William Miller (1688 - 1768)

Born 1688 in Ireland

Died 14 Sep 1768 at about age 80 in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey

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Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import.^[1] It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

Immigration

Immigration:

Date: ABT 1730

Note

Note: #H94

Sources

1. ↑ Miller-23748 was created by Tim Adams through the import of ken adams Oct 28 2014.ged on Oct 28, 2014. This comment and citation can be deleted after the biography has been edited and primary sources are included.

Notes

Note H94Individual:

William Miller was a Yeoman Farmer.

14 Sep 1768 William Miller of Morristown, Morris Co. yeoman will of William Miller: To wife M agra 17 acres in Somerset, Co, Joining Abraham Southard and Elisha Ayers, while she lives. Son William, plantation where he lives, it being at a place called the Cove, in York Government, of 150 Acres. Son Henry, the plantation he lives on, of 150 acres, it also being at the Cove. Son John, plantation he lives on of 150 acres, it also being at the Cove. Son Garrett, plantation he lives on of 150 acres, it also being at the Cove. My daughter, Sarah, 50 acres at the Cove. Daughter Lisa LeFever, the sum of L100. Daughters, Elizabeth and Katrien, the Plantation I live on, with the 70 acres that Joins it; but my wife is to live on the plantation as long as she lives. Executrix my wife Magra. Witnesses--Amariah Sutton, blackert Whitneck, Pauline Miller. Proved 21 Sep 1768.

20 Sep 1768. Inventory L357.0.6 Made by Amariah Sutton and Edward Lewis, Signed by Catherin e Miller Executrix. Lib 1, page 343*

*Reference: New Jersey Colonial Documents: Calendar of Wills 1761-1770 pages 290-291

One of the decendants said the family came from Smith Clove in Orange Co. NY Frenches Gazate er has this to say. Lower Smith Clove is one mile south of Highland Mills, and was settled about 1742 by a family by the name of Smith, who gave it the name Smith Clove. Among the other pioneer families were members of the Miller Family. In 1790 there were over 200 families by the name Miller in NY among them the Garrett Miller listed in New Cornwall Town, Orange Co, NY*

*Reference: Wellsboro Gazette, 3 March 1982 "Journey to Day before Yesterday" written by Rhod a English Ladd.

William had a plantation (farm) in Morris County, New Jersey as well as some property in neighboring Somerset County which were left to his wife and daughters in his will made just three days before his death in September 1768. Three years earlier in 1765, William had purchased 650 acres of land in the Cheesecock Patent from Lord Stirling. The five parcels of land were all located in New Cornwall Precinct, in Orange County, New York. The area was popularly referred to as Smith's Clove ("Clove" is an Anglo-Saxon word that means "valley") after the name of the family that first settled there. In the early 19th century, the village and town was was renamed "Monroe".

William apparently prospered in New Jersey, as he agreed in an Indenture (Contract) dated 11 July 1765 to pay 975 pounds in New Jersey proclamation money for the land in New York . This is about 3,000 in 2008 terms. Each of his sons, William, Henry, John, and Garrett received a Plantation of 150 acres in New York, and they moved there to live soon after the purchase was made.

William died 17 September 1768 and was buried in the Presbyterian Church burial ground at Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey. (see photo of grave stone above.) The inscription on the gravestone: "HERE lies interr'd ye body of William Miller who departed this life Sept ye 17th in the 80th year of his Age."

At this time I have not determined the parents of William. Some sources list William's father as a William born in 1594 in England. This is very unlikely as it would make William's father 94 years old when his son was born and his mother 90!

There is strong evidence that William was of German origins.

There is some evidence that William may have come to North America by way of Ireland as part of the Palentine immigration of 1709.

Palentine immigrants to New York in 1710 included Wilhelm Mueller, wife Margaretha, and one child.