Were William Miller's Ancestors Covenanters?

Strabane, near Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland

In the last post, we raised the question of whether William Miller descended from members of the group known as Covenanters, and specifically the group that lived in Northern Ireland (see post entitiled "Where In Ireland - Part Two"). We can theorize, but are there any records tying the Miller's to this very persecuted group?

To set the stage, it must be remembered that William, his parents and grandparents owned properties in the Elkton, Cecil County region of Maryland and in adjoining Newscastle County, [eventually] Delaware. This area was then known as the province or territory of Pennsylvania. William's father was Abraham, and Abraham's father was David Miller. David was married to the daughter of Ninian Dunlap. A 1711 Cecil Co. land record notes that Ninian granted land to his "beloved son-in-law," David Miller, land along Christiana Creek. This is just one of several land records that verify this relationship (see previous post entitled "Miller Genealogy by Chalmers Williams - Part I" dated May 5, 2010).

Meanwhile, during the previous decades, across the sea is far-away Scotland, persecution of the Covenanters grew. A famous minister, Robert Traill, was so severely persecuted that he finally fled to Holland (http://www.covenanter.org/RTraill/roberttraill.htm). His son, Reverend William Traill, carried on his father's work, and also suffered religious oppression. One of the congregations William served was in Ballindrait near Lifford, on the eastern border of County Donegal, Ireland, near the Northern Ireland town of Strabane, County Tyrone . Of his time in Lifford we read: "The very public case of Rev William Trail at Lifford in 1681-82 raised the intensity even more. Trail, a member of a prominent Scottish family, was then serving as minister in Ballendrait, near Lifford. He and several other ministers were accused of fomenting opposition to the Oath of Supremacy and illegally calling for a fast in 1681. They were tried and imprisoned in Lifford for eight months for refusing to pay the excessive fine levied against them. They were released in Spring of 1682, but their case had been closely followed by the Ulster Scot community and no doubt seen as another object lesson.(http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Scotch-Irish/2008-07/1215977935).

The 1680's were an especially difficult time for the Ulster Scots Covenanters (http://covenantersinulster.typepad.com/), so it is no surprise that the religious tolerance offered in America was appealing to this people. Maryland was particularly attractive in that it had passed the act of Religious Toleration in 1649 which provided that "no (Christian) person should be persecuted on account of religion, and the Eastern Shore [of Maryland] was particularly open to alternative religious persuasions."

So is there a connection between our Millers and Reverend William Traill?

A document in the Archives of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has provided us with an astounding link between our Millers and Reverend Traill. The document cut and pasted below is exactly as it appears in the PRONI records, except that I have bolded parts pertinent to our search. The question marks in brackets indicate suggested readings of unclear words or spelling corrections by the PRONI researchers. Scholars concur and related documents confirm that the minister referred to is certainly William Traill (http://www.ulsterancestry.com/newsletter-content.php?id=227">http://www.ulsterancestry.com/newsletter-content.php?id=227).

Address by the Presbyterians of Newcastle, Pennsylvania 1706
Source: T 3762/1:PRONI
Archive: The Public Record Office, N. Ireland.
Date 11/02/1706

Right Reverend and honorable

We undersubscribers and the greatest number of us born and educated in Ireland under the ministry of one [William?] [Traill?] a presbiterian [Presbyterian?] minister formerly of Lifford, Co.Donegal] are by divine providence settled with our families at Newcastle and about it in the province of Pensilvania [Pennsylvania?] and we have for present one [Mr?] John [Wilson?] a Scots man who preacheth amongst us to whom [affordeth?] a few of different nations as we do but they are neither capable to maintain a [church?] nor build a [meeting?] house and so we are in fear dayly [daily?] to be cast [outside?] and to our great grief we and our posterity left as a prey to superstition and heresies Therefore though it may be unusual yet out of pure necessity and consideration of our soul circumstances we do most humbly address our [selves?] to you as unto our mother church and to [give us?] your advice in this our uncertain condition and if ther [there?] can be any supply granted for our small congregation which is the custom of other persuasions to doe for them of their way.

Your Supplicants shall ever pray
Newcastle
Feb 11th 1706/5

[William?] [-------?]
Abraham Emott
John Stall
Adam Wallis
James Wallace
John [Colard?]
Matthew Wallace
Thomas Wallace
David Miller
Joseph Hood
John Garner
Sam Wallace
Robert Wallis
Cornilius Cooke
Andrew Miller
David Wallis
William Wallace
Thomas Southerland
Morgan Pallan
John Emott

In addition, other sources also list Ninian Dunlap , David Miller's father-in-law) as one of the signers, including: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/KINCAID/2007-05/1179707901">http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/KINCAID/2007-05/1179707901

The PRONI document above clearly indicates that our Milllers (and perhaps Dunlaps) were from the north of Ireland, and were associated with the Covenanters. Were they part of the Ballindrait/Lifford congregations? Or does it just mean Reverend Traill was connected with those groups? The wording of the document is ambiguous, but could be construed to have the former meaning. Futher research into the records of Counties Donegal and Tyrone is certainly indicated!

(1) It will be convenient if our Miller's were from Donegal, as while it is geographically part of Ulster (Northern Ireland), politically it is part of The Republic of Ireland, and perhaps it's records are more accessible than those of the Northern Ireland counties. Sadly, those records must, by and large, be researched in person at the PRONI. We are very blessed to have the above-mentioned record, as it is one of the rare PRONI documents that is available online.

Bringing over beloved geographical names from the homeland was a very common practice among early settlers in America. It is interesting to note that William Miller's wife, Rebecca Bradford, had a Bradford uncle (James) who lived out most of his life in Strabane, Pennsylvania (see above), very near to where William and Rebecca has moved to in Fayette County. Strabane is in Northern Ireland

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.

Here is an email and picture from member Mike Hackworth, published with his gracious permission. Mike is a descendant of William and Rebecca's son, David, who was their youngest son. This David Miller was born in 1794 after his family had moved to Fayette County [formed from Westmoreland County in 1783], Pennsylvania. The excerpt about the Whiskey Rebellion is certainly interesting. Research has proven that the David Bradford listed below is Rebecca's cousin, however there is no known connection to any of the Miller's listed in the article, including the William Miller (yet!), but it is still very interesting. Thanks, Mike, for this great information!

"Researching the Miller's from 1790's and before in and around Westmoreland Pennsylvania has proven quite elusive at best. I have come across a tidbit from the Whiskey Rebellion which fits my genealogy, but still leaves me with no paper documentation. I wanted to share just a few genealogy "puzzle pieces" I have come to know from Missouri.

Through Missouri land/tax records, birth, death, and marriage certificates, I can document my GGGgrandfather David Miller b. 9Oct1794 PA d. 26 Jan1873 Greene County Missouri, buried in Hazelwood Cemetery, Springfield Missouri. Family letters and genealogy supplied to Rev. George Labaw in 1900 document David's 2nd wife Susanna Warne, who is buried beside him. Rev. Geo. Labaw wrote a 1903 genealogy book on Susanna's Warne family, and documents her family very well back to mid 1600's New Jersey and Great Britain. Some of the family information Rev. Labaw gives credit to by name in his book, is through correspondence with David and Susanna Warne Miller's daughter's Oriella and Serena.

I have a single photo copy letter written from Charles Miller 1928 Oklahoma, explaining his genealogy research in which he says the parents of David Miller b. 1974 are "William Miller of Cecil County Maryland, married to a very young Rebecca Bradford of Fayette Pennsylvania". This letter does not say any more of William Miller, but does say Rebecca's father [brother?] as David Bradford from Washington County Pennsylvania, no dates are given. Charles Miller says some of his 1928 information came from "Aunt Money Miller".

An undated 1950's? letter from Elwyn Campbell, Springfield Missouri, stating his mother's nickname was Munnie, pronounced money. The Elwyn Campbell letter describes the trip of his grandfather David and Susanna from Donora PA to Springfield Missouri in 1870, by train to Rolla Missouri, then by wagon into Springfield, as told to him by his mother Serena Miller Campbell. Elwyn Campbell, and Serena Miller Campbell are buried in the Miller Family Plot in Hazelwood Cemetery along with David and Susanna Miller, as well as many other Miller family members from Westmoreland PA.

"Quite possibly, other Miller researchers have "other tidbits" which could help put puzzle pieces together in hopes we could find the paper documentation we all are searching for.

Whiskey Rebellion Excerpts only supplies names in close proximity of date and location:

"The Whiskey Rebellion Begins

Despite the President's plea and Congressional modification of the excise law, [3] violent opposition to the whiskey tax continued to grow over the next two years. This was especially true in the four counties of southwestern Pennsylvania —Allegheny, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland—the location of up to one-fourth of the Nation's stills. In the summer of 1794, U.S. Marshal David Lennon arrived in the area to serve writs ordering those who had refused to pay the whiskey tax to appear in Federal court in Philadelphia. In Washington County, Federal revenue officer John Neville acted as Lennox 's guide. On July 15th, the two men served a writ on William Miller, but, after leaving the paper with the angry frontiersman, they were met by an armed group of his neighbors. A shot was heard as Lennox and Neville rode off, but neither man was injured.

Matters came to a head on July 16th when a group of angry farmers, including members of the extended Miller family, marched on Neville's house in the belief that Marshal Lennox was there. Confronted by these armed men, Neville shot and killed Oliver Miller. A shootout ensued, and Neville's slaves joined the fight by firing on the mob from their quarters. The protesters fled, but returned to Neville's house on July 17th with a force of 500 local militiamen. The tax collector, however, had slipped away earlier with the aid of a small squad of Federal soldiers from Fort Pitt who had come to guard his property. A shootout with the soldiers left rebel leader James McFarlane dead, but the greatly outnumbered Federals later surrendered. The rebels then burnt the Neville's house and barn to the ground. Several days later, David Bradford, deputy county attorney for Washington County, took command of the rebels in the county.

Visiting Whiskey Rebellion-Related Sites Today

Historical markers throughout southwestern Pennsylvania identify sites, homes and other buildings associated with the Whiskey Rebellion. A searchable list of historical markers can be found on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Web site at http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/.

For example, historical markers note important meeting sites of whiskey rebels at Braddock's Field, as well as Bonnet Tavern and Mingo Creek Church, both of which still stand today. Markers also note the location of aMiller family farmstead and the home of rebel leader David Bradford, both of which are now museums and open to the public."

Ancestors From Ulster (Northern Ireland), But Which Town and County?

County Down, Ireland

Our ancestor, Rebecca Bradford, was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Bradford. Previous posts show that Samuel and his brother James were Scots-Irish, having come to America from Northern Ireland. They probably lived on one of the Ulster Plantations, but which county of Northern Ireland they hail from is unknown. For more details, please use search box to see previous posts entitled "Rebecca's Uncle James Bradford" dated September 1, 2009, and "Our Scots-Irish Bradford Line" dated January 26, 2010.

According to http://www.ulsternationalist.freeservers.com/custom4.html: "Between 1717 and the American Revolutionary War years of the late 1770s and early 1780's an estimated quarter of a million Scots-Irish Presbyterian settlers left the Province of Ulster in the northern part of Ireland for the new lands across the Atlantic. They travelled in extremely hazardous conditions, in simple wooden sailing ships from the ports of Belfast, Lame, Londonderry, Newry and Portrush for the far-off berths of Philadelphia, New Castle (Delaware), Charleston, Baltimore and New York. Huddled together with the most meagre of belongings and money, they were a people forced to move because of the severe restrictions placed on their faith by the ruling British establishment of the day, and because of the economic deprivations prevailing in their Ulster homeland."

While records listing the actual names of the Scots-Ulster farmers are very rare, the following notation is of interest. It is a record from Armagh County, one of the counties of Northern Ireland, and lists a James Bradford. While this cannot be Rebecca's uncle James, as he had come to America 50 or so years earlier, it does show that there were Bradford's still living in County Armagh, Northern Ireland in the late 1700's, possibly descendants of the earlier Bradfords who did not emigrate to America (emphasis added):

"1784 Feb 10 SEAVER - BRADFORD DEED: 241557 see also DEED: 242429 NOTES: Sarah SEAVER [37] of Ballinahonebegg [38] , CO. Armagh widow of the one part and James BRADFORD [39] of Armagh in said County, Merchant of the other part.. James SWANZY [40] of Aveluagh [41] , Co. Monaghan was the executor of Richard SEAVER [42] who in a lease 27 September 1782 demised to Sarah SEAVER & Arthur OLIVER [43] of Ballinahonebeg - 1/3 part of the townland of Ballinahonebeg as was lately held by Charles SEAVER [44] & his undertenants containing 92 acres ... [refers to] Deed of partition made between Sarah SEAVER & Arthur OLIVER 15 Nov 1783 that Sarah SEAVER (executor etc) would have ½ of all rents and fines issuing out of the part of said premises held by Thomas Verner Esq. And also ½ rents and fines of part in possession of Arthur OLIVER called the bleach green and half of her late husband’s legacy ... Witnessed that the said Sarah SEAVER for £400 sold to James BRADFORD the lands in her part of the partition. Witness Arthur OLIVER of Ballinahonebeg, Co. Armagh linen merchant. Wm GEOGH [45] of Armagh, weaver. Robert JACKSON [46] of Woodvale [47] , Co. Armagh, Gent. James BRADFORD [SEAL]" [source: http://www.thesilverbowl.com/history/OLIVER-JACKSON-SEAVER.htm].

Sometimes in the quest to trace our ancestors, hitting "walls" leads us to research allied lines, such as in-laws, such as Miller/Millar and Dunlap. Also, the Allison's (AKA McAllison) and McDowell's were in-laws to James Bradford (James' daughters, thus Rebecca's cousins, having married Allison and McDowell boys. The McDowell and McAllison surnames show up in another rare list of Plantation names - see County Donegal and County Down (http://www.ulsternationalist.freeservers.com/custom2.html):

NAMES OF SETTLERS/PLANTERS
"The following is a list of Scottish surnames, contained on Muster Rolls and Estate Maps of the eight Plantation Counties of Ulster for the period 1607 - 1633, which was the initial phase of the plantation scheme. Surnames which occurred more than once in a County are indicated as x2, x3, x4, etc.:

COUNTY ANTRIM
Adair, Agnew, Barr, Black, Blair x2, Boyd x4, Bozwell x2, Brown, Brisbane, Burns, Buthill, Colville, Cunningham, Dewar, Dickie, Dobbin, Dunbar, Dunlop x4, Edmonston x2, Ellis x2, Fenton, Fullerton, Futhie, Haldane, Hamill x2, Hamilton, Hutchins, Johnston, Kennedy x2, Kinnear, Kirkpatrick, Kyd, Laderdeill, Logan, Luke, Lutfoot, Maxwell, Melvin, Millar, Montgomery, Moneypenny, Moore, Macauley, Macawley, Mcgoogan, Mackay, McNaughton, McNeill, McPherdirish, McRobert, Niven, O'Greeve, Ritchie, Ross, Shaw x4, Stewart x13, Thompson, Todd, Trane, Tullis, Wallace

COUNTY ARMAGH
Acheson x2, Allen x2, Archeson, Arkles, Bell x2, Brown, Calte, Carcott, Carothers, Cunningham, Davidson, Deans, Douglas, Dowling, Elliot, Ferguson x2, Flack, Gamble x2, Gilmore, Granton, Greer, Grier x2, Grindall x2, Hall, Hamilton x5, Hope, Johnston, Kirk, Leitch, Maxwell, x2, Moffatt, McKernan, Parker, Pringle, Rae, Richardson, Ritchie, Shirloe, Sturgeon x2, Syne, Trimble, Watson, Walshe, Walker, Wilkie, Wilson

COUNTY CAVAN
Anderson, Aughmooty x2, Bailie x5, Barber, Barbour, Coch, Creighton, Cutherbertson, Cavyson, Deans, Finlay x2, Hamilton x3, Kennedy, Lother x2, Miller, Musgrave, McCullagh, Price, Rae, Steele, Stevenson, Taylor, Tate, Udney, Wylie

COUNTY DONEGAL
Adair, Alexander, Allen x2, Arnett x2, Barkley, Barry, Bauld, Black, Blair, Boyd, Boyle x2, Brisbane, Brown, Bruce, Bryce, Buchanan, Burne, Calwell x2, Campbell x2, Carr x3, Cloggie, Colguhoun x2, Coohoone x2, Crawford, Cunningham x15, Dick, Donnell, Dougal, Dunne x3, Dunsayer, Ekyn, Ewart, Flemming, Forecheade, Fullerton, Fulton, Fyieff, Galt, Flabreth, Filmour, Glass, Glen, Gordon, Grynney, Hall, Hamilton x11, Harper, Henrison, Henry, Homes, Hood, Huggins, Hunter, Hutchins, Johnston, Julius, Kennedy, Kernes, Kilpatrick x2, Knox, Laycock, Leckie, Leitch, Leslie, Lindsay, Lockhard, Lodge, Machell, Machen, Martin, Maxwell, Montgomery, Moore, Moorhead, Murray, McAlison, McAuld, McCamuel, McClairne, McCullough, McErdy, McIlcheny, McIntyre, McKay, McKinney, McKym, McLintagh, McLoran, McMath, Nelson, Nesbitt, Orr, Patterson, Patoun, Patton, Peere (Perry), Pont, Purveyance, Rankin, Ritchie, Robin, Robson, Roger, Sawyer, Scott, Sempell, Semple x4, Simpson, Smelley, Smith x3, Smythe x2, Spence, Stephenson, Stevenson, Stevin, Stewart x4, Sutherland, Teyse (Tees), Thompson, Thomson, Valantyne, Vance, Watson, Wilson, Witherspoon, Wood x2, Young

COUNTY DOWN
Abercrombie, Adair x3, Adams, Agnew x2, Aicken, Allen, Anderson x2, Andrews, Bailie x2, Barkley, Barkie x3, Bayly, Beatty, Blackwood, Blair x5, Boyd x3, Brackley, Brown, Carlile, Carmichael, Carr, Carson, Cathcart x2, Catherwood, Chambers, Chermsides, Cooper, Cowper, Craig, Crawford x3, Crear, Cummings, Cunningham x13, Danielston, Davidson, Dick, Dickson, Dodds, Douglas, Drennan, Drummond, Dufferin, Dunbar, Dunleath, Dunlop x3, Echlin x4, Edmonston, Forsith, Frazer, Galloway, Galt, Galway, Gelston, Gemmil, Glen, Greenshields, Hamilton x14, Hare, Haper x2, Harvey x2, Hilton, Hogg, Howie, Howson, Hunter, Innes, Julius, Keevet, Kelly, Kelson, Kennedy x7, Kerr, Kilpatrick, Kirkpatrick, Kyle, Kylr, Leckey, Leslie, Lindsay, Lloyd, Logan x2, Magee, Martin, Mathyson, Maxwell x5, Millar, Monett, Moneypenny x3, Montgomery x18, Moon, Moore x7, Mowlane, Murray x2, McBurney, McBride, McCappin, McCartney, McCashin x2, McClelland, McCleery, McComb, McCrae, McCreedy, McCullen, McCurry, McDonnell, McDougall x3, McDowell x2, McEwen, McGarry, McGee, McGifford, McIllevrath, McIlveyne, McKay, McKee, McLarnan, McLellan x4, McLean, McMakene, McMaster, McMillan, McMullen, McNabb, Nesbitt, Nevin, Nugent, Orr, Patrick, Patterson, Peacock, Peebles, Pollock x2, Read, Reid x2, Reynolds, Robb, Ross x5, Rudd x2, Rutherford, Scott, Semple, Seton, Shaw x3, Spier, Stanehouse, Stanhouse, Stevenson, Stewart x2, Tate, Thomson x2, Trail, Waddell, Walker, Wallace, Wanchop, Wardlaw, Watson, Welsh, Williamson, Wilson x4, Wylie, Wyms, Young

COUNTY FERMANAGH
Crawford, Cathcart, Creighton x3, Cunningham x5, Chambers, Cranston, Dunbar x4, Deinbone, Erving, Elliot, Gibb, Gibson, Greer, Hall x3, Hamilton x5, Heigate, Irwin, Johnson, Lainge, Lindsay, Mitchell, Montgomery, Patterson, Smellham, Somervell, Stewart, Watson, Weir

COUNTY LONDONDERRY

Anderson, Andrews, Bridger, Buchanan, Cahoon x2, Cawder, Colter, Coulter, Crawford, Crockett, Cunningham x2, Dyke, Edward, English, Forester, Fullerton, Grant, Handcock, Johnston, Keeland, Kennedy, Kyle, Lindsay, Logy, Lynne, Lyon x2, Magghee, Maxwell x2, Midell, Moncreig, Moore, Morton, Mure, McAlexander, McLelland, Mackclellane, Mackleland x3, McLornan, McNeile, Palmer, Patterson, Polk, Power, Redgate, Russell, Sempell, Thomas, Thompson, Thomson, Young

COUNTY TYRONE
Abercorn, Acheson, Anderson, Andrews, Arnett x2, Barkley, Bean, Boyle, Burns, Carmichael, Carslow, Cathcart, Colville, Cooper, Craig, Creire (Greer), Crosby x2, Demstar, Donings, Crum, Drummond, Elpinstone, Ferry, Fingleton, Gamble, Gibbe Gibson, Granger, Grime, Gryme, Hamilton x15, Hatrick, Henderson x2, Hendrie, Hexburn, Highgate x2, Holmes, Karns, Kennedy x2, Kyle, Lawson, Lindsay x3, Love, Lynn x2, Mackerson, Maxwell x2, Means x2, Meens, Millar, Montgomery x8, Morne, Morrison, Morrow, Muntreeth, Murdogh, Murdruff, McAulay, McCreaghan x2, McCrery, McCullough, McGee, McGowan, McGraghan, McGunshenour, McIlmurry, McIntrye, McKaundy, McKean, McKittrick, Newburgh, Parke, Patterson, Pooke, Pringle, Reade, Richardson, Robinson, Saunderson, Sharpe, Simpson, Smythe, Spottiswood x4, Stephenson x5, Steward x3, Stewart x7, Symington, Wallace, Wilie, Wilson, Wood, Wooley, Wright, Young."

Though this list is, no doubt, incomplete, the lack of any Bradford name is puzzling.

Still, it was very common for these close-knit extended families to emigrate together and settle in close proximity to each other in America. The Bradfords, McDowells and Allisons did just this, all residing in the Elkton, Maryland region, then in later years moving west to Washington County in western Pennsylvania (right next door to where William and Rebecca would eventually relocate in Fayette County). Of these families it is written: "They were most efficient men, and, by their piety, generous efforts and gifts, did a great work in sustaining the first ministers of Western Pa. Out of the thirty-four families, twenty-two of their heads became elders, among whom were Judge Allison, Judge McDowell, James Bradford, Henry Graham, Robert Barr, James and Samuel Fleming, John Wright, Robert Moore, John Powers, John Allen, and Samuel, Ebenezer, Joseph, Michael and William Finley, all sons of the Rev. James Finley..." (http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdcecil/church/rockpresb.htm).

Another record shows the close kinship of these families: "Col. James Allison in the fall of 1773 emigrated with his family from Cecil County, Md., to the "Forks of the Yough" (now McKeesport), where he resided that winter, and in the spring of 1774 came to what is now Washington County and settled on Chartiers Creek. He and his family were of the twenty families who came to this section in that year, among whom were the Scotts, McDowells, Parks, Morrisons, Struthers, Norris, and others. He married a daughter of James Bradford, who came to Strabane township later and settled there. David Bradford, who was prominent in the Whiskey Insurrection, was a brother of Mrs. Allison, and Mrs. John McDowell was a sister." (Source:  http://www.chartiers.com/crumrine/twp-chartiers.html).

Hopefully future research will shed light on exactly which county and village in Northern Ireland our Bradfords came from. Perhaps research on the Allison and McDowell families will provide the needed clues to accomplish this goal.

Season's Greetings!

Sorry to all for not writing any new posts for a long time. Life has been crazy-busy, but I hope to re-start things after the holidaze. Thanks for your patience! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that the Christmas season brings you and your families an abundance of blessings, as well as fond memories of the past - donna

BILL MIILLER

Finally! Sorry it took so long for me to get this picture posted! This is our member, Bill Miller, who turned in the wonderful letter for the last post on this blog. Thanks for your patience, and if anyone has found a more user-friendly blog site (especially when it comes to loading pictures), let me know.

I encourage all of you to send in write-ups and photos about you and your ancestors for the blog. Thanks! Donna

A Letter From One Of Our Members!

Dear Family,

Below is a delightful letter from a long-time member of our group, Bill Miller, including a picture of his father and grandfather (blogger.com would not under any circumstances let me add the third picture of Bill himself, so I will have to add it separately...sorry). Thanks Bill, for heeding my call for all members to do a write-up about themselves!

Bill writes:

Dear Donna,

A bunch of Millers headed to Kansas in the mid-1800's via Ohio and plopped down in Osage City. My folks begat me in Topeka, my mom yanked me to Virginia where I grew up and now I'm sunning myself in Central Florida when it's not too humid to be outside. That's my life minus thousands of details. I'm a hack genealogist whose main mission is to layout a roadmap for others to prove. I must be ADD because the sourcing of facts drives me nuts!:)

None-the-less, I think my map is pretty legit. So I leave that to future generations and you guys because you're so good at it. I will beg of you to keep up the good work that you share so faithfully. Because, like you, I get a total rush learning about the tidbits of info that bring my ancient ancestors to life. I wish I could sit down to dinner with them all and hear their stories. Thanks so much for the blog. There's so much interesting, good stuff.

Abraham begat John Blackburn Miller,
John begat William Wesley,
WW begat William Jesse,
WJM begat William Jesse Miller, Jr.,
WJM Jr. begat William Huffman Miller (me)
and WHM begat Jesse Marie Miller (my sweet daughter).

Most humbly,

William Huffman Miller (please call me Bill)

William Jesse Miller (Bill's grandfather)

William Jesse Miller (Bill's father)

Will We Ever Know?

[pictured above - Sloop Ship "Constellation" at www.hnsa.org/ships/constellation.htm]

A fascinating and persisting family legend (I call it a legend, as we have no hard proof yet) is that William Miller was a boat-builder. Some say that he build sloop ships during the Revolution for General George Washington's Chesapeake Bay campaign, but decades of research has not turned up any proof of this. [Would love to find it, though!].

The legend goes on to say that after their move to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, he and his sons built flat-bottom boats along the Youghigheny River a. That might be easier to prove--see a previous post dated August 27, 2009, as well as the research I did in Salt Lake City below:

#1: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/do/digitalbookshelf/28448425/28448425_part_07.pdf [pictured below: The Meason Mansion]

Page 116: Boats loaded with iron from the Union Furnace sometimes left in fleets of three boats at a time for a southern delivery. Itemized lists of iron and the names of the boatmen for each boat were carried on the books of Mr. Meason and always headed "Adventure to Pittsburgh," "Adventure to Kentucky," or "Adventure to Limestone," in accordance with the intended destination of the boat. The wharf and boat yard at the mouth of Dunbar Creek were busy places. The teams from the furnace kept the saw mill supplied with logs, which furnished a crew of boat builders with material from which flat boats, sometimes called Kentucky boats, were built in lengths from twenty to forty-five feet. Some of the old timers who worked in the boat building crew were Joseph and William Miller, John Winnings, Christopher Taylor, Uriah Springer and his brother, Crawford Springer. The last two were grandsons of Hannah Crawford, widow of the ill-fated Colonel William Crawford, who lived nearby. Closely allied with the Union Furnace and Isaac Meason, is a commercial triumph, which adds still more luster to the historic record of old Fayette County. The claim for that achievement has now stood undisputed for more than a century, and the admission must therefore stand unchallenged for all time.

#2: 975.11 H2 K2W (SLC) "The Swedes and Dutch at New Castle" (Delaware)
There are land records dated 20 May 1735 that name both a William Miller and Joseph Miller!! No other info. This is too early to be our William, but could these be uncles? Also, Abraham Miller, William's father is mentioned often, and there are lots of references to the Springers and theCrawfords mentioned in the records of this county. Could these families have had a long neighbor/business relationship in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania?

We certainly need more research done on the Miller's and boat-building, but these are surely fascinating clues.

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If any of you have family history stories, research, pictures, etc., that you wish to share on this blog, please email them to me at: miller.and.bradford@gmail.com and I will post them in the future. Thanks! - Donna

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 2

Picture: Flowers in Delaware (from www.noboringed.com)

More Great Research From Chalmers:

"Children of David Miller and Dunlap are (not in birth order):

2. I. Abraham Miller, B: Abt. 1710 in New Castle, Delaware, USA, D: Aft. 1770 in Cecil Co., Maryland; Owned Simms Forest on Perch Creek.

ii. Robert Miller, B: Abt. 1710 in New Castle, Delaware, USA.

iii. Samuel Miller, B: Abt. 1710 in New Castle, Delaware, USA, D: Bef. 1761 in White Clay Creek, New Castle, Delaware, USA.

iv. Joseph Miller, D: Bef. 1761 in New Castle, Delaware, USA.

v. Mary Miller married a Blackburn.

vi. James Miller, D: Bef. 1761 in New Castle, Delaware, USA.

GENERATION 2

2. Abraham Miller-2(David Miller-1) was born on Abt. 1710 in New Castle, Delaware, USA. His death on Aft. 1770 in Cecil Co., Maryland (Owned Simms Forest on Perch Creek). He married Susanna before Feb 1, 1730. She was likely born in New Castle, Delaware, USA

Abraham Miller of New Castle co., Pa. purchased Simms Forest located in Back Water Hundred from George Hamilton of Prince Georges Co., Maryland on May 13, 1749. The bond recording the purchase was recorded Nov. 9, 1749. Witnesses: Rees Thomas and Martin Alexander. (Abstracts of Cecil County, Maryland Land Records, 1734-1753, p 157, by June D. Brown.

Tax records show Abraham was taxed on Simms Forest in 1755 and 1766. Andrew Miller is taxed on Knowlwood in 1766. Andrew is likely a son of Abraham. Taxables in Back Creek Hundred in 1761 include Andrew Miller, Abraham Miller, Benjamin Miller, William Miller and James Miller. In 1766: Abraham, Benjamin, William and Andrew Miller are listed.

Overseers of roads lists Abraham Miller in Back Creek in 1760. An Abraham Miller is also listed in 1765, 1767 and 1770 though his area is not given it appears to be Back Water Hun. From Inhabitants of Cecil County, 1649-1774 by Henry C. Peden.

Children of Abraham Miller and Susanna are:

I. William Miller, B: 22 Feb 1732 in probably New Castle Co., Delaware[1], D: 1814 in near Broadford, Dunbar Tsp., Fayette County, Pennsylvania, M: 13 Jun 1778 in Cecil Co., Maryland.

ii. Andrew Miller. Probably

iii. Benjamin Miller, B: New Castle, Delaware, USA.

iv. Samuel Miller - possibly

3. Joseph Miller-2(David Miller-1). He died on Bef. 1761 in New Castle, Delaware, USA. He married Mary.

Child of Joseph Miller and Mary is:

I. Andrew Miller

GENERATION 3

4. William Miller-3(Abraham Miller-2, David Miller-1) was born on 22 Feb 1732 in probably New Castle Co., Delaware. He died in 1814 near Broadford, Dunbar Tsp., Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He married Rebecca Bradford on 13 Jun 1778 in Cecil Co., Maryland, daughter of Samuel Bradford and Sarah Bradford. She was born about1760 in Maryland ?[2]. She died on 08 Mar 1835 in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania.

William signed an oath of allegiance in Cecil Co., Maryland on March 2, (or June 13 ?) 1778. He and Rebecca were married by Rev. William Thomson in Cecil Co. (Source: Cecil Co., Maryland Marriage Licenses 1777-1840). William was a native of Maryland but removed to Fayette Co., Penn. after the Revolution. The source for this and William Miller's children is the Allen Family Records presented to the DAR, Monongahela Valley Chapter, California, Penn. Dec. 1969.

Actually, from the records we now have it would appear that William and Rebecca and her Bradford family left Cecil Co. by Sept of 1780 when he sold his mill property to his brother. In fact, William made his first purchase of land in what became Fayette Co. in 1771. It is also interesting that though his brothers Benjamin and Andrew were very active in the Revolution, the only record we have of William is the signing of oaths of allegiance in Cecil Co in 1778 and again in Fayette Co. In 1782. My guess is that William was not an active supporter for either side. The Bradfords seem to also not have been active in the Revolution.

Rev. William Thompson was an Anglican minister. He also married John Miller to Margaret McCray, Aug. 3, 1778 and Henry Miller, Jr. to Sarah Knox Aug. 8 1780. These Millers may be relatives of William.

On Sept 22, 1780, Wm Miller and wife Rebecca grant to Benjamin Miller and Richard Ford land on both sides of Perch Creek and on the east side of Elk River (mill). Land was granted to Benjamin Miller Sept 9,1765 by the court for a mill. (Source: handwritten notes by Captain Jeremiah Baker, Chap., DAR - handwriting is difficult to read.) This land is out of the larger Simms Forest tract."

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)