I know I will ruffle some feathers with this post, but here goes.
There is so much misinformation in online family trees about MARY MILLER b about 1715 who married JOHN WOODSON Aug 10, 1731 in Lancaster Co VA. It's absolutely shocking. And if only people would take the time to a) actually look at records and b) think about the facts, they might refrain from putting such erroneous information on the web.
The record that started everything can be found in the book "Married Well & Often" by Robert K Headley, page 384. There we see the following entry:
WOODSON, John & MILLER, Mary; marriage bond dated Aug 10, 1731; WILLIAM MILLER (sec). Groom was from Goochland Co VA; marriage took place in Lancaster Co VA.
Clearly, MARY MILLER was from the Miller family of Lancaster Co VA, from which I directly descend (my great grandmother being ALICE MILLER born May 3, 1856 Springhill, Livingston Co MO). I've been researching this family for over 12 years. The problem is, too many people have assumed that a WILLIAM MILLER was MARY's father, and have tried to insert her into various branches of the family for which there are many records proving otherwise!! There were several individuals with the name MARY MILLER and WILLIAM MILLER, not to mention several lines of this family that have never been properly researched.
So, without further ado, here is evidence to prove who MARY MILLER WOODSON wasn't:
1) MARY MILLER, daughter of WILLIAM MILLER & MARY HEATH of Goochland Co VA. First off, this couple couldn't be the parents of MARY who married JOHN WOODSON in 1731,as their own marriage didn't occur until 1741! Also, all of their children's births were noted in the Douglas Register, Goochland Co VA. This MARY MILLER was born March 6, 1756 in Goochland Co VA and married Obediah Periere.
2)MARY MILLER, born about 1715, daughter of JOHN MILLER & MARGARET of Lancaster Co VA.
There is circumstantial evidence in the 1732 Lancaster Co VA will of MARGARET MILLER indicating that one of her daughters married a ROGERS. And I believe that was JOHN ROGERS, who died 1765 Lancaster Co VA; his will shows that wife MARY renounced all benefits, that he had a son RICHARD ROGERS, a son WILLIAM ROGERS who died 1768, a son JOHN ROGERS (gleaned from his brother's 1768 will), a daughter MARGARET ROGERS and a daughter ELIZABETH ROGERS who married WILLIAM MITCHELL.
The 1732 Lancaster Co VA will of MARGARET MILLER shows she had a granddaughter ELIZABETH ROGERS; she does not mention daughter MARY in her will, but MARY is named as the granddaughter of RANDOLPH MILLER in his will dated 1720 Lancaster Co VA, and he indicates she was a daughter of his son JOHN MILLER.
This is convoluted & circumstantial evidence, I know, and if anyone has any further evidence, I would be glad to see it. On the other hand, there is absolutely NO evidence to show that JOHN & MARGARET MILLER of Lancaster Co VA had any grandchildren who were Woodsons.
My ROGERS theory has met with extreme hostility from at least one researcher, who believes that this MARY MILLER was the one who married JOHN WOODSON 1731 in Lancaster Co VA. However, this person was unable to provide documentation to prove my theory wrong.
3) MARY MILLER, daughter of WILLIAM MILLER & MARTHA TAYLOR of Lancaster Co VA.
The last time I checked, there were 60 Rootsweb online family trees with this error. And there are over 400 on Ancestry.com public family trees with this error.
WILLIAM MILLER was born about 1700 Lancaster Co VA to WILLIAM MILLER & FRANCES PARFITT, and was grandson of RANDOLPH MILLER of Lancaster Co VA; MARTHA TAYLOR was the daughter of THOMAS TAYLOR & ELIZABETH THERRIOT of Lancaster Co VA.
Their marriage bond was dated Dec 10, 1718 Lancaster Co VA, William Dare, sec; Joseph Carter witness (as per "Married Well & Often" by Robert K Headley, page 245.)
The fact is, WILLIAM MILLER & MARTHA TAYLOR were a childless couple, as can be seen from MARTHA's will written 1774 & probated 1776, which shows her as a "widow, being old" with no children, but leaving property to siblings, nephews, nieces & cousins:
Will of MARTHA (TAYLOR) MILLER written April 22, 1774; probated March 21, 1776, Lancaster Co VA will book 20, page 94:
Nephew: JOHN TAYLOR, son of my brother THOMAS TAYLOR; Cousin: MARTHA BALL, dau of Capt GEORGE BALL; FRANKIE CARTER, dau of DALE CARTER; Nephew: THOMAS BALL; SARAH BALL, dau of Capt GEORGE BALL; ELIZABETH PORTES BALL, dau of my nephew THOMAS BALL; sister ANNA BALL; nephew: DAVID BALL; Cousins: SARAH BALL & MARTHA TAYLOR; Overseer: BENJAMIN WILLIS; "To old JENNY her bed and 1 cow"; "To my nephew JOHN TAYLOR my blind boy ADAM and the care of old PATRICK as a Freeman;" Nephew: DAVID BALL Jr; Executors DAVID BALL Jr & JOHN TAYLOR; Witnesses: JOSEPH WILLIAMS, MARGARET BALL, SARAH JONES.
A quick check of marriage records in "Married Well & Often" by Robert K Headley shows that MARTHA (TAYLOR) MILLER's sister ANNA TAYLOR, daughter of THOMAS TAYLOR & ELIZABETH THERRIOT, married GEORGE BALL Jr, son of CAPT GEORGE BALL; their marriage bond dated June 14, 1736 Lancaster Co VA
Clearly, MARTHA TAYLOR & WILLIAM MILLER had no children of their own, and absolutely no connection with the family of JOHN WOODSON of Goochland Co VA.
So who was MARY MILLER b 1715 who married JOHN WOODSON? Stay tuned....
Have a great day!
Betty
© Betty Tartas 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
A Friend of Friends Friday: African American Slaves Named in the 1804 Will of ROBERT LYON of Caswell Co NC
Note: "A Friend of Friends" was a password used on the Underground Railway
© Betty Tartas 2012
1804 CASWELL CO NC, WILL OF ROBERT LYON In the name of God Amen. I ROBERT LYON of Caswell County of State of North Carolinabeing in a low state of health but of sound mind and memory do constitute and ordain this my last will and testament revoking all will or wills heretofore made by me.
--Item I lend unto my beloved wife REBECCA LYON three negros, old GRACE, CHARLES and CATE, one feather bed & furniture,one gray mare by the name of Iwa, two milk cows, four head of fatning hogs, one sow & pigs & fifteen barrels of corn during her natural life and at her death to be equally divided among my children (viz) JANE JOHNSTON, ANN DANIEL, MARY MIDDLEBROOK, WILLIAM LYON, ROBERT LYON, JOHN LYON, TEMPERANCE POTEAT, them & their heirs.
--Item I give unto my daughter JANE JOHNSTON, one negro named JOSH unto her & her heirs forever
--Item I give unto my son, ROBERT LYON, one negro boy named REUBIN & twenty pound current money of Virginia unto him and his heirs forever.
--I give unto the heirs of MARY MIDDLEBROOKS one negro boy named MOSES to them and their heirs forever,
--I lend unto my daughter TEMPERANCE POTEAT one negro girl named PHILLIS & twenty dollars in cash and if she should have an heir to her heirs
forever and if she should die without an heir to be equally divided among my chidren before named.
--Item I give unto my daughter ANN DANIEL one negro girl named AMY unto her & her heirs forever.
--Item I give unto my son, JOHN LYON one Negro boy named PETER unto him & his heirs forever.
--Item I give unto my son WILLIAM LYON one negro boy named PHILL to him & his heirs forever.
--Item I give unto my grandson EMOND LYON forty pounds current money of Virginia
--Item I give unto my granddaughter ELIZ BETSEY LYON twenty pounds current money of Virginia
--It is my will and desire that my wife live on the land whereon I lived during her life and at her death for it to be sold and equallydivided among my children above mentioned to viz JANE JOHNSTON, ANN DANIEL, MARY MIDLEBROOKS & Heirs, WILLIAM LYON, ROBERT LYON, JOHN LYON, TEMPERANCE POTEAT; and as for the stock and all other property not given away to be sold and discharge my lawfull debts and the balance to be equally divided among my children above named.
--Page 2 And lastly I do appoint James Burton & Henry Howard Executors to this my last will and testament in testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23rd day of October 1804. Signed sealed ROBERT LYON **Seal**
Have a great day!
Betty
© Betty Tartas 2012
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