MILTON

 

Compiled by: Andrew L. Moore

336 Sarver Road, Sarver  PA  16055

Email: PAmoores@juno.com

Dated: 1 December 2005

 

 

MILTON

 

According to Robert P. Moore, a very thorough and experienced genealogist from Lexington KY who I began corresponding with in late 1980s and into the 1990s, our earliest Milton ancestor was Michael Milton and his wife Mary ___________. His exhaustive work, Milton of Virginia and Kentucky, is the major source of the information I have listed below.

 

 

Michael Milton

 

Michael Milton was born circa 1654/1656, married Mary _______ and died circa 1714 in Northumberland Co VA (Will recorded in Northumberland Co VA Order Book 1713-1719, pages 41 and 57).

 

According to the Northumberland Co VA Order Book 1666-1678, page 71a:

 

a)       Michael was apprenticed on 21 Feb 1671/72 to John Coutanceau;

b)       “Whereas Mich Melton has misdemaned himself in Cort.  It is ordered ye sher take ye said Milton and give him 20 strips on his bare back”.  Maybe he was disagreeing with his court-appointed apprenticeship to John Coutanceau when he misbehaved in Court and was sentenced to receive 20 lashes across the bare back.

c)       “Whereas Mich Melton servt to John Coutanceau did pray this Cort____he might not be employd at any other work but at his trade of a taylor ye Cort doe order, according to ye tenure of ye sd Milton indenture____when his master have not employment for hm at his sd trade, he sett him to work in any lawfull and necessary work he think fit to employ him about”.

 

 

The children of Michael and Mary Milton were:

 

1.       Ann, born 18 Feb 1677.

2.       Richard, born 14 Aug 1682 Northumberland Co VA, married Eliza _______, died circa 1733 Prince William Co VA.

3.       Michael, born 6 Feb 1699 Northumberland Co VA, married Abigail_________(possibly Crawford).

4.       John, born 1703 Northumberland Co VA, married Catherine ______, died 1751 Fredrick Co VA.  His mother Mary apprenticed him to Richard Hopwood to be taught the trade of hatter.

5.       Elinor, born 1707 Northumberland Co VA, christened 19 Oct 1707 Northumberland Co VA.

 

 

Richard Milton (Sr)

 

Richard Milton was born on 14 Aug 1682 in Northumberland Co VA, married Eliza _______ and died circa 1733 Prince William Co VA.  Richard sold land in Northumberland Co VA on 23 Feb 1725 (Northumberland Co VA Record Book 1718-1726, page 420).  In the deed Richard specifically mentions as inheriting this land from his father Michael Milton. On 10 Aug 1725, Richard, “of Richmond Co VA”, receives a grant of 454 acres of land in “Stafford Co (later Prince William Co VA) on (the) Buck Hall branch of (the) Occaquan (River) in what is now Prince William Co VA (then Stafford Co VA).  Richard’s will is probably in one of Prince William Co VA’s missing Will Books (many were burned during the Civil War), but according to Mr. Robert P. Moore, “the fact of its existence comes from the County Court Order Books”.  After Richard died in 1733, Eliza remarried a Mr. Higgs (first name possibly either Truman or Aaron).

 

Richard Melton of Richmond Co; no warrant, date from Survey, 23 Ded 1724-16 Apr 1725; 454 acres on Buck-Hall, a branch of Occoquan, on branch of Crooper’s Cabin and Winter’s Lower Branches; adjacent to Edward Grayham.  Surveyor John Savage. Abstracts of VA’s Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys – Stafford Co VA.

 

The children of Richard Milton Sr. and Eliza were:

 

1.       Richard, born 11 Mar 1712 Northumberland Co VA, married Margaret Ross, died 1801 Nelson Co KY.

2.       William, born 4 Oct 1713 Northumberland Co VA, married Sarah _____, died before 4 May 1762 Prince William Co VA.  In 1773, the heirs of William and Sarah had 320 acres of land.

3.       Anne, born 31 Aug 1720 Richmond Co VA (according to the Parish Register).

4.       Eliza, born 26 Mar 1723 Richmond Co VA (according to the Parish Register).

5.       Sarah, born 18 May 1728 Richmond Co VA (according to the Parish Register).

 

    

Richard Milton (Jr)

 

Richard was born on 11 Mar 1712 in Northumberland Co VA, married a Margaret Ross and died in Nelson Co KY between 31 Dec 1797 (when his will was written) and 11 May 1801 (when his will was probated).  According to McIlhany, “he inherited a tract of land ‘adjoining Coupers Cabin Branch’ in Prince William Co VA where he lived a reared a family of nine children”.  He moved from Prince William Co VA to Nelson Co KY in 1789, a year after his son Moses arrived in Nelson.  According to Mr. Robert P. Moore’s research, all of Richard’s children except two migrated with him to Kentucky.  While in Kentucky, the Milton’s lived in Nelson Co near a creek called Ash’s Creek, between Chaplin and Bloomfield KY.

 

Richard’s wife was Margaret (nicknamed “Peggy”) Ross, potentially the daughter of Alexander Ross, an early landowner in Fredrick Co VA (although no conclusive proof has yet to be discovered by Mr. Robert P. Moore).  Margaret was born circa 1716 in Ross-Shire, Scotland and died circa 1811 in Nelson Co KY.  According to McIlhany, Margaret Ross’ grandchildren “remembered her as being tall, spare and very neat in dress and appearance.  She lived to be about ninety-five years of age, and when a very old lady she was still able to ride on horseback to the home of her son Elijah, making the distance of forty miles in one day”.

 

The following was gleaned from (England’s) Special Agents’ Reports on American Loyalists Claims during the years 1784-1803 against citizens of the State of Virginia who dealt with British Loyalist merchants in Virginia.  These VA citizens later removed to Kentucky (Reel 41, Public Record Office 122, Volume VI, No. 79, British Manuscript Project, Library of Congress, Washington, DC (also recorded in The Kentucky Genealogist, 2G3-92):

 

“In the claims of William Cunningham and Company of Glasgow, contracted at their Falmouth Store in Virginia, prior to the American Revolution and which are outstanding on the first day of August 1798:”

 

“Richard Milton, Sr of Prince William.  Debt due 1772.  15 shillings, 10 pence.  Removed to Kentucky about eight years ago, now able.  Enquire of B. Hooe.”

 

Moses Milton of Prince William.  Debt due 1771.  17 shillings, 7 pence.  Removed to Kentucky about four years ago, now able.  Enquire of George King.”

 

 

Will of Richard Milton (Jr)

Nelson Co KY Will Book “A”, pages 466-469

Written 31 Dec 1797, Probated 11 May 1801

 

 

 

Richard and Margaret (nicknamed “Peggy”) had the following children:

 

1.       Moses, born circa 1740, married Mary _________, migrated to Nelson Co KY in approximately 1788 and died circa 1816 in Nelson Co KY(see Nelson Co KY Will Book “C”, pg. 479).  In 1774, Moses Milton, Henry Wilson (husband of sister Sally Milton) and Jesse Moon/Moore (husband of sister Molly Milton) were either tenants or leasing land from Mann Page in Loudoun Co VA.  A descendant of Moses, Caroline Milton, married her first cousin Elisha E. Murphy and they had a number of children, including Daniel Boone Murphy, the husband Sarah Ellen Moore, the sister of our direct ancestor William Berry Moore.

2.       William, born circa 1742 and died in VA after 1797 (when he was mentioned in his father’s will).

3.       Sally, born in VA and married (possibly) Henry Wilson before 1797.

4.       Elijah, born 23 Dec 1755 in Prince William Co VA, married Catherine “Kitty” Taylor on 28 Jan 1794 in Frederick Co VA, served in the Revolutionary War, moved to Nelson Co KY, then settled near Versailles, Woodford Co KY and died on 10 Nov 1833 in Fayette Co KY (See Fayette Co KY Will Book “L”, page 236).  He was living in Fayette Co KY when he applied for a pension (#S.30588) in Woodford Co KY on 17 Aug 1833, stating that he was born in Prince William Co VA on 23 Dec 1755 and that he enlisted in the winter of 1775 or 1776 and served under General Rochambeau during the latter part of the war.  He held the rank of Private of Calvary and after the war was hired by his sister Nancy’s husband to serve as wagon master to transport the French Army to Boston MA.   Elijah’s wife Catherine was born 9 Jun 1776 in Fredrick Co VA and died 29 Jan 1828 in Fayette Co KY.  Most of this information was gleaned from the Elijah Milton entry (Pension #S.30588) found in “Abstracts of Rev War Pension Files, Volume II”, page 2371, abstracted by Virgil D. White.

5.       John, born circa 1758 Prince William Co VA, married (1) Ann Stribling on 20 Jul 1782 in Hopewell, Fredrick Co VA, (2) Catherine Washington Nelson on 20 Feb 1812 in Shendale, Jefferson Co KY and died 17 Mar 1818 in Milton Valley near Berryville, Clarke Co VA.  He lived in “Milton Valley” near Berryville VA and was responsible for building the Milton homestead there. 

6.       Nancy, born circa 1759 in VA, married Captain Jesse Davis, a Revolutionary War soldier, on 8 Feb 1780 in Prince William Co VA, died 10 Feb 1849 in Chaplin, Nelson Co KY, buried Old Methodist Cemetery, Chaplin, Nelson Co KY.  Jesse was born 12 Sep 1751, died 23 Oct 1818 and was the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Kincheloe Davis.  Jesse’s brother Cornelius and his wife Eleanor were both killed in the Indian massacre of Ft. Kincheloe in Nelson Co KY in 1782.  After the Revolutionary War, Jesse hired Elijah Milton, his wife’s brother, to serve as wagon master to transport the French Army to Boston.

7.       Frances, born 1764 in Prince William Co VA, married James Davis on 26 Mar 1791 in Nelson Co KY.

8.       Mary (nicknamed “Molly”), married, presumably, Jesse Moore in VA, died after 1810.

9.       Susannah, married Rawleigh Chinn on 4 Nov 1795 in Nelson Co KY and died before Oct 1799.  Rawleigh was the son of Charles Chinn of Fauquier Co VA.  Following Susannah’s death, Rawleigh married Susannah Burton on 2 Oct 1799 in Nelson Co KY.

 

 

Molly Milton

 

Molly Milton, born ???? and was alive as late as 1797 when she was mentioned in the codicil of her father’s will.  The codicil, repeated below, provides the only clue as to the identity of her husband:

 

 

Speculation on why Richard specifically mentions his daughter as “…Molly Moore” and not her husband (he specifically listed other sons-in laws) range from death (Mr. Moore was deceased) to estrangement (Mr. Moore and Mr. Milton had a strained relationship).  Sources in Kentucky that I have communicated with have not found any proof of this strained relationship in Nelson Co KY court records (lawsuits, etc) but due to the fact that Mr. Moore never rented any land (either in VA or KY) and was not mentioned in hardly any court document leads many to conclude that such a strained relationship existed.  There are indications of Mr. Moore’s death in 1815 in Washington Co KY. 

 

All the evidence I have uncovered (see the Moore chapter for more information) points to Jesse Moore as being the husband of Mary (Molly) Milton.

 

In 1773, Jesse Moore appears in the Loudoun Co VA Tithable List with Moses Milton.

 

In 1774, Moses Milton, Henry Wilson (husband of sister Sally Milton) and Jesse Moon/Moore (suspected husband of sister Molly Milton) were either tenants or leasing land from Mann Page in Loudoun Co VA.  

 

The children of Jesse Moore and Molly Milton include:

 

1.       James.  Mentioned in grandfather’s will only – which leads me to believe that Hugh Milton McIlhany did not have knowledge of Richard’s will when he was compiling his book in the early 1900’s.

2.       Shadrack.  Mentioned only in Hugh Milton McIlhany’s book “Some Virginia Families.

3.       Eben. Mentioned only in Hugh Milton McIlhany’s book “Some Virginia Families.

4.       John R., born 12 Mar 1785 in Fairfax Co VA, married (1) Martha Bayne 22 Feb 1810 Nelson Co KY and died 13 Dec 1858.  They are both buried in the Mt. Zion Methodist Cemetery near Moorefield, Washington Co KY.  Martha Bayne, daughter of Walter Bayne and Meek Ann Wade, was born circa 1789/1791 in VA and died 17 Mar 1854 Nelson Co KY.  See the Bayne chapter for more information on this surname.  After Martha died, John remarried (2) Nancy Harrell on 8 Oct 1855 in Nelson Co KY.  It was from this Nelson Co KY marriage certificate that we learned that: 1) John married a second time, and 2) that he was born in Fairfax Co VA.  For more information on the descendants of this union, please see the chapter entitled MOORE.

 

 

 

Federal Census Records

 

 

Key to Columns:

1.       White males over 21

2.       White males 16-21

3.       Total Blacks

4.       Blacks under 16

5.       Horses, mares, colts, mules

6.       Cattle

7.       Acres

8.       Stud Horses

9.       Rate of Covering for Season (?)

 

Moses Milton, Sr           1/2/-/-/2/15/500a            11/21/1792

Moses Milton, Jr            1/-/-/-/2/-/-                      11/21/1792

Jesse Moore                  1/-/-/-/1/3?5?/-                11/21/1792

 

 

Jesse Moore                  1/-/-/-/1/3/-                     9/04/1793

Moses Milton, Sr           1/2/-/-/3/13/500a            9/05/1793

Moses Milton, Jr            1/-/-/-/2/2/-                     9/05/1793

 

Jesse Moore                  1/1/-/-/1/5                      4/21/1795

Moses Milton, Jr.           1/-/-/-/2/4/79a                 4/21/1795  (acreage on Chaplin River)

Richard Milton             1/-/3/4/2/11/100a            4/21/1795  (acreage on Chaplin River)

Elijah Milton                  1/-/7/3/1/2

Moses Milton, Jr            2/1/-/-/2/4                      4/21/1795 (one of the Moses’ must be incorrect)

Moses Milton                 65 acres on Ash’s Creek            08/25/1797

Jesse Moore                  2 white males over 21                 08/25/1797

 

Jesse Moore                  8/30/1800

Moses Milton                 8/30/1800

Moses Milton, Jr            8/30/1800

Richard Milton             8/30/1800

Richard Milton, Sr        8/30/1800

 

Jesse Moore                  05/28/1801

 

_____ Milton                  05/24/1802

Jesse Moore                  05/24/1802

 

_____ Milton                  06/09/1807

_____ Milton                  06/09/1807

Jesse Moore                  06/10/1807

 

 

MILTON SOURCES

 

·         Genealogical and historical research I conducted.

·         Milton of Virginia and Kentucky by Robert P. Moore, 176 Valley Rd, Lexington KY  40503-2023.  Received in approximately 1993.  Bob is an accomplished Genealogist who is interested in the Moore’s due to his relation to the Murphy’s.  He has been a tremendous help to me in providing detailed information on the Moores, Murphys, Miltons and Baynes.  Before Robert retired in the mid 1990’s, he published a series of translations of Soviet military books for the Department of Defense and before that had been a professor of the Russian language.

·         Mrs. Lin Overstreet, 1954 Roanoke Avenue, Louisville KY  40205-1416.

·         The Milton Genealogy: 1636-1960 by Hugh M. Milton.  Located in the Library of Congress.

·         Some Virginia Families by Hugh Milton McIlhany, Jr, M.A. PhD., 1903, Staunton VA, Stoneburner & Prufer, Printers, 1903.  I have an actual 1903 copy of this book in my possession.

·         Kincheloe, McPherson and Allied Families by Lewin Dwinell McPherson, Washington DC, 1951.  Robert P. Moore references this work as a source of information on Jesse Davis and his mother’s family the Kincheloe’s.

·         Kentucky Families by Mrs. J. Weldon (Mary Elizabeth Green) Baird.  Unpublished…a copy of this document is located in the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort KY.  Contains numerous errors.

·         Colonial Families of the United States by George Norbury MacKenzie, 1966.  Contains numerous errors.

·         Abstracts of VA’s Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys.  Dunmore, Shenandoah, Culpeper, Prince William, Faquier and Stafford Counties.  1710-1780.  Vol III, Compiled by Peggy Shomo Joyner.