William Milligan
Millican, Milligan, Millikan, Milliken, Millikin, Mullican, Mulliken, Mullikin etc.
William Millikin of West Bradford Township
Chester County, Pennsylvania
In 1754, the Chester County Tax Index lists records the names of two men, who lived contemporary, William Millikin or Millikan, a resident in the township of West Bradford, and William Mulligan or Milligan, in the township of New London. The history of the former has been the subject of much research and in his book on the families of Milliken, Millikin, Milligan, Mulligan and Mullikin in North America, the Rev. T. G. Ridlon�s devotes a whole chapter to William Millikan, who moved to North Carolina. In his biographical notes, Ridlon claimed William married Hannah Rowan, and says �from the records of the Orphan�s Court in the same county we learn that a William Millikan had married Hannah Rowan, daughter of William and Elizabeth Rowan of New Garden township; and this was dated June 19, 1759�. The original source in the Records of Orphans Court for Chester County has been transcribed by Dorothy B. Lapp and Frances B. Dunlap under the auspices of the Chester County Historical Society, and is copied below. From the transcript, we learn that Hannah was one of ten children born to William Rowen of New Garden, deceased, who died prior to 19 June, 1759, when the court heard the petition of his widow, Elizabeth, and children, and ordered the division of his land and estate. His widow inherited one third, and their children, each received one tenth part of the land.
William Rowen seems to have settled in Pennsylvania as early as 1718, when he is listed in the Chester County Tax. The township of New Garden takes its name from New Garden in County Carlow in Ireland, and was patented by the Penn family in the early 1700s.
William Rowan, Freeman, 1718
William Rowen, Freeman in 1720/21
William Rowen, Landowner in 1740
William Rowen, 1751
William Rowen, 1753
William Rowen, 1756
William Rowen, 1758
We also learn from the Orphan�s Court�s records, �Hannah Rowen� married �William Millican� and he by right of his wife had set out to him twenty acres and eight perches, part of a tract of one hundred and fifty acres which was valued to the sum of fifty-one pounds nine shillings and four pence half penny lawful Money. In the transcript, he is called �William Millican�, but the original has �William Mullican�. However, even as a beneficiary of William Rowen�s legacy in 1759, William�s name does not appear in the tax list for the township of New Garden between 1758 and 1762, when the names of all the other beneficiaries were liable to pay tax.
Elizabeth Rowen, 1758
Joshua, Rowen, freeman, 1758
Anne Rowen, 1760
James Rowen, 1760
Joshua, Rowen, freeman, 1760
Moses Rowen, 1760
Rebecca Rowen, 1760
Sarah Rowen, 1760
William Rowen, 1760
Benjamin Hartly, 1760
Elizabeth Rowen, 1762
So, what happened to William and Hannah? In the records of the Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends in Philadelphia, the orders of interment note the burial of �Hannah the wife of Wm Milligen� on 17 December, 1759. She was buried in the Philadelphia Quaker burial ground, which was never limited to members of the Society of Friends. Many non-members were interred and some members chose to be buried elsewhere. We cannot be certain this Hannah is the same Hannah, daughter of William Rowan, as her maiden name is not recorded. However, the probability that this was Hannah Rowen cannot be ignored, and if William and Hannah had been living in Philadelphia about the time of her death and buried there by her husband or family, it would explain why their names do not appear in New Garden in 1760, along with the Rowen family.
Less is known about William Mulligan in the township of New London in 1754. This township was located near New Garden and what is interesting, an Edward Mulligan also appears in the tax lists and he lived in the township of New Garden from 1747 to 1753. William may or may not have been son of Edward, but both seem to have been related in that they shared the variant surname of Mulligan. There was also a �William Milligan� listed in the township of Kennett east of New Garden in 1758. He was classed as an �inmate�, a person either married or widowed and landless. He is not listed the following year, when William and Hannah inherited part of the property of the late William Rowen of New Garden in 1759. With two William�s living contemporary to each other, it raises the question which one married Hannah Rowen and who was William Milligan of Kennett in 1758?
William Millikin or Millikan of West Bradford first appears as a freeman in 1739. For the purpose of taxation, a freeman had to be out of servitude or apprenticeship at 6 months, though, it appears that before 1755 single men living with their parents were not taxed. They also had to be at least 21 years before being liable to pay tax, which suggests William was born about 1718 or before. As �William Milligan�, he appears in the tax lists as a freeman in 1740, when John Millikin was listed as a landholder in the neighbouring township of West Caln. A person became a landholder, if they held their land by lease or deed. Although not stated in the tax lists, William appears to have been a landholder by 1749, when a lease of land and buildings was passed to him from John Buffington of West Bradford on 6 March, 1749. It is generally accepted he was a Quaker, as he was one of the signatories to the wedding of Joel Cloud and Esther Stubbs at Bradford Monthly Meeting on 24 July, 1741. In their wedding certificate, William Millikan and William White both signed next to each other, but neither one signed as a relative of the couple. William White of West Bradford was a landholder from at least 1735.
There is no clear evidence to show William Millikin of West Bradford married Hannah Rowen of New Garden, and his only known wife called Jane White is believed to have been the mother of most of his children. The eldest child of William was called Abigail, and she was evidently old enough and of legal age to marry John Frazier in 1759, at the New Garden Meeting House of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Guilford County, North Carolina. The New Garden Meeting House in North Carolina was found in 1752 and may have been named after New Garden Meeting House in Chester County. In his book, the Rev. Ridlon noted William Milliken appears on the Tax List of Chester County from 1739 to 1758, being �crossed off� the latter year. He omits to say that in 1758, William Millikin was living in township of East Marlborough, which bounds New Garden and was there in 1757. It becomes apparent then, we have William Millikin living in West Bradford from 1739 to 1756 and East Marlborough from 1757 to 1758. It also becomes evident, William Milligan, inmate, in the township of Kennett in 1758, is a different man and both men moved to North Carolina.
Two men with the variant names of �Wm. Millekin� and �Wm. Millikan� both appear in one of the oldest tax lists found in Rowan County in North Carolina. It is dated from March 1759 and was found between the walls of the old court house by Wm. D. Kizziah, Register of Deeds. It was a scrap of paper, which he pieced together and transcribed. It was taken before Rowan County was divided into other counties. The earliest tax list dates from October, 1758. What is important, the previous year on 2 May, 1757, �Joseph Milakin� of North Carolina in the County of Rowan, weaver�, narrated his last will and testament before witnesses and probate was granted the same year. In his will, he named his brother �William Milakin�, one of two executors and beneficiaries. However, it is unlikely, he is the same man who subscribed with his mark as one of three witnesses, �William Milakin�, Thomas Potts and William Walsh. By law, witnesses to a will testified in court that they were present when the will was signed and that the deceased person was of sound mind and freely able to subscribe to his own will. To be a witness and executor/beneficiary was a conflict of interest.
With two William�s presents in North Carolina in 1759 and probably the same men there in 1757, when Joseph Millikin gave up his last will and testament, it raises the intriguing question, could William Milligan of Kennett have been the husband of Hannah Rowan and settled in North Carolina after her death? It would certainly explain why we find no record of him in 1760 in the province of Pennsylvania. It would also clarify who married who, as most researchers make Hannah wife, William Millikan, Quaker of West Bradford without any definitive proof they were ever married. On their Website, the late Jill Martin, researcher, and Nadine Duguid Holder express similar reservations about William Millikin marrying Hannah Rowen. They comment that researchers have overlooked the fact that there were several other Millikan families in Chester County, Pennsylvania (prominently mentioned in the Ridlon Book), and that this William (who married Hannah) could have belonged to any of the families.
In the Chester County Tax lists, there is no mention of Joseph Millikin and it seems that he may already have settled in Rowan County before his brother. So far, no record has been discovered to confirm the location and extent of his land along the Catawba River in Rowan County. He had two daughters, Mary and Catherine, who he bequeathed land on the south fork of Catawba River. It appears their mother had died, as he left Isabel Hunter, his beloved friend, his crops, horse, her side saddle, and all household goods and use of the place (house) as long as she keeps unmarried�. It could be inferred his daughters were still young and it was arranged that Isabel would bring them up. It is evident from his will that Joseph could not write and yet, we know from copies of letters preserved in the Rev. Ridlon�s book and others, William Millikin of West Bradford was writing letters before 1755 and could sign with his own signature. When part of Rowan and Guilford Counties in North Carolina were carved out to create a new county called Randolph on 8 March, 1779. On that day, William Millikan and thirteen other prominent men were nominated Justices of the new county, and after taking the oath of allegiance, they all took their seats and organised the first court held in the county by electing William Bell, Sheriff, William Millikan, Register of Deeds, and Absalom Tatum, Clerk.
Rowan County, NC Septr 24, 1764, Wm Millikan
The purpose of this letter written by William Millikan Sr, on behalf of his friend Abraham Woodward
Copy of the last Will and Testament of Joseph Millikin of Rowan County, North Carolina.
In the Name of God Amen the second Day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven I Joseph Milakin of North Carolina in the County of Rowan Weaver being sick in Body but of god and perfect Memory Thanks be to almighty God and calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, That is to say principally and first of all I give and commend my Soul into the Hands of God that give it and for my Body I recommend it to be earth to be buried in a Christian Like and decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but as the general Resurrection I shall reunion the same again by that mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pledged God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispone of the same in the following manner and from. Imprimis it is my will and I do order that in the first place all my just Debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied. Item I give and bequeath unto Isabel (sic Exobel) Hunter my beloved Friend one you bais horse and the young black mare and Cott and her side-sadel and on half of the Hogo and all the household goods and all the working Juls? and the Crop that is now on the place and the use of the place as long as she keeps unmarried and the four cows and Glass and my servant boy Ross Noble, and I give and bequeath to my beloved brother William Milakin all my Land on Fishing brick and one young rone horse and I give and bequeath unto beloved daughters Mary Milakin and Cathrean Milakin all my Land on the South Fork of the Calapa River (Catawba River) and all the rest of my stock equally to be divided between them and I hereby make and appoint my loving brother William Milakin and my Friend William Mills full and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereof revoking annulling and making void all former wills and requests by me made and declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year first above written signed Sealed published and pronounced and relayed by the said Joseph Milakin as his last Will and Testament in the presents of us the subscribers.
William his �X� mark Milakin
Thomas Potts
William Walsh
Joseph his �X� mark Milakin
Transcript from the Orphan�s Court Minutes 1747-1761
Upon the petition of the widow and children of William Rowen late of the township of New Garden, deceased, who died Intestate it is by this court Considered that John Allen, John Hurford, Joseph Dixon, William Richards, Jeremiah Starr junr and Morris Thomas Shall to go all the Singular the Messuages and lands Tenements and Hereditaments whereof the said Intestate died Seized and having due respect to the true value thereof Shall part and divide the same in manner following to wit, one third part thereof for Elizabeth the said Intestate�s widow, two tenth parts of the Surplusage for William the Intestate�s eldest Son on tenth part thereof for the Intestate�s daughter Mary the wife of Benjamin Hartley, one other tenth part thereof for the Intestate�s daughter Rebecca, one other tenth part thereof for the said Intestate�s daughter Anne, one other tenth part thereof for the said Intestate�s son Joshua, one other tenth part thereof for the said Intestate�s daughter Hannah the wife of William Millican, another tenth part thereof for the said Intestate�s daughter Sarah, one other part thereof for the said Intestate�s Son James, and the remaining tenth part for the Intestate�s Son Moses, and how they shall make the division aforesaid they shall make known to the next court under their hands and Seals.
[Lapp, Dorothy B. & Dunlap, Frances B.: Records of Orphans Court for Chester County Pennsylvania 1747-1761, p. 168, transcribed from Vol. 6, p. 60 of the original records]
The person appointed by order of this court of the 19th day of June 1759 to go to all and Singular the Messuages lands tenements and Hereditaments which William Rowen late of New Garden deceased who died Intestate was Seized of at the time of his death and divide the same among his widow and children having made a return thereof in writing under their hands & seals which being read and heard the same is allowed approved and confirmed and it's considered by this Court that the partition thereby made Shall remain firm and Stable forever which said return follows in these words to wit. To the honourable Judges of the Orphans Court to be held at Chester for the said county on the Seventeenth day of June 1760 We John Allen, John Hurford, Joseph Dixon, William Richards, Jeremiah Starr junr and Morris Thomas of the same County Yeomen do make known and Certifie that in pursuance and in obedience to an order of the orphans court held for the said County the 19th day of June 1759 for dividing the lands and Tenements which William Rowne the elder late of New Garden in the said County of Chester deceased was Seiz'd of at the time of his death amongst his Children Pursuant to the said order we have made partition and division of the said lands and tenements which the aforesaid William Rowen died Seized of in manner and form Following that is to say We have allotted and laid out unto Elizabeth Rowen widow and Relict of the said decedent a Certain Messuage or Tenement and tract or piece of Beginning at a post at a corner of the land late of Nathaniel Jenkins in a line of William Miller�s land thence South by the same Miller�s land forty five perches and two third parts of a perch to a marked hickery thence East by other land of the deceased two hundred and thirty four perches to a post in a line of the land late of Benjamin Fredd thence North by the same land forty five perches and two third parts of a Perch to a post thence West by the land late of the said Fred and land late of Nathaniel Jenkin�s two hundred and thirty four perches to the place of Beginning containing Sixty Six acres three quarters and Six perches being part of a certain tract of two hundred acres of land which the said decedent died seized of, We have also allotted and Set out unto William Rowen eldest son of the said decedent a certain tract or piece of land Beginning at a marked hickery in a line of William Miller�s land thence South by the same land Ninety one perches & one third part of a perch to a post thence East by land of Robert Halliday Ninety three perches & three fifth parts of a perch to a post thence North by the land of ye said decedent Ninety one perches and a third part of a perch to a post thence West by the part Set out and allotted to the said decedent's Widow ninety three perches and three fifth parts of a perch to the place of Beginning Containing fifty three acres one quarter & twenty eight perches also part of the said tract of two hundred acres which we Value to the Sum of one hundred pounds eighteen Shillings & ten pence lawful money of Pennsylvania and We have also allotted & set out unto Benjamin Hartley and Mary his wife in right of the said Mary a Certain Messuage or Tenement and piece or parcel of land Beginning at a Chestnut tree a Corner of the land allotted & set out to William Millican in right of his wife Hannah thence West by the same Seventy Five perches and one third part of a Perch to a post thence North by the land set out to the said decedent's widow thirty Seven perches and three fifth parts of a perch to a post thence East by the land allotted and set out to Joshua Rowen one of the sons of the said decedent Seventy five perches and one third part of a perch to a post thence South by the land of John Dixon thirty Seven perches and three fifth parts of a Perch to the place of Beginning containing twenty acres and eight perches part of a tract of one hundred and fifty acres which the said decedent died Seized of which we Value to the Sum of Fifty one Pounds Nine Shillings & four pence half Penny lawful Money of the said Province, We have also allotted and Set out unto Rebecka Rowen one of the daughters of the said decedent a Certain piece or parcel of Land Beginning at a post a corner of the land allotted and Set out unto the said Joshua Rowen thence North by the land Set out to the Widow of the said decedent thirty Seven Perches & three Fifth parts of a perch to a Post thence East by the land allotted & set out to Moses Rowen one of the Sons of the said decedent Seventy five perches and one third part of a perch to a post thence South by the land of the said John Dixon thirty Seven perches and three fifth parts of a perch to a post thence west by the land allotted and Set out to the said Joshua Rowan Seventy five perches and one third part of a perch to the place of Beginning Containing twenty acres and eight perches also Part of the said Tract of One Hundred and fifty acres which we Value to the Sum of thirty four pounds Six Shillings and three pence lawful Money of the said province We have allotted and Set out unto Anne Rowan one of the daughters of the said decedent a Certain piece or parcel of land Beginning at a post a corner of the land late of Benjamin Fred thence North by the Same Ninety one perches and one third part of a Perch to a post thence west by the part allotted and set out to the decedents widow fourty Six perches and four fifth parts of a perch to a post thence south by the part allotted and set out unto Sarah Rowan one of the daughters of the said Intestate Ninety one perches and one third part of a perch to a post thence East by the land of the said Robert Halliday fourty Six perches and four fifth parts of a Perch to the place of Beginning containing twenty Six acres two quarters & thirty four perches part of the said tract of two hundred acres which we value to the sum of fourty three pounds five Shillings & three pence three farthings lawful Money of said Province We have also allotted & Set out to the said Joshua Rowan a certain piece or parcel of Land Beginning at a post at a corner of the land allotted and set out to the said Benjamin Hartley in right of his wife Mary thence North by the land set out to the said decedents widow thirty Seven perches & three fifth parts of a perch to a post thence East by the land set out to the said Rebecca Rowen Seventy five perch and one third part of a perch to a post thence South by the said John Dixon�s land thirty Seven perches and three fifth parts of a perch to a post thence west by the land to set out to the said Benjamin Hartley Seventy five perches and one third of a perch to the place of Beginning Containing twenty acres and eight perches also part of the said tract of one hundred and fifty acres which we Value to the Sum of thirty Seven pounds three Shillings and five Pence farthing lawful Money afore said We have also allotted and Set out unto the said William Millican in right of his wife Hannah a certain piece or parcel of land Beginning at a post at a Corner of John Dixon�s land thence west by the land late of the said Benjamin Fred seventy five perches & one, third part of a perch to a post thence North by the land Set out to the said decedents widow thirty Seven Perches and three fifth parts of a perch to a post thence East by the Land so Set out to Benjamin Hartley Seventy five perches and one third part of a perch to a post thence South by the land of the said John Dixon thirty Seven perches and three fifth parts of a perch to the place of Beginning Containing twenty acres and eight perches also part of the said tract of one hundred and fifty acres which we Value to the Sum of Fourty five pounds fifteen Shillings lawful Money aforesaid We have also allotted and Set out unto Sarah Rowan one of the daughters of the said decedent a Certain piece or parcel of Land Beginning at a post a corner of the land Set out to Anne Rowan thence North by the Same Ninety one perches and one third part of a perch to a post thence west by a part alloted to the decedents widow fourty Six perches and four fifth parts of a perch to a post thence South by the land Set out to James Rowan Ninety one perches and one third part of a perch to a post thence East by Robert Halliday�s land fourty six perches and four fifth parts of a perch to the place of Beginning twenty Six acres two quarters and thirty four Perches also part of the said Tract of two hundred acres which we Value to the Sum of thirty two pounds Nine Shillings & eight pence three farthings lawful money aforesaid We have also allotted & set out unto James Rowen one of the Sons of the said decedent a certain piece or parcel of Land Beginning at a post a corner of the Land Set out to the said Sarah Rowan thence North by the same Ninety one perches and one third part of a perch to a post thence West by the part allotted to the said decedents widow fourty six perches and four fifth parts of a perch to a post thence South by the land so set out to the said decedents son William Ninety one Perches & one third part of a perch to a post thence East by the said Robert Halliday�s land fourty six Perches and four fifth parts of a Perch to the place of Beginning containing twenty six acres two quarters & thirty four perches also part of the said tract of two hundred acres which we value to the sum of fourty three pounds five Shillings & three pence three Farthings lawful Money aforesaid We have also allotted and set out to Moses Rowen one of the sons of the said decedent a Certain Piece or Parcel of Land Beginning at a post a Corner of the land set out to the said Rebecha Rowan thence west by the same Seventy five perches & one third part of a perch to a post thence North by the land so set out to the said decedents widow thirty Seven perches & three fifth parts of a perch to a small hickery thence East by the land Seated by James Millhouse seventy five perches and three fifth parts of a perch to a Post a Corner of John Dixon's land thence by the same South thirty Seven perches & three fifth parts of a perch to the place of Beginning containing twenty acres and eight perches part of the said tract of one hundred & fifty acres which we value to the Sum of fourty two Pounds Six Shillings & five pence lawful Money aforesaid We have also allotted and set out unto the widow of the said decedent one other tract or parcel of land Beginning at a post a corner of the land late of the said Benjamin Fred thence East by the same fourty two perches & two third parts of a perch to a post thence North by the land set out to William Williams, Benjamin Hartley Joshua Rowan, Rebecha Rowan and Moses Rowen one hundred & eighty eight perches to a Small hickery thence West by the land Seated by James Millhouse fourty two perches & two third parts of a perch to a post thence South by land of William Jackson and land late of the said Nathaniel Jenkins one hundred & eighty eight perches to the place of Beginning Containing Fifty acres & twenty one perches which said two tracts so set out to the widow as aforesaid being in full of her Share of all and Singular the lands and tenements which the said decedent died seized of and that the aforesaid Children Shares or purparts may be made as near equal as may be allowing the eldest Son two Shares that Such of them whose lands so allotted and set out amounts to more than their equal Shares or purparts of the said decedents lands and Tenements do pay in lawful Money of the said Province out of the same to such of the said decedents children whose lands so allotted and set out do not amount in Value to their Proportionable part or equal Share as aforesaid.
All which we Submit to this Court as Witness our hands & Seals the 17th day of September 1759.
John Allen LS
John Hurford LS
Joseph Dixon LS
William Richards LS
Jermiah Starr LS
Morris Thomas LS
[Lapp, Dorothy B. & Dunlap, Frances B.: Records of Orphans Court for Chester County Pennsylvania 1747-1761, p. 179-183, transcribed from Vol. 6, p. 69-72 of the original records]
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