Person Page 178

Moses Starr and his wife, Deborah (King) Starr, from Old Castle, County Meath, Ireland, took up land in the Maiden Creek Valley about 1730 or 1731. The Indian name of the stream was Ontelaunee, meaning "The little maid of the big mother", the Schuylkill river being the big mother. The English settlers translated it into Maiden Creek. Maiden Creek is 10 mile north of Reading, Pennsylvania.

Moses and Deborah Starr settled along this stream about three miles up stream from where it flows into the river. They were the first white settlers in this section of Berks county. They were soon followed by Francis Parvin who settled three miles to the south of them at what is now Berkley and by Jacob Lightfoot who settled just across the Maiden Creek from them. These were also followed by a number of other families, all English speaking Friends, among them the Huttons, Willits, Wilys, Pearsons, Penroses, Wrights, and Lees.

Moses Starr was the first and for many years the only representative of Berks County in the Provincial Assembly. Moses and Deborah Starr built their house on the west bank of the Maiden Creek and there they raised a large family.

Moses and Deborah Starr's son John, stayed on the home farm and this farm (since called Starr Farm) continued in the hands of his descendants until it was taken over by the city of Reading in 1927 for the new water project.

Now flooded into a lake, the Quaker meeting house and grave yard were moved about 1 mile up the road, with the school house.

Moses and Deborah sailed to America in 1717, settling first at New Garden, Chester County.

Moses and Deborah arrived at Maiden Creek in June 29, 1732 as Members of the Society of Friends.

Issac Starr, Moses' brother, followed to Maiden Creek.

Before a regular meeting house was established at Maiden Creek in 1735, the early Friends met in the home of Mose Starr for their first gatherings.

Moses Starr was called upon to perform in the Preparative Meeting held Feb 24, 1733. Moses and Deborah were very active in the affairs of the business meetings. Frequently they were appointed as representatives to attend the Quarterly Meetings in Philadelphia.

Moses and Deborah were still living in the year 1766, and there is no known record of their deaths.

No will was filed for probate. Birthdate: "8mo, 27, 1692" in Old Style (Quaker) notation

Marr date: "6mo, 2, 1715"

Death date: Participated w/wife in a land transaction in 1766. No further data or probate case.

"History of Chester & Delaware Co, PA" by Gilbert Cope, p570

"History of Chester Co, PA" by J.S. Futhey and G.Cope, p729

"Immigration of Irish Quakers into PA 1689-1750" by Albert C. Myers,

Swarthmore, PA 1902) p328-29

Rec of Kennett Monthly Meeting, Soc. of Friends, Chester Co, PA [FHL #562,992]

"Desc of Moses & Deborah Starr, Early Quaker Settlers of Maiden Creek Valley"

by John E. Eshelman, The Historical Review of Berks Co (Berks Co. Hist. Soc.

Reading, PA) April 1947, Vol XII, No. 3, p67+

Residence: To U.S. with brother Jeremiah in 1717

Settled within limits of New Garden Preparative Mtg., Chester Co. PA

Received at Newark/Kennett MM 10, 7m, 1717

Removed to Maiden Creek, Berks, Co, PA - 1732

Cert received at North Wales/Gwynedd Mtg, Philadelphia Co - 29 Jun 1732

Settled on 551 acre tract along Maiden Creek, 3 mi upstream from entry into the Schuykill River.

Public Service: He was the first representative of Berks Co. in the Provincial Assembly, term 1752-1754.

Was the 5th son of William Starr

John Starr (IV) sold off a large portion of the manor estate in 1630. He also has the distinction of being the last Starr in the direct family line to retire in Beer. Unfortunately, he met his demise early during a plague outbreak in 1646. Localized outbreaks of bubonic plague could hit hard in one town, yet leave others untouched only a few miles away. Unlike the pandemic of 1348 which wiped out one third of Europe's population, this outbreak was much less pervasive. However, three-quarters of the population of Beer died in the bubonic plague. As there was insufficient space in the chapel graveyard for all the victims, those killed by the plague were buried in a field at Holyhead. In the village church there is a tablet which reads:

"John, the fifth son of William Starr, of Bere, gent., & Dorothy his wife, which died in the Plague, was here buried. 1646."

John Starr (IV) had at least one son by the name of John Carran Starr. Whether to escape the devastation of the plague, or based on his status as a second son, he made his living in the army. In fact, he served as a Captain of Infantry in the Parliamentary army of Oliver Cromwell during England's Civil War. Cromwell's forces revolted and executed the King, setting up a purely parliamentary government headed by Cromwell which lasted until the Restoration. The Parliamentary army was the most elite fighting force of the time. Captain Starr's forces included imposing pikemen and deadly muskets of the flintlock design.

-Victor J. Starr

December 1998.