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Court Records for Moses Milam (ca 1752 - ca 1815)
A Chronology of his Life as Found in Court Records
24 MAR 1773 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK B5A, p87. Moses Milam vs David Wright judgment. {Wright} Confessed according to account & Costs. Stay exam 3 months. You can read Moses Milam's account statement here (image).
Fall of 1774 Dunmore’s War. Payroll for 45 days, £ 3, Shillings 7 & Cents 6. Capt Henry Pauling’s Company of Botetourt County. The roster of Pauling's company is here (link).
On 1 MAY 1777, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Act of Oath of Affirmation which may be viewed here (link). The following is the Oath of Affirmation, sometimes referred to as the Oath of Alligence, that the men affirmed with their signatures:
"I do swear or affirm, that I renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the third, king of Great Britain, his heirs and successours, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia, as free and independent state, and that I will not, at any time, do, or cause to be done, any matter or thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof, as declared by Congress; and also, that I will discover and make known to some one justice of the peace for the said state, all treasons or traiterous conspiracies which I now or hereafter shall know to be formed against this or any of the United States of America."
13 OCT 1780 BEDFORD COUNTY, WILL BOOK 1, 404. Moses Milam was a witness on the Will of his brother, Benjamin Milam.
10 FEB 1781 BEDFORD COUNTY, DEED BOOK 7, p 74 – 75. “This Indenture made the tenth day of February 1781 Between Charles McGlocklin Junior of the one part and Moses Milam of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Charles McGlocklin for and in Consideration of the sum of Sixty Pounds to him in hand paid, the Receipt whereof he doth hereby Acknowledge, Hath Bargained, sold and by these presents Doth Bargain, Sell and Confirm unto the said Moses Milam...One Certain parcel or Tract of Land lying and being in the County of Bedford on both sides of the Northfork of the Otter River beginning at a Small white oak thence....thence Joining Moses and Benjamin Milams and Bains Mill Tract....the said Charles McGlocklin has hereby set his Hand & Seal the date and year first above written. Signed: Charles McGlocklin Jr
Wittneses: James Buford, William Boyd (Jr), Elijah Williams” [507] View it here (image) . The acreage is not mentioned but, when this property sold on 19 Apr 1788 to John Bondurant, it was "one hundred acres more or less".
12 Jun 1783 BEDFORD COUNTY JUDGMENTS, Box 63, 1789 On 12 JUN 1783 Moses Milam signed a bond to Alexander Baine, proptietor of Baine's Mill, , for £ 20 and two Pence which was to be repayed with interest within three months. The penalty amount was double - £ 40 and 4 pence - if not repayed by then. William Boyd Jr. as Moses Security (link) also signed.
"The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound Moses Milam hath Sundry Goods under Execution to Satisfy Alexander Baine of Twenty pounds and two pence current money of Virginia, Now if the said Moses Milam do pay the same within three months from the date hereof with legal Interest thereon then the above Obligation void else to remain in full force & Virtue. Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of Lynch {Clerk of Court} You may read this record here (image) .
NOTE: Because of the ongoing Revolutionary War foreign merchants, mostly English and Scottish, were forbidden from collecting debts. However, in May 1789 the Bedford Court ordered judgment against William Boyd Jr.
29 MAR 1784 BEDFORD COUNTY, DEED BOOK 7, p 316 – 317. “This Indenture made the twenty ninth day of March 1784 Between James Ward of the County of Botetourt of the one part and Moses Milam of the County of Bedford, State of Virginia, of the other part. Witnesseth that the said James Ward in Consideration of the sum of Forty Pounds to him in hand paid, Doth bargain and sell to the Said Moses Milam and his Heirs One Certain Tract or parcel of Land in the County of Bedford on the West sides of the Northfork of the Otter River joining the lands of Alexander Bain commonly called the Mill Tract containing two hundred acres...and bounded as follows...Beginning at a...pine on William Boyd’s line.....Together with all the Appurtenances To have an to Hold...
Signed sealed and delivered,,, James Ward
In the presence of: Thomas Logwood, Solomon Tracy, Henry Jeter At a Court held for Bedford 26th April 1784 Test: James Strptoe” [508] You may read the original deed here (image).
27 SEP 1784 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK 8, 85. Ordered that Moses Milam be appointed Surveyor of the Road in the Room of Moses McElvaine with the hands as per List filed.
25 SEP 1786 BEDFORD COUNTY, WILL BOOK 1 (1763 – 1787), p 513 – 516. Excerpt from of John Stovall’s Estate Inventory: “…..Moses Milam for making Stovall’s Coffin….” Executor: Henry Jeter
23 OCT 1786 BEDFORD COUNTY, DEED BOOK 7, page 658. “This Indenture Made this twenty third day of October in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven Hundred and eighty six, Between Moses Milam of Bedford County of the one part, and Elizabeth Milam (Relic of late Benjamin Milam, Deceased) of the other part. Witnesseth, that the said Moses Milam for and in Consideration of the Sum of Twenty one pounds Currant {Money of Virginia} to him in hand paid by the above Benjamin Milam before his decease, the receipt whereof the said Moses Milam doth hereby confess and acknowledge, Had bargained and sold to the said Milam, deceased, and doth by these presents grant and Convey to the said Elizabeth Milam during her Natural Life, and after her decease to revert to the Heir at Law of the said Benjamin Milam deceased a Certain Tract or parcel of Land lying and being in the County of Bedford upon the waters of the Otter River and bounded as follows, to wit, Beginning at a point of Rocks on the North side of Boyles Branch…to a Pine in Boyd’s line, thence along the said Line…to Boyd’s Corner Pine….Containing One Hundred and twenty acres…Together with every Appurtenance there unto belonging to the said Elizabeth Milam and unto the Heir at Law of the said Benjamin Milam, deceased….
Signed, Sealed & delivered ~ Moses Milam.
At a Court held for Bedford County the 23rd day of October 1786. This Indenture along with the Memorandum of Livery and Seizon thereon endorsed were Acknowledged by Moses Milam party thereto and Ordered to be Recorded ~~ Teste, James Steptoe CBC {Clerk Bedford Court}” You may view the original deed here (image).
{ COMMENTS: Moses Milam married Elizabeth Boyd in October 1774 which perhaps explains his property being adjacent to William Boyd Jr. who inherited much of his land from his father. This deed is more evidence of the very close and special relationship between Moses and Benjamin Milam and their kinship. Because of this, it is most likely that Moses' famous son, Benjamin Rush Milam, was named "Benjamin" to honor this brother and "Rush" to honor Moses' mother, Mary Rush. Another possibility is that he was simply named for Moses' uncle Benjamin Rush, the brother of his Mary's father, William Rush. Or both! And consider: Moses and Elizabeth named another son, William Boyd Milam, to honor her father.
Living a challenging life on the western frontier of Kentucky - and in an age without weekly newspapers - it is very doubtful that Moses and Elizabeth were even aware of the good doctor Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia who was a minor figure at the Continental Congress compared with Virginia boys like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and George Washington. }
23 OCT 1786 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK 8, 302. A Deed {Moses} Milam to {Elizabeth} Milam Acknowledged & Ordered Recorded.
24 SEP 1787 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK 9, 100. Ordered that Thomas Logwood, Peter Wilkerson, Moses Milam & William Lear or any three be appointed to View a Way to turn the Road from near Thomas Logwood Plantation to Capt James Buford Plantation at Hurricane Creek & make Report.
19 APR 1788 BEDFORD COUNTY, DEED BOOK 8, 131 - 132. Moses and Elizabeth Milam sold to Josiah Burdurant "One Tract of land lying on the Waters of Otter and part of the said tract the said Milam purchased of James Ward containing 207 acres...Beginning on the south side of Boyles Branch on William Boyd's old line....to Boyles White Oak Corner...Witness whereof they hath here unto set here unto their hands and seals the day and year above written: Moses Milam, Elizabeth X Milam
John Bondurant, William Boid { Boyd Jr }, James Buford
At a Court held for Bedford County the 27th Day of October 1788"
You may view page 131 here (image).
19 APR 1788 BEDFORD COUNTY, DEED BOOK 8, 132 - 133. Moses and Elizabeth Milam sold to John Bondurant "being in the County of Bedford one hundred acres being on both sides of the North Fork of Otter River....and thence Joining Moses and Benjamin Milams and Bains Mill Tract to the first station.....Witness whereof he the said Moses Milam hath here unto set his hand and seal the day and year above written: Moses Milam, Elizabeth X Milam
Witnesses: James Buford, Josiah Bondurant, William Boid { Jr }
At a Court held for Bedford County the 27th Day of October 1788"
You may read the deed here (image).
27 OCT 1788 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK 9, 199. A Deed Milam et al to Bundurant. Wittnessed & Ordered Recorded. Taxes Paid.
27 OCT 1788 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK 9, 199. A Deed Milam et al to Bundurant. Wittnessed & Ordered Recorded. Taxes Paid.
19 MAR 1789 FAYETTE COUNTY VIRGINIA PROPERTY TAX LIST. A Moses Milam is on the Property Tax List for 1789 in Fayette County, Virginia (Kentucky after 1 JUN 1792)
22 MAR 1790 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK 10, 4. Commonwealth vs The Surveyor of the Road from Milam Sawmill Branch to the old Main Road.
27 JAN 1794 BEDFORD COUNTY, ORDER BOOK 10, 280. Last Will and Testament of William Boyd Jr Proved & Ordered Recorded. - On the Motion of Francis Read, one of the Executors there in named, made Oath thereto, Liberty is granted him for obtaining Probate thereof gave Bond & Security according to Law. Liberty being reserved the other Executors there in named to join in the Probate when he shall think fit.