The following was found in The Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine
Fall 1962 Volume XXVI - Number 1
Pages 22 - 26

(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)

DESCENDANTS OF  ROBERT MILLARD
OF REHOBOTH, MASS. and PAWLING, N.Y.
Compiled by Ruth Kline Lee, Waukesha, WI

    The ancestry of this Robert, son of Nehemiah and Phoebe (Shores) Millard, has been traced in the preceding "Millard Family of Rehoboth, Mass.", and the numbers used hereafter for him and his dependants are continuous with those of the larger genealogy. (See DSGR Magazine, Vol. 23, p. 97.)  Because Robert's family moved away from New England at an early date, and because his numerous progeny have been the subject of extended and extensive research by the present compiler, their data are presented here as a separate history.

    18.  ROBERT (4) MILLARD (Nehemiah-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. in Rehoboth, Mass., 20 April 1702, d. at Pawling, Dutchess Co., N.Y. ca 17814; m. at Norton, Mass., 7 March 1725/6, HANNAH EDDY, b. ca. 1704, daughter of Eleazer and Elizabeth (Randall) Eddy.

    The identity of Robert Millard's wife is found in the will of her father Eleaser Eddy of Norton, dated 7 Nov. 1739, proved 15 Jan. 1739/40, which bequeathed to his eldest son John Eddy of Colchester, Conn.; to sons, Caleb, Eleaser, Joshua, Obadiah, Jonathan and Oliver; to daughters Elisabeth Penny, Hannah Miller and Charity Baker.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Probates, Vol. 9, p. 315/6; Eddy Family in America, 1930, by Ruth S. D. Eddy, p. 894; The Eddy Association Family Bulletin, Vol. VI, #1, p. 186).

    Robert Millard was the first of his family to move away from New England, but at the time he was almost fifty years old and had already spent twenty-five years as a farmer and preacher at Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

    His first appearance in the Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds was on 17 May 1725, when he bought from his father, Nehemiah Millard #7, the easterly part of the latter's "homelot in Rehoboth" on the east side of Palmer River.  The following day, Robert's brother Jonathan Millard bought the remaining part of the homestead.  Apparently the father and both sons continued to reside on the property until Jonathan moved to Norwalk, Conn. and on 30 Dec. 1728 sold his half to Robert.  Thereafter, on 18 Dec. 1730, although title to the whole property then resided in Robert, Nehemiah and Margaret Millard (Robert's father and step-mother) and Robert and Hannah Millard sold jointly to Nathaniel Millard (Nehemiah's brother #8) six acres out of the northeast corner of the homestead.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 16, p. 425; Vol. 17, p. 402; Vol. 25, p. 474; Vol. 19, p. 424; also see the biography of Nehemiah Millard #7 for a more comprehensive review of these transactions.)

    On 27 March 1730 Robert Millard sold to James Wheeler Jr. four acres in Rehoboth, which Nehemiah Millard had deeded to Robert and Jonathan jointly and Jonathan had then deeded to Robert.  On 2 April 1734 Robert mortgaged to James Mason 28 acres in Rehoboth, perhaps the tract bought from his brother Jonathan in 1728; this mortgage was discharged on 14 June 1738.  On 24 Nov. 1734 Robert Millard of Rehoboth, husbandman, and Hannah Millard (her mark) conveyed 14 acres in Rehoboth to Abia Luther.  Acknowledged by both on 30 July 1739.  On 16 April 1742 Robert sold to Squire Bulock of Rehoboth land purchased on 5 June 1740 from Jeremiah Busby Jr. On 18 Sept. 1744 he sold to Benjamin Whipple of Providence, R.I. (his brother-in-law) 40 acres with buildings, bounded by the land of John Millard (#22).  (Ibid., Vol. 19, p. 197; Vol. 23, p. 127; Vol. 30, p. 274; Vol. 41, p. 354; Vol. 34, p. 351; for further details of the sale to Benjamin Whipple see the biography of Nehemiah #7.)

    In addition to his property in Rehoboth, Robert Millard, like many of his relatives, bought and sold land in Ashford, Conn. (See biography of his uncle Nathaniel Millard #8).  On 3 March 1728/9 John (#22) and Dorothy Millard quitclaimed to Robert Millard rights in one-half of 100 acres in Ashford; on 27 Aug. 1739 Robert sold this property to Obediah Bowen "of Rehoboth in Swansea."  On 8 Jan 1732/33 Robert bought from Benjamin Reynolds of Bristol, Massachusetts 100 acres in the west end of Ashford; almost at once Robert sold this lot on 3 May 1733 to John Train Jr. "late of Weston, Mass." (Ashford, Conn. Deeds, Vol. A, p. 261; Vol. G, pp. 164, 1, 2)

    On 19 Nov. 1747 Robert Millard "of Rehoboth" sold to John Millard (his first cousin #22) 20 acres in Rehoboth, which property was the same easterly half of Nehemiah Millard's homestead which Robert had purchased in 1725-- minus the six-acre corner sold to Nathaniel #8 in 1730.  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 37, p. 140)  This sale of a part of the farm on which Robert and his father were then living probably marks the beginning of the end of Robert's stay in Rehoboth.  The younger man was a Baptist minister, and as such he was undoubtedly concerned with his obligation to provide religious instruction for the settlers in "the west."  There are indications that sometime in 1750 he visited the Dover Baptist Church in Beekman's Precinct, Dutchess Co., N.Y. either as a missionary or as a prospective pastor for that congregation.  But he was then still a resident of Rehoboth.  On 10 May 1750 Robert Millard appeared in court at Taunton and swore (in the case of Bowen vs. Richard) that he was at the house of Benanuel Bowen in Swansea about 4 Sept. 1749 when the sheriff took Bowen away.  (Bristol County Court Orders, filed in the Supreme Judicial Court, Suffolk County, Mass., #66, 512, Vol. 413, p. 52)

    Whatever his personal interests, Robert continued to maintain a household in Rehoboth until his father's death on 23 July 1751, but he moved very shortly thereafter.  On 27 Feb. 1752 Robert Millard" of Batmans Presink, County of Gekipsee (Poughkeepsie, county seat of Dutchess County), N.Y." sold to John Millard (#22) of Rehoboth, 23 1/2 acres in Rehoboth, being the westerly " part of ye homestead on which my honored father Nehemiah Millard deceased dwelt."  (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 39, p. 33)  This particular conveyance is important in that it establishes the date of Robert's departure from Rehoboth as between 23 July 1751 and 27 Feb. 1752; it indicates his family loyalty in holding the old place until after his father's death and then selling it within the family; and it confirms the fact that none of Nehemiah's other children were living in Rehoboth at that time.

    Robert's home in New York was located in Pawling Precinct, "beyond Quaker Hill", about three miles northeast of West Mountain.  He lived there the rest of his life and continued to preach at the First Baptist Church of Dutchess County until he was eighty years old.  Most regrettably the records of this church have disappeared from the Archives of the New York State Library, and it has consequently been impossible to obtain detailed information regarding the Rev. Robert Millard's pastorate there.

    In the absence of an estate settlement the following list of Robert's children is based to some extent on conjecture and thus is open to argument.  It has been claimed by some of his descendants that John Millard of Cornwall, Conn. was one of these children.  (Commemorative Biographical Record of Dutchess County, pp. 242-3; Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York, Vol. 1, pp. 65-9)  But the best evidence to date indicates that this John was actually born at East Haddam, Conn. on 21 Dec. 1736, the eldest son of John and Mehitable (Willey) Millard of that place.  (East Haddam Town Records, quoted by Franklin Giddings in N.Y. Gen. and Biog. Record, Vol. 43, p. 189; The American Genealogist, Vol. 23, p. 46,  In the light of these data John is omitted from this compilation of Robert's descendants.

    The children as listed hereafter are given in the Eddy genealogy (p. 894) and in the reminiscences of a granddaughter, Tabatha (Millard) Boyce.  Mrs. Boyce's information, dated 16 July 1833, was included in "Notes on the Millard Family" found in the papers of President Millard Fillmore, which notes are published in the Grosvenor Library bulletin (Buffalo, N.Y.), Vol. 3, No. 3, March 1921, pp. 24-25.  According to this account Robert Millard had twelve sons who lived and had families:  Robert, Joshua, Solomon, Eleazer, Jehoida, Abitha, Jonathan, and Benajah, in that approximate order; the other four died younger and their names are forgotten; in addition there were three daughters, Hannah Boyce, Charity Baker and Phoebe who died young.  Mrs. Boyce further stated that her grandfather Robert Millard died at Quaker Hill at the age of 96 years, "more than 40 years ago"; obviously one of these numbers is incorrect!  The deathdate of 1784 given in the introductory summary is from the account in Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, 1911 by Cuyler Reynolds, Vol. 4 (p. 1459) and is in agreement with the Eddy genealogy.

    Still further confusion arises from the fact that the Eddy genealogy (p. 894) shows Hannah (Eddy) Millard as having died "in 1739."  No confirmation of this statement is to be found in the Bristol County records, and she was certainly living when her father's will was written in November of that year.  Yet surely the configuration of Robert Millard's family, with the over-all interval of twenty-nine years from the birth of Robert the eldest child in 1727 to Solomon the youngest in 1756 lends some credence to the supposition that there were two wives. One family account, written by Rev. David Millard #93, even goes so far as to report that Robert Millard's second wife's maiden name was King.  However, an extensive search through the various King families in Bristol County has yielded no evidence on this point.

    Robert Millard had thirteen known children, the first seven recorded at Rehoboth:

     43. ROBERT (5) MILLARD (Robert-4,Nehemiah-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. at Rehoboth, Mass., 8 April 1727, d. at Beekman's Precinct, Dutchess Co., N.Y. shortly before 19 Nov. 1771; m. PHOEBE .............., who survived him.

    The residences of this Robert Millard are not entirely clear.  Apparently he came to Dutchess County as early as 1750 and remained there when his father went back to Rehoboth, Mass.  On 5 April 1750 at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Robert Millard of Dutchess Co., farmer, acknowledged a debt.  of £11.01.10 owed to James Duncan, and the following October the said Duncan sued to collect. (Dutchess Co. Ancient Documents #545, 546)  It is significant that this debtor in 1750 was not styled Robert Jr.; as has already been shown above, his father Rev. Robert was at that time still a resident of  Rehoboth, Mass.; consequently the younger Robert was the only ma of that name then under the jurisdiction of the Dutchess County Court.

    Because one of his sons was allegedly born "in Connecticut" in 1760, the following deeds are attributed to Robert Jr., though they may have belonged to his father Rev. Robert as absentee owner:  On 18 Oct. 1757 Benjamin Franklin of West Sheffield, Mass. to Robert Millard of Dutchess Co., N.Y. for £90, 100 acres in Noblestown and 1/60th part of other lands.  On 3 April 1760 Joseph Vangddor(?) of Egremont, Mass. for £30 to Robert Miller of Batman's Precinct in Dedah Co., N.Y., quit claim on 1/79th part of a large tract in Takenock "which I with others purchased from the Stockbridge Indians."  On 13 Nov. 1761 Benjamin Franklin of West Sheffield to Robert Millard of Bukman's Precinct, County of Poqway, N.Y. for £60, one whole right in 400 acres of land in Takanck.  (Berkshire Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 1, pp. 147, 112, 113)

    The will of Robert Millerd Junr, tanner of Beekman's Precinct, Dutchess County, dated 14 July 1767, probated 19 Nov. 1771, bequeathed to wife Phoebe, the use of one-half "my lands and one room in my house"; to daughter Temperance and son Abiathar.  "the house I dwell in and the lot of land on which is the first lot I purchased of my Father Robert Millard and contains about 50 acres"; to daughter Abigail and son Robert, "the rest of the lands." "My executors shall take care of my children until they become of full age.  Executors:  George Panny of Philpses Patent and Joshua Millerd of Dutchess County.  Witnesses:  Zephaniah Eddy, Bennajah Millerd, Abiathar Millerd.  When the will was presented in court on 19 Nov. 1771, Benajah Millard of Pawlings testified that he was a witness, as were Abiathar Millerd and Zephaniah Eddy; whereupon George Penny and Joshua Millerd Junr.  (but not called Junior in the will) were "duly sworn to the true execution and performance of the said will by serverally taking the oath of an executor as by law appointed before me, Bartholomew Crannell, Surrogate." (Records of the Albany Court of Appeals, as abstracted by Mrs. C. D. Townsend of Burlington, Vt. and the compiler)

    This estate was in litigation for some time because of debts owed to Henry Beekman.  On 4 Oct. 1773 Sheriff Philip J. Livingston of Dutchess County issued a deed for £188 conveying to Benajah Millerd of Pawlings Precinct, all that land lying in Pawlings Precinct containing 120 acres "which was assigned by Robert Millard to his son Robert Millard Jr. in the year 1767" being real estate purchased by Robert Millerd from Col. Beekman and now occupied "one part by Robert Millard and the other part by Nathaniel Butler."  (Photostat of deed recorded in Dutchess Co., N.Y. on 15 Nov. 1803.

    Some questions have been raised as to whether this Robert was actually the son of Rev. Robert Millard #18.  The Eddy Family in America (p. 894) says that Robert Jr. the eldest son, born 8 April 1727, "died in 1770 aged 43 years, buried in Warren, R.I."  The reference given for this statement (NEGH XLVII, pp. 248-9) is a typographical error, no such death is listed in the Warren Vital Records; the Warren cemetery records (published in the NEHGR, XLVIII, p. 443 and LXX, p. 31) show Robert Millerd (#6 q.v.) died 17 Aug. 1710 aged 43 years, buried in Kickimuit Cemetery.  It is possible that one figure of this date was misread in the Eddy compiler's notes?

    Be that as it may, to accept the situation as given in the Eddy genealogy would be to assume that Robert Jr. stayed in Massachusetts when the rest of his family moved to New York; there is no evidence in Bristol County to support this position.  On the other hand, Robert Millerd Jr. tanner who died in 1771 is clearly "of Beekman's Precinct, Dutchess County"; he devises in his will, land "purchased of my father Robert Millerd"; and his brothers Benajah and Abiathar are witnesses to the document.  In this way he is definitely and positively placed in the family of Rev. Robert Millard #18.

    Robert and Phoebe Millard had four known children:

    44.  ELEAZER (5) MILLARD (Robert-4, Nehemiah-3, Robert-2, John-1), b. at Rehoboth, Mass., 28 May 1732, d. at Ballston, N.Y., 25 May 1795, in his 62nd year, bur. Ballston Baptist Cemetery, Burnt Hill, Saratoga Co., N.Y.; m. (1) ANA......, who probably d. ca 1864.  He m. (2) probably ca. 1766, HULDAH ROBINSON, widow, b. 1733-4, d. at Ballston, N.Y., 19 Oct. 1809 in her 75th year, bur. beside Eleazer in Ballston Baptist Cemetery.

    The single datum available regarding Eleazer Millard's first wife is an ancient gravestone found next to the grave of her son Jedidiah Millard in Dunning Street Cemetery, Malta, N.Y.  This plain, rough, irregular stone yields the partially decipherable words, :ANA Millerd, 176(or 8) Decd. Mother."  From this inscription it is presumed that Eleazer's first wife, whom he married about 1750 in Dutchess County, died in 1764 here in Albany (now Saratoga) County.  Her given name and further identity remain in doubt.

    Eleazer's second wife was a widow, Huldah Robinson.  In 1757 her first husband had died and she was living in Phillip's Patent, Carmel, Dutchess County, when on 22 May of that year she had her son Issachar Robinson baptised there by Rev. Mr. Case of the West Society.  In his application for the Revolutionary pension on 8 Sept. 1832, Issachar Robinson deposed that he was born in Phillip's Patent, 1 Jan. 1756 and that he moved to Stillwater, N.Y. when he was about ten years old.  Perhaps the occasion for this removal was his mother's marriage to Eleazer Millard,  Malta, Stillwater and Ballston are neighboring towns in Saratoga County.  ("Records of the West Society, Phillip's Patent, Carmel, N.Y." in N.Y. Gen. and Biog. Record, Vol. 34, 1903, p. 180; Revolutionary Pension Application S14 345)

    During the Revolution Issachar served ten and a half months as a private in Capt. Elisha Benedict's Co., Col. Van Schaik's New York Reg't and a year in Capt. Job Wright's Co., Col. Tayler's New York Reg't; he participated in General Montgomery's march to Canada and took part in the Battle of Saratoga and the Capture of Burgoyne.  There was also a Charles Robinson who served in the Albany County militia, but there is no indication whether or how he was related to Issachar and Huldah.  Before 1778 Issachar Robinson married Huldah Millard (identity unknown); they lived in Pittstown, Northampton, Stillwater, Edinburgh, and finally in Otisco, N.Y., where he died in 1833.  There were seven children. (Descendants of Issacre Robinson and Elijah Wallis Senior, 1907, by Dr. Fernando C. Robinson, p. 7)

    Sometime well before the Revolutionary War, probably between 1752 and 1764, Eleazer Millard moved from Dutchess County to Albany County, N.Y., into the area which was set off in 1791 as Saratoga County.  his five sons, Robert, Edy, Eleazer, Jedidiah and Nathaniel, all served during the War in the 13th Regiment of the Albany County militia.  (Roberts, op. cit.)   

    The will of Eleazer Millerd, dated 10 May 1795, probated 28 Aug. 1795, divided his estate equally between his widow Huldah and his youngest son Ebenezer.  Witnesses:  Zurzh Beach, James Gordon, and Francis Hunter.  (Saratoga Co., N.Y. Will Book 7, p. 90)

    The will of Huldah Millerd of the town of Ballston in the County of Saratoga, widow, dated 14 Sept. 1809, probated 18 Nov. 1809, gives to "my two sons Nathaniel Millerd and Barzilla Millerd equally ... all my Real Estate consisting of half a Grist Mill and about thirty-five acres of Land in Ballston."  These two sons, who were also named executors of the will, were to pay the estate the estimated value of the real estate (viz. $1150), which sum, after deductions for expenses of maintenance, burial, debts and gravestones, was to be divided "among the children of Nathaniel and Barzilla Millerd, shall have each an equal share and our three daughters, Hannah Burchum, Huldah Hall and Dorcas Hunter, each an equal share and each half as much as one of the sons before mentioned; and the heirs of Phoebe Taylor deceased, equal to one of the daughters; and my son Issacher Robinson, also equal to one of the daughters (my son Ebenezer having before had what I suppose his share I do not give any of this)."  Witnesses:  Nathan Gurney Junr, John McPherson and Jabes Robens.  (Ibid., Book 2, p. 255)

    In the following list some of the ages of Eleazer's children are only approximate, their birth order is uncertain and their apportionment between the two wives is somewhat inferential.

    Eleazer Millard and his first wife had seven children;

     Eleazer Millard and his second wife Huldah had four children:

To be continued - 

______________________

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