John McMillen and his wife Mary were my 4th great grandparents. They settled in Derry Township, Westmoreland County and later moved to Allegheny Township (now Plumcreek Township) in Armstrong County where John McMillen and his son, Smith McMillen, purchased 156 acres from Nathan Burns in 1807. John McMillen and his wife were from Ireland but it is not known when they immigrated to Pennsylvania. Their son, Smith McMillen, was a tailor in Blairsville, Indiana County. Several of the children of their son, Daniel McMillen, moved to Indiana County where many of their descendants live today.
John McMillen was born about 1740 to 1750 based on his age in the 1830 census. He died in Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County where he wrote his will on 26 May 1830. He died about July, 1831 since his will was probated on 28 July 1831 (will book 1:117-118). He leaves his property to his son William and to his daughters Jane and Susannah who never married. He also mentions his son Smith McMillen with whom he had bought this property. His son Smith McMillen sold his undivided one half interest in this property to his brothers, Robert and William McMillen. When his son Robert died without lineal descendants, Robert's undivided one fourth interest in this property reverted back to his father, John McMillen. John McMillen names Daniel McMillen as his executor. Wm Coulter and Archd McIntosh witnessed his will.
A John McMillen (Jr.) is living near John McMillen (Sr.) in the 1800 census in Derry Township, Westmoreland County and a John McMillen (Jr.) and Thomas McMillen are living near John McMillen (Sr.) in the 1810 census in Kittanning Township, Armstrong County. Plumcreek Township was formed from Kittanning Township. Thomas McMillen is living in Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County in the 1820 and 1830 censuses and owns property near John McMillen in Plumcreek Township. John and Thomas McMillen are also believed to be sons of John McMillen based on their close proximity to him.
A biographical entry for William McMillen in the History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania by Caldwell on page 474 states that Daniel McMillen was a son of John and Mary McMillen. John McMillen names Daniel McMillen as his executor in his will and Daniel McMillen is a witness for Thomas McMillen's will.
John and Mary McMillen had the following childen:
1) John McMillen
2) Daniel McMillen was born in 1777 and died after 1850 in Armstrong County. He married Mary Reynolds and had five sons, four of whom died in Indiana County.
3) Thomas McMillen was born before 1784 and died about October, 1833 when his will was probated in Armstrong County (will book 1:155). He had two sons and three daughters by his first wife whose surname may have been McCoy. He had two sons and three daughters with his second wife Margaret.
4) Smith McMillen was born between 1780 and 1790 and died about August, 1846 in Blairsville, Indiana County when letters of administration were granted for his estate in Indiana County (will book 1:576). He and his wife, Martha Craig, had seven sons and three daughters.
5) Jane McMillen was born about 1782 and died 23 November 1853 in Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County where her will was probated on 29 November 1853 (will book 2:59). She was never married.
6) Susannah McMillen was born about 1784 and died 18 September 1853 in Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County where her will was probated on 20 September 1853 (will book 2:54). She was never married. Both she and her sister Jane left their property to their niece, Mrs. Sarah Foster and her children.
7) Robert McMillen died before 1830 when his father wrote his will.
8) William McMillen was born about 1789 and died 22 August 1854. He and his wife Jane (Smith) McCoy had two daughters and a son (Armstrong County Orphans Court Records 2:323).
Daniel McMillen and Mary Reynolds are my third great grandparents. Additional information will be given about them in a future blog post. If anyone has additional information on John McMillen's children, please contact me. I am always willing to share any information I have with anyone.
