Family:William Garrison and Mary Catherine Miller (1)

Research notes

[Lots of work needed on this family, some of this is basically a theory but I am putting it up to preserve and communicate the finds as this can break a lot of brick walls]. Note 2015/03/08: Currently, no other daughters of Patience Miller fit the timeline to have married William Garrison. However, if Mary did not marry Peter Miller, then she, and not Ann, may be the mother of this family. Further research, likely including mitochondrial DNA testing will be needed to include or exclude Mary Miller married to Peter as a daughter of Patience. Unfortunately mtDNA testing cannot prove which daughter is the mother of this family, although a match to the mtDNA carrying descendants of Elizabeth Miller Roblin Cannif should occur.

A piece of information has come to light which may indicate that William Garrison's wife was Ann Miller (not Catherine). While "Catherine" Miller is given as the wife of William Garrison in the Diary of the Rev. Silas Constant (see page 18), it is important to note that this document is a diary, written after the fact as recalled by Constant, and not a register. For the year 1784 he performed 17 marriages and forgot at least five names before he wrote in his diary. Therefore it is not improbable that he incorrectly remembered the first name of the Miller daughter who married William Garrison on 5 February. A multi-step theory supports Ann, daughter of Patience Miller Fowler as the wife of William and mother of Garret Garrison.

The theory relies on the will of George Fowler, the second husband of Patience, who was first married to Garret Miller (died 1777). George appears to have been childless and in his will he left money to Hampton Miller, the son of his deceased wife Patience, and to Garret Garrison, the grandson of that "same wife." George Fowler's will was written and witnessed in Monroe, NY, by Abraham Letts, whose wife was Abigail Garrison, sister of William Garrison.

Patience's daughters were Elizabeth (married Philip Roblin about 1769 and John Canniff about 1793, she had a grandson Garret Austin Garrison but he was born in 1809 and was a great-grandson of Patience), Mary (married Peter Miller 1785), Phebe who died before 1777 (probably before age 15 and childless), Sarah (who married John Burgis in 1778, seems to be the one in the DAR claim who had children in the 1780s and 90s and ended up in Ohio), and Ann (who reportedly married "a Carpenter" but about whom no further information is found).

There is no Catherine among Patience's known daughters, who seem to be well documented. Patience married in NJ and lived there for 10 years before moving to NY and the possibility must be considered that she had a prior marriage to another Miller and a daughter Catherine before 1753 (making her at least 30 when the Garrett Miller children are born, which would be unusual). No daughter or step-daughter (or niece) Catherine is mentioned in Garret's 1777 will, but Garret died a POW in prison and the will was a cursory affair literally produced with scraps of writing materials not long before he died of smallpox, so that introduces doubt.

An additional part of the theory supporting the idea that Garret Garrison is the son of William and one of the Miller women, is that William died in 1796, when Garret was about 8, in Fredericksburg, Lennox, Upper Canada, leaving "several small and defenseless children." The family likely would have survived in part because Elizabeth Miller Roblin Canniff and Samuel Miller, sister and brother to Ann, and Marvel Garrison, brother to William, were in the vicinity to support them but it also seems probable they would have sent one or more of the children back to live with their maternal grandmother in her otherwise childless household in Monroe, New York, very near where they were born and where Garret had lived until he was five or six. Garret would then have spent substantial time as the step-grandson of George Fowler, explaining his relative prominence in the will.

Identification of Children

Three sons are known to have been born in Cornwall before the 1790 census (William Jr., Caleb, and Garret). It is unlikely the second male over the age of 16 on the 1790 census is another son of William, as he would have been born before 1774, when William Sr. was 15. It is unlikely they had surviving daughters before 1790 as they are not listed on the census. It is unknown if further children, including daughters, were born between 1790 and the immigration of the family to Fredericksburg, Upper Canada in 1793. However, William Jr.'s 1808 description of his father's 1795 death indicates he left "a numerous family of small and helpless children" and it seems likely there are additional unknown children born in the 1790-1794 period. Nancy Garrison, known to have been born in 1795 in Fredericksburg (death certificate) is likely a daughter of this couple born after they immigrated and in the year of her father's death. Proving this will be difficult and will likely involve elimination of other Garrison candidate branches (she is not a daughter of Marvel), particularly by birth dates for family groups.

Given what has come to light in the will of George Fowler, mitochondrial DNA appears to be the best tool for investigating these relationships. Hopefully living maternal line descendants of Patience Miller Fowler, through her daughters, including Nancy the possible daughter of her daughter Ann, can be identified and tested (it's possible some already have) and their mtDNA compared. If they match to a certain degree of resolution, this would prove a relationship that is not likely to be recorded.

Connections to the Miller Family/ies

Ann Miller is believed to be the mother of this family, based on the will of George Fowler, second husband of Patience Miller Fowler, which lists Garret Garrison as his wife's grandson (and Ann is her only daughter whose married life is unaccounted for).

There are several connections to Millers in both Cornwall, New York and Fredericksburg, Ontario.

When Caleb requests a lease in Sophiasburgh, west of Green Point, in 1816 he lists as his securities Philip Roblin, whose mother Elizabeth Miller is believed to have helped Philip establish himself there (and may have been living there at the time) and who was Ann's oldest sister (i.e. Philip was his maternal first cousin and he may have even lived with their family after his father died in 1796).

Upper Canada Land Petitions

1808: Son William, includes Certificate issued to father William in 1794

39
To His Excellency Francis Gore Esquire Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada [ ] in Council.
The Memorial of William Garrison of the Township of Fredericksburg
Humbly Sheweth
That the annexed Certificate was granted to the late William Garrison the father of your memorialist in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety four. That in the year following your memorialist’s Father died, leaving a numerous family of small and helpless children. That owing to their misfortune your memorialist’s claim has been neglected till now. That he has attained his age of twenty one years, that he has never received any lands from the Crown nor has any of the Children of his late father. That he is the oldest son; has made the oath of Allegiance.
Therefore your Excellency’s memorialist humbly prays that two hundred acres of the waste lands of the Crown may be granted to him in place of his late father, and that therewith the younger Children of this family may be supported, and that Allan McLean Esq. may be permitted to locate the land and take out the Deed when ready.
And your Memorialist as in duty bound will ever pray,
William Garrison
Fredericksburg
3rd Feby. 1808

39a

I certify that William Garrison of the Township of Fredericksburg has made and subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance required by law before me this third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight.

Alex. Fisher

Commissioner

39b

Single Lot

No 186

Certificate of the Board appointed by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor for the Midland District in the Province of Upper Canada under the Rules and Regulations for the Conduct of the Land Office Department dated Council Chamber Quebec 17th February 1789.

The Bearer William Garrison having on the 25th day of March 1794 Preferred to this Board a petition addressed to His Excellency the Lieutenant Gov. in Council for a grant of Two hundred [acres] [ ] of [blank] in the Midland District. We have examined into his loyalty and character and find that he is duly qualified to receive a single Lot of about Two hundred Acres. The Oath of Fiality [fealty?] and allegiance directed by Law having this day been administered to him by the Board in conformity to the fourth Article of the Rules and Regulations aforementioned

Given at the Board at Adlophustown

This twentififth day of March One thousand Seven hundred & Ninety four

To Mr. Alex Aitken

Acting surveyor of the

Land district

H. [?]

R V. Alstine

Alex Fisher

I Assign to the Bearer [blank] the Lot No. [blank]

In the Township of [blank] in the [blank] containing

[blank line]

Which lands he is hereby authorized to occupy and improve and having improved the same he shall receive a grant thereof to him and his Heirs or Devisees in due form on such terms and Conditions as it shall please His Majesty to ordain. And all persons are desired to take notice that this Assignment [ ] and all others of a similar nature are not Transferable by purchase [ ] or other [ ] on any p[ ] whatever except by an act under the signature of the Board for the District in which the lands are situated which it to be endorsed upon the Certificate

Given at [blank] this day of [blank] one thousand seven hundred and

39c

[illegible pencil]

G39

The Petition of

William Garrison

Received 7th March 1808 fis[]

Allan McLean Esq

[initials?]

To The Acting Surveyors General

Please to report upon

this petition.

J [Smale?]

We do not find any

Location made in the

Name of William Garrison

Chewett & Ridout

Act S Gl

[?] 15 March 1808

Over

Governors House

York 18 March 1808

Referred to the Executive Council By

Order of the Lt Governor W. [Halton?]

[?]

Memorandum 12th May 1808

The Clerk of the Council to write to M McLean and say that the Petitioner cannot be recommended Lot under the present Regulations – Week same day.

1816: Son Caleb’s

To his Excellency Francis Gore Esquire Lieutenant Governor Of the Province of Upper Canada & & & In Council The Petition of Caleb Garrison of the Township of Sophiasburgh in the Midland District of the Province aforesaid farmer Humbly Sheweth The he was born in the State of New York that he came into this Province in the year 1793 and has remained here ever since That he is now twenty nine years of age and has a wife and three children and has taken the oath of allegiance as appears by the annexed certificate That he has never received any Land from government he is now desirous to obtain a grant of Land on which he intends making [permanent?] settlement He therefore prays your Excellency in Council will to grant him one hundred acres of the waste Land of the Crown for which he is prepared to pay the fees under the present regulation And should his petition be favourably considered[?]he in duty bound will ever pray Caleb Garrison

N1057 Receiver General’s Office York 14th February 1816 62a Caleb Garrison has paid the Patent and Surveying Fee of Five pounds fourteen Shillings & One penny [?y] on 100 acres – Regulation 1814 £5.14.1 [Lty] John Galt? Small? Rec Genl John Small Esq &&& Read 13 feb 1816 Granted 100 acres [illegible] Warrant No 10-1 [?] 14 Feb 16

G62 No. 10 Petition of Caleb Garrison for Land as a settler Received 9th February 1816 Referred to the Surveyor General to report is The petitioner has received any land By order J Smale I do not find that this Petitioner has received Any Land [?] Office Thos. Ridout 19 Feb y 1816 Sur Genl Ent. Ptn Lands Book I Page 318 (over) 100 acres Ent Land Book I page 318g

1816: Son Caleb’s Lease of Lot No. 36, 2nd Concession West of Green Point, Sophiasburgh

To his Excellency Francis Gore Esq. Lieutenant Governor Of the Province of Upper Canada etc etc etc In Council The petition of Caleb Garrison of the Township of Sophiasburgh in the Midland District and Province of Upper Canada Farmer Humbly Sheweth That your Petitioner was born in the State of New York from which he came to this Province in the year one thousand seven Hundred and Ninety three and has resided here ever since that he has a wife and three children is now Twenty Nine years of age and has taken the Oath of Allegiance as will appear by a Certificate attached to his petition now in the Council for a grant of land He is now desirous to obtain a lease for lots No Thirty Six [and Forty three – scratched out] in the Second Concession west of Green Point in the aforesaid Township - - and begs leave to offer Philip Roblin and Richard James of the said Township of Sophiasburgh yeoman [sic] as his securities for the payment of the rents he is prepared to pay the usual fees under the present regulations should his petition be [favoured?] Will ever pray Caleb Garrison 49 Receiver Generals Office York 14 February 1816 Caleb Garrison has [fixed?] the Patent fee on a Lease for the Clergy Reserve Lot No. 36 2 Sophiasburgh £1..12..6 [ly?] John Galt [?] Rec Gen

John Small Esq

53a

Read 17 Feb 1816 Granted J. Small Warrant H[?] 4 [] 14 Feb 16

L339 Lease No 53 The Petition of Caleb Garrison For a lease Received 2 Feb 1816 Referred to the Surveyor General to report By order J. Smale

No. 1714 So Ga Lot No. 36 in the 2nd Concession West of Green Point in the Township of Sophiasburghis Reserved for the Clergy [Tenibec?] not known [Lgo?] 13th Feby 1816 Thos Ridout Survey Gen [TG initials?] Granted

1. ↑ Orange, New York, United States. 1790 U.S. Census Population Schedule.
2. ↑ G Leases 1800-1835. Petition 53., in Land petitions, 1790-1855, vols. 97-495, upper Canada sundries, v. 34. (Ottawa, Ontario: Central Microfilm Unit, Public Archives of Canada, 1965)
   v. 220A. Film C-2041.

   1816 petition of son Caleb mentions 1792 as year of immigration.

3. ↑ Constant, Silas; Emily Warren Roebling; and Josiah Granville Leach. The journal of the Reverend Silas Constant, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Yorktown, New York: with some of the records of the Church and a list of his marriages, 1784-1825, together with notes on the Nelson, Van Cortlandt, Warren, and some other families mentioned in the journal. (J.B. Lippincott Company, 1903)
   18.

   https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028826894#page/18/mode/2up/search/garrison