ROBERT F. MILLARD FIND A GRAVE DATA

BIRTH

Robert F. Millard was born 1803 in either Washington, DC or St. Mary's County, Md., the first child of thirteen of parents Joshua Millard and Ann Manning Millard. His parents had moved from the family farm, "Bellville", in St. Mary's County to Washington, DC, where Joshua worked as the toll taker at the 12th St. Bridge. Robert grew up in Washington and is found in the early U. S. Census with family. It is quite possible that he watched the British troops cross the 12th Street bridge into Washington and saw the burning of the White House, the Capital and other buildings.

MARRIAGE 1 / CHILDREN / DEATH

On 7 Feb 1832, he married Mary H. Brown in Washington, DC. Two children were born of this marriage, Mary Anna Francis Isabella Millard, 28 Aug 1834, Washington, DC. The second child was born in 1835 in Nacogdoches and died five years later, according to Issac Sterne notes in "Hurrah for Texas"; name of child not known. Mary H. Brown died 13 Mar 1841 in Nacogdoches; burial place not recorded.

MOVE TO TEXAS

In early 1835, Robert and family left Washington for the country of Mexico, the State of Texas, the town of Nacogdoches. His reason for making this "Westward Ho" move was probably to obtain a grant of one league of land from Mexico; one league of land was 4428 acres. Upon arrival in Nacogdoches, he had to take the Mexican oath of citizenship and find someone to certify to his good character. This was done on 18 April 1835 with Sam Houston being the witness. On 29 May 1835, he took the oath of citizenship to Mexico, the state of Texas, in Nacogdoches.

OCCUPATION IN NACOGDOCHES

Having become a citizen of Mexico, he made his living as a merchant/grocery store, assistant post-master, road builder in the county. He also was active in acquiring a grant of land from Mexico and later when Texas became a Republic, he applied for "Headrights" from the Republic of Texas. I found no record of his being militia involved or serving in the war with Mexico. In his probate estate, he had land in Limestone County, Rusk County, his lot and residence in Nacogdoches.

MILLARD LEE HOUSE / MILLARD'S CROSSING

On 10 Aug 1837, RFM bought a lot at the South East corner of the Public Square, on S. Fredonia St and proceeded to build a very unique two story house on the lot. Sam Houston owned an adjacent lot. Construction of the house took place between August, 1837 and March, 1840. There is no record of an architect or builder of this house; pictures of houses in the book, "History of St. Mary's County, Maryland, 1634-1990", show the same style of two story architecture as he used to build his house in Nacogdoches.

His first wife, Mary Brown Millard died in this house, 1841, and later 1847, Robert died in the house he had built. Following his death, the property went through the probate succession process of second wife and children of two marriages being involved, sale of the property and eventual purchase of the house by Mrs. Lera Millard Thomas, a Millard descendant, wife of U.S. House of Representatives Albert Thomas. From the downtown location, she had the house moved to what is known today as "Millard's Crossing", which is on Hwy 59, North of Nacogdoches. The house was restored and now carries the name of "Millard-Lee House."

MARRIAGE 2 / CHILDREN

From the diary of Adolphus Sterne of Nacogdoches, Vol. 36, pp 314-315, "Dec 7, 1843 in the afternoon Mr. R. F. Millard requested me to go out 4 miles to the widow Sparks to marry him to the said Lady which I accepted and at 5pm left for said place, performed the rites of matrimony between said Robert F. Millard and Mrs. Massy C. Sparks according to law, partook of a splendid supper and returned by 8 ½ pm." Note: this 4 miles out is approximately where today's "Millards Crossing" is located and was the "Sparks Setttlement" headright property that Massy acquired from the death of her first husband, James Sparks in 1838.

From this second marriage, two children were born:
John Joshua Millard, 1844-May, 1906, buried at Old North Church. Rudy Millard's ancestor.
Mary Josephine Millard, 1848 - Dec, 1901, buried at Old North Church, my Millard ancestor, by her daughter, Fannie O. Burroughs, married to Matt S. Muckleroy, my maternal grandparents.

Rudy and Nayona Millard of Nacogdoches are in possession of the original marriage certificate of RFM and Massy, which they treasure greatly.

DEATH

From the Nacogdoches Court probate records filed by Massy Sparks Millard, Robert F. Millard died 28 Oct 1847 at his residence in Nacogdoches. Cause of death not known although Dr. W. F. Hyde had been providing medical services during illness prior to death. Issac Sterne had stopped making diary entries for several years, so we do not have his diary records to find a cause of death.

BURIAL

Burial would have followed within a day or two of his death, but there is no date or place of burial record. Being a Catholic, it would be appropriate for RFM to be buried in the Catholic section of the Oak Grove Cemetery. Carolyn Ericson did extensive research on records in Texas, Mexico, even Spain, but could not find a Catholic burial place or any burial records in Nacogdoches County.

The alternative is that Massy buried Robert on her "Sparks Settlement" family headright property, which is close to the Old North Church and Cemetery which she helped to found. James Sparks was her first husband who died in 1838 and is said to be buried "in a field Northeast of the North Church Cemetery" on "Spark's Settlement" headright property.

If we knew exactly where James Sparks was buried by Massy, we would probably find the grave of RFM within several feet. If we knew exactly where RFM was buried we would probably find the grave of James Sparks within several feet... in my humble opinion.

NOTE: I initially used Old North Church Cemetery as burial site for RFM but after further research, I think both James Sparks and Robert F. Milliard are buried in the "Sparks Family Cemetery" in the "Sparks Settlement' land grant area. I tried for over an hour to edit and change this cemetery location for RFM and finally gave up and added this NOTE due to how difficult and impossible Find A Grave makes changing a burial cemetery doable.

THE ARK & DOVE SOCIETY

"The Society of The Ark & The Dove" is an organization for the purpose of recognizing the descendants of the "Gentlemen" settlers who sailed to Maryland in 1633 aboard the two ships The Ark and The Dove. They landed in Maryland and named it St. Mary's County and became the third English colony in America.

Robert F. Millard's mother, Ann "Nancy" Manning was a descendent of Cuberth Fenwich, one of the "Gentlemen" and this qualifies Robert F. Millard and all his descendants for membership, upon proof of lineage. There was no Millard found in the A&D passenger list.