Ballindrait - The Home of Our Miller's and the famous Reverend Traill

Now that we know for sure that our William Miller’s forefathers came from in or near the village of Ballindrait (which is near the larger town of Lifford in the Laggan Presbytery, County Donegal, Ireland), it is interesting to learn the history of this area. The Miller’s no doubt came to this area of Northern Ireland from their homeland in Scotland, along with many thousands of others, for the “planned process of colonisation (sic)” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Scots_people) of Ulster.  Therefore, it is of interest to read about the history or this era.  

From the Book In The Days Of The Laggan Presbytery we read:  “The place that had the distinction of giving both a local habitation and a name to the second Presbytery established in Ireland, is not, as might have been expected, situated in either of the ultra Presbyterian Counties of Antrim or Down, but in dark and distant Donegal. It should be remembered, however, that there are two Donegal’s — an outer and an inner. The former, which is almost wholly Roman Catholic, and from which the County to a large extent takes its character and complexion in the eye of the public, consists of the extensive mountainous districts that lie along the western seaboard, and at some points run far inland. The latter consists of the more flat and fertile country that lies between the mountains and the river Foyle and the eastern boundary of the County. It is largely Protestant, and from a very early period in history has been known as the Laggan, i.e., the low or level country. In the days of the Ulster Plantation, from 1607 onwards, this district, on account of its fertility and also from the fact that the undertakers or persons who obtained the grant of estates in it, were chiefly Scotchmen, was largely peopled by immigrants from Scotland, whose descendants, unto this day, till the fields their forefathers then acquired, and keep to the Presbyterian principles they brought with them from their native land” (source:  https://archive.org/stream/indayslagganpre00leckgoog/indayslagganpre00leckgoog_djvu.txt).   

The River Foyle

You will remember from previous posts that we know our Miller’s were part of the Reverend Traill’s congregation in the village of Ballindrait.  This brave man is mentioned in the history of Laggan Presbytery: “Mr. Trail of Ballindrait was, as is shown by his evidence before the Privy Council regarding the Fast kept by the Presbytery in 1681, an able and honest man. When asked why he had not taken the oath of supremacy (which required any person taking public or church office to swear allegiance to the King of England as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and failure to do so was to be treated as treasonable), he replied that he had never been asked to take it, adding "that he considered it juggling with the King and much more with God to take an oath that is capable of a sound sense, and yet to keep that sound sense in his mind, but let the sense be written down together with the oath, and that will clear the matter." " Besides," said he, " I lie under the punishment imposed by law for refusing the oath of supremacy." When one of the Committee asked — "What is that?" Mr. Trail replied, "I want all preferment." Whereupon Lord Lanesborough asked, "Would you take it if they would give you a good benefice ? " and Mr. Trail replied, " No, my Lord, I have not said that yet. I am content to be as I am without that."

(to be continued)

William Miller's Mother

The parents of William Miller are Abraham and Rosannah Miller. While Abraham appears in several records and we can get a small feel for his life, as was common in that era not much can be found about the women. The name of Abraham's wife, Rossannah, does appear in the land record below. The third character in her name that looks like an "f" is really how they did an "ss" in old script (the "ss" in the chart at the end of this post is similar, though not exactly the same as the one in the land document, but you get the idea).  A bit further down, her name is spelled Rosannah, and she only made a "mark" for a signature (thus she probably could not read or write), so I'm not sure which spelling is correct. This land record sadly doesn't have a date, but the next entry is 1761, so that is a pretty sure bet for the year.

Cheers to the first one who finds "white oak saplin [sapling?] in the document!

(Source:  Add caphttp://opentype.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/palatinoscan.jpgtion)

Happy Mother's Day!

happy mother's day to all!!

from donna

More Information From Member, Don Lancaster

Here is more information from follower Don Lancaster about his ancestors in Cecil County, MD: 

I believe Foard is interchangeable with Ford.

We are trying to see if there is a connection between the Lancasters and the our Millers via the Fords (see previous post for more information). 

PLEASE NOTE:  The last paragraph below mentions that William Miller was co-owner of a mill with Richard Ford in Cecil County, MD.  The land record that I have (which I will try to publish in the next post) says that William and Rebecca own this land that they previously purchased for a "water mill" and are selling it to Richard Ford and to William's brother, Benjamin Miller in September 1780.

Hispaniola & Bullen's Range is another piece of the history of the Fords, Biddle, and Alexander Family through William Bouldin.

His son Richard and Mary Hews daughter, Mary Tamizon Bouldin, married Richard Foard part of that property was willed to his wife and Richard Foard, sister Tamizon Foard, married Eli Alexande brother of David and son of Martin Alexander.

Another Brother of Richard Foard George and John, George had two daughter’s that married into Bouldin family and John Foard, son Richard Sr daughter Sarah married a Biddle sister of my 4^th Grt Grandmother Lydia Rebecca Foard Lancaster.

I also have an Abraham Miller that I don’t think is of the Millers of Washington Co Md he married a Mary Zeller abt 1808.  This date is of when it was filed so they may have married before abt 1804.

I have a Jesse Hollingsworth of Cecil Co Hollingsworth,  make a very large land transaction to a John Miller of Washington Co in 1792  we believe that Daniel B Miller is the Father of Abraham.

Also Mary Zeller Miller remarried 1810 to a Nathaniel Cromwell and she dies in 1824

My Lancaster family married into the Ford Family as I had said before the grandfather of this marriage was an Uncle to Sarah Husbands and she married a Col Henry Hollingsworth brother of Jesse Hollingsworth.

And the Richard Ford Jr, co-owner with William Miller on that mill was brother-in-law to the Lancaster/Ford Marriage.  My 3^rd Grt Grandfather was John W Miller Born 1805-1887, and he named his son’s Daniel W, John Luther, Jacob Andrew, and David Zeller miller.

Thanks for the information Don (I thought I posted this last year, but I just found it in "Drafts"...sorry Don!).

Contact Don Lancaster at:  tracker1961@centurylink.net   or  tracker1961@gmail.com