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With residency beginning in 1727, Adam Miller (Mueller) is recognized as the first permanent settler in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, US.〔Wayland, John, ''A History of Rockingham County, Virginia'', 1912: Ruebush-Elkins Co, Dayton, VA, pp 33–37〕〔"The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography" Vol X – No 1, July 1902, The Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA, pp 84–86〕〔Strickler, Harry, "A Short History of Page County Virginia" 1952: The Dietz Press, Richmond VA, pp 50–51〕〔Wayland, John, "The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley," 1907: Michie Company Printers, Charlottesville, VA, pp 38–39〕 Born in 1703 in Schriesheim, Germany, Miller immigrated to America as a young married man, settling in Lancaster County, PA in 1724.〔Wayland, John, "Virginia Valley Records," 1996: Clearfield Co, Baltimore, MD, pp 311–312〕〔Strickler, Harry, "A Short History of Page County Virginia," p 51〕〔Wayland, John, "A History of Rockingham County, Virginia," pp 36–37〕 On a trip through eastern Virginia, Miller heard reports about a lush Valley to the west which had been discovered by Governor Alexander Spotswood's legendary Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition.〔Wayland, John "A History of Rockingham County, Virginia," p 37〕〔Wayland, John, Ed: "Men of Mark and Representative Citizens of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia," 1943: The McClure Co., Staunton, VA, p 419〕 In 1727, Miller and his wife Barbara moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia and staked out a claim on the south fork of the Shenandoah River, near the line that now divides Rockingham County from Page County.〔Wayland, John, "A History of Rockingham County, Virginia," pp 33–37〕〔" The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," pp 84–86〕〔Strickler, Harry M. "A Short History of Page County Virginia" pp 50–51〕〔Wayland, John, Ed: "Men of Mark and Representative Citizens of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia," p 419〕 The year of Miller's 1727 arrival in the Valley is confirmed in a 1742 naturalization proclamation by Virginia Governor William Gooch, which states, "And Adam Miller ... having Settled and Inhabited for fifteen years past on Shenandoa in this colony".〔Wayland, "The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley," pp 38–39〕 Miller's birthplace is also cited in the proclamation, which notes that he was "born at Shesoin in Germany", but the correct spelling of "Schriesheim" is cited on the reverse side of the original document, written out and signed by Adam Miller.〔Strickler, Harry M. "A Short History of Page County Virginia" pps 50–51〕 Shenandoah baptismal records show that Miller and his wife had at least three children: Catarina Elizabetha (b. December 20, 1734), Adam Jr. (b. July 16, 1736) and Anna Christina (b. October 18, 1738).〔"Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania: The Records of John Casper Stoever from 1730 to 1779," Genealogical Publishing Company, 1982〕〔Best, Jane Evans: Bear Saga Update: Part Two, "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage" Vol 21, No. 4, October 1998, p 26〕 In adulthood, Catarina (Catherine) and Anna married brothers, John Baer and Jacob Baer, respectively.〔"The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," p 85〕〔Best, Jane Evans: Bear Saga Update: Part Two, "Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage," p 26〕〔Wayland, John, "Virginia Valley Records," p 311〕〔Bakewell, Lois Andis, "Andis-Moe Ancestors in America," p 176〕 In 1741, Miller purchased , including a large lithia spring, near Elkton, Virginia, and lived on this property for the remainder of his life.〔Wayland, John, "Virginia Valley Records," p 311〕〔Wayland, "The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley," p 42〕 He sold of this property to his son-in-law, Jacob Baer, and the spring on Miller’s land is still known as Bear Lithia Spring.〔Wayland, John, "A History of Rockingham County, Virginia," pp 33–37〕〔" The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," pp 84–86〕 In 1758, Miller fought in the French and Indian War, serving in the Company of Lt. Christian Bingaman.〔Hening, William Waller, "Hening's Statutes at Large" Volume VII (1756–1763), 1820: Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond VA, p 186〕〔Wayland, "The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley," p 43〕 He died in 1783, with his estate settled in Rockingham County, VA.〔Levinson, Constance, "Rockingham County Minute Book, 1778–1792 – Part I, 1778–1786" Greystone Publishers, Harrisonburg, VA, p 204〕 == References == 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Adam Miller (pioneer)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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