James Miller (1776 - 1851)

Born 25 Apr 1776 in Peterborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Husband of Martha Ferguson — married Oct 1802 in Hancock, Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Husband of Ruth Flint — married 9 Apr 1808 in Lincoln, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 7 Jul 1851 at age 75 in Temple, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Lynette Jester [send private message] and Arkansas Project WikiTree [send private message]

Preceded by Arkansas Territory Organized March 2, 1819

James Miller 1st Governor of Arkansas Territory 1819—1824

Succeeded by 2nd Territorial Governor George Izard

Biography

James Miller is a part of Arkansas history. Join: Arkansas Project Discuss: arkansas

Gen. James Miller served in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s):
Service ended:

James Miller was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in the War of 1812.

James Miller is Notable.

Son of James Miller and Catharine Gregg. He had formal education at Amherst, Massachusetts Academy and Williams College where he studied for a career as a lawyer. He was married to Martha Ferguson and they had a son James Ferguson Miller who later became a naval officer. After the death of Martha he re-married to Ruth Flint. He had enlisted in the New Hampshire Militia; but, soon he transferred to regular Army as a Major with the 4th United States Infantry and found victory over many Indians in the Indiana Territory. This hastened his advancement to Colonel. In 1812, his unit was called to Detroit, Michigan and the Battle of Maguaga. James was captured and became a prisoner; though, he was soon exchanged.

By the year 1814, he was a Colonel with the 21st Infantry Regiment and found action at the Battle of Lundy's Lane. He led his unit to capture the British artillery and was known for his famous quote of, "I will try sir!" He became known as "Hero of Lundy's Lane." For this gallant leadership he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and made a brevet Brigadier General.

After the war, Miller held multiple political offices including, Governor of the Arkansas Territory, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Arkansas Territory, House of Representatives in New Hampshire, and Collector of Customs in Salem, Massachusetts.

Nathaniel Hawthorn based his character of The General in the Custom-House chapter of The Scarlet Letter on Miller. They had served together at the Salem Port.

Miller died from his second stroke in 1851.

Legacy

• Miller County, Arkansas is named in his honor.

Miscellaneous

Bolton, S. Charles. Arkansas 1800–1860. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 1998.

Ledbetter, Cal. “General James Miller: Hawthorne’s Hero in Arkansas.” Arkansas Historical Quarterly 47 (Summer 1988): 99–115.

White, Lonnie. “James Miller: Arkansas’ First Territorial Governor.” Arkansas Historical Quarterly 19 (Spring 1960): 12–30.

James Miller Born 25 APR 1776. Peterborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire. Died 7 JUL 1851. Temple, Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Sources

• Wikipedia:James_Miller_(general)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #13605093
• Encyclopedia of Arkansas James Miller

• Source: U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Repository: Ancestry.com 1,2204::81156 Volume: 39
• Source: The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Repository: Ancestry.com 1,2129::172996
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWZN-JL5 : 9 November 2014), James Miller, Temple, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States; citing family 64, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "New Hampshire Deaths and Burials, 1784-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDV2-8ZR : 12 December 2014), James Gen. Miller, 07 Jul 1851; citing Temple, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; FHL microfilm 2,168,484.