by Jesse Willets, who was in turn succeeded by William Starr."

From: U.S. FEDERAL CENSUS, Ross Township, Jefferson County, Ohio:
William STARR is the next entry after the Joseph CUMMINS family in the same household. William was between 90 and 100 years old. Also, William STARR is listed on the same line with the Cummins under the column about receiving a Revolutionary War pension. Sarah was evidently still living in 1840. The census shows a female between the ages of 90 and 100 living with William STARR in the Joseph CUMMINS household.

William and Sarah (NEAL) STARR had at least one child, Mary, born about 1792, in Pennsylvania [1850 Census of Salem Township, Jefferson County, OHIO.
Mary, married Joseph Samuel CUMMINS before 1812. Joseph was born about 1790 in Pennsylvania, and died about 1885 in Ohio. Joseph died at the age of 95. [Obituary notice for Abigail Cummins (his daughter-in-law, Healdsburg [CA] Tribune, 26 Oct. 1899.]
By the 1830 Census of Ross Township, Mary and Joseph may have had as many as six children. Joseph is between 40 and 50, In his household are two males under age 5 [one would be Samuel], one male between the ages of 10 and 15, one male between the ages of 15 and 20 [John Starr Cummins], 2 females between the ages of 5 and 10 [one would be Ann], one female between the ages of 10 and 15, and one female between the age of 30 and 40 [his wife, Mary].
By 1850, when the census was taken, they were living in Salem Twp., Jefferson Co., Ohio. It shows Joseph as age 61, born in Pennsylvania and a laborer. His wife at this time is named "Nancy". She is 59 years old and was born in Pennsylvania. A daughter, Ann, is aged 25 and was born in Ohio. A son, Samuel, is aged 20, and born in Ohio.

I have records of the following children of Joseph and Mary:

i. John Starr CUMMINS, b. 6 Jun 1812, in Pennsylvania, d. 26 Jan. 1900 at Dry Creek, Sonoma County, California
[HEALDSBURG TRIBUNE, Obituary notice for Dr. John Cummins, January 1900.] His obituary reads: "Death of Dr. Cummins. Dr. John Cummins died at the home of his son-in-law, Mr. George Farmer in Dry Creek. He had lived 16 years at this place. He came to California in 1850 to Yreka, where he practiced as a physician. He returned to the states in 1857 and in 1861 returned to California to Bodega. In 1864, he bought the place now owned by John McClish. In November 1899, they would have celebrated 65 years of marriage. Their surviving children: Mrs. Mattie Maples, mother of Mrs. James Hooten. Mrs. H. A. Anderson of Haydon Hill, Lassen County, George Cummins of Covelo, John Cummins of Orange County, David Cummins of Ukiah. J. S. Cummins died 26 Jan. 1900, 87 years, 7 mo., 20 days, married, male, born Pa. lived here about 50 years."

He attended the medical school of New Athens Academy, New Athens, Harrison Co., Ohio (after he was married) This school was a hotbed of abolitionism according to a historical marker in front of it.

About 1850, he left his family in Short Creek, Harrison County, Ohio, his wife being pregnant with their ninth child, and went to California for the gold rush. He evidently moved around quite a bit, for he is listed in three places in the 1850 census of California. All are in the Mother Lode country. He was gone seven years. It seems he must have tired of the gold rush quickly, for we soon find him in Yreka, Siskiyou County, California, where he established his medical practice. His great-granddaughter, Marie (Baker) Hunter once told me that many of his medical instruments are in the museum at Yreka.

From: HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, p. 200, extracted by Dennis Eshelman, xerox copies in possession of him and Dorcas Aunger. "The first hospital for the care of the sick [in Yreka, CA] was a private institution kept by Dr. J. S. Cummins and A. M. C. Smith. It was in a large building where Red Men's Hall now stands, owned by Alvy Boles and Dr. Dane, in 1852. It was not a paying investment, and was soon abandoned." This book continues: "John S. Cummins signed a petition requesting the incorporation of the town of Yreka, CA, which was presented to the County Court on 5 May 1854. It states that the petitioners had been qualified electors and citizens of Yreka City, for at least 30 days."

John Starr CUMMINS was a charter member and assisted with the organization of the first Masonic Lodge in Yreka, CA. John is listed as John L. Cummins, a member of St. John's Lodge No. 37, which received its dispensation to organize on 12 June 1853. [Procedings of the Grand Lodge of California, F&AM, for the year of 1854. Library of Lexington Lodge No. 104, F&AM, El Monte, CA.] St. John's Lodge met on the first Saturday of each month. In 1857, he was tiler of the lodge. [ibid.] St. John's Lodge later became Howard Lodge, which in 1967, was still meeting at Yreka. The Tyler's register of St. John's lodge was shown to me (Dorcas) by Harry Scammel, a past master, in 1967. It showed John's signature. In signing his name, he gave extreme slant to the letter "S", accounting for the Grand Lodge's interpretation of "L".

Cyrus Chapter No. 15, Royal Arch Masons, received its dispensation 8 Apr. 1856. John Starr Cummins signed on the first bylaws as a charter member. On 1 Feb. 1857, he was presented a key for "service to Cyrus Be Chapter by L. B. Thorpe". This key was in possession of Marie Hunter in 1980.

When John left California in October 1857, to return to Ohio, he travelled by Wells Fargo Stage Lines, from Columbia, California, to Salt Lake City, Utah. [Wells Fargo Stagecoach ticket. His ticket, signed by him, is the specimen ticket for stage coach rides, at Columbia State Park, today. The original is in the Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco.]

Then he returned to Ohio, moved his family to Indiana, near his brother, Sam's place, and went to Texas to look at some property he had purchased in the 1840's. He then returned to Indiana and brought his family by riverboat to Shreveport, Louisiana, where they spent three weeks outfitting, and travelled overland to the Red River Valley at Honey Grove, Texas.

John and his family spent three years in Honey Grove, Fannin Co., TX, on their 320 acres. The 1860 census [U. S. Federal Census, Fannin County, TX, Beat No. 4, enumerated 11 July 1860, p. 22, house 623, family 637] shows him there, as a physician, with land valued at $2000, and personal property at $300. Others in the household included:

A. Cummins, age 52, f, b. Ohio;
Martha J., age 24, f, b. Ohio;
John N., age 22, m, b. Ohio;
Geo A., age 15, m, b. Ohio;
Emma A., age 12, f., b. Ohio;
David, age 10, m, b. Ohio;
N. Rogers, age 6, f, b. Ohio; and
Mary M., age 2, f.

John, his wife and 4 youngest children left Texas on 1 May 1861, for California, to avoid Confederate conscription. Earlier that day, John and Abigail's eldest son, John Maple CUMMINS, was married to Francis Adeline Smith. They put their belongings on a flat boat and floated down the Red River to Shreveport, Louisiana, where they outfitted for the journey and joined a 63-wagon train. They crossed the Rio Grande for part of the trip, which took six months. Thirty people died enroute, including son John Maple's bride-of-three-months, Adeline. John's 15- year-old son, George, and 10 or 11-year-old son David, went all the way on horseback. George only weighed 75 pounds when they reached California.[Records of Laurence Short] Family tradition says that Adeline died of smallpox on the journey.

When the family reached California, El Monte was the end of the main trail from Santa Fe. They spent the winter of 1861-62 in El Monte, because they couldn't get across the storm- swollen rivers into Los Angeles. During the month of December, John visited Lexington Lodge No. 104, Free and Accepted Masons. The minutes book records a visit from Brother John S. Cummins, a member of Honey Grove Lodge No. 164, Texas.

Family tradition says that John and his family lived for about two years in Los Angeles, having a dairy farm at what is today 6th and Main Streets in downtown. I have not been able to verify this.

At the time of the 1870 census [U.S. Federal Census 1870, Mendocino Twp., Sonoma Co., California, enumerated on 28 July 1870, p. 300, house 623, family 637. Family History Library, Pasadena Stake Center, Pasadena, California. Film 1254084. National Archives Film T9-0084, page 206D.], John was living in Mendocino Township, Sonoma Co., CA. He was shown as a farmer, aged 57, with real property listed at $9000 and personal property at $1500. Living in the same household were:

"Abigil" age 60 [his wife]
John N., Age 30 [should be John M. eldest son]
Anna, age 20 [John's second wife]
George, age 24 [son]
David, age 20 [son]
Nancy Whiteman, age 32 [eldest daughter]
Mary J. Anderson, age 14 [Nancy's child by her first marriage]
Harmon Anderson, age 12 [Nancy's child by her first marriage]
Ruth Anderson, age 7 [Nancy's child by her first marriage]
John L. Anderson, age 6 [Nancy's child by her first marriage]
Mary Whitman, age 1; and [Nancy's child by her second marriage]
a "laborer", Norman T. Oldes.

Two houses away in house no. 216, family 211, was John and Abigail's daughter, Martha, and her family:

Wm P. Maple, age 30;
Martha Maple, age 34;
Niddie R. Maple, age 15;
Mary R. Maple, age 12;
John L. Maple, age 6; and
Abigal Maple, age 4. �465

MENDOCINO DIRECTORY, 1874. [Public Library, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., California.] "Cummins, Dr. J. S. Physician Cummins Ranch 8 M S of Yorkville."

At the time of the 1880 census, John and Abigale were listed at Round Valley Township, Mendocino County, California. He was a "retired physician" and Abigale was "keeping house". Their son, George was living in the same house, and was serving as "agent" on the Round Valley Indian Reservation. Son, David, with his wife, Eva, and two daughters, lived next door. David was teaching school on the reservation. [U.S. Federal Census 1880, Mendocino Co., California. On microfilm, Los Angeles Temple Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.]

Later, John Starr Cummins moved to Healdsburg to practice medicine. He was the physician in attendance at the birth of his granddaughters, Clarrietta Cummins, Hazel Ruth Cummins, and Bessie Eunice Cummins. Later still, he bought a ranch on the Russian River. [Records of Laurence Short]

In his last years, John lived at Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California. His death record only shows Sonoma County. His death record lists him as a gardener. Dr. Lindquist, who signed the death record, listed the cause as "old age." [Vital Records of Sonoma County, California, at the County Recorder's Office, Santa Rosa, California.]

John Starr CUMMINS married 14 Mar 1833, in Jefferson Co., Ohio [Vital Records of Jefferson Co., Ohio, on microfilm, Library of the Historical Society of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.] Abigail MAPLE d/o George MAPLE and Nancy Ann BROWN. She was b. 7 Feb. 1809 in Jefferson Co., Ohio and died 26 Oct. 1895, at Dry Creek, Sonoma Co., California.

John and Abigale were married by John Donaldson, Minister of the Gospel. It was evidently a double wedding ceremony ["The Western Herald and Steubenville Gazette."]

In 1850, Abigail, aged 40,was at Short Creek, Harrison Co., Ohio, with all the children. Her husband, John, was not there because he had gone to California for the gold rush.

Martha, age 15;
Nancy, age 13;
John, age 11;
Joseph, age 9;
Thomas G., age 5 [this would be George];
Emma A., age 3;
and David, age 1 month.
Willis and Harriet had already died.

Obituary for Abigail Cummins states that "she was 90 years old and died at the home of her son-in-law, George Farmer, at Dry Creek. Her descendents are 9 children of whom 6 are living, 23 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren, a total of 56 living descendents." [HEALDSBURG TRIBUNE, Obituary Notice for Abigail Cummins, issue of 26 Oct. 1899. On microfilm, California State Library, Sacramento, California. Researched September 1995.]

ii. Ann CUMMINS, b. abt 1825, Jefferson Co., Ohio [IGI - film 820323, batch 7211067, sheet 5, Family History Library, Salt Lake City]

iii. Samuel CUMMINS, b. abt 1825, Jefferson Co., Ohio [IGI as above], d. probably in Indiana.

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