Humphrey Varney and Sarah Starbuck

Humphrey Varney, as a young man, relocated from Ipswich, Massachusetts, the home of his father William, to Dover in Strafford County, New Hampshire. There are family traditions that contend that he took as his first wife Ester Starbuck daughter of Edward Starbuck. There are no surviving original documents to support the existence of that marriage. There is ample evidence of his marriage to Esther’s sister Sarah. The commonly held dates of birth for Humphrey’s children seem to indicate that they were the issue from his marriage to Sarah Starbuck who he married after the death of her first husband Joseph Austin. In the compilation of marriage records for the town of Dover we find the following, “Humphrey Varney d. 1713/14 m. March 2, 1664 Sarah Austin, wid of Joseph.”-------- In the deed records is a wonderful document signed by Edward Starbuck in which he names as his son in laws Joseph Austin and Humphrey Varney both of whom had married his daughter Sarah.--------- In the second generation of Varney’s we are again left without any clear decisive documentation for the children of Humphrey and Sarah. What is available are collections that are purported to be based on the original records. The problem is that time and human error has introduced a level of uncertainty.------ The New England Historical Genealogical Society in their collections, Vol-1 pages 124-125 published in 1894, recorded the following data from Dover. Note they included the incorrect Sorer/Story reference. NOTE: See story “Sarah Starbuck was not married to William Story”. “Varney. Humphrey Varney married Sarah Storer, 2nd March 1664. Children: Peter, their son, born 29 March 1666. John, their son, died 14 August 1666. Joseph, their son, born 8th October 1667. Abigail, their daughter, born June 10th, 1669.” --------- Tradition adds two more sons to the list, Ebenezer and a second John. The separate nature of these two boys is used to support the idea of a second marriage to Ester Starback. However their accepted dates of birth argue that there mother was Sarah. In his will Humphrey names; his “beloved wife Sarah”, “beloved sonne Ebenezer”, daughter Abigail Brackston, “sonne” Peter. Peter is made the executor of his fathers will. ----------- John Varney in his will notes that he had received a “lot of Land” from his father. Having already received his inheritance may explain why his name is not found in his father’s will. In John’s will proved May 28, 1716 he wrote, “also I Give and bequef to my brother Peter varney one half of ye Seven Pound that he ose me; and I give and beguef the other half to my Sister Abgil Brackston; also I Give and bequef thirty Akers of Land at Seaterwit to brother Ebenezers Son John varny also a lot of Land at oster River my father Gave me by ded of Gift I Give the res of the Estait To my brother Ebenezer varny.”------------Reference the Samuel Griffin Genealogy Blog. ---- Documents: 1- Marriage records from Dover. 2- Edward Starbuck deed. 3- Humphrey’s will. 4- Court record admonishing Humphrey. 5- Deed, “Humphrey Varney of Dover”, “Sarah Varney my now wife” and son in law William Brackston. 6- Deed, “Bought of Ebenezer Varney this land is part of forty acres that was granted unto his father Humphrey Varney”.