Valley Girl Views: Starretts Mill, Milton Pa

Starrets Mill on Muddy Run, Milton Pa

Muddy Run Excavation Finds

Show Evidence Of Second Nearby Mill

The Daily Item, 1965

"John Russell's, excavation| finds at Run, Watsontown and Milton along Route 405, have definitely been established as two separate mills.

John H. Carter, 750 Market Street, Trevorton, and president Northumberland County Historical Society, said that the one mill is definitely the Boone's Mill, while the other where extensive finds been made could be the Starrets Mill.

"But it is definitely not Fort Rice. Fort Rice," he explained, "is still standing. Fort Rice and Fort Montgomery, which it is presently known as, are one and the e same. Fort i Montgomery is in the vicinity of Paradise Church, southwest of - Turbotville."

The remains of burned and water aged stumps found near the highway. is considered the Starrets Mill and the remains found nearest the river is definitely Boone's Mill. In fact, Mr. Carter pointed out that there seems to be evidence to the left of the mill what used to be Boone's house.

There have been many interesting developments, as a result of these finds by Mr. Russell. It is determined that the river likely had a deeper bed than it has now.. This would explain for the remains being covered.

Mr. Carter said: "It is remarkable that the mills were covered and no one knew about it."

An explanation to the mills being covered is that after both were burned, they were neglected over the years and being near the creek flood debris gradually covered the area.

Miss Mary Belle Lontz of Broadway, Milton, who has been excavating in the area for Indian arrow heads and who has been interested in many historic finds, made a search of records in regards to the area reporting these interesting points:

Checking Deed K 303, Northumberland County Courthouse records revealed that: "Cornelius Atkinson sued widow Jane Boone who had a certain tract of land or parcel of land opposite the mouth of Muddy Run, adjoining the lands of Dr. Allison and others near the west branch of the Susquehanna, containing 300 acres. It sold at the Sheriff's Sale because of the debt and purchased by Evan Rice Evans in 1795."

Miss Lontz said the Northumberland County quarter docket i.. the prothonotary's office, 1783-1793, on page 16, lists Boone's Mills. From the same docket on page 40, lists Henry Starret's Mills, 1783-1793.

She further points out that on the Reading Howell map of 1792 is found Starret's Mill, located near the mouth of Muddy Run, later known as Brauns Mill. This map is found in the Pennsylvania Archives books, she said.

The proprietary, supply and state tax lists for Turbot Township list Starret's Mill in 1785, 1786 and 1787. From historical books in the Northumberland County Historical Society, she found: "Boone -Starret's - Braun's Mill - HawkBoone the first mill in the township. It stood on Muddy Run and built prior to the year 1779 when the proprietor lost his life in an attempt to relieve Fort Freeland with a company of rangers under his command.

"This property was destroyed. Staret's Mill was located on Muddy Run in 1786 on the same location as Boone's Mill. Later it became Braun's Mill," she continued.

Miss Lontz then came up with the following information from Deed Book AA, page 326 William' Boyd and Abraham Straub which read: "Article of agreement, March 9, 1838, between William T. Boyd of Turbot Township, Northumberland County, Pa., yeoman, and Abraham Straub, Jr., of the borough of Milton, in consideration of the condition of agreement, half of a certain piece of land situated on Muddy Run the greater part of which is covered water by reason Boyd's Mill dam bounded on the west by the Pennsylvania Canal, on the north by lands of William Boyd, the east by said Boyd and lands of the heirs of William Marr dec'd. and on the south by said Boyd and land of Phineas and David Marr, including the saw mill and all the ground occupied by the log yard, and a dwelling house near said canal containing 18½ acres strict measure.

"Said Straub agrees to move his grist mill now located on an island opposite the borough of Milton and place it with all fixtures, upon the above described ground- and put same into complete operation in an substantial and mechanical manner, millhouse to be placed on a stone foundation, weather boards to be white washed, all of which is to be completed at or before Sept. 13th next and when foregoing agreements are in effect, the whole of the said premises are to be equally and mutually held between them...the said Straub is permitted to get foundation stone on Boyd's other land. Straub is to have possession of the house on the : said premises at or upon April 1, next and of the saw mill and as soon as Boyd has cut into lumber the present stock of logs on hand, of the ground to be occupied with the aforesaid grist mill."

The findings by Russell have been subject to a great discussion in recent weeks, along with many curious visitors. The finds are historic and continue to create the greatest amount of interest."

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Mention in the History Of Columbia County:

"Indians made an incursion in July 1779 and on the 3d killed three men and took two prisoners at Lycoming, on the 8th burned Widow Smith's mill, on the 17th burned Starret's mill, and all principal houses in Muncy Township, on the 20th killed three men ad Freeland's Fort and took two prisoners."

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John Linn, in his oration at the unveiling of the Brady Monument in Muncy in 1879, mentioned Starrets, in what appears to be a quote from the above history.