Concerning Kinnie Starr's Claim of Mohawk/Indigenous heritage

Born Alida Kinnie Starr, Starr was born and raised in Calgary, where she attended Western Canada High School. Her ancestry is French, German, Irish and she has claimed Indigenous – specifically Mohawk. Many attempts to contact Kinnie Starr about her claims of being Mohawk went unanswered. Various Mohawk individuals have been asking her for years who are her people.

This document provides clarity to the ancestry of recording artist Alida Kinnie Starr. Ms. Starr has made longstanding claims to Mohawk and/or Indigenous [to North America] heritage. This report is an overview of publicly available records that provide evidence that Ms. Starr’s ancestry is predominately German, Dutch & British, United

Empire Loyalist, with no evidence of any Mohawk or Indigenous ancestry. All documentation was researched and cited in this commentary are publicly available on the internet.

Ms. Starr’s Paternal Ancestry – Father: Michael Starr (deceased). Michael’s maternal grandparents are Clara Lindeman (b.1875 Columbus OH, USA d.1950 buried in Hamilton ON) and Henry Frost (b.1874 Cleveland OH, USA d.1919 buried in Hamilton ON)

Michael’s paternal grandparents are James Starr (1865 Grimsby, ON d. 1948 Toronto) and Louise Nelles (1868 Cobourg ON. d. 1950 Toronto). Clara Lindeman (1875-1950) [Kinnie’s great-grandmother] is half-Scottish and half-German. Her parents (Gottlieb Lindeman & Agnes McDonald) report to the 1880 US Federal census that their own parents were born in their respective Germany & Scotland homelands. Clara Lindeman has no Mohawk heritage.(1)

Henry Louis Frost (1874-1919) [Kinnie’s great-grandfather] born in Ohio in 1874 & identified on the 1901 Canada Federal Census for Welland ON as “colour white” and “racial/tribal origin English” (2). His father Madison Frost reports to the 1880 US Federal Census that his own parents were born in Maryland & England and identified as “color: white”. Henry’s mother Arminta Shaw reports her parents as born in Maryland identified as “race: white”. Henry Frost has no Mohawk heritage. James Starr (1865-1948 ) [Kinnie’s great-grandfather] is born in Grimsby ON and died in Toronto ON. James’ mother Susannah Hawkins (1830-1882) was born in England.(4) James’ father Joseph Herbert Starr (1830-1908) was born in Halifax Nova Scotia and identifies as “Origin: Welsh”. (5) James Starr has no Mohawk heritage.

Louise Nelles (1868-1950) [Kinnie’s great-grandmother] is born in Cobourg ON and died in Toronto ON. Louise’s mother Mary Bakewell Wood as born in Saint Johns New Brunswick to English immigrant the Reverend Enoch Irving Wood, and Caroline Matilda Merritt (6). The Wesleyan Methodist Reverend Enoch Wood orchestrated the Wesleyan Methodist Church’s plans to build the Indian Industrial School at Muncy Ontario in 1848, which ultimately became the Mount Elgin Indian Residential School that operated 1851-1946. Caroline was born in New Brunswick in 1810 to Mary & David Merritt, who were born in New York & New Jersey respectively in the 1760s. Mary & David married in Saint Johns NB on 12 Nov 1788. Mary & David Merritt were among thousands of Loyalists born in the British colonies of New York & New Jersey who fled to Maritime Canada because of the American Revolution where they ultimately met, married, and raised a family. Louise’s father is notable Methodist minister and educator Reverend Doctor Samuel Sobieski Nelles (8), born 1823 in Mount Pleasant ON and died 1887 in Cobourg ON. Dr. Nelles’ own obituary published in the Acton Free Press on 20 Oct 1887, notes of his ancestry: “son of William and Mary Hardy Nelles, and was born at Mount Pleasant, near Brantford on Oct 17, 1823. His paternal ancestors were originally from Germany, and were among the early settlers in the Mohawk Valley, New York….Dr. Nelles died on the anniversary of his 64th birthday.”

The Mohawk Valley connection of Samuel Sobieski Nelles. Samuel’s mother Mary Hardy is half-German & half-Irish. She was born 1797 in Mount Pleasant ON, to Catherine Brackbill/Brachbul (a New Jersey born daughter of German settlers) and Alexander Hardy (son of northern Irish immigrants Thomas & Elizabeth Hardy) (10). Mary Hardy can be best described as the child of United Empire Loyalists who settled along the Grand River at Mount Pleasant Ontario after the American Revolution. Mary Hardy has no Mohawk heritage.

Samuel’s father Wilhelm (William) Nelles is 100% German in heritage. Wilhelm was born 5 Oct1788 on the German Flatts in what is now called Montgomery County in the Mohawk Valley

region of New York state; the ancestral territory of the Mohawk Nation. Wilhelm’s mother is the Stone Arabia, New York-born Elizabeth Wagner. Her ancestry is Father- Colonel Johan Peter Wagner (1722-1813), Paternal Grandfather- Johan Philipp Peter Wagner , b. 04 OCT 1687 Heidelberg, Germany, Paternal Grandmother- Maria Margaretha Loucks, b. 1686 Heidelberg, Germany. Mother- Barbara Elizabeth Dockstader (1724-1812) Maternal Grandfather- George Dockstader b.abt.1689 Hesse, Germany. Maternal Grandfather- Anna Elizabeth Dockstader b.abt.1683 Hesse, Germany

There is no evidence that Alida Kinnie Starr has any Mohawk/Indigenous ancestry on her paternal side. Given the widely available documentation of the genealogy of United Empire Loyalists, a clear line can be established that characterizes her paternal “Mohawk Valley, New York ancestry” as Palatine German settlers in pre-Revolution New York who remained loyal to the British crown during the American Revolution, who then removed to Brant & Norfolk counties in Upper Canada (Ontario). It’s likely that Ms. Starr was raised on family legends of Mohawk ancestry as her UEL ancestors followed the same geographic path as the Mohawks who removed from the Mohawk valley and ultimately settled along the Grand River post-American Revolution. The Nelles’ family was the third family to settle the area of Mount Pleasant, ON (after the Ellis & Sturgis families) giving Samuel Nelles’ grandfather Andreas (Andrew) Nelles credit as one of the founders of the town. While the family lived as neighbors with Mohawks in both New York state and Ontario, they never married into, had children with, or appear to have family ties or relations with any Six Nations, Mohawk or Indigenous peoples. Further readings can be found in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography on Ms. Starr’s 2x great-grandfather the Reverend Doctor Samuel Sobieski Nelles and her 3x great-grandfather Reverend Enoch Wood as their respective biographies and some of their genealogies are included.

Regarding Ms. Starr’s Maternal Ancestry Mother: Donna Starr. Donna’s paternal grandparents Margaret Ford b. Nov 1879 in Bristol, England, and Frederick Inch b.19 Feb 1881 in Olveston, Gloucestershire, England. Donna’s maternal grandparents are Grace Violet Shaw b. July 1894 in Nottingham England and Allen Potruff b. July 1880 in Burford, Brant County, Ontario.

Allen Potruff is Ms. Starr’s only maternal great-grandparent not born in England. His parents are Charity Ryder & Peter Potruff. Allen’s mother is Charity Ryder b.20 Nov 1835 in USA, d. 26 May 1908 Burford ON.(17) Her parents are Rebecca Spencer & Roland Ryder. Rebecca Spencer (1793-1889) is born in Duchess County, New York. Rebecca’s parents are the Ezra Spencer & Geertrud Mourits (Gertrude Morris). Rebecca was baptized on 17 Mar 1793 at the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack, New York. Ezra Spencer was born 1772 in Columbia, New York. His father, the Reverend Asa Spencer born 1744 was recorded by Asa’s grandson Reuben D. Spencer (Rebecca’s first cousin) to be descended from early Scottish settlers to the New York colony. (20) Reuben makes no reference to Mohawk or North American Indigenous heritage for the Reverend.

Gertrude Morris’ mother Rebecca Bloemendal (1743-1836) is of entirely Dutch heritage.

Rebecca’s parents Maas Bloemandal & Rebekka Ostrander’s families settled in the towns of Ulster & Albany NY along the Hudson River as early as the 1660s before tracing back to the Gelderland (eastern-central) region of the Netherlands. Rebecca Bloemendal’s paternal grandmother is Rebecca Fonda (21), a member of the Fonda family whose relative Douw Fonda is the namesake of the modern town of Fonda NY in the Mohawk Valley. Douw Fonda (1700-1780) was a Dutch trader killed by Mohawk warriors taking part in a raiding campaign of Patriot settlements in the Mohawk Valley during the American Revolution. (22) There is no family history of any Mohawk heritage in Rebecca Bloemendal’s ancestry.

Gertrude Morris’ father is Jan Mouritz/John Morris (1741-1820).(23) Their surname “Morris”

is anglicized from earlier Dutch Maares/Mouritz spellings. Jan’s heritage is entirely Dutch settler of the Ulster & Albany settlements as early as the 1660s with the exception of his paternal

grandmother Mary Hall, the Ulster NY-born daughter of George Hall of Worcestershire England and Elizabeth Bickerstaff of Lancastershire England. There is no family history Mohawk heritage in Jan Mourits’ ancestry. Rowland Ryder, b.1796 in New York. Rowland is son of Gideon Ryder and Ruth Conger, both born in Delaware New York. Gideon Ryder’s parents are Jonathan Ryder (1733-1811) & Zilpha Kirby (1739-1810) both born in Darmouth, MA. All their grandparents are late 17 th-century residents of Bristol, MA with the exception of Jonathan’s paternal grandparents Benjamin Ryder (1684-1775) & Abigail Warren (1700-1766) who were

born at Plymouth Rock, MA.(26) Kinnie Starr’s 10th great-grandfather, Abigail’s father, is Richard Warren of Hertfordshire England, a passenger on the “Mayflower” that brought the Pilgrims from England under Captain Cristopher Jones to establish the English colony at Plymouth Rock, MA. Richard Warren was on the maiden voyage of the Mayflower in 1620; his wife Elizabeth Walker and children (including Ms. Starr’s 9th great-grandmother Abigail Warren) voyaged to Plymouth Rock later. There is no evidence of Mohawk heritage in Gideon Ryder’s ancestry.

Ruth Conger’s parents are Benjamin Conger & Millie Toomer. Benjamin Conger is born 1752 in Union County, New Jersey. He listed as a Free White Person on an 1810 US Federal Census for Duchess County, NY. Millie Toomer is born 1753 in Milan, Duchess County NY. Benjamin reports Millie as a Free White Person on the 1810 US Federal Census. There is no evidence of Mohawk heritage in Ruth Conger’s ancestry.

There is no evidence of Mohawk ancestry in Allen Potruff’s maternal line. Allen’s father is Peter Potruff b. 20 Aug 1837 Saltfleet Township, Wentworth Ontario. Peter Potruff’s parents are Allen Levi Pottruff (1814-1846) & Rebecca Albert (b.1821-1852). Allen Levi’s mother is Jane Stewart, b.1799 in Ireland. Allen Levi’s father is Peter Potruff, b.1789 in Somerset, Pennsylvania. to Christine Grimm, b. 1761 Lancaster, Pennsylvania and John/Jonathan Potruff, b.1773 in Lancaster Pennsylvania. Christine’s father is Johan Grimm, b. 22 Jan 1750 Weisenberg, Pennsylvania USA to Johannes Grimm & Maria Frey, both of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.

Christine’s mother is Anna Catherine Margaret Grunewald (Greenawalt) b.22 Jan 1753 to Jacob Grunewald of Zürich Switzerland and Maria Filhour of Baden-Wuettemberg,

Germany. John/Jonathan’s mother is Ann Maria Margaretha Kurr, b. 1748 in Berks County, Pennsylvania to Anna Elizabeth Schumann b.abt. 1710 in Württemberg, Germany & Johan Hans Thomas Kurr b.1716 in Baden- Württemberg, Germany. They arrived in America in 1736 (36).

2.1.2.4. John/Jonathan’s father is George Peter Batdorf. Note the “Potruff” family surname reverts to earlier spellings in this period, including Batdorf, Batdorff, Bottorff, Batorff. George

Peter is born 1746 to Elizabeth Anna Zeller & Johan Adam Batdorf. Adam dies young, leaving Elizabeth Anna to remarry (second husband Leon Schwartz) and petition the courts to appoint a

guardian for her children by Adam including George Peter and their inheritance.

Elizabeth Anna Zeller was born c.1725 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, to Johan Heinrich

Zeller (of Hessian heritage & Huguenot faith, born in Paris, France) & Anne Marie Von Bruegel born in the Netherlands.

Johan Adam Batdorf was born abt.1720 in Schoharie, New York to Johannes Martin Batdorf of Baden-Württemberg, Germany and Maria Elisabetha Walborn of Bavaria, Germany.

Rebecca Albert (one of Kinnie Starr’s thirty-two 3rd great-grandparents) has an ancestry that is difficult to trace.

Her birth, childhood, marriages, and death all occur by 1852. The first Canadian census occurs in 1851 but she does not appear on the census; she could have either died previous or was too ill to report and dies soon after. There also seems to be no church records currently available. With this being the case, we need to rely on secondary records to understand her heritage. What we can glean from confirmed records is the following:

Rebecca has three sons Peter (Ms. Starr’s 2x great-grandfather), John & George Potruff

Peter Potruff- reports to the Canada Federal Census for Burford Township in 1871,

1881 & 1891 & 1901: 1871 Peters reports “origin: German”, 1881 Peters reports “origin: English”, 1891- No race/origins on this census. Peter reports his parents’ as “born in Ontario”, 1901- Peter reports as “racial or tribal origin: Irish”, John Potruff - John immigrates to Shiawassee, Caledonia County, Michigan where he spends the remainder of his life. In 1900 United States Federal Census, John reports both his parents as Canada born and of “German descent”. John is also identified as racially “white” on his 2 Jan 1902 death certificate. George Potruff- reports to the Canada Federal Census for Brantford township, Brant South in 1871, 1881, 1891 & 1901: 1871- George reports as “origin English”, 1881- George reports “origin: German.” 1891- No race/origins on this census. George reports parents’ as “born in Ontario” 1901- George reports as “racial or tribal origin: German.” While we cannot currently conclude Rebecca Albert’s parentage, we do know that her children identified as a mix of German, Irish and English throughout their lives. There is no evidence that Ms. Starr’s 3x great-grandmother Rebecca Albert or her children identified as Mohawk/Indigenous or were related or connected to any Mohawk or Indigenous peoples or communities.

There is no evidence to support Alida Kinnie Starr’s claim to Mohawk/Indigenous heritage. Ms. Starr has reported throughout her career to having Mohawk/Mixed-European heritage in several ways. She claims Mohawk heritage today on her official website (52). She can be found claiming to be a Mohawk/mixed- blood/Aboriginal/Indigenous artist in interviews and event biographies going back to at least 2006 for the purpose of her music career. A sample of her heritage claims includes:

- (2023) She is of mixed heritage – Dutch/Mohawk, Irish, Russian, French (53)

- (2017) She describes her father as half-Mohawk and herself as “sort of English, French, Spanish, sort of Indigenous, sort of white” (54)

- (2011) Her interviewer writes: “Kinnie Starr inherited a darker complexion from her father, a descendant of the

Mohawks.” (55)

- (2011) Verbatim: “I’m Mohawk and European. The Nelles/Starr side of my family is from Caledonia-Toronto- Germany-Penetanguishine-Christian Island… we learn new stuff yearly. My mom’s side is from Hamilton-Six – they are Potruffs and Shaws, and her father is first generation Irish.”

It is possible she is saying “Hamilton-Six” in reference to Six Nations of the Grand River Territory which is about 20 minutes from Hamilton. Caledonia ON also borders the Six Nations reserve today, although there is no evidence her family ever lived there.

- (2006) She reports her father as a “Half-Mohawk Indian” and her mother as “having a Mohawk grandmother” in this interview she also describes herself as believing as a child she was an Indian princess because she wasn’t homeless and on the street like the other natives she saw growing up in Calgary.

Also from the Globe & Mail article: “…Her aboriginal roots have caused her much angst, she says, mostly because she has been able to transcend them. There is mixed blood on both sides of her family. Her father, Michael, is the son of a pure Mohawk father and a white mother who was from a wealthy family in Maine. Starr’s dad grew up in a comfortable home, attended university and is a lawyer. Starr’s mother Dorothy (the couple now lives in Toronto) has mainly British and Irish lineage, but her grandmother was part Mohawk. Her parents met when they were students at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. “My mother tells me that my dad was very unusual,” says Starr. “He was dark and handsome, and he rode a motorbike.” But her father denied his full ethnicity, especially when he was with his establishment friends, she says. Although Kinnie and her two brothers were told of their heritage when they were young, she was always conscious that, being white-skinned, she never felt stigmatized by it. If anything, her native blood gave her an exotic quality…”

There are many more online examples of Ms. Starr’s use of what appears to only be a family legend of Mohawk ancestry to create a space for herself in BIPOC and Indigenous spaces. There is simply no evidence to support Ms. Starr’s use of Mohawk, Mixed-blood, Aboriginal, Indigenous to describe her heritage or to validate her place in BIPOC spaces or as a voice of Indigenous or BIPOC peoples or communities.

It can be discerned from her interviews that she grew up with an understanding that she had Indigenous heritage as her father seemed to be very proud of the possibility of Mohawk roots. Ms. Starr’s mother does not seem to have ever claimed to be Mohawk although Ms. Starr’s claims are not consistent; most often she identifies her as white, but sometimes she claims Mohawk ancestry through her. Michael Starr can be forgiven for his lack of awareness of the truth of his heritage given he was of the pre-internet generation and records do trace his family back to the Mohawk Valley, the ancestral territory of the Mohawk Nation.

He was not a genealogist, nor does he seem to have ever attempted to benefit from his heritage claim by Ms. Starr’s own admission. However, Ms. Starr cannot be given this amount of understanding. Ms. Starr’s music career developed during the age of the internet. Her strong roots as a UEL descendant make her Mohawk Valley connection very easy to characterize if she ever looked for proof to validate her family legend of Mohawk roots, and the space she has occupied in Indigenous & BIPOC spaces for the past two decades.

This article is from an anonymous source.