The Dower of Motlina Starnes

Motlina, or Magdalena Starnes, was the widow of Frederick Starnes, "Junior" as some have him pegged, but he also had cousins named Frederick Starnes, predecessors named Frederick Starnes and a son and grandson and great-grandsons named Frederick Starnes.  To designate the correct Frederick Starnes, we have to insinuate his birth and death dates, his location, and also his wife.

This particular Frederick Starnes was born probably in Mecklenburg County, possibly in the section that became Cabarrus, in about 1772. He was the son of Captain John Starnes, a Revolutionary War soldier, who is honored with a monument at St. John's Lutheran Church, near Mount Pleasant, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. St. John's has a long and very German history.

History of St. John's Church


Frederick Starnes married Madeline "Motlina" Kline or Cline in Cabarrus County on July 3, 1794.

Name:	Frederick Starnes
Gender:	Male
Spouse:	Madlene Kline
Spouse Gender:	Female
Bond Date:	3 Jul 1794
Bond #:	000010208
Level Info:	North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum:	004551
County:	Cabarrus
Record #:	02 187
Bondsman:	Joseph X Starns; Herman Myer Ger
Witness:	John Simianer

The below is their actual marriage bond.




Motlina appears in only one census, the 1850 census, as this is the first one to name women, children and those other than Heads of Household. It was also her and her husband's last census, due to their advanced age.

Name:	Frederick Starnes
Age:	75
Birth Year:	abt 1775
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1850:	Union, North Carolina
Gender:	Male
Family Number:	1416
Household Members:	Name Age Frederick Starnes 75 Matlina Starnes 74

She was the daughter of  Michael Cline and Anna Catherine Schuffert Cline. Michael Cline was born in May, 1725 in Alace, Germany. His wife, Anna Catherine was from Lorraine, Germany. They were married on Beiber Creek, Rockland Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1750. The couple made their way to the ColdWater area of Cabarrus County, North Carolina and are buried at Coldwater Lutheran Church. 

Frederick Starnes and Motlina Cline Starnes had 10 to 12 children. This is still being researched. They raised their family in Union County, North Carolina, which was part of Mecklenburg unitl 1842, and a Starnes enclave.




There are no known portraits of Frederick Starnes, but the above is a photo of John Starnes, brother of Frederick.

Frederick's predated his wife's by three years, she passing in 1855. The session of court determining her dower, or share of her husbands estate, meant  to maintain her for a short period of time, was held in Union County, North Carolina, during the January term of 1852.

"On the petition of Motlina Starnes, widow of Fred Starnes, dec'd.....ordered by the court...John Stewart, esq. , Alexander M. Nisbet, Eli O. Richardson, and James E. Irby, Freeholders, ...lay off and alot to the said widow and her family."

October Term 1852
"We.....proceded to view the estate of Frederick Starnes...to Motlena Stares, widow + relict..."12 bushes of corn, 1 pr ve $900 , 1 Barrel flower or $600,  five dollars worth of sugar and coffee, one bushel salt,  $5 for molasses and 'sprang', choice cow and calf, 140 lb pork, one bed and furniture, one wheel and one pair of cards,  as her absolute property, all of which is respectfully submitted, under our hands and seals, this 16 September, 1852.

John Stewart, JP
A M Nesbet
J E Irby
Eli D Richardson


Third Page:

State of North Carolina, Union County

The petition of Motlena (alias Mary) Starnes, widow and relict of Frederich Starnes, decd. ...that about the First of year 1851, Frederick Starnes departed this life intestate, leaving your petitioner his widow unprovided for...S H Walkup, attny for petitioner...

Motlina would pass in 1855 and be buried with her husband at the Starnes family cemetery in Union County, NC.

Find-a-Grave Link for Frederick Starnes