Return to the Land

What else do we know about John Miller of Miller’s Mill? Again the records give us a clue in terms of religious affiliation. We suspect John was a God-fearing man and took his religion seriously as did most people of this region. Presbyterianism was a common sect and it is possible that he practiced within this church. In 1749, Reverend John Craig entered Augusta as a resident dissenting minister and traveled throughout the region to perform the church’s rites. In that year he came from the North Mountain area to Roanoke where on March 7 he baptized Mary Miller, daughter of John Miller at Tinker Creek. On the following day, March 8, on his way back to North Mountain he baptized John Miller, son of John Miller of Calfpasture (River). 9 I later establish that Andrew Miller is the sole heir of John Miller of Fincastle so who were these other John Millers mentioned in records? Did Andrew have a son named John? John Miller had a close friendship and business relationship with Israel Christian. We found their names commonly mentioned together. Christian was a prominent and wealthy figure who commanded some influence. He was the administrator of wills, owned land, and was in the mercantile trading business. The Olde Stone House, which stood by the old Carolina Road at the southern end of Tinker Mountain, was originally owned and operated by a merchant named Erwin Patterson; later Israel Christian operated this trading center. Christian also operated one of the first trading centers in Staunton and as well as other centers at Fincastle, New River, Reed Creek , and Dunkard’s Bottom . The Christians came to the Roanoke Grant in 1760 where they purchased approximately 595 acres from Patterson. Israel Christian conveyed this land later to his son William, on the occasion of William’s marriage to Anne Henry who was a sister of Patrick Henry . In 1773 the Christians left this area and moved to Dunkard’s Bottom on the New River. 10 He was also involved with other aspects of the community. He became commissary for the regiment under Colonel Byrd. He was appointed, along with others, as Justice for Botetourt County in 1769. In November 1771, Christian was promoted by the Governor to the position of sheriff. 11 He was a captain in the Frontier Militia and for his service to the Crown of England he was granted 3,000 acres in 1757. 12 John Miller of Fincastle had at least one son, Andrew, but I was unable to find any documentation or mention of Andrew’s offspr ing. John died around 1766. The following documents are important concerning some of his activities:

-1766, Deed Book 15, page 68 recorded in Augusta County. John Miller gave his son Andrew 81 acres on the south branch of Catawba Creek, a branch of the James River that contained the area of Miller’s Mill.

9 Kegley’s Virginia Frontier , p. 184. 10 Kegley’s Virginia Frontier , p. 512-513. 11 Kegley’s Virginia Frontier , p. 382. 12 Kegley’s Virginia Frontier , p. 280.

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