I've seen this message on two lists, at least twice per list, maybe more. Why does the researcher post the same query over & over. I'm researching Jacob MILLER & wife Margaret nee MILLER who lived near Linville & Smith Creeks on the W. side of Massanutten Mtn. They also had a son Christian. If you have any "Christina Miller" documents left over, please share. Donna > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: [VAROCKIN] Family of Jacob MILLER and "padding" of importation lists > Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 12:09:44 -0400 > From: "Joseph J. Messersmith, Jr." <jjsmith@mnsinc.com> > To: VAROCKIN-L@rootsweb.com > > I can tract my lineage to Christian MILLER who died in 1778 in Rockingham > County, VA. Another researcher indicates that Christian was the son of > Jacob and Catherine MILLER who came to what is now Rockingham County from > PA. > > On 15 Dec 1733, 5,000 acres in Spotsylvania County, VA was patented to > Jacob STOVER. From the legal description, it appears the land is located > in present-day Rockingham County along the South Fork of the Shenandoah > River to the south of Elkton. This is the area where the family of my > Christian MILLER lived. > > The patent was contingent upon Jacob STOVER importing 100 people to live in > Virginia (not the exact words). The patent lists exactly 100 people by > name, who appear to comprise seven families (i.e., five different surname). > Each family starts with a male and female (presumably husband and wife), > followed by male and female names grouped in that order (presumably > children of the first two). In any event, the first couple listed is Jacob > and Catherine MILLER. The males listed following them are: Abraham, > Christian, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Mathew. The female names are: Sarah, > Catherine, Ann, Susannah, Barbary, Dorothy, and Rachel. This totals 15 for > the family, including the parents. The second family MIRE had 28 people, > but these appear to be two families with the same surname, based on the way > the names are listed. > > I feel that more than likely the actual list of names was "padded" by Jacob > STOVER so he could claim the 100 needed to quality for the patent. I say > this because the chances of recruiting 7 families having exactly 100 people > are small. Also, some names appear in every family or almost every family. > For example, I looked at the male names only and every family had a son > named Isaac, all but one had sons named Jacob and John, and five had a son > named Joseph. > > Now back to the Jacob MILLER family. If Jacob and Catherine did have 13 > children (by 1733), and each child was spaced at two-year intervals, that > means they had been married at least 25 years (2x12=24+1=25). If there was > an average of only 18 months between children, that still means they had to > be married about 19 years (12x1.5=18+1=19). This does not allow for any > dead children, miscarriages, children already married and gone their own > way, etc. > > I am interested in learning if anyone else has seen evidence of "padding" > of persons to be imported in order to quality for a patent. Also, I am > interested in learning of any information on the family of Jacob and > Catherine MILLER, and particularly their son Christian. > > Jim Messersmith > Rockville, VA -- °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°` Every time I find an ancestor I need to find two more! °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`

I can tract my lineage to Christian MILLER who died in 1778 in Rockingham County, VA. Another researcher indicates that Christian was the son of Jacob and Catherine MILLER who came to what is now Rockingham County from PA. On 15 Dec 1733, 5,000 acres in Spotsylvania County, VA was patented to Jacob STOVER. From the legal description, it appears the land is located in present-day Rockingham County along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River to the south of Elkton. This is the area where the family of my Christian MILLER lived. The patent was contingent upon Jacob STOVER importing 100 people to live in Virginia (not the exact words). The patent lists exactly 100 people by name, who appear to comprise seven families (i.e., five different surname). Each family starts with a male and female (presumably husband and wife), followed by male and female names grouped in that order (presumably children of the first two). In any event, the first couple listed is Jacob and Catherine MILLER. The males listed following them are: Abraham, Christian, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Mathew. The female names are: Sarah, Catherine, Ann, Susannah, Barbary, Dorothy, and Rachel. This totals 15 for the family, including the parents. The second family MIRE had 28 people, but these appear to be two families with the same surname, based on the way the names are listed. I feel that more than likely the actual list of names was "padded" by Jacob STOVER so he could claim the 100 needed to quality for the patent. I say this because the chances of recruiting 7 families having exactly 100 people are small. Also, some names appear in every family or almost every family. For example, I looked at the male names only and every family had a son named Isaac, all but one had sons named Jacob and John, and five had a son named Joseph. Now back to the Jacob MILLER family. If Jacob and Catherine did have 13 children (by 1733), and each child was spaced at two-year intervals, that means they had been married at least 25 years (2x12=24+1=25). If there was an average of only 18 months between children, that still means they had to be married about 19 years (12x1.5=18+1=19). This does not allow for any dead children, miscarriages, children already married and gone their own way, etc. I am interested in learning if anyone else has seen evidence of "padding" of persons to be imported in order to quality for a patent. Also, I am interested in learning of any information on the family of Jacob and Catherine MILLER, and particularly their son Christian. Jim Messersmith Rockville, VA

In a message dated 04/07/2000 9:15:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time, willburn@earthlink.net writes: << I would love to hear from anyone with information on the Bland, Rabourn, West, and/or Ham families of Rockingham, later Greenbriar, in the mid to late 1700s. All help greatly appreciated. Specifically, I am seeking a marriage record, perhaps late 1770s or early 1780s, for William West. Thank you. Pansylea >> I have a Lucy Ham, born about 1790 who married Thomas Shifflett/Shiflet/Shiflett (however else it is spelled). I have no other information on Lucy, though. I know that Thomas died in 1855 in Rockingham Co., and he was a farmer and a War of 1812 Vet. Diana Fitzsimons

I would love to hear from anyone with information on the Bland, Rabourn, West, and/or Ham families of Rockingham, later Greenbriar, in the mid to late 1700s. All help greatly appreciated. Specifically, I am seeking a marriage record, perhaps late 1770s or early 1780s, for William West. Thank you. Pansylea

Hi June: Although you may already know this, I found Wolf Run on my VDOT map of Rockingham County. It starts in the Blue Ridge Mountains east of Elkton and flows westward where it empties into Elk Run about 2 miles east of Elkton. Elk Run then flows through Elkton and empties into the Shenandoah River. In looking at my VDOT map of Page County (Page was created in part from Rockingham in 1831), I see a Wolf Run that starts on the western slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains and empties into Stony Run that then empties into Naked Creek, which is the boundary between Rockingham and Page Counties. The Page County Wolf Run is only about 6 or 7 miles from the Rockingham Wolf Run. I also see a Cub Run in Page County flowing along the foot of the eastern slope of the Massanutten Mountain. I do not see a Lick Run or Luck Run in the southern portion of Page County. I am beginning to see why they kept creating new counties. They were running out of names for runs and creeks so in order to avoid having multiple streams with the same name in the same county, they had to create new counties. HA! Just a thought! Jim At 10:12 AM 04/07/2000 -0500, you wrote: >Jim, > I don't know if this has anything to do with your question about Lick Run >or not but thought I would pass it along. > My Everharts had three pieces of property in Eastern Rockingham County in >the 1790s. The grants place them "in the Peaker Mountain" and one of them is >on the West side of Luck, Cub, and Wolf Runs. I have never found "Luck Run" >on a map and was wondering if my Luck Run and your Lick Run might be the same? > > At any rate, I did find Cub Run on a map in Wayland's "Virginia Valley >Records" On it I see that Stoney Run is just north of Cub Run. > Any ideas from anyone will be appreciated. > Thanks June Everheart >

Jim, I don't know if this has anything to do with your question about Lick Run or not but thought I would pass it along. My Everharts had three pieces of property in Eastern Rockingham County in the 1790s. The grants place them "in the Peaker Mountain" and one of them is on the West side of Luck, Cub, and Wolf Runs. I have never found "Luck Run" on a map and was wondering if my Luck Run and your Lick Run might be the same? At any rate, I did find Cub Run on a map in Wayland's "Virginia Valley Records" On it I see that Stoney Run is just north of Cub Run. Any ideas from anyone will be appreciated. Thanks June Everheart "Joseph J. Messersmith, Jr." wrote: > Rockingham Rooters: > > While reviewing a 1763 patent for land in what is now eastern Rockingham > County, Lick Run is mentioned in the description of the land. I cannot > find Lick Run on the present road map of Rockingham County issued by the > Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). > > It seems to me that in the past I have seen at least one description > referring to a Stony Lick Run, and from that I have assumed that Lick Run > is the same as Stony Run. Stony Run is shown on the VDOT map and flows > from NW to SE through McGaheysville and empties into the South Fork of the > Shenandoah River about 2.5 miles SE of downtown (grin) McGaheysville. > > I will appreciate help in trying to determine the location of Lick Run or > the present name of it. > > Thanks. > > Jim Messersmith

Rockingham Rooters: While reviewing a 1763 patent for land in what is now eastern Rockingham County, Lick Run is mentioned in the description of the land. I cannot find Lick Run on the present road map of Rockingham County issued by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). It seems to me that in the past I have seen at least one description referring to a Stony Lick Run, and from that I have assumed that Lick Run is the same as Stony Run. Stony Run is shown on the VDOT map and flows from NW to SE through McGaheysville and empties into the South Fork of the Shenandoah River about 2.5 miles SE of downtown (grin) McGaheysville. I will appreciate help in trying to determine the location of Lick Run or the present name of it. Thanks. Jim Messersmith

Dear Pat, I am from Rockingham County & during the mid 1950's Julius Ritchie was the Chief of Police in Harrisonburg. I am in contact with a friend of his who loves anything related to family history....may I ask my friend questions for you? If so probably better to email me privately. There is a picture of Julius Ritchie (front page, late spring 1956 or 57) with my brother, Phillip, who had slipped away from the babysitter in search of me & my brother who were in school. If you acquire this photo I would like to have a copy & I'll let you know if I come across a copy. Hadn't thought of that in years. Thanks for jogging my memory. My Aunt Kate (Frances Catherine HILL b. 1885, d. 1967, m. John Benjamin Ritchie, m. Charlie Ritchie. Not sure which was 1st & suspect they were brothers. Hope something here helps, Brenda Wilmington, DE

Would anybody having information on Haney, please contact me. Diana

Hello List, I hope someone who reads this may have some of these names in Their Line and we can share info. Thanks in Advance, Pat Charles Henry Shifflett married Minnie T. Holloway 11/1907 they had: Jesse, Louise, Wm. Charles, Millard, Earman,Lloyd, Hazel, Arlene, Clementine, Preston(Max and Leslie. Jesse Shifflett married Nellie Lee Williams from Green Co. her Parents were: Willie Dirk (Dereck) Williams and Virgie (Virginia) Geer (Gear) they had : Nellie, Lula, Mae, Lucille, Robert and Elsie. Elsie was married to Dee Ritchie, I understand they had no children but, his Father was some sort of Deputy Sheriff or Policeman in Rock. Co.

Hi again, I am reminded, by the replies that I have received, that there was another church on Smith's Creek besides the Smith's Creek Baptist Church. It was called the "Smith's Creek Meeting House" and was, also, near Timberville. The Smith's Creek Meeting House was a Friends (i.e. "Quaker") church and some of it's records have survived. You can read them in: William W. Henshaw's, "American Quaker Genealogy", Vol. 6, which is available in most genealogy libraries. Being neighbors, of course, there was interaction between the Friends and the Baptists. For example, Margaret Rambo was a daughter of Jacob and Deborah Rambo, of Rockingham County, who attended the Smith's Creek Friends church. On May 19, 1777 she was married (probably at her parent's home) to a Barefoot Runyan (parentage unknown - contrary to some published "genealogy") who was from Shenandoah County and, probably, a Baptist. The minister who performed the marriage was the Rev. John Alderson, Jr. who had been the pastor of the Linville Creek Baptist Church but was in the process of moving to Greenbriar County around the time of the marriage. Norman

I am searching for information of Jesse Frank HUDGINS, a civil war soldier who married in Bridgewater, Mary Washington SMALS, a daughter of Henry SMALS soon after the end of the war. They were the parents of Minnie b. 1869, Harry Clifton b. 1871, R.E.Lee, b. 1873, Hugh Tilden b. 1876, Otis b. 1878, Leona b. 1881, and twins Otho and Osie A. b. Sept 9 1886. Family oral history indicates that Frank died near Grottoes of natural causes in the late 1880's or 1890's. I have traveled to that area but have found no record of his grave or other information. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has information of the HUDGINS or SMALS family. It is of interest that Henry SMALS for many years created a daily diary which, I'm told, is now in the collection of James Madison University Library. Thanks for any help, Don Cliff

Hi, I also wanted to add that the book is aa much about the Craven / Cravens family as it is about the Harrisons. The Cravens family settled the area along with the Harrisons and the two families intermarried for generations. Nancy Cravens Chamberlain Houston

I have created a site for all Virginia researchers to post the families they are researching. To submit your names, E-mail me in the following format. ****************************************************************************** Researching William J. Crawford, 1827 to 1904, Born and died in Rockingham Co., VA. Married: Rebecca Ann Shifflett on Feb. 26, 1850 in Rockingham Co., VA. Children: Sarra E., who married Derret Morris, George W., who married Frances Rodgers, Virginia Ann, who married John W. Sutphin, John Ellis, Joseph E. J., who married (1)Blanch S. Gentry Glenn, (2) Ardeny, Samson, who married Annie E. Haney and Ada Isabel, who married Lewis B. McDonald. Related families in the Rockingham area of VA: Shifflett, Sipe, Self, Mobb, Haney, Miller, Watson, Francisco, Muller, Wood, Davis (NY & VA), Other States: Elfrey (NY), Wilson & Compton (Russell Co, VA), Tobin (NY), Home page: (URL) Email: (URL) ****************************************************************************** You may include notes if you wish. I will copy and paste so make it neat. This note will go to every Virginia mailing list. The list can be found at these sites. <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/vafam2/index.htm">http://members.aol.com/vafa m2/index.htm</A> or <<<<<<<<<<<< <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/crawfordnet/rockingham.htm">http://members.ao l.com/crawfordnet/rockingham.htm</A> <<<<<<< Thanks, MR BOB

Hi all, While writing my notes about the Linville Creek Baptist Church, I realized that some of you would be interested in knowing that there are available records for the Linville Creek's "sister church" at Timberville, which was known as the Smith's Creek Baptist Church. They exist on microfilm at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. I was able to borrow this microfilm on an inter-library loan through my local library. You will need to refer to Accession Number # 20794 and mention, specifically, that it is on microfilm, miscellaneous reel #472. This film covers the time frame of 1779 to 1805. Originally, beginning in 1756, people from Smith's Creek and from Linville Creek had a joint congregation. According to the book "History of Virginia Baptists", a separate Smith's Creek church was formed around 1774-75, from the Linville Creek and the White House Baptist Church (a.k.a. Mill Creek Baptist Church, in what is now Page Co.), with Rev. Anderson Moffett as pastor. I have never seen the complete minutes of the Smith's Creek church in print and I learned a lot about my family by reading this microfilm. It is, mostly, just minutes of the monthly business meetings but those can be useful too. Norman P.S. No, you can't borrow the Linville Creek book, from Richmond, through inter-library loan. I tried.

Hi all, A couple of additional comments: 1: If you don't want to invest in the book, I have found it available in many large city and/or college libraries. 2: For those of you who have been relying on John W. Wayland's book "Virginia Valley Records" for the minutes of the Linville Creek Baptist Church: Wayland does NOT have a complete set of those minutes in his book. The "Grey Trail" book is more difficult to search for the church minutes because they are scattered throughout the book. In it, however, I found the baptism of my g-g-g-grandmother Esther Runyon, which is not in "V.V. Records". Other persons have experienced similar results with their families. 2a: If any of you can get into the Library of Virginia, in Richmond, they have the Linville Creek church records in book form. I am assuming that that is more complete, than either of the above, but I have not had the opportunity to view that book. If any of you do have the chance to do so, please let me know. I have questions about it. 2b: The Linville Creek book, in Richmond, is a copy of a microfilm in the Pennsylvania Genealogy Library in Philadelphia. Just in case any of you are closer to Philadelphia and would like to check it out there. Norman

To everyone who replied to my e-mail....thank you very much! The Akron Library does have the book and now I know where I can purchase the book from. I REALLY appreciate everyone's help! Patti, Delaware, OH

Hi all, What with all the Dove family questions popping up, recently, I think that I will throw out a couple of the many questions that I have on this family. 1: I have a George W. Dove (very common Dove name) who was born ca. 1808. One of Lewis Yankey's books reports that George W. was a son of Aaron Dove. Can anyone confirm that and/or give me George's mother's name? To add additional information on this George W. Dove: He married 4 Sep 1832 to Seporah (Zipporah) Runyon d/o John Runyon, Jr. and Esther Rife. They moved to Ohio around 1833 and died in Monticello, Illinois. 2: I have a William Dove who was born ca. 1805. I don't know the names of his parents. The only things that I do know about him is that he was married to a daughter of Jacob Runyon (her name unknown) and that William & his wife were in Highland County, Ohio in July 1836. Any suggestions? Norman

Patti, I have the book. It is a family history book about the Harrison family but, along the way, it includes a wealth of information about other Shenandoah Valley families. It has been reprinted and is available from the: Southern Historical Press, Inc. P.O. Box 1267 Greenville, SC 29602-1267 Phone: 864-233-2346 Fax: 864-233-2349 Visa/MC Orders Only: 800-233-0152 The book code is "BI 16" and the cost is $45.00 plus $3.50 shipping & handling. In the index, I find the following: "Bowers - Mary, 375; Noah, 375; Phoebe, 375; Solomon, 375" There is, also, a listing for people named Bowyers or Bowyer. Looking at page 375, I find a story about Nathaniel & Mary Harrison which includes the information that their Daughter Phoebe married Noah Bowers on 2 Nov 1809 and their daughter Mary married Solomon Bowers on 6 Oct 1812. Hope this helps. Norman pasmith wrote: > I believe this is my first post to this mailing list. I also subscribe to the Shenandoah County mailing list. > > I am wondering if anyone on this mailing list knows of the subject book by J. Houston Harrison? Is it available for purchase? I saw a post on GenForum that this book has information about the Bowers families in Rockingham Co., VA. > > Thanks! > > Patti, Delaware, OH > > Rockingham County ancestors: Bowers, Looker/Loker/Lokey, Matthews > > Shenandoah County ancestors: Bushong, Fravel, Keller, Hamman, Hottel, Schmucker, Will > > Genealogy Web Page: http://members.xoom.com/pasmith/ancestor.htm

I believe this is my first post to this mailing list. I also subscribe to the Shenandoah County mailing list. I am wondering if anyone on this mailing list knows of the subject book by J. Houston Harrison? Is it available for purchase? I saw a post on GenForum that this book has information about the Bowers families in Rockingham Co., VA. Thanks! Patti, Delaware, OH Rockingham County ancestors: Bowers, Looker/Loker/Lokey, Matthews Shenandoah County ancestors: Bushong, Fravel, Keller, Hamman, Hottel, Schmucker, Will Genealogy Web Page: http://members.xoom.com/pasmith/ancestor.htm