Introduction
Aaron Stark [1608-1685] was born in England or Scotland and migrated to New England after 1630 and before May of 1637;
eventually settling in the area which later became known as Groton, New London County, Connecticut. These pages are dedicated to his family and all of his known
descendants and is based on the research of many past and present researchers.
I do not claim this work is either perfect or complete. It represents the best information available at the time of publication. It is my hope these chronicles will complement and expand the earlier efforts of such notable Stark Family
Genealogists as S. Judson Stark, Charles Rathbone Stark, Helen Stark, Walter Owens Shriner, and his wife, Mary Virginia
Cuppy. "The Aaron Stark Family Chronicles" is my interpretation of the history of Aaron Stark and his descendants based on an analysis of documented and historical events having
relevance to their day in history. While I am sure there will be those who will challenge and offer differing interpretations, I do not have the time left nor the energy to engage in a discussion of "meaningless criticism" of these pages. I do welcome the opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion of my
interpretation from those who have found errors, omissions, or who have "a reasonable criticism" of my interpretation. I reserve the right to decide what is "a reasonable criticism." For those whose criticism I reject, I can only suggest you publish your own interpretation of the Aaron Stark Family History.
My research began several years ago with the publication
entitled, "The Aaron Stark Family, Seven Generations of the Descendants of Aaron Stark of Groton, Connecticut," by Charles R. Stark, published in 1927 by Wright and Potter of Boston,
Massachusetts. Charles R. Stark was a Historian for the Stark Family Association (active from 1895 to 1952), a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, a member of the Rhode Island Historical Society, and a member of the New London County, Connecticut Historical Society. He understood his genealogical
publication, when examined by future Stark Family Genealogists, was but a place to begin. He made no claims to the perfection of his work and challenged those to follow to continue to refine the family genealogy and preserve its history with these words: "What is here presented is only what by diligent effort we
have been able to gather from the past, with one object in view, viz., to be true to the facts as we found them, and to preserve to those of the name who shall follow us a knowledge of the Stark genealogical line, a large part of which unless so gathered and preserved must soon be lost forever. Let us hope that some
younger member of the family will build on the foundation here laid a work complete to date."
This
web site will examine the Stark Family genealogy in the same spirit: expand
beyond his seven generations; correct some organizational errors related to some
descendant families in the first seven generations; and carry forward the
descendants of other families where his compilation could not continue. As would be
expected in these circumstances, many theories have blossomed, leading to rather
strong opinions on the origins and organization of many family branches.
I hope this website will be useful in
your search for your Stark ancestors —
and you will review my genealogical interpretations with an open mind.
Clovis LaFleur
July 21, 2006
<mailto:[email protected]>
Dedication
Without the past research of Charles
Rathbone Stark (Photo), Helen Stark, J. Judson Stark, and Walter Owens Shriner and his spouse
Virginia "Cuppy" Shriner and the dedication of many present day researchers who contributed material, time, and effort to the creation of these pages, this website would not have been feasible. Without their efforts, we wouldn't have known where to begin our research of the descendants of Aaron Stark, our American patriarch who was
the first to arrive in New England from the old world.
I would like to thank Mary (Burns) Stark, who did so much
of the initial research on the Stark Families of Texas, Pauline Stark Moore, who continues her research and adds to Mary's efforts every day, and Neal Lowe,
whose research made the connection of the Newton County, Texas Starks to their
New York ancestors and eventually to Aaron Stark of Connecticut.
Without the encouragement, research, and assistance of Donn
Neal, Gwen Boyer Bjorkman, Sharon Reck, Carolyn Smith and many others, the many
"Lost Stark Families of Kentucky" may never have been found and my
thanks to them for providing me with insight into the everyday lives of Aaron
Stark and his family in Colonial Connecticut.
And finally, this text is dedicated in particular to the memory of Charles Rathbone Stark, pictured
above and left, whose book, published in 1927 entitled “The Aaron Stark Family, Seven Generations”, was the beginning of this journey into the past. His compilation of the descendants of Aaron Stark, an ambitious undertaking for
1927, was instrumental to our
research and contributed to much of the material presented. I further dedicate these pages to all future Stark family researchers
who will improve on these pages, already obsolete as they are being written, and
produce research of their own which will surpass these humble efforts to preserve
the history of Aaron Stark and his descendants.
Clovis LaFleur,
November, 2001
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