History of Ryegate, Vermont, from its settlement by the Scotch-American company of farmers to present time;, Part 52

Author: Miller, Edward, 1826-1900; Wells, Frederic P. (Frederic Palmer), 1850-; Mason, George, 1800-1872
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: St. Johnsbury, Vt., The Caledonian company
Number of Pages: 750


USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Ryegate > History of Ryegate, Vermont, from its settlement by the Scotch-American company of farmers to present time; > Part 52


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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iv. William James,4 b. Groton, Aug 3, 1848; carpenter and farmer. He m 1st, Annie Kelley (dea.) 2d, Mary Hallet (dea.) 3d, Flora Head (dea.) Res. Brockland, Texas.


V. Herbert Watson,4 b. So. R., June 20, 1856; teamster in Boston for his brother ; then in hotel and livery stable business. He m. Boston, Aug. 30, 1878, Louise Webster ; d. Boston, Sept 14, 1890.


vi. Lillias Jane 4 b. So. R .. Feb. 20, 1860; d. March 26, 1863.


vii. Infant son,+ b. March 5, d. April 10, 1866.


12 JACKSON P., 3 (Robert,2 Alexander 1) b. May 21, 1832; farmer at W. Barnet, also proprietor of grist mill there, and with his oldest son, the one at Barnet village Member of Pres. ch., W. Barnet. He mn. 1st, Oct. 3, 1855, by Rev. Thos. Goodwillie, Caroline M., dau. James Hall,2 (b. Aug. 27, 1832; d. June 7, 1877.) 2d, Oct. 3, 1878, Clara, dau. Moses Gates (b. Jan. 29, 1841 ; d. Jan. 12, 1907).


Children by 1st marriage.


i. Morris J.,4 b. Jan 1, 1857 ; res. Brockton, Mass .; m. April 21, 1891, Margaret J. Glenn. Ch. (1) Agnes Ruth,5 b. May 30, 1894. (2) Caroline Hall,5 b. Feb. 22, 1896.


ii. Carrie Bell,4 b Aug 24. 1863; d. Aug. 4, 1365.


iii. Emma J.,4 b. Feb. 28, 1865; m. John J. Rhodes, q. v.


iv. Robert J., 4 b. March 7, 1870; res. Groton ; senior partner in the Miller & Ayer Lumber Co. Hem. Feb. 28, 1900, Marion L., dau. James M. Doe.


v. Frank Elmer, 4 b. July 17, 1873; m. March 31, 1896, Harriet Cummings. Ch. (1) Gladys Emma,4 b. Nov. 14, 1896. (2) Frederick R. 4 b. March 21, 1899.


13 ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER,3 (Robert,2 Alexander, 1) b. Sept 13. 1836; went to Boston, 1859; in teaming and livery business till 1879; bought and carried on the grist mill at West Barnet, till 1882; went back to his old bus. in Boston; ret. to R. 1890 and bought of Robert Nelson, "Long Meadow Farm," on Connecticut river formerly called the " An- drew Warden tavern stand." He in, Sept. 29, 1874, Ibbie Jean, dau. Robert Nelson.


Children :


i. Blanche Nelson,4 b. Dorchester, Mass., July 6. 1875 ; m. J. R. W. Beattie, q. v.


ii. Archibald Robert,4 b. W. Barnet, Sept. 19, 1880; d. Concord, N. H., Dec. 30, 1902, from injuries received in the employ of the B. & M. R. R.


441


GENEALOGY-MILLER.


MILLER.


EDWARD MILLER FAMILY .*


This family came from Erskine parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland, where the Millers have lived for four hundred years or more and were farmers there. The first ancestor whose name is certainly known was John Miller, b. about 1650. Isabel. dau. of this John Miller was grand- mother to Jean Stewart (b. 1734; d. 1826) who m. William Neilson, one of the first settlers of Ryegate. From her the name Isabel has been handed down in both Miller and Nelson families.


Il. DAVID, son of John Miller, b. about 1680. Of him very little is known.


HII. WILLIAM, son of David, b. about 1714; he had sons William and Mat- thew, perhaps others.


IV. WILLIAM, son of William, b. Erskine parish, 1747; was reared in Ber- scute and m. 1775, Jennett, dau. Edward Hill. The name Edward came into the family by him. The Hills were gardeners by occupa- tion. Jennett Hill was b. in Paisley, 1747 and d. Feb. 23, 1840.


Their children were :


i. William, b. 1776; m. Jean Holmes and had sons .- William, b. 1806; James, b. 1808; John b. 1812.


ii. Edward, d. young.


iii. Edward, b. Jan. 1, 1780, q. v.


iv. Agnes, b. 1783; m. William Holmes and had children -George, b. 1819; William. b. 1822; Agnes, b. 1825.


Margaret, b. 1786. d. y.


vi. Jennet, b. 1789; m. David Miller as 2d w. They had a dau. Jennet, who" m. David Taylor of Kilmalcolm parish.


EDWARD,1 Miller b. Hadochstone, Erskine parish, Jan. 1, 1780; lived in that parish till after he was 16, then in North Glen 24 years; left Scot- land April 10, 1820, was six weeks on the voyage, landing at Quebec ; came via Montreal, Burlington and Montpelier, arriving in Ryegate, July 9, 1820. John Barr came with him from Scotland. He bought the Craig farm and the Harvey farm of John Cameron. The former is now owned by Charles E. F. Miller. He m. June 5. 1822, by Rev. David Goodwillie. Isabel, dan. Hugh Gardner, q. v. In 1831, he bought the Allan Stewart farm of William Harvey. Toward the end of his life he was a cripple from rheumatism. In per. on he was large and tall, and his features, according to Hon. Robert Harvey, greatly resembled Lafayette In Scotland he was a Free Mason. In Ryegate he joined the Associate Pres. ch. 1823, and continued in that relation. He d April 29, 1865. His wife possessed great energy, decision and endurance. Her father d. when she was 20 years old, and she carried on for seven years after his death the farm now owned by John H. Nelson caring for her invalid mother, taking her to church on the Sab- bath with an ox team. She carried on her father's farm, mowing by hand, and generally taking a man's place in the field. After marriage she not only took care of her house but wove and made by hand most of the clothes for the family. Member of the U. P. ch. 65 yrs. She was b. April 12, 1795 and d. Oct. 30, 1878. The genealogy of this family is computed from Edward Miller, Sr., and except where noted all births, marriages and deaths were in Ryegate and burials in Blue Mountain Cemetery.


Children :


1


i. William, 2 b. Feb. 14, 1813.


ii. Hannah,2 b. May 25. 1824; m. John Gibson, q. v.


2 iii. Edward,2 b. March 16, 1826.


* The earlier part is from information given in 1860 by Edward Miller, Sr., to Edward Miller, Jr.


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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.


3 iv. Hugh G.,2 b. Oct. 3, 1827.


4 v. John,2 b. April 20, 1829.


5 vi. James,2 b June 10, 1831.


vii. Mary Jennet,2 b. April 28. 1833; d. May 16, 1854.


viii. George A.,2 b. Nov. 26, 1834.


1 WILLIAM,2 (Edward, 1) b. Feb. 14, 1823; farmer on the Craig farin; mem. with his wife of the United Pres. ch , and a highly esteemed man. He m. by Rev. J. McArthur, July 13, 1852, Emily, dau. James and Elizabeth [Gibson] Warden (b. Barnet, Ang. 2, 1819; d. Nov. 3, 1859.) He d. Nov. 10, 1863.


Children :


i. James Renwick, 3 b. April 3, 1853; attended l'eacham Academy ; rem. to Clarinda, Iowa, and m. there April, 1876 Mary Elizabeth Berry, who d. Feb. 6, 1897 ; farmer.


ii. Charles Edward Fremont,3 b. Feb. 17, 1857; farmer, owning the Craig farm and other property. Ile 111. 1st, Oet. 7, 1898 Mrs. Effie [Clough] Rolfe. 2d, Nov. 18, 1903, Mrs. Ida May Hook, dau. of George and Mary [Rollins] Otis of Newbury.


EDWARD,2 (Edward, 1) b. March 16, 1826; com. sch. edu. and Newbury Sem- inary; taught winter school nine years with marked success. (See chapter on Education.) He mn. March 18, 1852, Eliza, dau. John Gates (b. June 29, 1830; d. July 16, 1898). Her parents being dead, at 11 yrs. of age, she went to live with her unele, James Dutin, in the n. e. part of Groton, and worked in the field the greater part of the time till she eame of age. She joined the Covenanter ch. July 5, 1849, and changed to the U. P. ch. atter marriage. "She was personally at- tractive, and possessed in full measure all the gentler qualities of mind and heart." They settled on the farm n. of Blue Mountain, where T. A. Meader now lives ; rem. 1855 to Pickwick, Minn., intending to set- tle there; ret. to Ryegate the next spring, and bought the Nicholas White farm, on which he lived 10 years then bought the Alexander Mil- ler farm on which he spent the rest of his life, erecting the present house in 1875. Supt. of schools, three yrs., town auditor 20 yrs., making the town report 14 yrs., census taker and lister; town repre- sentative 1874-5, being the first man from R. in 20 yrs. to introduce a bill, it being one requiring all suits at law involving less than $30 to be settled by arbitration. For the invaluable service he rendered in collecting the annals of Ryegate and its families, see the introduction to this volume. No one since General Whitelaw knew so well the plan of the town. its surveys, bounds and divisions, and as a land surveyor he was the main dependence of his townsinen. Correspondent for the Vt. Union and other papers, many years. Few men ever knew a town as minutely as he did Ryegate and its people. Joined the Asso. Pres. ch., Oct. 7, 1852 ; chosen elder but declined to serve. He was a great reader, taking special interest in history, local and general and came to be regarded as pre-eminently the historian of his town. He d. Feb. 15, 1900. He taught his children to fear God, get the best education possible, and never be afraid of work.


Children :


i. Jane,3 ( Jennie) b. Feh. 3, 1853; edu. at Groton High School; teacher a number of years; attendent in various hospitals for the insane. She 111. Worcester, Mass., Feb. 19, 1879. Duncan MeKeith Corliss gt. gr. son of Thomas MeKeith, one of the 1st settlers of Ryegate (b. New- bury, Jan. 20 1847 ; policeman in Boston, and offieer in House of Correction ; settled in Piermont, N. H .; rem. to R., where he d. Nov. 27, 1900.) .She d. Feb. 26, 1896. Ch. (1) George Clement,4 [Cor- liss| b. Jan. 16, 1880; m. Sept. 4 1902, Lillie Jane, dau. John H. Symes; farmer on the "Doe place," Dist. No. 1. Mem. U. P. ch. He d. May 13, 1905. (2) Edward Miller, 1 [Corliss] b. Oct. 13, 1885;


EDWARD MILLER, SR.


MRS. ISABEL GARDNER MILLER.


ELIZA GATES MILLER.


WILLIAM MILLER.


THE NE V YORK DOULIC LIBRARY


IN POSTTATIONS.


443


GENEALOGY-MILLER.


edu. St. Johnsbury Acad., grad. Ontario Veterinary College, 1907 with degree of V. S .; in practice at Plymouth. N. H. Member of U. P. ch.


ii. John Martin,3 b. Feb. 24, 1855; attended St. Johnsbury Academy, rank- ing among the highest of his class; taught several winters; farmer and miner in California and Arizona, 1878-'84; farmer for a number of years with his bro. Hermon, then bought the Page place at the Corner and res. there. Member of U. P. ch.


iii. Roselle,3 b. April 11. 1857; attended Peacham Acad .; m. 1st, Nov. 26, 1878, James Madison Boyce of Belmont, N. Y .; farmer (b. Belmont, Oct. 10, 1851). Rem. to Monroe N. H., where he d. Aug. 10, 1904. One ch. Harlan Holmes,4 [Boyce] b. Behinont, Aug. 13, 1881 ; d. Mon- roe, July 30, 1899. She m. 2d, Oct. 25, 1903. Isaiah Frost Page (b. Groton. Vt., Feb. 3, 1851 ; grad. Eastman Bus. Coll .; merchant. post- master. town clerk and treasurer.) Hed. April 24, 1911 ; bur. Melu- does. Members U. P. ch., Ryegate.


iv. Annie Margaret,3 b. Sept. 17, 1859; attended Peacham Acad .; teacher ; m. 1st, May 21, 1878, Wesson Griggs Holmes, q. v .. of Barnet. He d. May 8, 1880. One ch., Philip Alexander, + b. B. April 4. 1879 ; d. May 7, 1881. She lived in Barnet. Matron two yrs. at Deer Island, Mass ; grad. 1887 at the training school for nurses connected with the Mass. Gen Hospital; trained nurse till she m. 2d April 30. 1890, Wilbur Fisk Eastman of No. Haverhill, N. H. (b Haverhill, Oct. 20, 1851 mem. I O. O. F. and S. A. R ) Member successively, U. P. ch., Rve- gate, Congregational ch. Barnet, M. E ch. No. Haverhill. Ch. Wilbur Fisk, + [Eastman] b. Haverhill, May 21, 1893; student in High Sch. Member MI. E. ch.


V. Isabel, 3 b. March 9, 1862 ; attended Peacham Acad., lived with parents. Member U. P. ch ; d. May 31, 1898.


Hermon, 3 b Jan 22; 1864 ; attended Peacham Academy ; farmer and at- tendant in hospitals for insane at Taunton and Northampton, Mass. He m. Taunton, Mass., May 30, 1887, Alice Abbie, dau Benj. F. and Abbie A. [Robinson] Simmons of Appleton, Me. (b A. Sept. 25, 1864. ) Members with their chil. of the U. P. Ch. Bought the original General Whitelaw farm where he res. and calls Sunnyside Farm. Ch. Twin daus. b. May 16, 1894. (1) Mabel Alice,4 grad. 1911 in Wells River High Sch .; now in Middlebury Coll. (2) Maude Eliza, 4 d. May 4, 1908.


vii. Edward Sherman,3. b. Feb. 13, 1866. Fitted for college at Peacham and St. Johnsbury Acad .; attended Monmouth (Ill.) Coll. and Harvard Univ, each one year; grad Dartmouth Coll., 1893, A. M , in 1896; teacher in ungraded and high schools in Vt. and N. H .; studied one year in Medical and Dental Department, Univ. of Colorado; grad. 1900 from Dental Department, Univ. of Maryland with degree of D. D. S. In practice, Woodsville, N. H. Ad. April 29, 1905. to N. H. Soc. S. A. R. by descent from Josiah Gates, q. v. Member of State Dental Soc. Hem. June 26, 1901, Edith Bethia, dau Wm. F. and Phebe [Somers] Gibson (b. R. March 25, 1865). Members U. P. ch .. Rye- gate. Children all born at Woodsville. (1) Annie Bernice, + b. July 6. 1902; d. July 14. 1902. (2) Edward Gibson, & b.Oct. 10, 1904. (3) Carmen Edith, 4 b. March 5, 1907 ; d. July 7, 1907. (4) Elmer Sum- ner Gordon,+ b. Nov. 13, 1911.


viii. Mary [Maude] Ellen, 3 b. Jan. 20, 1868; ed. Peacham and St. Johnsbury Acad's; teacher in R. and other towns; purchased the homestead, and res. there. She m. 1st, June 28, 1873, Abram E. Low, q. v. 2d, Oct. 25, 1895, Matthew Cyrus Holmes, q. v. Both members of U. P. ch.


ix. Hugh Burton, 3 b. Jan. 27, 1871 ; ed. Peacham and St. Johnsbury Acad's; went to Colorado for his health and d at Denver, April 26, 1896; bur. at R. Mem. U. P. ch.


x. Infant. twin to above; d. Jan. 28, 1871.


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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.


xi. Elmer Manton, 3 b. Feb. 25, 1873; grad. St. Johnsbury Acad., 1894, Fres. of class; teacher in public schools, Ryegate, and Groveton, N. 11., where at the risk of his life he saved from drowning an unruly boy who had, contrary to orders, gone upon the ice in the river and broken through. Studied medicine Dartmouth M. S., grad. at Baltimore Med. Coll., 1898. Mem. Phi Chi Soc. In practice, Woodsville, N. H , also a house officer of Cottage Hospital. Mem. of U. P. ch., I. O. O. F., F. A. and A. M., White Mt. Med. Soc., and Am. Med. Ass. Town rep. from Haverhill, 1909-'10. He m. in Boston, June 22, 1898, Lillian Estelle, dau Thos. and Elizabeth M. [Roddick] Ray, b. Nova Scotia, Jan. 15, 1874; edu. Barton High Schools. She is an accomplished musician.


3 HUGH GARDNER,2 (Edward 1) b. Oct. 3, 1827; attended Peacham Acad .; farmer and in younger days a schoolmaster, often having 40 to 60 pupils ; held several town offices, and was held in high esteem. He in. by Rev. James McArthur, Jan. 10, 1856, Margaret Helen, dau. Robert Gibson, 2d (b. Aug. 22, 1822; d. Jan. 11, 1892). She joined the Ass. Pres. ch. Dec. 18, 1841 ; and he joined it Sept. 26, 1854; Elder, till death, Oct. 11, 1856. He d. Aug. 10, 1896.


4 JOHN,2 (Edward,1) b. April 20, 1829; went to California in Feb. 1852 : stopped at Rio de Janeiro where several of the company contracted yellow fever, and 13 died; reached San Francisco July 19, 1852 ; min- ing on American river, Poker Flat and Marysville; ret. to Vt. 1855; went to Cal. again 1860. and was in the butcher and drover business ceve al years ; ret. to Ryegate and made his home with his bro. Hugh. He accumulated a large property ; never m .; d. Dec. 20, 1904 He held several town offices and was a very genial man, esteemed for his good sense, upright character, and even disposition. A tireless worker.


5 JAMES, 2 ( Edward, 1) b June 11, 1831 ; in coasting trade between Bangor. Me. and Alexandria, Va , several years before the civil war; farmer on homestead 1866, till d Feb. 13, 1890, taking care of his mother in her old age. He in. Newbury. by Rev S. L. Eastman, March 20, 1872. Elizabeth E., dau. Philip C .. and Christian [Chalmers] Tuxbury (b. Newbury, Aug. 28, 1848.) Mem. of Cong. ch., Newbury. After his death she rem. 1895 to Newbury Vil. to educate her chil and in 1903 to W. Newbury with her two youngest sons, who bought the "Old Prescott Place," and two other farms, which they call "Lake and Mountain View Farm." This farm overlooks Hall's Pond and the surrounding country and has a fine prospect of the White and Fran- conia Mts.


Children :


i. Clarence Edwin,3 b. Jan. 10, 1873; farmer on homestead till fall of 1902; bought a farm in Bath, which he ex. 1906 for the grist mill at Wells River where he remains. He m. March 6, 1894, Alma J., dau. Moses H. Randall of Boltonville. Members of Cong. ch. Wells River. Ch. (1) Clarence Merton,4 b. Ryegate, Aug. 15, 1895. (2) Annie Eliza- beth,4 b. Rvegate, Feb. 5, 1898. (3) Isabel Randall.+ b. Rvegate, May 5, 1900. (4) Harold Albert,+ 1). Bath, Feb. 12, 1904. (5) Irwin Dwight, + 1). Bath, Oct. 1, 1905. (6) Bertram Nelson, 4 b. Wells River Feb. 14. 1908.


ii. John Henry,3 b. Feb. 23, 1879; edu. Montpelier Seminary, and a four yrs. course in Med. Dep. Vt. Univ., grad. 1906; studying also in a hos- pital in N. Y. City and in Victoria Hospital at Montreal; in practice at Wallingford. Vt. He m. in Burlington, Vt .. Sept. 19, 1907. Jessie L .; dau. Robert Campbell of B. Ch. (1) Marion Gertrude, 4 b. W .. Feb. 14, 1909. (2) John Henry.4 b. March 8, 1911.


iii. James Currier, 3 b. Feb. 8, 1888; edu Newbury and Montpelier Sem .. Bus Course at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He mn. at Chicago, Ill., Oct. 25, 1911,


THE MILLER BROTHERS.


1. JAMES MILLER. 2. GEO. MILLER.


3. JOHN MILLER. 4. HUGH G. MILLER. 5. EDWARD MILLER.


Lowe.


THE EDWARD MILLER HOMESTEAD, BUILT IN 1806.


THE NEW YORK PU 4 LIBRAS


١


445


GENEALOGY-MILLER.


Annabel, dau. Win. H., and Nellie May [Bowen] Kendrick of New- bury ; gr. dan of John Kendrick and of Albert A. Bowen.


iv. George Hugh,3 b. June 1, 1882 ; farmer with his brother. He in. Jan. 1, 1907 Ellen Robatena, dau. Geo. A. and Isabel [Buchanan] Johnson of Piermont, N. H., and gt. gr. dau. of Col. Thomas Johnson of New- bury. Ch. Elizabeth Mary,4 b. N. Sept. 8, 1908.


v. Christina,3 b. Nov. 14, 1886; d. Sept. 7, 1887.


GEORGE ALEXANDER,2 (Edward,1) b. Nov. 26, 1834; rem. 1866 to Clarinda, Iowa; farmer there. He in. Sept. 1, 1867, Rosanna Logan Toner of C. Member of U. P. ch. Shed. May 5, 1905; bur. Covenanter cem., Harlan.


Children all b. in Clarinda except the 1st. Twod y.


i. Georgianna A ,3 edu at Newbury Sem .; teacher; m. Ellsworth Arthur of Topsham. Members of Baptist ch., Groton. Ch. (1) Leslie E ,4 [Arthur] b. July 8, 1885; emp. by Swift & Co., Exeter, N. H. (2) Winifred,4 b. Jan 3, 1887. (3) Grace J.,+ b. March 18, 1888. (4) Alexander C.,+ b. Feb. 1, 1900. (5) Lee,+ b. Aug. 28, 1901.


ii. Edward Thomas,3 b. Jan. 24, 1870; farmer; m. at College Springs, Iowa, Dec. 4, 1889, Clara Ella Wilkie, who d. Clarinda, 1906; bur. Covenanter cem. Ch. Gladys,+ Rosa.+ Warren,4 Mary,+ Bessie,+ Edgar, + and an infant son.


iii. Bell Elizabeth,3 b. Sept. 18, 1872; m. Edward Dunn of Clarinda. Sev- eral chil.


The six sons of Edward Miller, Senior, were men of marked individuality, who made a strong impression upon their generation in this town. They were men not to be swerved from what they thought right to do, but were genial, liberal, worthy of their ancestry.


MILLIGAN.


REV. JAMES MILLIGAN, b. Dalmellington, Ayrshire, Scotland, Aug. 7, 1785; d. at the home of his second son at Southfield, Mich., of typhoid pneumonia, Jan. 2, 1862. His parents were John Milliken and Mar- garet Milligan, his wife, who lived and died on the banks of Loch Doon. According to the custom of the time and place the wife re- tained her family or clan name. John Milliken died when his children were too young to remember him, and as their mother was known as Margaret Milligan, the sons adopted her name. James Milligan came to America at the age of 17 with emigrants who settled in Pa. He entered Jefferson College, graduating 1809, taught in an academy, and supplied vacant churches for a few years; was ordained and settled in Coldenham, N. Y. ; came to Ryegate in the fall of 1816, was installed over the Ref. Pres. congregation Sept. 26, 1817, and resigned his charge May 17, 1839. He was pastor of Covenanting congregations successively at New Alexandria, Pa., and Eden, Ill., until old age. For a more complete account of his ministry here see Chap. XIV. It is the united testimony of his contemporaries that Mr. Milligan was a man of extraordinary power in the pulpit. His frame was large, his features dark and strongly outlined, his voice powerful and well modulated. His sermons abounded in metaphor. and were frequently illumined by outbursts of fine declamation ; lie exercised a singular fascination over his audience, and held its close at- tention for hours at a time. Mr. Milligan was a fine classical student, and was considered the best Hebrew scholar in this part of the coun- try. His theology was uncompromising in its Calvinism, in his preach- ing and in his life he would be at this day considered severe. In person he resembled Daniel Webster so much that he was often mistaken for that eminent statesman. He is usually spoken of as "Priest." Milli- gan. This adjective was, in earlier days, sometimes applied to a Prot-


6


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HISTORY OF RYEGATE, VERMONT.


estant minister whose eminent ability long exercised in one commun- ity, gave him an intellectual dictatorship. Rev. David Sutherland of Bath and Rev. Silas McKeen of Bradford are thus often designated. It is significant that two of these were natives of Scotland, and the third was of Scotch ancestry. Mr. Milligan's Sabbath services, being confined to the small group of Covenanting churches in this vicinity, cansed him to be less generally known than the other two. He was one of the earliest abolitionists, his denunciations of slavery were un- compromising. His convictions were strong and he was unyielding in his views of right and wrong. As the record shows he was, in many particulars, in advance of his age, and was considered by the conserva- tive wing of the Covenanters as a dangerous innovator. The degree of D. D was conferred upon him by Jefferson Coll .; his three sons and several of his gr. sons received the same title. The descendants of Rev. James Milligan are a remarkable body of people, taking rank among the first citizens of every place where their lot has been cast. His talents, inherited by his children, were transmitted to their descend- ants, and with them the curious fact that his handwriting can hardly be distinguished from that of his sons and several of his grandsons. This unusual family seemed to justify a particular account in this vol- ume, and in preparing their record the editor acknowledges the kind assistance of Revs. J. S. T., and E. M. Milligan. Prof. W. M. Sloane, President Blanchard of Wheaton Coll , Rev. N. R. Johnson, and Rev. D. C. Faris. Mr. Milligan purchased and lived for two years on the farm which had been that of Rev. Wm. Gibson; in 1819 he sold it to John Hall, and bought at the Four Corners in the Park neighborhood, where the road from So Rvegate to Peacham crosses that from the Corner to Groton. The cellar of the house is on the left hand going north. This farm was sold to Robert Dickson, Sr., who sold it to Coburn & Newton, it later became the property of Wm. N. Gibson. whose son Charles owns it now; about 1880 the house was taken down. the frame removed to So Ryegate, and stands opposite the railroad station, a building owned and used for a storehouse by Wm. Terry. So says Mr. John Gates. He m. 1821, Mary dau. of Elder Robert Trumbull, a Scotchman from Galloway, Scotland, who de- serted from the British army and joined the American army, settling finally at Craftsbury, Vt. Mr. Trumbull m. Lucy Babcock of May- flower stock and their dau Mrs. Milligan, b. 1790, was the first white child b. in Orleans Co. She d. at New Alexandria, Pa., May 30, 1856 Children all born in Ryegate :


I. ALEXANDER MCLEOD,2 b. April 6, 1822. 1


2 II. MARGARET,2 b. March, 1824.


3 III. JAMES SAURIN TURRETIN, 2 b. Ang. 26, 1826.


4 IV. JOHN CALVIN KNOX,2 b. Feb. 1, 1829.


V. ROBERT.2 b. 1833 ; d New Alexandria, Pa., 1843.


VI. ARTSON 2 b. 1835, d. 1837.


1 ALEXANDER MCLEOD,2 ( James, 1) b. April 6, 1822 ; learned to read at the age of two; his father began to teach him Hebrew when he was four years old, he had read the bible in Hebrew, and the Testament in Greek before he was 13. Attended Craftsbury Acad. several terms ; rem, with parents to Pa .. 1839; entered Western Univ. of Pa., 1841; trouble arose in the college, and some of the professors organized a new institution called Duquesne Coll., from which he grad. 1843; studied theology in the Ref. Pres. Theo. Sem. at Allegheny, Pa .. under Rev. Jas. R. Wilson ; grad. 1847 ; licensed by Pittsburgh Pres. April 14, 1847 ; ord. and ins. pastor of ch. at New Alexandria, Pa., Nov. 23, 1848; res. 1853; 3d Ref. Pres. ch. Philadelphia, 1853-'56; New Alex- andria, Clarksburg and Greensburg, Pa , 1856-'66; ins. over Eighth St. Pittsburgh congregation May 14, 1866; preached his last sermon


-


REV. JAMES MILLIGAN.


REV. A. M. MILLIGAN.


REV. J. S. MILLIGAN.


REV. J. C. K. MILLIGAN.


COVENANTERS.



447


GENEALOGY-MILLIGAN.


in New York City, March 9, 1884; went to Oakland, Cal., in fall of 1884, and returning d. May 7, 1885 on train in Wyoming, Ter., and was bur. at Pittsburgh, May 14, 1885. He was very prominent in the anti-slavery movement and was very violently assailed, twice burnt in effigy, twice assaulted by mobs and narrowly escaped with his life. Ile wrote a letter to John Brown while the latter was in jail at Charlestown. Va., which was answered by him the night before his execution. Rev. N. R. Johnston, once pastor of the Ref. Pres. ch. at Topsham, in "Looking Back from the Sunset Land," has much to say of Mr. Milligan. Rec degree of D. D., from Jefferson Coll., Canons- burg, Pa., in 1872. A memorial volume was published after his death. He m. 1st, in 1847, Ellen, dau. Hon. John Snodgrass of New Alexan- dria, who d. 1868. 2d, 1872, a Aliss Stewart of the same place.




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