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I (Marty Grant) am not related to Henry Miller as far as I know, but there is a slim chance he is related to my Macon County Miller ancestor Joseph Miller (1790), but I doubt there is a connection there. There is a better chance that he is related to my Ashe County ancestor Jonathan Miller (1776), but I don't know of any connection there either.
Henry Miller was born ca 1802/03 (per 1850 census) or ca 1807/08 per 1860 census or "12 Jul 1804" (source?). He was born in Ashe County, NC (per 1850 and 1860 census).
I don't know who Henry's parents were. I remember reading an article (in a "Heritage Book", I think) that showed him a son of "Henry Miller and Mary McNeil", but I don't remember any proof being mentioned. It could be correct of course, but I don't know. That couple married in Wilkes County, NC in November 1803, so that barely works with Henry's ca 1803 birth date or even the July 1804 birth date, and the fact that he was born in Ashe County, but works fine with his ca 1808 birth date. However, pending any evidence for or against, I'm not going to state that Henry (c1803) is a son of the older Henry. There could be many other possibilities. There may be some proof somewhere, but I haven't seen any just yet. His marriage bond lists him as Henry "Jr", but that does not mean he is a son of an older Henry, but only that there was an older Henry in the county that he needed to be distinguished from. (Of course it does not preclude him being the son of an older Henry).
Henry Miller would have been about 7 (or 2) years old for the 1810 census, so he should be enumerated in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1800/10). There were quite a few Millers in Ashe County in 1810 and several in neighboring Wilkes County. Unfortunately the Ashe County census taker only used initials: "J. Miller", "H. Miller", etc. That makes identification difficult. Danny Miller wrote a book several years ago called "Miller Families of Ashe County" documenting all (or most) of the Millers in Ashe County. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of it, so I don't know if he mentioned the Henry Miller family. Many of the 1810 Millers had apparent sons "under 10", as did the Wilkes County Millers. Too many to do a useful census analysis. Looking only at the "Henry" or "H." Miller listings, I find that three of them had at least one son under 10 (a 4th Henry had none). There were 2 "H. Miller" listings in Ashe, and a Henry Miller in Wilkes, all with at least one son that age. A Henry Miller, L.F. (don't know what the initials are for) in 1810 Wilkes had no apparent sons that age.
In 1820, Henry would have been either 17 or 12 years old, so possibly enumerated in the 10-15 age group (born ca 1804/10) or in the 16-25 age group (born ca 1794/1804). If his 1804 birth date is correct, then he would have been 15 or 16, so that still leaves the possibility of him being in either of these age categories. As before, there were several Millers in Ashe and Wilkes County. George Miller, Caty Miller, and David Miller in Ashe had sons in one or both of those age groups. In Wilkes, two Henry Millers had sons in one or both those age groups, as did Joseph Miller and William Miller.
For the 1830 census, Henry Miller would have been in his 20's, so ought to be enumerated in the 20-29 age group (born ca 1800/10). He was old enough to be listed on his own, or still home with his parents. In Ashe County, George Miller had a son that age, so did John S. Miller, and John Miller Sr and David Miller, and Jonathan Miller (1776) (my ancestor). In neighboring Wilkes County, none of the households had a son that age. Henry was old enough to have been living with another family as a laborer or something, so it isn't unusual that he isn't found. There was a Henry Miller in Ashe County, and one in Wilkes County, but both were much older than this Henry, and neither had an apparent son Henry's age.
On 7 Nov 1835, Henry Miller Jr obtained a marriage bond in Wilkes County, NC to marry Mary A. Nicholds. Jeremiah Lane was bondsman. I'm not totally sure this is the same Henry, but I feel pretty sure it is, for his first wife was named "Mary Ann" and was born in Wilkes County, and that marriage date works with their known children. The fact that Henry was listed as "Jr" does not imply he was a son of Henry "Sr" (though he could be). "Jr" and "Sr" were used in those days simply as a means to tell two men of the same name apart. The older was "Sr", the younger was "Jr". It did not mean they were related at all, though of course they could be. Mary Ann Nichols was born ca 1808/09 (per 1850 Census Mortality Schedule) in Wilkes County (same source). I don't know who her parents were.
Based on the birth dates and places of Henry and Mary Ann's children, it appears that they left Wilkes County, NC for Haywood County, NC between 1835 and ca 1838, and went from Haywood to Macon Co, NC between ca 1838 and ca 1839. I'm not sure where they lived exactly in Macon, but possibly in what later became Millshoal Township.
Henry Miller was listed on the 1840 census in Macon Co, NC, just 4 houses from my ancestor Joseph Miller (1790), who was not related as far as I know, but it is interesting, if not coincidental that they wound up near each other. Of course this could be a census trick, and they were not near each other at all.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1840 Macon Co, NC pg 159 Henry Miller 0000010000000-2000010000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) Henry MILLER (1802/03) s/o Henry & Mary 1 Female(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) Mary Ann NICHOLS Miller (1808/09) wife d 1849 2 Female(s) 0-4 (1835-1840) Martha J. MILLER (1837/38) daughter Sarah E. MILLER (1838/39) daughter
In March 1843 Macon County Court, Henry Miller (among others) was listed as being on a jury for the next term. (Macon Co, NC Court Minutes 1838-1855 pg 217)
On 13 Dec 1845, Henry Miller and E. Phipps witnessed a deed from John Phillips to John R. Allman. (Macon Co, NC Deed Book E page 84 from "Records of Old Macon County, N.C. 1829-1850" compiled by Barbara Sears McRae, 1991. * Note: All deeds mentioned hereafter from books "A" through "E" are taken from this book.)
Mary Ann Nichols Miller died in Jul 1849 according to the 1850 Census Mortality Schedule. It listed her "Mary Ann Miller" age 40, born Wilkes, and that she died in "childbed" after being sick 3 days. A child Nancy A. Miller was reported as having died the same month, aged only 1 month. I'm assuming that was Mary Ann's child.
On 4 Dec 1849, Henry Miller obtained a marriage bond in Macon County to marry Elizabeth Forrester. John Banes was bondsman. Elizabeth was born ca 1819/20 (per 1850 census) in Wilkes County, NC (same source). I think she is probably a child of John Forrester and Milly (---) Forrester, but have no direct proof of that.
Henry Miller and family were listed on the 1850 census in Macon Co, NC. He was next door to the James Tabor family who had two sisters marry sons of my ancestor Joseph Miller (1790), who was not related to Henry. It just shows how close they lived to each other.
1850 MACON CO, NC Page 350B House/Family # 477/ 487 - TENNESSEE VALLEY Twp MILLER HENRY 47 M W FARMER ASHE CO, NC 1802/1803 MILLER ELIZABETH 30 F W WILKES CO, NC 1819/1820 MILLER MARTHA J 12 F W HAYWOOD CO, NC 1837/1838 MILLER SARAH E 11 F W MACON CO, NC 1838/1839 MILLER MARY C 8 F W MACON CO, NC 1841/1842 MILLER WILLIAM H H 5 M W MACON CO, NC 1844/1845 MILLER ALEXANDER L 3 M W MACON CO, NC 1846/1847
The 1850 Agricultural Census (part of the 1850 census, but on a separate schedule) shows that Henry Miller had 12 acres of improved land, and 100 acres of unimproved land.
Elizabeth Forrester Miller died sometime between ca 1854 and mid 1858 in Macon Co, NC.
On 31 Jul 1858, Henry Miller obtained a marriage bond in Macon County to marry Elizabeth Moore. John Cansler was bondsman. They were married on 1 Aug 1858 by T. W. Owen, Justice of the Peace. Nancy Elizabeth Moore was born ca 1827/28 in Lincoln Co, NC, daughter of Wallace A. Moore and Sarah E. (---) Moore.
Henry Miller and family were on the 1860 census in Macon Co, NC. Two Moore children were with them, probably Elizabeth's nephews, or possibly even her own children (if born out of wedlock or from an unknown Moore marriage).
1860 MACON CO, NC Page 242 House/Family # 194/ 198 -- TENNESSEE VALLEY Twp P.O. MILLER HENRY 52 M W FARMER 500 480 ASHE CO, NC 1807/1808 MILLER NANCY E 32 F W LINCOLN CO, NC 1827/1828 MILLER SARAH E 20 F W MACON CO, NC 1839/1840 MILLER MARY C 18 F W MACON CO, NC 1841/1842 MILLER WILLIAM H 16 M W LABORER MACON CO, NC 1843/1844 MILLER ALEXANDER L 13 M W MACON CO, NC 1846/1847 MILLER JOHN M 10 M W MACON CO, NC 1849/1850 MILLER PERMILLER A 8 F W MACON CO, NC 1851/1852 MILLER DAVID F 6 M W MACON CO, NC 1853/1854 MILLER JAMES M 1 M W MACON CO, NC 1858/1859 MOORE CHRISTOPHER C 12 M W MACON CO, NC 1847/1848 MOORE WILLIAM N 7 M W MACON CO, NC 1852/1853
I did not find this family on the 1870 census in Macon County. I found marriage records in Macon dated 1865, 1870 and 1885 for some of their children, so they must have still been around somewhere nearby in 1870 (but not listed on the Macon County census that year). There was a Henry Miller on the 1870 census index for neighboring Clay County, and after checking it out, I found it was the same family. There were no other Millers in Clay County in 1870.
1870 CLAY CO, NC Page 476B House/Family # 55/ 55--TUESQUITTEE Twp HAYESVILLE P.O. MILLER HENRY 60 M W FARMER 500 NC 1809/1810 MILLER ELISABETH 40 F W NC 1829/1830 MILLER ALEXANDER 22 M W FARMER NC 1847/1848 MILLER COLUMBUS 18 M W AT HOME NC 1851/1852 MILLER DAVID 16 M W NC 1853/1854 MILLER JOHN 15 M W NC 1854/1855 MILLER CATE 20 F W NC 1849/1850 MILLER JAMES 12 M W NC 1857/1858 MILLER THOMAS 10 M W NC 1859/1860 MILLER ANN 8 F W NC 1861/1862 MILLER ROBERT 6 M W NC 1863/1864
I did not find them in 1880. They were not in Clay County still, nor back in Macon County. Since son David married in Macon in 1885, they must have still been around somewhere, though I don't know where.
Henry Miller and Mary Ann Nichols had at least six children. He and 2nd wife Elizabeth Forrester had at least 3 children. He and 3rd wife Nancy Elizabeth Moore had at least 4 children, for a total of 13 known children. I don't have enough data on the children to give them their own sections here, but I have found some data on them from the census records and Macon County marriage records, but not much else. See the Register Report below for what I do have on these children.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. Henry1 Miller, born 1802/03 in Ashe Co, NC; died aft 1870 in Clay Co, NC, son of Henry Miller and Mary McNeil. He married (1) on 7 Nov 1835 in Wilkes Co, NC Mary Ann Nichols, born 1808/09 in Wilkes Co, NC; died Jul 1849 in Macon Co, NC; (2) on 4 Dec 1849 in Macon Co, NC Elizabeth Forrester, born 1819/20 in Wilkes Co, NC; died 1854/58 in Macon Co, NC, daughter of John Forrester and Milly (---); (3) on 1 Aug 1858 in Macon Co, NC Nancy Elizabeth Moore, born 1827/28 in Lincoln Co, NC; died aft 1870 in Clay Co, NC, daughter of Wallace A Moore and Sarah E (---).
Children of Henry Miller and Mary Ann Nichols were as follows:
+ 2 i Martha J2 Miller, born 1837/38 in Haywood Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Macon Co, NC. She married Alfred M Brendle.
+ 3 ii Sarah Elizabeth2 Miller, born 1838/39 in Macon Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Towns Co, GA. She married Lewis Sorrells.
4 iii Mary C2 Miller, born 1841/42 in Macon Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Macon Co, NC.
5 iv William H H2 Miller Pvt, born 1844/45 in Macon Co, NC; died 19 Mar 1863 in Civil War.
6 v Alexander L2 Miller, born 1846/47 in Macon Co, NC; died aft 1870 in Clay Co, NC.
7 vi Nancy A2 Miller, born abt Jun 1849 in Macon Co, NC; died Jul 1849 in Macon Co, NC.
Children of Henry Miller and Elizabeth Forrester were as follows:
8 i John M2 Miller, born 1850 in Macon Co, NC; died aft 1870 in Clay Co, NC.
9 ii Permelia Ada2 Miller, born 1851/52 in Macon Co, NC. She married on 9 Aug 1870 in Macon Co, NC Thomas A Angel.
+ 10 iii David F2 Miller, born 1853/54 in Macon Co, NC; died 1889/1900 in Macon Co, NC. He married Rebecca Angel.
Children of Henry Miller and Nancy Elizabeth Moore were as follows:
11 i James M2 Miller, born 1858/59 in Macon Co, NC.
12 ii Thomas2 Miller, born 1860 in Macon Co, NC.
13 iii Ann2 Miller, born 1861/62 in Macon Co, NC.
14 iv Robert2 Miller, born 1863/64 in Macon Co, NC.
Generation 2
2. Martha J2 Miller (Henry1), born 1837/38 in Haywood Co, NC; died aft 1860 in Macon Co, NC. She married on 2 Nov 1855 in Macon Co, NC Alfred M Brendle, born 1834/35 in Macon Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Macon Co, NC, son of Joseph Brendle and Rebecca (---).
Children of Martha J Miller and Alfred M Brendle were as follows:
15 i Alexander J3 Brendle, born 1858/59 in Macon Co, NC.
3. Sarah Elizabeth2 Miller (Henry1), born 1838/39 in Macon Co, NC; died aft 1880 in Towns Co, GA. She married on 6 Jul 1865 in Macon Co, NC Lewis Sorrells, born 1838/39 in NC.
Children of Sarah Elizabeth Miller and Lewis Sorrells were as follows:
16 i Mary3 Sorrells, born 1867/68 in Macon Co, NC.
17 ii Robert3 Sorrells, born 1870/71 in Macon Co, NC.
18 iii Andrew3 Sorrells, born 1871/72 in Macon Co, NC.
19 iv Sarah3 Sorrells, born 1876/77 in Towns Co, GA.
20 v Jane3 Sorrells, born 1878/79 in Towns Co, GA.
10. David F2 Miller (Henry1), born 1853/54 in Macon Co, NC; died 1889/1900 in Macon Co, NC. He married on 22 Nov 1885 in Macon Co, NC Rebecca Angel, born Jun 1863 in Macon Co, NC, daughter of William F Angel and Sarah Nichols.
Children of David F Miller and Rebecca Angel were as follows:
21 i Ella M3 Miller, born Aug 1887 in Macon Co, NC. She married on 24 Dec 1911 in Macon Co, NC Horace J Hurst, born 1886/87 in Macon Co, NC.
22 ii Bynum3 Miller, born Sep 1888 in Macon Co, NC. He married on 25 Jan 1908 in Macon Co, NC Riffie Benfield, born 1891/92 in Macon Co, NC.
23 iii Ida E3 Miller, born Dec 1889 in Macon Co, NC. She married on 18 Sep 1916 in Macon Co, NC Joseph McGaha, born 1893/94 in Macon Co, NC.
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