Samuel Miller Esquire (abt. 1735 - 1819)

Born about 1 Jun 1735 in Cecil County, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Maffitt) Miller — married 10 Jan 1760 in Cecil County, Maryland

Descendants

Died 21 Mar 1819 at about age 83 in Cecil County, Maryland (Colora, MD; West Nottingham)

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jim Miller [send private message] and Julian Quattlebaum [send private message]

Biography

There is a possibility that Samuel Miller, Esq. was Samuel Miller-58973; b- c. 1733 PA; grandson of Alexander Miller, Sr.; however not enough information at this time to be comfortable with them being the same person.

There also is a slight possibility that Samuel Miller, Esq.'s father was Samuel Miller-60980 (b-1680 Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland; death date/location unknown). Samuel Miller-60980 was the son of Steam Ship Inventor, Patrick Miller-60984's (1731-1815; both in Scotland) grandfather, Mathew Thomas Miller. This would connect Steam Ship Inventor, James Rumsey born in same county (Cecil Co., Maryland) that Samuel Miller, Esq. lived to Steam Ship Inventor Patrick Miller of Scotland. Both Rumsey and Patrick Miller invented and did successful steam ship trials about a year apart. The brother of my 4th great grandfather, Dabney Miller (b-1750) of Virginia witnessed James Rumsey's contract to obtain Virginia patents on his steam ship invention in 1784. However looking at given names of Samuel Miller, Esq.'s descendants (Samuel and Thomas most common male names; and Agnes and Deborah most common female names); they are different than the common given names of Samuel Miller-60980's family (within a couple generations later in time).

History of Cecil County, Maryland, and the early settlements around the head of Chesapeake Bay and on the Delaware River, with sketches of some of the old families of Cecil County : Johnston, George, 1829-1891 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (link below):

• https://archive.org/details/historyofcecilco00john/page/538/mode/2up?q=Miller

In the link above a Samuel Miller is noted a few times that likely is Samuel Miller, Esq. His daughter Agnes Miller and her 1st husband are noted as well as a Henry Dobson Miller (1755-1781; died in Rev. War at age 26). I have not been able to identify Henry Dobson Miller other than what was noted: he descends from Dobson's on his mother's side.

NOTE: On page 8 of the "Life of Samuel Thomas Miller"; Samuel Thomas Miller notes his uncle James Miller died at a MILL that he had inherited from his grandfather, Samuel Miller, Esq. My Miller's in Virginia are documented to have also owned MILLS.

On page 281 of the "History of Cecil County" book in the link above (written in the 1850's I think); a Samuel Miller is noted as a commissioner with several other men listed below to raise funds to build a new church (Presbyterian it appears). The fund raising was initiated in 1796; however the commissioners to raise funds were not appointed until 1803. Samuel Miller, Esq. would have been 61 in 1796 and his son (also a Samuel Miller) would have been about 30 years old in 1796. I will assume the Samuel Miller in the church fund raising group was Samuel Miller, Esq. and not his son. Other men in fund raising group:

Robert Evans

James Sims

John Porter

Jonathan Hartshorn

Andrew Ramsay later gave 2 acres of land for the new church to the church trustees:

James Evans

Robert Evans

David Edmiston

James Cummings

Sources

Samuel Miller, Esq. a marriage date/location was emailed on 6/19/2020 to me by Frankie Van Cleave (a descendant of Samuel Miller, Esq.).

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70092509/samuel-miller: accessed April 1, 2024), memorial page for Samuel Miller (1 Jun 1735–21 Mar 1819), Find a Grave Memorial ID 70092509, citing West Nottingham Cemetery, Colora, Cecil County, Maryland, USA; Maintained by Jo Ann Gardner (contributor 47133730).
• https://archive.org/details/historyofcecilco00john/page/n6 |

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70092509

Samuel Miller Born 1 Jun 1735 Cecil County, Maryland, USA Died 21 Mar 1819 (aged 83) Cecil County, Maryland, USA Buried West Nottingham Cemetery, Colora, Cecil County, Maryland, USA Son of Thomas Miller and Agnes(UNK). Miller Spouse: Mary Maffitt Miller 1737–1818 Children: John Maffitt Miller 1774–1852

• Added additional children that Bev noted in the Biography section on the profile Bev entered for Thomas Miller.

Additional source on Samuel Miller (of his siblings only he and his brother Thomas are mentioned): NOTE: Two other relatives of his are also noted as born in Cecil County, Maryland John Miller and Elizabeth Miller McKee.

https://cultivatingfamilydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/life-of-samuel-thomas-miller.pdf

Research Notes

It is much to be regretted that my father, when a boy, did not obtain more information from his grandfather about his ancestry. No doubt Samuel Miller could have given him much information on that subject. But boys seldom care for such things; it is only when one grows older that he inquires into the antecedents of his forefathers, and then, too often, as in this case, the opportunity is lost. This history can only begin with Thomas Miller, who was the founder of our family in America. Of him my information is very limited. It can only be said of him that he emigrated to America from the north of Ireland and settle in Cecil County, Maryland, probably between the years 1720 and 1730. He was a staunch Presbyterian, and of that Scotch-Irish stock which has left its impress wherever it has gone, and has given to our country some of its most famous leaders in war, politics, science and literature. It is likely, though it cannot be affirmed, that his father too part in the struggle between William and Mary and James II, and he may have taken part in the famous defense of Londonderry. However this may be, it is certain that his sympathies were with the Protestants, and that he cherished the love of liberty which distinguishes his race. The only anecdote I ever heard of him illustrates his courage and his freedom from superstition. It is as follows: In company with several other gentleman, one dark night, as they were riding home they heard groans proceeding from a graveyard. The other gentleman put spurs to their horses and galloped away. Thomas Miller stopped, dismounted, tied his horse and proceeded to investigate. Guided by the sound, he soon found a drunken man who had fallen into a sunken grave and was lying in an uncomfortable position. There he might have frozen, for the night was cold. Thomas Miller lifted him up, and good Samaritan-like, placed him on his own horse, and ministered to his necessities. Thomas Miller left two sons, Samuel and Thomas, born in Cecil County. Thomas went to the northern neck of Virginia. Of his descendants (if he left any) I have no knowledge. Samuel Miller was the father of seven sons and four daughters, whose names are given by my father in his narrative. Six of the sons died without issue. The oldest son, Thomas, left only one son—my father, Samuel Thomas Miller. He was therefore the only representative of the Miller family bearing the Miller name in his generation. It does not now seem probable that the family will ever again be reduced to a single representative. Of the four daughters of Samuel Miller only two left issue; Jane, who married Mr. Killen, and went south. Of her descendants I know nothing. Mary (or as my father affectionately called her, “Aunt Polly”) married Mr. Clendenin. She left on son, Thomas, and two daughters, Nancy and Mary. My father spend two years when a boy in the family of Mr. Clendenin at Lancaster, Pa., where he attended the school of a famous classical teacher, Mr. James Ross. He always cherished a grateful recollection of his Aunt Polly, who endeared herself to him in many acts of kindness. Thomas Clendenin left only one daughter. Nancy Clendenin married Mr. William Freeman, of Philadelphia. She bore him five sons, James, Miller, George, Edward, and Samuel Thomas, named for my father. Of these, only Samuel Thomas is now living. Mary Clendenin never married. I had the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with both of these estimable ladies. Mrs. Freeman, in particular, was the most intelligent woman I ever met. My father in his narrative speaks with bitter self-condemnation of his own shortcomings and sins. It must not be concluded from this fact that he was a very wicked man. On INTRODUCTION 4 the contrary it only proved the tenderness of his conscience and the general rectitude of his conduct. He was a man of warm and generous impulses, and his indignation was quickly aroused by any instance of cruelty or unkindness, especially to a woman, a child, or a servant. His courage was of the highest order. He always dared to do what he thought was proper, regardless of personal consequences. In fact, I never knew him to exhibit any symptoms of fear. Perfect truthfulness and honest were among his distinguishing traits of character. When my brother William, at the age of sixteen, was about leaving home to go into business, my father gave him some parting advice. Among other things he said: “My son, whatever faults may have been imparted to the Millers, there are two things of which they have never been accused—lying and dishonesty. I hope you will never lower the family standard of morality or bring reproach upon the name.” I was then a boy of seven years, but the words made a deep impression on my mind, and I resolved then and there never to bring reproach upon the family name by committing the faults mentioned. It is high praise to my father and mother that they brought up eight sons and six daughters to maturity, not one of whom has ever brought a stain on the family name, and all of whom occupied high places in the communities in which they lived. With this brief introduction I now commend the reader to the following pages written by my father, Samuel Thomas Miller. Samuel H. Miller

1790 Cecil County, Maryland (West Nottingham Hundred) lists a Samuel Miller, Esquire with 5 free males over age 16; one free male under age 16; 3 free females; no other persons; and what appears to be 4 slaves, but could be 11 slaves or some other number-not clear. So have not accounted for one male child which could have been his living oldest son, Thomas Miller who being about 30 years old and married in 1784 in Chesterfield County, Virginia had already left home.

Also Jane Miller b- Abt. 1768 had likely left home or died prior to the 1790 Census since only 3 free females are listed. COULD SHE BE THE SINGLE PARENT OF THE OTHER SAMUEL MILLER THAT LEFT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN HIS WILL TO START THE SCHOOL IN ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA; GIVEN THE OTHER SAMUEL (THOMAS) MILLER IS BURIED IN THE SAME CEMETERY IN LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA?