Thomas Starr (1813–1890) was a

Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

in the American West, who was declared an outlaw by his tribe in an internal conflict over treaties with the United States government. He was also involved in running whiskey into Indian Territory and rustling stock. Starr was the grandfather of

Henry Starr Henry Starr (1873–1921) was an American criminal of the wild west and an American actor of the silent film era. Biography Starr’s parents were Mary Scott Starr and George Starr. Distantly related to Sam Starr, husband of Belle Starr, he was ...

and father in-law to

Belle Starr Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr (February 5, 1848 – February 3, 1889), better known as Belle Starr, was an American outlaw who gained national notoriety after her violent death. She associated with the James–Younger Gang and other outlaws ...

, through her marriage to Sam Starr. Starr's father was James Starr, a Cherokee leader and a signer of the

Treaty of New Echota The Treaty of New Echota was a treaty signed on December 29, 1835, in New Echota, Georgia, by officials of the United States government and representatives of a minority Cherokee political faction, the Treaty Party. The treaty established terms ...

in December 1835. This treaty had a large impact on the unity and well being of the Cherokee Nation, and many tribal members disagreed with its signing. James Starr was targeted for assassination by Cherokee opposing the treaty, followers of the anti-Removal National Party led by John Ross, and on more than one occasion narrowly escaped death. A violent series of confrontations eventually led to a Cherokee civil war. Treaty supporters, including the Starr family, James Starr and his six sons, opposed the Ross faction. In retaliation for the attempts on his father's life, Tom Starr became a guerrilla leader in civil war activities. He was accused of attacking and murdering Ross supporter and trader, Benjamin Vore, and his family, at their home near Fort Gibson in 1843. In November 1845, James Starr and his son Buck were attacked at their home by thirty-two armed men and both were killed. Tom Starr witnessed the event but escaped and vowed to avenge the life of his father. The Ross faction of the Cherokee Nation placed a price on Starr's head, and declared him and his surviving brothers outlaw. At least 34 politically related murders were committed among the Cherokee in 1845 and 1846. The internal Cherokee conflict ended with a formal truce in 1846. The resulting peace treaty between the two factions included a special clause pardoning citizens of the Cherokee Nation for offenses and crimes, and this pardon was extended to Tom Starr. Starr settled land in the southern portion of the Canadian District of the Cherokee Nation, near present-day Briartown,

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

. The Starr brothers and their extended family used the base for a series of crimes, including arson and the theft of cattle, horses and supplies. Starr was alleged to have killed 100 men throughout his lifetime, although the figure is probably exaggerated. Starr also served in

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

forces during the American Civil War as a scout for General

Stand Watie Brigadier-General Stand Watie ( chr, ᏕᎦᏔᎦ, translit=Degataga, lit=Stand firm; December 12, 1806September 9, 1871), also known as Standhope Uwatie, Tawkertawker, and Isaac S. Watie, was a Cherokee politician who served as the second princ ...

and was acquainted with William Clark Quantrill.

References

* Conley, Robert J., ''Cherokee Thoughts Honest and Uncensored'', Chapter: "Cherokee Outlaws", University of Oklahoma Press, October 31, 2008. /.

External links

Biographical Sketch
{{DEFAULTSORT:Starr, Tom Cherokee Confederates Cherokee Nation people (1794–1907) Outlaws of the American Old West 1813 births 1890 deaths Gunslingers of the American Old West

See also

References

External links