Henry Miller I (abt. 1726 - abt. 1797)

Born about 1726 in County Londonderry, Ireland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about Sep 1797 at about age 71 in Rockbridge County, Virginia, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Saundra Cooke [send private message] and Robert Stiles [send private message]

Biography

Henry was born in 1726 in Londonderry, Ireland and died in between 21 Aug and 03 Oct 1797 in Rockbridge County, Virginia.^[1][2]

His wife was Rebecca Boggs, also from Londonderry.

Children:

1. John Boggs Miller, b. about 1756 in Ireland -1826
2. William Miller 1757-1840 married Elizabeth Lackey
3. Samuel Miller 1760-1846 married Margaret Lackey
4. Margaret Miller 1761-1840 married David Leech
5. Elizabeth (Polly) Miller 1772-1855 married John Wilson
6. Jean Miller 1776-1851 married Thomas Ochiltree
7. Rebecca Miller 1777-1813 married William Ramsey, Jr.^[2]

According to Ochiltree, Henry Miller and family first went to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1757. They stayed there until 1770 when they went to Augusta County, Virginia, settling about 2.5 miles east of the Natural Bridge and 3 miles north of the James River. This area is now in Rockbridge County.

Henry and Rebecca Boggs Miller moved from Lancaster Co., PA to Botetourt Co. (now Rockbridge), VA. Here they received 400 acres in the Greenlee Grant. The farm was located 2.5 miles east of the Natural Bridge and 3 miles north of the James River. It was here on the eastern side of "Indian Road" that Henry erected a home. Also built on this land was the twelve (12) cornered church of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian faith known as The Fork of James Meeting House. They reared seven (7) children here. The homestead land that was remaining at the time of Henry's death was willed to son Samuel (3rd son). His will was proved October 1797. Henry, and later Rebecca, were buried in the little graveyard of the Fork of James Church. The original home and church are long gone. The cemetery was abandoned and neglected to the point of being overgrown and undetectable as a cemetery. In the 1980's it was re-discovered and cleared of brush and debris. Then called the Miller-Irwin Cemetery, a new memorial monument to the Millers was erected.

Henry passed away in 1798 and was interred in the Miller-Irwin Cemetery, Rockbridge County, Virginia, USA^[3]

Rebecca passed away in 1816.

Research Notes

Researchers should be aware that there were several Henry Miller's in Augusta Co. prior to 1800. It's easy to get them confused.

Parents (needs research) Henry Miller 1700 - 1750 Alice Crane 1700 - 1750

There is a transcription of Henry Miller's will in the Ochiltree book starting on page 157. The will is dated 21 August 1797. The transcriptionist states that the will was presented to the Rockbridge County, Virginia court on 03 Oct 1797 by Samuel and William Miller, Executors. In his will, Henry names his wife, Rebecca, and the children listed above.

• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/80768154/person/38425269361/facts

Sources

1. ↑ Rockbridge County, Virginia wills, Henry Miller, Will Book 2, pp. 40-42
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Clementine Brown Bailey, History of the House of Ochiltree of Ayrshire, Scotland: with the Genealogies of Those Who Came to America and some of the Allied Families 1124-1916 Bulletin Printing Co., 1916 pp 157-159
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (Find A Grave: Memorial #55121894: accessed 22 February 2022), memorial page for Henry Miller (1726–1798), citing Miller-Irwin Cemetery, Rockbridge County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Karen Avery Miller (contributor 47289196) .

• Library of Virginia, Land Office Patents No. B, p. 128; 1 December 1779, Land patent for Henry Miller, assignee of Matthias Doak, assignee of John Allison, in Augusta Co. for 400 acres in the fork of James River, surveyed 28 September 1769, beginning at a white oak and black oak, N20W 72 poles crossing the Great Road, W 292 poles to 2 white oaks and hickory corner to James Gilmore and with his line S24E 14 poles to a poplar, S80W 54 poles to a hickory and red oak corner to James Gilmore, S55W 100 poles to 3 white oaks, S5E 60 poles to 2 white oaks and hickory, SE 60 poles to 3 white oaks, S60E 160 poles to 3 white oaks on top of a hill, N52E 330 poles to beginning.

• Rockbridge County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, FHL Film 7856292; Henry Miller appears on these lists from 1782-1786.

• Rockbridge County, Virginia Deed Book B, p. 128 (FHL Film 7898607, Image 85); 1 June 1790, Henry Miller and Rebeckah, his wife of Rockbridge Co. to Andrew Susong, 90 acres on waters of James River on the south side of Buck hill adjoining Jacob Hilford, William Crafford, Susong. Wit: Jonathan Poag, Jacob Susong. Note: Andrew Susong was also granted 27 acres 29 October 1792 near waters of Cedar Creek and adjoining James Daugherty, David Greenlee and Henry Miller.

• Library of Virginia, Land Office Grants No. 13, p. 160; 25 June 1787, Land grant for Henry Miller, in Rockbridge Co., assignee of William Paxton, 90 acres surveyed 30 November 1785 on waters of James River adjoining his own land, Jacob Hilford, William Crawford, decd, and Andrew Suson’s land.

• Rockbridge County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1787-1810, (FHL Film 7856293); Henry Miller appears on these lists from 1787-1794 (last year checked).

• Rockbridge County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1791-1797 (FHL Film 7738869); 14 February 1792, Marriage bond by John Wilson and Henry Miller for marriage of John Wilson and Elizabeth Miller.

• Rockbridge County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1791-1797 (FHL Film 7738869, Image 669); 13 February1796, Marriage bond by Thomas Ocheltree and Henry Miller for marriage of Thomas Ocheltree and Jean Miller, “daughter of Henry Miller”.

• Rockbridge County, Virginia Deed Book E, p. 193 (FHL Film 7898767, Image 401); 5 September 1797, Henry Miller and John Miller of Rockbridge Co. to Hugh Paul of Augusta Co., 300 acres in the forks of James River adjoining David Greenlee, Poag, John Greenlee and Gilmore. Wit: James Long, James Paul, Thomas Ochiltree.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Robert Stiles for creating WikiTree profile Miller-15602 through the import of 2013-07-01.ged on Jul 1, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Robert and others.