Some Great Father's Day Gifts!

From the Ulster Ancestry Foundation:

Special Offers

For information on all the Foundation's publications and our many special offers please don't forget to access www.booksireland.org.uk. During the summer period we will continue to offer the volumes comprising the marvellous Ordnance Survey Memoirs series at reduced prices and for any of you who may be considering purchasing the ultimate resource on the Ulster Plantation, the R.J. Hunter Collection, the special price of £57.99 for the five volumes in the series will remain, (a saving of almost £15.00). In addition to these generous offers we are pleased to draw your attention to the following selection of books, including material which had recently been out of stock and a number of classic Foundation titles which we are making available at very competitive prices over the summer months:

• Rhyming Weavers & other country poets of Antrim and Down
  RRP £7.99, our price only £4.99
• The Planters of Luggancurran, County Laois
  RRP £9.99, our price only £2.99
• The Murder of Thomas Douglas Bateson, 1851
  RRP £9.99, our price only £2.99
• Restoration Strabane 1660-1714: Economy and Society in Provincial Ireland
  RRP £9.99, our price only £2.99
• Castle Caldwell, County Fermanagh: Life on a west Ulster Estate
  RRP £9.99, our price only £2.99
• Scottish Covenanters and Irish Confederates
  RRP £14.99, our price only £9.99
• Essays in Scotch-Irish History
  RRP £9.99, our price only £6.99
• The Plantation of Ulster: British Settlement in an Irish Landscape 1600-1670
  RRP £14.99, our price only £9.99

Ordnance Survey Memoirs reprints

The Foundation hopes to be in a position soon to offer for sale copies of the out of print volumes of the OS Memoirs, including: vol. 20 (East Tyrone), vol. 28 (Co. Londonderry – Cumber), vol. 30 (Co. Londonderry - Banagher)), vol. 39 (Mid West and South Donegal), vol 40 (South Ulster). We will notify you when these are in stock.

(Wonder if we would find any of our Miller's, Bradford's or Dunlap's in these books! Wish I could buy all of them! - Donna)

United Irishmen - Exiles of 1798 Project

While our Scots-Irish Presbyterian Miller Ancestors left Ireland almost 100 years earlier, I wanted to post this blog in case others of you who do have Exiles of 1798 "United Irishman" ancestors can participate in this exciting new research project. 


From http://www.ancestryireland.com/ :


Presbyterian Exiles of 1798

Research projects are central to the Foundation's mission of seeking to tell the story of the people of Ulster. Forthcoming projects will include an Irish in the Plantation Map, similar to those already completed on the English and Scots in the Plantation and Presbyterian Exiles of 1798. With regard to the latter project, we would be grateful for your assistance. 

The Foundation has been commissioned to carry out research into Ulster Presbyterians who sought refuge in the United States around the time of the 1798 Rebellion. Many Presbyterians in the north of Ireland, (in addition to other Protestant dissenters and Catholics) supported the United Irishmen, resulting in numbers of them having to leave the island. Our aim is to find out more about these individuals and their experiences in the United States.

We have assembled a team of academics and researchers on both sides of the Atlantic to investigate this further. If you have an ancestor who was involved in the United Irishmen and who had to leave Ireland as a consequence, we would be interested in hearing from you. Any information you share with us will be treated confidentially and will not be made available in the public domain without your permission. Please email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk including 'Presbyterian Exiles of 1798' in the subject box.

More on the Covenanters in Ireland

Ballindrait, County Donegal, Ireland

I am still working on the third post about our Miller ancestors, who were Presbyterian Covenanters living in Ulster (Northern Ireland), and whether or not they fled to Holland because of religious persecution. Remember, the Allen Family Records says that Abraham Miller, William's father, was born in Holland.

Till that post is ready, here is part of an interesting article (though not particularly good news genealogically-speaking) about the Covenanters in Ireland.

It contains a link to a map showing where the current day congregations live. Two congregations are close to where our Millers lived in the Ballindrait area between Strabane and Letterkenny.

"Of the early history of the Covenanters in Ireland very little is known, save that the denomination was small and scattered. It was not until the latter part of the eighteenth century that congregations began to be organised and ministers were ordained. Very few Reformed Presbyterian records have survived from the eighteenth century. This can be partly explained by the paucity of ministers at this time; many baptisms and marriages were performed by visiting ministers from Scotland and there is little evidence of proper records being kept of these events. Congregations were divided into societies, composed of several families living within a short distance of each other.

For background information on this denomination see The Covenanters in Ireland: A History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland by Adam Loughridge (Belfast, 1984). For information on ministers in the Reformed Presbyterian Church see Fasti of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland compiled and edited by Adam Loughridge (Belfast, 1970). A recent article on researching Covenanter ancestors is ‘The Origins of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland with some comments on its records’ by William Roulston, published in Familia: Ulster Genealogical Review (2008), pages 86-110. The website of this denomination is..{ http://rpc.org/directory/ ]. This includes a map showing the location of [current] congregations." (source:  http://www.ancestryireland.com/irish-presbyterianism/presbyterian-ancestors/seceders-non-subscribers-and-covenanters/ )

Hitting Head On The Wall !!!

Old New Castle town, New Castle County, Delaware

Dear Readers,

Taking another break from the Abraham Miller/Holland series of posts in order to explain why I am hitting my head on the wall right now!

I spent a little time on the Mocavo Genealogy Search Engine looking for our William Miller this evening, and just came across this listing of New Castle County Delaware Marriages. Remember that land records indicate William lived in New Castle County when he was younger, and that many of the Miller's had land in that county as well as nearby Cecil County, Maryland. It seems that they moved back and forth between these very close-lying areas regularly.

If you peruse down the list, you will see seven William Miller's!! Granted, we can toss out the two who married in the 1840's and for good measure the one who married in 1820. That leaves four William Miller's living in the same general area and time period as our William, and whose land, court, military, etc. records we may have been incorrectly attributing to our William!

Arghhh !

Here is the record. Would really appreciate any input! - Donna

"DELAWARE GENEALOGY TRAILS"

NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE MARRIAGES 1645-1899
FHL Film Number 0006414 to 0006422

Submitted by a Friend of Free Genealogy
This is a transcription of a transcription. You need to take the time to confirm ALL data for yourself!"

William Millar	Rhoda Heaton	24 May 1794
Richard Millason	Ann Millason	11 Feb 1789
David Millen	Margaret Kennedy	8 Nov 1787
Abraham Miller	Mary O'Neil	17 Sep 1828
Alexander Miller	Beats Turner	13 Jul 1752
Andrew Miller	Ann Silsbee	1 Jan 1789
Archibald Miller	Jane Boyd	4 Sep 1758
Benjamin Miller	Hannah Martin	30 Jul 1771
Frederick Miller	Catherine Graubein	6 Jun 1758
George Miller	Sarah Taylor	31 Dec 1801
George Miller	Susannah Bird	1 Jan 1744
Hannah Miller	Rachel Paulson	11 Oct 1756
James Miller	Jane Enkins	4 Feb 1768
James Miller	Mary Miller	1 Jan 1744
John Miller	Rebecca Reynolds	20 Feb 1809
John Miller	Eleanor Latimer	3 Jan 1788
John Miller	Margaret Scott	21 Jan 1813
John Miller		27 Mar 1772
John Miller	Anne Thompson	9 Sep 1754
Joseph Miller	Sarah Garland	11 Mar 1834
Joseph Miller	Margaret Sharp	15 Oct 1761
Joshua Miller	Sarah Davis	17 Jul 1799
Levi Miller	Mary Razell	27 Dec 1819
Levi Miller	Esther Ann Martin	25 Jan 1825
Martin Miller	Ann Justison	26 Sep 1832
Robert Miller	Ann Vance	2 Dec 1816
Robert Miller	Jane Eliza Burke	25 Jul 1835
Robert Miller	Ann Miller	28 Nov 1816
Samuel Miller	Elisabeth Smyth	26 Apr 1827
Tholly Miller	Mary MacFadden	19 Sep 1756
Thomas Miller	Lavinia Ann Townsend	14 May 1840
William Miller	Elizabeth Walker	1 Apr 1820
William Miller	Jean Magee	1 Jun 1746
William Miller	Sarah Hall	23 Jun 1759
William Miller	Hannah Hancy	31 May 1789
William Miller	Rebecca McMullen	31 May 1845
William Miller	Elizabeth Chamberlain	21 Oct 1796
William H. Miller	Eliza Tatem	1 Jan 1846

The Puzzle

HOLLAND

If you review the two posts previous to the Roots Tech blog, you will remember that we are trying so solve the puzzle of whether or not our Scots-Irish ancestor, Abraham Miller (our William’s father), or perhaps Abraham’s father or grandfather, left their Northern Ireland home near the village of Ballindrait, County Donegal, and fled religious persecution of the Presbyterian Covenanters by going to Holland for a period of time as did quite a number of  the Scots-Irish, including the father and grandfather of their pastor, William Traill (see [see previous posts about Traill to establish the connection between him and our Miller’s).

          John Miller-----> David Miller-----> Abraham Miller-----> William Miller

     born about 1660   born about 1685      born about 1710    born 1732 in America

The above diagram shows our William's descent from his great grandfather John Miller¹. To date, we have written very little about William's father, Abraham. Even where and when he was born continues to be a puzzle of many ill-fitting pieces that leads us to ask: Was he born in Ireland, America or Holland?! We are certain that his son William was born in 1732 in America, but our knowledge ends there and surmise begins.

Following is a summary of the conflicting information that is contained in each of three documents (see images below):

PUZZLE PIECE ONE is a document known as The Allen Family Record which claims that Abraham Miller was born in Holland, "his ancestry having fled from England during a violent persecution of Protestants." (footnote ?).

PUZZLE PIECE TWO is a page from an 1820 publication called The Christian Herald, gives a brief history of Abraham's son, Alexander. It includes a note about Alexander’s parents, listing Abraham and wife "Susannah" [footnote] nee Roddy as "both originally from the north of Ireland," but there is no mention of birth dates and no mention of Holland.

PUZZLE PIECE THREE is the transcript of a land record from Somerset County, Maryland, indicates that Abraham's grandfather, John, was already in America by 1684, lending credence to the theory that Abraham was born in America.

Here are the supporting documents:

1.   ALLEN FAMILY RECORD

                              * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1.   CHRISTIAN HERALD ARTICLE:

                        

                                 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

3.   LAND RECORDS:

Transcript of a land record from Somerset County, Maryland showing that Abraham’s grandfather was in America by 1684: 

"On 18 Sep 1684 [date is difficult to make out, but it is thought this is correct], John Miller acquires 300 acres known as “Enlargement” from John Emmett and his wife Hanna. John and his wife Isabell sell part of this land to Samuel Taylor on 5 Feb 1697/8.  On 24 Mar 1697/8, John Miller sells another 100 acres of Enlargement to Samuel Davis. “Enlargement” is situated on the east side of Chesapeake Bay about 1 ½ mile south of the Pokomoke River." (Source: Somerset Co. Deeds, Liber L 1, p. 442)  

Other land records clearly show how parcels in Somerset County, Maryland, Newcastle County, Delaware, and Cecil County Maryland, were handed from John to David to Abraham and finally to William (see previous posts using “land record, Miller” as your search terms).

                               * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

So according to these three sources, Abraham was either born in Holland, Northern Ireland or America. Did I mention this was an "ill-fitting puzzle"?!

Next time: We will continue exploring whether the Miller's really went to Holland or not, and where Abraham was born. Your theories are welcome! Just write to me in the comments section below, or email them to me, so I can enter them into the mix of ideas!

_____________________________________________

FOOTNOTE

1:   Birth years of all except William Miller are approximated from William’s known birth year of 1732.

ROOTS TECH 2013

Hi to all,

Hi all,

The first link below is to a genealogy blog that I follow, not because we have any ancestors in common, but because Jana does lots of wonderful posts that are of interest to family history buffs in general. 

This link takes you to her blog about the Roots Tech Conference going on in Salt Lake City, Utah, this week on March 21-23. There is an interesting video to watch, plus Jana lists the sessions that will be streaming live on those days. 

Worth a look! 
Donna

(sorry the links below aren't "hot." You'll have to cut and paste them into your server's address box)

http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/03/will-you-be-watching.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JanasGenealogyandFamilyHistoryblogspot%2FCVLPx+%28Jana%27s+Genealogy+and+Family+History+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader 


Here is the link for Roots Tech itself:   http://rootstech.org/ 

Did Our Miller Ancestors Flee From Northern Ireland to Holland?

In an effort to answer this question and learn more about our Miller ancestors before they arrived in America, and especially whether or not there is a Holland connection, we are studying the lives of their religious leaders in hopes of finding clues about our ancestors. In previous posts we have discussed the relationship between our Miller's and their pastor in Ireland, the Reverend William Traill. The article below deals with William's father, Rev. Robert Traill, who was a prisoner of Cromwell for a period of time:

Rev. Robert Traill
(source: http://www.covenanter.org/RTraill/roberttraill.htm ) 

"Born in Elie, May, 1642.  After the usual prepatory studies, he was sent to the College of Edinburgh, where he distinguished himself in the several classes.  He devoted his life to the ministry and the cause of the church of his fathers.  This devotion was greatly manifested by his attendance upon Mr. James Guthrie, minister of Stirling, on the scaffold of martyrdom, 1661.  In 1666, in consequence of some copies of the Apologetical Relation, a work (penned by John Brown, of Wamphray) hated by the prelates, and condemned by the Privy Council to the flames, found in his home, he was obliged with his mother and brother to go into hiding.  It is reported that Robert Traill was in arms with the Covenanters when they were routed at Pentland Hills.  Because of this, he found it necessary to flee to Holland, where his father was already, in 1667.  Sometime around 1669, he returned to London and commenced his ministry there.  In 1677, while visiting Scotland, he was apprehended and arraigned before the Privy Council.  He refused to clear himself by their unlawful oath and was, upon little evidence, sentenced to imprisonment on the Bass rock.  He was released after three months and returned to London where he continued to officiate as pastor of a Presbyterian congregation until his death, in May, 1716," (http://www.covenanter.org/RTraill/roberttraill.htm; highlight added). 

Note that when Robert Traill fled to Holland, his father was already living there:
"The father of Robert Traill, who was minister of the Greyfriars’ Church, Edinburgh, was one of those bold witnesses for the Covenant, who lived during the stormy period of the Commonwealth, and the still more trying season of the Restoration, in which, at the age of sixty, he was banished from Scotland for life upon the charge of holding a conventicle, because he had read and expounded Scripture to a few friends who were assembled in his house. In consequence of this sentence he retired to Holland, the usual place of refuge for the exiled Presbyterians of Scotland, and there spent the rest of his life." ( http://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/traill_robert.htm )

So here is the big question: Did our Miller ancestors follow the example of the Traill's and also flee from Northern Ireland to Holland?? 

We will examine that very question in upcoming posts.