The following was found in The Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine
Fall - Volume XXIV - Number 1
Pages 13 - 22

(SHARON WICK'S NOTE:  Some of the words here look like typos.  I typed them exactly as they are typed in the Magazine from which I copied them)

THE MILLARDS OF REHOBOTH, MASSACHUSETTS
By Frances Davis McTeer of Detroit, Mich. and
Frederick C. Warner of North Amherst, Mass.

PART V - Continued from v. 23 Summer 1960, p. 160

20.  NATHANIEL (4) MILLARD (Nathaniel-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. at Rehoboth, Mass., 7 Oct. 1696, d. in West Cowessit, Warwick, R.I., between 3 Sept. and 14 Sept. 1761; m. (1) in Newbury, Mass., 29 May 1716, RUTH CHASE, b. there 28 Feb. 1690/1, d. between 8 June 1753 and 1 July 1758, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Follansbee) Chase.  He m. (2) at Warwick, R.I., 1 July 1758, as her second husband, BARBARA (MARTIN) BOWEN, b. at Rehoboth, 13 March 1713/4, d. in Warwick, between 30 July and 15 Dec. 1781, daughter of John and Marcy (Hayward) Martin.  She m. (1) at Rehoboth, 1 March 1730, Obadiah Bowen, b. there 4 Sept. 1709, d. after 1745, son of James and Elizabeth (Garnzey) Bowen.  She m. (3) at Warwick, 27 Dec. 1764, Job Carpenter.

    The identity of Nathaniel Millard’s first wife is found in the will of her father, Thomas Chase, dated 3 Aug. 1732, proved 25 Feb. 1733, which names his daughter “Ruth Miller.”  (Seven Generations of the Descendants of Aquila and Thomas Chase, 1928, by J. C. Chase and G. W. Chamberlain, pp. 37-8)  Barbara Martin, daughter of John and Marcy, is so listed in the Martin genealogy and her marriage and Obadiah Bowen is there noted.  The will of her father, John Martin of Swansea, dated 9 July 1757, proved 3 Oct. 1758, bequeathed to wife March; to sons John, Hezekiah and Benjamin; the rest of the estate to “all my children now living” and to the heirs of two daughters, Hannah and Joannah deceased.  Barbara and her second husband Nathaniel Millard were then living in Warwick, R.I. (Martin Family of New England, 1880, by Henry J. Martin, pp. 86-7; Bristol Co., Mass. Probates, Vol. 16, p. 120)

    Nathaniel Millard was well educated; in 1741 when he was appointed executor of his father’s estate he was identified as a “Clerk”.  He was a deacon of the Oak Swamp Baptist Church (the First Baptist Church of Rehoboth), and on 24 June 1736 was ordained as its minister.  In 1742 First Baptist Church of Rehoboth), and on 24 June 1736 was ordained as its minister.  In 1742 he was dismissed from the church but continued to live in Rehoboth until about 1738, when he moved briefly to Bristol, R.I. and then to Warwick, R.I., where he and his son Nathaniel Jr. operated a forge and foundry.  These various moves are shown from the following deeds.

    On 17 May 1720 Nathaniel received from his father 20 acres on the east side of Oak Swamp in southern Rehoboth “where Nathaniel Jr. now liveth”.  Again on 5 April 1722, his father gave him 100 acres southward from Manwhague; and this Nathaniel Millard Jr. of Rehoboth and wife Ruth sold:  50 acres was conveyed on 6 Aug. 1722 to Joseph Bowen Jr. and the other 47 acres on 6 March 1732/3 to Jonathan Horton (Nathaniel’s brother-in-law).  On 8 Jan. 1744/5 Nathaniel Millerd of Rehoboth sold 15 acres near George Round to Barnard Cole of Swansea, and the following day deeded five acres at Oak Swamp to Ephraim Martin of Rehoboth.  Bristol, Mass. Deeds, Vol. 14, pp. 453, 454; Vol. 33, p. 352; Vol. 23, p. 129; Vol. 34, p. 59; Vol. 38, p. 287)

    On 11 Jan. 1742 Edward Thurber of Providence, R.I. sold to Nathaniel Millard of Rehoboth “my mansion house in Providence with lot”, also one half of lot #15 on Town Street.  On 20 April 1745 Moses Bartlett of Providence sold to Nathaniel Millard of Rehoboth one and one half acres bounded by Killingly and Plainfield Roads in Providence.  But there is no evidence that Nathaniel moved to Providence.  Again on 19 Jan. 1747 he was “of Rehoboth” when he gave “for love” to his son Nathan Millard (#53) of Providence several lots in Providence, viz. All my small lot with the dwelling house purchased of Edward Thurber, “formerly his Majestyes Gole in Providence”, also one half of lot #15, and one and one half acres in Mill Plain purchased of Moses Bartlett.  (Providence, R.I. Deeds, Vol. 11, pp. 120, 340; Vol. 12, p. 171)

    In 1747 Nathaniel began to dispose of his property in Rehoboth.  On 18 March 1748, Nathaniel Millard of Rehoboth, husbandman, deeded to his son Hezekiah Millard (#51) of Rehoboth, husbandman, 15 acres on the east side of the Great Swamp.  On 20 March 1748 Nathaniel Millard of Rehoboth, husbandman, and wife Ruth conveyed to son Nathaniel Jr. (#52) 35 acres in Rehoboth, bounded by land of Josiah Millard (#21).  Ruth gave up her dower rights.  Acknowledged 6 April 1748 before Benjamin Millard (#17) of Warren J.P.  On 30 Sept. 1748 Nathaniel Millard of Bristol, R.I. sold to Richard Round Jr. a five acre woodlot in Rehoboth.  Acknowledged at Providence, 18 June 1750.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 36, pp. 548, 544; Vol. 54, p. 443)

    On 11 April 1748 John and Hannah Monroe of Bristol, R.I. sold to Nathaniel Millard of Rehoboth, a 21 ½ acre farm in Bristol; and on 24 Aug. 1749 Nathaniel Millerd of Bristol sold the same property to Henry West of Rehoboth.  Ruth Millerd also signed this deed.  Witnesses:  Hezekiah and Nathan Millard (Nathaniel’s sons).  Acknowledged 13 Oct. 1748 at Warren before Benjamin Millard J.P. (Bristol, R.I. Deeds, Vol. 1, pp. 38, 60)  The date of this acknowledgement, however, was after Nathaniel had arranged to move finally to Warwick, R.I.  On 30 Sept. 1748 Nathaniel Millerd of Bristol bought of Elisha Arnold and wife Patience of Warwick, 46 ½ acres with a dwelling house on the west side of the road in that part of Warwick called Cowessit; and on 20 Jan. 1757 he bought from Benjamin and Barbra Arnold an additional 2 ½ acres on the easterly side of the road from Aponog Bridge to East Greenwich.  (Warwick, R.I. Deeds, Vol. 7, p. 364; Vol. 9, p. 72)

    Sometime within the next two and one half years Nathaniel’s second son Nathaniel Jr. (#52) also moved from Rehoboth to Warwick.  He was a “founder in brass” and had a shop there near Fulling Mill Bridge.  He father owned some of the tools and “tacklings” of the forge and seemingly the two men operated the business together.

    On 20 March 1751 when Nathaniel Jr. and Elizabeth Millard of Warwick sold to Nathan Millard (#53) of Rehoboth founder, the south half of the property which Nathaniel Jr. and received from his father on 20 March 1748, the boundary of the tract was described as “beginning at the highway at a stone in the ground, sd stone is Ruth Millard’s northeast corner, then westerly by land of sd Ruth Millard 104 rods’ and so on.  There is no record that Ruth (Chase) Millard actually owned this land; according to the deed of 20 March 1748, the tract was the remaining part of the homestead farm of Nathaniel Sr.  But here three years later the place was clearly in Ruth’s possession, and the inference is that Nathaniel Sr. kept title in order to provide a home for his first wife.  The last know record of Ruth Millard is her appearance on 8 June 1753 as one of the witnesses (along with her son Hezekiah Millard #51) to a deed from Noah Millard (her brother-in-law #24) to Joseph Peirce (her son-in-law).  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 39, p. 164; Vol. 49, 0. 333)

    After this removal to Rhode Island, Nathaniel Sr. continued to hold other property in Rehoboth.  On 11 March 1750/1 Nathaniel Millard of Warwick, R.I. sold 13 ½ acres in Rehoboth to his son Nathan Millard of Rehoboth.  On 22 Jan. 1750/1 he gave his brother Noah Millard (#24) a quitclaim on the dower of his mother Rebecca Carpenter, out of the “estate of our honored father Nathaniel Millard late of Rehoboth deceased.”  On 6 April 1754 he sold to his son Hezekiah Millard of Rehoboth, 21 ½ acres bounded by lands of Hezekiah and John Millard (#36).  Acknowledged 28 Oct. 1754 before Benjamin Miller of Warren J.P.  Finally on 1 Dec. 1758 Nathaniel and Barbra Millard of Warwick sold 20 acres west of Manwhague Plain in Rehoboth to Jeremiah Wheeler.  (Ibid., Vol. 39, pp. 163, 403; Vol. 45, p. 386; Vol. 46, p. 414)

    The circumstances of Nathaniel’s transition from a preacher of Rehoboth to a farmer of Warwick, R.I. are not at all clear, and surviving records bearing directly on the move’s attendant domestic readjustments are practically non-existent.  The historian of the church says that Nathaniel Millard was ordained 24 June 1736 minister of the Oak Swamp Church of Rehoboth, “but his principles and conduct were corrupt and he was dismissed in 1742, after which he went off with another woman instead of his wife.”  (A History of New England, with particular Reference to the Denomination of Christians Called Baptists, 1796, by Isaac Backus, Vol. III, p. 148; Bliss, p. 184)

    The question of Nathaniel’s orthodoxy as a Baptist minister lies outside the scope of this genealogy, and in so far as his dismissal was on Theological grounds it is impossible to judge its validity here.  On the other hand, Backus’s insinuation that Nathaniel was unfrocked because of misconduct with the woman who later became his second wife hardly fits with the facts of the case.

    At the time of these difficulties within the church, Barbara (Martin) Bowen was twenty-eight years old, married when she was barely sixteen to Obadiah Bowen, who was four years her senior.  In the succeeding yeas she had five children: 1) Elizabeth, b. 25 May 1732, m. at Rehoboth, 7 Dec. 1751, Solomon Garnzey; 2) Jams, b. 3 Sept. 1734, m. at Warren R.I., 3 Mar. 1755, Patience Miller, dau. of Benjamin (#17) q.v.; 3)  Abigail, b. 7 June 1739, m. Thomas Baxter; 4) Barbara, b. 10 Feb. 1741/2, m. at Warwick, 8 Apr. 1760, Daniel Fish; and 5) Benajah, b. 5 Mar. 1744/5.  All five are recorded at Rehoboth as the children of Obadiah and Barbara Bowen.  It should be noted here that James Bowen was called “of Warwick” in his Warren marriage record and that the daughter Barbara Bowen was married in Warwick.  No evidence has been found to indicate that all of Barbara’s Bowen children did not move to Warwick with their mother.

    Obadiah Bowen was an only son.  The will of his father James Bowen of Rehoboth, dated 8 Oct. 1738, proved 10 March 1738/9, bequeathed to his wife Elizabeth; to his son Obadiah; to “my little Grandson James Bowen… my right in common lands” in Rehoboth, twenty pounds in money and “my sword”; to daughters, Lydia, Elizabeth, Tabitha, Mary, Patience, Experience and Abigail. (Bristol Co., Mass. Probates, Vol. 9, p. 168)  On 12 Feb. 1742/3 Obadiah sold for £ 115 to his mother Elizabeth Bowen of Rehoboth, widow, 25 acres with a dwelling house in Rehoboth.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 34, p. 49)  This conveyance is the last appearance of this Obadiah Bowen in the Bristol County records; he has no probate on file at Taunton.

    In connection with a tax strike in southeastern Massachusetts, a number of men from Swansea and vicinity were involved in September 1744 in a riot which delivered the constable of Swansea from the county jail in Bristol.  The participants, including Nathan Miller ((#37, q.v.) and Obadiah Bowen, fled to Rhode Island, but two years later were returned to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts and were obliged to pay heavy fines.  Genealogy of the Sampson Mason Family, 1902, Bowen who was named in this affair was the same Obadiah who married Barbara Martin, but the incident is mentioned here to suggest a possible explanation for Barbara’s husband’s disappearance from Rehoboth at this particular time.

    It is the purpose of this digression to show that Barbara Bowen continued to live with Obadiah as his wife and mother of his children until a good three years after Nathaniel Millard fell out with the Oak Swamp Baptist Church.  The inference is that the relationship between Nathaniel and Barbara probably did not develop until after Barbara’s husband had disappeared from Rehoboth, certainly did not antedate Nathaniel’s dismissal from the church, and therefore could not have been the cause of that dismissal.

    From the foregoing facts it is apparent that Nathaniel Millard had to careers, at least three residences, two wives, and raised three families.

    With the records presently available it is impossible to define the character of Nathaniel’s separation from his first wife Ruth (Chase) Millard.  There is no divorce recorded at Taunton, and from the language of his will it appears that Nathaniel acknowledged some financial responsibility for Ruth’s welfare so long as she lived.  Despite their parents’ differences the children of all three families were on good terms with each other and with Nathaniel; several of the Bowen children moved to Warwick with their mother and the daughter Barbara Bowen, who was still unmarried, and mentioned kindly of Nathaniel’s will; two of Nathaniel’s sons by his first wife moved to Warwick and one of these was in business with his father; many years later a son of Nathan Miller #53 filed a affidavit to help his father’s half-brother John #56 get a Revolutionary pension.  Very evidently Ruth’s sons felt that their father’s actions were justified under the circumstances and that their mother had not been misused in the matter.

    The will of Nathaniel Millerd of Warwick, R.I., Warwick, R.I., written 6 March 1759, proved 14 Sept. 1761, bequeathed to son Hezekiah, a collection of sermons which “with what I have already given him” to be his full portion; to the next four children each a package of “sundry books … bound up with his name wrote thereon”; also to son Nathaniel, “my smallext stake anvil” in addition to a part of the homestead farm in Rehoboth already given him; to son Nathan, “my place book upon  the Bible” in addition to the house and lands in Providence already given; to daughter Mary Peirce, all  household goods that “I formerly let her have” and others “that her Mother left in her care and possession”; to daughter Rebecca Wheeler, the use of “all my Household Goods that her Mother left with her … upon condition that she shall pay the Doctr and all the changes that arose on her Mother’s late illness”; to granddaughter Patience Dolebeer, “the use of sundry Household Goods and a Gold Necklace that her Grand Mother left with her”, but in case of Patience’s death without surviving children these articles to gold to “her Mother Rebecca Wheeler and to (Rebecca’s) children by her present husband Henry Wheeler.”

    (Was “granddaughter Patience Dolebeer” the Patience Baker whose marriage on 3 Feb. 1757, int. 1 Jan. 1757, to John Dolebe is recorded at Rehoboth?  And was she perhaps born somewhat before 13 April 1742 when “Rebecca Millar was called on her Recoge and upon her non-appearance her Recoge was Declaired forfeited”, and the sd £ 7 was paid in court?  (Bristol Co., Mass. Court of General Sessions, Vol. 1733-1746, p. 81)

    The will continues, to bequeath to three children of “my now wife Barbara Millerd”; to Lydia, an acre of land at the northeast corner of the homestead in Warwick also a long enumeration of household goods; to sons Squire and Samuel, “my Mansion House in Cowessit in Warwick” and the remaining part of the homestead lands; also a Bible and shop tools to each; to “my beloved wife Barbara Millerd”, the use and privilege of the several rooms and parts of the house, “also the use of all my Forging tacklin until her two sons, Squire and Samuel, comes of age”, to Barbara Bowen,  “Daughter of my now wife” and to Lydia, the liberty and privilege of the house so long as hey remain single; “whereas there is a burying place on the Premises given to Squire and Samuel, I do reserve the Previledge of Twenty Rods of land for a burying place for my family.”

    In a codicil, dated 3 Sept. 1761, Nathaniel, “as there is some alteration in my Family hapned since the making of my aforesaid will:, gives to his wife the sue of his Great Bible; to his son John (born since the will was written) one third part of the homestead and personal estate so that “he have an equal share with his brothers Squire and Samuel.”  Barbara Millerd was named executrix.  (Warwick, R.I. Probates, vol. 2, pp. 556-561)

    The will of Barbara Carpenter widow of Warwick, R.I., written 30 July 1781, proved 15 Dec. 1781, bequeathed to sons Squire Millard, Samuel Millard and John Millard; to daughters Elizabeth Lydia Briggs, wife of Joseph.  Her sons to be executors. (Ibid., Vol. 4, p. 22)

    Nathaniel Millard and his first wife, Ruth Chase, had five children, born at Rehoboth:

    Nathaniel Millard and his second wife, Barbara Martin, had four children, recorded at Warwick, R.I.:

21.  JOSIAH (4) MILLARD (Nathaniel-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. at Rehoboth, Mass., 8 Sept. 1698, d. there between 25 March 1771 and 2 Dec. 1775; m. SARAH ….., who d. after 10 may 1762.

    On 16 May 1724 when Josiah Millard received from his father Nathaniel Millard of Rehoboth malster, six acres on the east side of Oak Swamp and 100 acres northeasterly of Manwhague Swamp, the son was identified as a “carpenter of Rehoboth”.  But the following year when his father deeded him an additional 20 acres in Rehoboth on 3 July 1725, Josiah was described as a “founder in brass”, a designation which he carried for the rest of his life.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 15, p. 480; Vol. 16, p. 198; Vol. 23, p. 224)

    On 5 June 1731 Josiah Millard of Rehoboth sold to John Peirce of Rehoboth, the 100 acres east of Manwhague Swamp received by deed of gift from his father.  This deed to Peirce was acknowledged on 7 June 1731 at Durham, Conn.  But Josiah is not mentioned in either the Connecticut Vital Records or in the land records at Durham, and if he did move away from Rehoboth at this time he was soon back again.  On 2 Feb. 1735 Josiah and Sarah Millard (her mark) of Rehoboth sold to John Hix Jr. of Rehoboth, five small parcels of land in Rehoboth on both sides of Rocky River.  Furthermore, on 2 Aug. 1736 Josiah brought back from John Pierce the 100 acres east of Manwhague Swamp, which he had sold him in 1731.  (Ibid., Vol. 22, p. 60; Vol. 49, p. 484; Vol. 25, p. 486)

    From this time on until 1763 Josiah Millard was consistently referred to as “of Rehoboth, founder in brass.”  On 9 July 1746 he sold 30 acres east of Manwhague Swamp to Ephraim Hix Jr. of Rehoboth; on 1 Aug. 1748 he sold eight acres with housing to his brother Noah Millard(#24).  On 21 Jan. 1748/9 Josiah and Sarah Millerd (her mark) sold two lots (eight acres) with buildings to Charles Easterbrook of Rehoboth.  On 14 Aug. 1749 Josiah deeded 35 acres in Rehoboth to Thomas Seamons Jr. (his son-in-law).  On 21 Nov. 1759 he sold 2 ¼ acres in Rehoboth to Jeremiah Wheeler; and on 15 Jan. 1762 he conveyed 35 acres to Aaron Simmons.  He acknowledgment of this deed nine years later on 25 March 1771 is the last record of Josiah in the Bristol County deeds. (Ibid., Vol. 58, p. 298; Vol. 37, p. 176; vol. 38, p. 18; Vol. 54, p. 131; Vol. 46, p. 421; Vol. 54, p. 497)

    On 10 May 1762 Josiah and Sarah Miller (her mark) of Rehoboth sold to Benjamin Anthony of Swansea,  58 acres in Rehoboth adjoining the Dighton Town line, with buildings, Josiah acknowledged alone on 18 May 1762; there is no later record of Sarah.  On 12 Sept. 1763 Josiah Miller “of Dighton” executed two deeds both to Jonathan Horton Jr. of Rehoboth, one for 20 acres in Dighton, and the other for 19 acres in Dighton.  (Ibid., Vol. 45, p. 534; Vol. 54, p. 537; Vol. 59, p. 138)

    However, Josiah’s designation “of Dighton” in these last two deeds does not necessarily mean any actual change of residence; he apparently lived very near the town line.  On 2 Dec. 1775 Thomas Seamans and wife Sarah were appointed administrators of the estate of Josiah Millard “late of Rehoboth”.  Inventory, filed 9 Sept. 1776, included real estate totaling 224 acres in six pieces – five pieces in the easterly part of Rehoboth, and the sixth with a “house wherein the deceased dwelt”, located on the south side of the road to Dighton, bounded by land already given to his daughter Sarah, wife of Thomas Seamans.  One piece of land inventoried was bounded by land “given by the deceased to his grandson, William Miller”(#57, ii.)  On 3 Feb. 1777 distribution was made to Moses Millard, “only son”, and to daughter Sarah Seamons.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Probates, Vol. 24, pp. 316, 237; Vol. 147, p. 104)

    Josiah and Sarah Millard had four children, born at Rehoboth, Mass.:                               

22.  JOHN (4) MILLARD (Nathaniel-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. at Rehoboth, Mass., 20 Feb. 1701/2, d. there 3 Sept 1754 in his 54^th year; m. Swansea, Mass. In January 1720/1m DOROTHY TOOGOOD, b. there 30 Nov. 1696, d. 26 June 1758, daughter of Nathaniel and Martha Toogood.  Both buried on Burying Place Hill in Rehoboth.

    The identity and connections of John Millard’s wife are sown in the following deeds:  On 23 June 1722 John Millerd Jr. of Rehoboth, husbandman, and wife Dorothy together with Martha Toogood of Barrington, spinster, in consideration of 100 acres of land in Ashford, Conn. quitclaimed to Samuel Goff of Barrington “our rights in the estate of our honored father, Nathaniel Toogood of Swansea, now called Barrington, that is… rights in the third which came to our mother, after her decease”.  Acknowledged at Bristol, Mass. on 23 June 1722, by all three.  On 3 March 1728/9 John and Dorothy Millard sold their share in these Ashford land rights to John’s cousin, Robert Millard(#18, q.v.).  On 12 May 1726 Samuel and Rachel Goff and John and Dorothy Millard, all of Rehoboth, and Richard and Martha Goff of Barrington quitclaimed to John Toogood of Barrington their rights in land located near the ferry in New Meadow Neck in Barrington.  Acknowledged by all on 16 Oct. 1727.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 14, p. 337; Vol. 17, p. 309)

    From his father John Millard received a farm on the east bank of Palmer River in Rehoboth as well as several other small pieces of property in the town and land rights in Attleboro.  From time to time thereafter he bought other real estate, including the homestead farm of his uncle, Nehemiah Millard(#&, q.v.) and 28 acres in two parcels from his brother-in-law, Seth Garnsey(#8, v., q.v.).  All of these tracts were located in Rehoboth on the east side of Palmer River.

    The will of John Millerd of Rehoboth, yeoman, dated 20 Aug. 1754, proved 1 Oct. 1754, bequeathed to wife Dorothy “in lieu of her thirds”, room and upkeep; to son Nathaniel, “rights to land in Attleboro which my father gave me”; to son Charles, “bond due from Charles Esterbrook of Providence”; to son John, 30 acres adjoining Palmer River, bounded west by the river also 23 acres elsewhere in Rehoboth; to son Jacob, he to provide for his mother, “my homestead with buildings and moveable estate”; to four daughters, Rachel wife of Charles Goff, Martha wife of James Waldron, Susanna wife of Nathan Peck, and Dorothy Millerd.  Executors: wife Dorothy and son John Millard.  Inventory of the estate totalled £ 727.04.00.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Probates, Vol. 14, p. 175)

    On 1 April 1760 John Millard of Rehoboth (#60) was appointed administrator of the estate of Dorothy Millard, late of Rehoboth deceased, who died intestate “having goods, chattels, rights, credits, et cetera”. (Ibid., Vol. 16, pp. 521-2)  There is nothing in the probate record to indicate beyond a reasonable doubt whether this estate belonged to the widow Dorothy (Toogood) Millard or to her youngest daughter, and no provable datum has been found for either woman after this date.  Yet Dorothy Sr.’s death date in 1758, as shown on her gravestone, lends support to the identification of this 1760 estate settlement as hers; whereas an alternative future for Dorothy Jr. is proposed hereafter.  (Information from Mrs. George H. Bonsall of Quincy, Mass.)

    John Millard and Dorothy Toogood had eight children, born at Rehoboth, Mass.: 

23.  JOSEPH (4) MILLARD (Nathaniel-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. at Rehoboth, Mass., 17 Feb. 1710/1, d. after 27 June 1774; m. (1) at Rehoboth, 23 Dec. 1731, GRIZZELL WHITAKER, b. there 2 April 1710, d. there 22 July 1764, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Squire) Whittaker.  He m. (2) int. Rehoboth, 29 Nov., int. Attleboro, Mass., 6 Dec. 1766, as her third husband, MARY (STANLEY) (MAXEY) READ.  She m. (1) Joseph Maxey, who d. at Attleboro, 20 Oct. 1757; m. (2) int. Attleboro, 8 Oct. 1763, Samuel Read of Rehoboth, who d. either 10 March 1764 or 29 Sept. 1765.  Joseph and Mary (Stanley) Maxey were the parents of Mary Maxey who married Joseph Millard’s son Samuel (#64, q.v.)

    The identity of Joseph Millard’s first wife is shown by a deed of 10 March 1731/2, whereby Joseph Millard of Rehoboth, husbandman, and wife Frizel sold to John Barney, four acres in Rehoboth on the westerly side of Palmer River, “our part of the land of our Hon’d father Samuel Whittaker deceased, and likewise our part of our brother Samuel’s right in That Estate.”  (Bristol Co., Mass Deeds, Vol. 43, p. 298)

    From his father Joseph Millard received a 13 acre farm in Rehoboth and other properties.  On 25 July 1735 he bought from his cousins Benjamin Miller(#17) of Swansea, blacksmith, and Robert Millard (#16) of Dighton, wheelwright, nine acres to be surveyed in common lands in Rehoboth being part of a lot which “our honored father Robert Miller late of Rehoboth” purchased from Daniel Smith.  Witness:  Nathaniel Millerd (#20)  (Ibid., Vol. 49, pp. 206, 207)

    On 19 May 1742 Joseph Millard of Rehoboth, husbandman, sold to Ephraim Martin of Rehoboth, three acres on the west side of Palmer River, being part of a lot purchased by Mr. Nathaniel Millard deceased (Joseph’s father #8) from James Sabin.  On 1 Oct. 1755 Joseph sold nine and one half acres of woodland in Rehoboth to Jeremiah Wheeler; in June 1758 he sold, again to Jeremiah Wheeler, three acres, part of the land “where I now live”.  Witnesses: Grazel Millard (her mark) and Patience Millard (Joseph’s wife and daughter).  (Ibid., Vol. 32, p. 183; Vol. 46, pp. 419, 415)

    After the death of his first wife Joseph Millard began to dispose of his homestead.  On 20 March 1764/5 he deeded “for love and affection” to his son Joseph Millard Jn’r, cordwainer, 22 acres in Rehoboth, “in ye northerly part of my homestead lands”.  On 27 June 1774 he similarly deeded to his son Samuel 49 ½ acres 32 rods in two pieces – one the homestead “where I now dwell”,  Witnesses:  Aaron Kingsley and Squire Miller (#63).  Ibid., Vol. 49, p. 288; Vol. 66, p. 322.

    Joseph Millard and his first wife, Grizzell Whittaker, had ten children, born at Rehoboth:

24.  NOAH (4) MILLARD (Nathaniel-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. at Rehoboth, Mass., 19 Feb. 1729/0, probably d. in Foster, R.I. between 8 Sept. 1787 and the time of the 1790 census; m. at Rehoboth, 9 Feb. 1747/8, JANE MAXWELL, b. there 22 Sept. 1731, daughter of Rev. Samuel and Hannah (Squire) Maxwell. (Peirce)

    Noah Millard was a brazier or brazier monger, that is he made and sold brass utensils.  After his father died while he was still a minor, he and his brother Nathaniel (#20) were co-inheritors of the family homestead in Rehoboth, and their disposition of that property in 1748-51 has already has shown at the conclusion of their father’s biography.

    On 1 Aug. 1748 Noah Millard of Rehoboth bought from his brother Josiah Miller (#21) of Rehoboth, eight acres in Rehoboth with housing thereon; on 10 June 1751 he bought from his nephew Nathan Millard  (#53) of Rehoboth, one acre on the easterly side of Oak Swamp.  On 23 May 1752 Noah and Jane Millard (her mark) of Rehoboth sold to John Martin of Rehoboth, 30 acres on the westerly side of Manwhague Plain, bounded by land Noah had received from his father Nathaniel Millard.  On 4 Dec. 1752 Noah and Jane Millard (her mark) and Rebecca Carpenter (Noah’s mother) sold to Jeremiah Wheeler, 54 acres with a dwelling house in the easterly part of Rehoboth, on the easterly side of Oak Swamp.  Rebecca Carpenter gave up her dower.  On 3 Jan. 1753 Noah and Jane sold to Noah’s nephew Nathan Millard (#53) one acre in Rehoboth, part of the homestead farm.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 37, p. 176; Vol. 39, p. 403 ½; Vol. 52, p. 297; Vol. 40, p. 430; Vol. 39, p. 316; Vol. 40, p. 63)

    These several conveyances in the winter of 1752-3 were evidently in preparation for Noah’s removal to Swansea, Mass.  On 5 Jan. 1753 Noah Millard of Rehoboth bought 115 acres in Swansea on the east side of New Meadow River, all of which he disposed of within the next two years: on 13 Jan. 1753, 31 acres to Isaac Luther of Swansea; on 20 April 1752, 36 acres to Benjamin Cole of Swansea; and on 31 Dec. 1754, 48 acres with a dwelling house to Jacob Barney of Swansea.  In addition, on 8 June 1753 Noah Millard “of Swansea” deeded to Joseph Pierce (see #20, i.), 30 acres in Rehoboth on the west side of Long Hill.  Witnesses:  Hezekiah Millard (#51) and Ruth Millard (see #20).  Acknowledged at Rehoboth on 17 May 1757.  (Ibid., Vol. 40, p. 125; Vol. 43, p. 445; Vol. 39, p. 453; Vol. 68, p. 546; Vol.. 49, p. 333)

    When Noah and his family after their sojourn in Swansea sought to return their residence to Rehoboth, they were warned out of the town on 16 June 1755.  (Bowen, Vol. II, p. 163)  But on 13 Aug. 1755 Noah Millard “of Rehoboth” bought of Israel and Bethiah Barney of Swansea, a house and land near Miles Bridge in Swansea; and on 22 Feb. 1759 Noah and Jane Millard (her mark) “of Swansea” sold this property to Josiah Barney Jr. of Swansea.  Noah’s acknowledgement to this deed at Warren, R.I. on 25 Feb. 1759 is his last record as a resident of Bristol Co., Mass. (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 42, p. 55; Vol. 43, p. 322)

    Either immediately, or after a relatively brief stop-over en route, Noah moved to Scituate, R.I., where his son Samuel was born in 1761.  But the family apparently moved the town to town in Rhode Island just as they had in Massachusetts.  In the State Census of 1774 Noah Millard was listed in Gloucester, R.I. with a household of one male over 16 years, three males under 16, three females over 16, one female under 16, and one negro.  The implication of this record is that in addition to the four listed children, Noah probably had others so far unidentified.

    On 23 April 1783 Noah Millerd “of Foster, R.I.” deed to his son Samuel Millard of Foster, laborer, 17 acres in Foster, bounded by land of Noah Millard Jr., and reserving a burial place two poles square.  (Foster, R.I. Deeds, Vol. 2, p. 35, abstracted by Peirce)  This homestead divided between his two sons probably explains why there is no estate settlement found for this Noah who died between 8 Sept. 1787, when a Gloucester, R.I. deed identifies his son as Noah Millerd Jr. and the date of the 1790 census, when they only Millers (or Millards) listed in either Foster or Gloucester were Noah’s two sons each with a household comprising only one male over 16 years.

    Noah Millard and Jane Maxwell had four known children, the first three born at Rehoboth:               

25.  DAVID (4) MILLARD (Solomon-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. at Rehoboth, Mass., 14 Sept. 1702, living in Ashford, Conn., 27 March 1771; m. int. Rehoboth, 26 Sept. 1702, living in Ashford, Conn., 27 March 1771; m. int. Rehoboth, 26 June 1731, SUSANNA GROSVENOR, “of Pomfret, Conn.”, b. there 31 Oct. 1708, daughter of Ebenezer and Ann (Marcy) Grosvenor.  (History and Genealogies of Woodstock, Conn., 1935, by C. W. Bowen, Vol. VI, p. 266)

    On 20 Dec. 1723 David Millerd of Rehoboth, husbandman, bought of Samuel Millard (#12), 28 acres in Rehoboth “near the Cedar Swamp.”  Six years later, on 3 June 1729, David sold this same land to his cousin Robert Millard #18.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 15, p. 161; Vol. 22, p. 108)

    I was probably soon after this sale that David Millard moved to Connecticut.  On 10 Feb. 1732//3 David and Marcy (sic!) Millard (her mark) of Canada in Windham Co., Conn. sold to Edward Martin of Rehoboth, two lots in Rehoboth on the westerly side of Palmer River, one formerly belonging to Solomon Millard of Rehoboth.  Acknowledged at Rehoboth, 27 Nov. 1733, by both. (Ibid., Vol. 23, p. 230)  On 10 Nov. David Millerd of Pomfret had bought of Jacob Preston Jr., 32 ½ acres of upland meadow with a dwelling house, located in Windham,  Conn.; he evidently occupied this property soon afterward, for on 6 Dec. 1733 he sold lands as David Millerd of Windham.  On 8 Dec. 1734 he bought from David Preston Jr. another 32 ½ acres, being one fourth part of the second lot on the fourth “tear” of the 600 acres lot in Windham.  (Windham, Conn. Deeds, Vol. G, pp. 206a, 266, 312)

    One wonders whether this last purchase may not have been financed from either the proceeds of expectations of David’s assets still remaining  in Rehoboth.  One month earlier, on 8 Nov. 1734, David Millard of Caneida, Windham Co., Conn. had secured a judgment against Nathaniel Briggs of Rehoboth, Mass. In the sum of £ 111.03.03.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Court Orders filed in the Supreme Judicial Court, Suffolk Co., Mass., 40,246, Vol. 274, p. 62)

    After about twelve years’ residence in Windham, during which time he had five children baptised in Hampton, David Millard apparently moved back to Pomfret and then to Ashford, Conn.  On 8 Dec. 1746 Timothy Pearl Jr. of Windham sold to David Millard of Pomfret the lot in Ashford “where I now dwell”; the following day David reconveyed one half the lot to Timothy, who on 6 Jan. 1748/9 then returned the property to David Millard of Ashford.  Thereafter David was listed as a resident of Ashford on 3 Dec. 1750, when he deeded land for a road; on 16 June 1755, when he sold four acres adjoining his homestead; and on 6 May 1758, when he and others “all of Ashford”, quitclaimed on ground for “one Certain Highway” for “the use and Benefit of his Majesties goods and Subjects.”  (Ashford, Conn. Deeds, Vol. D, pp. 206, 207, 365; Vol. L, p. 512; Vol. J, p. 113; Vol. K, p. 207)

    On 14 Jan. 1771 David Millard of Ashford deeded to his son Solomon Millard of Ashford, the lot in Ashford “I now dwell on.”  Acknowledged at Hartford the same date.  Whereupon Solomon Millard of Ashford, on 27 March 1771, conveyed to David Millard of Ashford, one half of the 92 acres where David now lives.  Acknowledged same date.  (Ibid., Vol. L. pp. 478. 513)  This exchange is the last appearance of David Millard in the Connecticut land records, and there is no estate on file in his name.

    David Millard and Susanna Grosvenor had eight children: 

To Be Continued -

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*    For further information concerning reference citations, source materials, and the genealogical geogrraphy of Rehoboth, Mass., the reader is directed to the Introduction.