Rev

This seventh and last known son of Benjamin and Charlotte was born about 1820 in Wilkes County, Georgia. Both David and Derico are offered as the middle name by descendant lines. The title Reverend appears to be honorary for he appears in official Methodist records as Deacon (1851) and Elder (1856.) [Lawrence, p. 526] On 18 April 1850 William D. Starr purchased 101 ¼ acres from his father Benjamin. He paid $350 for the tract located in Henry County and identified as part of Lot #11 in the Third District. His brother-in-law Hope Hull Ogletree owned the other half part. [Turner citing Henry Deed Bk M p. 236] Then in November William purchased 31 ½ acres from nearby Lot #10 for $153.50. [Ibid]

William and Elizabeth R. "Betsy" Elder were married in Henry County 31 December 1837. She was the younger sister of his older brother’s wife. Most of our knowledge of Elizabeth comes from the obituary published in the 15 August 1854 issue of The Southern Christian Advocate:

Mrs. Elizabeth P., consort of Rev. W. D. Starr, and daughter of Joshua and Ann Elder, was born August 24, 1822, joined the M. E. Church almost in childhood, was happily converted in her fifteenth year, under the labors of Rev. W. D. Matthews,
and in her sixteenth year was married to our now bereaved brother Starr. She led a quiet, unobtrusive, Christian life, and was for years much attached to class-meetings, and a devoted Sabbath school teacher. About the middle of July she was taken sick, and suffered for two weeks without murmur or complaint, expressing constant resignation to the divine will, and on the first day of August, calmly and peacefully fell asleep in Jesus. She was followed in a few days by a babe ten or twelve days old. She left an affectionate husband, six children and many relations to mourn her loss; but they look forward to a blessed reunion in heaven. J. C. Simmons. [Holcomb p. 48 citing Vol. 18 No. 17]

William is reported to have married his second wife, Lucinda Fields or Foster, 18 January 1855. Children, if any, from this marriage are not identified. He died before 1 December 1860, the date an appraisal of his estate was taken. [Spalding Will Book p. 213]

The following information on the children of William and Betsey is from Lee Elder unless otherwise indicated. All were born in the Fayette and Henry County area:

1. David Elder, named for his maternal great-grandfather, was born about 1839 and died 1892 in Clayton County. He first married Mattie Belts. His second wife was Susannah F. Chambers, who he married 14 July 1867.

2. Charlotte Ann Y. was born in 1840 or 1842. [1860 census.] (The obituatary errs on her birth year.) She married Warren Newsome Dixon 6 January 1863 in Clayton County. Her obituary, published in the 9 April 1873 issue of The Southern Christian Advocate, reads: "Sister Charlotte Ann Dixon, daughter of Rev. Wm D. and Elizabeth R. Starr and wife of W. N. Dixon was born in Spalding County Ga May 15^th 1831 and died in Clayton county, Ga December 23d, 1872. Joseph P. Smith" [Holcombe]

3. Mary Jane "Janie" born 20 June 1843 died 22 August 1906 Douglas County, Georgia. She married 1^st Thomas Goodwin Hunt 18 January 1866 and 2^nd10 March 1896 in Douglas County Benjamin Brooks Harper.

4. Permelia Frances "Fanny" born 1846 married George Chatfield.

5. Benjamin Milton born about 1849 married 1^st Georgia A. McKown 12 February 1873 and 2^nd Lou A. Gilbert 18 January 1885.

6. Martha Elizabeth "Mattie" born 21 July 1853 died 20 April 1921 in Fayette Co. She married Leonard Duke Beall 26 November 1868.

7. Infant born mid-July 1854 died early August 1854.

The Armchair Researcher. vol. 1, No. 3, September 1980, pages 166-171 Tombstone Inscriptions at County Line Methodist Church.

Holcomb, Brent H. compiler. Marriage and Death Notices from the Southern Christian Advocate;

Turner, Freda Reid abstractor. Henry County, Georgia Land Records 1839-1851 Deed Books J, K, L, M vol. III. Wolfe Assoc, Roswell, GA 1993.