John Milledge (1721 - 1781)

Born 1721 in England

Husband of Ann Skidoway Smith — married [date unknown] in Province of Georgia

Husband of Ann (Midedge) Milledge — married after 1763 (to Oct 1781) in Savannah, Province of Georgia

Descendants

Died 1781 at about age 60 in Savannah, Georgia, United States

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Biography

One of 112 Passengers on the Ann, - Original Settler of the Province of Georgia -

John Milledge was a Georgia colonist.

John Milledge served with Georgia during the American Revolution.

John was born in 1721. He is the son of Thomas Milledge and Elizabeth.

According to the passenger list for the Ann, Thomas Milledge and his family embarked on the Ann which sailed from Gravesend on Friday the 17th of Nov 1732, and arrived in the the new Colony of Georgia on the 1st of February 1733.^{[1] [2]} The passenger list recorded John Milledge, age 11, as one of the sons of Thomas Milledge.

John's father died on the 29th of July 1733, and his mother, Elizabeth, was recorded as dead June 1734.^[3] The original letter to James Oglethorpe received the 18th of June 1735, and detailing in whose homes orphans are placed gave a narrative of John Milledge which read:

"John Millidge have got him up a hut by ye help of Mr. [Thomas] Young & some of his Neighbors. He desired we would let his brother & sisters [Frances, Richard, and Sarah] live with him as we have consented to, but I fear its two young a family to do well, if they do not we will part ym."^[4]

The accounts of the Orphans and children maintained in the Orphan-house at Georgia listed two of the children taken in from their brother, John Milledge on the 19th of January 1739:^[5]

Richard Millidge - in Savannah - age 13 - returned to his brother on the 10th of April 1740 , and since put to J. Papott, carpenter, at Savannah

Frances Millidge - in Savannah - age 12 - returned to her brother on the 10th of April 1740 in Savannah.

On the 16th of Oct 1741, John Milledge was appointed Tything man in the room of Jo. Burton.^[6] The Tything was the Guard formed by General Oglethorpe. In October 1742, the Journal of the Earl of Egmont recorded Fort Arguiles [Argyle] strengthened by 20 Rangers under command of John Milledge by Genl. Oglethorpe.^[7]

John Milledge made several requests to be granted land. The Council records recorded on the 29th of December 1742 concerning John Milledge's petition for 500 acres of land, that the Secretary write to Mr. Stephens and acquaint him that the Trustees cannot resolve to grant 500 acres of land to Mr. John Milledge, because He as President and the Assistants have not represented Millidge's substance and ability to cultivate the same, which they ought to have done, since his Town Lot at Savannah has been entirely neglected. It if shall appear however, that the said John Millidge has sufficient means (independent of his Military Command) to cultivate 500 acres, the Trustees will have no objection to granting the same, on condition that the said John Millidge shall relinquish his Town Lot at Savannah.^[8] At a meeting on Wednesday the 19th of Aug 1747,

Mr. John Milledge being in Town was sent for and acquainted that the Trustees had signified to this Board that he might possess such part of the lands, as he had heretofore petitioned for as We should think him capable of cultivating, on Condition that he should resign his Lott in the Town of Savannah; To which he replied that he had been at the expense of near 300 pounds sterling in improving of said lands and building and hath at this time a considerable stock of horses and black ca(?), the removing whereof would be his inevitable ruin. And is the lot in the town of Savannah was the first lands that ever he was possessed of he absolutely refused to surrender the same; Therefore the Board could not grant him any part the the said lands...^[9]

An indenture recorded "John Milledge for the love and affection that I do bear unto [Richard Milledge my true and well beloved brother of the town of Savannah, carpenter," granted all his right property claim to the Town Lot No. 6 in Tyrconnel Tything Derby Ward in the Town of Savannah together with the garden and farm lots on the 10th day of September 1744.^[10]

On the 17th of October 1750, Mr. John Milledge petitioned for 400 acres of land on the south side of little Ogechee River at the back of lands granted to William Wilson and his son John, setting forth, that he some years ago made considerable improvements on a tract of land on the great Ogechee, while he commanded the Garrison on the said River, but the same having never been confirm'd to him, and the Provincial Troops being broke, made it inconvenient for him to desire to be fixed there; and that he has since been industriously employ'd in cutting Lumber... but now conceives it to be high time to make a settlement for his future Welfare—The Board having for some time past observed, that this good natur'd young man has been employing his strength and industry rather for the service of others, than for himself, could not but approve of his design of making a Settlement, therefor granted his request; and they cannot omit observing, that he has at all time appeared peculiarly active to serve the Colony, whenever required, especially in all Disturbances with the Indians, being a good Horseman and well acquainted with the woods.^[11]

John Milledge had a plantation on Skidaway Island called "Modena." Modena was an active plantation until Mid-Nineteenth Century. The name is thought to come from Modena, Italian seat of silk culture; an industry envisioned for early Georgia, but which did not flourish.^[12]

Between 1752 and 1757, John had married, and had three children, and five Negroes when he petitioned for another land grant of 160 acres adjoining his 500 acre tract on the great Ogechee which was granted conditionally in November 1757. He also Petitioned for two vacant farm lots lying in the first Tything of Anson Ward containing together 90 acres and adjoining a small tract of land heretofore granted the petitioner's wife which was granted conditionally.^[13] Afterwards, numerous indentures of purchases and sales of land were recorded in the Georgia Colonial Conveyances for land on the Ogechee and in the town of Savannah for John Milledge of Christ Church Esquire, and his brother Richard Milledge, Carpenter.

Colonial deeds and conveyances for lands owned by John recorded his wife's name as Ann. On the 13th day of August 1761, John Milledge of Savannah of the Province of Georgia Esqr conveyed to James Bullock town lot number four in the first Tything Anson Ward in the town of Savannah which was granted to John Milledge and Ann his wife on the 7th day of August 1759.^[14]

The Georgia Gazette reported on the 17th Nov 1763, that Mrs. Milledge, wife of John Milledge, Esq. died Sunday last.^[15] From a Deposition given by Mrs. Ann Milledge on the 17th of Feb 1786, concerning one Mrs. Mary Harris' children born the latter in December 1760, at that time Mrs. Ann Milledge was called Ann Rasberry from her first husband.^[16] John remarried Mrs. Anne Raspberry whose spouse, Thomas Raspberry, died in March or April of 1762.

Of the three children noted in 1757, only two were still alive in 1767. A deed of trust was set up by John Milledge of Savannah, Esquire to provide for the support and maintenance of Frances Robe of Savannah widow, and of her grand children, John Milledge and Mary Elizabeth Milledge, the son and daughter of said John Milledge which protected lots one and two in Hucks Tything Percival Ward in Savannah, 334 acres of land on Skidoway Island in the parish of Christ Church as well as 20 enslaved persons on the 10th day of July 1767.^[17]

In 1767, The Widow Penelope [Wright] Fitzwalter of Savannah whose son, John Norton Wright, had previously petitioned for land with John Milledge died, and left unto Mrs. Frances Robe of Savannah widow or in case of her death unto John Milledge and Mary Elizabeth Milledge daughter of John Milledge her town lot number seven in Wilmington Tything Darby Ward along with the farm lot, and also to John Milledge son of said John Milledge her town lot in Savannah situate and being in Fredric Tything Darby Ward number ten and also the farm lot. She appointed John Milledge Esquire Executor.^[18]

John continued "employing his strength and industry rather for the service of others" throughout his life. John Milledge was one of the 13 members of the House of Representatives in November 1756.^[19] Several notices posted in The Georgia Gazette documented he was a Vestryman for Christ Church Parish in 1765 and 1767. In 1769, John Milledge was one of four men elected to serve in the General Assembly for the town and district of Savannah.^[20] The Proceedings of the Georgia Council of Safety documented his patriotism to the liberty of America. In 1775 with a scarcity of powder in the northern Province, "Governor Wright had a magazine in Savannah which stored a considerable quantity of ammunitions. On the eleventh of May, under cover of darkness, Noble Wymberly Jones, Joseph Habersham, John Milledge, Edward Telfair, Joseph Clay and William Gibbons, with a few others who accompanied them, broke into the magazine and carried away the powder, sending a part of it to South Carolina and concealing the remainder in their cellars till it might be needed in defense of their homes."^[21] Georgia's roster of the revolution listed John Milledge as Son of Liberty; and Attorney-General.^[22] In Georgia, the Sons of Liberty were called The Liberty Boys. Some historical accounts credit the son, John Milledge Jr., with this; however, he would only have been about age 18 in 1775. The British Disqualifying Act of 1780 listed " John Milledge, Junior, late the same Rebel Assemblyman."^[21]

The Last Will and Testament of Frances Robe of Savannah left legacies to her grandson John Milledge the younger of Savannah Gentleman, and grand daughter Mary Elizabeth Demere wife of Raymond Demere which was dated the 16th of April 1778.^[23] One Charles Milledge was a witness to the will.

The Royal Georgia gazette on the 11th of October 1781 reported John Milledge Sen. Esq. died on his way from Augusta to this place [Savannah].^[24] His death in 1781 was also noted in a narrative on John Milledge in the Original papers, Correspondence to the Trustees, James Oglethorpe, and Others 1732-1735.^[25]

Children

Children's names documented born to John Milledge and his first wife, Ann Smith daughter of Frances Robe (Relict of Thomas Smith) born between 1752 and 1763:

John Milledge

Mary Elizabeth Milledge married Raymond Demeré

Research Notes

Although it is documented his wife was the daughter of Frances Robe, her birth surname was Smith. A petition in 1750 for land by William Davis noted he had some time past resided on fifty acres of land belonging to Mrs. Robe relict of Thomas Smith on Skidoway Island. ^[26]

Sources

1. ↑ Immigrant Ships. Transcribers Guild. Harbuck, Deborah. Ross. Mary.Ship Ann. 30 Nov 1999. citing 65 to 71, Milledge. Digital image: Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild. Accessed 5 Nov. 2020.
2. ↑ Coulter, Ellis Merton, and Saye, Albert B., editors. A List of the Early Settlers of Georgia. Athens, Georgia. The University of Georgia Press. 1949. Persons Who Went from Europe to Georgia at the Trustees' Charge. Page 36 citing Person #1022 Millidge, Jo., Page 109, citing Thomas Milledge, John Milledge. Digital PDF: dlg.galileo.usg.edu. Accessed 1 Nov 2020.
3. ↑ Journal Earl of Egmont. "A List of Persons who went from Europe to Georgia On their own account, or at the Trustees charge, or who joyned the Colony, or were born in it distinguishing Such as had Grants there or were only Inmates, page 121, 122, citing Milledge, Thos; 132 citing Aaron. Digital images: Digital Library of Georgia. Accessed 3 Nov 2020.
4. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of the Sate of Georgia, Volume 20 - Original papers, Correspondence to the Trustees, James Oglethorpe, and Others 1732-1735. 1732-1735. Athens Georgia. The University of Georgia Press. 1982. Page 302, citing John Milledge. Digital images Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 12 Nov 2020.
5. ↑ White, Rev George. Historical Collections of Georgia. New York. Pudney & Russell. 1855. An Account of the Orphans and Children that have been maintained in the Orphan-House at Georgia. citing Page 332, citing 4. Richard Millidge, Page 333, citing 36. Frances Millidge Digital images: Google.com books. Accessed 5Nov 2020.
6. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of Georgia, Volume 5, Journal of the Earl of Egmont First President of the Board of Trustees from June 14, 1738 to May 25, 1744. Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company Printers, Publishers. 1903? Page 554 , citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 5 Nov 2020.
7. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of Georgia, Volume 5, Journal of the Earl of Egmont First President of the Board of Trustees from June 14, 1738 to May 25, 1744. Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company Printers, Publishers. 1903? Page 657 , citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 5 Nov 2020.
8. ↑ Candler, Allen D. Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume II. Minutes of the Common Council of the Trustees...Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company Printers, Publishers. 1904. Page 479, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 5 Nov 2020.
9. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of Georgia, Volume VI. Proceedings of the President and Assistants from October 12, 1741 to October 30, 1754. Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company Printers, Publishers. 1906. page 190, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 5 Nov 2020.
10. ↑ Colonial Government, Conveyances, RG 49-1-3, Georgia Archives. Record ID vol3-8972. Georgia Colonial Conveyance Book C-1, Page 25, citing John Milledge to Richard Milledge. Digital images: Georgia Archives, Virtual Vault. Accessed 7 Nov 2020.
11. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of Georgia, Volume VI. Proceedings of the President and Assistants from October 12, 1741 to October 30, 1754. Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company Printers, Publishers. 1906. Page 344, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 5 Nov 2020.
12. ↑ Georgia Historical Commission. Department of Natural Resources. Georgia Historical Markers. Modena plantation, citing John Milledge. Georgia Historical Society. Accessed 8 Jan 2021.
13. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of Georgia, Volume VII, Journal of the Proceeding and Minutes of the Governor and Council, 30th day of Oct 1754 ending 6th of March 1756. Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company Printers, Publishers. 1906. Page 655, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 5 Nov 2020.
14. ↑ Colonial Government, Conveyances, RG 49-1-3, Georgia Archives, Record ID vol3-8976. Georgia Colonial Conveyance Book C-2 Page 606 - 608. citing John Milledge Esqr and wife Anne. Digital images: Georgia Archives, Virtual Vault. Accessed 6 Nov 2020.
15. ↑ The Georgia gazette. (Savannah, Ga.) 1763-1776, November 17, 1763, Image 3, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Georgia Historic Newspapers. Accessed 6 Nov. 2020.
16. ↑ Chatham County, Georgia Deed Book C. Page 112 Ann Milledge her affadavit. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film 008564900 image 254 of 695. Accessed 6 Nov 2020
17. ↑ Colonial Government, Conveyances, RG 49-1-3, Georgia Archives, Colonial Conveyances, Record ID vol3-8973. Georgia Colonial Conveyance Book V, Page 246-9, John Milledge. Digital images: Georgia Archives, Virtual Vault. Accessed 9 Nov 2020.
18. ↑ Georgia Archives. Will Books, Colony of Georgia, RG 49-1-5, Georgia Archives Record ID cwb124, Will of Penelope Fitzwalter. Georgia Archives, Virtual Vault. Accessed 3 Nov 2020.
19. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of Georgia, Volume VII, Journal of the Proceeding and Minutes of the Governor and Council, 30th day of Oct 1754 ending 6th of March 1756. Page 410, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 1 Nov 2020.
20. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume XV, 1769 to 1782. Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company. 1907. Page 3, 4, 5, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 8 Nov 2020.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Candler, Allen D. The Revolutionary records of the State of Georgia, Volume I. Proceedings of the Georgia Council of Safety. Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company. 1908. Page 66, citing John Milledge, Page 352. citing John Milledge, Junior. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 7 Nov 2020.
22. ↑ Georgia. Dept. of Archives and History; Knight, Lucian Lamar, 1868-1933. Georgia's roster of the revolution, containing a list of the states defenders; officers and men; soldiers and sailors; partisans and regulars; whether enlisted from Georgia or settled in Georgia after the close of hostilities. Atlanta, Georgia. Index Printing Company. 1920. Page 423, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Internet Archives. Accessed 8 Nov 2020.
23. ↑ Chatham County, Georgia, Will Book B, page 74, citing Frances Robe. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film 005759790, image 349 of 485. Accessed 6 Nov 2020.
24. ↑ The Royal Georgia gazette. (Savannah, Ga.) 1779-1782, October 11, 1781, Image 2. column 3, citing John Milledge Senr. Esq. Digital images: Georgia Historic Newspapers. Accessed 6 Nov 2020.
25. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of the Sate of Georgia, Volume 20 - Orignal papers, Correspondence to the Trustees, James Oglethorpe, and Others 1732-1735. Athens Georgia. The University of Georgia Press. 1982. Page 184, citing John Milledge. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 12 Nov 2020.
26. ↑ Candler, Allen D. The Colonial Records of Georgia, Volume VI. Proceedings of the President and Assistants from October 12, 1741 to October 30, 1754. Atlanta, Georgia. The Franklin-Turner Company Printers, Publishers. 1906. Page 336, citing Mrs. Robe. Digital images: Hathi Trust Digital Library. Accessed 5 Nov 2020.