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Debrix Miller married Sarah Conselor (sometimes seen as Concealer), daughter of Elijah Conselor and Hannah Durham. Born in Delaware they are descendants of the Nanticoke & Moor's of the Delaware Native Americans. They are members of a "mixed-blood" community, sometimes showing up in the census and tax records as mullato, negro, black and white. In that time period, if one wasn't white, then they were colored, regardless of what their racial background was. In 1820 and 1840 census Debrix and his family and children are listed as "free persons of color." Their son Enoch and his wife Phoebe Carney, daughter of Thomas Carney and Sarah Hughs, also are listed as such in the 1850 and 1860 census, and as white on subsequent census as they moved through PA to MI.
Debrix Miller in his will dated 5 April 1841, names his wife Sarah and children. He also mentions land bought from Benjamin Conselor and Rachel his wife by deed 8 Jun 1840. Children mentioned in the will are four sons: Josiah, Elijah, Enoch, and Robert. He also mentions the children of his deceased daugther Maria: Rachel and John Hews. The will was made 5 April, and the inventory was made 24 April, 1841. I do not have a copy of this will, and the information was received second hand. At this time I have no further information on Debrix's parents or siblings.
Sarah's father, Elijah Conselor (1762-1801) of Duck Creek Hundred, son-in-law of John Durham, obtained a tract of 50 acres from Francis Denney, administrator of his father, John Durham's estate. In 1782, he was listed in the state census with "N" after his name. His estate was administered in 1801 by Hannah (widow) and Jeremiah, of Little Creek Hundred. His estate was appraised on December 31, 1801. Children were Jeremiah, Elijah, Sarah (Mrs. Debrix) Miller, Elizabeth Conselor and Benjamin. "Elijah Conselor, a well-off member of the community, is listed in the 1800 census without "n" after his name, in a household of 11 free nonwhites." This information and more on the families of Carney, Miller and Conselor can be found by following the links. For those interested in learning more about theirNanticokes & Moors ancestry use this link.
Robert Miller younger brother of Debrix married Mary Ann Dean. Robert and family moved to Michigan as Enoch did but he settled in Sumpter Twp. in Wayne County, MI. It appears that those were the only two Miller's of this family group that moved west to MI.
Enoch Miller and wife Phoebe Carney, daughter of Thomas Carney show up in the 1850 and 1860 census in Duck Creek Hundred, Kent County, DE. In these census records all children as well as themselves are listed as being born in DE, and "free colored persons." In subsequent census they will appear as "white" in MI 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910. Enoch and Pheobe were parents to 15 children, so far I have documented only 9 with death records or census information. All of their children came with them to MI as far as I can tell. Enoch Miller was born Jan 8, 1820 and died Oct 14, 1893 in Bloomer Twp, Montcalm Co, MI.
Enoch's wife was Phoebe Carney born May 14, 1824 in Delaware to Thomas Carney and Sarah Hughs both of Delaware.
On Jun 16, 1896 Phoebe married John H. Richardson of
Carson City, MI. She died Mar 14, 1911.
I have the following 9 of 15 children of Enoch and Pheobe Miller:
Ella and Enoch were witnesses to each others marriage which took place on the same day. Eliza and Jefferson were witness for Rebecca's marriage. The family traveled from DE, through PA where it appears that Rebecca and Ella were born. Then on to MI. The short stay in PA has created misinformation on the census as to where the family members were born. Even Phoebe and Enoch have listed DE and PA as place of birth. All a matter of error based on the question of "where are you from" or "where were you born." Also several of the children list they were born in NJ, but the earlier census of 1850 and 1860 when they were children clearly shows all the household as born in DE. This is also the location of the parents of Enoch and Phoebe and the most likely location for their children's births.
In 1870 Enoch and family appear in Dallas Twp, Clinton Co, MI, in separate holdholds are Debrix, Enoch, and Elizabeth. During the 1870's several of the children marry in Ionia County, MI showing the family's migration toward Montcalm County. By 1880 the family is all in Montcalm County, while not all in the same community they are in close proximity of each other. Several members of the famliy have been located through marriage and death records as well as tombstone and cemetery records.
Augustus Miller
Mary Ann Lulham
daughter of Gaius and Jane Roberts Lulham on 3 Nov 1875.
Witnesses at his marriage were Charles and Mary Miller,
possibly a brother that has not been previously tied to the family. I tend to believe he is a cousin. Augustus and Mary Ann
began farming and raising their children in Carson City,
MI. Augustus and Mary Ann had 10 children, 6 of which
made it to adulthood.
Mary Ann states on the 1910 census for Montcalm Co,
MI that she was the mother of 10 children, 6 living,
that she was born in MI and parents Gaius Lulham and
Jane Roberts were born in England. Research on the
ship and port of arrival still needs to be done.
Augustus and Mary Ann's Children were:
Created on Sep 12, 2000, Updated on Mar 28, 2003
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