Family History and Genealogy
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MILAM Family History and Genealogy |
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Please help to discontinue the propagation and perpetuation of outdated conclusions, false research, and mis-information of the Milam family history.
This page will delve into the newer research findings and conclusions, since 1980, that has helped to change the story of the Milam family in America.
Major Change in the Virginia Milams -- being significant changes to the three Virginia Patriarchs: the elimination of Archibald and re-assignment of his supposed children; changes in birthdates for John and Thomas; re-evaluation of their parentage. Originally published January-February 1994.
Major Change in Milam Tree: New Placement of Jordan Milam -- proving the birthdate of Jordan Milam (later than believed) and changing his parentage (Samuel Milam, son of John Milam); and consequently identifying his brothers as Dudley Milam, and Benjamin Milam of Harris County, Georgia. Originally published July-August 1993.
Major Change in Milam Tree: New Placement of Jarvis Jackson Milam -- proving the parentage of Jarvis Jackson Milam (John and Anna (Jackson) Milam of Bedford County, Virginia); and consequently identifying his brothers as George and Stephen Milam, later of Sullivan County, Indiana, and Ambrose Milam of Cumberland County, Kentucky. Originally published November-December 1993.
Another Major Change in the Milam Tree: Regarding Adam Milam of North Carolina -- proving the parentage of Adam Milam to be John Milam Sr. Originally published March-April 1994.
The following is the original discussion that changed the entire outline of the Milam Patriarchs and their children as written and published by me in the Milam Roots newsletter in the January-February 1994 issue. It is unedited from that original publication date.
My next statement will probably be the biggest change and have the greatest effect on the structure of the Milam family in over 100 years.
After over 15 years of research on the Milam family, it is now my belief that Archibald Milam, born circa 1729, supposed son of Samuel Mileham and Martha Gardner, never existed. Yes, that is correct, I believe that he never existed.
I know that this is a bold statement, but in the last couple of years, I have been doing an extensive search of records in Virginia before 1770, and I have never found a record of an Archibald Milam in any Virginia county before 1800. He is not mentioned directly, indirectly, as a witness, officer, etc., in any tax lists, deed books or land grants, wills or probates, court records, militia lists, etc.
It is more than just not being able to find him. He is not there because he never existed. I searched many of the primary counties of the Northern Neck and western counties of Virginia, such as Spotsylvania, Goochland, Orange, Brunswick, Culpeper, Louisa, Augusta, Halifax, Bedford, Pittsylvania, Botetourt, etc. In counties and records where I can easily find John and Thomas Milam, Archibald Milam never appears.
The name of Archibald Milam came from the letter of William B. Davis of Tennessee to W. M. Milam, dated February 28, 1902; see Volume 1, # 2, page 14 of this publication. First of all, Mr. Davis is writing about facts over 100 years after they occurred, which were passed down through the family. Also, in 1902, Mr. Davis is a 75 year old man. A combination of these factors should clearly indicate that the letter should not be accepted as completely accurate, and in fact many other of his statements have been proven as slightly inaccurate in the past. Other than this letter, there is no other source for the name of Archibald Milam.
OK, so if there was no Archibald Milam, what do we do with his children: Moses, Zachariah, John and William. The aforementioned search of pre-1770 Virginia records only indicates two Milams in all of Virginia: John, of Louisa and later Halifax counties; and Thomas, of Culpeper and later Bedford counties. They must be the fathers of all of the Virginia Milams.
First, Moses. He first appears in Virginia records in 1774 in Bedford County, Virginia, where Thomas Milam died and left a will in 1775. Moses continues to appear in Bedford County records until 1788 when he migrated to Kentucky. Moses owned land that bordered Benjamin Milam, another probable son of Thomas, and Moses was a witness to the will of this Benjamin Milam. William Milam, proven son of Thomas, was also a witness to Benjamin's will. After Benjamin's death, Moses sold to his widow, Elizabeth, land in Bedford County. Moses is of the right age to be a son of Thomas Milam who died with a will in Bedford County, Virginia in 1775, and therefore that is where I am placing him.
Second, Zachariah. Zachariah also appears frequently in Bedford County, Virginia records, and in fact, was probably the last Milam to live there. He first appears in 1782 in the county tax records, indicating that he was of at least 21 years of age and therefore born by 1761. He is therefore also of the correct age to be a son of Thomas Milam who died with a will in Bedford County, Virginia in 1775, and therefore that is where I am placing him.
Third, John. It might appear that this would present a problem, as both Thomas and John Milam both have proven sons named John. So where would this John go. According to tradition, this John was born circa 1755 and died in 1843 in Bedford County, Virginia when a tree fell on him. First of all, if he was born in 1755, then he was an 88 year old man when he died. It is highly unlikely that he lived to be 88, and if he was 88, I doubt that he was out of the house very much to get caught under a tree. Also, according to tradition, John did not first marry until 1800, at age 45. Finally, the 1840 census shows only one John Milam in Bedford County, and he falls within the age range of 50 to 60, thus being born between 1780 and 1790. This, with the fact that he was in Bedford County, would indicate that he could only be a grandson of Thomas Milam. The fact that he was one of the few Milams to stay in Bedford County leads me to believe that he is a son of Zachariah Milam.
Finally, William. As indicated earlier, Thomas who died and left a will in 1775 in Bedford County, already has a proven son named William, who is seperate from this William. The only logical conclusion is that William is the son of John Milam of Halifax County. Actually, there is more than just the process of elimination. First, it was always traditionally believed that John had a son named William, but nothing was known of him. Second, the believed children of this William appear to come out of Halifax County, before settling in far western Virginia. Of particular note is Lewis Milam who married Mary Holt in 1782 in Halifax County and later appears in Montgomery and then Tazewell County, Virginia.
Actually, unfortunately I am afraid that the circumstances surrounding William are not as easy as I described. The fact is, William, too, may never have existed. Actually, it may be better to say that William was not William, he was James. I recently made a major discovery of a record from Tazewell County, Virginia Deed Book 1, page 446. It shows that the siblings long believed to be the children of William, son of Archibald, are in fact children of James Milam. I will here transcribe it exactly as I found it:
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Tazewell County, Virginia
Know all men by these presents that William Fletcher {seal} |
William Fletcher, Joshua Day, Aron Fletcher and Henry Puritt are all husbands of the traditionaly believed daughters of William Milam, but this record proves that Lewis Milam of Tazewell County, along with these men, are heirs of James Milam, deceased, of Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
In a Montgomery County, Virginia marriage record, Mary Milam, daughter of Martha, married William Fletcher on January 29, 1791. Then on April 26, 1793, Martha Milam married William Thompson. If William Fletcher was an heir of James Milam on behalf of his wife Mary Milam, and if Mary was the daughter of Martha, then Martha was the wife and widow of James Milam who died in Pittsylvania County, Virginia before 1791.
It has always been traditionally believed that John Milam of Halifax County, Virginia, did have a son named James, but very little was known of him. James does appear in Halifax County and later Pittsylvania County, which borders both Halifax County on the east and Bedford County on the north. More research is necessary in Halifax and Pittsylvania counties records.
My news regarding Thomas Milam isn't as overwhelming as was that of Archibald Milam, but I have made one significant discovery this past summer.
First let me point out a few things. Without evidence of any kind, it has always traditionally been believed that Thomas was born circa 1727. I believe that this was so that he could logically be placed as a son of Samuel Mileham and Martha Gardner who married in 1724 in Lancaster County, Virginia.
We can prove that Thomas Milam migrated from Culpeper County, Virginia to Bedford County, Virginia circa 1761, through two sources. First, Rush Milam, proven son of Thomas Milam through his will dated 1775, states in his Revolutionary War pension application that he was born in 1759 in Culpeper County and that when he was 2 his father moved the family to Bedford County. Second, in 1760 Thomas appears to sell or sign over all of his land in Culpeper County, and then appears in 1763 in Bedford County purchasing land.
Now backtracking through the Culpeper County records, we find Thomas Milam, and his wife Mary, as early as 1749. He is shown in the deed records of his neighbors, as their land bordered his. Thomas Milam lived on Double Top Mountain.
In early 1749, Culpeper County was formed from Orange County. So checking earlier Orange County records we continue to find Thomas Milam on Double Top Mountain as early as 1747.
The next earliest record of Thomas Milam appears in the Orange County, Virginia Court, dated March 24, 1737, when a petition by David Williams, an assignee for William Smith, was brought against Thomas Mylam and Francis Williams, asking for four hundred pounds of tobacco due by bills. So far, this is the earliest record of a Milam in Virginia. It clearly must be Thomas Milam who died in 1775 in Bedford County, Virginia.
Now remember that according to tradition, without facts, Thomas was thought born circa 1727. That means when he died in 1775 in Bedford County, he was only 48. I have always suspected that he must have been older than that, especially, when we find that his son William had to have been born by 1745.
For Thomas to appear in court in Orange County in 1737, by law, he had to be over 21 years of age. Well, 1737 subtracting 21 equals 1716. That's right, Thomas had to have been born before 1716. That means, he could not possibly be the son of Samuel Mileham who married Martha Gardner in 1724 in Lancaster County, Virginia.
My news regarding John Milam is the same as that of Thomas Milam. If John was born circa 1725, then when he died in 1789 in South Carolina, he was only 64. But I believe he was older.
The earliest record of John Milam is dated 1757 in Louisa County, Virginia, when he purchased land from John Dixon. Louisa County borders Goochland County to the south, where a Grace Milam married to a Richard Chumly in 1756, and a Samuel Mylom married Sarah Kemp by 1763.
In past issues I have discussed the evidence which suggests that Samuel Milam was a son of John Milam. Meanwhile, Richard and Grace Chumly migrated from Goochland County to Halifax County around the same time that John Milam settled in Halifax County. Also, Goochland County is to far from Culpeper County, for Grace to be a possible daughter of Thomas Milam. Therefore she must be a daughter of John, which is further suggested by the Chumly migration to Halifax County and by further records showing the Chumlys in records with some of John Milam sons.
Well, if Grace Milam was at the very least 16 years of age when she married Richard Chumly in 1756, then she was born before or by 1740. In turn, if John Milam was at the very least 18 years of age at the time of the birth of Grace, then John had to have been born before or by 1722, but I suspect that Grace was a little older than 16 in 1756, and therefore, John was born earlier than the 1722 date. Therefore, John Milam also cannot be a son of Samuel Mileham who married Martha Gardner in 1724 in Lancaster County, Virginia.
Therefore, based upon the last two discussions, John and Thomas are not sons of Samuel Mileham and Martha Gardner. But I do still believe that they were brothers. They seem to appear in relatively the same part of Virginia at about the same time period, and they seem to migrate from upper Virginia to southern Virginia at about the same time period, and many of the names of their children and grandchildren are similar, not to mention that these children and grandchildren tended to migrate together westward.
I am becoming more and more of the opinion that these two Milams came down into Virginia from Massachusetts, and that they are from the Massachusetts Milams. I had originally discussed this possibility in Volume 1, # 2, page 6 of this publication.
So, now based upon all of this discussion, we basically have a totally new structure of the first two generations of the Milam family, as follows:
Prior to writing the "Major Change to the Virginia Milams" above, the following discussion was the first major change in the Milam family history to be presented. It was published in the Milam Roots newsletter in July-August 1993. It is unedited from that original publication date.
I am making a change in the Milam family tree that will effect the placement of Jordan Milam. This will create a major change in the grouping of the Thomas Milam (1727-1775) family and the John Milam (1725-1789) family. I will hate to burst "the bubble" of Jordan Milam descendants, but Jordan Milam was not 101 years old when he died in 1851 in Arkansas, and he was not the son of Thomas Milam (1727-1775).
First, let me state that the parentage of Jordan Milam never was proven. It has always been based upon a guess of early Milam researchers that Jordan Milam was most likely the son of Thomas Milam (1727-1775). This guess was primarily based upon the assumption that Jordan Milam was born in 1750, thus placing him in the generation of the children of the three brothers, John, Thomas and Archibald.
Thomas Milam, who left a will in Bedford County, Virginia in 1775, names in his will his wife Mary and only his "two youngest sons, Solomon and Rush". As records of Thomas and Mary, together as husband and wife, appear as early as 1749 in Culpeper County, Virginia, it is apparent that they most likely had children before Solomon and Rush. One other son is verified through a document in which Rush names a brother William.
With a birth year of 1750, it is apparent that Jordan could be a son of this Thomas. The reason he was not considered as a son of John (1725-1789) was possibly because John had too many children already verified. I cannot begin to guess why Jordan was not placed as a possible son of Archibald (1729- ? ).
Finally, in 1781, a list of militia ordered from Henry County, Virginia to the assistance of General Greene on March 11th, includes Dudley and Jordan Mileham in James Cowdin's Company. In 1781, Henry County bordered Bedford County, where Thomas died and left his will in 1775.
Therefore, based upon the known and assumed information, as mentioned above, of Thomas Milam and Jordan Milam, it was fairly justifiably concluded that Jordan Milam was possibly the son of Thomas Milam.
In 1832, Jordan Milam, a resident of Hickman County, Tennessee, applied for a pension from the United States government as a veteran of the Revolutionary War. On September 12th, he stated in his application that he would be 83 years old the next coming 26th of February. According to this information, his birthdate would be verified as February 26, 1750. Also in this application, he indicated that he served in the Militia from Henry County, Virginia which matches with the militia records of that county, as referred to above.
When we trace back the migration pattern of Jordan Milam from Hickman County, Tennessee to Abbeville County, South Carolina to Virginia, an interesting factor becomes evident. First, I will backtrack records of Jordan Milam from Hickman County, Tennessee to Virginia.
Jordan Milam, aged 42(?), married Mary Peacock in 1792 in Abbeville County, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina. The 1800 census lists Jordin Milum in Abbeville District, South Carolina, page 20, the oldest male being between the ages of 26 and 45, thus born between 1755 and 1774; presumably this is Jordan, but he is supposed to be born in 1750, and so should appear as 50 years of age in this 1800 census. Meanwhile, a Samuel Milum is listed on page 19 of this census, 1 male and 1 female, each over 45, thus born before 1755.
The 1790 census does not locate Jordan Milam in either Virginia or South Carolina. However, in the Abbeville County, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina 1790 census, Samuel Milam is again listed, this time with 2 white males over 16, no males under 16, and 2 females. Is one of the white males over 16 Jordan? It would almost have to be since two years later he will marry Mary Peacock in Abbeville County. But why would Jordan be living in Samuel's household?
Samuel Milam appears in Henry County, Virginia in the tax lists between 1782 and 1787, but there is no Jordan Milam. In fact, Jordan Milam does not appear in any records (as yet found) between 1782 and 1800. Presumably he could have still been living with his father between these years, at least up to when he married Mary Peacock in 1792, but if his father was Thomas who died in 1775, then Jordan should be an adult male on his own. Where is he?
On November 23, 1782, Jerdon Milom and Samuel Melom appear on a petition of Bedford County, Virginia residents either opposed to or in favor of the breaking up of Bedford County to form a new county. Remember, that Henry County bordered Bedford County at this time.
As mentioned above, in 1781, Jordan and Dudley Mileham served in the Henry County militia during the Revolutionary War. This is the first record, where Jordan Milam is found as an adult. If he were born in 1750, he should have appeared in records as early as 1770. In fact, if Jordan was born in 1750, he should have appeared in militia records of the Revolutionary War as early as 1776. Why does he not appear in the war until the year or two before it is over? One possibility is that he just turned of age to be allowed to serve, say 18, or even 17. This would make him born in 1763 or 1764. This would match his age in the 1800 census record above.
The Douglas Register (see Milam Roots, Vol. 6, # 2, page 2) lists Samuel Mylom and Sarah Kemp as having a son named Jordan, this couple's first child, who was born February 28, 1764 and baptized, July 29, 1764. Rev. Douglas served Goochland County, Virginia, so this is where Jordan was born. The date is two days off from the date Jordan gives in his pension application. However, it is still too close to be coincidence, and thus this record must be accepted as the true birth date, place and parents of Jordan Milam. This also matches Jordan's migration pattern with Samuel Milam from Henry County, Virginia to Abbeville County, South Carolina. Also, this birth date is more reasonable to Jordan's life prior to settlement in Hickman County, Tennessee. Finally, this also matches the fact that the first son of Jordan was named Samuel.
Now, who is this Samuel Milam who married Sarah Kemp. The early researchers of the John Milam (1725-1789) family of the 1930's based their list of children of John upon interviews with Ferrell and Nancy Milam, grandchildren of John, who both died in the 1880's. They are also based upon a supposed bible that appears to have since been lost. The recent (1980's) discovery of the will of John Milam in York County, South Carolina dated 1789 verifies John's wife as Judith, plus four sons and one daughter.
One of the sons not verified in the will, but long since traditionally believed to be a son of John, was that of Samuel Milam. Samuel Milam married to a Sarah Kemp presumably in about 1763; at least nine months prior to the birth of Jordan. Assuming that Samuel was at least 18 years of age at the time of this marriage, which is considered above average, then he was born circa 1745. 1745 is a year that John Milam would have been in his early 20's, assuming he was born no earlier than 1725, and so probably married to Judith by this time, and therefore is plausibly the father of Samuel.
Furthermore, in 1764, when Samuel Mylom is recorded in the Douglas Register as being in Goochland County, Virginia, John Milam was recorded in Louisa County, Virginia at a slightly earlier date, 1757. He was selling interest he had in land there, because by 1753, John is recorded as being a resident of Brunswick County, and in 1764 he is a resident of Halifax County. At this time, Louisa County bordered Goochland County to the north, and one must go through Goochland County when going from Louisa County to Brunswick County.
Meanwhile, Thomas Milam (1727-1775) is recorded in Culpeper County in 1760 selling his land, and then buying land in 1763 in Bedford County. Both of these counties are a good distance from Louisa and Goochland, and the route from Culpeper to Bedford does not pass through, or even near, Louisa or Goochland.
Finally, Jordan Milam named another son Bartlett. It has always been believed that John Milam (1725-1789) married a Judith Bartlett who may have been the widow of a Mr. Cole. The name Bartlett is carried down in all branches of Milams that descend from John and Judith Milam. Jordan must also be such a descendant from this line, as he names a son Bartlett.
Therefore, it can now be accepted, by the above discussion, that John Milam is the father of Samuel Milam, and Samuel Milam is the father of Jordan Milam. Jordan was born February 28, 1764 in Goochland County, Virginia, and died on December 31, 1851 in Carroll County, Arkansas at the age of 87 years, 10 months, 2 days.
What of this Dudley Milam that Jordan served with from Henry County, Virginia during the Revolutionary War. Jordan named one of his sons Dudley. The 1787 and 1791 tax lists for Wilkes County, Georgia lists a Dudley Milum as a taxpayer. Wilkes County, Georgia at that time bordered Abbeville County, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina. In 1807, Dudley is recorded again in Wilkes County, Georgia as being paid from the estate of Aaron Ferrington for boarding two orphans of this Aaron.
So, in 1790 and 1800, while Samuel and Jordan are recorded in Abbeville County, South Carolina, just over the state line in Wilkes County, Georgia lived a Dudley Milam who was of approximately the same age as Jordan, and thus probably the same Dudley who served with Jordan during the Revolutionary War. It is my strong opinion that Dudley Milam was the second son of Samuel Milam, and thus the brother of Jordan.
Meanwhile, in the 1790 census is found a Benjamin Milam in Laurens County, South Carolina who is of the same age as Jordan and Dudley. He has not been placed. Laurens County bordered Abbeville County at this time. In this Laurens County 1790 census, in Benjamin's household is one male over 16, no males under 16, and one female; possibly a young newlywed couple. In 1791 and 1793, Benjamin is recorded in deed records in Laurens County, South Carolina.
The 1800 South Carolina census has no Benjamin Milam. The 1800 and 1810 Georgia census records no longer exist, but in 1809, a Benjamin Milam bought land in Baldwin County, Georgia. Randolph County was formed from Baldwin County in 1809 or 1810, but was renamed Jasper County in 1812. The 1820 Georgia census lists a B. Milon and a very young Dudley Milon in households next to each other in Jasper County. In 1827, Benjamin Milam, a resident of Jasper County, drew land in Troup County in the Georgia land lottery. The 1830 census lists Benjamin Milum in Harris County, Georgia, a county bordering Troup County. Benjamin died and left his will in 1832 in Harris County, Georgia. He names his children in his will, which includes, Dudley, Jordan, Lewis, Benjamin, Bartlett, Elizabeth, Nancy and Polly.
Another Bartlett! Benjamin must be another John and Judith Milam descendant. He also names a son Dudley and another son Jordan, and a daughter Nancy. Nancy was a sister of Samuel. Therefore, both Benjamin and Jordan give their children the following same names: Jordan, Dudley, Bartlett and Nancy. Benjamin must be another younger brother of Jordan, and therefore a son of Samuel Milam.
Therefore, we have John and Judith (Bartlett) Milam as parents of Samuel Milam. Samuel Milam married Sarah Kemp in Goochland County, Virginia. They settled in Henry County, Virginia and by 1790 settled in Abbeville County, South Carolina. They had three known sons, Jordan, Dudley and Benjamin.
Prior to writing the "Major Change to the Virginia Milams" above, the following discussion was the second major change in the Milam family history to be presented. It was published in the Milam Roots newsletter in November-December 1993. It is unedited from that original publication date.
Jarvis Jackson Milam was born on March 24, 1779 in Bedford County, Virginia.
Jarvis first appears in public records in 1800 in the Kentucky tax records in Madison County in eastern Kentucky.
On April 27, 1801, Jarvis Milam received a license to marry Susannah Woods, and on April 30, 1801, Jarvis Jackson Milam and Susannah Abigail Woods were married in Boonesborough, Madison County, Kentucky. Susannah Abigail Woods was the daughter of John and Abigail (Estill) Woods of Madison County, Kentucky.
On September 29th, 1809, John Woods, father of Susannah, deeded to Jarvis Milam, for $1.00, a tract of land containing 200 acres in Madison County, Kentucky. This was part of a 400 acre tract originally patented to John Woods.
Jarvis Milam is found in Madison County, Alabama by 1811, where he received two grants of land. Jarvis continued to live and raise his family here until about 1835 when he sold his lands and migrated to Marshall County, Mississippi.
Jarvis died in Marshall County, Mississippi on July 4, 1849. Susannah died on February 12, 1867, also in Marshall County, Mississippi. They are buried together in Chulahoma Cemetery, Marshall County, Mississippi.
There has often been debate over the parents of Jarvis Jackson Milam. It is agreed that there are only two logical choices, that being: first possibility, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Jackson) Milam; second possibility, John and Anna (Jackson) Milam.
Benjamin and John Milam were probably brothers, both most likely being sons of Thomas Milam who died and left a will in 1775 in Bedford County, Virginia.
Elizabeth and Anna Jackson were proven to be sisters and daughters of Jarvis Jackson who died and left a will in Bedford County, Virginia in 1802.
Hence, one way or another, Jarvis Jackson Milam is obviously a grandson of Jarvis Jackson.
Early researchers had placed Jarvis Jackson Milam as the son of Benjamin Milam and Elizabeth Jackson. However, there was no evidence or explanation for this placement.
Benjamin Milam was born circa 1750 and died on June 19, 1781 as a prisoner-of-war in the Revolutionary War shortly after the battle of Guilford Court House.
Elizabeth Jackson Milam married secondly to James Williamson, Sr., and they settled in Logan County in western Kentucky where they both died in the 1830's.
Of the children of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Jackson) Milam: Deborah married James Williamson and settled in northern Kentucky; Solomon Milam settled in Missouri; Joseph Milam settled in Ohio; and Benjamin Milam settled in Logan County, Kentucky.
In 1800, at the age of 20, Jarvis Jackson Milam is found in Madison County, Kentucky, while Elizabeth Jackson Milam Williamson and her Milam children were still in Bedford County, Virginia.
John Milam was born circa 1752. He died sometime in early 1780 in Bedford County, Virginia as the inventory and appraisal of his estate took place in August 1780.
Anna (Jackson) Milam continues to appear in Bedford County, Virginia records, such as purchasing land in 1785, purchasing a negro girl in 1787, and selling all of her lands in 1797.
In August 1797, Anne Milam purchased 97 acres of land in Madison County in eastern Kentucky.
On April 27, 1799, Anna Milam married to William Minix Williams in Madison County, Kentucky.
In the will of Jarvis Jackson, dated December 10, 1796, he names "Anne Milam, his first daughter", however Jarvis did not die until 1802. In 1805, the children of Jarvis Jackson sold a tract of land in Bedford County. Anne Williams signs first as the eldest daughter of Jarvis Jackson. This establishes the connection between the Ann Milam of Bedford County, Virginia to the Ann Milam and then Ann Williams of Madison County, Kentucky.
Remember that in 1800, at the age of 20, Jarvis Jackson Milam is found in Madison County, Kentucky, and in 1801 Jarvis marries to Susannah Woods.
In 1797, when Anna Milam migrated to Madison County, Kentucky from Bedford County, Virginia, she naturally took along with her the young unmarried children of hers by John Milam. Jarvis would have been only about 17 or 18. He then becomes of the age of majority by 1800 when he appears in the Madison County, Kentucky tax records, and then he was about 21 when he married Susanah Woods in 1801 in Madison County, Kentucky.
In the 1810 Kentucky census, Jarvis Milam is in Madison County, Kentucky with Anna Williams and the other Milams of that county, and not with the Milams in Logan County, Kentucky.
This is enough to convince me that Jarvis Jackson Milam is the son of John and Anna (Jackson) Milam.
Other Milams in Madison County, Kentucky records include Ambrose Milam who married Molly/Polly Miller on January 23, 1800, and then appears with Jarvis Milam in the 1810 census record in Madison County, Kentucky.
Ambrose Milam migrated to Cumberland County, Kentucky by 1820, which is along the migration route that Jarvis Jackson Milam would have taken to northern Alabama. As we follow the records of Ambrose, he is of an age to be just a few years older than Jarvis Jackson Milam, but of just the right age to be an additional younger son of Anna Milam who she would have brought with her on her migration from Bedford County, Virginia to Madison County, Kentucky.
Also in the 1800 Kentucky tax records for Madison County are a Moses and Stephen Milam. A George Milam appears in Shelby County, Kentucky in 1800. In the 1810 Kentucky census records, in Shelby County, are Moses, George and Stephen Milam.
Moses Milam is a proven son of John and Anna (Jackson) Milam as his marriage to Edy Fugua on September 5, 1790 in Bedford County, Virginia, was granted by consent of his mother, Ann Milam.
As we follow the records of Moses and Stephen Milam to Shelby County, Kentucky, and then follow the records of Moses, Stephen and George Milam to Sullivan County, Indiana by 1820, we find that Stephen and George, like Ambrose, are of the correct age to be older brothers of Jarvis Jackson Milam and younger brothers of Moses Milam, and are of the right age to have migrated in young adulthood in 1797 with Anna Milam from Bedford County, Virginia to Madison County, Kentucky, before striking out on their own.
Therefore, I also believe that Stephen, George and Ambrose Milam are also sons of John and Anna (Jackson) Milam.
After writing the "Major Change to the Virginia Milams" above, the following discussion was the next major change in the Milam family history to be presented. It was published in the Milam Roots newsletter in March-April 1994. It is unedited from that original publication date.
One of the early Milams that has been the most difficult to place, has been Adam Milam who died in 1789 in Warren County, North Carolina.
A number of years ago it was theorized that Adam was possibly the son of Thomas Milam who had died in 1775 in Bedford County, Virginia. One of the reasons for this theory included the fact that Thomas' wife was Mary Rush Adams, so therefore it could be assumed that Adam was named after the family name of Adams. Another possible reason for this placement of Adam was because John (brother to Thomas) already had so many proven and possible sons, while Thomas did not have as many.
As I have done more in-depth research into early records in Warren County, North Carolina, on both Adam and his sons, as well as more extensive research on the sons of Adam, I have begun to notice some things that change the earlier theory.
First, as most of us are aware, John Milam Jr. (son of John Sr.) stated in his Revolutionary War pension application, he was born in 1753 in Brunswick County, Virginia. At about this time period, Brunswick County, Virginia bordered what was then Bute County, North Carolina, where Adam is first recorded in 1771. Both Brunswick and Bute counties are a good distance from Bedford County, Virginia where Thomas Milam is recorded as early as 1763 to his death in 1775. The most common patern of settlement for a young son is to establish his home only a short distance from his father. Adam is closer to John Milam Sr., than to Thomas Milam.
Next, I am finding the naming patterns of Adam's sons and grandsons to more frequently match the naming patterns of the John Milam Sr. descendants, rather than the Thomas Milam descendants. For example, Adam names his sons James, Lewis, John, Rowland and Drury. Remember that in the last issue, I have shown that James Milam, the son of John Sr., named his sons Lewis, William, Edward and James.
When we go to the next generation, the naming patterns become still more similar. Samuel Milam, son of John Sr., has grandsons named Samuel James, John, William, Bartlett, Thomas, Edward, Dudley, Jordan, Lewis, Benjamin and another Bartlett. James Milam, son of John Sr., has grandsons named William, John, Adam, James, William, Lewis, another James, a Rowland, and another William. When we look at the grandsons of Adam, we find a John, Adam, Samuel, a William, and a Thomas.
Even if we were to take out the most common names such as John and William, there is still too much coincidence or similarity of names between the descendants of James and Samuel, proven sons of John Sr., and Adam Milam.
Let me show you an interesting example that helps to prove this case of the unique naming patterns:
Do you think it possible that Lewis Milam, son of Adam, named his son after his "uncle" Samuel? And could Benjamin Milam, son of Samuel, named his son after his "cousin" Lewis?
A third major piece of evidence falls within the concept of the naming similarities. However, this is so significant that it warrants an independent discussion altogether. Remember that a few issues back, I have shown that only the lines that descend from John Milam Sr. and his wife Judith Bartlett/Coles would continue to use the name Bartlett as a first name. It may appear that Adam Milam's family was no exception. Most of the sons and grandsons of Adam settled in Stewart County, Tennessee. The 1830 Tennessee census lists a Bartlett Milam next door to Adam Milam, the son of James Milam, son of Adam. The age of Bartlett fits the right age to be a son of Adam in the 1820 Stewart County, Tennessee census lists.
One last piece of evidence has come out that is a very unique incident. Adam's son Lewis stayed in North Carolina. We find that he is the father of a Samuel Milam. Samuel was born circa 1794 and served in the War of 1812. He continues to live in North Carolina until about 1845, when he took his family to Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
Tallapoosa County, Alabama is where the grandsons of the elder Samuel Milam had settled just a few years earlier. It is apparent that Samuel Milam "the younger" followed his close kinsmen (second cousins) to Tallapoosa County, Alabama, coming down all the way from North Carolina. (Refer to the chart earlier in this report).
Meanwhile, I have also found that Dudley Milam, son of Benjamin Milam Sr., the son of Samuel (refer to chart above), migrated from Tallapoosa County, Alabama to Pontotoc County, Mississippi, where other Milams of Laurens District, South Carolina had moved to also. Shortly after Dudley's migration there, we find some of the Adam Milam grandsons from Stewart County, Tennessee settling in the counties bordering Pontotoc County, Mississippi.
To me, this last item of migrations of kinsmen following kinsmen is another major reason to explain the apparent close kinship between the Samuel Milam family and the Adam Milam family, thus helping to show that Samuel and Adam were probably brothers; along with John Jr. and Bartlett, proven sons of John Milam Sr.
So this will be my new official position of Adam Milam; until something more convincing comes to light. I hope that this is reasonably clear and shows you a stronger logical placement of Adam Milam.
Please help to discontinue the propagation and perpetuation of outdated conclusions, false research, and mis-information of the Milam family history.
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