History for John Milam (ca 1742 - 1780)
The Life of John Milam in Historical and Cultural Context
John Milam was the second son of Thomas Milam, born in Orange County in the Dominion and Colony of Virginia by 1742, or earlier, as recent evidence indicates. See my Genealogy Notes for details here (link) . John Milam married Anna Jackson, daughter of Jarvis and Helena Jackson, in Bedford County around 1768.
We first meet a young John Milam on 27 MAR 1760 when he assisted his father, Thomas, as a chain carrier for the survey of George Row's land warrant (link) for "107 acres of land in Culpeper County.....on North Side of the South fork of Robinson River in the line of a Survey made for John Kelly.....on the Fork Mountain". John was about 18 years old. { The South fork of the Robinson River was soon known as the Row's River and now as the Rose River. } You may view Row's survey with Thomas and John as chain carriers here (link). [309]
On a Culpeper County map of the land plats for Milam and his neighbors, the 1752 John Kelly survey is in the upper left hand corner outlined in white. George Row is next to him, labeled Campbell, and Thomas Milam's land is about a mile down the Row's River from Kelly's near the center of the map. You may study this interesting topographic map here (map).
The John Kelly and Thomas Milam families had a close relationship - being brother-in-laws - which continued after they both removed to Bedford County in the 1760s. For the details, see these links: here (link) and here (link) .
Although there are no deeds, land grants or land surveys for John Milam, we know he had a farm, which he must have leased, because of a road order. From a road order dated 25 MAY 1772, we learn that his property was on the same road with "Capt Charles Gwatkins, Chesley Woodward, John Milam, Garrett Jackson, William Milam, William Fowler and Joseph Jackson". The Jacksons' were brother-in-laws and William Fowler was the father of Rush Milam's wife, Elizabeth Fowler. You may read the details of this road order here (link). [505]
John Milam Appointed Bedford County Constable
John Milam was successful and respected enough that he was appointed Constable and, as you shall learn, Lieutenant in the county militia. In 2007 I first discovered that John Milam was appointed Constable (link) for the Northfork District when I found this scrap of paper at the Records Center of the Library of Virginia. On the other side was written "Northfork Constable's Precinct - all the waters of the said Northfork and up the Southfork to Lick Run and up the same to its head". Years later in 2o14 I found the actual Bedford County court order on 22 MAR 1773. [481] John took the Oath of Constable on 26 APR 1773. [506] You may read the details here (link) and here (link).
Lieutenant John Milam at the Battle of Boonesborough, KY
Until now, it was not known that John Milam had served in any capacity during the Revolutionary War. Indeed the transcriber of William Tracey's pension declaration (below) commented that he could not find a Lieutenant John Milam listed as an officer from Bedford County and suspected that instead it was Lieutenant William Milam - who was known to be a Bedford Militia officer. However, as you shall read, there are at least five Revolutionary War pension declarations from members of Capt. Charles Gwatkin's Company who mention Lt John Milam as an officer at Boonesborough and none mention a William Milam.
A Brief History of the Conflict with Great Britain up to 1777
Following the Boston Tea Party protest against the British Tea Tax in November 1773, the Virginians were so concerned that the House of Burgesses approved a “Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer” on the 24 MAY 1774. [482] On 26 MAY Virginia Governor Lord Dunmore announced that he had dissolved the House. Meanwhile, Dunmore was waging war against the Indians in present day Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky over "hunting rights". The official Proclamation Line agreed to in the treaty between Great Britain and the Indians was far to the East at the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. Officially West of the Appalachians was Indian Territory. Basically this was a land grab by the British who wanted to expand their empire further West. He won "Dunmore's War" in October 1774 at the Battle of Point Pleasant which is on the Ohio River seperatiing present day West Virginia and Ohio. [483]
The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia the same month and passed its Articles of Association, listed grievances against the King of Great Britain and banned certain imports. The Second Virginia Convention was held in Richmond on 20 MAR 1775 at St. John's Church when Patrick Henry argued for "a well regulated militia" and famously said:
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and Slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!....I know not what course others may take. But as for me – give me liberty or give me death!" [484]
By May Dunmore had brought in 43 British marines from the ship Fowey and barricaded his palace in Williamsburg. Threatened by approaching militias, early on the morning of 8 JUN Dunmore fled the palace and joined his wife and children aboard the Fowey.
Also in June 1775, after blockading Boston Harbor, the British "won" the Battle of Bunker Hill at great cost: 226 men dead and 828 wounded. [485] Talk of rebellion and revolution spread through all the colonies but still there were many Loyalists – usually of the wealthy Gentry class and of the Church of England clergy. Norfolk, Virginia, was rumored to be a hot-bed of Loyalists; therefore Fowey and Dunmore headed there. At the time Norfolk was the most populous city in Virginia and also its most important port with the Gosport shipyard nearby. It was there that the British fleet settled. [486]
By December 1775 Virginia had organized a militia force of 900 men who marched toward Norfolk and engaged Dunmore’s British and Loyalist forces at the Battle of Great Bridge. The rebels won the brief battle killing or wounding 102 British. [487] Dunmore and the Loyalists retreated to their vessels. Low on food and supplies and denied permission to acquire them, the British cannonaded Norfolk on New Year’s Eve. Hundreds of homes and warehouses were destroyed in the ensueing fires; only 400 houses remained. Dunmore and the Loyalist fleet slowly made their way 30 miles up the Chesapeake Bay and settled on Gwynn’s Island in MAR 1776 awaiting to be reinforced by the British Navy. The Continental Congress voted for the Declaration of Independence on 4 JUL 1776.
On 8 JUL the Virginia military shelled the British ships with 18 pound cannons from the shore. During the night the 4 British naval vessels and up to 50 private Loyalist ships set sail. On 2 AUG Dunmore finally left Virginia and fled to England. [488]
Many of Virginia’s leading patriots believed that Virginia’s destiny was to expand west. They felt that the Declaration of Independence meant that the British peace treaty with the Indians could be ignored and that the Demarcation Line was no longer an obstacle to acquiring land beyond the mountains in future Ohio and Kentucky. [489] To that end, the Virginia Assembly created Kentucky County on 31 DEC 1776 and appointed George Rogers Clark as Major in command of the Kentucky Militia with Daniel Boone as the Captain in Boonesborough. At the time, Boonesborough had about a dozen families including 30 or so children, 10 to 15 slaves and 22 men to defend it. Nearby Harrodsburg had 84 men and Logan’s Station only 15. [490]
Captain Charles Gwatkins and Lieutenant John Milam's Company
On 1 MAY 1777, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Act of Oath of Affirmation which may be viewed here (link). The following is the Oath of Affirmation, sometimes referred to as the Oath of Alligence, that the men affirmed with their signatures:
"I do swear or affirm, that I renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the third, king of Great Britain, his heirs and successours, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia, as free and independent state, and that I will not, at any time, do, or cause to be done, any matter or thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof, as declared by Congress; and also, that I will discover and make known to some one Justice of the Peace (link) for the said state, all treasons or traiterous conspiracies which I now or hereafter shall know to be formed against this or any of the United States of America."
The Bedford County Court on 28 JUL 1777 proscribed the manner in which the Oath would be administered in the county:
"Agreeable to an Act of the General Assembly of this State, this Court doth appoint the following Gentlemen to administer the Oath of Alligence to the Inhabitants of this County (viz.) John Ward Gent. in the bounds of his Company, ....William Callaway Gent. in his own Company, ....Charles Gwatkins Gent in Capt. Gwatkins' Company,....Isham Talbot Gent. in Capt. Henry Buford's Company....etc." [492]
You may read the entire court order here (link).
On 1 SEP 1777, David Crews, Charles Gwatkins and John Milam signed their names to the Oath of Affirmation along with 47 other men who made up Gwatkins' Company of fifty. You may view the Oath and their names on these two pages here (link) and here (link).
Two family members of Lt John Milam were in his Company: Joseph Jackson - the brother of John's wife, Anne Jackson Milam, signed on page 2; and Benjamin Kelly - John's 1st cousin, the son of John Kelly and Ann Margaret Rush { sister of John Milam's mother, Mary Rush Milam } signed on page 1. Both were captured by the Shawnee Indians at the Lower Blue Licks on 8 FEB 1778. Jackson, Daniel Boone, Benjamin Kelly and six others were "adopted" by the Shawnee at Little Chillicothe on the Miami River in Ohio. Jackson remained with the Indians for more than two decades until 1799. [491]
NOTE: On 20 SEP 1777, William Milam, Benjamin Milam, Zachariah Milam and Rush Milam signed the Oath of Affirmation administered by Justice William Callaway to his Company. [480] You may view a typed copy here (link). By now it is clear that William Milam was not associated with Capt Gwatkins' Company at this time - later though, William and Benjamin Milam would be in Gwatkins's company on 15 MAR 1781 at the Battle of Guilford Court House. You may read the details of that battle here (link).
The Seige of Boonesborough
Naturally the Delaware, Miami and Shawnee Indians concluded that it was in their best interest to support Great Britain to protect their treaty rights and the agreed Demarcation Line. Indeed some tribes were already supplied with weapons from Canada via Detroit. Although Cornstock and other Shawnee Indians Chiefs in Ohio counseled peace, Blackfish, another Shawnee, argued for a sustained attack against the small Kentucky settlements.
With a force of about two hundred, Blackfish led his warriors south from Ohio and began skirmishes around Harrodsburg in mid MAR 1777. The first action on Boonesborough occurred on 24 APR with an attack on two militia scouts, killing one. In the subsequent battle a couple of Indians were killed and three Americans wounded including Daniel Boone who was shot in the ankle. Skirmishes and ambushes occurred at all three settlements in May and began again in July. Boonesborough was under siege for two days during which time corn fields were burnt and cattle were slaughtered. In late July Blackfish returned to Ohio leaving the Kentucky settlements desperate for winter food supplies. [491]
For some time Major Clark and Captain Boone had requested aid from North Carolina and Virginia. Finally in early AUG 1777 Col. John Bowman of Roanoke, Virginia, arrived with one hundred men and took charge of the Kentucky Militia. In October Captain Charles Gwatkins and Lt John Milam arrived with fifty men from Bedford County - a march of some 370 miles. [491]
Pension Declarations Describing Lieutenant John Milam's Service
These pension declarations are from Bedford County militiamen in their seventies taken between 1832 and 1834 who mention Lieutenant John Milam and Captain Charles Gwatkins:
Joseph Jackson, brother-in-law of John Milam, recollected:
"On this 22nd day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before me Richard French Judge of the Circuit Court in the County of Bourbon now sitting, Joseph Jackson a resident of the County of Bourbon....aged seventy-five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the Following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under Captain Charles Gwatkins of the Virginia Line of State Troops in Bedford County Virginia and enlisted for the term of eighteen months sometime as well as he remembers in July 1777 – and that he was immediately marched to Boonesborough Kentucky by said Captain Gwatkins, Lieutenant John Milum & David Crews the Ensign – and that Jesse Hodges, Kellis Eubanks, James Callaway and others was of the same company in all about seventy, and that sometime in December 1777 being transferred to Captain Daniel Boone he was marched to the Lower Blue Licks.... to guard the salt makers – that had been sent there to make salt – and on the 8th day of February 1778 – Daniel Boone and himself, John Holly, James Callaway, Cajah Callaway, William Hancock, Jesse Cofer and others in all twenty-seven was made prisoners by the British and Indians and was carried to the Little Miami {River} and that he remained there a prisoner until after the treaty of peace in 1783. And he further saith that Daniel Boone got away from the British and Indians and returned to Boonesborough.....
S/ Joseph Jackson"
You may read a transcription of his entire declaration here (link).
William Tracy had similar memories:
"The declaration of William Tracey of Bedford County Virginia made in Bedford County Court this 22nd day of April 1833 to enable him to draw a pension from the Government of the United States under the act of congress passed June the 7th 1832 said William Tracey after being duly sworn in open Court sayeth ~
He was born in Bedford County Virginia 1761 agreeable to his fathers register...., where he has resided ever since and now resides, and was Seventy one years old the 8th day of July last agreeable to his fathers register & that he enlisted as a private and volunteer in August 1777 in this County for twelve months under Capt Charles Gwatkin and was marched by said Captain to old Boonesborough in Kentucky to protect the fort and frontier settlers against the Indians and British, was under Lieutenant Milam and part of his time when Boone was absent under Col. Richard Callaway; he thinks our adjutant was by the name of May. That in February 1778 at the Big Blue Licks in Kentucky he was with twenty odd others taken prisoner by the {Shawnee} Indians. Col. Boone was taken prisoner the day before by them. We were at the licks making salt for the Garrison at the fort. He, this deponent, enlisted for Twelve months. He was kept as a prisoner of war by the Indians over five years, was carried to Chilicothe Town {in present day Ohio} then high up said river, then to Piqua Towns and many other places on Big Miama {River} to their towns; then to Detroit and was returned as a prisoner of war after the close of the war with Great Britain.....Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
S/ William Tracey"
You may read a transcription of his entire declaration here (link).
Jesse Hodges adds details:
"On this 4th day of September 1832 personally {appeared} in open Court before Richard French sole & presiding Judge of the Court for the Circuit of Madison aforesaid, Jesse Hodges a resident of Madison County Kentucky aged 72 years in November next – who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he enlisted in July 1777 in Bedford County Virginia for Eighteen Months under Captain Charles Gwatkins in what he understands was the State Troops of Virginia. He enlisted to come to Kentucky to defend the Western Country. John Milam was Lieutenant & David Crews Ensign. We were immediately marched to Boonesborough in the now County of Madison – where he continued to do duty as a soldier guarding the Fort, spying for Indians & hunting for meat for the people in the Fort – he was there during the great Siege of 1778 of 11 days – by 300 or 400 Indians - that he continued at Boonesborough after his 18 months Service was out – did duty as a Soldier & a Spy till the end of the War – in May 1779 he went on a Campaign across the Ohio {River} against the Indians – John Holder Captain & Colonel Bowman Commanded – In 1780 he also served on a Campaign across the Ohio against the Indians – went to the Piqua Towns – was in the Battle – burnt the corn fields – General George Rogers Clark commanded – He also served as volunteer on a Campaign in 1782 – under General Clark against the Indians across the Ohio....
S/ Jesse Hodges"
You may read a transcription of his entire declaration here (link).
John Pribble recounted:
"On this the 14th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the court of Campbell county now sitting John Pribble aged 73 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832.
....Then in the month of September 1777 he again was called into service and met near the Peaks of Otter in the county of Bedford and was marched to Kentucky under the command of Capt Charles Gwatkins, Lieutenant John Milum, Ensign David Crews and was marched direct to Boonesborough where we remained until sometime in April. We were then marched home where we arrived sometime in May 1778. I saw while at Boonsborough Colonel Richard Callaway and Col. Daniel Boone and some troops from North Carolina. In this tour I served Ten months from the time I was called from home until my return....
S/ John Pribble"
You may read a transcription of his entire declaration here (link).
Achilles Eubank recollected:
"On this 21st day of October in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty four personally
appeared before the Circuit Court sitting in and for said County, Achilles Eubank a resident of the County of Cooper and State of Missouri aforesaid, aged seventy six years on the 31st day of July last, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtainthe benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he enlisted in the Army of the United States from the County of Goochland in the State of Virginia some time in the month of July in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven for the term of six months, as a militiaman, under Charles Gwatkins Capt., William May Lieut. & John Milam Ensign; that his company belonged to a Regiment commanded by Col. John Bowman and was sent some time in the month of August next ensuing to Kentucky at Boonesborough for the purpose of guarding and protecting the families at that place, that he arrived at Boonesborough about the 1st of October of the same year where he remained guarding the Fort ‘till the 8th of February in the year 1778, when Daniel Boone was captured at the lower Blue Lick on Licking River with twenty seven other men by the Indians, while engaged in making salt, when he was immediately dispatched to Virginia as an express in company with Squire Boone, and his term of six months had expired upon his arrival and he received no formal discharge....
S/ Achilles Eubank"
You may read a transcription of his entire declaration here (link).
Where were Capt Gwatkins and Lt John Milam during the Blue Licks episode?
In April 1844 the historian, Lyman C. Draper, interviewed Joseph Jackson which is recorded in volume 11C of the Draper Manuscripts. You may read Joseph Jackson's fascinating account by clicking here (link). [501] In the fifteen pages of Draper's hand-written notes, Jackson recalled:
"In early January 1778, Daniel Boone and twenty-eight others went from Boonesborough - where Watkin's Company was stationed - to make salt at the Lower Blue Licks and were to stay a month....on the very night after the Indians had left Blue Licks with their prisoners { 9 FEB }, Captain Watkins reached there with the relief party and kindled up a fire to camp for the night thinking that as the {salt} kettles were gone, Boone and the others had returned to Boonesborough....but after discovering an Indian bow, Watkins and his men now understood what had happened and thought it prudent to leave...." [501]
The pension declarations of other members of Capt Gwatkins' company are fascinating and may be read by clicking on each name in Bold Print: John Brown (link), Ansel Goodman (link), John Holley (link), Richard Wade (link). Goodman and Wade describe in detail their captivity with Shawnee Indians and their escapes.
The length of John Milam's service is not known but John Pribble, John Holly, Bartholomew Gaddy and others "was marched back to Bedford County Va. by Lt James Davis sometime in May" 1778. [598] Lt John Milam didn't lead his company home. Since he was only about 38 years old when he died two years later, one wonders if his death was the result of injuries sustained in Boonesborough.
John's wife, Anne Jackson Milam - sister of the captured Joseph Jackson - was granted administration of John's estate on 26 JUN 1780. "John Kennedy, Basil Wheat, Chesley Woodward and Francis Holley....were Appointed to Appraise the said deceased Estate". [493] You may read the appointment here (link).
Chesley Woodward was a soldier with Lt John Milam on the Boonesborough campaign. His name is below Charles Gwatkins' in the image above. A year later, John Kennedy would be wounded and die along with Benjamin Milam after the battle of Guilford Courthouse (15 MAR 1781) in North Carolina.
On 26 NOV 1780 at Bedford County court, John Milam's Inventory and Estate Appraisal was returned and ordered recorded. You may view the Inventory and Estate Appraisal here (link) .
27 MAY 1782 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK 6, 351. Anne Milam proved that she furnished {during the Revolutionary War} the Commissary {Capt Christopher Irvine} 225 # of beef for which she is allowed £ 16. 8. & Costs.
On 28 NOV 1785 for £122 of Current Money of Virginia Ann Milam bought from Samuel Jack "one certain Tract or parcel of land containing three Hundred and four acres....on the branches of Little Otter River and bounded as followeth, Beginning where Talbot's line crosses the dividing branch.....etc. thence along McLaughlin's line...". [599] You may read her original deed here (link) . Apparently John and Ann had previously been leasing this land.
On 24 SEP 1787 Anne Milam purchased a Slave from David Douglas. [600]
On 19 APR 1798 Anne sold the 304 acres which she purchased from Samuel Jack to Charles Marcle. [601] Apparently, Anne Jackson Milam then removed to Kentucky. I have no information of her life in Kentucky.
Issue of John and Anna (Jackson) Milam ( Robert Wilbanks IV ):
I. Elenor Milam Born Bedford County, Virginia. Married James Spence on October 1, 1785 in Bedford County.
II. Francis Milam Born Bedford County, Virginia. Married William Embrey on January 18, 1786 Bedford County.
III. Polly Milam Born Bedford County, Virginia. Married Thomas Terry on February 24, 1789 Bedford County.
IV. Moses Milam Born circa 1770, Bedford County, Virginia.
V. Stephen Milam Born circa 1765-1775, Bedford County, Virginia.
VI. George Milam Born circa 1765-1770, Bedford County, Virginia.
VII. Ambrose Milam Born circa 1765-1775, Bedford County, Virginia.
VIII. Jarvis Jackson Milam Born March 24, 1779, Bedford County, Virginia.
~~~~~~~~~Please see John Milam's court records for more here (link). ~~~~~~~~~
NOTE TO READERS: Most all the words in bold type face are links to images, maps or word definitions in the Glossary. The Citations and Glossary are available under the Resources tab or here (link) .