G Miller

Pennsylvania county Septennial Census tax records from 1793 to 1814 were searched for G Miller craftsmen. From the dozens of G Millers found in the lists, these possible candidates were identified.

George Miller, Upper Hanover, PA, joiner in 1800 & 1807
George Miller, Brunswick, PA, carpenter in 1800
George Miller, Albany, PA, millwright in 1800

PA deed searches and regional histories provided two post 1800 candidates.

George Miller, Maidencreek, PA, cabinet and coffin maker b 1786.
George Miller, Honeybrook, PA, carpenter, b ca 1788.

Plane photographs courtesy Dan Linsky and Terry Thackery, 1700s and 1800s Planemakers of South Central Pennsylvania, Facebook Group.

G Miller

GAWP5 presents G Miller as a Pennsylvania craftsman with five ca 1800 planes described. Unfortunately, the name G Miller is a common one, such that it is difficult to sort through period documents in the effort to compile a rigorous list of possible craftsman candidates. There are just too many names. The Pennsylvania Septennial Census tax records were used to help turn the effort into a manageable process. The tax lists cover the main townships for each county and the lists for the years 1793 through 1814 typically provide the trade of the individuals. (These early lists with the trades are a unique feature found in PA records.)

A review of PA county deeds and town histories identified two somewhat later candidates, George Miller, b 1786 working in Maidencreek, Berks Co. and George Miller, b 1788 working in Honeybrook, Chester Co. The counties searched include Berks, Schuylkill, Montgomery, Lancaster, Chester, Dauphin, Northumberland, Northhampton, York, Franklin and Cumberland.

(Between the tax lists and period deed searches, these individuals are a reasonable start, but there are so many other G Millers that there could be other candidates remaining to be found.)

Candidate George Miller, Upper Hanover, Montgomery County, PA.

Joiner in tax lists dated 1787, 1800 and 1807. A search of Montgomery deeds yielded a 1788 Upper Hanover deed and a 1791 Upper Hanover deed where George's trade was given as a joiner. The 1791 deed also gives George's wife's name as Catherine. A 1804 Upper Hanover deed lists George as a house carpenter. The 1804 deed also gives detailed family information as it describes the selling of land from the estate of Jacob Miller by executrix Margaret Miller.... land bought by George. Jacob's will / probate records were referenced in the 1804 deed and give the names of the children while introducing some added questions.

In the 1804 deed, executrix Margaret identifies George, the house carpenter, as her son. In Jabob's will from 1786, he lists his eleven children (5 boys and 6 daughters) and his wife Margaret. The children include a son George as well as a daughter Catherine with her husband, George Miller. Does the 1804 deed refer to Margaret's son George, the house carpenter, while the 1791 deed refers to George, the joiner, husband of Catherine? With both George's from Upper Hanover? Period deeds, probates, town histories, genealogies were searched for additional birth dates, death dates, family unit descriptions, but no further definitive information was discovered.

From the 1786 will / probate and the 1804 deed records a family lineage emerges; grandfather George Miller and widow Anna Elizabeth, father Jacob Miller and widow Anne Margaret, son George Miller (house carpenter) and son-in-law George Miller (joiner) assuming the two Georges weren't one and the same. The 11 children were Leonard, John, Jacob, George, William, Margaret (married), Catherine (wife of George Miller), Christina, Anna Elizabeth, Eva Elizabeth and Elizabeth.

1787 Upper Hanover tax list. George Miller joiner.

1791 Upper Hanover deed. George, joiner, and wife Catherine.

1804 Upper Hanover deed. George, house carpenter, son of executrix Margaret Miller.

Candidate George Miller, Brunswick, Berks County, PA.

Carpenter in 1800 tax list from Brunswick, Berks Co., PA and a millwright in 1800 tax list from Albany, Berks Co., Pa.

Based on two lists dated the same year, two individuals are indicated. However, 1800 and 1810 US census records as well as historic writings might indicate there was only one George Miller millwright/carpenter in 1800 Berks County.

Unlike George Miller from Upper Hanover, the George Miller of Brunswick and later Albany has significant family records extant along with published writings done by George himself.

George Miller (1774-1816) b in Pottstown, PA and then later to Alsace, PA and Albany, PA. He was a master millwright who married Magdelena Brobst in 1800. He built a gristmill on his land in 1798 and his house in 1802. He built a mill in Abany in 1803. He left his craft behind and became a well-known itinerate preacher about 1804. He wrote a book of discipline, Glaubenslehre und allgemeine Regeln christlicher Kirchen-Zucht und Ordnung der sogenannten Albrechts-Leute, which the (Newly Formed Methodist Conference) published in 1809. George was sickly most of his life and he died in New Berlin in 1816.

1800 Brunswick tax list. George, carpenter.

1800 Albany tax list. George, millwright.

Excerpts from the book on Jacob Albright and his co-laborer's including George MIller.

JACOB ÄLBRIGHT AND HIS CO-LABORERS 1883, by Yeakel, R.

Section III, LIFE AND LABORS OF GEORGE MILLER

" I George Miller, was born February 16th, in the year of our Lord, 1774, in Pottstown, Montgomery County, State of Pennsylvania. My parents were Jacob and Elizabeth Miller. Soon after my birth they moved to Alsace Township, Berks County, where my father died when I was eleven years old. Up to my nineteenth year we were under the care of our mother; then I began to learn a trade. I received a limited education in the German language, and was instructed in the principles of the Christian religion, in accordance with the custom of the Lutheran Church.

In my nineteenth year I went to live with mv brother John and a man by the name of Conrad Dunkel, to learn the trade of a millwright. Fortunately Mr. Dunkel was an honorable, well behaved, and industrious single young man. His exemplary conduct put me to shame, and made deep impressions upon my mind, so that I resolved to reform my silly and dissolute life. Through industry and obedience I soon gained his esteem. Possessing some natural mechanical talent, and having been in and around grist mills from my youth, as I had -worked in my father's mill, I soon became master of my trade. My masters, who had taken much pains with me, also assisted me in obtaining work after my apprenticeship had been served, as they seemed to delight in my welfare, and were always ready to assist me when I needed help.

In the year 1798 I bought a tract of land in Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County, Pa., where I built a mill, and I made up my mind that, when my mill was finished, I would quit building mills, and engage in milling and seek God with all my heart. And as in all this everything went according to my wishes, and the mill was in full running order, the Lord reminded me of my vow …

In the year of our Lord, 1800, I was married to Magdalena Brobst. Two years later I built a house near my mill, and we moved into it. At this time my mind was entirely engrossed with family and business cares, but the Lord, still mindful of me, sent his servant, Jacob Albright, to my house, who asked for a night's lodging.

I now received new strength and courage, was filled with fervent love to God and man, my delight being in the Lord, whose grace and mercy I freely confessed before the world, giving him all glory and praise.

I now sold my land and mill, and wanted to move to Buffalo Valley, but afterwards bought land in Albany, Berks County, Pa., which I had rented before. Here I again plunged into business, and would soon have become involved in worldly matters … but resolved … to start out as an itinerant preacher….

I therefore rented my house, and in four weeks was ready to travel.

In April, 1805, I started as an itinerant under charge of Jacob Albright and John Walter.

George Miller's person is described by those who knew him, as follows: He was nearly six feet high, and quite strongly built. His face was oblong, his forehead high and full, had dark eyes, quite a large nose, prominent cheek bones, black, hair, red eye-brows, rough skin and large hands. He shaved his whole face, wore rather coarse, home-made clothing, yet dressed in a neat and tidy manner. In his conversation he was considerate, and always spoke to the point, mostly in a gentle manner, but when he considered it necessary, also very decidedly. His manner of preaching was both animated and instructive, he could both “shine and thunder."

George Miller, Maidencreek, Berks County, PA

Cabinet maker and Coffin Maker, b 1786 d 1872

Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, M. Montgomery, 1909

"George Miller, son of Christian, was a farmer and landowner, and was born March 17, 1786. He died on his own farm Jan. 4, 1872. The handling of tools aways afforded him great enjoyment, and he learned cabinet making and became a carpenter and undertaker, making and finishing coffins for his trade. He married Elizabeth Reisch, born Sept. 22, 1799 and died April 15, 1867. They had three children; Charles ... Samuel ... and Mary ..."

Although he is somewhat late for the planes, this George is offered as a secondary candidate.

George Miller, Honeybrook, Chester County, PA

Carpenter, b ca 1788 d 1860

1812 deed listing George as a carpenter as well as the 1850 US census. His wife was Elizabeth.

George is offered as a secondary candidate as he is somewhat late for the planes.

1812 Honeybrook deed of George, carpenter.

A review of two G Miller Planes

Jointer plane, courtesy of Dan Linski, 1700s and 1800s Planemakers of South Central Pennsylvania, Facebook Group. See the entry for G Miller in the 18thC Jointer Gallery Section.

9 1/2" long fruitwood complex molding plane. Courtesy of Terry Thackery, 1700s and 1800s Planemakers of South Central Pennsylvania, Facebook Group.