Display Patriot - P-296284 - Frederick STARNES/STARNS/STEARNS
Frederick STARNES/STARNS/STEARNS
SAR Patriot #:
P-296284
The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Birth: abt 1730 / Albany / NY Death: 07 Apr 1779 Blue Licks / Madison / KY
Qualifying Service Description:
A scout on the Virginia Frontier [now Madison County, Kentucky] was killed in action on 07 Apr 1779
Additional References:
Revolutionary War Pension fileS7600 -Joseph Starns
Register of Kentucky State Historical Society,Volume 36, Number 116 (July 1938): Published By: Kentucky Historical Society, Colonel Whitley Papers,pg 189-209
Spouse: Mary XX; Children: Frederick III; David; Jacob; Adam;
Patriot is believed to be buried in cemetery or in the vicinity of the cemetery
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
Author: Mitchell Brandon Anderson
Frederick Starnes/Stearns was born in Virginia before 1730. NSSAR and NSDAR states he was born about 1730 in Albany County, New York.1,2
He was a scout on the Virginia frontier during the Revolutionary War. Scouts could navigate unfamiliar terrain and wilderness, gather intelligence on the enemy, and plan ambushes and attacks.
During his service, he was in what is known as “Starns’ Defeat,” in which he was killed by Shawnee warriors on 7 April 1779 in Lower Blue Licks, Kentucky County, Virginia, modern-day Madison County, Kentucky, in a place that settlers called “Buzzard Pass.”3,4,5 In Joseph Starns’ Pension, S7600, he states on the date mentioned that he and a company of men were traveling over a water course making their way towards Fort Boonesborough when about 25 or 30 warriors fired on the company. He states that his uncle, Frederick Starns, was killed along with two other men. Joseph’s father, Joseph Sr, and his brother-in-law, Michael Moyer, were the other men killed in the defeat that is mentioned in the pension. The Shawnee warriors then pursued Joseph for about a quarter of a mile, firing on him, but he made his escape in undergrowth.In the Pension Application of George Michael Bedinger, W2992, he states that he arrived at Fort Boonesborough on 7 April 1779 and received information of a “Mr. Starns” and a company falling into the hands of the enemy. He further states that Joseph3 arrived at the fort about two hours after George gave information about Starns and his company.6 William Whitley states that he found the men and buried them. He noted that the birds had taken out Frederick’s eyes.4
Frederick married Mary [surname unknown] before 1750. Mary was born before 1732 [location unknown] and died before 1784 in Washington County, Virginia. They had the following confirmed children:
Frederick was born before 1765 and married Mary Fisher.
Adam was born before 1765; his spouse is unknown.
Jacob was born between 1750/1760 and married Elizabeth [surname unknown].
David was born in 1758 and married Barbara [surname unknown].
The Patriot's exact burial site is unknown and not marked. Still, there is a Find-a-Grave memorial for him linked in the Pilot Knob Cemetery in Berea, Madison County, Kentucky, near the historical marker with information about the defeat.5,7
Sources:
NSSAR Patriot #: P-296284
NSDAR Ancestor #: A002919
Pension of Joseph Starns *S7600
Draper Manuscripts, Series 9CC, William Whitley Papers, pages 49-50. (The manuscript name month as March 1779, but the defeat occurred in April)
Historical Road Sign Marker in Madison County, Kentucky, Site of Starns’ Defeat, placed by Starnes/Starns Triennial Association. GPS Coordinates: 37.58086, -84.20962.
George Michael Bedinger Pension Application W2992 (George states that there were ten or twelve men in the Starns’ Company while Joseph Starns states the company was four men)
Find-a-Grave Memorial ID: 26800912, Cemetery ID: 727051
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