Sarah Starbuck was not the wife of William Story

Most of the histories and genealogies written for Sarah Starbuck mirror the following account taken from the “History of Dover”. Speaking of the Starbuck family,------- “Sarah, is the subject of considerable difference of opinion. Tradition represents her to have married Benjamin Austin; and the same authority says another, and nameless daughter, to have been the wife of Humphrey Varney. But from an examination of the town records we are convinced that Sarah married; -1- William Storey, about 1658; -2- Joseph Austin, about the year 1659/60, who was dead in 1663; -3- Humphrey Varney. For “widow Sarah Storie”: is represented to have married Joseph Austin, when William Storey’s inventory was entered on record; and Joseph Austin, in his Will speaks of ”my brother Peter Coffin”; and after Joseph Austin’s death, Elder Starbuck confirms to his son-in-law, Humphrey Varney,” husband of “Sarah,” land formerly given by him to his son-in-law, “Joseph Austin.” If this be correct, I am inclined to think that Sarah had children in her third marriage, by which she became ancestress to a race of infinite numbers, the Varneys.”---------- Based on such histories when the original Dover town records were collected collated and rewritten town clerks often referred to Humphrey Varney’s wife, Sarah, as the ‘Widow Story”. We find the same level of uncertainty in the same histories concerning William Storey /Storer himself,------ “Storer William. Protest 1641. Black River lot 8 in 1642 as “Story.” Taxed 1648 to 58 as “Storey;” “Widow Storey” taxed 1659. Inventory entered Nov 8, 1660 and Joseph Austin (who married his widow) was appointed administrator June 27, 1661. Storer is believed, from tradition to be the son of Augustine Storre, see Wentworth Genealogy. William married, perhaps his second wife, Sara Starbuck, as ante, His children were: Samuel, born Dec 29, 1640, died early, Sarah born June 16, 1642; died early, Hancock, born July 16, 1644, Joseph, born Aug 23, 1648, Benjamin, twin with Joseph, died single, Samuel born about 1653.”----------- In seems incumbent to us to turn to the original records to try to add some clarity. In 1907 the state of New Hampshire published transcriptions of the early wills written in the state. The lead author was Albert Stillman Batchellor who held the title, “editor of state papers”. From the “Probate records of the province of New Hampshire Vol 1, 1635-1717” we find the following with the note that they were recorded in the Deeds records Volume 2 page 57b.--------- “ Administration on the estate of William Story granted to Samuel Austin June 27, 1661.” “The said Austin brought into Court and Inventory of the Said estate amounting to: 130.5.0. the Widow of ye said Story now wife to ye said Austin is allowed her thirds out of the whole which is 43.6.8; & the remainder 86.16.4 to be divided among the fower children the Eldest to have a double portion Viz 34.14.8. & the other three 17.7 a peece when the come to ye age of 21 yeeres. The whole estate to remane in ye hands of said Samuell Austin the father in Law (step-father) to ye said children for there bringing up or shall chuse there guardian before provided he give double bonds unto this Court that it shalbe paid to the children accordingly & is granted Libertie to sell any of the house & Lands or to let the Same provided he brings in good securite to next Court at yorke for payment of the Childrens portion.” “Inventory, Oct 8, 1660; amount 130.5.0; signed by William Pomfret, Hatevil Nutter and Job Clements; sworn to by Sarah Austin, sometime the wife of Wm Story deceased, June 27, 1661.”--------- In the deed records, under the named of Samuel Austin, concerning the property in question, we see other reference to the Widow Story my now wife and my wife Sarah Austin, “Unto sayd Storrys widow, whom I have now wed”.---------- The deed, signed by Samuel Austin that we have posted is for the disposition of part of William Storey’s property. Written in the deed is, “with ye consent of my now wife Sarah”, “to ye said William Storey”, “my wife giving up her rights of Dowery”. As we can clearly see from these documents it was Samuel Austin who administered the estate of William Story and that it was Samuel Austin who married his widow “Sarah”. There are no original records that identify the wife of William Storey as Sarah Starbuck. We can also see that the list of children from the town histories matches the reference to the four/fower children reference in the documents. Note that the youngest was born in 1640 when Sarah Starbuck was about between the ages of 6 to 10.----- But! at some point in the time line in the local traditions Samuel Austin was changed to Joseph Austin. This simple change had a cascade effect.The new version of history had Joseph Austin administering the will of William Storey. Since Joseph Austin was in fact married to Sarah Starbuck then Samuel who became Joseph was also married to Sarah Starbuck thus implying that William Storey had also married Sarah Starbuck. And if all of that was true then Humphrey Varney married the "widow Story". A correct reading of the history argues that William Story was not married to Sarah Starbuck. Samuel Austin not Joseph Austin married Storey's widow named Sarah.--------Then totally separate from William Story and Samuel Austin we have the marriage of Sarah Starbuck to her first husband Joseph Austin and on his death Humphrey Varney. We have posted a deed record from Edward Starbuck in which he names the two men who he identifies as his “son in law”. Click on images to enlarge. ------Reference the Samuel Griffin Genealogy Blog.

Edward Starbuck

Edward Starbuck brought his family to the new World in about 1635. He settled in Dover, New Hampshire where he became a leading citizen. The town and land records are replete with his name and signature. There are a number of DEED records that are signed by Edward and Katherine Starbuck. Edward eventually became disenchanted with the religious life in Dover, joining the Anabaptist movement he looked for a location where he could make a new beginning. Moving to Nantucket he is honored by several large monuments as being a founder of the colony. There are any number of well-documented genealogies for his family, which include his children Nathaniel, Dorcus, Sarah, Abigail, Ester and Jethro.------ Nathaniel married Mary Coffin. The Starbuck and Coffin families became very intertwined. We find a number of DEEDS with Nathanial’s name on them.--------- Dorcus married William Gayer a shipbuilder. Their home was a landmark on Nantucket for many years. ----------- Abigail married Peter Coffin. There are a number of DEEDS between Edward and, “sonne in law Peter Coffin”. On one of the DEEDS we find a mentions of his wife , “Abigail Coffin wife of ye said Peter Coffin”. ---------- Sarah Starbuck took as her first husband Joseph Austin. There is a DEED in the records where Edward Starbuck writes, “To my son in law Joseph Austin”. Joseph Austin picked Peter Coffin to ADMINISTER his will. In the will Joseph refers to Peter Coffin as, ”my brother” actually meaning , my brother in law. On Joseph Austin’s death Sarah took as her second Husband Humphrey Varney. In the same deed that Edward names Joseph Austin as a son in law he also names Humphrey Varney as a son in law nothing that he was giving the land he had previous given to Austin to Humphrey. In the companion DEED Humphrey Varney sells the property to his son in law William Brockstone. The deed is signed by Humphrey and Sarah Varney. Humphrey in his will leaves one-third of his estate to, “Unto Sarah by dearly beloved wife”--------- Esther Starbuck, according to many family traditions, was the first wife of Humphrey Varney. There is no documentary evidence to prove or disprove the assertion.--------- Jethro Starbuck born May 27 1651 was killed in an accident involving a cart May 27, 1663.---------Note; There is a lingering tradition of a marriage between Sarah Starbuck and William Storey. That story evolved out of a clerical mistake by the town clerks in Dover, New Hampshire. We will take up that debate in a latter post.---- Click on images to enlarge.----- Reference the Samuel Griffin Genealogy Blog.

Paul Varney and Anna Austin, Dover, Colchester, Chardon

In his autobiography Charles Emerson Griffin includes what he knew of his genealogy. Of his mother’s line he wrote, “My mother’s name was Abigail, daughter of Paul and Ann Varney.” In February of 1895 Charles received a letter from his father Albert, which seems to be a reply to a request for more family history. Albert writes that he assumes that Charles already has all of the available information on the Varney’s. Albert also wrote, “I was born and you in Essex, Chittenden Co. your mother was born in Colchester Chittenden Co. joining Essex on the West. Your mother’s grandfather’s folks were Quakers their name were Austin.” In chapter twenty of the “History of the Town of Colchester” we find the following, “Samuel Austin, a Quaker came from New Hampshire in 1790. He married Rachael Hawkins and had a family of six children, Abigail, Paul, Solomon, Anna, Stephen and William.” (A number of sources identify the birthplace of the children as Dover, New Hampshire.) Anna was married to Paul Varney and removed to Ohio” In the LDS Church Collections is a work titled “Dover, New Hampshire marriages 1623-1823”. In the volume we find the following marriages listed, “Samuel Austin, son of Samuel and Abigail, b. November 23, 1743, M, March 23, 1765 Rachael Hawkins.” Samuel Austin, son of Thomas, b. August 2, 1698, m. November 23, 1727 Abigail Pinkham, dau. Solomon, b. January 27, 1707.” In 1904 a transcription of the “Friends Society Marriage Records, Dover, New Hampshire” was written. The transcription is an exact copy of the original “marriage Certificates” issued by the Quakers. Each Certificate is about two paragraphs long. Extracted from one of the certificate is the following, “Samuel Austin son of Thomas and Ann Austin and Abigail Pinkham daughter of Solomon and Mary Pinkham, both of ye town of Dover, married in Dover, January 23, 1727/8.” Thomas Austin was born about 1650 in Dover he married Anna Otis. Thomas is mentioned in his father Joseph Austin’s will,” Only I do give unto my sonne Thomas Austin a double portion”. His mother was Sarah Starbuck the daughter of Edward Starbuck. On the title page of the first volume of town records for Colchester is written, “Town Book No 1, From April 10, 1797 to March 19, 1820.” On page 1 of the records we find the following heading, “Grand List for the year 1797.” At the bottom of the list we find the name of Samuel Austin. The names of Samuel and his sons are found frequently in the town records up until his death May 6, 1821. He is buried in the Marrs Hallow Cemetery in nearby Milton, Vermont. Every two years the city held an election for city offices. One of the offices was that of “leather sealer”. Starting with Samuel that office was held continuously by a Austin for twenty plus years. Paul Varney makes his first appearance in Book No 1 on page 21. His name is included on the Grand List for year 1800. The 1800 Federal Census places him in Colchester, Vermont with a household of three people including one male child. In the 1802 Grand List, Paul’s valuation is $33 that of Samuel Austin $113. By 1804 the town started keeping a list of the “young scholars” that each household had in the community schools. In 1804 the school list shows Paul Varney with two scholars. On the Grand List for taxes, each year each man is levied a $20 poll tax. In addition they are taxed for; improved land, houses, oxen, cattle, horses and mules, pasture lands, house clocks, mills and mechanics, equipment. The primary taxable asset was for improved land. In 1800 Vermont was an agricultural society. In order to be eligible to vote a man had to meet the qualifications for and take the “Freemans Oath”. One of the key requirements to qualify was that you own property. On the Grand Lists for Colchester Paul Varney is never listed as being an owner of “improved land”. Paul Varney did not make his living as a farmer. Instead the Varneys, father and sons, according to Paul’s grandson, Charles Emerson Griffin, were all wagon makers, “My mother had three brothers, William, George and Hamilton (Paul) The two former died quite a few years ago, Hamilton moved to Michigan where he was living some seven years ago. My grandfather and uncles were all wagon maker.” Charles apparently did not know the oldest brother Albert who did not move with the family to Ohio. In addition to the poll tax that was assessed to every man Paul was taxed on the number of cattle he owned. In the early days in Colchester he was included on all of the Grand Lists. As time went on the “Freeman” qualifications became more and more important. As the Freeman qualifications became more important we see Paul’s name appearing less and less in the town records. Until 1828 his name does not appear on the Freemans Lists. We see Paul’s name appear on the Grand Lists for 1809 and 1810 then we see very little evidence for him until the 1816 list. In the 1810 Federal Census his family in Colchester has two boys and three girls. In the years 1818/19 the town published two years of a very detailed tax assessment. Paul’s name appears on those two lists and every subsequent list until he leaves Vermont for Ohio. It appears that Paul never owned any improved land in Colchester his taxable assets, as we mentioned, consisted of the cattle he owned. One of the items listed as taxable was, houses. Only about one in ten men had an assessment for “houses”. Most histories written for Paul Varney include a mention of his service in the War of 1812. The most commonly referenced document is from the “Military History of the State Of New Hampshire”. It lists a Paul Varney with a date of enlistment of March 29, 1813 with duration of service of 5 years. In the collection titled, “U.S. Army, Registry of Enlistments, 1798-1914 we have an original document that records the enlistment of a Paul Varney. The information included is; Paul Varney, Eyes/blue, Hair/dark, Complexion/light, age/41, ( birth 1772) Occupation/tailor, When/ March 29, 1813, Period/5 years. Under place of birth it lists Rochester, New Hampshire and Colchester, Vermont. The place of enlistment is Burlington, Vermont. The commonality between the various documents is the enlistment date of March 29, 1813 and the duration of 5 years. The description in the documents certainly seems a match for Paul including an age of 41 in 1813. It is certainly plausible the soldiers recruited in the young state of Vermont would serve in units from next-door New Hampshire. The occupation of “tailor” is not a match for family histories that remember him as a wagon maker but does match the tax records that indicate that he did not make a living as a farmer. We do not have any original documents for the birth or marriage of Paul Varney. In many surviving family traditions Paul’s birth is estimated to be in 1767. The Varney Family Bible, held by R.G. Varney of Albuquerque, New Mexico lists a date of birth for him of March 25, 1772 in Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire. The Bible has a date of birth for Anna Austin, born in Dover, New Hampshire, of July 15, 1778. Those same dates are commonly used in family traditions that stretch back multiple generations indicating that multiple families held that recorded history somewhere in their family papers. Paul and Anna are buried in the Larned Cemetery just outside Chardon, Ohio. His headstone records his date of death as October 11, 1851. Anna’s headstone indicates a date of death April 10, 1847. Paul’s headstone also contains the notation 79 years and 7 months. It you do a quick calculation that suggests a date of birth in March 1772. The 1850 census also suggest a date of birth in 1772. Where did Paul Varney and Anna Austin marry? Family histories list the birth of their first child, Betsey as April 16, 1797 in Milton, Chittenden, Vermont. Their second child, Albert, was born June 13, 1799 in Colchester. With the Varneys and Austins both living in Dover for multiple generations it seems more likely that the young couple married there, Paul and Anna then following her father Samuel to Colchester. The Varney children are listed as, Betsy, Albert, William H., Moses, Esther Ann, Caroline, Abigail, Paul Hamilton, George Charles, Artemesia.______________ Clearing up confusing genealogy for Paul Varney: There is another suggested marriage for Paul Varney. The marriage is found in the Quaker marriage records. The Quaker records are the most detailed and reliable marriage records in New England, “Joshua Varney son of Moses Varney of Wolfborough in the County of Strafford, and the state of New Hampshire and Anna Austin daughter of Andrew Austin, of Berwick in the county of York, the state of Massachusetts And Mary his wife, Feb 25, 1796.” This second Varney/Austin marriage, which shares enough similarities to cause confusion, has created a second fictitious Paul Varney referred to as Paul Joshua Varney.__________________ Sarah Starbuck has the following family trees; _______________ Edward Starbuck-Katherine-Sarah Starbuck / Joseph Austin-Sarah Starbuck / Thomas-Anna Otis/ Samuel-Abigail Pinkham / Samuel-Rachael Hawkins / Anna Austin._________________ After the early death of Joseph Austin, Sarah Starbuck married Humphrey Varney. Edward Starbuck-Katherine-Sarah Starbuck / Humphrey Varney-Sarah Starbuck / Peter-Elizabeth Evans / Benjamin-Martha Tibbetts / Moses-Ester Chick / Paul Varney. The essence of our story is the marriage of Paul Varney and Anna Austin both grandchildren of Sarah Starbuck. NOTE: see documentary trail in separate post

Philinda Minerva Griffin

This picture came to us courtesy of Nick Adams a great grandson. The acquisition of the picture comes with a great story. Her genealogy is; Philinda / Almon / Dan / Samuel / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth. See the Blog January 2014 for the story of Minerva and her father Almon. Click on the first image to read the story.

Samuel Austin, Paul Varney records in Colchester, Vermont

On the title page of the first volume of town records for Colchester is written, “Town Book No 1, From April 10, 1797 to March 19, 1820.” On page 1 of the records we find the following heading, “Grand List for the year 1797.” At the bottom of the list we find the name of Samuel Austin. The names of Samuel and his sons are found frequently in the town records up until his death May 6, 1821. He is buried in the Marrs Hallow Cemetery in nearby Milton, Vermont. Every two years the city held an election for city offices. One of the offices was that of “leather sealer”. Starting with Samuel that office was held continuously by a Austin for twenty plus years. Paul Varney makes his first appearance in Book No 1 on page 21. His name is included on the Grand List for year 1800. We see Paul’s name appear on the Grand Lists for 1809 and 1810 then we see very little evidence for him until the 1816 list. In the 1810 Federal Census his family in Colchester has two boys and three girls. In the years 1818/19 the town published two years of a very detailed tax assessment. Paul’s name appears on those two lists and every subsequent list until he leaves Vermont for Ohio.The 1800 census taken in Colchester includes the name of Paul Varney. In 1850 Paul is living in Chardon, Ohio at the age of 78 which supports at date of birth in 1772.The list of Austin marriages is from a compilation of marriage records found in Dover, New Hampshire.

Hatevil Nutter

We have written previously of the unique names adopted by the Congregational Societies. The Congregationalist were very open about their religious convictions.To join a Congregational Society a candidate was require to make a public "Proclamation of Faith". Another way they demonstrated that openness was in their selection of names. Hatevil is a contraction of Hate Evil. Hatevil Nutter was a strict Congregationalist who lived in Dover, New Hampshire. As a sign of the intolerance that the Congregationalists had for everything non Congregational, Hatevil led the cruel suppression of the first Quakers to appear in Dover.The suppression included stripping women of their cloths before tying them to a wagon wheel to be severely beaten. By the time his grandchildren were living in Dover the Society of Friends made up a substantial portion of the Dover community and played a major role in community affairs.

Quaker marriage document

The Society of Friends, the Quakers, kept the most detailed marriage records of any religious group in early America. The following is found in Volume-1 of the “Friends Society Marriage Records” in Dover, New Hampshire. The title page contains the notation March 1701. Within the Quaker community the church rules called for a young couple to publicly declare their intentions to marry in several public places over several months time. After such a declaration the Society would investigate the young couple to make sure they were “clear of all others” and sufficiently worthy by Church standards to marry. Once given the approval of the Society a marriage ceremony was held the essence of which was the signing of the marriage certificate. “Whereas Henry Estes son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Estes of Barwick in the county of York in the Provence of the Massachusetts Bay in Newengland: and Mary Varney daughter of John and Sarah of Dover in ye Province of Newhampshire in Newengland aforesd, having declared their intentions of Taking Each other in marriage before several Publickmeetings of the People called Quakers in Dover aforesd according to the good order used amongst them whose Proceedings therein after a deliberate consideration thereof with a Regard to the Righteous Law of God and the Example of his People Recorded in the scriptures of Truth in that case were approved of by the sd meeting they appearing clear of all others and having consent of Parents and Relations concerned—Now these are to certifie all whom it may concern that for the full accomplishing of the sd intentions this seventeenth day of ye second month called April in ye year according to ye English account one thousand seven hundred and forty five---They ye sd Henry Estes and Mary Varney appearing in Publick assembley of ye aforesd People met together in the Publick meeting Place at Cochecha in Dover aforesd---And in a solemn manner he ye sd Henry Estes Taking ye sd Mary Varney by the hand did openly declear that he Took her to be his wife Promising by ye Lords assistance to be unto her True and Loving husband until death makes a separation. And ye sd Mary Varney did then and there in Like solemn manner declear that she Took him ye sd Henry Estes to be her husband Promising by ye Lords assistance to be True and Loving wife until death makes a separation. And ye sd Henry Estes and Mary Varney as a further confirmation hereof did then and there to these Presents sett their hand , she the sd Mary Varney assuming ye name of her husband, and we whose names are hereunto subscribed being Present amongst others at ye solleminizing of the sd marriage and subscription in manner as aforesd as witness hereunto have also to theses presents subscribe our names ye day and year above written. Henry Estes, Mary Estes, Silvanus Hussey, Stephen Varney Jr. Ebenezer Varney, Timothy Emerson, Joseph Estes, Ephraim Tibbets Jr. Stephen Varney, William Frost ……….. Entered ye 22 of ye 2mo 1745 P William Fry Jr. Clerk”