Joseph
Miller farmed land in Walkers Creek District, Rockbridge Co., Virginia. The
land was the 70-acre parcel he bought in 1823 from Michael and Ann Wardlow
which he kept throughout his lifetime. When
a young man, Joseph married Sarah Hawpe Nov. 13, 1813. They would become the parents
of eight children:
John, born ca 1815
Eliza Catherine, married Joseph Groah
Henry, married Elizabeth Bosserman
Nancy Jane, married William K. Clemmer
Joseph Andrew, married Frances Ellen
Dull
Sarah, married John A. Lucas
Rachel, married John Cunningham
Ananias, married Margaretha Jane
Bosserman
By
1840, Sarah Hawpe died, and Joseph remarried July 16, 1846 to Isabella
(McKenny) Kennedy in Rockbridge County. Isabella mothered the younger Miller
children. Joseph became a widower once again when Isabella passed in June 1858.
4th Great Grandfather Joseph Miller died Jan. 11, 1873 at the age of
82 years.
Great
Grandfather didn’t prepare a will so when his time came, the family needed to
petition Rockbridge County, Virginia Court to appoint an estate administrator.
Know
all men by these presents, that we Robert D. Firebaugh, Henry Miller, and Wm.
K. Clemmer, are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the
just, and full sum of Twelve Hundred Dollars, to the payment whereof, well, and
truly to be made to the said Commonwealth of Virginia, we bind ourselves and
each of us, our, and each of our heirs, Executors, and Administrators, jointly,
and severally, firmly by these presents, Sealed with our seals, and dated the 3rd
day of Feby. one Thousand – eight hundred and seventy three. The condition of
the above obligation is That if the said Robt. D. Firebaugh who has been
appointed administrator of the Goods, Chattels, and Credits of Joseph Miller
deceased, shall truly, and faithfully discharge the duties of his office or
trust according to law; then the obligation to be void, else to remain in full
force.
R.
D. Firebaugh
Henry
Miller
W.
K. Clemmer
At Rockbridge Court Feby. 3rd
1873
This bond was acknowledged in Court by the
obligors thereto, and ordered to be recorded.
Teste.
J.
P. Moore C. C.
[Source Rockbridge Co. VA
Will Book 20, page 567]
The
three men named in the bond were family. The appointed administrator, Robert D.
Firebaugh, was a grandson-in-law. Son Henry Miller and William K. Clemmer, a
son-in-law, promised the Court Robert D. Firebaugh would settle the estate.
The
administrator presented an appraisal of Great Grandfather’s personal estate in
Rockbridge County Court March 3, 1873. The appraisers, Joseph McFaddin, Enos
Ott, and John W. Beard, might have been friends or neighbors of the Miller
family. They determined Joseph’s personal belongings worth $804.52.
Appraisal, Rockbridge
Co. VA Will Book 20, page 575
Appraisal and Sale,
Rockbridge Co. VA Will Book 20, pages 576-577
In
case you happened to visit Great Grandfather, there were plenty of beds to
sleep in and a good stock of apple butter and honey, bacon, apples, beets, and
potatoes to eat.
Feb.
13, 1873 a sale of Joseph Miller’s personal estate was held. The sale brought
$1,032.79 to the estate. Remember this is Great Grandfather’s personal holdings,
not his lands.
Sale, Rockbridge Co. VA
Will Book 20, pages 578-579
Sale, Rockbridge Co. VA
Will Book 20, pages 580-581
Sale, Rockbridge Co. VA
Will Book 20, pages 582-583
Sale, Rockbridge Co. VA
Will Book 20, page 584
The
appraisal provided me with a peek inside Great Grandfather’s home and farm. I
recognized many names in the sale bill belonging to family members. No doubt
the neighbors and acquaintances picked up some bargains too.
R.
D. Firebaugh’s final settlement was presented to the Rockbridge County Clerk
March 27, 1874. After debits and credits were taken into account, $751.84
remained to be shared equally among Joseph Miller’s heirs and children--$93.98
for each.
Joseph’s
parents aren’t known to me. I do know of a Henry Miller who died in Rockbridge
1826 whose will reveals he had a son Joseph. Could this be my Great Grandfather
Joseph?
Questions
and more questions! Dear Readers if you can help, please do.
Settlement, Rockbridge
Co. VA Will Book 21, pages 110-111
Settlement, Rockbridge
Co. VA Will Book 21, pages 112-113
Very nicely presented. My husband also descends from Millers from Rockbridge County, VA. He descends from Henry Miller and Rebecca Boggs. I do have a Miller - Beaman Tree on Ancestry.com.
ReplyDeleteSharlene,
DeleteI know Henry and Rebecca. I was hoping they were the parents of my Joseph Miller 1790-1873. It seems like another Henry Miller who died 1826 is a better candidate. I'm going to enjoy looking at your ancestry.com tree.
Thanks for visiting.