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Facts and Events
One of the most memorable events in the history of Connecticut took place at Fort Griswold, in Groton, September 6. 1781. The fort, defended by 150 men under the command of Colonel Ledyard, was taken by 800 British troops. After the surrender commenced a terrible inhuman disaster - the Colonel was killed with his own sword - more than half his men were killed - the ground was soaked with blood. Two of the Starrs were among the victims killed, several were wounded, and many suffered loss of property as the British burned the town. Groton, situated on the eastern side of the Thames River, was originally embraced within the limits of New London. The "Starr Burial Ground" has a prominent place in Groton as the last resting place of the Starr founders of Groton.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Thomas Starr (m. 1641), in Alicia Crane Williams. Early New England Families, 1641-1700. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013)
5.
"Samuel3 Starr, b. abt. 1640; d. prob. New London, bef. 2 Feb. 1687/8;
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 19. Samuel Starr, in Ballou, Hosea Starr. Early Starrs in Kent and New England. (Boston, Massachusetts: Starr Family Association, 1944)
14-15.
"19. Samuel Starr, son of Dr. Thomas 7, Dr. Comfort 1, the founder of this branch of the Starr family, was probably born in Massachusetts. Although no record of his birth has been found, his descent from Dr. Comfort and his parentage are indisputable, from a deed on the records of Worcester Co., Mass., dated Sept. 28, 1734, signed by his children and grandchildren as heirs of Rachel, the widow of Dr. Thomas Starr of Charlestown. Mass., deceased, thus settling any doubts of his parentage which have heretofore been raised. His grandfather, Dr. Comfort, made the following bequest in his will, dated April 22, 1659: 'I giue vnto Samuell Starr my large booke of martyrs with ye frame belonging therevnto.'
The first mention of his name in New London is of his marriage, Dec. 23, 1664, with Hannah, daughter of Jonathan and Lucretia Brewster, and grand-daughter of Elder William Brewster, who came over in the May Flower. She was born in 1643; Nov. 25, 1691, was in full communion with the First church in New London, where her children were baptized. There is no record of her death.
He was one of the early settlers of New London, and a prominent man in the town, holding the honorable office of County Marshall (High Sheriff) from 1674 to his death. In 1670 he proposed to establish a ferry at Norwich, and lands were voted him for the purpose, but probably proving unprofitable, he gave it up and forfeited the grant.
He lived on the old 'Buttonwood corner,' now corner of Main and State streets. There is no record of his death, but as a grant of land, made to him June 22, 1687, was deeded away by his widow, Feb. 22, 1687-8, his death occurred between those dates."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Samuel Starr, in Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
4:170-171.
"Samuel (Starr), New London 1663, m. 23 Dec. 1664, Hannah, d. of Jonathan Brewster, had Samuel, b. 11 Dec. 1665; Thomas, 27 Sept. 1668; Comfort, bapt. Aug. 1671; Jonathan, 1674; and Benjamin, 1679. Miss Caulkins, with good reason, thinks him eldest s. of Thomas, and that he d. early in 1688, for his wid. execut. a deed 2 Feb. of that yr. He prob. is that kinsman, to wh. his gr.f. gave the 'Book of Martyrs.' His s. Thomas, Jonathan, and Benjamin contin. the name at N. L. and Norwich. The progeny of Jonathan have been not. for longev."
Benjamin was the son of Thomas Starr's brother Comfort, of Middletown.
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