1. EDWARD-

m. KATHERINE _____, living 19 June 1678 (she is repeatedly called Katherine Reynolds but no documentation for this has been found)
d. 4 Mar. 1690 Nantucket

Edward was in Dover in 1640 and signed the letter to the Governor of Massachusetts and the Dover Combination (he signed the latter as "Edward Starr").

"Letter from the Inhabitants of Dover to the Governor of Massachusetts.

Northam, 4, 1 month (1.40).

Honored Sir:

We, the Inhabitants of Northam, make bould to trouble you with these few lynes, certifyinge you that whereas wee suppose Captaine Underhill hath informed you and the rest of your brethren of the Matechuseth baye, that wee are all willinge voluntarily to submit ourselves to your Government upon fformer articles propounded; truth it is wee doe very well aprove of your judicious wayes, and shall be very joyful, yu please God to enlarge us, that wee may be free from other ingagements and promises wch some of us are obliged in to the owners or patentees, from whom under his Mat's Letter Patents we enjoy our free liberty, wch causeth us not for present to submit to any other government than that wch wee have already entered into combination to observe according to the King's Mat's lawes, until such time as the owners come over to us, wch we suppose will be about three months hence, and then our prpositions considered as the Lord shall direct us, we will labor more to satisfy you. But for the proceedings of Captain Underhill seeking to undermyne us, and contrary to his oath and fidellyty as we suppose intrusted to him, hath went from house to house, and for his own ends, by flattery and threatening gotten some hands to a note of their willingness to submitt themselves under your government, and some that have no habitation to bring his purposes to pass; we doubt not but you are well acquainted with his stratagems in plotting his owne designe wch wee refer to your grave judgments. Some of those that subscribed to his note have this day utterly prtested against their own act, for he hath raysed such a mutinie amongst us wch if we take not course for the stoping thereof, it may cause the effusion of blood, by reason he hath by his designes privately rent the combination as much as in him lyeth, contrary to his act, that is that wee should continue in the same govmnt except an agreegment or cause showed to the contrary in open court, agreed on by the major p'te, thus much we thought good to acquaynt your wor'p with all beseeching your favourable construction, hoping you will weigh our case in equity and conscience, and not any way to enforce us to any act whereby wee should break prmise or covenant wth the patentees or amongst ourvselves whchin soe doinge we should sinne greatly. Wee heartyly desire your prayers for us, and comit you to the prtection of the Almightye at yor- to be comanded... Edward Starbuck..."(4)

"Whereas sundry Mischeifes and inconveniences have befaln us, and more and greater may in regard of want of Civill Government, his Gratious Ma^tie haveing hitherto setled no Order for us to our Knowledge:

Wee whose names are underwritten being Inhabitants upon the River Piscataquack have voluntarily agreed to combine our Selves into a Body Politique that wee may the more comfortably enjoy the benefit of his Ma^ties Lawes. And do hereby actually ingage our Selves to Submit to his Royal Maties Lawes together with all such Orders as shalbee concluded by a Major part of the Freemen of our Society , in case they bee not repugnant to the Lawes of England and administred in the behalfe of his Majesty.

And this wee have Mutually promised and concluded to do and so to continue till his Excellent Matie shall give other Order concerning us.

In Witness wee have hereto Set our hands the two & twentieth day of October in the Sixteenth yeare of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of Great Brittain France & Ireland Defender of the Faith &c Annoq Domi: 1640.

This is a True Copy compared with ye Originall by me
Edw Cranfield"(3)

16i43 "7th day of 7th mo... Edward Starbuck is fined for 3 weeks absence 40s..."(5)

Edward was also an agent for Mr. Valentine Hill in 1646. He was a partner with Richard Waldron in lumbering on the Maine side of the river in 1648. His grants included one jointly with Mr. Thomas Wiggin in 1650 and 200 acres with Elder Nutter in 1659. In 1653 he sold half his sawmill grant to Peter Coffin. In 1657 he sold to Thomas Broughton one-quarter of the mill above Capt. Waldron's mill at Cochecho, other owners being Capt. Wiggin (one-half) and Peter Coffin (one-quarter). He was a deputy to the General Court in 1643 and 1646 (and was fined for three weeks absence). (10)

"4 November 1646- In answer to the petition of Richard Waldern for a disposall of all publicke & private writings that were in the hands of Wm Walderne, late recorder of Dover, deceased, itt is ordered that Mr George Smith & Mr Edward Starbucke shallbe a committee to survey the bookes & writings that were in the hands of the said Wm Walderne & to give to every one that which belongs to them, & such publicke writings as belong to the courte at Piscataqua, or any parte of this jurisdiction to reserve in safety till further order from this courte."(6)

In 1648 he was bound to the peace towards the minister and to appear at Boston for violating the law concerning Anabaptists:

"October 18, 1648:

This Court being informed of great misdomeanor Committed by Edward Starbuck of Dover with profession of Anabaptism, for which he is to be proceeded against at the next Court of Assistants if evidence can be prepared by that time, & it being very farre for witnesses to travill to Boston at that season of the year, It is therefore ordered by this Court that the Secretary shall give Commission to Capt. Thomas Wiggan & Mr Edw. Smyth to send for such persons as they shall have notice of, which are able to testify in the sd Cause, & to take their testimony uppon oath & certifie the same to the Secritary so soone as may be that further proceedings may be therein if the cause shall so require."(7)

Also in 1648:

"This year the wearing of long hair was condemned as sinful. The Governor, Deputy Governor and Magistrates entered into an association to prevent the growing evil. 'Forasmuch as the wearing of long hair, after the manner of ruffians and barborous Indians, has begun to invade New-England, contrary to the rule of God's Word, which says it is a shame for a man to wear long hair, as also the commendable custom generally of all the godly of our nation, until within these few years: We, the magistrates who have subscribed this paper (for the showing of our innocency in this behalf) do declare and manifest our dislike and detestation against the wearing of such long hair, as against a thing uncivil and unmanly, whereby men do deform themselves, and offend sober and modest men, and do corrupt good manners : We do, therefore, earnestly entreat all the elders of this jurisdiction... to manifest their zeal against it in their public administrations, and to take care that the members of their respective churches be not defiled therewith".(7)

"Whereas we whose names are here under written are made choice of by the Towne of Dover and Kittery to lay outt the Devidinge Bounds betweene the said Townes, we have Mutually concluded and agreed that the great River At newichawanacke shall be and remaine the Devideinge bound betweene the aforesaid Townes, the one half of the said River to Apptaine and belong unto the Towne of Dover on the south, and the other halfe to the Towne of Kittery one the North. In confirmation hereof we have Interchang- sett to our hands this 4th of ye 2 mo. 54... Edward Starbuck..."(8)

The humble petition of the inhabitants of the town of Dover.

Shewethe that whereas your poor petitioners were taken under the government of the Mattachusetts, by the extent of the line of the Patent of the Mattachusetts, and likewise the people there are accepted and reputed under the government as the rest of the inhabitants within the said jurisdiction, as also a Committee chosen to bound out the Towne, which accordingly was done, & afterwards was confirmed at the Generall Courte as the Acts do more fully declare. Therefore wee your poore petitioners do humbly crave protection in our habitations and rights accordinge to the laws & liberties of this jurisdiction, & likewise that some order might be taken to restraine such as doe disturbe and molest us in our habitations by challengine us by patent, & threateninge of us & sayinge that wee plant upon their grounde & that we must give them such rent as they please for cuttinge grass and timber, or else they will take all from us, so by this means the people are many of them disqueited, not onely by the Patent, but alsoe by the threats of Edwarde Colcorde who with others of his pretended owners do report that they have fourteen shares & that they are the greatest owners in the Country, which patent wee conceive (under favour) will be made voyde if it be well looked into, so hopinge ever to enjoye protection within your jurisdiction Wee shall ever pray... Edward Starbuck..."(9)

At a meeting of the sd purchasers or the major pt of them appved and alowed by the rest together with some others that were owned for associates as will hereafter appe, it was agreed and determined and app'ved as followeth : that these ten owners will amitt of ten more ptners who shall have equal power and interest with themselves : And that either of the purchasers forementioned shall have liberty to take a ptner whom he please not being justly excepted against by the rest : At that meeting Robbert Pyke was owned ptner with Christopher Hussey ; Robert Bernard was owned ptner with Thomas Bernard ; Tristram Coffin Jun. ptner with Stephen Greenleafe and James Coffin ptner with Peter Coffin.

At the same meeting it was mutually and unanimously agreed upon determined and concluded that no man whatsoever shall purchase any land of any of the Indians upon the sd island for his owne or other private or particular use ; But what whatsoever purchase shall be made shall be for the generall accompt of the twenty owners or purchasers ; And whatsoever P'son shall purchase any land upon any other accompt it shall be accompted voyd and null except what is done by licence from the said owners or purchasers.

At the same meeting it was ordered and determined that there be ten other Inhabitants admitted into the plantation who shall have such accomodations as the owners or purchasers shall judge meet : as namely necessary tradesmen and seamen.

At a meeting of the owners of the Island of Nantukket Salisbury it was debated and after debate determined and concluded that as ther had bin a former meeting in Salisbury at the house of Benjamen Kemball in Feb. 6 :59 in which meeting an order was made for ye p'hibitting of any p'son from the purchaseing of any land from any of the Indians upon the Ile of Nantukket except for the use of the twenty owners or purchasers : the order shall stand inviolable and unalterable, as that which is also lately necessary to ye continuance of the well-being of the place and the contrary that which tends to ye confusion and ruine of the whole and the subverting of the rule and order already agreed upon and the depriveing of ye sd owners of their just rights and interests. Also it was ordered at the same meeting that all the lands that is fit for Areable land convenient for houselots shall be forthwith measured that the quantity thereof may be known, which being done shall be divided by equal pportion ; that is to say four fifths pts to ye owners or purchasers and ye other fifth pt unto the ten other Inhabitants, where of John Bishop shall have two pt or shares that is to say of that fifth pt belonging to ye ten Inhabitants.

Also at the same meeting it was ordered that Tristram Coffin,Thomas, Macy, Edward Starbuck, Thomas Bernard and Peter Ffoulger of Martha's vineyard shall have power to measure and lay out the sd land according to ye above sd order and whatsoever shall be done coiicluded in ye sd case by them or any three of them Peter Ffoulger being one shall be accompted le all and valid."(2)

These ptyes after mentioned did buy all right and Interest ____ of the Iles of Nantukket that did belong to Sir Fferdinand Georges, and the Lord Sterling. Mr. Richard Vines steward gen: to Sir Fferdinando Georges ; and James Fforrett Steward to the Lord Sterling, which was by them sold unto Mr. Thomas Mayhew of Martha's vinyard ; these aftermentioned did purchase of Mr. Thomas Mayhew these rights : namely the pattent right belonging to the Gentleman aforesaid and also the pcel of land which Mr. Mayhew did purchase of the Indians, at the west end of the Ile of Nantukket, as by their graunt or bill of sale will largely appear : with all the priviledges and appurtenances thereof: the aforementioned purchasers are Tristram Coffin Sen ; Thomas Macy, Richard Swaine, Thomas Bernard, Peter Coffin, Christopher Hussey, Stephen Greenleafe, John Sawine and William Pile, the said Mr. Thomas Mayhew himself also became a Twentieth pt purchaser : so that they viz : Mr. Thomas Mayhew, Tristram Coffin Sen. Thomas Macy, Richard Swaine, Thomas Bernard, Peter Coffin, Christopher Hussey, Stephen Greenleafe, John Sawine and William Pile had the whole and sole interest, disposal, power and priviledge of the sd island and appurtenances thereof."(2)

On 9 Mar. 1659/0 Edward deeded his Cochecho house, goods, cattle, etc. to his son-in-law Peter Coffin and moved to Nantucket. Thomas Macy had been at odds with the powers that be in Salisbury and Tristram Coffin and his wife also had issues with the church elders. Therefore, moving to Nantucket to escape the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony seemed like a good idea!

At a meeting at Salisbury it was ordered and concluded that the fore mentioned ptyes : viz. Tristram Coffin Sen. : Thomas Macy, Edward Starbuck, Thomas Bernard and Peter Ffoulger shall all measure and lay out all the rest of the lands both meadow wood and upland that is convenient to be appropriated within the bounds of the first plantation or township : also it is determined that ye above mentioned psons together with Mr. Mayhew, Richard Swaine, John Bishop or whatever other of the owners or purchasers that are there pr sent shall have power to determine what land is convenient to be imp'priated and lay'd out and what shall remaine common ; and also to lay out the bounds of the town and record it p'vided always that the land being measured : they shall first lay out a convenient quantity of land with suiteable accomodations of all sorts which shall be p'etually reserved for publique use of the Town.

At the same meeting it was ordered that for ye Pticular appointing which lot every man shall have it shall be done by cutting lots excepting only these psons that have already taken up their lots : as namely Thomas Macy, Tristram Coffin Sen : Edward Starbuck and Richard Swaine.

At the same meeting Robert Pyke was appointed to keep ye records concerning the Ile of Nantukket at Salisbury and Thomas Macy to keepe the records at the yland as in the above sd order expressed : at pr sent untill farther order be taken by the owners or purchasers.

At a meeting on Nantukket of the owners purchasers inhabiting Mr. Thomas Mayhew being pr sent and Peter Ffoulger it was agreed and concluded that each man of the owners or purchasers shall have liberty to chuse house lot on any place within ye limits not formerly taken up and that each house lot shall contain sixty square to a whole accomodation or share or the value of it."(2)

In a deed in 1659 Mr. Broughton excepted the house and land on Newichawannock River of Goodwife Starbuck "being formerly given her... in wife's right". Edward did sign, however, a petition to the General Court at Boston in 1665 as being of Dover(>1)

Petition to the General Court- 1665

Issue-