Our Miller's of Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland

RIVER COTTAGES, LIFFORD
(Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
~fantham/lifford_hall.jpg)

Below is a copy of an actual 1706 document held at the Public Records Office of Ireland (PRONI) and graciously made available through the Ulster Ancestry organization.  

This letter actually lists David Miller, the grandfather of our William Miller and father of Abraham Miller. David was living in Newcastle County, Pennsylvania [later Delaware], and apparently he, his family and friends were appealing to Presbytery in Scotland, their "mother church," for aid in building their congregation there in America.

This is a critical document because it contains the "motherlode" of all genealogical research--the identification of where our immigrant ancestors came from! We read that "...the greatest number of us [were] born and educated in (sic) Irland under the ministry of one William Traill, a (sic) presbiterian minister formerly of Lifford, Co. Donegal [Ireland]..." We not only learn that the Miller's were from Northern Ireland, thus being part of the Scots-Irish Ulster plantations, but we can actually pinpoint the town they hailed from in Ireland! Jackpot!

As you examine the signers of this letter, you find not only the name of our ancestor, David Miller, but also his brother, Alexander Miller, as well as Abraham Emott (a brother-in-law of David and Alexander, having married their sister, Jane), and Abraham's brother, John Emott.

So our Miller ancestors came from Lifford in County Donegal, Northern Ireland! For more information about their connection to the Reverend Traill, enter "Traill" in the search box of this blog.

Here is a youtube video that will give you a taste of what this village looks like now! Wouldn't it be lovely to be able to visit there in person? Someday... (it might not come through as a hot link, so you''ll have to cut and paste this website address into your server's address box):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-0OjxxnID8

Did Our Miller Ancestors Flee From Northern Ireland to Holland?

In an effort to answer this question and learn more about our Miller ancestors before they arrived in America, and especially whether or not there is a Holland connection, we are studying the lives of their religious leaders in hopes of finding clues about our ancestors. In previous posts we have discussed the relationship between our Miller's and their pastor in Ireland, the Reverend William Traill. The article below deals with William's father, Rev. Robert Traill, who was a prisoner of Cromwell for a period of time:

Rev. Robert Traill
(source: http://www.covenanter.org/RTraill/roberttraill.htm ) 

"Born in Elie, May, 1642.  After the usual prepatory studies, he was sent to the College of Edinburgh, where he distinguished himself in the several classes.  He devoted his life to the ministry and the cause of the church of his fathers.  This devotion was greatly manifested by his attendance upon Mr. James Guthrie, minister of Stirling, on the scaffold of martyrdom, 1661.  In 1666, in consequence of some copies of the Apologetical Relation, a work (penned by John Brown, of Wamphray) hated by the prelates, and condemned by the Privy Council to the flames, found in his home, he was obliged with his mother and brother to go into hiding.  It is reported that Robert Traill was in arms with the Covenanters when they were routed at Pentland Hills.  Because of this, he found it necessary to flee to Holland, where his father was already, in 1667.  Sometime around 1669, he returned to London and commenced his ministry there.  In 1677, while visiting Scotland, he was apprehended and arraigned before the Privy Council.  He refused to clear himself by their unlawful oath and was, upon little evidence, sentenced to imprisonment on the Bass rock.  He was released after three months and returned to London where he continued to officiate as pastor of a Presbyterian congregation until his death, in May, 1716," (http://www.covenanter.org/RTraill/roberttraill.htm; highlight added). 

Note that when Robert Traill fled to Holland, his father was already living there:
"The father of Robert Traill, who was minister of the Greyfriars’ Church, Edinburgh, was one of those bold witnesses for the Covenant, who lived during the stormy period of the Commonwealth, and the still more trying season of the Restoration, in which, at the age of sixty, he was banished from Scotland for life upon the charge of holding a conventicle, because he had read and expounded Scripture to a few friends who were assembled in his house. In consequence of this sentence he retired to Holland, the usual place of refuge for the exiled Presbyterians of Scotland, and there spent the rest of his life." ( http://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/traill_robert.htm )

So here is the big question: Did our Miller ancestors follow the example of the Traill's and also flee from Northern Ireland to Holland?? 

We will examine that very question in upcoming posts.

Land Record From 1779!

[Note: Sorry, but I couldn't get the image any larger without it going off the screen. You should be able to right click on it and Save Image onto your computer for a more readable version]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

It never ceases to amaze me that we can look at a document that is over 230 years old and see our ancestor's names on it! This is a land record from Cecil County, Maryland, and while the principle parties are Andrew Miller (our William Miller's brother) and Benjamin Pearce, it also mention William and Andrew's  father, our great, great, great... grandfather, Abraham Miller (the Miller information starts about one-third of the way down).

The date is March 1779. The American Revolutionary War is still raging, but our people still live, marry, farm, buy and sell land, and conduct their lives as best they can.

Possibly more amazing is that these records survive! So many documents were destroyed, especially during the Civil War. Though we wish we had more information about our people, we are truly blessed to have several wonderful land papers for our Miller and Bradford ancestors. Some have already been published on this blog, and there will be more to come. Let us be grateful for each and every document that has survived, and for the insight that it gives us into our ancestors lives.

ADDENDUM: Adding the other two pages that are part of this land document. Page 1 is above; pages 2 and 3 are below. Kudos to anyone who wants to transcribe this unusual hand-writing!:

Where In Ireland? Part 2

In earlier posts we have discussed the Scots-Irish Northern Ireland roots of Rebecca Bradford through her father, Samuel. In this post we will examine the origins of the Millers.

For many years my brother, Bill, and I searched for records of the ancestral home of William Miller. The only clue we had was the Allen Family Record (written by William and Rebecca's grandson, George Washington Allen, in 1876). Of William's father the record states, "Abraham Miller - Born in Holland, came to America in the early part of the eighteenth century - his ancestry having fled England to Holland during a violent persecution of Protestants."

For years I interpreted this to mean that Abraham's ancestors must have been part of the Separatist-leaning Pilgrims who fled England for Holland, eventually settling in Plymouth, Massachusetts. I figured that the writer must have meant "seventeenth century." But no Miller's sailed in 1620 on Mayflower, or on later ships, and no Miller is listed in the Plymouth colony rolls. Perhaps, I thought, Abraham's ancestors remained behind in Holland, not coming to America till the 1700's ["eighteenth century"] as noted in the Allen Family Record).

However, over the past couple of years, research done by one of our Miller-Bradford Group members, Chalmers Williams, has shed new and startling light on this issue - see post entitled "Miller Genealogy by Chalmers Williams - Part 1" dated May 5, 2010.

Chalmers, very convincingly and with excellent documentation which we will examine in future posts, makes the case that the Millers were probably Ulster Scots living Northern Ireland who were "Covenanters" - members of the Church of Scotland (Presbyterians), who rejected the royal decree proclaiming the King supreme head of the church in Scotland and signed a covenant which stated that only Jesus Christ could command such a position" and swore to take up arms in defense of their beliefs. (Source: http://scottishcovenanters.org/history.htm)


This commitment let to severe persecution of the Covenanters in England, Ireland and Scotland. "The methods used to persecute and oppress the Covenanters is almost beyond belief but evidence exists for all the following : butchering, hanging, beheading, mangling, dismembering alive, quartering upon scaffolds, imprisoning, laying in irons, torturing by boots, thumbkins, fire-matches, cutting pieces out of the ears of others, banishing and selling as slaves old and young men and women in great numbers, oppressing many others in their estates, forfeiting, robbing, spoiling, pillaging their goods, casting them out of their habitations, interdicting any to reset them, under the pain of being treated after the same manner". (Source: http://www.thereformation.info/restoration.htm)

It is no wonder that the Covenanters fled. Where did they go? From one source we learn, "Another bastion for the exiled and fleeing Covenanters was Holland where there was full Communion with the Reformed Church of Holland and the Scots. There were Scottish churches in Rotterdam, Campvere, Leyden, Amsterdam, Delft, Dordrecht, the Hague and Middleburg [for the] exiled Presbyterians." (ibid)

Is this then the foundation for the claim of William Miller's grandson that his [and thus our] ancestors "fled England to Holland during a violent persecution of Protestants"?

In order to answer this question, the next post will examine whether or not any documents exist that actually tie our Millers to the Covenanters.

Miller Genealogy by Chalmers Williams - Part 3

Picture: Elkton area, Cecil Co, MD

From the Maryland State Archives: Assessment of 1783, Index, Cecil County, MSA S 1437, the following Millers have property located near William’s mill property.

Andrew Miller. Three Bohemia Sisters [Three Bohemia Sisters is also Richard Ford's and other Ford's property - perhaps a connection], pt, 55 acres. CE 2nd District, p. 10. MSA S 1161-3-8 1/4/5/46

Andrew Miller. 55 acres. CE 2nd District, p. 5. MSA S 1161-3-8 1/4/5/46

Benjamin Miller. Sims Forest, pt, 380 acres. CE 2nd District, p. 12. MSA S 1161-3-8 1/4/5/46

Benjamin Miller. Sims Forest, pt, 20 acres. Notes: and Richard B. Ford of John. CE 2nd District, p. 12. MSA S 1161-3-8 1/4/5/46

Benjamin Miller. 390 acres. CE 2nd District, p. 5. MSA S 1161-3-8 1/4/5/46

Samuel Miller. CE 2nd District, p. 6. MSA S 1161-3-8 1/4/5/46

Inhabitants of Cecil County, 1649-1774, by Henry C. Peden, p 109, lists Abraham Miller as having been taxed as the owner of Simms Forest from 1755 - 1766.

On Aug. 21, 1771, Lawrence Harrison conveyed by deed 294 acres in what became Dunbar township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania to William Miller. This tract was originally patented by Battle Harrison, Lawrence's son. The deed was not recorded until April 9, 1788.

Children of William Miller and Rebecca Bradford are:

I. William Miller, B: 20 Aug 1779 in probably Cecil Co., Maryland, D: 25 Aug 1840 in Connelsville, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania.

ii. James Miller, B: 21 Jun 1781, D: 12 Dec 1849 in Carroll, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA, M: 10 May 1810 in Poland, Mahoning, Ohio.

iii. Samuel Miller, B: 01 May 1783 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania, D: 19 Apr 1850 in North Benton, Smith, Mahoning, Ohio, M: 06 Jun 1810 in Poland, Mahoning, Ohio.

iv. Abraham Miller, B: 04 Nov 1785 in Dunbar, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania[3], D: 19 May 1855 in North Benton, Mahoning, Ohio, USA[3], M: 04 Apr 1811 in Columbiana Co., Ohio.

v. Jesse Miller, B: 07 Aug 1787 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania, D: 24 Jun 1872 in Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania.

vi. Stephen Miller, B: 1790 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania, D: 08 Sep 1826 in Bethlehem, Clark Co., Indiana.

vii. Rebecca Miller, B: 21 Jul 1792 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania, D: 30 Oct 1840.

viii. David Miller, B: 09 Oct 1794 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania, D: 08 Sep 1873 in Greene Co., Missouri, M: 14 Jan 1836.

Generation 4

5. William Miller-4(William Miller-3, Abraham Miller-2, David Miller-1) was born on 20 Aug 1779 in probably Cecil Co., Maryland. He died on 25 Aug 1840 in Connelsville, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. He married Grace Gallaher. She was born on 22 May 1793 in Ireland. She died on 15 May 1851 in Dunbar Tsp., Fayette Co., Pa.

Children of William Miller and Grace Gallaher are:

I. Bradford Miller, B: 13 Jun 1825 in Dunbar Tsp., Fayette Co., Pa..

ii. Mary Miller, B: 27 Mar 1827 in Dunbar Tsp., Fayette Co., Pa..

iii. William Miller, B: 06 Jun 1829 in Dunbar Tsp., Fayette Co., Pa., D: 15 Feb 1849.

iv. Nancy Miller, B: 31 Dec 1835 in Dunbar Tsp., Fayette Co., Pa., D: 08 Mar 1854 in Dunbar Tsp., Fayette Co., Pa.

6. James Miller-4(William Miller-3, Abraham Miller-2, David Miller-1) was born on 21 Jun 1781. He died on 12 Dec 1849 in Carroll, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA. He married Mary Dawson on 10 May 1810 in Poland, Mahoning, Ohio, daughter of Jacob Dawson. She died on 08 Mar 1859 in Carroll, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA.

Notes for James Miller: Lived in Mercer Co., Pa.

Children of James Miller and Mary Dawson are:

I. William Miller.

ii. Lavina Miller.

iii. Rachel Miller.

iv. Rebecca Miller.

v. Honor Miller.

vi. Solomon Miller.

vii. Stephen Miller.

viii. Isaac Miller.

ix. Sarah Miller.

x. Mary Miller.

7. Samuel Miller-4(William Miller-3, Abraham Miller-2, David Miller-1)[4, 5] was born on 01 May 1783 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania. He died on 19 Apr 1850 in North Benton, Smith, Mahoning, Ohio. He married Rachel Dawson on 06 Jun 1810 in Poland, Mahoning, Ohio, daughter of Jacob Dawson. She was born on Bet. 1785-1790 in Pennsylvania. She died on Abt. 1856 in North Benton, Mahoning Co., Ohio.

Source of Samuel as a son of William is Bill Charpier, a descendent of Samuel.

Children of Samuel Miller and Rachel Dawson are:

I. Amy Miller [mother of Allen Miller Charpier]

ii. Nancy Miller.

iii. Rebecca Miller.

iv. Milton Miller, B: 1816 in Smith, Mahoning, Ohio[6, 7].

v. Harvey Miller, B: 1817 in Smith, Mahoning, Ohio[8].

vi. Phineas Miller, B: Smith, Mahoning, Ohio.

vii. Mirian Miller.

viii. Sarah Miller.

8. Abraham Miller-4(William Miller-3, Abraham Miller-2, David Miller-1)[3, 9, 9] was born on 04 Nov 1785 in Dunbar, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania[3]. He died on 19 May 1855 in North Benton, Mahoning, Ohio, USA[3]. He married Agnes NANCY Blackburn on 04 Apr 1811 in Columbiana Co., Ohio, daughter of John Blackburn and Jean (Jane) Armstrong. She was born on 13 Aug 1789 in Letterkenny Twp., Franklin Co., Penn.. She died on 17 Nov 1829 in North Benton, Smith, Mahoning, Ohio.

Children of Abraham Miller and Agnes NANCY Blackburn are:

I. Anne Miller.

ii. Jane Miller, B: 13 Feb 1813[10].

iii. Jesse Miller.

iv. William Armstrong Miller, B: 23 Feb 1825 in North Benton, Smith, Mahoning, Ohio[11], D: 20 Apr 1885 in Smith, Mahoning, Ohio.

v. Sally Sarah Miller, B: 08 Apr 1812 in North Benton, Mahoning Co., Ohio, D: 08 Sep 1860 in North Benton, Smith, Mahoning, Ohio, M: 1830 in North Benton, Smith, Mahoning, Ohio.

vi. John Blackburn Miller, B: 13 Feb 1816 in North Benton, Columbiana, Ohio[12], M:

02 Dec 1834[13].

vii. Stephen Bradford Miller, B: 13 Dec 1817 in North Benton, Columbiana, Ohio, D:

07 Oct 1895 in Alliance, Stark, Ohio, USA[14], M: 06 Apr 1840.

Page 8 of 10 Friday, July 31, 2009 1:25:22 PM

Descendants of David Miller

Generation 4 (con't)

9. Jesse Miller-4(William Miller-3, Abraham Miller-2, David Miller-1)[15, 16] was born on 07 Aug 1787 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania. He died on 24 Jun 1872 in Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania. He married Martha Allen, daughter of George Allen and Jane Paull. She was born in Fayette Co., Pa..

Miller, Jesse. (Book B-31) Will Wr. 21 Feb. 1870. Rec. July 1872. My dau. Catherine Miller, homestead farm in Dunbar Twp., Fayette Co., Pa. Her children, namely Lowry B. Miller, Sarah Jeanna Miller, Charles Miller, William Miller and Mary Miller or survivors of them, reserving one half acres for the family burying ground, granting to James and Mary Allen, a right of way to and from coal bank to and from Youghiogheny River, privilege of mining and hauling coal. My niece, Maria Miller, two feather beds; my brother, David Miller, James Allen Johnson, exec.

Child of Jesse Miller and Martha Allen is:

I. William Miller, B: 1816 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania.

10. David Miller-4(William Miller-3, Abraham Miller-2, David Miller-1) was born on 09 Oct 1794 in Dunbar, Fayette, Pennsylvania. He died on 08 Sep 1873 in Greene Co., Missouri. He married Susanna Warne on 14 Jan 1836. She was born on 13 Jun 1816 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. She died on 13 Feb 1889.

Children of David Miller and Susanna Warne are:

I. Lucinda Miller.

ii. Clarissa Miller.

iii. Albert Miller.

iv. Clarinda Miller.

v. Elvira Miller.

vi. Martha Miller.

vii. Jesse Miller.

viii. Ethan Miller.

ix. Virgil Miller.

x. Milton Miller.

xi. Oriella Miller.

xii. Serena Miller.

Miller Genealogy by Chalmers Williams - Part 1

Pictured: White Clay Creek, Newcastle County, Delaware

[Note: In the past I had difficulty copying and pasting information into the blog, but the trouble seems to have cleared up. So for the next several posts I want to share some of the great research done by others. I am thrilled to start with this wonderful outline about the Miller family, the result of untold hours of research by Chalmers Williams, which he has graciously given permission to reprint here. ]

Descendants of David Miller

by Chalmers Williams with the assistance of Donna Snider, descendants of David Miller’s grandson, William Miller

Generation 1

1. David Miller-1. He died on Bet. 19 Mar 1736/37-1740 in New Castle, Delaware, USA. He married the daughter of Ninian Dunlap.

Thus far we do not know where David Miller was born, but a good guess might be in Ulster Ireland in about 1680. Certainly his father was born there and appears to have been part of the early Scotch migration to this county. The first record of Ninian Dunlap so far discovered is in Somerset Co., Maryland in 1689. It would appear that Ninian was in the New Castle - Cecil Cos. area before 1700.

On April 20, 1703 [another record says 1700], Robert French of New Castle deeds to David Miller of White Clay Creek a tract of land situated on the south side of White Rock Creek bounded by Andrew Tilly and the creek containing 300 acres. Wit.: James Coutts and Roeloffe Dehaes. Recorded: July 28, 1704 (From New Castle County, Delaware Land Records, 1673-1710, by Carol Bryant, p. 105.)

On Nov 11, 1711, John Willson of Christianna Hun., gent., granted to David Miller, yeoman, of White Creek Hun. a 160 acre tract of land in Christanna Creek [Hun.] bounded by land of Robert Hutchinson & Lowdon. In addition to Hutchinson, Andrew Stilly [Tilley] and James Anderson names appear on this document. See p. 106, New Castle County, Delaware, Land Records, 1715-1728, by Carol Bryant

A Minian or Ninian Dunlap of Newcastle Co. granted land to David Miller of Christiana Creek " for great love and affection for well beloved son-in-law." This reference is incomplete and needs additional research; however, see below. Abstracts of Cecil County, Maryland, Land Records, by June D. Brown, p 161. Note that David’s property he purchased from Wilson in 1711 was in Christianna Hun.

In James Anderson's will dated Mar 20, 1716/17, David Miller is referred to as "brother" implying that James married David's sister. Others mentioned in James' will are daughters Hannah, Mary, and sons James, John, Peter, Samuel. A James Anderson appears to have been a local Rev. at the time.

On Jul. 16, 1739, John Miller, David Miller, Rev'd. Thompson and Jno. Bayard, Jr. witness a deed to Samuel McDowell of New Castle Co. John Miller may have been a brother? See p. 106, New Castle County, Delaware, Land Records, 1715-1728, by Carol Bryant.

In a deed recorded Aug. 8, 1749, in Cecil Co. by Robert Ritchy reference is made to a tract of land called "Sligo" and also of a tract called "Momon" [Monyn] which were the estate of Ninian Dunlap by patent granted Oct 10, 1708 and gifted to David Miller Apr. 17, 1714. Miller subsequent sold parts of this land to Robert and John Ritchy. Inhabitants of Cecil County, 1649-1774, by Henry C. Peden, p 24, indicates that Ninian Dunlap patented a 400 acre "Sligo" in 1696. Sligo is a parish of Sligo, County Armagh, Ireland [see comment below]. Samuel Alexander also received half of Sligo in 1714. Abstracts of Cecil County, Maryland Land Records, 1734-1753 by June D. Brown, p 155.

A Ninian Dunlap is in Somerset County in 1689. Migration from Ulster - The early migrations, 1649 - 1717 by Richard MacMaster.

A 1706 petition from Newcastle, Delaware, to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, for instance, noted that "the greatest number of us born and educated in Ireland under the ministry of Mr. William Traill Presbyterian minister formerly at liford" i.e. Lifford, Co. Donegal "settled with our families at Newcastle and about it." The petitioners included Ninian Dunlap, David Miller, and Andrew Miller.

On May 10, 1735, Abraham Miller, farmer, and his wife Rossannah [Susannah] of Pencader Hun., New Castle Co. sell to Samuel Raulston of Mill Creek Hun. for 72 pounds 150 acres acquired by Abraham from David Miller. This tract is on the south side of White Clay Creek and bounds by the property of Joseph Rinkin and Tilly. The tract is ½ of 300 acres acquired by David Miller April 20, 1700, from French (see above) and conveyed to Abraham Feb.1, 1730. Abraham signs his name and Rossanna makes her mark on the deed. Rossanna is examined by James Armitage. Recorded: April 29, 1742. This would indicate that Abraham was born about 1710.

On July 1, 1740, Joseph Miller of Hun. & County of New Castle, cartwright and Mary, his wife sell for 200 pounds to James King, merchant of same place a plantation containing 160 acres. This is part of a larger tract that David Miller, yeoman dec'd seized in his lifetime. The tract is located on the west side of the Delaware River and the north side of Red Lyon Creek and both sides of Pidgeon Run. David Miller granted 150 acres of this land to William Roddey by indenture dated April 7, 1730. The land is bounded by the lands of Peter Anderson, John Garretson and John Reynolds. Said David Miller's Last Will dated March 19 1736/7 devised the remaining 160 acres to son Joseph. The deed is signed by Joseph and Mary makes her mark. Wit: Samuel Plat, John Dawson. Mary is examined by Jno Housman.

On March 31, 1743, Robert Miller of Ocotara Hundred, Cecil County, Maryland, carpenter, and his wife, Jane, convey for 52 pounds to Morton Morton a tract and plantation containing 80 acres. This tact is half on the 160 acres that David Miller owned. David Miller, late of Hun.& County of New Castle, bequeathed by his will equally the 160 acres to his sons Robert and Samuel. Witnesses: Elihu Hall, Elisha Hall, James McMullan. Jean was examined by John Finney. The transaction was recorded June 2, 1743.

According to a deed dated May 18,1762, made by Andrew Miller of White Clay Creek Hun.., mariner, Samuel Miller died intestate and without issue. The deed states that Samuel Miller had two brothers, Abraham and Robert Miller, and a sister, Mary Blackburn, living at his death. Also, Samuel had two other brothers, James and Joseph Miller, who were diseased at Samuel's death but survived by four male heirs, Samuel's nephews. The deed states that Samuel's land was deeded to Andrew Miller, son of Joseph Miller, dec'd., on Nov. 27, 1761. The other nephews are not named. Andrew sold the land to Thomas Moore; witnesses are Thomas Jaquet and Robert Bryan.

(to be continued)

TAX LISTS 1777 – 1779 - Newcastle Co, DE

Microfilm #6531 (partially indexed), researched at FHL in Salt Lake City,
June 2008, by Donna Snider

Notes:
• Could only find records from 1777, 1778, and a small number of 1779, on this microfilm
• Some of the records were indexed by last name, some by first name, and some not indexed at all. Each Hundred was indexed separately for each year. At the end of each Hundred, there were many un-indexed names.
• This was an original record, handwritten, very disorganized. Some pages hard to read.
• There are some unusual spellings or misspellings (such as Read Lion instead of Red Lion).
• Meaning of number following name not given in record

1777:
Read Lyon Hd.
John Allen

St. George’s Hd.
John Allen – 5
William Bradford – 12

Appoquin. Hd.
Wm. Bradford – 8

White Clay Creek Hd.
Isaac Miller – 8
James Miller – 5
John Allen – 8
Andrew Allen – 12
Samuel Bradford – 10

Mill Creek Hd.
Samuel Bradford – 10

Christiana Hd.
Abr Miller – 13
(also found last names: Allen, Allison, Sarah McDowell, Springer & Grubbs; no Bradfords)

Pencader Hd.
Hance Miller – 4
Bravard - 3
(also Allen’s and Allison’s)

Newcastle Hd.
David Miller
(also Allen’s, Wm. Blackburn, and James LaFaver)

(no other Hundreds not found)


1778:
Mill Creek Hd.
Allen Springer
James Miller - 5

Red Lyon Hd.
Henry Gibson
John Miller
John McDowell

Christiana Hd.
Sarah McDowels
Hance Miller
Ab ___ ? [name cut off]
Abnear Bradford
Spinger’s

White Clay Creek Hd.
Isaac Miller
John McDowell
Andrew Allen
John Allen
Samuel Bradford

Pencader Hd.
Allen’s and Bravards

Brandywine Hd.
None

Newcastle Hd.
Wm. Bradford
David Miller
Joseph Allen

(no other Hundreds found for 1778)


1779:

St. George’s Hd.
Wm Bradford

1779 (continued)

Appoqu. Hd.
William Bradford

Mill Creek Hd
Samuel Bradford

(no other Hundreds found)

Abraham - Overseer of Roads

I have often wondered exactly what the job of "Overseer of Roads" entailed. We know that Abraham Miller, our William's father, and others in the family worked as overseers in Cecil County, Maryland for several years in the 1700's. Here is a job description from that era:

AND BE IT ENACTED, That it shall and may be lawful for the several and respective overseers of the said roads, and they are hereby authorised and empowered, as often as need shall require, to dig, take and remove, any stones, gravel, or earth of firm quality, which may be found on any land adjoining the roads for which the same may be necessary, and to employ the same in the repairing of the said. roads ; and for the making or repairing of bridges over the heads of rivers, creeks, branches, swamps, or other low and miry places, through and over which the said roads may pass, to cut down, or cause to be cut down, any tree or trees growing on any of the next adjacent lands to such places where bridges may be necessary as aforesaid, and the same trees to maul and carry away from off such lands, and to apply the same to the making or repairing of the said bridges; provided, that it shall be the duty of each and every overseer aforesaid to render a true account, (certified under their hands and seals respectively,) of all and singular such tree or trees by them cut down and taken for the purpose aforesaid, with a description of the size and quality of such tree or trees, together with their estimation of the value thereof, to the owner, tenant or overseer, of the lands from whence the same shall have been taken, and to return a duplicate of such account, on oath, to the next levy court of the county, in order that the justices of said court may be enabled to estimate the real value thereof, to be allowed or paid to such owner or owners in such manner as said justices shall appoint and direct...the said overseers shall have power, and they are hereby authorised and required, to call upon all and singular the free able bodied male inhabitants of their respective limits, above the age of eighteen years and under the age of fifty years, and upon all and singular the able bodied male slaves residing therein, above the age of eighteen years and tinder the age of fifty years, to labour and assist in clearing, amending, improving and repairing, the several and respective roads aforesaid, and to require such and so many of the said persons as they shall from time to time deem necessary, to assemble at such place within their respective limits as the said overseers shall severally appoint, with sufficient implements of labour, and thereupon to proceed in the execution of such work and labour upon the said roads, for the improvement and repair thereof, as the respective overseers shall order and direct; and the said overseers shall also have power to hire and employ carts and teams for the carrying and removing all such stones, dirt, gravel and timber, as may be deemed requisite for repairing and completing the said,roads and bridges, and the expence of such carts and teams shall be levied upon the county" [sic] (Maryland State Archives, Vo. 558, p. 41 - http://aomol.net/000001/000558/html/am558--41.html)

[picture from awesomeamerica.com/maryland/]

Can You Just Imagine?

Below is a land record (double click on it to enlarge) for William's father, Abraham Miller from 1749!! Wouldn't you give anything to know what the land around Elkton looked like back then! How did our ancestors live, dress and travel? What did they eat? We will never know for sure, but this entry from another famliy history site (not related) gives us a flavor of what it might have been like:

Life on the eastern shore in the late 1700s was very basic, as described by a writer in the Chestertown Transcript:
Farm implements were of the rudest kind. We used wooden plows, with an old saw for the land side, and the mold board covered with a gar skin. Corn was worked with the fluke harrow and hoe. ... The smaller products of the farm were taken to town every Wednesday and Saturday, where they were exposed in the market for sale until 9 A.M. If not disposed of by that time, they were exchanged with the merchants for their goods. Clothing was of the simplest kind, and very often homespun, though there were at the time several woolen mills in Kent. Shoes were made at the farmers' houses by an itinerant shoemaker, whose avocation was called by the euphonious name of "whipping the cat." Roads were generally very poor, and laid out without regard to straight lines. If a mudhole was in the middle of the road, they drove around it and made a new road. Horseback was the favorite method of traveling. On Sunday the families would generally pile in an ox-cart and go that way to church. There were a few gigs, but they, like coaches, were costly, and were only used by the very rich.There were several kinds of amusements indulged in by the men, one of which was horse racing. The distance run was generally a quarter of a mile, and the stakes a gallon of whiskey. The very best whiskey cost fifty cents per gallon. Husking matches were common in the winter. The husking was generally done by the negroes, while the white folks had a good time in the house. The huskers were always provided with a good supper; plenty of roast pig, corn-bread and whiskey. Once a year there was a day appointed for a squirrel hunt, generally in June, when the young squirrels were tender and eating fit for the Gods," (picture and article from VanderFord Family.com).

This land deal involved Abraham buying a large tract of land near the Head of the Elk [River]. He was probably around 39 years old. He and his wife, Rosannah (or Susannah?) would have had several children by now (we know William was born in 1732). They seem to have been fairly well situated financially in order to buy this much land. They had been living in NewCastle County, Delaware [why does the deed say "in the Territories of Pensylvania [sic]?...we'll leave that question for another posting], and were now moving to Cecil County, Maryland, though this was a move of only 5 or 10 miles. Someday perhaps one of our members will travel to this part of the country, pinpoint this area and take pictures, though we can be sure it won't look even remotely the same! We are lucky to now have these land records at our fingertips to help give us a more complete picture of what our ancestors' lives were really like.

More Miller's To Sort Out!

Orphan’s Court proceedings of Newcastle County, DE (975.11P2):

Index:

p. 23: MILLER: 22 May 1746. James Miller to court as administrator of estate of Robert Morrison, taylor, dec’d.

p. 139: MILLER: 20 Feb 1760. Petition of Mary Blackburn (sister and co-heir with Abraham Miller, Robert Miller and the children of James Miller, dec’d) of Samuel Miller of Newcastle Hd, yeoman, dec’d, who died intestate; she receives 1/5 of the estate.

Newcastle Land Records:

Newcastle Hd, Samuel Miller, son of Donald Miller deceased, named in a land deal dated 21 Feb. 1749.

So if you combine these records, it looks like there is an Abraham Miller, son of Samuel Miller, son of Donald Miller, with Abraham's siblings being Mary, Robert and James.

More puzzle pieces!

One Land -- Our Miller's in Maryland and Delaware

As we research William Miller and his family, remembering that some of them also owned land and lived in the adjoining Newcastle County, Delaware, will richly add to our body of knowledge. We know that Rebecca Bradford Miller's mother, Sarah Bradford, was the daughter of Samuel Bradford of Red Lion, Newcastle County, DE. Red Lion is only 10 miles from Elkton! Our Miller-Bradford ancestors populated this region on both sides of the state line.

This is a letter written in 1921 by someone by the name of Grace Torrance Clark who was researching the Bradford's and Millers. She pinpoints Abraham Miller, William's father, as living in Pencader Hundred which is part of Newcastle County, Delaware. The letter (page one shown above) says in part,

"I write to inquire if there are birth, marriage or death records extant in the original Head of the Christiana--White Clay Creek, Head of Elk or Pencader Presbyterian churches. If so, where are they? I am interested in proving the marriage, about 1730, of Abraham Miller of Pencader Hundred to Rosannah. I believe she was the daughter of James Grimes of Pencarder Hd. In 1754 Abraham bought 175 1/2 acres, a part of Knowlwood, from Henry Pierce of Chester Co, PA. and his wife Sarah. Abraham had a brother Robert whom I think married a daughter of the Rev. George Gillespie--Head of Christiana from 1712 on to 1746."

Here is a description of Pencader Hundred according to Wiki:

Pencader Hundred is that portion of western New Castle County that lies south and west of the Christiana River, north of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, and generally west of Salem Church Road and Red Lion Road (DE Route 71). It also includes a large area north and east of the Christiana River generally from the old Pennsylvania Railroad tracks to Cooch’s Bridge, as well as another small area south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, west of Summit Bridge and north of Back Creek. Finally, it excludes the small area west of the Christiana River immediately west of Newark. It was formed from portions of New Castle...

Newcastle County land records list several Millers involved in land deals. A few include:

Andrew Miller - 1762 - White Clay Creek Hd

Thomas Miller - 1741 - White Clay Creek Hd

Abraham Miller - 1748 - [Hd not listed]

Samuel Miller, son of dec'd Donald Miller - 1749 - Newcastle Hd

The above list is very abbreviated, and future posts will more completely report on the Bradford's and Miller's listed in Newcastle County land and church records. Researching in both counties, Cecil County, Maryland, and Newcastle County, Delaware, will surely give us a more complete record of our ancestors.