STARK, Barbara ^{2 3}

   User ID: I24.

  General Notes:

"[9090]
161 16 May 1623. Sasine of that part of the 5 pound land of Gartshore called the towns and lands of Easter Gartshore, the lands of Drimgrew and Craufords given by Baillie to Jean Muirhead wife of a venerable man, John Gartshore Of That Ilk. It is signed 16 May 1623. during the life of Barbera Stark mother of John Gartshore. Jean is mentioned as to the Mains of Gartshore. Same witnesses as above. Reg.28th June 1623 Fol.60 Book 1."

from Geocities web archive ⁴

  Research Notes:

FAMILY PLACEMENT FOR BARBARA STARK

Stark is not a particularly common surname in the 16th century in Scotland. Allowing that 'Stirk' and 'Stark' may be variants of each other, the earliest births, marriages and testaments are found in the Scottish records mainly in Fife and Clackmannan, followed by Falkirk and Lothian. Only later is there a further appearance in Lanarkshire.

The family of Stark in the parish of Lenzie were known by various designations, with variant spellings: Dullatur, Auchinvole, Auchinkill, Auchinstarry etc. Some of these names appear in this Instrument of Sasine dated 1553:

"358. Instrument of Sasine in favour of Lady Barbara Hammyltoun, Lady Flemyng, eldest daughter of James, Duke of Chattelerault, Earl of Arran, ' Lord Hammyltoun, tutor of the Queen, and Governor and Protector of the realm, in the liferent of two-thirds of these lands : - Kildrum, Garbrane, Tannocht, Grenyard, Glenlugy, Watterheid, Kilbowy, Myltoun, Balsyd, Hoill, Drumgibbone, Cuthbartstoun, Powokishoill, Langlandis, Hill, Chapeltoun, Auchinkill, Compdurat, Smythistoun, Westir Garschoir, Badkow, Schoirway, Bar, Auchynwoll, Auchynstaure, Dullatour, Westirwod. Town of Kirkintullocht, with Park and Peel of the same, Eister Garschoir, Duntibla and mill, Twichir, and the mill of Bawsarge, all lying in the barony of Lenze and in the sheriffdom of Dumbartane, and also in the barony of Anthirmoney and mill, lying in the sherifTdom of Striveling, following on precept of sasine by James, Lord Flemyng, Great Chamberlain of Scotland, directed to William Gowanelok, and dated at Edinburgh, 14 December 1553."

A man named John Stark, along with a number of others, was a witness to this document.

In the 1618 will of John Gartshore of that Ilk, his wife Barbara Stark is named as his executor and guardian of his children. Alongside her in these two roles is named William Stark of Auchinstarry, brother of John. No relationship between Barbara and William is signalled. It is plausible , however, to think that there must have been some family link for such roles to be assigned to him. Later William Stark agrees to act as cautioner and surety for Barbara. Barbara died in 1647, and was probably born about 1570-1575. It is distinctly possible that William was a cousin of Barbara, that their fathers were brothers. William may have been the oldest male relative Barbara had.

To sum up, Barbara very possibly belonged to the family of Stark of whom William Stark of Auchinstarry was a senior member because:

1 she was a contemporary of that family

2 she lived in the area where that family lived

3 there were few Starks in that area at that time

4 one of the family was named in her husband's will in her lifetime

5 the individual named was assigned a trusted role in regard to her children after the death of Barbara's husband. ^{2 5 6}

Barbara married John GARTSHORE of that Ilk, son of William GARTSHOIR of that Ilk and Elizabeth FORSYTH.¹ (John GARTSHORE of that Ilk was born about 1560 and died in March 1617 ².)

  Marriage Notes:

"Stark
Barbara
1 / 9 / 1673
relict of John Gartshore of that Ilk, parish of Lenzie
TD
Glasgow Commissary Court
CC9/7/39"

from Wills and Testaments




"At Gartschoir the xxj day of merche jm vjc and sevintein yeiris. The quhilk day the said Joun nominats makes and confirms Williame Stark of Auchinstarie, Robert Burne in Schirva, Barbara Stark his spous his confirmit executoris. And the said Barbaria onlie and undersall intromitrix with his guids and geir. And nominates constitutes appoints and ordanes the said Barbara his spous tutrix testimentair during hir wedowheid to William, Robert, Patrick, Thomas and James Gartschoiris his lawfull sones." [....]

"The said Barbara Stark being putt In Judgement acceptis as said is, maid fayt as use is, and hes fund caution as law will as ane act meid thereupoun adknowledges with quhilk yeir the aucht day of December 1618.

The said quhilk day In presens of the commissioners of Glasgow compeirit personallie William Stark of Auchinstaris and of his awin consent actit him selfe his airis and executors cautioner and souertie for Barbara Stark relict and executorix onlie constitue to umquhile Johnne Gartschoir of that Ilk hir spous that the guids and geir contenit in his confermit testament salbe furthcumand to all pairteis haveand enterest as law will.

And the said Barbara Stark accepit hir selfe hir airs and executors to releif and skaithless keip hir said cautioner and his foirsaidis of the premisis of all danger that Ander ather aryse upon ethir of thame and aceptis."

from Will of John Gartshore of that Ilk (1618) ^{1 2}