The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
John/Johannes Miller was born December 5, 1763. The location of his birth is cannot be known with absolute certainty, DAR records record him being born in Rowan County, NC. However, in the 1880 federal census record of his daughter “Polly” Huffman in Catawba Co, NC, records that her father was born in Germany. In addition, the parents of John Miller have not been clearly proven, some old DAR records have him as a grandson of the Patriot soldier Wendell Miller of Rowan County and a son of Frederick Miller, however the DAR has flagged issues with this line.
According to local 19th century family historians, John Miller would make his home on the headwaters of Lile’s Creek near the St. Stephen’s Lutheran Churches. John Miller’s occupation was that of a Cattle Trader & Butcher near Salisbury. Through this occupation he would soon meet his wife, Christina Bolick. Apparently, Christina’s father, Jacob Bolick, would have a large quantity of cattle that John Miller would travel to purchase. By the 3rd visit, John Miller would marry Christina. According to DAR records, their marriage would take place July 6, 1794 in Rowan County, NC.
J.T. Miller, a g-grandson would write that John Miller, was captured by Tories as a young boy and they hung him several times in an attempt to find his brother. He stated that John Miller was known as “Cow” Miller and was said to have remarkable strength and a prolific deer hunter.
John Miller’s name can be found listed on the Roster of the NC Continental Troops, serving as a Private in Capt. Bradley’s 10th Regiment. Enlisting the 30th of June 1779 for a duration of 18 months. There is very little information regarding the history of the 10th Regiment. The Regiment was organized in the Spring of 1777 and disbanded at Valley Forge on June 1, 1778, apparently to the amount of disarray inside the Regiment led by Abraham Shepard. Should also be noted that there is another Pvt. John Miller listed in the 10th NC, serving under Capt. Jarvis for the period of May 1777 and discharged Sept. 1778, this is very likely the same John Miller that later served under Capt. Bradley.
John Miller can be found quite often in the early records of St. John’s Lutheran in present day Conover, Catawba County, NC. His name is actually found on the first missionary trip to “Der Saut Fark” by Lutheran Minister & Patriot John Godfrey Arends in 1776, which was likely a confirmation class. In 1820, Rev. David Henkel, would have afternoon preaching services at the Miller home, which later led to the founding of Miller’s Lutheran on Springs Road in Hickory, NC. John Miller would pass away March 24, 1828 and was buried at St. John’s Lutheran.
John Miller Sr. wrote his will May 20th 1827, wife Christina, Daniel, Ephraim, Sally Yount, Caty Yount, Elizabeth Ikerd, Christina, Polly, Frederick, & David. Several children not mentioned in the will; Frances, John, Joseph, & Jacob.
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