Benjamin Miller (1672 - 1747)

Born 10 Jul 1672 in Middletown, Hartford, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Johnson) Miller — married 18 Sep 1695 (to 15 Dec 1709) in Woodstock, Colony of Connecticut

Husband of Mercy (Bassett) Miller — married 15 Dec 1710 (to 22 Nov 1747) in Middletown, Hartford, British Colony Connecticut

Descendants

Died 22 Nov 1747 at age 75 in Middletown, Hartford, Connecticut Colony

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Biography

Benjamin was one of the first three settlers of Middlefield. He lived to the east of the West (Coginehang) River in the south part of town, very close to Durham. He had a fine physique and was very powerful. It is said he was called "governor" because he had a lot of influence with the Indians, he owned a lot of land, and because he had a dominant disposition.

Benjamin's pigs kept disappearing, and he suspected that bears were eating them. So he started watching for them. One Sunday morning he caught a bruin in the act, so he shot and killed it. He was then arrested for desecrating the Sabbath.

Birth

Benjamin Miller was born July 20, 1672 in Middletown, Colony of Connecticut. He was the son of Thomas Miller and Sarah Nettleton. ^[1][2]

Marriage

Benjamin was first married to Mary Johnson September 18, 1695 in Woodstock, Colony of Connecticut. Together, they had eight children. ^[3][4] Benjamin's second marriage was to Mercy Bassett December 17, 1710 in Middletown, Colony of Connecticut. Together, they had seven children.^[3]

Children of Benjamin Miller & Mary (Marah) Johnson, married Sept 18 1696: Rebecca (married David Robinson), Benjamin (Oct 2 1700, married Hannah daughter of David Robinson), Sarah (Oct 5 1702, married Joseph Hickox), Mary (married Mr. Spencer of Haddam), Hannah (June 1 1704, married Ephraim Coe), Isaac (May 2 1706, unmarried), Mehitable (eb 5 1707, married A. Barnes), Ichabod (Dec 15 1709, married Elizabeth Cromwell). Mary died while giving birth to Ichabod.

Children of Benjamin Miller & Mercy Bassett: Lydia (married Eliakim Snow), Amos (June 1 1713, married Abigail Cromwell), Ebenezer (Aug 20 1714, unmarried), Martha (Dec 8 1715, married Thomas Atkins), Rhoda (March 8 1717, married Benjamin Bacon), David (Oct 3 1718, married Elizabeth Brainerd), Thankful (unmarried).

Slaves

• Sharp

Sharp is listed in Benjamin's will.^[5]

Death

Benjamin Miller died November 22, 1747 in Middlefield, Colony of Connecticut. ^[3] He was buried in the Old North Burying Grounds in Middlefield, Connecticut. ^[6]

Benjamin Miller's will, dated 14 April 1746, named his wife Marcy Spencer, sons Benjamin, Ichabod, Amos, and David, daughters Mary Spencer, Rebekah Robbinson, Hannah Coe, Mehetabel Barns, and the children of Late daughter Sarah sometime the wife of Joseph Hieikcox, three youngest daughters Lydia Stow, Martha Adkins & Rhoda Bacon. Inventory dated 31 Dec 1747. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Bacon: Pages 61 & 99
2. ↑ Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection), Middletown Vital Records 1651-1854
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Bacon: Page 61
4. ↑ Vital Records of Woodstock, 1686-1854 (1914) p. 2; dtr Rebecca birth p. 5; brother, Joseph's m. on p. 7
5. ↑ Manwarning, C.W. "A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records: Hartford district, 1729-1750." (Hartford:R. S. Peck & Co. 1902) pp. 615-616. Copy available at https://books.google.com/books?id=g9QLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA598&lpg=PA598&dq=%22man+called+Sharp%22+hartford&source=bl&ots=3eGM6twXM3&sig=ACfU3U3uvs6GE_R0f8OYw7X3k1aQAXssrQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidmrzls8iEAxUO1skDHXQ0C_sQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=%22man%20called%20Sharp%22%20hartford&f=false. The will provides that his children named, including Benjamin Miller Jr., Ichabod Miller, Amos Miller, David Miller, Hannah Comfort (Miller) Coe, Mehitable (Miller) Barnes, Rebecca (Miller) Robinson, and Mary (Miller) Spencer would have Sharp.
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #9016993
7. ↑ Connecticut. Probate Court (Hartford District); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut : Probate Records, Vol 14-16, 1742-1753 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9049/images/007627233_00251

See also:

• Jacobus, Donald Lines. "The Nettletons in America", The Connecticut Quarterly (Hartford, Conn., 1908) Vol. 11, Pt. 2, Page 492

• Bacon, Reginald. Early Families of Middletown, Connecticut (Variety Arts Press, 2012) Vol. 1: 1650-1654. pp. 5, 61-63, 99.

• A Compilation of The Society of Middletown First Settlers Descendants: accessed 12 Apr 2014.

• Birth: "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F735-35V : 11 February 2018), Benjamin Miller, 10 Jul 1672; citing Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States; FHL microfilm 1,513,707.

• Mary's death: "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7KV-N5X : 9 February 2018), Benjamin Miller in entry for Mary Johnson Miller, 15 Dec 1709; citing , reference item 1 p 56; FHL microfilm 1,513,707.

• Marriage 2: "Connecticut Marriages, 1640-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7LW-83D : 5 November 2017), Benjamin Miller and Marcy Bassett, Marriage 1711, Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States; Connecticut State Library, Hartford; FHL microfilm 1,513,707.

• Death: "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7N2-MJC : 9 February 2018), Benjamin Miller, 22 Nov 1747; citing , reference 11; FHL microfilm 3,345.

• Commemorative Biographical Record of Middle-sex County, Connecticut , Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1903, page 602 as found at [1]
• FamilySearch profile LKQ2-Y9G​
• He is also the forefather of Winston Churchill
• Birth date of 10 Jul 1672 according to Middletown vital records (Barbour collection). Note that "in his 76th year" means he had not yet reached his 76th birthday. So the birth date of 1672 agrees with his age on his tombstone.
• Title: Coe-Ward Memorial, Repository: Media: Book, Page: Page 42, 120-121, 116-117: Text: He was one of the first three settlers in Middlefield, Ct. He located himself in the South part on the east side of Coginchaug, or West River, and not far from the Durham line. Tradition says the title of "Governor" was cnferred upon Ben. By the early settlers, partly because of his influence with the Indians, partly on account of his being a large land holder and of influence in settlement, and partly, no doubt because of his character which appears to have been of a dominant type. It is plain that Benjamin was a man of great influence in the early history of Middlefield, both from property and character. He came from Miller's Farms or South Farms in 1700. "Gov" Benjamin was much annoyed by losing of his pigs. He suspected that they were taken by bears and watched to see . One Sunday he discovered a bear catching the pigs, and shot and killed the Bear for which act he was arrested and descecrating the Sabbath. "Gov" Benjamin and second wife were buried in the Old cemetary in Middlefield. Upon his tomb stone is carved a fallen tree with its stump and an arm holding an axe directed towards them, representing the work of the first settlers of Middlefield on top of the stone is inscribed "Fecisti atque finitur" (You have acted and it is finished).
• Title: Hall Memoranda, Repository: Media: Book, Page: Page 67-68: Text: By tradition it appears that Benjamin was eminently fitted for the work and circumstances which fell to his share. He was strong in body and in will; a man not to be deterred from his purpose by a few Indians, bears and wildcats. One of the first settlers in native wildernss of Middlefield. it is said he influence is the Indians dominated the White's and had his own way generally called "the vehement'. largest taxpayer. owned enough land to give 15 children farm of many acres.
• Title: A Digest of the Early Conneticut Probate Records by Manwaring, Repository: Media: Book, Page: Page 150-1, 160-162, 261