Silas Samuel Sanders Starr

Silas Samuel Sanders Starr.htm

Silas Samuel Sanders Starr
First wife: Frances Bennett
Second wife: Trecy "Nettle" Hays

The eldest of Benjamin and Charlotte’s three sons was named for two of his Starr uncles. However, the person behind Sanders hasn’t been identified. Silas Samuel Sanders, born 24 March 1810 in Wilkes County, married Frances Bennett 22 December 1831 in Taliaferro County. They soon joined other family members in the Fayette and Henry County area where they lived the next 20 years.

Frances was the daughter of Alexander Bennett who died in Newton County, Georgia before November 1845. His will, dated 20 September 1845, gave his wife Nancy "the 125 acre dwelling house on the old Jasper County boundary line" for life and named children: Elizabeth J. Bennett, Mary Lunsford, Frances Starr, Ally Hodgins, Amalia Harwell, Amanda Gibson and William T. He appointed William Gibson executor. [Bruno] The estate distribution record identifies another daughter: Sarah, wife of William Lunsford. Apparently the executor (Gibson) died or moved from the area, for the Newton County Court appointed Silas S. Starr Administrator de bonus non 7 September 1861. Although Bennett family relationships are not the focus, two are of passing interest here. Alexander and Peter Bennett are named legatees in the 1808 Wilkes County will of Reubin Bennett. [Crain & Wenzel] Reubin failed to state their relationship to him, but Peter Bennett’s wife was Frances (Pinkston), sister of Charlotte, thus aunt to Silas S. S. The other connection is merely coincidental. The step-mother of the husband of the above Amelia (Bennett) Harwell was the widow of Benjamin’s brother, Asa Starr, when she married the older Harwell. [Dowd]

According to Crain and Wenzel Silas and Frances moved to Newton County, Georgia about 1850, settling on a 140 acre tract near Mansfield. Silas worked in a mercantile business in nearby Starrsville. He served two terms as Newton County Commissioner, was a Mason and taught a Sunday School class and served on the board of the local Methodist Church. After Frances inherited property in Morgan County, they moved to Rutledge. Frances (Bennett) Starr died 18 May 1870 and is buried in a Methodist Church Cemetery near Rutledge.

Silas S. S. returned to Newton County where he married Trecy Hays, daughter of George, in 1872. [Crain & Wenzel] He died in Newton County 23 November 1873 and is buried in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery, reported by Crain and Wenzel to be affiliated with a Baptist Church. Trecy "Nettle" Starr’s obituary appeared in the 8 June 1904 issue of The Atlanta Constitution : "Covington June 7: The funeral of Mrs. Nettle Starr, wife of Silas S. Starr, whose death occurred at her home in Mansfield Monday night took place at the Mansfield Baptist Church at 4 o’clock this afternoon, the services conducted by Rev. T. J. Swanson of Covington."

Information on the seven children of Silas S. S. and Frances (Bennett) Starr comes from Crain and Wenzel.

1. Samuel Henry born 4 October 1832 died 1863 in a federal prison hospital from wounds received at Gettysburg.

2. Hannah born 9 December 1834, married Seaburn Duke. She reportedly shot a Federal soldier who forced his way into her home.

3. William S. (twin) born 1838 died 1887. He served as Sergeant in Co. B. 42nd GA Infantry C.S.A. with his younger brother Silas. They participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. Silas was among the unit members taken prisoner at Vicksburg and later released. Although William’s name is not on the list of prisoners, researchers assume he was captured too. He married Ann Smithers.

4. Hilliard Steele (twin) born 1838 died 14 September 1839.

5. Silas Andrew born 28 April 1844 died 14 September 1923 in Walton County, Georgia. He served as a Corporal in the same C.S.A. Company as his older brother. Taken prisoner with his unit at Vicksburg, he was sent to a parole camp near Atlanta and released. He rejoined the Confederate Army and fought at Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and around Atlanta. After the war, Silas and his wife Nancy Floyd lived at Loganville, Georgia. He served as a Justice of the Peace for Walton County for several years and took an active role in the development of the area. In 1881 he and eleven other men formed a corporation to build a railroad from Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County to Loganville. [Crain & Wenzel citing Sams p. 102] Additionally he served as mayor of Loganville and was a steward of the Methodist Church for over 40 years. According to his obituary, survivors included his brother J. P. Starr of Tolbert, TX and three children: Mrs. W. L. Blassingame of Winder; Mrs. A. C. Cooper of Loganville and Ed Starr of Winder.

6. Benjamin Alexander born 28 April 1846 died 28 June 1864 near Covington, Georgia of a fever contracted shortly after joining a C.S.A. unit.

7. James Penn born 27 July 1849 died 26 April 1929 Wilbarger County, Texas, but is buried in the Eastview Cemetery in Vernon. He married in 1868 Cordelia Whitiker in Newton County. They resided for a time in Morgan County, Georgia, but then moved to Texas in 1883 to be nearer Cordelia’s relatives.

 Sources

Bruno, John J. compiler. Newton County, Georgia, Estate Records, vol. I A-K: 1822-1900; vol. II L-Z: 1822-1900.

Crain, Marguerite Starr and Wenzel, Janell Turner, compilers. They Followed the Sun: The Story of James Penn Starr and Georgian Theus, Their Ancestors and Their Progenies. 1971. Seven Sons of Henry.

Dowd, Lea, Watts family researcher.

Sams, Anita B. author. Wayfarers in Walton