Is Peter Miller of Bedford Co. PA (Miller-109316) related to the Amish Millers of Berks Co. PA?

Question

My Miller family is from Bedford County Pennsylvania. Andrew Miller (b. 1803 Harrison Township, Bedford County, PA; d. 1855 Londonderry Township, Bedford County, PA) was a Brethren minister. He married Hanna Marie Studebaker daughter of Jacob Studebaker, also a Brethren minister. Andrew Miller is the son of Peter Miller, and here is where the one hits a genealogical brickwall. It is not clear what is the background of this Peter Miller. So I looked at my autosomal genetic matches. I found 14 individuals who share DNA with me and their ancestor can be traced back to Christian Daniel Miller (b. 1708 Bern Switzerland d. 1777 Berks Pennsylvania) and his wife Anna Mishler (b. 1716 Bern, Switzerland d. 1784 Berks, Pennsylvaniia). Interestly 10 of those individuals share with me a segment of DNA on the p arm of Chromosome 16. I have called that for fun, my ¨Amish Miller¨ Chromosomal segment. These Amish MIllers haved migrated from Berks Co. PA to Somerset Co. PA to Holmes Co. OH to LaGrange Co. IN. Along the way they intermarried with Yoders, Mishlers, Stutzmans and Kauffmans. So where does my Peter fit in, there is a Peter MIller who is a son of Christian Daniel Miller, so he may be a prime candidate for my ancestor. Unfortunatley, I cannot produce a paper trail that shows a Peter MIller going from Berks Co. PA. and ending up in Bedford Co. PA. Oh, one last thing, I found DNA matches of three people from Bern Switzerland and they all carry the ¨Amish Miller¨ chromosomal segment on the p arm of Chromosomal 16. So the genetics fits, but the genealogical tree does not.

Answer 1

I was curious about your post, because I also have Amish ancestry from Pennsylvania and some of them moved to Ohio (though Medina County, not Holmes). I only found one Miller, but she married a 4x great uncle so I know almost nothing about her.

I looked at what's on FamilySearch and Ancestry for Peter Miller and it's a bit of a mess.

I think the first step is to separate the Peter Miller who was from Loudoun County, Virginia from the Peter Miller of Bedford, Pennsylvania. I can see how they got conflated years ago, because they both married a Catherine. But the Peter Miller of Bedford begins showing up in tax records there as early as 1783. The Peter Miller from Loudoun County is still there in 1797 and 1800 having children, according to records. But someone made the Peter Miller from Bedford their Revolutionary War ancestor for DAR & SAR applications so that confusion has been around for a while.

I think your best bet would be to dig through the probate and orphan's court records to look for a will or an appointment of executors for his estate. I think he likely owned land and that would have to be settled. Also, his children were very young, so guardians were probably appointed. Possibly there's a deed for sale of the land.

There's a lot available online, but it's not indexed either digitally or in the microfilmed books. They are not exactly in chronological order, either. Add to that an inexact death date and there's a lot of digging ahead.  https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/236591?availability=Family%20History%20Library

There are other Peter Millers in Pennsylvania at that time. At least two I think--one in Lancaster and one in Philadelphia. I also see records in Berks and Bucks Counties, but those could overlap with the Philadelphia one.

Comments

Thank you very much for such a thoughtfull and helpful response to my question. It makes me feel better that someone else sees the problem with Peter Miller coming from Loudoun Virginia. It gives me more confident in going forward.

This is what I have so far. For the presence of Peter MIller in Berks Co PA: 1)Berks Co PA Deed Book A, pg 164, 1772, one finds the mention of Samuel MIller, borther, selling 141 acres of land in Cumry Twn Berks Co PA to Peter Miller of Cumry Twn. 2) Berks Co. PA Deed Book A pg 494, 1771, Rudulph Haverling (Cumry Twn) is selling water rights to Samuel and Peter Miller (Cumry Twn) and finally 3) Berks Co Will Book vol 2, pg 286, 1777, it is mentioned that Peter Miller is a witness to the will of Christian Miller (his brother) of Cumry Twn.

1777 is the last mention that I have found of Peter MIller (Cumry Twn) in Berks Co. PA.

For Bedford County PA:

The first mention of Peter Miller in Bedford Twn Bedford Co PA that I have found is in 1787. He is listed in the  Bedford Co. Deed Book B, pg. 399, 1787 as buying ~350 acres of land from Jacob Holtz. This land is adjacent to that of George and Jane Milliken and James Milliken.

Then there is a Peter MIller Junior of Milligan Cove, Bedford Twn. Bedford Co. PA. in the Bedford Co. Deed Book D, pg 435, 1796, as buying 250 acres from the Thomas McGaughy estate. This land adjoins land in the name of Geroge Milligen that is now occupied by Peter Miller in MIlliganś Cove. The deed specifically states Peter Miller Junior as opposed to the Peter Miller of Milliganś Cove.

Finally there is a curious entry in Bedford Co Deed Book G, pg 52, 1805. Peter MIller of Bedford Twn Bedford Co PA sales to his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Catherine, Eva and Mary Stiffler, for one dollar 350 acres of land. This land is adjacent to James Milliken and the Thomas McGaughy claim. So this looks like the land he bought in 1787 and is next to the land bouight by Peter Miller Junior in 1796.

I would propose the following: Peter Miller (from Berks Co.) is the father of Peter Miller Junior who is the father of Andrew Miller.

Unfortunatley there are the years 1777 to 1787 that I cannot account for. I believe that sometime in those years Peter Miller was in Maryland, where he met and married Catherine Workmand. The Maryland records are not as available on line as the Pennsylvania records.

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Do you have access to Ancestry? He was in Bedford as early as 1782, so it's only a 1777-82 gap.

Here are some early tax records for Peter Miller in Bedford County:

1782, Brothers Valley, Bedford He is taxed for land so you could look for a deed for 1782 or earlier.

1783, Brothers Valley, Bedford This one is alphabetical and there is also a John Miller and a Christian Miller.

Both those years also have something related called an Exoneration list that he appears on. Maybe someone else knows what an exoneration list is and whether it might point to other records. 

If you just search Ancestry for Peter Miller b. 1750 and living in Bedford Co. a ton of these records come up. 

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I am not on Ancestry, but make use of Familysearch and Myheritage, both of which supply assess to sources.

One has to be careful about the MIllers and Bedford County. Somerset County was split off of Bedford County in 1795. That was a mass movement of Amish Miller brothers and families to Bedford County before 1795. After 1795, these Amish MIllers were in Somerset County. Brothers Valley became part of Somerset at that time. So the Peter Miller in those tax roles is a member of the Amish Miller families. That is why I make a point of saying that the Peter MIller, my ancestor, is from Bedford Township, Bedford County. This is the area that my motherś famly members are found.

The movement of the Amish Millers to Somerset and my Peter MIller to Bedford, makes me wonder if he split off from the family. All the other Berks Millers brothers were Amish, whereas Peter was a Brethren. He was so close physically, yet so distant in spirit.

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I understand about not being on Ancestry. I go back and forth a lot, myself. That's why I asked.

And thanks for the tips on the townships.

I believe your Millers are in Bedford Township in 1786 (sharing link) in the tax list. There is a Jacob Miller, a Peter Miller and another Peter Miller listed under the Single Freemen.

Source citation: Jacob Miller, Peter Miller and Peter Miller (Single Freeman) in 1786 Septennial Census of Pennsylvania, Bedford Township, Bedford, Pennsylvania, Box 1026, microfilm, 14 rolls, Records of the House of Representatives, Records of the General Assembly, Record Group 7, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/743961:2702

To further complicate things, there are three Peter Millers (sharing link) in the 1800 Bedford Township tax list. They are Peter Miller Senior, Peter Miller Junior and Peter Miller (no suffix). This list has several other Millers: John (Senior), Elias, Henry, and George. 

Source citation: Peter Miller, Senr., Peter Miller, Junr., and Peter Miller in 1800 Septennial Census of Pennsylvania, Bedford Township, Bedford, Pennsylvania, Box 1026, microfilm, 14 rolls, Records of the House of Representatives, Records of the General Assembly, Record Group 7, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/745933:2702

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Thank you very much for that information on Peter Miller in the 1786 tax list of Bedford Twn Bedford Co. You are very kind to look into this. You have also inspired me to look further into Peter Miller, via the tax lists.

I checked the tax lists for Berks Co. Cumru Twn. (locatation of Peter MIller in Land Deeds with his brother Samuel)  in the Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series Vol 18. He is not listed for 1767, 1768, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1784 or 1785. He bought his land from Samuel in 1772, so missed the 1768 tax list, but is not in the 1779 tax list so he must be gone by then.

I then checked the tax lists for Bedford Twn. Bedford Co. for 1781 and 1782 and he is not listed. These are the original lists in book form available through Familysearch.com. Very interesting information, several of my motherś ancestors are listed there. I will need to go back and check it out further.

Next, I checked the tax lists for Bedford Twn. Bedford Co. for 1783 and 1784 that is available in the Pennsylvania Archives Third Series, Vol 22. He is not listed there either, but a Margaret Miller and Jacob Miller are.

So, your information on Peter Miller in the Bedford Twn tax list for 1786, would be the earliest placement of Peter Miller in Bedford Twn. I have Peter Miller of Cumury Twn. Berks Co. there in 1777 but not on the 1779 tax list. If these are the same Peter Miller, then need to find him somewhere for nine years.

I have proposed that he went down to Maryland, where he met and married Catherine Workman. However, I find the online Maryland data difficult to find. I would like to ask a favor of you, could you check for the presence of Peter Miller in the counties of Frederick and Washington, state of Maryland for the years 1778 to 1785? Maybe tax lists or land transactions. Familysearch.com has land deeds for Maryland but I cannot access them online.

Thank you so very much for all your help and interests in this Peter MIller.

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I had a quick look, but I didn't see anything pop up.

Unfortunately, there are so many people with similar names and conflated profiles, both here and on FamilySearch, that it's really hard to track who is who. Right now there are a lot of conflicting theories and dates.

I think that it would be really beneficial to clean up the profiles of all of Peter's children, especially proof of birth dates and places, marriage dates and places, and death dates and places, as well as proof that they are all Peter's children and proof of who their mothers were. Profiles should be added as needed.

I also think all of Peter's profiles should be merged or separated into distinct people. It will make it easier to attach records to one or the other.

This information is going to help track the family and where they lived and maybe help determine whether Peter had a wife before Catherine Workman (and if the second wife really was Catherine Workman). Narrowing down when Peter married Catherine (based on evidence of who the mother(s) were of his children and proven dates) will give you a sense of where to look for them and when.

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I agree with you entirely. Unfortunately, Peter MIller is such a common name, it is difficult to know when they move around who is who. That is why I try to specify the location, Peter Miller Cumury Twn, Berks Co, or Peter Miller Bedford Twn Bedford Co. When I have evidence of them at that location, I am pretty such they are the same person. However, connecting Peter MIller Berks Co to Peter Miller Bedford Co, is the difficulty.

I did find a tax list for Washington County Maryland in 1783 https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/stagser/s1400/s1437/html/1437wa.html (this is thre maryland state archive website). There is no Peter Miller listed, but there is an Andrew Workman, who is the father of Catharine Workman, the wife of Peter Miller. So Andrew Workman is in Washington County Maryland in 1783, close to the lost time of Peter MIller. I am sure of Catharine Workman as being the wife of Peter Miller, as I have done a genetic analysis of seven living Workman ancestors who can trace their roots back to brothers of Andrew Workman. Several of those brothers are on the 1783 tax list for Washington Co MD.

I wish to thank you for all your time and effort that you have put into this Peter MIller search. It is very kind of you do to so.

Answer 2

Hi,  I also am one of those Mennonite descendants who settled in Berks County  and stayed, intermarrying with the Yoders, Angstadts, Berkys, and Millers.   I have a Peter Miller as and ancestor of my maternal grandmother who was an ECK.  This is a summary of his life taken from his profile Miller-91725.   I found him while looking for the parents of Jacob Miller, his son.  And once I added him to my tree my Ancestry Thrulines connections worked.   Am interested in whether we are connected.

"Little is known about this Peter Miller.

His son Jacob L. was born in 1806 and baptized at the Old Zionsville, Lehigh County United Church of Christ. Jacob's parents were listed as Peter and Sara Miller.  (This would have put this Peter's birth in the late 1700s.)

Jacob married Maria Polly Fenstermacher and together they were the parents of Sarah Miller (1843-1942) who married Solomon Miller (1841-1892). Their daughter was Jane Miller (1870-1929). The descendants of Peter Miller and Jacob Miller were residents of Berks County, Pennsylvania.

In the 1830 Census of Hamburg, Windsor Township, a Peter Miller (age about 45) was head of household in the 40 to 50 age group. Four other males were living in this household: two males were 15-20 yo, and two were 20-30 yo. In addition to one 40-50 yo female (most likely. his wife), there were five other females in the household: Three were 10-15 yo, one was 15-20 yo, and one was 20-30 yo. Peter's age is consistent with his birthdate, as is his wife's. Jacob L would have been 22 at the time of the census and could have been one of the two 20 to 30 yo. Jacob's first child was born about 1833 so this Peter could be his father.

1850 census of Windsor Township in Berks County lists a Peter Miller as 65 yo and Sarah as 34. This Sarah (if the age is correct) could not be the mother of Jacob L since she would have to be at least 57yo (born about 1793) and have been 15 when Jacob L was born. (Jacob would have been 42 in 1850, married with a 7 yo daughter Sarah (1843-1932) and most likely not living at home.) Also living in the household is a Henrietta Shollenberger, 15 yo female. The next household on the Census sheet is headed by Henry Shollenberger (34 yo) and Elisabeth (33 yo), includes Joh J W (8yo male), Mary E (4yo female), and Winfield (3yo male).

A second son, Jonathan, born in 1730 died in 1758. His birth was 22 years after the birth of Jacob L. His mother was listed as Sarah.

A FAG memorial exists for a Peter Miller who died 0n 18 May 1869 and is buried at Saint John's Lutheran Cemetery, Abbottstown, Adams County, PA. His wife was listed as Mary Miller (1790-1874) possibly a second wife."

Comments

Thank you for your response to my question.

I do not think that our Peter Millers are related. My Peter Miller was already alive and buying property in Bedford Co. PA in the late 1790s (see my response to the first answer to my question).

I do think that there is a way to progress in this genealogical business. If you have not taken a DNA test, I would suggest that you do so. I have found by comparison of matches, a window is opened into the past. Such as I found out with my Miller genetic analysis.

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I think it would almost be a miracle to find a common descendant given the commonality of the Miller surname.   But I too appreciate the DNA links and have done both Ancestry and 23&me.   Good luck with your search.

Judy Luckenbill-68 Brett