I've been researching my roots and found I descend from the Stark family (1600s-1700s) in Kilsyth. I wonder if anyone has any information on these guys? I want to get the family tree to extend farther back. Specifically I descend from a woman named Jean Stark (born 23 June 1711) who married James Strathearn in Kilsyth 9 June 1734. Jean herself was "begotten in fornication" as her parish birth record shows to William Stark and Janet Baird who don't seem to have married afterwards at all. She was "presented by John Graham" and witnesses included John Young and John ?. There are three possible William Starks who could fit the bill as her dad, one born in early 1660s (but would be a bit old!), another born c. 1676, and one born c. 1687 in Kilsyth. Working with the last one, he is the son of an Alexander Stark on "Banton" - a village nearby - whose wife is unknown. Alexander was born c. 1662. It is possible he also had a child named Agnes Stark (born c.1683) "in fornication" with a woman named Giles Adam, but there is no way of knowing if it is the same man. However records only show himself and his own father, also named Alexander Stark. I have no information of this elder Alexander, also of Banton, who would have likely been born c.1620s-1640s. What I do know however is that he had a son named James born c. 1660. I am also aware that there was a James Stark, described as "Baillie" or "Chamberlain" to the Viscount of Kilsyth, witnessing to the Baptism of Sarah Stark daughter of Alexander Stark of Banton in 1714. This is odd with the date, and could be a third generation Alexander. Anyhow, further research showed that James Stark began running the estate entirely that had been owned by the Viscount - when he fled the country. James went bankrupt within two years and thereafter worked in the York Buildings Company. I'm thinking he may be a son or grandson of James Stark son of Alexander Stark I of Banton? It is very difficult to piece this together and I've ran dry of sources. I could be wrong with the William Stark I chose to go with and it's all educated guessing with these records.