Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together
What we know, think we know, and don't know about
the William Miller family
Much about William and Magra are unknown. I am hoping that by combining our knowledge, we can begin to put the puzzle together as to who William Miller and Magra were and where they came from.
William Miller was born in 1688 or 1689. His gravestone inscription indicates that he died "in the 80th year of his age" on September 17, 1768. At that time the first year of your age was from birth to your first birthday. The second year of your age was from your first birthday to your second birthday, etc. William died before his 80th birthday meaning he was born in either 1688 or 1689. We don't know where he was born, or who his parents were at this time.
A number of people have suggested that William's parents were a William Miller born in England in 1594, and Margaret Dennis Lamberton born about 1598. If William was born about 1688, this would make his father 94 years old and his mother 90 when he was born! Not to mention the fact that the older William died in 1648, forty years before William was born. Given the usual age difference between generations, they are too old even to be his grandparents. His parents remain unknown.
There is strong evidence that William was of German origin. Some branches of the family have an oral tradition that the family was German. Miller descendents living in Canada reported to census takers that the family's nationality was German.
William owned a 200 acre farm in Morris County, New Jersey as well as some property in Somerset County, New Jersey at the time of his death. Three years before he died at about age 77, William purchased five tracts of land in the Cheesecocks Patent in New York from William Alexander (Lord Stirling). He purchased lot number 6, 33, 46, and 54 for his four sons. Each lot was 150 acres. He also purchsed one third of lot number 75 (50 acres) for his daughter Sarah. The Cheesecocks Patent was in the highlands area of Orange County in a large valley called Smith's Clove. Called New Cornwall for awhile, the village and township was renamed Monroe in the early 19th century. A Miller family was listed as one of the early settlers of Smith's Clove but this may refer to the family of Daniel Miller. Daniel and William may have been related, but no connection has been found so far.
William's son Garrett may have been born in Connecticut in 1731. This has led some researchers to speculate that our Miller's were part of the New Haven Colony that moved into parts of Morris County in the 1700's. No confirmation has been found so far. What is today Long Island, New York was part of Connecticut in the early eighteenth century which raises the possibility that William and Magra lived on Long Island before settling in Morris County, New Jersey.
William Miller is listed as a freeholder in Morris County, New Jersey in 1752.
William died in Morristown, Morris County New Jersey 17 September 1768. He is buried at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church in Somerset County, New Jersey. His wife does not appear to have been buried with him.
We know less about his wife Magra. We know her name from William's will. Magra may have been a nickname. She was still living in 1768 at the time the will was made. Magra was made executor of his estate, but the inventory of his estate was signed by daughter Catherine.
William's children:
Henry Miller died before 2 June 1769 in New Cornwall, Orange County, New York. He was married to Margaret Hempen.
Garrett Miller was born about 1731 in (possibly) Connecticut. He was married to Patience Griswold and died 6 October 1777 of Smallpox while a prisoner of war in a British military prison.
William Miller - There were two William Miller's living in the New Cornwall area so it is difficult to tell which references our William. William Miller, Junior is listed as member and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Cheesecocks (Monroe), New York in 1784 and may be our William. The William Miller married to Hannah Van Curah 19 March 1789 is probably the other William.
John Miller
Sarah Miller married James Lewis.
Lisha Miller married a man named LeFevre.
Elizabeth Miller married Joseph Palardy.
Katrien (Catherine) Miller was apparently unmarried in 1768.
