In 1756 Jehosaphat Starr

The Land Where The Starr House sits on, (110 Washington St.) was part of the homelot of of Samuel Stow, Middletown’s first minister and one of the town’s original proprietors in 1651.

Jehosaphat Starr, Sr., who was known as Major Starr for the service in the French and Indian War, was a tailor who bought the house in 1756! The Starr Family became well known in Middletown! He married Sarah Stow whose family had by then occupied the property for over a half century. It was probably they who added the three-bay addition to the east side. (The house is privately owned and not open to the public.)

The Seven Years War started in May of 1756, a global conflict known in America as the French and Indian War, officially begins when England declares war on France. However, fighting and skirmishes between England and France had been going on in North America for years.

The Seven Years War ended with the signing of the treaties of Hubertusburg and Paris in February 1763.

MORE MIDDLETOWN STARR VETERAN’S

Nathan Starr was born April 14, 1755. He was a noted worker in iron and steel and a manufacturer of scythes in Middletown. On June 20, 1776, he and his brother
David Starr
where commissioned by Gov. Trumbull, as armorers in the regiment commanded by Col. Comfort Sage.In the later part of Nathan’s life he was engaged with his son Nathan in the manufacture of swords, rifles, etc., mainly for the United States Government:
THE STARR MILL!

Nathan Starr, Sr., a scythe manufacturer, purchased land on the West (no Coginchaug) River in Staddle Hill in 1799. Joined by his son, Nathan Jr. in 1812, Starr began the first of a long series of government contracts to produce swords, pistols, and eventually rifles. They constructed a factory here in 1812, which is probably the easternmost building sited by the pond. After Nathan Sr’s death in 1821, his son carried on the business until 1845. During this period some 70,000 arms of varied kinds were made here, as well as a number of commemorative swords for national heroes, such as Andrew Jackson.

Nathan also held various local offices in the town and society. On July 5, 1781, he married Polly Pomeroy of Middletown, who was born September 22, 1761. Their children were Susannah, Nathan Jr., Mary and William. As you can see from the Gilbert Stuart:
famous painting of his family, they had a wonderful view of the Connecticut River! Nathan Starr Jr. was the father of General Elihu Starr. Nathan Sr. died July 29, 1821. Polly died May 25, 1825.

Gen. Elihu W. N. Starr,
who in early life was prominent in military affairs, and all through life in the public affairs of Middletown, serving for the unusually long period of thirty-eight years as town clerk and registrar, died at his home June 14, 1891.

Gen. Starr was the eldest son of Nathan and Grace (Townsend) Starr, who removed to Middletown soon after the son’s birth. After attending private schools he was placed, at the age of thirteen in Capt. Partridge’s
Military Academy in Middletown,
where his education developed a taste and aptitude for military life. On leaving the academy he entered his father’s office as bookkeeper, and soon after became a partner with him in the manufacture of arms for the Government under the contract system. At the age of eighteen he was appointed sergeant-major, and subsequently quartermaster and adjutant, of the Second Artillery Regiment. In 1836 he was elected captain of the First Rifle Company, Sixth Regiment of Infantry. In 1839 he was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel and from that time until 1860 he was so successful in every military advanced position to which he was successively raised that he was in that year elected brigadier-general of the 2nd Brigade, Conn. Militia.The reorganization of the militia system relieved him of this position, but when James T. Pratt of the Upper Houses became major-general by the Act of the Legislature he appointed Gen. Starr as division inspector. The Civil war offered many opportunities for military service which the state of Gen. Starr’s health would not permit him to accept until Gov. Buckingham appointed him to the command of the military post at Middletown, during the organization of the Twenty-fourth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, which occupied his attention constantly in the autumn of 1863. His military services to the State, of which this was the last, covered a period of about thirty-five years, marked by success in every position. He was postmaster in 1841. With the exception of one year he held the office of town clerk and registrar from 1851 to the time of his death, a period nearest approaching that of John Fisk, who was elected for fifty successive years.

On May 27, 1840, Gen. Starr was married to Harriet Vetmore Bush, of Ogdensbnrg. N. Y., who survived him, and who was a great help to him in his varied clerical work. She was born April 25, 1815. The marriage was blessed with six children, namely: William E, who is living in New York; Julia W., Robert W. and Henry B., all three deceased;
James F., a resident of Middletown; and Miss Grace T., in Middletown. The mother also makes her home in that city.

Many Of The Starrs Are At Rest In The Vine St. Cemetery:

Thank You Bernard P. Prue For All This Information!

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