American History Repeats: Molly Stark Lives On

I tell stories from the front and back lines of the newsroom. This story is about my Substack anniversary.

My dad was an American history enthusiast. He named me after the American Founding Mother, Molly Stark. Molly was a nurse and the wife of a general during the American Revolutionary War. I started this Substack to celebrate our American Revolution with the #NewsNerd Revolution: my behind-the-news stories.

Then my grandfather died. And the story I could no longer ignore. The story of my grandfather. Walked into my one-bedroom global newsroom, and it was impossible to ignore. I am not a forensic accountant. I spotted anomalies in financial statements. I learned the word probate last year. I am not a lawyer. I filed a motion in court last week. I’m obviously not a fundraiser. Or that filing wouldn’t be on the Palm Beach County, Florida, docket.

At every point in this timeline, I arrived at more information. My spreadsheet is the way I can see everything side by side. Every question led to more questions. Obstacles were missing documents, and the only way forward was more documents.

This story is haunted by the concept of access. Every step is designed to gaslight two steps back. Data are the only way out. The original sin of this story is missing documents. Compiling more documents will show patterns that help me move closer to the truth.

Molly Stark inspires me to open up my research. In 1775, her husband, John Stark, positioned Molly on horseback to ride out and raise alarm if his troops were fired upon, an active signaling role from the back line. Molly took care of her husband’s troops during a smallpox epidemic. In 1778, Molly petitioned the New Hampshire Court for permission to inoculate her family from the disease.

The request was denied.

Molly had to wait for John Stark. His permission was approved.

History’s first draft wrote Molly as the wife of the great John Stark. From John’s battle cries to shooting a bear, the stories of Molly Stark keep evolving. My father named me Molly Stark Dean to keep Molly’s story thriving. A professor at Lyndon State College once told me, “Your name is like the history of Vermont: from the Revolution to the Dean Scream.”

This is why I proudly scream my name in front of crowds of intellectuals. I celebrate the great minds I introduce by first honoring the greatness of Molly Stark.

This is why Wikipedians find it hilarious that the Columbia Journalism Review got my name wrong and had to file a correction.

Molly Stark’s rebellious spirit is the same American ideal we all strive to achieve. It’s in this defiant spirit that I feel comfort in transparency. I want you to know what I know. Because I want other families to know their rights in these situations.

A history professor reached out to me during my first semester teaching at The New School. He said that he first encountered the name Molly Stark during the Lynn MA shoemakers strike of 1860. The pro-union leaders told their members to “Remember Molly Stark.” Opposing bosses would denounce the women protesters, “Now, don’t be a bunch of ‘Molly Starks.’”

I can’t and won’t be another Molly Stark.

My name is Molly Stark Dean.

I scream it because of the women before me who didn’t have the right to scream. My revolution is loud because it’s the only way I know how to proceed. Molly Stark raised 11 children into a new generation. Without her loving husband by her side. He was busy with the war for freedom. And posthumously naming a Die Hard movie.

I open up my War Diary and present to you stories from the battle of June 2026.

Starting this week, I will give you concrete updates on this story. I want to tell my family’s story so that it doesn’t happen to yours.

• Emergency Motion to Determine Confidentiality of Court Records (Filing 251210066), e-filed June 25

• Objection to Petition for Discharge of Personal Representative (Filing 251204902), e-filed June 25

• Request for Hearing on that Objection (Filing 251207291), e-filed June 25

• Order Denying Emergency Relief (Filing 251252601), issued June 25 by Judge

• Caveat by Interested Person, filed pro se June 7

• North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks formal complaint (File No. 2026-0610), confirmed June 29 as an OCC referral, with Truist’s written response due July 20, 2026

• Florida Governor’s Executive Office Notary Section complaint, faxed June 30

• FDIC complaint, Case No. 02066010, received June 11

• IC3/FBI complaint filed June 9

• CFP Board complaint filed June 3

• Formal demand letter sent June 29, documenting unanswered June 2026 HEMS requests

• Received the first-ever complete institutional disclosure of governing trust structure surfaced in correspondence chains carried through June

• Documented Adam Kotkin’s use of the unauthorized title “executor” in his email signature (June 23), with no corresponding court appointment on record

• Received formal notice (June 12), triggering a 20-day deadline to file written defenses, with the deadline landing July 3

• First and only trust accounting ever provided to beneficiaries, covering July 18–December 31, 2025, received June 19, showing $1,710,565 in assets

• Statutory notice under Fla. Stat. 736.1008 received June 19, starting my 6-month limitations clock for any claim

• Petition filed June 18 seeking to close the probate estate entirely and discharge the Personal Representative

• Wealthscape portal screenshot obtained June 16, confirming discretionary trading authority over my account after formally declining the trustee role

Donate to the #PapaStarkFund, and I can retain lawyers to get closer to the truth. After Stripe fees, I’ve only raised $1,245.09 of my $15k goal.

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Freddy Furiosa will judge you no matter what you give to the #PapaStarkFund. Her new friend might judge you too.