John Miller, of Middleboro

John Miller was born circa 1623, probably in England; died May 11, 1720 (Gregorian May 20, 1720) in Middleboro, MA. Married twice. The name of his first wife is not known.

http://dougsinclairsarchives.com/miller/johnmiller.htm

"John Miller first appears in New England records in 1672, when he was on a grand inquest at Middleborough, Massachusetts. He was a proprietor in the 26 Men's Purchase of the same town by 1677. He lived on "Thompson St. not far from the brook, next to...Elijah Shaw." His probate file has several documents. His son John was granted the administration of his father's estate on 24 May 1720, and an agreement among the heirs was made on 27 June giving the estate to John, Jr., provided he pay 43 lbs. 3 shillings and 10 pence each to his sisters. He was one of the men who took the estate inventory of Thomas Sawyer of Middleborough in 1695 (check that for his signature)."

Children of John Miller and his first wife:

1. John, b. abt 1669
2. Mary, b. abt 1673
3. Hannah

children of John and Mercy (Barden) Miller:

1. Mercy
2. Deborah
3. Elizabeth

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Miller-32914

John Miller (abt. 1624 - 1720)

John Miller

Born about 1624 in England [uncertain]

Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]

[sibling%28s%29 unknown]

Husband of Mercy (Unknown) Miller — married 1669 in Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Husband of Mercy (Barden) Miller — married about 1684 in Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony

[uncertain]

Father of John Miller II, Mary (Miller) Dexter, Hannah (Miller) Pratt, Mercy (Miller) Redding, Deborah (Millar) Rickard and Elizabeth (Miller) Delano

Died 11 May 1720 at about age 96 in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Profile last modified 31 Mar 2023 | Created 7 Jan 2016

Biography

John was born circa 1623-4 in England.[1] [2] [3]

Circa 1669, he married Mercy whose surname is not known[4] [2] [3]

Their children included

John, born 1669, who married Lydia Coombs and who died in 1727[1] [2] [3]
Mary [3]
Elizabeth [3], born February 18, 1689[5], who married Nathan Delano[6] [7] [8]
Confirmation of second spouse, Mercy Barden and their children

Mercy Barden died before her father's estate was distributed in 1713. This, as well as the names of her children, is known based on the signed agreement regarding the distribution of William Barden's estate, in which she is named as his daughter, Mercy Miller, deceased, late of Middleborough.[9] Mercy (Barden) Miller had three known daughters:

Mercy Miller, who married Ebenezer Redden/Redding
Deborah Miller, who married Joseph Rickard
Elizabeth Miller, who married a Delano
The identification of Mercy Barden as spouse of John Miller, is discerned from the following information, taken together with the information on William Barden's estate distribution above:

On May 24, 1720, John Miller, son of John Miller, Sr. was appointed administrator for John Miller Senior's estate.[10]

His inventory was taken in June 1720 in Middleborough.[11]

On June 27, 1720, John Miller of Middleborough, Thomas Dexter and Mary his wife (of Rochester), Samuel Pratt and Hannah his wife (of Middleborough), Ebenezer Reddin and Mercy his wife (of MIddleborough), Joseph Rickard and Deborah his wife (of Plympton), and Elizabeth Delano of Middleborough, "being the children of John Miller Senior late of midleborough aforesaid Deceased:" made a settlement of the estate by which all the real and personal property was conveyed to the son John, who paid each of his sisters cash in return. The settlement was not recorded, but the original paper is in the Plymouth County probate files.[12]

Based on the 1720 agreement, it is clear that John Miller, Mary Miller, Hannah Miller, Mercy Miller, Deborah Miller and Elizabeth Miller were all children of John Miller. Coupled together with William Barden's estate distribution in 1713, it becomes clear that Mercy Barden married this John Miller, of Middleborough, and had with him three known daughters, namely Mercy, Deborah and Elizabeth. That Mercy was John's second wife is also known based on the fact that John's first three children were born when Mercy was too young - she being born in 1662.

Death

John Miller passed away May 11, 1720 in his 97th year[13] [1] [2] [3], and is buried in the Cemetery at the Green in Middleborough[14]

Quote

"John Miller, a native of England, (was) born in 1624, (and) was a member of the Grand Inquest, at Middleboro, in 1672. He was one of the proprietors of the "Twenty-six Men's Purchase," 1661-62, and was present at their meeting in 1677. Prior to April 29, 1678, he purchased a house lot of Edward Gray, and he was the owner of lot #154 in the South Purchase of 1673. He was also one of the owners of the Sixteen Shilling Purchase of 1675. John Miller lived on Thompson Street, not far from the brook in Middleboro, near the house of the late Elijah Shaw. He died May 11, 1720, in his 97th year, and his monument stands in the cemetery at the "Green," where rest the remains of six or more generations of his descendants. The surname of his wife Mercy is not known, but they were the parents of at least three children: John, Mary, and Elizabeth." [3]

Research Notes

Disputed Origin

A prior version of this profile attached him as the son of John Miller (1604-1663), without source. That John did have a son John, but he was born in March 1631/2. As noted in this profile, the gravestone of this John indicates he was born in 1624.

References

1. WikiTree contributors, "John Miller (abt.1624-1720)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Miller-32914 : accessed 07 December 2024). cites
   1. History of the Town of Middleboro, Mass by Weston, Thomas, (Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1906), see page 48
   2. Shaw Family. Middleborough, Mass; Winthrop, Maine, by Hon. Archie Lee Talbot of Lewiston, Me; published in the NEHGR Register, volume 51. See page 195 for the Miller ancestors
   3. Volume 3 of Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts: Containing Historical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families by J.H. Beers & Co; Publisher J.H. Beers & Company, 1912; Original from Harvard University; Digitized 4 Mar 2008
   4. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/r/426896488 Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700, Volume 2, page 1038] New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015, which states MILLER, John & Mary/Mercy? ____; by 1669; Middleborough {Middleborough Hist. 48; Reg. 51:195, 224}
   5. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHHY-F81 : 3 November 2017), Elizabeth Miller, 18 Feb 1689; citing Birth, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 945,015.
   6. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHG1-L9Z : 3 November 2017), Nathan Delano and Elizabeth Miller, 07 Jul 1709; citing Marriage, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 945,015.
   7. Middleborough Births, Marriages and Deaths published in Volume 2, page 158 of the Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), which states: Nathan Delano of Dartmouth and Elizabeth Miller of Middleborough were married together by Justice Brett July 7, 1709
   8. Page 81 Middleborough Mass Vital Records published in Volume 8, page 28 of the Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), which states: Meribah Delano the Daughter of Nathan Delano and Elizabeth his wife was born September ye: 11th 1709. The mother's birth is inserted in the line above, which states Elizabeth Miller: the Daughter of John Miller and of Mercy his wife was born: February ye 18th, 1688/9
   9. Massachusetts, Plymouth County Probate Records, 1633-1967 Probate records 1708-1717 and 1817-1861 vol 3-3P, page 369. Images 196, 197 Viewer, accessed via FamilySearch January 18, 2021
   10. "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-FJDZ : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1717-1724 and 1854-1862 vol 4-4Q > image 135 of 485; State Archives, Boston.
   11. "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-FJ46 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1717-1724 and 1854-1862 vol 4-4Q > image 141 of 485; State Archives, Boston.
   12. "Pilgrim Notes and Queries: Answer to Query" Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010) Reference Volume 6 (1904), page 127 $Subscription
   13. Records from the Old Cemetery Middleborough published in Volume 13, page 19 of the Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010
   14. Find A Grave: Memorial #40011609
2. See also: New England ancestry books: "Plymouth, Norfolk, and Barnstable," p. 25
3. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:John_Miller_%2834%29 cites
   1. Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. Plymouth County, Mass., Probate records, 1686-1903; with index and docket, 1685-1967. (Originals with town clerk, filmed by Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968) Case 14019 John Miller Middleborough 1720. 24 May 1720: Letters of administration granted to John Miller son of John Miller Late of Middleborough on the estate of his father. Jun 1720 [warrange 19 May 1720, appraisers sworn 24 Jun 1720]: Inventory of John Miller Senior Late of Middleborough Deceased: £296-13-2, by John Cobb, James Soul, Jacob Tomson. 27 Jun 1720: Agreement of heirs dividing real estate between John Miller of Middleborough, Thomas Dextor and Mary his wife of Rochester, Samuel Prat and Hannah his wife: Ebenezer Reddin and Mercy his wife of Middleborough, and Joseph Rickard and Deborah his wife of Plimton, and Elisabeth Delano of Middleborough being children of John Miller Senior late of Middleborough Deceased.
4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40011609/john-miller