GEORGIA MILLER FAMILY Research Summary Joel Miller
Introduction. William Mathews (LW35-2BH) is my proven ancestor. Other researchers have concluded his father was Moses Mathews. Without getting into the details, that is not correct. Other researchers have concluded his wife is Mary Jane Miller. They offer no proof. Hence my interest in the Miller family, to see if I can find additional clues and proof. It is enough interest to get me looking, but not enough for me to do really extensive research.
Background. William Mathews lived on Tillet’s Cr. in Oglethorpe Co. near the S. Broad R. and Madison (then Elbert) Co. Joel Miller and Preston Miller lived on the Elbert Co. side in the eastern tip of present day Madison Co. The name Preston / Presley runs through both the Miller Family and the Mathews Family. Joel Miller’s wife was Edy Miller. She later appears in Hall Co. (Census and Land Lottery) and the 1850 Census of Campbell Co., Ga. No estate records have been found for Joel Miller in Elbert, Madison, Oglethorpe, Franklin, Jackson of Hall Counties. There are records of orphans in Hall County and an orphan draw in the 1821 Land Lottery back in Madison County.
Timeline
Joel Miller
10 Jul 1785. 200 acres was surveyed for Joel Miller in the Fork District (eastern tip) of Madison County, GA (then Wilkes County and later Elbert County, GA). The land was not granted to Joel Miller until 1805!
1792-1796. Militia Muster Roll Elbert County, Georgia (Fork District of Madison County, Georgia): #11 Preston Miller #15 Joel Miller
9 May 1797. Joel Miller surveyed out 146 acres in the Fork District (eastern tip) of Madison County, GA (then Elbert County, GA). Chain carriers were P. Miller and Joel Miller. Preston Miller was shown as the adjacent land owner. The land was granted to Joel in 1801. There is no deed for Joel Miller selling this tract. It was later deeded by Bazel Brawner to Forrester Upshaw in 1818. The adjacent land was surveyed for Edward Collier in 1787 and was granted to Edward Collier 21 May 1793. It was occupied by Richard Odom in the 1799 tax digest. Another adjacent piece was surveyed for Nathan Barnett in 1784. Uriah Barnett and John Barnett witnessed a deed for John Adam Miller when he first bought land in 1808 in Franklin Co., GA having come from SC.
14 Mar 1798. Presley Miller shown as adjacent land owner to tract granted to Stephen Bradberry in the Fork District (eastern tip) of Madison County, GA (then Elbert County, GA). J. Miller was the chain carrier. There is no evidence from deeds that Presley Miller ever owned that land. The adjacent land was surveyed for Edward Collier in 1787 and was granted to Edward Collier 21 May 1793. It was occupied by Richard Odom in the 1799 tax digest.
5 Aug 1800. Preston Miller (by Sherrif) deeded 100 acres on the Broad R. and 1/2 town lot in Lexington to Joseph Bradberry. (Often relatives will buy land from sherrif's sale and allow the judgment debtor to remain on the land. This coupled with the fact that Joel Miller sold his land to William Bradberry suggests a family connection. Oglethorpe Co., GA Deed Book C, Page 46.
11 Oct 1805. Joel Miller and his wife Edy Miller sold 200 acres in the Fork District (eastern tip) of Madison County, GA (then Elbert County, GA) to William Bradberry. GA Elbert Deed Book O.002.
Preston Miller
1792-1796. Militia Muster Roll, Elbert County, Georgia (Fork District of Madison County, Georgia): #11 Preston Miller #15 Joel Miller
16 Mar 1795. Preston Miller married Anna Simmons in Oglethorpe Co., GA. The Georgia Genealogist, State Records, Marriages, Page 19.
9 May 1797. Joel Miller surveyed out 146 acres in the Fork District (eastern tip) of Madison County, GA (then Elbert County, GA). Chain carriers were P. Miller and Joel Miller. Preston Miller was shown as the adjacent land owner. The land was granted to Joel in 1801. There is no deed for Joel Miller selling this tract. It was later deeded by Bazel Brawner to Forrester Upshaw in 1818. The adjacent land was surveyed for Edward Collier in 1787 and was granted to Edward Collier 21 May 1793. It was occupied by Richard Odom in the 1799 tax digest. Another adjacent piece was surveyed for Nathan Barnett in 1784. Uriah Barnett and John Barnett witnessed a deed for John Adam Miller when he first bought land in 1808 in Franklin Co., GA having come from SC.
14 Mar 1798. Presley Miller shown as adjacent land owner to tract granted to Stephen Bradberry in the Fork District (eastern tip) of Madison County, GA (then Elbert County, GA). J. Miller was the chain carrier. There is no evidence from deeds that Presley Miller ever owned that land. The adjacent land was surveyed for Edward Collier in 1787 and was granted to Edward Collier 21 May 1793. It was occupied by Richard Odom in the 1799 tax digest.
1800. Preston Miller paid tax in Captain John Hardman's District of Oglethorpe County, GA (just across the South Broad River from Joel Miller's land).
5 Aug 1800. Preston Miller (by Sheriff) deeded 100 acres on the Broad R. and 1/2 town lot in Lexington to Joseph Bradberry. (Often relatives will buy land from sheriff's sale and allow the judgment debtor to remain on the land. This coupled with the fact that Joel Miller sold his land to William Bradberry suggests a family connection. Oglethorpe Co., GA Deed Book C, Page 46.
1802?-1818. Preston Miller paid tax in Franklin Co., Ga.
1805. Land Lottery Preston Miller drew two blanks from Oglethorpe County, Ga. He had registered in 1803.
Edy Miller
11 Oct 1805. Joel Miller and his wife Edy Miller sold 200 acres in the Fork District (eastern tip) of Madison County, GA (then Elbert County, GA) to William Bradberry.
1820 Census. Hall Co., Capt Cassity, p. 141 Ede Miller, age 45 plus, 4 sons and 3 daughters, the youngest being age 0-10.
1820 Land Lottery. Hall Co., Capt. Carnes, Edy Miller, 18/315 Early Co. District 18 became a part of Decatur Co. in 1823; and split between Decatur Co. and Thomas Co. in 1825. Edy Miller, of Hall Co., sold this land to Thomas B. Stubbs, 27 Mar 1826. Thomas Co. GA DB A-1, p. 147
1850 Census Campbell Co. Robert Miller, age 55, b. GA, m. to Mary, age 47 b. NC, several children including Alexander, age 22 and Presley, age 11; and Aady Miller, age 76, b. NC.
Orphans of Joel Miller
1821 Land Lottery. Madison Co., Capt. Griffiths, Orphans of Joel Miller, 05 District, Land Lot 163 Monroe Co.
1 Mar 1824. Elizabeth Miller and Mary Miller, orphan children of Joel Miller bound to Stephen Clayton until age 16. Hall County Misc. Estate Record A, pps. 93 & 106.
GA Monroe DB D.114	29 Aug 1825	Alexander Miller & Alley Miller, Orphans of Joel Miller	John Miller	—	Power of Atty 05/163
Their interest. Witnesses: Reuben Harrison, Elias Allred. Recorded 29 Aug 1825.
GA Monroe DB D.115	7 ___ 1825	John Miller, gdn. to the orphans of Joel Miller of Franklin Co.	David Wright, of Monroe Co. & Edward Kent, of Jackson Co.	202.5	05/163 Deer Cr.
$550. Drawn by the orphans of Joel Miller. Witnesses: Philip G. May, Andrew Fullwood. Recorded 29 Aug 1825.
2 May 1825. John Miller appt. gdn. of the orphans of Joel Miller: Henry Miller, Margaret Miller, James Miller. Hall County Misc. Estate Record A, pps. 108, 129, 132, 145 & 190; and Hall County Estate Records Book 2, p. 555.
Conclusion: Joel Miller d. between 1810 and 1820 somewhere in N. Georgia, leaving a widow Edy Miller. By 1820 she was living in Hall County, Ga. with one son 18-26; and three sons and two daughters 16 and under. From the above records, we know he had minors Elizabeth and Mary, b. after 1 Mar 1808; Alexander & Alley (sold land in Monroe Co.); and Henry, Margaret and James. That is a total of three sons and four daughters. Thus it appears that not all of his minors were living with their mother in 1820.
Robert Miller
20 Feb 1817. Robert Miller m. Elizabeth Walraven in Franklin Co.
1820 Census. Not found. There is no 1820 Census for Franklin Co.
1820 Census. Franklin Co., p. 210. Robert Miller, age 30-40; wife age 30-40; and many children.
1840 Census. Campbell Co. G.M.D. 652 p. 036. Robert Miller, age 40-50; wife age 30-40; and many children as well as a female age 60-70.
1850 Census. Campbell Co. Robert Miller, age 55, b. GA, m. to Mary, age 47 b. NC, several children including Alexander, age 22 and Presley, age 11; and Aady Miller, age 76, b. NC. Note: His age and his wife’s age is consistent with the 1830 and 1840 census; and Aady’s age is consistent with the 1840 census.
19 June 1857. Robert Miller - Will. Campbell Co. Will Book A.152. Wife: Mary [The will states that Robert & Mary were married 12 years (1845).] Nancy, the wife of John Smith Margaret Simeon Robert Presley Jefferson The will states that Simeon, Robert, Presley & Margaret are the youngest children.			1850 Census. Campbell Co. Wife: Mary Children: Alexander Miller Marcus Miller Simeon Miller Elizabeth Miller Robert Miller Kathey Miller Presley Miller Margaret Miller Missouri T. Miller
Robert J. H. Miller Robert J. H. Miller greatly confuses things by being the same age as Robert Miller and both having wives named Mary. They are clearly two different people.
1830 Census Coweta Co. (a portion of which later became Campbell Co.) His first middle initial is a “J” and not a “P”. At first it looks like a P., but when you look at John the line above and Jeremiah the line below, it is clear that it is a “J”.] He used Robert J. H. Miller when he married in 1826. He signed a deeds using Robert J. H. Miller in 1827. GA Monroe Deed Book E.157. He also uses the same initials in the 1840 and 1850 Census of Coweta Co.
GA Monroe DB E.157	7 Jun 1827	Robert J. Miller (signed Robert J. H. Miller)	William S. Miller	—	—
His share of their interest in land in Burke Co., N.C. deeded to them jointly by Elisha P. Miller (he purchased from William Bolew). Witnesses: Aranel C. Holmes, Nail McMullan. Recorded 13 Sep 1827. [Note: WOW, what a great clue.]
11 Jan 1826. Robert J. H. Miller m. Mary Watley in Monroe Co., GA.
1830 Census. Coweta Co. Robert J. H. Miller age 30-40; wife age 20-30; and son 0-5. [Note: No older children - this is consistent with a first marriage.] [Important Note: His first middle initial is a “J” and not a “P”. At first it looks like a P., but when you look at John the line above and Jeremiah the line below, it is clear that it is a “J”.]
1840 Census. Robert J. H. Miller Coweta Co. p. 338, age 40-50; wife age 30-40; and son 10-15.
1850 Census. R. J. H. Miller Coweta Co. #187, R J H 52 NC; Mary 45 GA; John P. 23 GA; Frances C. Jones 08 GA.
Compiled By: David H. Robertson, 159 Hickory St., Roswell, GA 30075 davidhr@hushmail.com