He married Magdalena Wiley in 1758 in York County, PA.
He died in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia.
More Information:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnunicoi/david_jonathan_white/the_heritage_museum_miller_family.pdf
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Published Quarterly by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society Summer 2014, Volume 36, No. 3, pgs. 4 and 5.
http://www.valleyheritagemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HRHS-Newsletter-Summer-2014.pdf
The following genealogy has been carefully researched by Jeffrey E. Mason as described in the Winter 2014 edition of the HRHS Newsletter. The brief biographies of Samuel's parents, Michael & Barbara (Kneisly) Miller, and siblings continue Mr. Mason's article.
The Samuel & Magdalena Miller Family of Lancaster Co., PA, York Co., PA, Rockingham Co., VA, and Fairfield Co., OH - Part I, (continued from Spring 2014).
Samuel Miller was born in the mid-1730s in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As outlined in the Spring 2014 issue of The Heritage Museum Newsletter, Michael and Barbara (Kneisly) Miller were his parents. Many records indicate Samuel's birthdate as 20 Aug 1739, but this is incorrect, as this is the date on which his father's will was proven in Lancaster County.7 It is beyond reasonable coincidence for the date to be accurate since Samuel would have married at 18 years old or younger. The author's research indicates Mennonite men typically married in their early 20s or later.
Additionally, an indenture dated 16 May 1758 20. naming Samuel and his wife "Maudlin" (a phonetic form of Magdalena), among others, concerned real property that he inherited from his father Michael's estate. The indenture year suggests when Samuel reached the age of 21. As the youngest child, Samuel would have had his share of the inheritance managed by his mother until he reached a lawful age since she was the executor of Michael's will in 1739. The estate was likely finalized until Samuel received his inheritance. Based on the author's observation, it was common practice during this time for a male child to receive a parental inheritance only when he reached the age of 21. The indenture mentioned above indicates that Samuel sold his inherited interest in the real estate to his mother, who in turn immediately sold it to Samuel's brother Christian.20 According to the 1758 property tax records, Samuel owned only a single horse and was listed as "poor."27 By 1764 (the next available Lancaster County tax records) Samuel is no longer listed on the property tax rolls. He almost certainly relocated to nearby York County between 1758 and 1764.
Most publications and resources list Samuel's wife's maiden name as Wiley; however, research suggests that her name was more likely Meili (pronounced Miley), as has been postulated in Kenneth Duane Miller's book.23 Abundant information in Lancaster and York Counties on the Meili surname, as opposed to very little on Wiley, supports the postulation. Errant transcriptions are not uncommon, especially when translating from German. The will of a Jacob Miley written in Lancaster County lists several daughters, including one named Magdalena, but the will does not mention the sons-in-law.24 However, DNA analysis indicates a connection between the writer and descendants of a great-great-grandfather of Jacob Meili.28
Samuel and his family moved across the Susquehanna River to Manchester Township in York County, Pennsylvania, by 26 Jul 1765, on which date his land was surveyed. He was listed as the then present owner of 154¼ acres.25 By this time, Samuel's older brother Michael owned land in Hellam Township in York County, which adjoined Manchester Township to the south and east. In 1770, Samuel was appointed by the York County Court to be Township Overseer of the Poor.29 Samuel had his real estate in York County surveyed on 03 Jun 1774. In 1781, he was appointed Supervisor of Highways for Manchester Township.30
The family's Mennonite faith prohibited them from engaging in any kind of violence, including war. While a resident of York County, Samuel paid various fines for non-performance of tour of duty between 1777 and 1780. Further fines were levied for Samuel's failure to take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the revolutionary government of Pennsylvania. Also, his three oldest sons, Jacob, Christian, and John, paid £1 fine each for "Non Attendance on Days of Exercise" in Captain Yost Herbach's Company for the year 1783.26 More information on this subject can be found in an article written by Walter Klaassen entitled Mennonites and War Taxes which appears on pages 17 through 23 of the April 1978 Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society Quarterly.
Samuel continues to appear on the property tax rolls for York County through the year 1784, 31 after which time he disappears completely. It is probable that Samuel sold the real estate in 1784 or 1785 with money and/or notes changing hands, but without record in the Clerk's office in York. Unrecorded sales of real estate were a common occurrence in those early periods. It is likely that Samuel sold rather than abandoned the property since when he died his estate was valued at greater than £1,000.32 The property tax records of Rockingham County, Virginia, first show Samuel's ownership of property beginning in 1785. The Minute Book for Rockingham County describes 636 acres of property purchased by Samuel from Josiah and Nehemiah Harrison.33 The property was located approximately three miles west of the Harrisonburg Courthouse. Many publications have suggested that Samuel came to Rockingham County three years earlier in 1782. There is a record of a Samuel Miller paying property taxes beginning in 1782, which consisted of 174 acres valued at 7 shillings 6 pence per acre; however, this is unlikely to be our Samuel Miller. Another Samuel Miller purchased a 215 acre parcel in 1784, but this parcel clearly belonged to one of Irish descent, as indicated on the property tax records.
Samuel Miller's will was proven on 25 Feb 1788 in Rockingham County, Virginia,3 but the will itself was completely burned during the Civil War. Nonetheless, charred remnants of portions of related records remain, including among them a couple of singed pages from 15 Nov 1803, in which particulars of what appears to be the final accounting of Samuel's estate are described.32 These two pages are a true linch pin connecting Samuel Miller to all of his children and serve to authenticate most of the information contained books on the Miller family. Despite the burned edges on the pages, each beneficiary is named along with his or her share of receipts from Samuel's estate. As was customary, the daughters' inheritance shares were issued to their husbands. Marriage records from Rockingham and Shenandoah counties identify the daughters and their husbands, and, in some cases, identify the brides specifically as daughters of Samuel Miller, deceased. Photocopies of the estate accounting pages, made from microfilm, were found in the burned records collection in The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library.
Samuel and Magdalena had at least 11 children, all of whom are mentioned in Samuel's (Final?) estate accounting dated 15 Nov 1803, and all were born in Pennsylvania:
1 – Jacob Miller, born about 1758; death date and place unknown
2 – Christian Miller, born about 1760; died 25 Feb 1808 in Fairfield County, Ohio
3 – John Miller, born about 1762; died in March 1808 in Fairfield County, Ohio
4 – Michael Miller, born 1765; died 17 Apr 1817 in Rockingham County, Virginia
5 – Abraham Miller, born 18 Jul 1766; died 03 Sep 1831 in Fairfield County, Ohio
6 – Barbara Miller, born 08 Aug 1768; died 15 Aug 1838 in Fairfield County, Ohio
7 – Anna Miller, born about 1771; died 11 Jun 1831 in Walnut Twp., Fairfield County, Ohio
8 – Samuel Miller, born 20 Apr 1773; died 31 Jul 1832 in Rushville, Fairfield County, Ohio
9 – Mary Magdalena Miller, born 03 Feb 1775, died 03 Apr 1864 in Fairfield County, Ohio
10 – Elizabeth Miller, born about 1777; died 07 May 1833 in Fairfield County, Ohio
11 – David Miller, born about 1780; death date and place unknown
Endnotes :
3 - Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, Page 748, meeting of 25 Feb 1788 lists Samuel Miller's will as having been proven.
7 - Will Book A, Page 37, Lancaster County Archives, will of Michael Miller.
20 - Lancaster County Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds online database at www.lancasterdeeds.com, Deed Book, Pages 79 & 80. 23 - Barnard-Miller and Allied Families by Kenneth Duane Miller (published in 1952), Page 162.
24 - Will Book J, Pages 151 & 152, Lancaster County Archives, will of Jacob Meily.
25 - Manchester Township Survey #2658, land owned by Samuel Miller and earlier by John Hoffman; obtained from the York County Heritage Trust.
26 - York County, Pennsylvania in the American Revolution, A Source Book compiled by Henry James Young, Red Series, Volume II, Page 264, obtained from the York County Heritage Trust.
27 - Lancaster Co., Penn Tax Records, 1750-1855, on microfilm, obtained from the Lancaster County Historical Society.
28 - Results of Family Finder DNA test match as processed by FamilyTree DNA, between Jeffrey E. Mason and another test participant.
29 - York Co., PA Clerk of Courts Quarter Sessions reports, March 1770 quarter, Book 1-3, Page 242, obtained from the York County Archives.
30 -York Co., PA Clerk of Courts Quarter Sessions reports, March 1781 quarter, Book 1-3, Page 284, obtained from the York County Archives.
31 - Property Tax Records for Manchester Twp, York Co., PA: Microfilm #5220 (1758-1769 & 1771), #5740 (1783), and #5222 (1784 & 1785) obtained from the York County Archives.
32 - (Final) accounting for the Estate of Samuel Miller dated 15 Nov 1803 as contained in the burned wills, September 1803-November 1806 book, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society's Genealogy Library.
33 - Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, Vol. I, Page 418, Meeting of 25 Apr 1785.
More information on Samuel & Magdalena's children and their families will be provided in the future in The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library
Contributor: b. bradford (46797613) • [email protected]
------
Suggested edit: According to the Kenneth D. Miller book Barnard-Miller and Allied Families, the author recalls a 1927 visit to the Samuel Miller house, west of Harrisonburg, which is now the "By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages," a bed and breakfast located at 491 Garbers Church Road in Harrisonburg. A picture of the house is contained in Kenneth Miller's book, the appearance of which confirms the connection to the present day establishment. The house and the cemetery where Samuel Miller is thought to have been buried are within view of each other. The cemetery contains grave markers for Samuel's son Michael and Michael's wife Elizabeth (Brenneman) Miller and is completely surrounded by a brick fence, itself surrounded by asphalt, all of which is located in the middle of a modern day suburban neighborhood.
Contributor: b. bradford (46797613) • [email protected]
He died in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia.
More Information:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnunicoi/david_jonathan_white/the_heritage_museum_miller_family.pdf
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Published Quarterly by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society Summer 2014, Volume 36, No. 3, pgs. 4 and 5.
http://www.valleyheritagemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HRHS-Newsletter-Summer-2014.pdf
The following genealogy has been carefully researched by Jeffrey E. Mason as described in the Winter 2014 edition of the HRHS Newsletter. The brief biographies of Samuel's parents, Michael & Barbara (Kneisly) Miller, and siblings continue Mr. Mason's article.
The Samuel & Magdalena Miller Family of Lancaster Co., PA, York Co., PA, Rockingham Co., VA, and Fairfield Co., OH - Part I, (continued from Spring 2014).
Samuel Miller was born in the mid-1730s in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As outlined in the Spring 2014 issue of The Heritage Museum Newsletter, Michael and Barbara (Kneisly) Miller were his parents. Many records indicate Samuel's birthdate as 20 Aug 1739, but this is incorrect, as this is the date on which his father's will was proven in Lancaster County.7 It is beyond reasonable coincidence for the date to be accurate since Samuel would have married at 18 years old or younger. The author's research indicates Mennonite men typically married in their early 20s or later.
Additionally, an indenture dated 16 May 1758 20. naming Samuel and his wife "Maudlin" (a phonetic form of Magdalena), among others, concerned real property that he inherited from his father Michael's estate. The indenture year suggests when Samuel reached the age of 21. As the youngest child, Samuel would have had his share of the inheritance managed by his mother until he reached a lawful age since she was the executor of Michael's will in 1739. The estate was likely finalized until Samuel received his inheritance. Based on the author's observation, it was common practice during this time for a male child to receive a parental inheritance only when he reached the age of 21. The indenture mentioned above indicates that Samuel sold his inherited interest in the real estate to his mother, who in turn immediately sold it to Samuel's brother Christian.20 According to the 1758 property tax records, Samuel owned only a single horse and was listed as "poor."27 By 1764 (the next available Lancaster County tax records) Samuel is no longer listed on the property tax rolls. He almost certainly relocated to nearby York County between 1758 and 1764.
Most publications and resources list Samuel's wife's maiden name as Wiley; however, research suggests that her name was more likely Meili (pronounced Miley), as has been postulated in Kenneth Duane Miller's book.23 Abundant information in Lancaster and York Counties on the Meili surname, as opposed to very little on Wiley, supports the postulation. Errant transcriptions are not uncommon, especially when translating from German. The will of a Jacob Miley written in Lancaster County lists several daughters, including one named Magdalena, but the will does not mention the sons-in-law.24 However, DNA analysis indicates a connection between the writer and descendants of a great-great-grandfather of Jacob Meili.28
Samuel and his family moved across the Susquehanna River to Manchester Township in York County, Pennsylvania, by 26 Jul 1765, on which date his land was surveyed. He was listed as the then present owner of 154¼ acres.25 By this time, Samuel's older brother Michael owned land in Hellam Township in York County, which adjoined Manchester Township to the south and east. In 1770, Samuel was appointed by the York County Court to be Township Overseer of the Poor.29 Samuel had his real estate in York County surveyed on 03 Jun 1774. In 1781, he was appointed Supervisor of Highways for Manchester Township.30
The family's Mennonite faith prohibited them from engaging in any kind of violence, including war. While a resident of York County, Samuel paid various fines for non-performance of tour of duty between 1777 and 1780. Further fines were levied for Samuel's failure to take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the revolutionary government of Pennsylvania. Also, his three oldest sons, Jacob, Christian, and John, paid £1 fine each for "Non Attendance on Days of Exercise" in Captain Yost Herbach's Company for the year 1783.26 More information on this subject can be found in an article written by Walter Klaassen entitled Mennonites and War Taxes which appears on pages 17 through 23 of the April 1978 Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society Quarterly.
Samuel continues to appear on the property tax rolls for York County through the year 1784, 31 after which time he disappears completely. It is probable that Samuel sold the real estate in 1784 or 1785 with money and/or notes changing hands, but without record in the Clerk's office in York. Unrecorded sales of real estate were a common occurrence in those early periods. It is likely that Samuel sold rather than abandoned the property since when he died his estate was valued at greater than £1,000.32 The property tax records of Rockingham County, Virginia, first show Samuel's ownership of property beginning in 1785. The Minute Book for Rockingham County describes 636 acres of property purchased by Samuel from Josiah and Nehemiah Harrison.33 The property was located approximately three miles west of the Harrisonburg Courthouse. Many publications have suggested that Samuel came to Rockingham County three years earlier in 1782. There is a record of a Samuel Miller paying property taxes beginning in 1782, which consisted of 174 acres valued at 7 shillings 6 pence per acre; however, this is unlikely to be our Samuel Miller. Another Samuel Miller purchased a 215 acre parcel in 1784, but this parcel clearly belonged to one of Irish descent, as indicated on the property tax records.
Samuel Miller's will was proven on 25 Feb 1788 in Rockingham County, Virginia,3 but the will itself was completely burned during the Civil War. Nonetheless, charred remnants of portions of related records remain, including among them a couple of singed pages from 15 Nov 1803, in which particulars of what appears to be the final accounting of Samuel's estate are described.32 These two pages are a true linch pin connecting Samuel Miller to all of his children and serve to authenticate most of the information contained books on the Miller family. Despite the burned edges on the pages, each beneficiary is named along with his or her share of receipts from Samuel's estate. As was customary, the daughters' inheritance shares were issued to their husbands. Marriage records from Rockingham and Shenandoah counties identify the daughters and their husbands, and, in some cases, identify the brides specifically as daughters of Samuel Miller, deceased. Photocopies of the estate accounting pages, made from microfilm, were found in the burned records collection in The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library.
Samuel and Magdalena had at least 11 children, all of whom are mentioned in Samuel's (Final?) estate accounting dated 15 Nov 1803, and all were born in Pennsylvania:
1 – Jacob Miller, born about 1758; death date and place unknown
2 – Christian Miller, born about 1760; died 25 Feb 1808 in Fairfield County, Ohio
3 – John Miller, born about 1762; died in March 1808 in Fairfield County, Ohio
4 – Michael Miller, born 1765; died 17 Apr 1817 in Rockingham County, Virginia
5 – Abraham Miller, born 18 Jul 1766; died 03 Sep 1831 in Fairfield County, Ohio
6 – Barbara Miller, born 08 Aug 1768; died 15 Aug 1838 in Fairfield County, Ohio
7 – Anna Miller, born about 1771; died 11 Jun 1831 in Walnut Twp., Fairfield County, Ohio
8 – Samuel Miller, born 20 Apr 1773; died 31 Jul 1832 in Rushville, Fairfield County, Ohio
9 – Mary Magdalena Miller, born 03 Feb 1775, died 03 Apr 1864 in Fairfield County, Ohio
10 – Elizabeth Miller, born about 1777; died 07 May 1833 in Fairfield County, Ohio
11 – David Miller, born about 1780; death date and place unknown
Endnotes :
3 - Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, Page 748, meeting of 25 Feb 1788 lists Samuel Miller's will as having been proven.
7 - Will Book A, Page 37, Lancaster County Archives, will of Michael Miller.
20 - Lancaster County Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds online database at www.lancasterdeeds.com, Deed Book, Pages 79 & 80. 23 - Barnard-Miller and Allied Families by Kenneth Duane Miller (published in 1952), Page 162.
24 - Will Book J, Pages 151 & 152, Lancaster County Archives, will of Jacob Meily.
25 - Manchester Township Survey #2658, land owned by Samuel Miller and earlier by John Hoffman; obtained from the York County Heritage Trust.
26 - York County, Pennsylvania in the American Revolution, A Source Book compiled by Henry James Young, Red Series, Volume II, Page 264, obtained from the York County Heritage Trust.
27 - Lancaster Co., Penn Tax Records, 1750-1855, on microfilm, obtained from the Lancaster County Historical Society.
28 - Results of Family Finder DNA test match as processed by FamilyTree DNA, between Jeffrey E. Mason and another test participant.
29 - York Co., PA Clerk of Courts Quarter Sessions reports, March 1770 quarter, Book 1-3, Page 242, obtained from the York County Archives.
30 -York Co., PA Clerk of Courts Quarter Sessions reports, March 1781 quarter, Book 1-3, Page 284, obtained from the York County Archives.
31 - Property Tax Records for Manchester Twp, York Co., PA: Microfilm #5220 (1758-1769 & 1771), #5740 (1783), and #5222 (1784 & 1785) obtained from the York County Archives.
32 - (Final) accounting for the Estate of Samuel Miller dated 15 Nov 1803 as contained in the burned wills, September 1803-November 1806 book, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society's Genealogy Library.
33 - Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, Vol. I, Page 418, Meeting of 25 Apr 1785.
More information on Samuel & Magdalena's children and their families will be provided in the future in The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library
Contributor: b. bradford (46797613) • [email protected]
------
Suggested edit: According to the Kenneth D. Miller book Barnard-Miller and Allied Families, the author recalls a 1927 visit to the Samuel Miller house, west of Harrisonburg, which is now the "By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages," a bed and breakfast located at 491 Garbers Church Road in Harrisonburg. A picture of the house is contained in Kenneth Miller's book, the appearance of which confirms the connection to the present day establishment. The house and the cemetery where Samuel Miller is thought to have been buried are within view of each other. The cemetery contains grave markers for Samuel's son Michael and Michael's wife Elizabeth (Brenneman) Miller and is completely surrounded by a brick fence, itself surrounded by asphalt, all of which is located in the middle of a modern day suburban neighborhood.
Contributor: b. bradford (46797613) • [email protected]
He married Magdalena Wiley in 1758 in York County, PA.
He died in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia.
More Information:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnunicoi/david_jonathan_white/the_heritage_museum_miller_family.pdf
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Published Quarterly by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society Summer 2014, Volume 36, No. 3, pgs. 4 and 5.
http://www.valleyheritagemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HRHS-Newsletter-Summer-2014.pdf
The following genealogy has been carefully researched by Jeffrey E. Mason as described in the Winter 2014 edition of the HRHS Newsletter. The brief biographies of Samuel's parents, Michael & Barbara (Kneisly) Miller, and siblings continue Mr. Mason's article.
The Samuel & Magdalena Miller Family of Lancaster Co., PA, York Co., PA, Rockingham Co., VA, and Fairfield Co., OH - Part I, (continued from Spring 2014).
Samuel Miller was born in the mid-1730s in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As outlined in the Spring 2014 issue of The Heritage Museum Newsletter, Michael and Barbara (Kneisly) Miller were his parents. Many records indicate Samuel's birthdate as 20 Aug 1739, but this is incorrect, as this is the date on which his father's will was proven in Lancaster County.7 It is beyond reasonable coincidence for the date to be accurate since Samuel would have married at 18 years old or younger. The author's research indicates Mennonite men typically married in their early 20s or later.
Additionally, an indenture dated 16 May 1758 20. naming Samuel and his wife "Maudlin" (a phonetic form of Magdalena), among others, concerned real property that he inherited from his father Michael's estate. The indenture year suggests when Samuel reached the age of 21. As the youngest child, Samuel would have had his share of the inheritance managed by his mother until he reached a lawful age since she was the executor of Michael's will in 1739. The estate was likely finalized until Samuel received his inheritance. Based on the author's observation, it was common practice during this time for a male child to receive a parental inheritance only when he reached the age of 21. The indenture mentioned above indicates that Samuel sold his inherited interest in the real estate to his mother, who in turn immediately sold it to Samuel's brother Christian.20 According to the 1758 property tax records, Samuel owned only a single horse and was listed as "poor."27 By 1764 (the next available Lancaster County tax records) Samuel is no longer listed on the property tax rolls. He almost certainly relocated to nearby York County between 1758 and 1764.
Most publications and resources list Samuel's wife's maiden name as Wiley; however, research suggests that her name was more likely Meili (pronounced Miley), as has been postulated in Kenneth Duane Miller's book.23 Abundant information in Lancaster and York Counties on the Meili surname, as opposed to very little on Wiley, supports the postulation. Errant transcriptions are not uncommon, especially when translating from German. The will of a Jacob Miley written in Lancaster County lists several daughters, including one named Magdalena, but the will does not mention the sons-in-law.24 However, DNA analysis indicates a connection between the writer and descendants of a great-great-grandfather of Jacob Meili.28
Samuel and his family moved across the Susquehanna River to Manchester Township in York County, Pennsylvania, by 26 Jul 1765, on which date his land was surveyed. He was listed as the then present owner of 154¼ acres.25 By this time, Samuel's older brother Michael owned land in Hellam Township in York County, which adjoined Manchester Township to the south and east. In 1770, Samuel was appointed by the York County Court to be Township Overseer of the Poor.29 Samuel had his real estate in York County surveyed on 03 Jun 1774. In 1781, he was appointed Supervisor of Highways for Manchester Township.30
The family's Mennonite faith prohibited them from engaging in any kind of violence, including war. While a resident of York County, Samuel paid various fines for non-performance of tour of duty between 1777 and 1780. Further fines were levied for Samuel's failure to take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the revolutionary government of Pennsylvania. Also, his three oldest sons, Jacob, Christian, and John, paid £1 fine each for "Non Attendance on Days of Exercise" in Captain Yost Herbach's Company for the year 1783.26 More information on this subject can be found in an article written by Walter Klaassen entitled Mennonites and War Taxes which appears on pages 17 through 23 of the April 1978 Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society Quarterly.
Samuel continues to appear on the property tax rolls for York County through the year 1784, 31 after which time he disappears completely. It is probable that Samuel sold the real estate in 1784 or 1785 with money and/or notes changing hands, but without record in the Clerk's office in York. Unrecorded sales of real estate were a common occurrence in those early periods. It is likely that Samuel sold rather than abandoned the property since when he died his estate was valued at greater than £1,000.32 The property tax records of Rockingham County, Virginia, first show Samuel's ownership of property beginning in 1785. The Minute Book for Rockingham County describes 636 acres of property purchased by Samuel from Josiah and Nehemiah Harrison.33 The property was located approximately three miles west of the Harrisonburg Courthouse. Many publications have suggested that Samuel came to Rockingham County three years earlier in 1782. There is a record of a Samuel Miller paying property taxes beginning in 1782, which consisted of 174 acres valued at 7 shillings 6 pence per acre; however, this is unlikely to be our Samuel Miller. Another Samuel Miller purchased a 215 acre parcel in 1784, but this parcel clearly belonged to one of Irish descent, as indicated on the property tax records.
Samuel Miller's will was proven on 25 Feb 1788 in Rockingham County, Virginia,3 but the will itself was completely burned during the Civil War. Nonetheless, charred remnants of portions of related records remain, including among them a couple of singed pages from 15 Nov 1803, in which particulars of what appears to be the final accounting of Samuel's estate are described.32 These two pages are a true linch pin connecting Samuel Miller to all of his children and serve to authenticate most of the information contained books on the Miller family. Despite the burned edges on the pages, each beneficiary is named along with his or her share of receipts from Samuel's estate. As was customary, the daughters' inheritance shares were issued to their husbands. Marriage records from Rockingham and Shenandoah counties identify the daughters and their husbands, and, in some cases, identify the brides specifically as daughters of Samuel Miller, deceased. Photocopies of the estate accounting pages, made from microfilm, were found in the burned records collection in The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library.
Samuel and Magdalena had at least 11 children, all of whom are mentioned in Samuel's (Final?) estate accounting dated 15 Nov 1803, and all were born in Pennsylvania:
1 – Jacob Miller, born about 1758; death date and place unknown
2 – Christian Miller, born about 1760; died 25 Feb 1808 in Fairfield County, Ohio
3 – John Miller, born about 1762; died in March 1808 in Fairfield County, Ohio
4 – Michael Miller, born 1765; died 17 Apr 1817 in Rockingham County, Virginia
5 – Abraham Miller, born 18 Jul 1766; died 03 Sep 1831 in Fairfield County, Ohio
6 – Barbara Miller, born 08 Aug 1768; died 15 Aug 1838 in Fairfield County, Ohio
7 – Anna Miller, born about 1771; died 11 Jun 1831 in Walnut Twp., Fairfield County, Ohio
8 – Samuel Miller, born 20 Apr 1773; died 31 Jul 1832 in Rushville, Fairfield County, Ohio
9 – Mary Magdalena Miller, born 03 Feb 1775, died 03 Apr 1864 in Fairfield County, Ohio
10 – Elizabeth Miller, born about 1777; died 07 May 1833 in Fairfield County, Ohio
11 – David Miller, born about 1780; death date and place unknown
Endnotes :
3 - Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, Page 748, meeting of 25 Feb 1788 lists Samuel Miller's will as having been proven.
7 - Will Book A, Page 37, Lancaster County Archives, will of Michael Miller.
20 - Lancaster County Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds online database at www.lancasterdeeds.com, Deed Book, Pages 79 & 80. 23 - Barnard-Miller and Allied Families by Kenneth Duane Miller (published in 1952), Page 162.
24 - Will Book J, Pages 151 & 152, Lancaster County Archives, will of Jacob Meily.
25 - Manchester Township Survey #2658, land owned by Samuel Miller and earlier by John Hoffman; obtained from the York County Heritage Trust.
26 - York County, Pennsylvania in the American Revolution, A Source Book compiled by Henry James Young, Red Series, Volume II, Page 264, obtained from the York County Heritage Trust.
27 - Lancaster Co., Penn Tax Records, 1750-1855, on microfilm, obtained from the Lancaster County Historical Society.
28 - Results of Family Finder DNA test match as processed by FamilyTree DNA, between Jeffrey E. Mason and another test participant.
29 - York Co., PA Clerk of Courts Quarter Sessions reports, March 1770 quarter, Book 1-3, Page 242, obtained from the York County Archives.
30 -York Co., PA Clerk of Courts Quarter Sessions reports, March 1781 quarter, Book 1-3, Page 284, obtained from the York County Archives.
31 - Property Tax Records for Manchester Twp, York Co., PA: Microfilm #5220 (1758-1769 & 1771), #5740 (1783), and #5222 (1784 & 1785) obtained from the York County Archives.
32 - (Final) accounting for the Estate of Samuel Miller dated 15 Nov 1803 as contained in the burned wills, September 1803-November 1806 book, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society's Genealogy Library.
33 - Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, Vol. I, Page 418, Meeting of 25 Apr 1785.
More information on Samuel & Magdalena's children and their families will be provided in the future in The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library
Contributor: b. bradford (46797613) • [email protected]
------
Suggested edit: According to the Kenneth D. Miller book Barnard-Miller and Allied Families, the author recalls a 1927 visit to the Samuel Miller house, west of Harrisonburg, which is now the "By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages," a bed and breakfast located at 491 Garbers Church Road in Harrisonburg. A picture of the house is contained in Kenneth Miller's book, the appearance of which confirms the connection to the present day establishment. The house and the cemetery where Samuel Miller is thought to have been buried are within view of each other. The cemetery contains grave markers for Samuel's son Michael and Michael's wife Elizabeth (Brenneman) Miller and is completely surrounded by a brick fence, itself surrounded by asphalt, all of which is located in the middle of a modern day suburban neighborhood.
Contributor: b. bradford (46797613) • [email protected]
He died in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia.
More Information:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~tnunicoi/david_jonathan_white/the_heritage_museum_miller_family.pdf
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM HARRISONBURG-ROCKINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Published Quarterly by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society Summer 2014, Volume 36, No. 3, pgs. 4 and 5.
http://www.valleyheritagemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HRHS-Newsletter-Summer-2014.pdf
The following genealogy has been carefully researched by Jeffrey E. Mason as described in the Winter 2014 edition of the HRHS Newsletter. The brief biographies of Samuel's parents, Michael & Barbara (Kneisly) Miller, and siblings continue Mr. Mason's article.
The Samuel & Magdalena Miller Family of Lancaster Co., PA, York Co., PA, Rockingham Co., VA, and Fairfield Co., OH - Part I, (continued from Spring 2014).
Samuel Miller was born in the mid-1730s in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As outlined in the Spring 2014 issue of The Heritage Museum Newsletter, Michael and Barbara (Kneisly) Miller were his parents. Many records indicate Samuel's birthdate as 20 Aug 1739, but this is incorrect, as this is the date on which his father's will was proven in Lancaster County.7 It is beyond reasonable coincidence for the date to be accurate since Samuel would have married at 18 years old or younger. The author's research indicates Mennonite men typically married in their early 20s or later.
Additionally, an indenture dated 16 May 1758 20. naming Samuel and his wife "Maudlin" (a phonetic form of Magdalena), among others, concerned real property that he inherited from his father Michael's estate. The indenture year suggests when Samuel reached the age of 21. As the youngest child, Samuel would have had his share of the inheritance managed by his mother until he reached a lawful age since she was the executor of Michael's will in 1739. The estate was likely finalized until Samuel received his inheritance. Based on the author's observation, it was common practice during this time for a male child to receive a parental inheritance only when he reached the age of 21. The indenture mentioned above indicates that Samuel sold his inherited interest in the real estate to his mother, who in turn immediately sold it to Samuel's brother Christian.20 According to the 1758 property tax records, Samuel owned only a single horse and was listed as "poor."27 By 1764 (the next available Lancaster County tax records) Samuel is no longer listed on the property tax rolls. He almost certainly relocated to nearby York County between 1758 and 1764.
Most publications and resources list Samuel's wife's maiden name as Wiley; however, research suggests that her name was more likely Meili (pronounced Miley), as has been postulated in Kenneth Duane Miller's book.23 Abundant information in Lancaster and York Counties on the Meili surname, as opposed to very little on Wiley, supports the postulation. Errant transcriptions are not uncommon, especially when translating from German. The will of a Jacob Miley written in Lancaster County lists several daughters, including one named Magdalena, but the will does not mention the sons-in-law.24 However, DNA analysis indicates a connection between the writer and descendants of a great-great-grandfather of Jacob Meili.28
Samuel and his family moved across the Susquehanna River to Manchester Township in York County, Pennsylvania, by 26 Jul 1765, on which date his land was surveyed. He was listed as the then present owner of 154¼ acres.25 By this time, Samuel's older brother Michael owned land in Hellam Township in York County, which adjoined Manchester Township to the south and east. In 1770, Samuel was appointed by the York County Court to be Township Overseer of the Poor.29 Samuel had his real estate in York County surveyed on 03 Jun 1774. In 1781, he was appointed Supervisor of Highways for Manchester Township.30
The family's Mennonite faith prohibited them from engaging in any kind of violence, including war. While a resident of York County, Samuel paid various fines for non-performance of tour of duty between 1777 and 1780. Further fines were levied for Samuel's failure to take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to the revolutionary government of Pennsylvania. Also, his three oldest sons, Jacob, Christian, and John, paid £1 fine each for "Non Attendance on Days of Exercise" in Captain Yost Herbach's Company for the year 1783.26 More information on this subject can be found in an article written by Walter Klaassen entitled Mennonites and War Taxes which appears on pages 17 through 23 of the April 1978 Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society Quarterly.
Samuel continues to appear on the property tax rolls for York County through the year 1784, 31 after which time he disappears completely. It is probable that Samuel sold the real estate in 1784 or 1785 with money and/or notes changing hands, but without record in the Clerk's office in York. Unrecorded sales of real estate were a common occurrence in those early periods. It is likely that Samuel sold rather than abandoned the property since when he died his estate was valued at greater than £1,000.32 The property tax records of Rockingham County, Virginia, first show Samuel's ownership of property beginning in 1785. The Minute Book for Rockingham County describes 636 acres of property purchased by Samuel from Josiah and Nehemiah Harrison.33 The property was located approximately three miles west of the Harrisonburg Courthouse. Many publications have suggested that Samuel came to Rockingham County three years earlier in 1782. There is a record of a Samuel Miller paying property taxes beginning in 1782, which consisted of 174 acres valued at 7 shillings 6 pence per acre; however, this is unlikely to be our Samuel Miller. Another Samuel Miller purchased a 215 acre parcel in 1784, but this parcel clearly belonged to one of Irish descent, as indicated on the property tax records.
Samuel Miller's will was proven on 25 Feb 1788 in Rockingham County, Virginia,3 but the will itself was completely burned during the Civil War. Nonetheless, charred remnants of portions of related records remain, including among them a couple of singed pages from 15 Nov 1803, in which particulars of what appears to be the final accounting of Samuel's estate are described.32 These two pages are a true linch pin connecting Samuel Miller to all of his children and serve to authenticate most of the information contained books on the Miller family. Despite the burned edges on the pages, each beneficiary is named along with his or her share of receipts from Samuel's estate. As was customary, the daughters' inheritance shares were issued to their husbands. Marriage records from Rockingham and Shenandoah counties identify the daughters and their husbands, and, in some cases, identify the brides specifically as daughters of Samuel Miller, deceased. Photocopies of the estate accounting pages, made from microfilm, were found in the burned records collection in The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library.
Samuel and Magdalena had at least 11 children, all of whom are mentioned in Samuel's (Final?) estate accounting dated 15 Nov 1803, and all were born in Pennsylvania:
1 – Jacob Miller, born about 1758; death date and place unknown
2 – Christian Miller, born about 1760; died 25 Feb 1808 in Fairfield County, Ohio
3 – John Miller, born about 1762; died in March 1808 in Fairfield County, Ohio
4 – Michael Miller, born 1765; died 17 Apr 1817 in Rockingham County, Virginia
5 – Abraham Miller, born 18 Jul 1766; died 03 Sep 1831 in Fairfield County, Ohio
6 – Barbara Miller, born 08 Aug 1768; died 15 Aug 1838 in Fairfield County, Ohio
7 – Anna Miller, born about 1771; died 11 Jun 1831 in Walnut Twp., Fairfield County, Ohio
8 – Samuel Miller, born 20 Apr 1773; died 31 Jul 1832 in Rushville, Fairfield County, Ohio
9 – Mary Magdalena Miller, born 03 Feb 1775, died 03 Apr 1864 in Fairfield County, Ohio
10 – Elizabeth Miller, born about 1777; died 07 May 1833 in Fairfield County, Ohio
11 – David Miller, born about 1780; death date and place unknown
Endnotes :
3 - Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, Page 748, meeting of 25 Feb 1788 lists Samuel Miller's will as having been proven.
7 - Will Book A, Page 37, Lancaster County Archives, will of Michael Miller.
20 - Lancaster County Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds online database at www.lancasterdeeds.com, Deed Book, Pages 79 & 80. 23 - Barnard-Miller and Allied Families by Kenneth Duane Miller (published in 1952), Page 162.
24 - Will Book J, Pages 151 & 152, Lancaster County Archives, will of Jacob Meily.
25 - Manchester Township Survey #2658, land owned by Samuel Miller and earlier by John Hoffman; obtained from the York County Heritage Trust.
26 - York County, Pennsylvania in the American Revolution, A Source Book compiled by Henry James Young, Red Series, Volume II, Page 264, obtained from the York County Heritage Trust.
27 - Lancaster Co., Penn Tax Records, 1750-1855, on microfilm, obtained from the Lancaster County Historical Society.
28 - Results of Family Finder DNA test match as processed by FamilyTree DNA, between Jeffrey E. Mason and another test participant.
29 - York Co., PA Clerk of Courts Quarter Sessions reports, March 1770 quarter, Book 1-3, Page 242, obtained from the York County Archives.
30 -York Co., PA Clerk of Courts Quarter Sessions reports, March 1781 quarter, Book 1-3, Page 284, obtained from the York County Archives.
31 - Property Tax Records for Manchester Twp, York Co., PA: Microfilm #5220 (1758-1769 & 1771), #5740 (1783), and #5222 (1784 & 1785) obtained from the York County Archives.
32 - (Final) accounting for the Estate of Samuel Miller dated 15 Nov 1803 as contained in the burned wills, September 1803-November 1806 book, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society's Genealogy Library.
33 - Rockingham County, Virginia Minute Book, Vol. I, Page 418, Meeting of 25 Apr 1785.
More information on Samuel & Magdalena's children and their families will be provided in the future in The Heritage Museum Genealogy Library
Contributor: b. bradford (46797613) • [email protected]
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Suggested edit: According to the Kenneth D. Miller book Barnard-Miller and Allied Families, the author recalls a 1927 visit to the Samuel Miller house, west of Harrisonburg, which is now the "By the Side of the Road Inn & Cottages," a bed and breakfast located at 491 Garbers Church Road in Harrisonburg. A picture of the house is contained in Kenneth Miller's book, the appearance of which confirms the connection to the present day establishment. The house and the cemetery where Samuel Miller is thought to have been buried are within view of each other. The cemetery contains grave markers for Samuel's son Michael and Michael's wife Elizabeth (Brenneman) Miller and is completely surrounded by a brick fence, itself surrounded by asphalt, all of which is located in the middle of a modern day suburban neighborhood.
Contributor: b. bradford (46797613) • [email protected]
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