Dulcina Elizabeth Starks

Dulcina Town Starks was born in Sandgate, Bennington Co., Vermont. Her name is commonly misspelled in records -- variations include Dulcina/Delcina/Delcena, Town/Tonn, and Stark/Starks. Town instead of Tonn seems certain; Dulcina and Starks seem to be the most common.

She was born in 1853, 1854, or 1855 according to Census records. On her daughter Grace's birth certificate, she gave her birthplace as Sandgate and her residence as Rupert.

1870 Census - Pawlet, Rutland Co.

Dulcina has two entries on the same July 25, 1870 Census log of Pawlet, Bennington Co., Vermont. She is first listed, at age 16y7m, as the Dulcina Town living with her parents and siblings: William Town (42, farmer/laborer), Julian (38), Florence (18), Alphonse (12), William (10), Sally (7; "Deaf + Dumb"), and Sorain (F, 4).

In the very next family grouping, she is listed again as 16y7m, but as Dulcina Starks and living with Edwin Starks (farmer/laborer), age 21. In both cases, she was living at the same street address, so it appears likely that she married Edward that year and the couple was living with her parents. With her parents' listing, she is also listed as having attended school within that year.

1880 Census - Rupert, Bennington Co.

In the 1880 Census, she was listed as being 25 years old and living in Rupert, Bennington Co. with her husband, Edward (then 31), and four children: Hattie (9), Earl (5), Earnest (3), and Gracie (6m). Her occupation was "Keeping House" and her ethnicity was "American."

1900 Census - Pawlet, Rutland Co.

In the 1900 Census, she was residing again in Pawlet, Rutland Co. She gave her birthdate as January 1853 and her father's birthplace as Massachusetts. They had been married for 30 years and had had 8 children by then, 7 still living. She and Edward were living with their children Benjamin and Bessie.

1910 Census - Jamaica, Windham Co.

She was the Delcena Stark (57) living in Jamaica, Windham Co. in 1910 with her husband, Edward Stark (62), and granddaughters Edna E. Bowen (11) and Mary S. Howe (2).

In the 1920 Census, Edward was listed as a widower and living in Benjamin's household.

Family Recollections

Per the memory of Dulcina's great-granddaughter Vera, Dulcina and Edward raised their granddaughter Edna Bourn in Jamaica after Edna's mother, Grace Stark Bourn, died early. This is verified by the personal journal of Grace's husband, John W. Bourn; that journal is in the possession of descendant Ashley Odell.

All information culled from Census records and Vermont Vital Records.