John Milliman (1736-1810), formerly of Kingstown, RI, and later of Hoosick, NY

The first entry of my genealogical blog involves one of the few known patriot ancestors on my paternal line of my ancestry, John Milliman (Junior?; 1736-1810), and his father, possibly another John Milliman (ante 1695-c. 1739). John Milliman (Jr.) and his brother, Bryant Milliman, were just two of the main ancestors of a large number of the Millimans and Millemans traced in the United States today; their uncle, Aaron Milleman, is ancestor to the rest of the known Milliman lines. Although the family has been believed to be of English extraction for many years, recent findings show that the family is almost certainly Belgian. Though the actual connection falls short of hard facts, it is almost certain that the ancestor to our Millimans was Adraen Meulmans, anglicized as Aaron Milleman in the church records of Canterbury, Kent, England.

At least in the realm restricted to Milliman and Milleman genealogists and descendants, the biggest puzzle has perennially been who were the parents of John and Bryant Milliman? There has been much made in the way of hypotheticals, but hardly any solid facts have been drawn from what has been found on the Millimans. All that is certain is that John and Bryant Milliman, and a daughter Anna Abigail, were orphaned at a young age, with Bryant having been born shortly after his father’s death.

It is without any doubt that the Millimans and Millemans are related. Aaron Milleman, the immigrant ancestor whose second wife he married shortly after his settling in Rhode Island, was no doubt of relation to John, Anna, and Bryant Milliman. However, drawing the lines to connect them are blurry.

The only known mentions of a man named John Milliman (in this generation) is in an article by Cuyler Reynolds’ Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical & Family Memoirs (NY, Lewis Historical Publishing Co, 1911, 4:1761), as well as a possible signature of his on a Rhode Island Assembly roll call of 1718, which also features the signature of Aaron Milleman. It is possible, given the established age of Aaron Milleman, that John Milliman was a son of Aaron’s first marriage, which would put his birth between 1704 and 1715, based upon the marriage of Aaron and Judith to the birth of John’s eldest known child, John Jr. However, this would disprove that he was the signature on the 1718 roll call, for he would have been too young to have served in the Assembly. At the same time, and what may be more plausible, John Milliman may have been a younger brother of Aaron, which would be more appropriate to the possible 1718 signature. It is still possible, however, that this Milliman was a cousin to Aaron. We simply do not know, but due to the rarity of the name at the time, I have sufficed with this “John Milliman” being the younger brother of Aaron Milleman. This, however, is only given if that the older brother of Aaron Milleman of the same name, John, who was baptized on 30 October 1675, had died prior to this John’s birth. Since no records at this time seem to provide any insight on the elder John Milliman at this time, this John Milliman could still be a sibling.

We do know that this John Milliman died in the late fall, or in December, of 1739. His son Bryant had not been born. Whatever became of his wife is also not known. It is shown her name was Anna, but her supposed surname of “Bryant” is probably indicative of the fact of their son Bryant’s name, which would not be uncommon or out of the blue. However, her surname is not verified as Bryant at this time. Milliman genealogist Carol Austin, in her research of this generation, had found a death record for an Anna Bryant, possibly of Rhode Island, who died in 1741, aged 73 years, 10 months, and 28 days old. By those calculations, she was born in 1667, and thereby out of the question (for being the mother of three infants at her death). If this Anna Bryant, however, was the wife of John Milliman, this would support the theory that John Milliman was an older sibling of Aaron Milleman, but probably a grandfather to John and Bryant Milliman (due to age).

The biggest clue to the relation of the Millimans has been what happened to the Milliman children after they were orphaned. Though it appears Mrs. Anna Milliman (mother of John and Bryant) died in 1741, we are not sure if the Milliman children were raised together by Aaron and Ann Milliman, or if each were bound to different families. We are sure that John Milliman, Jr, was raised by Aaron and Ann. However, the influence of Aaron would have been extremely brief, for he was deceased by August 1740. For years thereafter, however, the life of his widow, Ann, was troubled by lawsuits from her brothers, who had inherited the land Aaron resided on before he died (he sold the land back to his father-in-law in 1735, possibly because he could not earn a living for health reasons).

In any event, the Case family, or the widowed Ann Milleman, raised John Milliman, Jr, for the will of Elizabeth Mitchell Case, mother to Ann Case (Aaron’s second wife), lists her “grandson” John Milliman, but it does not mention Anna Abigail nor Bryant Milliman. Elizabeth’s will was dated August 1775, and remains one of the biggest pieces of the Milliman puzzle for genealogical information. We know John Milliman was orphaned at the age of 4. However, there are very few details about John’s early life for us to create a picture of his upbringing. However, for John being a male heir for his deceased father, and for his deceased uncle (who died months after John’s father), it would have been unlikely that John’s upbringing was left to the widowed Ms. Anne Milleman. Anne and her children were apparently kicked off their property by means of lawsuits brought forth by her brothers, who had inherited the land she lived on, and she took her daughters to Richmond, Rhode Island. Their bad luck continued thereafter, as Anne and her children were “warned out” of the town by 1753, probably because they were poor and a liability to the town to look after (which was a task laid upon the native town(s) of the poor, hence why they were rushed out).

In any event, John Milliman first appears in the 1757 Tax Lists for South Kingsto(w)n, in Kings County, Rhode Island. This also supports his coming of age into adulthood, being 21 years of age at the time. That same year, he also took part in the alarm of August 1757 under Colonel John Andrews. This Regiment was known as the Ten Days Expedition, and was raised by the Rhode Island General Assembly on 10 August 1757, in response to dangers of Indian attacks on Fort William Henry during the French and Indian War. The act drafted approximately 1/6 of the total militia of the colony, which was probably some 1,000 men, for service in the relief of the army. A number of the men were volunteers. The regiment traveled only a short distance into Connecticut before learning the fort had fallen. Upon the news, the regiment turned back and headed home. The October term of the General Assembly regulated their pay for the 10 days they served, but some 250 men were reenlisted for service, at the “pleasure of the General Assembly.” It is not shown that Milliman was one of these reenlisted men.

Not long after May 1760, he was admitted as a freeman in the county (he was a member of the church). In 1762, he witnessed the sale of a land tract by Benoni Albro (and his wife, Marcy) to Simeon Babcock in North Kingsto(w)n; the following month, Milliman purchased a land parcel from Babcock, with Albro serving as the witness. Milliman sold two tracts of land to Samuel Dyer of Newport in 1765; both of these tracts were also in North Kingstown.

During the years of 1760 to 1768, Milliman was elected and served as deputy in the Rhode Island House of Representatives for South Kingstown. In September 1764, Milliman was among the signatories of a petition brought forth in Newport, asking that a prisoner of the local gaol, Nathaniel Helme, be “allowed to use the well and the little house and to labour in order that may clothe himself.” During the 1760s, Milliman also owned and operated a blacksmith shop, which he had purchased from William Potter.

Before 1768, Milliman excepted a 10-acre parcel of land in South Kingstown, land which was a part of the right of dower from his grandmother Elizabeth Case. Case’s land holdings were in South Kingstown. Milliman sold these 10 acres to Beriah Brown, Jr. in 1768. It is not known if, after this sale, Milliman moved from South Kingstown, or if he remained on another parcel for some time thereafter, but by 1772, John was living in East Greenwich. That year, on 6 February 1772, he purchased a land tract from William Spender; this parcel possessed a dwelling of which Milliman occupied. He and his family resided there until 1779, when he sold this land to Robert Vaughn. He appears in the Rhode Island census of 1774 (p. 96); his household shows 1 male over the age of 16 and 6 males under the age of 16; there were also 3 females under the age of 16, and one over the age of 16. There was also one black in the home (not distinguished if male or female).

During the American Revolution, Milliman served in Talman’s Regiment of Rhode Island troops, in the company that marched under Captain James Parker. He also served under Colonel Archibald Crary’s Regiment of the Rhode Island State Troops for several months of 1776 (see MSS-673, Series 3, Sub-Series 3; he appears on the muster roll as “John Milleman”). Crary resigned in June 1779, later being replaced by Colonel William Barton. For his services, John was delivered a sum of 16 pounds, 3 shillings, and 7 d. (pence) for his services (Cowell, Spirit of 76, p. 107). Not longer after the close of the war, Milliman was among a list of soldiers of Crary’s Regiment who attempted to obtain additional pay for his services, by the accounts of the depreciation of the currency they received previously for their services. Although the report of the “Rhode Island Depreciation Claims List” was accepted by the Rhode Island Legislature in the October Session of 1785, no provisions to pay for the sums of money were made, as the Legislature saw to it that the sums were to be at the debt of the federal government, not the state. Milliman also appeared on the final report of the depreciation list, made 1 January 1797 by creditor John Atkinson, a merchant and importer from New York City. The report was updated at that time because a number of the claims failed during the depression of 1796, as they were held by the Boston law firm of Bulfinch & Storer. Although Congress tried to appropriate funds to pay these claims over the years, several attempts to pass the bill failed, with the last attempt occuring in 1834 and 1835. It is unlikely that Milliman ever received any money for his war services.

Milliman’s next shown land transaction and next appearance was in New York, where he purchased Lot No. 33 of the Hoosick Patent from Frederick van Cortland in 1784. This lot was 204 acres total, and the deed shows that the land was “the plantation on which he now lives.” The Hoosick Patent is now in Rensselaer County (at that time in Albany County), bordering the Vermont border, and not too far from Skenesborough. Milliman apparently received this land by land bounty rights from military service in 1776. John also appeared there (in Hoosick) in 1792, when he was the grantee to another land grant in the Hoosick community, #5023, on October 31st. In 1789, John was among a list of town officers for the district of Hoosick, where he served as a pathmaster (he may have served earlier with the town, but the town records only go back to 1789). He also appears there in the 1790 Census, in the Hoosick District of Albany County (later Rensselaer County), where there were 3 males 16 and over, and 3 females in the home; he is distinguished from his son, John, as his son has “Jr” on his entry. Adjacent to him were his sons Thomas and Rowland Milliman.

According to the Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs by Cuyler Reynolds (published in 1911 by the Lewis Historical Publishing Company, p. 1761), it was this John Milliman who owned 8 parcels of land in Albany County, including a property called “State Line House.” This was because the land “enjoyed the unique distinction of resting on corner stones erected in two states, three counties, and four towns, and was surrounded by six hundred acres of land.” He apparently bought this land for some $8,000 from a Captain Matthews, who apparently built the house. However, the claim of ownership to the home by that name is not known at this time, for it appears the home, which still exists today in Hoosick Falls (and is a well-known museum), was passed through the Mathews family for two more generations. It may have been that Milliman rented or mortgaged part of the land adjacent or on this tract of land.

In the 1800 Census, John was enumerated again in the Hoosick District of Rensselaer County. He, again, was distinguished with his son having “Jr” attached to his name. Enumerated adjacent to son, Isaac, John’s household consisted of 1 male under 10, 2 males ages 16-25, and 1 male over 45 (which also proves this is the father, and not his son John), as well as 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 45 and over.

His wife, Hannah Fowler, was mentioned in her father Isaac Fowler’s will as “Hanna Milliman,” and in it she was left “one negro girl, Roco,” one cow, and half of the household goods. Her father also left her 25 Spanish dollars in his will, payable by the executor upon decease (Washington County Probate Records, Book 6, p. 25).

John wrote his will in Rensselaer County, New York, on 20 April 1798, and was probated on 7 March 1810. John’s will and administration letters, filed in Rensselaer County Will Book 3 (see New York Probate Records, 1629-1971, Wills & Administrations 1807-11, vol. 3 (Rensselaer County), img’s 171-72) are as follows:

“(p. 302) A copy of Letters testamentary granted on the last Will and Testament of John Milliman dec’d, Recorded March 7, 1810:

The People of the State of New York by the grace of God free and independent to all to whom these presents shall come or may concern send greeting – Know ye that at Lansingburgh in the county of Rensselaer on the seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten before Alanson Douglas Esquire Surrogate of our said County the last will and testament of John Milliman late of the Town of Hoosick in the County of Rensselaer and State of New York deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved and is now approved and allowed by us and the said deceased having whilst he lived and at the time of his death goods chattels or credit written this state by means whereof the proving and registering the said will and the granting administration of all and singular the said goods chattels and credits and also the auditing allowing and final discharging the account thereof doth belong unto us; the administration of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will is granted unto Thomas Milliman Executor in the said will named he being first duly sworn will and faithfully to administer the same and to make and exhibit a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods chattels and credits and also to render a just and true account thereof when thereunto required — In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of office of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed — Witness Alanson Douglas Esquire Surrogate of the said County, at Lansingburgh the seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten — Al…Douglas

(p. 303) A copy of the last Will and Testament of John Milliman deceased with the proof thereof — Recorded March 7th 1810 —

In the presence of God amen: I John Milleman of the Town of Hoosick in the County of Rensselaer & State of New York being under some indisposition of body but of sound disposing mind and memory thanks be to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing it is appointed to all men once to die Do make and ordain this instrument in writing to be my last will and testament and first of all I recommend my Soul to God desiring to be at his disposal and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and with respect to such worldly estate wherewith it hath please God to bless me with I give and dispose of the same in the following manner Viz: I give to my son George Milleman one good riding horse that shall be valued by indifferent judge at Twenty pounds York money to be deliver’d him within one year after my decease by my Executor. Item I give and bequeath to my six sons John Milleman, Rowland Milleman, Thomas Milleman, Samuel Milleman, Isaac Milleman and Joseph Milleman all my lands and tenements lying in the Town of Cambridge and Hoosick too be equally divided between them quantity and quality. To them my aforesaid sons their heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give to my six daughters Anna Bump, Hannah Sharp, Elizabeth Hodge, Mary Soule, Amy Carlton, and Sarah Milleman two thirds of all my moveable estate to be equally divided between them and directly after my decease. I do further order and it is my will that my daughter Hannahs share do remain in the hands of my Executor and by him to be dealt out to her to supply her personal needs from time to time at my Executors discretion — Item I give to my beloved wife Hannah Milleman the use of the one third part of the estate both real and personal during her natural life or so long as she shall remain my (p. 304) widow — Item I order and it is my will that all my just debts be paid by my six sons that I have given my lands too — Lastly I ordain and appoint my true and trusty son Thomas Milleman my whole and sole Executor to this my last will and testament rattifying [sic] this to be my last will. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this 20th day of Apr AD 1798 —–

Sign’d, Seal’d, Publish’d, Pronounc’d & Declar’d by the s’d John Milleman to be his last Will & Testament in presence of us the day and year abovesaid —

Amherst Dyer                                                                                  John Milliman   {{LS}}

Burgess Hall Jr

Wm Waite

{{State of New York}}

{{Rensselaer County}} Be it remembered that on the seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten personally appeared before me Alanson Douglas Esquire Surrogate of the Said County of Rensselaer Amherst Dyer one of the subscribing Witnesses to the Will of John MIlliman late of the Town of Hoosick in said County deceased who being duly sworn declared that he did see the said John MIlliman sign and seal the preceeding [sic] written instrument purporting to be the last Will and testament of the said John Milliman bearing date of the twentieth day of April in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight, and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and testament – that at the time thereof he the said John Milliman was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of him the said Amherst Dyer, and that the said Amherst Dyer together with Burgess Hall Junior and William Waite the other Witnesses to the said Will severally subscribed their hands and names to the said Will as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the Testator and of each other —  Al…Douglas”

John and Hannah are both interred in the old Barnet-Milliman Cemetery near Hoosick. The stones are fairly weathered down and old, but both stones provide ages that, when calculated, provide us with the dates of birth.

More posts will follow soon regarding the descendants of John Milliman, in regards to my direct line, which descends through his son Rowland Milliman. More will also be followed up regarding the Revolutionary War service records of John’s sons George and John Milliman, and possibly others.

 

Sources:

Howard M. Chapin, “Rhode Island In The Colonial Wars: A List of RI Soldiers & Sailors In The Old French & Indian War, 1755-62,” p. 10

Susan I. Lahas, “The Rhode Island Depreciation Claims List, as of 1 January 1797.” Published from the list found in the DAR Library, Washington, D.C., by the Lakota Chapter, NSDAR, February 1999.

Fred Q. Bowman, “Landholders of Northeastern New York, 1739-1802,” p. 124

Benjamin Cowell, “Spirit of ’76 in Rhode Island: or Sketches of the Efforts of the Government & People in the War of the Revolution,” p. 107

Barnet-Milliman Cemetery, Hoosick, Rensselaer Co, NY

George B. Anderson, “Landmarks of Rensselaer Co, NY,” (1897), p. 421

1790 US Fed. Census, Hoosick, Albany Co, NY

1800 US Fed. Census, Hoosick, Rensselaer Co, NY

Ralph D. Phillips, “Abstracts of Wills of Rensselaer Co, NY, 1791-1850,” (1938)  vol. 1, pp 62-63

Land Records of South Kingston, Rhode Island, Microfilm, NSDAR Library, Washington, D.C.