100 Cents Paid Clemmer and Miller Marriage License Bond

 Rockbridge County, Virginia, June 28, 1842

Know all men by these presents, that we William K. Clemer

and Joseph Miller   ---  ----  ---   are held and firmly bound

unto John McGregory Lieutenant & acting Governor of the commonwealth

of Virginia in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to

which payment well and truly to be made to the said Governor

and his successors for the use of the commonwealth, we bind

ourselves our heirs executors and administrators jointly and

severally firmly by these presents. Witness our hands and

seals this 28^th day of June 1842

   The condition of the above obligation is such that where

as a marriage is shortly intended to be had and solem-

nized between the above bound William Clemer, and Nancy

Jane Miller, daughter of the above bound Joseph Miller

 

Now if there is no lawful cause to obstruct the said mar-

riage then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain

in full force and virtue.

                                              William K Clemmer  {seal}

 Teste                                    Joseph Miller  {seal}

David Hutcheson D. C.

Joseph Miller’s Probate Estate Feb. 3, 1873, Rockbridge, Virginia

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. 4^th 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 3^rd 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. 3^rd 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

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Nancy Jane (Miller) Clemmer, 1817-1885

My Miller ties begin with 3^rd Great Grandmother Nancy Jane Miller born November 17, 1817. She was the second child of Sarah Hawpe and Joseph Miller from Rockbridge County, Virginia. Nancy married William K. Clemmer in Rockbridge June 28, 1842. After their marriage, they made their home in neighboring Augusta County, Virginia.

I’ve always wanted to write a post featuring Great Grandmother Nancy. I have assorted documents and census records for the couple but few solely for Nancy. Recently, I located a news clipping about Nancy J. Clemmer’s passing.

The Valley Virginian published in Staunton, Virginia reported Great Grandmother’s death in their Thursday, March 12, 1885 issue:

   “On the 17^th of February the messenger of death visited the residence of Mr. Wm. K. Clemmer, and took the wife and mother. She had suffered for some weeks from a stroke of paralysis. Her remains were at St. Johns (Reformed) Church; funeral service by the Rev. Mr. Shreckhise.”

Nancy J. Clemmer was known as “the wife and mother”—a mother to 12 children and a wife to William for 42 years.

The Clemmer children:

1.     Mary Elizabeth Clemmer born 13 Feb 1843 in Augusta County, Virginia; died 18 Apr 1862 at the age of 19.

2.     George Lewis Clemmer, born 5 Jun 1844, Augusta County, Virginia; married Letitia Ann Lange, 13 Oct 1870, Deerfield, Virginia, United States; married Elizabeth A. McClintic, 1891; died 31 Jan 1920, Rivershead District, Augusta, Virginia.

3.     Sarah Jane Clemmer, born 20 Oct 1845, Augusta County, Virginia; married Robert Dunlap Firebaugh, 9 Dec 1866, Augusta County, Virginia; died 12 May 1938.

4.     Joseph Henry Clemmer, born 7 Mar 1847, Augusta County, Virginia; married Sarah Jane Snyder, 24 Mar 1870, Arbor Hill, Augusta, Virginia; died 24 Jun 1901, Augusta County, Virginia.

5.     Rachel M. Clemmer born ca 1848.

6.     Trusie Estelin Clemmer, born 22 Apr 1849, Augusta County, Virginia; married John Martin Baylor, 9 Sep 1867, Middlebrook, Augusta, Virginia; died 1 Apr 1911.

7.     Emma Roberta Clemmer, born Dec 1851, Virginia; married Newton J. Baylor, 21 Oct 1875, Middlebrook, Augusta, Virginia; died 1930.

8.     Emily Clemmer was born about 1852.

9.     Annie Eliza Clemmer, born 14 Aug 1855, Augusta County, Virginia; married William S. Cochran, 30 Dec 1886, Middlebrook, Augusta, Virginia.

10. Luella B. Clemmer, born 15 Nov 1856, Augusta County, Virginia; married Millard F. Palmer, 8 Nov 1877, Augusta County, Virginia; died 16 Dec 1916.

11. John Letcher Clemmer, born 5 Jan 1859, Virginia; married Mary C. Bosserman, 6 Oct 1881; died 4 Aug 1941.

12. Carrie W. Clemmer, born Apr 1864, Virginia; married William Camper Bosserman, 24 Nov 1887, Augusta County, Virginia; died 1949.

I wish I knew more about Nancy Jane Miller aside from a few dates and places. Readers, it’s my hope you’ll be able to tell me about my 3^rd Great Grandmother.

You might enjoy reading WM. K. CLEMMER’S SPECIAL PARDON, 52 Ancestors 52 Weeks