John Stark, Provost of Glasgow

JOHN STARK

Merchant in the Burgh of Glasgow; Burgess and Guild Brother of the Burgh of Glasgow; Member of the Town Council of the Burgh of Glasgow; Baillie of Gorbals; Dean of Guild of the Burgh of Glasgow; Provost of the Burgh of Glasgow

John Stark, here treated, is the son of Malcolm Stark, Merchant in Glasgow and his wife Marion Moresoun He was born before 29 October 1685, the date upon which his baptism was registered at Glasgow in Lanarkshire, Scotland. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Baptisms, reference OPR.644/1/6]

Death

John Stark, here treated, died on 19 December 1736. [NRS: CC9/7/55] Merchants House: 583

Marriage

STARK
JOHN
AGNES CRAIG/
10/02/1707
644 / 1
240 / 128
GLASGOW

Children

1. William Stark, primus
2. Malcolm Stark
3. John Stark, primus
4. Adam Stark
5. Agnes Stark
6. Marion Stark
7. Andrew Stark
8. William Stark, secundus
9. Margaret Stark
10. Richard Stark
11. Jane Stark
12. Mary Stark
13. William Stark, tertius
14. James Stark
15. John Stark, secundus
16. Christian Stark

His Father's Testament Dative and Inventory

Malcolm Stark died intestae in January 1689. His testament dative and the inventory of his moveable estate was given up on 9 November 1689, by John Craig, John Bryssone, younger, Mungo Cochrane, and William Baxter, all merchants in Glasgow. and John Stark "merchand betwixt Scotland and England tutors and upgivers for and in name and behalfe of John Stark, eldest lawfull son to the defunct in respect of his puppillaritie and less age." Marion Moresoun, Malcolm Stark's widow, is not mentioned by name in this deed, but she was evidently still alive, because financial provision was made for her. Confirmation was granted to the tutors and upgivers on the 6 December 1689. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of Malcolm Stark, Merchant, Burgess of Glasgow, reference CC9/7/48]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament
4. Image of Testament

His Testament Dative and Inventory

Confirmation was granted on 26 January 1737. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of John Stark, Merchant, Provost of Glasgow, reference CC9/7/55]

His First Additional Testament Dative and Inventory

Confirmation was granted on 1 February 1738. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, Eik to the Testament Dative and Inventory of John Stark, Merchant, Provost of Glasgow, reference CC9/7/55]

His Second Additional Testament Dative and Inventory

Confirmation was granted on 9 February 1747. National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, Eik to the Testament Dative and Inventory of John Stark, Merchant, Provost of Glasgow, reference CC9/7/59]

Evidence from the Burgess Records of Glasgow

                   1

6 June 1678: Stark. Malcolm, merchant, B. and G.B., as mar. Marion, l. dau. to dec. James Moresoun, litster, B. and G.B. Glasgow Burgesses: 211

                   2

9 May 1706: Stark, John, merchant, B. and G.B., as only l. son to dec. Malcolm S., merchant, IS. and G.B. Glasgow Burgesses: 267

Evidence from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow

                   1

22 September 1718: Glasgow Records 1708-38: 31

                   2

30 September 1718: Ibidem: 34

                   3

8 October 1718: Ibidem: 38

                   4

27 October 1718: Ibidem: 48

                   5

12 October 1720: John Stark, bailie of Gorbals Ibidem: 100

                   6

9 October 1723: John Stark, dean of Guild Ibidem: 100

                   7

9 October 1723: John Stark, dean of Guild Ibidem: 175

                   8

14 October 1724: John Stark, dean of Guild Ibidem: 201

                   9

5 October 1725: John Stark, provost Ibidem: 243

                  10

25 March 1726: Ibidem 258

                   11

1 August 1728: Ibidem 303

                   12

1737-38: Ibidem: 509

                   13

1737-38: Ibidem: 518

                   14

1725-27: Ibidem: 587

                  15

17 June 1740: Glasgow Records 1739-59: 62

                  16

3 March 1741: Ibidem: 83

Evidence from the Records of the Merchants House of Glasgow

                   1

18 April 1718: Agreement between the MERCHANTS in Glasgow and FOREIGN TRADERS concerned in Shipping, and Obligation by them, to retain two pence in the Pound, Sterling, off the wages of all Masters and Seamen employed by them, for relief of poor decayed mariners, dated 18th April, 1718. . . . . . Signed by John Stark and others. Merchants House: 602-4

                   2

9 October 1723: The dean of Gild and his Councill of the merchant rank conveened . . . . . Then the Leits as given in were read over and voted, and after a scrutiny made, The persons to be presented to the Toun Councill stood thus, viz. : John Luke and Hugh Roger for two of them ; And as to the third person, the votes ran upon William Anderson, seventeen in number, and upon John Stark, sixteen, Both of the uncontraverted members ; and Provost Aird, Peter Murdoch, and Andrew Ramsay, late Baillies, Craved to be marked as voters for John Stark, and protested that their three votes, added to the other sixteen for John Stark, made to him a majority, and that he, and not William Anderson, be returned to the Toun Councill. Merchants House: 159

                   3

8 August 1729: The sd day the dean of Gild represented that the Laird of Northbar now desired to make sale of the fferrie of Inchinnan and Lands belonging thereto, and if the Merchtts house judged it convenient for the house to make a purchase yrof, they might appoynt a Committee to Commune with him thereupon ; Qch being heard, they aggree that the house make a purchase of the scl fferrie, providing Northbar be reasonable in his demands, and appoynt the Dean of Gild, with the Magistrats, John Stark, late Provost, Wm Craig, Lawrence Drummond, Thomas Clark, Wm Anderson, John Coultar, and Hugh Rodger, to meet with Northbar thereupon, and see what the lowest is he will sell the same at, and to report. Merchants House 160-1

                   4

1736: John Stark, late Provost of Glasgow, left to the Poor of this House 120 lib., Scots. Died y" 19 of december, 1736, in ye 52 year of his age . . . . . £10.00.00. Merchants House: 583

Printed Evidence

1. The Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow, 1573-1750. Edited by James R. Anderson (Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1925), 571 pp. including indices
2. Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow, A.D. 1718-38 with Charters and other Documents, A.D. 1708-38. Edited by Robert Renwick, Depute Town-Clerk (Glasgow, MDCCCCIX), 621 pp. including index
3. Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow, with Charters and other Documents. Vol. VI. A.D. 1739-59. Edited by Robert Renwick, Depute Town-Clerk (Glasgow, MCMXI) 635 pp. including index
4. View of the Merchants House of Glasgow; containing historical notices of its origin, constitution, and property, and of the charitable foundations which it administers. Presented to the House by Archibald Orr Ewing. (Neil & Bain, Glasgow, 1866), 672 pp. including indices