Cumberland Valley
Millican, Milligan, Millikan, Milliken, Millikin, Mullican, Mulliken, Mullikin etc.


Early Millikens in the Province of Pennsylvania

Lancaster, Chester and Cumberland Counties


Robert Mulliken, otherwise Milliken, a glazier and servant from Lisburn in Co. Antrim, Ireland, was one of the first of the name to settle in the Province of Pennsylvania. He was aged 18 years, when he became an indentured servant on 13 June, 1720, binding himself to work for John Taylor for 4 years in Pennsylvania. His master, John Taylor, a yeoman, lived in Hempfield, Lancaster County, which lies on the eastern shore of the Susquehanna River south of Harris' ferry. Robert is one of the few immigrants that can be traced back to the British Isles, where he sailed from London, and can be directly linked to an Ulster-Scots family, who lived in Lisburn and settled there in the 1600s. The record of his baptism is possbly preserved in the early registers of the Presbyterian Church of Lisburn, which record that Robert Mulliken was baptised on 23 January, 1701, and he was the son of Robert Mulliken. His father, is believed to have been the grandson of Robert Mullikin of Lisburn, a near relation of Thomas Millikin, father Major James Millikin, otherwise of Milliken of Milliken.

On completing his service with John Taylor, Robert Mulliken remained in Lancaster County, and was amongst the first to receive a license from Samuel Blunston, agent of the Proprietors of Pennsylvania, to settle (squat) on land west of the Susquehanna River. These licenses were in effect promissory documents acknowledging that the said person or persons were living on the land and had first rights to buy it. The land could not be patented by survey and warrant, as they had not yet been purchased from the Indians. The land was finally purchased from them in 1738. The names of the earliest settlers in the Cumberland Valley are recorded in the Blunston Licenses Book and it contains the names of two Millikens, who received grants of license for the lands which they occupied.

The Blunston Licenses Book begins:

A Record of Licenses Granted to Sundry Persons to Settle & take up land on the West Side of Susquehannah River by Virtue of a Commission from the Honble Thomas Penn Esqr Bearing Date the 11th Day of January 1733. To Samuel Blunston of Lancast County.

January 24, 1733/4
Robert Miller, 200 acres. No Survey returned. At the head of Letorts Spring.

January 24, 1733/4.
Saml. Chambers, 200 acres. At the head of Letorts Spring.

January 30, 1733/4
Robert Millikin, 250 acres. No Survey returned. Joying up the River a little Below the Mountain & to Include an Island opposite to the Same. Z B 200.

October 11, 1737
William Wierman, 500 acres. On Bermudgion Creek a North west Branch of Conewago.

October 20, 1737
James Milikin, 200 acres. Next above & Joyning to Benja Chambers Meadow at the falling spring at the Old Waggan Road.

The 250 acres of land licensed to Robert Mulliken was located at Letort Spring, a tributary of Conodoguinet Creek in present day Cumberland County. In the Blunston Licenses Book, the land of Letort Spring was the first property to be licensed for settlement west of the Susquehanna River and Robert was one of the first three settlers that Blunston made out grants, namely, to Robert Miller, Samuel Chambers and Robert Milliken. The land at the head of the Letort Spring is located near the town of Carlisle in Cumberland County and takes its name from James LeTort, a French-Swiss Indian interpreter, who had settled at the head of the spring near an Indian settlement (thought to be Shawnees) sometime before 1720. After a dispute with the Indians and arrival by a number of Ulster-Scots settlers and squatters, he was pushed out of the area. These first squatters were removed from the lands in 1721, by order of the proprietary Government.

With �James Millikin�, we have a second Milliken settling west of the Susquehanna River in York County, which was created out of Lancaster Country in 1749. The land licensed to James in 1737 was located somewhere along the Bermudian Creek, a northwest branch of the Conewango Creek in York Country. With two Millikens granted a license to settle in territories west of the Susquehanna River in Lancaster Country, it possible, both men were closely related and James also emigrated as an Indentured servant from the same area as Robert in or around Lisburn. Interestingly, on 19 March, 1747, Mary Mulliken, widow, applied to the Proprietary Government for 150 acres of land in East Pennsboro on the western shore of the Susquehanna River and a copy of her application and warrant is preserved at the Pennsylvania State Archives; her application notes:

Land Warrants and Applications
By the Proprietaries. Whereas Mary Mulliken of the County of Lancaster, Widow, hath requested that we would grant her, to take up One Hundred and fifty acres of Land, including her improvements adjoining Thomas Fisher and Robert Chambers in Pennsborough Township in the County of Lancaster for which she agrees to pay to our use at the rate of Fifteen Pounds ten shillings, current Money of this Province, for One Hundred Acres as with lawful interest for the same, and the yearly Quit-Rent of One Half-Penny Sterling for every acre thereof both to commence from the first day of March 1737. These are therefore to authorize and require you to survey or cause to be surveyed unto the said Mary Mulliken at the Place aforesaid according to the Method of Townships appointed, the said quantity of 150 Acres, if not already surveyed or appropriated, and make return thereof into the Secretaries Office, in Order for further Confirmation, for which this shall be, your sufficient Warrant, which survey in case the said Mary Mulliken fulfil the above agreement within six months from the Date hereof, shall be valid, otherwise void. Given under my Hand and Seal of the Land Office by Virtue of certain Powers from the said Proprietaries, at Philadelphia, this Nineteenth Day of March Anon Domini, 1747.
Signed William Parsons, Surveyor General.
No. 465, 10th March, 1747, Lancaster, Mary Mulliken 150 Acres. Ref. for party 11th July, 1816.

The township of "Pennsborough" then part of Lancaster County was created in 1735. Later, it formed part of Cumberland County, which was carved out of Lancaster County in 1750. By the abovementioned land warrant dated 19 March 1747, �Mary Mulliken� had made improvements on land included in the 150 acres. These improvements seem to refer to the 98 acres and 31 perches in Warrant and Patent No. 465 dated to 11 July, 1816. Mary�s payment to the Proprietaries appears to have been back dated from the first day of March 1737, and if this year date is correct and not a miscopy for 1747, Mary and her unnamed husband may already have been living in Pennsboro as early as 1737. It also raises the intriguing question, was she the widow of Robert Mulliken? If the case, he may have decided to live in the township of Pennsboro, where he died, leaving a widow and young family.

In the first taxable return for Cumberland in 1750, the names of �Andrew Milekin� and �John Milekin� are listed in �East Pennsboro� (see �The earliest list of taxable in Cumberland County�, as given by Mr. Daniel Rupp in the history of Dauphin, Cumberland and other counties, p. 360). By a Deed dated 25 January, 1784, �John Millikan� and �Andrew Millikan�, yeomen of Cumberland County, sold to George Kuntz of the same place, yeoman, certain improvements on the lands made by �Mary Millikan�, deceased. John and Andrew Millikin were heirs at law of the said Mary, both having purchased the interest of said land of the other heirs at law of Mary, and for and in consideration of �207 and 10 shillings paid to them in hand by George Kuntz, delivered and sold to him 101 acres and 79 perches of land on the Susquehanna river.

Mary Millikin evidently died sometime before 1784, when John and Andrew are described as her �heirs at law�. She died �intestate�, in other words, she died leaving no valid last will and testament. Intestate heirs were usually blood related and legitimate children, and event though not stated, it seems, John and Andrew were Mary�s sons. It is also evident that in order to sell the property, they had to purchase the claims of other heirs at law, who had a legal interest in her estate, which suggests there were other children or legal heirs. There appears to be no record of a grant of administration to her representatives and so far, the date of her death or that of her husband has not been found.

Other settlers would soon arrive after Robert and James Milliken. The discovery of the name of John Milliken in the last will and testament of Holdcraft Stringer by Anne (Milliken) Herrick, forms an important link with Cumberland County. Holdcraft Stringer was in the contingent of 307 fighters led Lt. Col. Armstrong in an attack on the Indians at Kittanning (Butler County) in September of 1756, when he was killed. His will was registered in Cumberland County and can be viewed on this link (on Michael Milliken's webpage). In Will Book �A�, it notes a testamentary was filed on 8th day of March 1757 by �John Milliken�, when he was ordered to produce an inventory of Holdcraft�s estate on or before 8th day April, 1757. His will also names, Martha and Susannah Milliken and Edward and Thomas Milliken, all beneficiaries to his estate. The last will and testament of Holdcraft Stringer provides the first reliable, contemporary record to the name of Thomas Milliken, the ancestor of the Millikens of Milford Township in Cumberland County, first mentioned in 1770. This township was created in 1768 under the authority of the Court of Cumberland Country.

In his Biographical Notes on the Millikens of Juniata County, Pennsylvania, the Rev. Gideon T. Ridlon's says �family tradition makes this branch of the Milliken clan of Ulster stock. It is said that three brothers, whose names were Thomas, James and Michael, came from some of the northern counties of Ireland about 1750-4 of whom the latter died on the voyage, and the two former sat down in Chester Co., Pa. We know from the early records of Chester that a whole nest of Millikens were living there as early as 1750, and that numerous branches hailing from this locality have scattered through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and many states farther west. He goes on to note �there is preserved in this family as an heirloom, a day-book of one John Milliken who was a merchant in Dublin, Ireland in the early part of last century (the 18th), and family tradition, which lacks verification, has it that this John Milliken came to Dublin from Caithness, Scotland (Ridlon adds Cromarty, which is wrong), and that three of his sons, or sons of Thomas his brother, emigrated to America, sat down in Chester Co., Pen., and became the ancestors of a host of Millikens in the middle and western states�.

Since publishing his account in the early part of the 20th Century, research undertaken by Michael Milliken, a distant cousin from Harrisburg, has added new information to the Rev. Ridlon�s account on this family and his research can be found in this link. He notes it is assumed that the Millikens mentioned in Holdcraft�s will were brothers and sisters of our family immigrant and quite possibly, John Milliken could be the father of our immigrant. In addition, Martha, Susannah, Edward Milliken fit easily as siblings of Thomas, based on their approximate dates of birth. In 1757, Thomas Milliken of Milford Township would have been aged about 17 years and already living in Cumberland County, when "John Millikin" registered Holdcraft�s will at the County Court House. It is unclear from his will, if Holdcraft and John were related? No relationship is stated, however, given he left his unnamed �plantation� to Martha and Susannah Millikin for their use, this would seem to suggest they were more than friends and implies they could have been related.

Cumberland County Will Book "A" 1750-1769

Decedent: Holdcraft Stringer
Prove Date: 8 Mar 1757
Remarks: To John Millikin, William Miller, John Nailor, Joseph Huston, Ralph Huston, Cobert Miller in Shearman Valley. Martha and Susanna Millikin. Edward and Thomas Millikin.

Very little is known about Holdcraft Stringer, but it seems, he may have been related to John Stringer, whose will was proved probate in 1737, and it notes his wife was called Martha. Could Holdcraft have been one of John's son? Although the will only mentions three sons, William, George and Daniel, it is evident Joseph Stringer of West Fallowfield, who died in the year 1760, was also another son.

Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills 1713-1825

Decedent: John Stringer
Prove Date: 12 Dec 1737
Remarks: Administration to William Stringer, son, Martha the widow and sons George and Daniel renouncing.

Decedent: Joseph Stringer of West Fallowfield
Date: 8 Mar 1766
Prove Date: 5 Jun 1766
Remarks: To brother William Stringer all personal estate until his son Joseph shall be of age when I give to my said nephew and namesake Joseph Stringer all my lands paying to his sisters Sarah McKim �10, Eleanor Stringer �10 and Martha Stringer �10 with reversion successively to his brothers William, George and John. Executors: Brother William Stringer and James Glendening. Witnesses: William Robb, John Huston, Mary Huston.

Decedent: Joseph Stringer of West Fallowfield
Prove Date: 28 Dec 1775
Remarks: Administration to Elizabeth Stringer.

Decedent: William Stringer of West Fallowfield
Date: 15 Mar 1784
Prove Date: 30 Aug 1784
Remarks: To son John messuage, etc. whereon I now dwell containing about 200 acres, etc., paying legacies. To daughter Elinor Stringer �20 gold or silver. To daughter Martha Stringer �20. To daughter Sarah, wife of David McKim, 30 shillings. To son George 30 shillings. To grandson John, son of Joseph Stringer, 10 shillings. To son William tract of land he now dwells on in Fallowfield containing about 140 acres. Executors: Sons John and William.

In his book, Ridlon produced early extracts from the taxable returns for Chester County, which mainly related to William Millikin, ancestor and founder the family of the Millikans of North Carolina, whose history is considered further. In the following list taken only to 1750, appears the name of a "John Millikin" of West Caln in Chester County. I have added in some other names that were not included by Ridlon. These entries have been taken from an Index and still need to be crossed checked against the original book held in the Chester County Archives to obtain the taxable amounts.


Year
1739
1740
1740
1747
1747
1747
1748
1748
1749
1750
1750


 Name
William Millikin
William Milligan
John Millikin
William Millickin
Richard Mulligan
Edward Mullagon
Richard Mulligan
William Millekin
William Milikan
William Millican
Edward Mulligan


 Township
West Bradford
West Bradford
West Caln
East Bradford
West Nottingham
New Garden
West Nottingham
East Bradford
East Bradford
East Bradford
New Garden


 Tax
6/0
6/0
1/0
1/0



1/0
2/0
5/0

 Comment
freeman
landowner
landowner







In the historical record, which relies on the taxable returns of Chester and Cumberland Counties, there is a gap of sixteen years between the sole reference to John Millikin of West Caln in 1740/41 and John Millikin of Cumberland County in 1757. In addition, there is a gap in the taxable returns for West Caln, which was created from Caln Township in 1728 and the land area surveyed for sale in 1733. The area developed due to its location along the main road between Philadelphia and Lancaster. In 1740, John was called a landowner and by 1753, when the next taxable return appears for West Caln, his named had disappeard from the area. It would appear he had already moved west and if related, settled in or near Andrew and John Milliken in Pennsboro Township in Cumberland County.

Although, family tradition makes no reference to �John Millikin� in Cumberland County, the names of Thomas and Edward Millikin, spelt as Milligan, appear a generation later in 1770 and 1771 in Milford Township. Since Thomas was probably aged about 17 years in 1757 and still living with his parent(s), I think, we can safely regard Thomas and Edward as sons of John Millikin and if the same John Millikin of West Caln, it begs the question, what is the connection between this John and the day-book of John Milliken, said to have been a merchant in Dublin, Ireland, in the early part of 18th century? In family tradition, his memory appears to have solely survived through this day-book, which was handed down as an heirloom through the descendants of Thomas.

There is no record of a John Milliken, merchant or craftsman in the Freeman�s Register of the City of Dublin in the decades prior to 1740. Unless a freeman of the City, he would have been unable to carry out his trade or business as a merchant in Dublin. On the other hand, he may well have been living in the northern part of Ireland and trading his good through the markets and merchant companies in Dublin. Significantly, William Millikin or Milliken of West Bradford in Chester County, is known to have emigrated from East Ulster and descended from a family who lived near the town of Dromore in Co. Down.

William Millikin, who later moved to North Carolina, was a Quaker and came from near Dromore in Co. Down and may well have been related to Robert Millikin of Moyallen, a Quaker and Linen Manufacturer in Co. Down, Ireland. He first appears in the tax list of West Bradford, as a freeman indicating he was single and at least 21 years in 1739. With William White of West Bradford, he attended the wedding of Joel Cloud and Esther Stubs at the Bradford Monthly Meeting in Chester County on 24 July, 1741, and in their wedding certificate, both men signed next to each other. Neither one signed as a relative of the couple. By then, William Millikin may well have married Jane White, his first wife, and she related to William White, a landowner of West Bradford from 1737.

The connection with the White family finds further support in West Caln, where John Millikin also a landowner and already of legal age, immediately follows John White of West Caln. He was the brother of Thomas White of West Caln, who died in 1736.

WHITE, THOMAS. West Caln, yeoman.
Dated November 6, 1736. Proved May 3, 1737. B. 20.
To wife Ann 1/3 of all estate and remainder to 3 children Jean, Thomas and John to be equally divided.
Executors: John Love and Samuel Henry and "my brother John White to take account of them both."
Witnesses: William Gregory, Saml. Henry.

It raises the question, could John Millikin of West Caln have emigrated to America about the same time as William Millikin of West Bradford? Both men arrived in Chester County in or before 1739, however, it is unclear if they emigrated as indentured servants or apprentices, or if they sailed as freemen to America. William Millikin is already known to have come from Co. Down, probably sailing from Belfast. The name of his father is unknown, but assumed by most commentators to be called Samuel, based on the naming of his eldest recorded son.

To be continued





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