CHRISMIL.txt Christopher "Christley" MILLER Sarah Jane "Jenny" SHORT and Jacob WEATHERHOLT by Linda Sparks Starr JUN 1999 The birthplace of Christopher "Christley" Miller is unknown, but Josephtown, PA is SUGGESTED by researcher John Jolly; the year of his birth is widely given as 1768, but no specific primary source for this has surfaced. He married Sarah Jane SHORT circa 1792 in Virginia, or that part of VA which later became West Virginia. They remained in VA through MAR 1799, based on "birthplace" reported by their older children on 1860 Census. Christopher does not appear on the 1800 Breckinridge Co. tax list, but is on the 1801 one further narrowing their arrival date. Another MILLER family with similar given names is found in the county as early as 1795; the relationship between the two has not been determined. This line is traced back to Tazewell Co. VA. Christley died sometime in the latter months of 1815. Ac- cording to Sarah Jane's granddaughter, Mrs. Edna (Pate) Purcell, and Mrs. Mamie Miller whose husband descends from Michael, Christley is buried in the oldest "Old Miller Cemetery"; but, the limestone rock used to mark his gravesite is long gone. The earliest probate court records for Christley Miller show only the date "Term 1815". However, the order for an inventory of his estate is dated 18th of December, 1815. The following transcription of these records is located in County Court Order Book No. 1. Pages are unnumbered and rarely are entries dated: Jenny Miller widow and relict of Christley Miller decd. came into court and moved the court for leave to administer on the estate of her decd. husband which is granted here. Whereupon She with Thomas Patton, Barney Miller & Benjamin Nuffith ______ her Securities came into Court and entered into bond in the penalty of one thousand dollars conditioned agreeably to law and thereupon Letters of Administration is granted her in due form. She having taken the oath required by law. Ordered that William Seaton, John Walker, Samuel Patton & Dennis Waggoner or any three of them being duly Sworn do appraise in current money . . . [At a later session, but same Order Book.] Ordered that Thomas Patton, James Murdoch, Leonard Miller and Thomas Lowry or any three of them being duly Sworn do allot & assign to Jane Miller her dower in the land of which her decd. husband Christey Miller died seized and possessed of and make report thereof agreeably to law. Monday, Dec. 18th 1815 An Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Christopher Miller decd. was entered in court & ordered to be recorded. [This inventory was not found by researcher. Further down the same page:] Also an account of Sales of Said estate and was also ordered recorded. Benjamin Yager is appointed guardian to Michael Miller infant orphant [sic] of Christley Miller decd. whereupon he with James Murdoch entered into bond in the penalty of $150 conditioned agreeably to law. James Tate is appointed guardian for Betsey Miller an infant orphant [sic] of Christley Miller Decd. where- upon he with Robert McKinnon his Security entered into bond in the penalty of $150 conditioned agreeably to law. Thomas Patton is appointed guardian for William Miller an infant orphant [sic] of Christley Miller decd. whereupon he with Samuel Patton & Adam Barger his Securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $150 conditioned agreeably to law. John Dejernett appointed guardian for Nancy Miller the infant orphant [sic] of Christley Miller decd. where- upon he with David H. Moorman Esq. his security entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $150 conditioned agreeably to law. [Same County Court Order Book 1, but the year is now 1821]: Ordered that William Moorman & William Seaton being duly sworn do settle with Jacob Weatherholt and Jane his wife late Jane Miller the accounts of their administration of the Estate of Christley Miller decd. and report to our next court. Despite the above date, WEATHERHOLT researchers [1] say Jacob married Sarah Jane (Short) Miller late 1816. He arrived in KY in 1785, but moved across the Ohio River to Indiana Territory in 1808. He is credited as being the second white man in Perry Co. He operated a ferry between "now" Cloverport, KY and Tobinsport, IN. Following his first wife's death in 1816, he sold his IN property and returned to the KY side of the river. Although some Lincoln historians dispute the route through Cloverport, two of Jacob's children reported the Thomas Lincoln family (including Abraham) crossed the river on Jacob's ferry. In 1868 one son had his account of the crossing recorded in Perry County, IN Deed Book A, page 9. A slightly different version was published in the Louisville Courier Journal, February 8, 1942. Jacob's granddaughter, Mrs. Edna Purcell, added a bit more to her half-brother's tale. [2] In 1821 Jacob filed a petition to reinstate his Revolution ary War pension. The following affadavit [3] was signed by 114 of his Breckinridge County neighbors: "... He is a man who has deported himself well and what little property he has had been made by the sweat of his brow and what he has disposed of Since he was suspended from the Pension lists was done for the laudable purposes of paying his Debts & supporting his family. The under signed believe that Mr. Weatherholt was a faithful soldier in the Revolutionary War, and they know that he is now an old infirm and very much afflicted man, very ill able to work for a living for himself & family which consists of himself, his wife, two Daughters and a son who is a cripple and consequently not able to render him much assistance in support of the family ..." Jacob died 23 APR 1837. Under the Congressional Act of 1853, Sarah Jane filed for pension as widow of a RW soldier: "On this 24th day of March 1853 personally appeared before the Presiding Judge of the Breckinridge County Court Mrs. Jane Weatherholt a resident of said county aged about 83 years ... the widow of Jacob Weatherholt who was a pensioner of the United States ... She further declares that she was married to the said Jacob Weatherholt on the __ day of____ eighteen hundred and Sixteen (but can't find no record of the marriage ... State of Kentucky Breckinridge County On this 28th day of May 1853 Benjamin Waggoner a (sic) Bar- net Miller (known to me this court to be reputable witnesses into court & being duly sworn according to Law declare that they were well acquainted with the above named Jacob Weatherholt & Jane Weatherholt his wife from the time of their marriage which took place at the time & place stated in the foregoing declaration & the said Ben Waggoner was at the marriage in Indiana ... I further certify that the above sworn Jane Weatherholt was prevented from attending in person before the county court on ac- count of her old age & bodily infirmity. Given under my hand this 28th day of May AD 1853. Wm. Van Cox PJBCC" According to her granddaughter, Sarah Jane (Short) Miller Weatherholt died in 1864 and was buried next to Christley Miller. ----------------------------- [1] _The Family of Jacob Weatherholt 1760 - 1837_ by Gary D. Weatherholt, Press96 Indianapolis, 1994, pages 21-28. [2] ibid, page 23. [3] Affadavit and Sarah's petition papers, sent by another researcher, were transcribed by LSS.