Brother of General John Stark, son of Archibald and Eleanor Stark of New Hampshire.
William was the second person named in the proprietor's records as a grantee of Starkstown, New Hampshire, the name of Dunbarton for it's first fourteen years. He was prominent and active in the town's affairs. The first charter of the town was held at his house, and he was elected first Town Clerk.
During the Seven Year War he was a Captain in Rogers' Rangers, appointed to lead one of the five additional Companies formed the 4th of March 1758. He commanded New England Troops in the capture of Ticonderoga (1758), Crown Point (Fort St. Frederic), Louisburg (1758) and Quebec (Plains of Abraham, Sepembert 13-16, 1759).
At the beginning of the Revolution both General John Sullivan and Colonel Jonathan Moulton recommended him to command the new regiment being raised in New Hampshire for service with the Continental Army in the invasion of Canada, but the New Hampshire General Assembly gave the command to Timothy Bedel. William then offered his services to the British, eventually attaining a rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Loyalist troops in the Royal Army. He was first a Major, forming the New Hampshire Volunteers, his recruits being mainly from New York and New Jersey.
His name appeared in the Banishment and Proscription Act of New Hampshire, and his estate was confiscated.
Some sources state he died at The Battle of Long Island (August 27, 1776) but muster rolls in December of 1777 show he was still serving as Major.
Stark did not die from injuries he received in falling from his horse on Long Island, New York, during the Battle of Long Island. Stark's death has been incorrectly stated and perpetuated for some strange reason. Major Stark's Corps was raised starting in September 1776 and by May of 1777 consisted of 4 companies, 11 officers and 250 rank and file for his New Hampshire Volunteers. His regiment was disbanded by October of 1778 and he was put on the Second Officer list. He was on Half Pay when he died May 18, 1782 according to his son Lt. John Stark in his claim for compensation as heir of William's property which was confiscated by the New Hampshire assembly in April of 1778.
This can be verified from the United Kingdom Archives at Kew, Audit Office 13/52, 496-544.
See also American Migrations, 1765-1799. The lives, times and families of colonial Americans who remained loyal to the British Crown before, during and after the Revolutionary War, as related in their own words and through their correspondence. Jan. 4 2011, by Peter Wilson Coldham.
He married Mary Stinson (1734-1817) in 1754. Children included:
~ William, 1756
~ John, 1758
~ Archibald, 1760
~ Mary, 1762
~ Stephen, 1764
~ Thomas, 1767
~ James, 1770
~ William (2nd), 1775
Brother of General John Stark, son of Archibald and Eleanor Stark of New Hampshire.
William was the second person named in the proprietor's records as a grantee of Starkstown, New Hampshire, the name of Dunbarton for it's first fourteen years. He was prominent and active in the town's affairs. The first charter of the town was held at his house, and he was elected first Town Clerk.
During the Seven Year War he was a Captain in Rogers' Rangers, appointed to lead one of the five additional Companies formed the 4th of March 1758. He commanded New England Troops in the capture of Ticonderoga (1758), Crown Point (Fort St. Frederic), Louisburg (1758) and Quebec (Plains of Abraham, Sepembert 13-16, 1759).
At the beginning of the Revolution both General John Sullivan and Colonel Jonathan Moulton recommended him to command the new regiment being raised in New Hampshire for service with the Continental Army in the invasion of Canada, but the New Hampshire General Assembly gave the command to Timothy Bedel. William then offered his services to the British, eventually attaining a rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Loyalist troops in the Royal Army. He was first a Major, forming the New Hampshire Volunteers, his recruits being mainly from New York and New Jersey.
His name appeared in the Banishment and Proscription Act of New Hampshire, and his estate was confiscated.
Some sources state he died at The Battle of Long Island (August 27, 1776) but muster rolls in December of 1777 show he was still serving as Major.
Stark did not die from injuries he received in falling from his horse on Long Island, New York, during the Battle of Long Island. Stark's death has been incorrectly stated and perpetuated for some strange reason. Major Stark's Corps was raised starting in September 1776 and by May of 1777 consisted of 4 companies, 11 officers and 250 rank and file for his New Hampshire Volunteers. His regiment was disbanded by October of 1778 and he was put on the Second Officer list. He was on Half Pay when he died May 18, 1782 according to his son Lt. John Stark in his claim for compensation as heir of William's property which was confiscated by the New Hampshire assembly in April of 1778.
This can be verified from the United Kingdom Archives at Kew, Audit Office 13/52, 496-544.
See also American Migrations, 1765-1799. The lives, times and families of colonial Americans who remained loyal to the British Crown before, during and after the Revolutionary War, as related in their own words and through their correspondence. Jan. 4 2011, by Peter Wilson Coldham.
He married Mary Stinson (1734-1817) in 1754. Children included:
~ William, 1756
~ John, 1758
~ Archibald, 1760
~ Mary, 1762
~ Stephen, 1764
~ Thomas, 1767
~ James, 1770
~ William (2nd), 1775
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
