Author Topic: Claudy, Ireland, Millbrook, Millar Eakin, 1800  (Read 1424 times)

Offline jomackiwi

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Claudy, Ireland, Millbrook, Millar Eakin, 1800
« on: Wednesday 26 February 20 00:52 GMT (UK) »
John Millar Born around 1800 was Scots/Irish probably from Alloa, Clackmannshire was a well-to-do businessman who owned 'Millbrook' and property around Claudy. His daughters married into the Ritchie, Craig and Lyons families. There are DNA links to Eakins of Claudy. Any history of how the Millars arrived in Ireland and descendants of this family much appreciated.

Offline wth40

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Re: Claudy, Ireland, Millbrook, Millar Eakin, 1800
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 26 April 20 18:35 BST (UK) »
Hi....I live about 1/2 mile from the home of the Millers of Millbrook.  Only Alex Millers's Daughter, in her 80s lives there now.  The Mill is derelict and the House isn't in the best of order.  Most of the land has been sold off to the neighbouring McCrea family.   I have now idea of when the Miller ancestors arrived from Scotland but as one interested in the history of the 'Big House' families in the neigbourhood, I'm always keen to try and find out.
May I ask what your interest in the Miller family is?   Perhaps you'll get in touch....I hope so and look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
William Houston.

Offline jomackiwi

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Re: Claudy, Ireland, Millbrook, Millar Eakin, 1800
« Reply #2 on: Monday 13 July 20 08:50 BST (UK) »
Hi William,
I have a 4th cousin match to Thomas Wilroy Allen, a descendant of William Miller who went to Louisiana. He has recently been in touch with Eily, the cousin in her eighties you speak of at Longlands Rd.
The nexus is missing from our research but it appears that we share family links to the Eakins, in my case the Postem Eakins.  Since I posted this I have found strong DNA links to the Quaker families of Ballyhagan and 'Skip' has some to the Lyons in his tree. Mine are to Joseph Lightfoot, Father of Katherine Lightfoot who married James Guyen Miller. I'm wondering if the Miller is Skip's family. I am connected to Blackburns via the McCurry line (I'm a Gt Granddaughter of Sarah Jane McCurry) and it now seems that the Limavady ones may connect to the Armagh Quakers. It's all taking place via DNA records because the pre 1800 records are so scarce.  I recently joined the FB site of the McCools looking for descendants of Olivia McCracken and John McCool, but nothing is cohesive yet. Regardless of how it turns out I've learned so much and delved into the Quaker records in Find my Past. I know your name, your reputation precedes you and I'm sorry I hadn't checked my emails on this site. Would love to know if you have any anecdotal reports on this part of history.  Regards, Jo McKee, Auckland, New Zealand

Offline wth40

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Re: Claudy, Ireland, Millbrook, Millar Eakin, 1800
« Reply #3 on: Monday 13 July 20 11:30 BST (UK) »
Hi Jo....Thank you very much for your response.  I've posted your message to the EAKINS ALL Facebook page, which is a worldwide page for people named EAKIN from Ireland and those descended from people of that name.

Best wishes from Claudy, Londondery, Northern ireland.

William Houston


Offline skipallen

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Re: Claudy, Ireland, Millbrook, Millar Eakin, 1800
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 09 October 21 23:11 BST (UK) »
Hi William Houston,
My name is Skip Allen...or Thomas W Allen, Jr. that Jo mentioned in her note.  I wish I had known she was contacting you in 2020.  She probably told me, but 2020 was a hard year and I probably missed it.  Anyway, one of my cousins contacted the current resident of Millbrook, who as you mentioned is the daughter of Millers who have lived there for several generations.  You mentioned a lot of the land has been sold off to the McReas, who are also kin to the Millers in a round about way.  Alex Miller's, 1906-1972, father was Alexander Miller, 1847-1938.  Alexander married Minnie Chambers, 1857-1901.  Minnie's mother was Catherine McCrea, 1812-1901, and Minnie's father was Moses Chambers, 1810-1863. I just learned that connection recently. 
Jo mentioned that my Great Grandfather was William Miller, 1845-1892, who migrated to New Orleans in 1966.  He was my brick wall until I connected via DNA with a couple of cousins now living in England.  The oral history about the Miller family was limited, but I had heard that they had flax mills in Ireland and were well to do back then.  However, oral history is rarely right.  The English Cousins mentioned that Alex's daughter was still living in the old house.  I understand nothing has been done to it since the 1940s if then.  I was told that Alex became interested in Genealogy before he passed and his daughter at Millbrook has an extensive tree. 
One of the cousins wrote to the daughter and asked about their connection.  Her letter broke my brick wall almost completely.  She mentioned John Miller, 1817-1870, my 2nd great grandfather, was married twice.  The first marriage produced five children.  The oldest boy had a corn mill in Artigarvan, the two daughters married locally to Ritchie and Lyons famililes, and the other two sons moved to American and lost touch with the family.  Since then, I have discovered the wives of John Miller were, first Mary McCandless, 1807-1845, and the second Margaret McCutcheon.  I was able to find the will of John Miller and he only mentions 4 children from the first marriage and two from the second.  I have found the Ritchie connection, but not the Lyons family connection.  So I still have holes. 
I do not believe John Miller came from Scotland himself...I think his family was in Ireland for several generations.  I haven't proven this completely, but I believe John Miller's father was James Miller, 1783-1846, and James' father was Robert Miller, 1760-1790.  I desperately need to look at the tree Alex Miller created.  You mentioned that his daughter was in her 80s and that is correct.  I understand that she has arthritis very badly and finds it difficult to write.  My cousins asked that I not write her and ask questions because she would answer, but it would be hard on her.  An uncle visits from time to time, but is also elderly and doesn't know how to take a picture of the tree or get a copy made.  So, I have been struggling along finding what I can. 
I do want to make a trip to Ireland and England to do some research, but it will be a year or a year and a half before I can make the trip.  I hope I will be able to meet my cousin.  Since you live close, would you consider making a copy of the tree for me.  I would write my cousin and introduce myself and explain you would make a copy for me.  I will be glad to pay you to do this for me.  I know this is a long shot...but worth trying to make it happen.  Please respond regardless.  I would love to ask someone from the area about Claudy and other stuff.  We have been working on our tree since the late 60s and it is just now that we are finding our way in Ireland.  Thanks for reading my post.
With warm regards,
Skip Allen

Offline Peggy13

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Re: Claudy, Ireland, Millbrook, Millar Eakin, 1800
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 06 January 24 13:53 GMT (UK) »
 Hello Skip,
This is a longshot, but I am wondering if your John Miller has any connection to Jane Miller/Millar who married Edward Johnston, possibly about 1815 as they had a son also called Edward about 1819 who married an Elizabeth Johnston, abt 1836 and after having a daughter Jane abt 1837, John about 1840, and Thomas about 1842/1844, the family moved to Paisley, Scotland.
I am at Johnston descendant living in Canada and trying to find out where in Ireland, Edward and Elizabeth Johnston came from.
Thanks for any help
Peggy
Meggison-Durham, Northumberland and Canada
Johnston - Co. Derry, Ireland
Groves - Co. Derry, Ireland