North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Virginia
Before this research, much work had been done on John Miller, the Quaker. A special thanks to Sarah Barker and her work, “Who is Anne Miller.” I do not know Sarah Barker and cannot find her original work. However, the Crow Family History and Genealogy website by Tracy Crow has used the research on Anne Miller with permission from Sarah Barker. Therefore, I assume this document on Tracy Crow’s website is authentic.
In this work, John Miller, the Quaker will be referred to as John, the Quaker for clarity and brevity.
Unfortunately for John, the Quaker, the most notable and discussed event in his life was his death in 1781 in Lincoln County, Kentucky. John died instate, which caused infighting and court battles amongst his children. The discontent went so far that John’s daughter, Jemima, and her husband, John Thomas, forged a will for John, the Quaker, to obtain property rights still held in Shenandoah County. This deception caused John’s probate case to be adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Kentucky in 1786. Luckily, the seriousness of John’s issue provides us with many clues regarding the history and ancestry of John, the Quaker.
MILLARD TO MILLER
The first record for which we can be certain pertains to John, the Quaker, is from Augusta, Virginia, on 20 June 1745.
Record 1 - Pg. 60-63. 20 June 1745 between James Gill of the part called Augusta County, now joyning to Orange County, and Thomas Moore.. for the sum of ___ pounds.. sells 200 acres being part of the 400 acres that James Gill purchased of Thomas Rutherford in Augusta on North River of Shenando a little above the Great Plain... (signed) James Gill (Seal), Eleanor Gill (Seal). Witnesses: Peter Scholl, Valentine Sevier, John (X) Millard. Payment of £60 for 200 acres. Recorded Orange County 27 June 1745.
Record 2 - Pg. 63-64. Indenture 20 June 1745 between James Gill of Augusta County and John Millard of same.. for £20.. sells 200 acres, part of 400 acres James Gill purchased of Thomas Rutherford, situated on North River of Shanando River.. part of Orange County called Augusta.... (signed) James Gill (Seal). Witnesses: Peter Scholl, Valentine Sevier, Thomas Moore. Recorded Orange County Court 27 June 1745.
Record 3 - Pg. 64-65. Indenture 21 June 1745 between James Gill and Eleanor, his wife, of part of Orange County called Augusta, and John Millard of same of other part.. for ____ money of Virginia.. sells 200 acres, being part of 400 acres which said James Gill purchased of Thomas Rutherford.. on north side of Shenando in Augusta... (signed) James Gill (Seal), Eleanor Gill (Seal).
Record 4 - Pg. 65. All premises in actual possession of John Millard is by virtue of Indenture.. one year. (signed) James Gill, Eleanor (A) Gill (Seal). Witnesses: Peter Scholl, Thomas Moore. Recorded Orange County, 27 June 1745. [Source: Orange County, Virginia Deed Book 10,
In both records, John, the Quaker, is listed as John Millard. To prove John Millard and John, John the Quaker are the same person; first, we must look at a land transaction in 1747, only two years later.
Record 5 - Page 13. – 4th September 1747. John Millar and wife Hannah to Francis Hughes, late of Lancaster County, Penna., part of 400 acres patented to Thomas Rutherford, of Frederick County, and by him sold to James Gill, late of Augustal other part in possession of Thomas Moore Teste: Mathew Skeen, Thos. Milsap/. Deliverd to Abra. (?) Bird, January, 1754.
Record 6 - Vol XXV, No. 5, Pg 150.--Francis Hughes, late of Lancaster County, Pa., bought from John Miller 200 acres of land on North River, in Augusta County, Va., Sept. 4, 1747. Deed Book 2, p. 11.
Tying all the lands together we look to a land transaction in 1754.
Record 7 - Book 2-13.--Delivered to Abra. Bird Jan 1754. 400 acres originally patented to Thomas Rutherford and by him sold to James Gill , late of Augusta County. The other part in possession of Thomas Moore. Francis Hughes, late of Lancaster County, PA. Grantor, John Miller
Records 1 - 4 show James Gill selling John Millard 2 tracts of land at 200 acres each. These records describe the land in subject as being originally patented by Thomas Rutherford. When John, the Quaker, dispose of these lands, Records 5-7 list him as both John Millar and John Miller with his wife, Hannah. All subsequent records will list John, the Quaker, as either John Millar or John Miller.
THE GREAT PLAINS
Records 1 -7 all refer to a land called the Great Plains on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Thomas Rutherford patented the land in 1739 and sold the land to James Gill on 7 May 1745. Only a month later, on 21 June 1745, James Gill flipped the property to John, the Quaker, for a profit of £4 17s.
The Great Plain placename most likely survives through the Plains District in Rockingham County, Virginia. However, more specifically, the placename continues in Timberville with Plains Mill and the Plains elementary school. Therefore, one could imply that the flat region from Smiths Creek on the West to the North Fork of the Shenandoah and onto the Forrest of the North Mountain in the East would be considered the Great Plains referenced in Thomas Rutherford’s original patent. The area would have been bounded by a region called Smiths Creek to the southwest, Linville Creek to the South East, and Brock’s Gap further to the south-east.
The above map indicates the most likely area referred to as the Great Plains. Interestingly, a Miller Lane is located in the North East section of the bordering town of New Market. Below is another map from about 1860, which shows The Plains area just under Timberville. Record 1 describes the original Rutherford Patent as "Rutherford in Augusta on North River of Shenando a little above the Great Plain."
The North River can be confusing because another North River is south of Harrisonburg. But the North River, in this context, refers to the North Branch of the Shenandoah, evidenced by later records showing the Rutherford Patent, including the Long Glade Run, now the Long Meadow run. Thus we have John, the Quaker near Linville Creek, Long Meadow Run, and Smiths Creek in 1745.
QUAKERS
Smiths Creek and Linville Creek were populated by an English Quaker element very early. There was a Quaker meeting house on Smith's Creek, but no records survive. However, the Hopewell
Friends Monthly Meeting was responsible for the goings-on of the Smith Creek Quakers. And Hopewell MM records provide some evidence of our John, the Quaker.
In 1761, the Hopewell Friends appointed arbitrators to visit Thomas Moore and John Miller on "Smiths Crick," as two Quakers were at "variance" with each other. This Thomas Moore is the same Thomas Moore who is listed in records 2 & 4.
In working towards a timeframe that John, the Quaker, arrived in the County of Augusta, we look to the Hopewell MM records. In 1737, Robert Scarborough left Bucks County Pa for the Shenandoah Valley, where he settled on Smiths Creek as a devout Quaker. Upon arriving on Smith's Creek, Scarborough wrote to his brother, a Quaker minister back in Bucks County, PA. In the letter, Scarborough described a contingent of English Quakers who had already settled on Smiths Creek and were holding a Meeting.
This brings us to John Miller, the Quaker, and his wife Hannah to help us identify the other records which establish John as a Quaker. In Record 5, we proved that John Millard, also known as Miller, had a wife named Hannah. In 1762, John the Quaker and his wife began transacting on another piece of land adjacent to the Rutherford patent.
Record 8 - Page 227.--18th May 1762. John ( ) Miller and Hannah to Jonathan Robison, £45, 230 acres on Linvel's Creek, cor. John Miller's part of same tract; cor. William Minter's part of same tract, Spiece's line, being parts of lote 4 and 5 conveyed by Green to John Miller, 18th November, 1761.
This record is of great importance. First, it establishes that the John Miller of Linville Creek is the same as John Millard of the Rutherford patent. Moreover, the relationship with the Robinsons (Robesons) continues into Kentucky, culminating in Hannah's second marriage after the death of John the Quaker. More on that marriage later.
Lots 4 & 5 mentioned in Record 8 are part of the Linville patent of 1739. "The Company" of Hite, McKay, Duff, and Robert Green. The patent required that "The Company" sell their lots by 1735. The records in Orange County and Augusta County indicate at least eight lots. Lots No. 4 & 5 were purchased by John Miller, as well as Lot No. 3 and half of Lot No. 2.
This same John Miller is listed in the Fee Books of Augusta County regarding the resolution of Robert Green's estate after he passed in 1747.
Page 4.---Feb 1762 John Miller, Quaker, (1762, February), Green's deeds to you;
From this record, we can identify the John Miller, who purchases Lots No. 4 & 5 as a Quaker.
LINVILLE CREEK
The following records are from Chalkey’s Chronicles regarding John, the Quaker purchasing the original lots of the Linville patent
Record 9 - Page 502.--17th July, 1752. Robert Green, Gent., of Culpeper County, son and residuary legatee of Ro. Green, of Orange, to John Miller, 500 acres Linville's Creek, being lot No. 3. Sold in lifetime of Robert, Sr. Teste: G. Hume. (Perhaps cleaning up the deed records of his land for the major road from Brocks Gap, through John Miller's land in Broadway, VA to New Market, VA)
Record 10 - Book 2-13.--Delivered to Abra. Bird Jan 1754. 400 acres originally patented to Thomas Rutherford and by him sold to James Gill , late of Augusta County. The other part in possession of Thomas Moore. Francis Hughes, late of Lancaster County, PA. Grantor, John Miller
Record 11- 20 April 1761 - John Miller was conveyed 200 acres on Linville's Creek as listed in the Chalkley's record below:
Record 12 - Page 227.--18th May, 1762. John ( ) Miller and Hannah to Jonathan Robison, £45, 230 acres on Linvel's Creek, cor. John Miller's part of same tract; cor. William Mynter's part of same tract, Spiece's line, being parts of lote 4 and 5 conveyed by Green to John Miller, 18th November, 1761.
Record 13 - Page 231.--18th May, 1762. John Miller and Hannah to Wm. Mynter, £45, 270 acres on Linvel's Creek; cor. Jonathan Robinson, part of same tract; cor. George Speice's land as above. Delivered: John Scott by your order.
Record 14 - Page 4.---Feb 1762 John Miller, Quaker, (1762, February), Green's deeds to you; Page 105.---21 Jun 1763 Part of lots No. 4 and 5 conveyed by the Givens and Miller to William Myntors/Mintors, Nov 1751. Delivered to Geo. Speer, Nov 1764. 270 acres on Linvel's Creek; corner Jonathan Robinson's, part of the same tract; corner George Speer's land.
Record 15 - Page 659.--11th August, 1764. Jonathan Roberson to William Dunlap. £100, 230 acres on Linville's Creek, purchased by Jonathan of John Miller, between said Miller's land and George Spears'; corner John Miller's part of same tract; corner William Bean's land. Teste: Alex Herring, Joseph Rutherford. Delivered: George Speirs, Decemmber, 1766. [Note: Same Property (This record establishes that John Miller, the Quaker, inthe 1762 transactions and who purchases Lot 2 of the Linville Tract is Jonathan Miller of John Miller.
Record 16 - Page 177.--2d December, 1766. William Green, of Culpeper, son and heir of Robert Green. late of Orange County, deceased, to John Miller. There was a contract by Robert to sell to John for £75, lot now and then occupied by said Miller, being lot No. 3 on Linville's Creek, 500 acres, but Robert died before making conveyance, testate, but making no devise of this tract, whereby same descended to William (will recorded in Orange). Now conveys same. Memorandum--This tract is the same this day conveyed to Miller by Robert Green, the reason for which double conveyance may be seen by Robert's deed and is the same tract for which William and Robert formerly passed deeds to John Miller, but same was not properly proved. Teste: Francis ( ) McBride, James Wright, Daniel ( ) Murley.
Record 17 - Page 184.--March, 1767. John ( ) Miller and Hannah ( ) to Cornelius Ruddle, £600, 500 acres, being lot No. 3 above, and also 200 acres, part of lot No. 2, lying on Linvel's Creek, part of 7009 acres patented to Hite, Green & Co., 26th March, 1739, and by McCoy and Hite conveyed to Robert Green, 5th August, 1746, who devised said 200 acres to son Robert, who conveyed same to John Miller, 20th April, 1753. Delivered: Cornelius Ruddle, July, 1775.
Record 18 - March 1767 Augusta Co., VA Deed Book 13 page 184: John (his mark) Miller and Hannah (her mark) to Cornelius Ruddle, L600 (pounds), 500 acres being lot #3 above and also 200 acres, part of lot #2, lying on Linvel's creek, part of 7009 acres patented to Hite, Green & Co., 26 March 1747, who devised said 200 acres to son Robert who conveyed same to John Miller, 20 April 1761. Delivered: Obediah Monsey."
Record 19 - Page 335.--17th May, 1768. Samuel Muncy and Mary ( ) Mousie (Monsey) to John Miller, Sr., £50, 75 acres, part of 150 acres conveyed by George Speere to Michael Hober, 3d February, 1760, and by Hober to Samuel Monsey, 20th May, 1765, on Linvell's Creek; corner Riddel's land, a part of same original tract. Delivered: John Miller, August, 1773.
The final record is from Thomas Jefferson Memorandum Books of 1769
Record 21 - 1 Nov 1769.---Henry & John Ewen (Augusta) v. John Miller (Augusta). Petn. entd. for 500. acres on Linwell’s creek Augusta being part of 7009 grantd. to Joist Hite, Robt. Mccoy and Rob. Green Mar. 25. 1739. For pl.
From the map below, one can see that Linville Creek is adjacent to The Plains. Also, we must make note of New Market and Brock’s Gap on the map to have a sense of John the Quaker’s involvement in the area.
In Record 14, the Hopewell MM, and the Hopewell Friends History, we establish this John Miller is a Quaker and part of a larger English Quaker group from various places that settled the area. In Records 12, 13 & 18, we establish that John's wife is Hannah. And we have shown that the lands of John Miller in the Rutherford and Linville patents are adjacent. Therefore, John Miller of Linville Creek and John Millard of the Rutherford Patent are the same, John the Quaker.
The next question is, when did John the Quaker purchase the Linville lots? Most likely, John purchased it before 1735. Due to a drawn-out legal battle between Lord Fairfax and "the Company" of the Linville patent, the deed records could not be recorded and cleaned until the lawsuit was resolved. For this reason, one can assume that Records 9 – 20 happened before the dates listed. Furthermore, the deadline for the sale of the Linville lots was 1735, and the patent was issued in 1739, meaning "The Company" successfully obtained all property transactions. John the Quaker was the largest purchaser of the Linville Lots, and therefore, he must have purchased this land before 1735.
Records are sparse for John the Quaker in the 1740s. With Augusta being formed from Orange County in 1745, we only have a half-decade of prospects. There are hints in Orange County as to the origin and arrival of John the Quaker on Linville Creek, but more on that later.
The earliest Linville Creek record is from 1748.
Record 21 - Page 5.--6th August 1748. George Forbush, farmer, and wife Olive his wife (both making their marks) sell to Jno. Miller, weaver, for £110 5s (Pa. money) 400 acres. Lying & being in the County of Augusta on the North branch of the Sherrendo in the Gap of the Mountains, at or near the mouth of Beaver Dam Run, -- Witnesses, Peter Scholl, Samuel Newman, David Stuart
Record 22 - Page 5.--6th August, 1748. George Forbush, farmer, and wife Olive, farmer, to Jno. Miller, weaver, Beaver Dam Run, Barnard McHenry's line. Delivered: Jno. Miller, Jr., 3d February, 1755.
Both records 21& 22 refer to the same transaction and indicate the location of this property was in or near Brocks's Gap. However, the land was likely part of Linville, with the Brock's Gap being a directional instrument.