James Miller (abt. 1763 - bef. 1831)

Born about 1763 in Merrimack, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1831 before about age 68 in Dodge, Sutton, Missiquoi, Lower Canada [uncertain]

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Biography

James was born around 1763, the third son of Hugh Miller and Mary Ann Rogers. He was most likely born in Merrimack, New Hampshire, on a farm previously owned by his uncle Major Robert Rogers, famous leader of the Rogers Rangers during the Seven Years War.

After Merrimack, he lived in Bradford, Vermont for about 25 years, starting when his parents moved there in the late 1760s or not later than 1770. During the Revolutionary War, his father and older brothers were away for months at a time, so James most likely had to learn to take responsibilities in running the farm while just a teenager.

James was very probably married in Bradford around 1787/88 to an unknown wife. The only thing we do know, from the baptismal records in Canada of his three youngest children, was that his wife was named Jane or Jenny^[1]. In all, James is believed to have had 8 children as follows:

1. Charity b. abt. 1789, Bradford, Vt., m. Daniel Jones
2. Jacob b. abt 1791, Bradford, Vt., m. Susan Barnett
3. James Jr. b. abt 1792, Bradford, Vt., m1. Amy Barnett, m2. Mary Ruiter
4. Thaddeus b. Jul 1798, Richford, Vt., m1. Sarah Courser, m2. Hannah Ewell, m3. Mary Aiken
5. Betsey b. abt 1801, Glen Sutton, Lower Canada, m. Simeon Courser
6. Rogers b. 26 May 1806, Glen Sutton, Lower Canada, m. Caroline Stanhope
7. Jane b. 29 Nov 1809, Glen Sutton, Lower Canada, m. Sumner Eastman, and
8. Sally b. 18 Aug 1812, Glen Sutton, Lower Canada, m. Isaac Stanhope, Jr.

The 1790 Census (actually taken in 1791) shows James as expected in Bradford with a wife and two children (1 boy, 1 girl)^[2]. In 1795, he moved his family along with his parents and several of his siblings and their families to the virgin territory of Richford, Vermont. Not content with being a pioneer in Richford, James is credited in 1799 with being the first settler of Glen Sutton across the border in Lower Canada, just about 3 miles upstream the Missisquoi river. He doesn't appear on the 1800 Richford census, and the 1842 census for his older children indicates they had migrated to Canada 40-42 years prior i.e. 1800-1802.

James' three youngest children were baptized on Oct. 15, 1813, as listed in the Steward's Book for the Dunham Methodist Circuit. The entries nbr. 212, 213 and 214 read:

"212 Miller, Rogers was born on May 26, 1806 and was baptized on Oct. 15, 1813, s/o James & Jenny Miller. Baptized at Sutton by John T. Addonis"^[3]

"213 Miller, Jenny was born on Nov. 29, 1809 and was baptized on Oct. 15, 1813, d/o James & Jenny Miller. Baptized at Sutton by John T. Addonis"^[4]

"214 Miller, Sally was born on Aug. 18, 1812 and was baptized on Oct. 15, 1813, d/o James & Jenny Miller. Baptized at Sutton by John T. Addonis"^[5]

On the 1825 census, the family is resident in the area of Sutton Township later to become known as Glen Sutton, with 7 family members, thought to be James, his wife, three youngest children plus son James and his son, having just lost his wife^[6].

Since James does not appear in the 1831 census (there is a James Miller, but with the age profile of his son's younger family), it is assumed that he passed away before 1831. Unfortunately we have no further details.

Research Notes

On 16 August 1830, James Miller the Elder (Senior) sold lot number 20 in the 3rd range in the Township of Sutton to Cornelius Morgan.^[7] Because of this, It is likely that he died between 16 August 1830 and 1 October 1831 (End date of the 1831 census).

Sources

1. ↑ Steward's Book of the Methodist Dunham Circuit, Sequence Numbers 212, 213, and 214
2. ↑ 1790 United States Federal Census, Bradford, Orange County, Vermont
3. ↑ Steward's Book, Dunham Methodist Circuit, Seq. No. 212
4. ↑ Steward's Book, Dunham Methodist Circuit, Seq. No. 213
5. ↑ Steward's Book, Dunham Methodist Circuit, Seq. No. 214
6. ↑ 1825 Census, Lower Canada, County of Bedford, Township of Sutton, Page 848|James Millar
7. ↑ Léon Lalanne, 1799-1845, BAnQ Sherbrooke, Fonds Cour supérieure. District judiciaire de Bedford. Greffes de notaires, (05S,CN502,S26).
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