Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Wendel Miller History 1704 - 1804

Wendel Miller (sometimes spelled Wendell) came from southwestern Germany near the Swiss border. He was a Lutheran and is said to have immigrated to escape religious persecution. Wendell arrived from Rotterdam in Philadelphia, PA, aboard the ship "Brothers" in 1754 at the age of 25. He was married and brought seven sons with him to America. They moved from Pennsylvania to Rowan County, NC, settling near Salisbury on the old Gold Hill Road where he purchased approximately 2400 acres. Wendell was a wealthy plantation owner.

Organ Church, Rowan, NC

Wendel originally worshiped at Old Hickory Church. Later, he was one of the founders and charter members of the Organ Church, first organized in 1773. Wendell is buried in the cemetery there, and his headstone indicates "Miller: Wendel Miller (1717-1805) served as a Lt. in the Rowan C." indicating his service during the American Revolution. Wendell Miller was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War and was promoted to Captain, fighting against Tories and Indians. He is reported to have had seven sons, seven daughters and one adopted daughter Elizabeth. His second wife was Christina according to his Will, and it is uncertain which children were from the first or second wife.

Several researchers indicate that his second wife, name Unknown, had a child named Frederick who was the father of John Miller. A few researchers dispute this claim.

Individual Record FamilySearch® Ancestral File™ v4.19
Wendel MILLER (AFN: 1RNX-8J7)
Sex: M
Event(s):
Born: 1704, Germany
Died: 1804, Rowan Co, N C
Parents:
Marriage(s):
Spouse: Christina (AFN: 1RNX-8KF)

Family Group Record FamilySearch® Ancestral File™ v4.19
Husband's Name
Wendell MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8J7)
Born: 1704, Germany
Died: 1804, Rowan Co, N C
Wife's Name
Christina (AFN:1RNX-8KF)
Born: 1691
Children
Frederick MILLER (AFN:1FDB-P5)
Hans (John) MILLER (AFN:1RNW-H7F)
Peter MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8LM)
Henry MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8MT)
Anna MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8N2)
Maria MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8P8)
Elizabeth MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8QG)
Rachel MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8RN)
Susannah MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8SV)
David MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8T3)
Phillip MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8WH)
Catherine MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8XP)
Philipina MILLER (AFN:1RNX-8ZW)
Sarah MILLER (AFN:1RNX-903)
Christina MILLER (AFN:1RNX-919)
George MILLER (AFN:1RNX-92H)

Source:  Can't remember.  I believe it's the Wendel Miller Descendants book.  Above is what I had in my notes about Wendell Miller.

Relation to me:
Wendel Miller (6th Great Grandfather) Abt. 1730-1805
John Philip Miller (5th Great Grandfather)
John Peter Miller (4th Great Grandfather)
Milas M. Miller (3th Great Grandfather)
Minnie A. Miller (2rd Great Grandmother)
Maude Irene Johnson (Great Grandmother)
James Edward Ewart (Grandfather)
Becky Ewart (Mother)
Stephen Gentry Jr (Me)

Link to tree

Update: Found a copy of his will that was already transcribed.  Here is what it said:

I, Wendel Miller, of Rowan County and State of N. Carolina, being in sound mind and memory, but weak in body, and knowing that it is appointed unto all me once to die, have though proper to dispose of my worldly property, with which it was pleased God to bless me, in the following manner, Viz:
1. I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife, Christina, one negro girl named Polly, to be her own property as long as my wife shall remain widow, further I give to my wife, Christina, one bed and furniture, one spinning wheel, one iron pot, one pewter dish, six plates and six spoons, the choice of one horse, saddle and bridle, the choice of one cow. It is also my will that my wife shall have one room in the house wherein I now live, for her own use. The above mentioned articles are to be delivered to my wife whenever my youngest son, David, becomes of age. It is further my will that from the time when my son David comes of age, my son George and Henry shall give unto my wife, Christina, yearly each of them, three bushels of wheat, five bushels of corn, fifty pounds of beef and twenty pounds of pork.
2. I give and bequeath to my son Peter, three hundred and sixty Spanish Milled Dollars.
3. I give and bequeath to my son David, the sum of three hundred and fifty Spanish Dollars.
4. I give and bequeath to my son George and Henry, my plantation whereon I now live, to be divided amongst them into equal shares, so as my son George shall have the lower part, and my son Henry the upper part with the improvements.
5. I give and bequeath to my daughters, Catharina, Anna Maria, Susana, Philippina, Elizabeth, Sara, Rachel, and Christina, to each and every one of them, the sum of one hundred Spanish Milled Dollars. But as my son-in-law, John Brown, has received from me sixty dollars, for which I have a receipt from under his hand, it is my will that these sixty dollars shall be deducted from the above mentioned sum willed to his wife, Catharina and she is only to get forty dollars more.
6. I give and bequeath unto my son, Frederick, the sum of twenty five Spanish Milled Dollars.
7. I give and bequeath unto my son, John, twenty Spanish Milled Dollars.
8. I give and bequeath to the Second Creek Congregation, the sum of fifty dollars. It is further my will, that the negro woman Patt, shall be hired out yearly for the benefit of my estate; and it is also my will that there shall be no vendue made until my son, David, becomes of age, all my property shall be sold, and the money arising from that sale shall be divided into equal shares amongst all my children, my step-daughter Elizabeth except, provided that before this distribution takes place the above mentioned sums are paid and also one hundred dollars to my wife, Christina.
     It is my will also, that my wife, Christina, shall have the power to furnish out of my estate those of my children which are yet unmarried at the time of their marriage with the same articles with which my married children have been furnished; and if at the time when the above distributions take place any of my children are single yet, they shall be provided for and furnished in the same manner
     It is further my will that if any building or repairs of buildings is necessary it shall be paid out of my estate.
I make, ordain and constitute my friend George Henry Berger, my wife, Christina, and my son Philip, Executors of this will, and empower them to make deeds to my son George and Henry for the land herein willed. Then I declare this to be my last will and testament and pronounce all others null and void.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of November, 1804.
                                                              Wendel Miller (Seal)


Here is an image with more information about him that I also just found.




4 comments:

  1. My great grandfather was Lutheran Rev. John Abner Locke Miller (wed Mary Ann Pinkston), born Rowan Co. 1858, died Concord 1945, nephew of Luthern Rev. Martin Monroe Miller, Pvt. CSA (wed Sarah R. Pinkston of Old Salem). Rev. Locke Miller's father was Capt. Alfred Alexander Miller who wed Mary E. Hall, sister of "Squire" Capt. Abner Leander Hall, CSA, who wed 1st, Susan Rebecca Miller, Capt. Miller's sister. Capt. Miller was the son of John Cyrus Miller, born Dutch Buffalo Creek, Cabarrus Co., N.C., 1811, died Rowan 1893, by first wife Sophie Propst. Cyrus wed the widow Mrs. Mary Ann Barringer Redwine who divorced him for adultery with Louisa Nash by whom he had three sons. His last wife was Mary Ann C. Swicegood.

    Cyrus brother Frederick Haro Miller removed to the Republic of Texas. Brother Alexander Monroe "Sandy" Miller removed to Rowan Co. and thence to Illinois. The fate of brother Samuel D. Miller is unknown. They were the sons of John "Henry" Miller and second wife, Mrs. Emilia "Milly" Fisher Sossamon, the daughter of Capt. Frederick Fisher and first wife Sybilla. Henry ran the Sossaman-Miller-Foil Mill on Dutch Buffallo Creek until his Sossaman step-children came of age. He wed first Ann Barbarah Harris, the daughter of Ephraim Drake Harris of Cabarrus. Their daughter Caroline Miller wed Aaron Ridenhour and removed to Illinois. I do not know who Henry Miller's father was, I suspect his mother was a German/Prussian Haro (not Spanish)? James Alfred Locke Miller, Jr., Southport, N.C. 28461-7420 focusoninfinity@hotmail.com

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  2. I am trying to find a book called, Wendel Miller and his Descendants. In that book there are pictures of the Harkey family. Would you happen to have copies of those pictures? If so, I can be contacted at: sbeard.79@gmail.com

    Thank you

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  3. I believe the Rowan County Library in NC has a copy of the book.

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  4. Wonder if my John 'Henry' Miller who wed 2nd Mrs. Emilia Fisher Sossaman, could have been Frederick Miller's son. From two 1850's Census, two sons say he was born "Germany" the other says "Prussia".

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