Adam Miller (Pioneer)
Encyclopedia
With residency beginning in 1727, Adam Miller (Mueller) is recognized as the first permanent settler in the Shenandoah Valley
of Virginia
, USA. Born in 1703 in Schriesheim
, Germany, Miller immigrated to America as a young married man, settling in Lancaster County
, PA in 1724.
On a trip through eastern Virginia
, Miller heard reports about a lush Valley to the west which had been discovered by Governor Alexander Spotswood
's legendary Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition
. In 1727, Miller and his wife Barbara moved from Pennsylvania
to Virginia
and staked out a claim on the south fork of the Shenandoah River
, near the line that now divides Rockingham County
from Page County
.
The year of Miller’s 1727 arrival in the Valley is confirmed in a 1742 naturalization proclamation by Virginia Governor William Gooch
, which states, “And Adam Miller . . . having Settled and Inhabited for fifteen years past on Shenandoa in this colony. . . .” Miller’s birthplace is also cited in the proclamation, which notes that he was “born at Shesoin in Germany,” but the correct spelling of “Schriesheim” is cited on the reverse side of the original document, written out and signed by Adam Miller.
Shenandoah baptismal records show that Miller and his wife had at least three children: Catarina Elizabetha (b. Dec 20, 1734), Adam Jr. (b. Jul 16, 1736) and Anna Christina (b. Oct 18, 1738). In adulthood, Catarina (Catherine) and Anna would marry brothers, John Baer and Jacob Baer, respectively.
In 1741, Miller purchased 820 acres (3.3 km²), including a large lithia spring, near Elkton, VA
, and lived on this property for the remainder of his life. He sold 280 acres (1.1 km²) of this property to his son-in-law, Jacob Baer, and the spring on Miller’s land is still known as Bear Lithia Spring. In 1758, Miller fought in the French and Indian War
, serving in the Company of Lt. Christian Bingaman. He died in 1783, with his estate settled in Rockingham County, VA
.
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA. Born in 1703 in Schriesheim
Schriesheim
Schriesheim is a town located in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, north of Heidelberg on the Bergstrasse and on Bertha Benz Memorial Route. It has a population of about 15,000, Schriesheim is a town located in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, north of Heidelberg on the Bergstrasse ("Mountain Road") and on...
, Germany, Miller immigrated to America as a young married man, settling in Lancaster County
Lancaster County
Lancaster County is the name of four counties in the United States:* Lancaster County, Nebraska* Lancaster County, Pennsylvania* Lancaster County, South Carolina* Lancaster County, Virginia...
, PA in 1724.
On a trip through eastern Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Miller heard reports about a lush Valley to the west which had been discovered by Governor Alexander Spotswood
Alexander Spotswood
Alexander Spotswood was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army and a noted Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He is noted in Virginia and American history for a number of his projects as Governor, including his exploring beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, his establishing what was perhaps the first...
's legendary Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition
Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition
The Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition took place in 1716 in the British Colony of Virginia. The Royal Governor and a number of prominent citizens traveled westward, across the Blue Ridge Mountains on an exploratory expedition...
. In 1727, Miller and his wife Barbara moved from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and staked out a claim on the south fork of the Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, long with two forks approximately long each, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia...
, near the line that now divides Rockingham County
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
from Page County
Page County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,177 people, 9,305 households, and 6,634 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile . There were 10,557 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
.
The year of Miller’s 1727 arrival in the Valley is confirmed in a 1742 naturalization proclamation by Virginia Governor William Gooch
William Gooch
Sir William Gooch, 1st Baronet , born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, and died in London, served as Governor of Virginia from 1727 through 1749...
, which states, “And Adam Miller . . . having Settled and Inhabited for fifteen years past on Shenandoa in this colony. . . .” Miller’s birthplace is also cited in the proclamation, which notes that he was “born at Shesoin in Germany,” but the correct spelling of “Schriesheim” is cited on the reverse side of the original document, written out and signed by Adam Miller.
Shenandoah baptismal records show that Miller and his wife had at least three children: Catarina Elizabetha (b. Dec 20, 1734), Adam Jr. (b. Jul 16, 1736) and Anna Christina (b. Oct 18, 1738). In adulthood, Catarina (Catherine) and Anna would marry brothers, John Baer and Jacob Baer, respectively.
In 1741, Miller purchased 820 acres (3.3 km²), including a large lithia spring, near Elkton, VA
Elkton, Virginia
Elkton is an incorporated town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,042 at the 2000 census. Elkton was named for the Elk Run stream.It is located along the south fork of the Shenandoah River...
, and lived on this property for the remainder of his life. He sold 280 acres (1.1 km²) of this property to his son-in-law, Jacob Baer, and the spring on Miller’s land is still known as Bear Lithia Spring. In 1758, Miller fought in the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, serving in the Company of Lt. Christian Bingaman. He died in 1783, with his estate settled in Rockingham County, VA
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
.