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.