First Settler in the Valley; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 9, No. 2

Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

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First Settler in the Valley

   William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 2.
   (Oct., 1900), pp. 132-133.

                          FIRST SETTLER IN THE VALLEY

                                                    ELKTON, VA., August 2, 1900.

To Editor of William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine:

   I inclose you a copy of the naturalization paper of Adam Miller.  I have copied it exactly
as to spelling, punctuation and capitalization.

   This paper proves beyond doubt that Adam Miller was the first white man to build on this
side of the Blue Ridge, as he came in 1726.  The Hites came to Winchester in 1732; the Lewises
settled near Staunton also in 1732; so Adam Miller was the first white settler in the valley
on the Shenandoah, as this old naturalization paper proves; and the land on which he located
is still in possession of his descendants.
                               Sincerely,               LIZZIE B. MILLER.

William Gooch Esqr. His Majesty's Lieutenant Governour and Commander in Chief of the Colony
                                 and Dominion of Virgina.

                    To all to whom these Presents Shall come Greeting.

   Whereas by one Act of Assembly made at the Capitol the 23d October in the year 1705 for
the better Settling and peopling this His Majesty's Colony and Dominion it is Enacted that
it shall and may be Lawful for the Governour and Commander in Chief of this Colony and
Dominion for the time being by public Instrument or Letters Patents under the broad Seal
thereof, to Declare any Alien or Aliens Foreigner or Foreigners being already Settled or
Inhabitants of this Colony or which shall hereafter come to Settle Plant or Reside therein

upon His or theirs taking the oaths therein prescribed and subscribing the Test to be to all
entents and purposes fully and compleatly naturalized and that all persons having Such public
Instruments or Letters Patents shall by virtue of this Act have and Enjoy to them and their
Heirs the same Immunities and Rights of and unto the Laws and Priviledges of this Colony and
Dominion as fully and amply as any of His Majesty's Natural Born Subjects have and Enjoy
within the same an as if the had been born within any of His Majesty's Realms and Dominions
Provided that nothing therein contained Shall be construed to Enable or Give power or
Priviledge to any Foreigner to Do or Execute any manner of thing which by any of the Acts
made in England concerning His Majesty's Plantations he is Disabled to Do or Execute.

   And Adam Miller born at Shresoin in Germany having Settled and Inhabited for fifteen years
past on Shenandoa in this Colony

Page 133.

and now made Application to me for the benefit of Naturalization and before me taken the
oaths prescribed by Law and Subscribed the Test, I Do hereby pursuant to the said authority
Declare the said Adam Miller to be to all intents and purposes, fully and compleatly 
Naturalized and to have and Enjoy to him and his Heirs the same Immunities and Rights of and
unto the Laws and Priviledges of this Colony and Dominion as fully and amply as any of His
Majesty's Natural Born Subjects have and Enjoy within the same, and as if he had born within
any of His Majesty's Realms and Dominions according to the aforesaid act. saving always in
such matters and things which by the Laws of England concerning the Plantation he is Disabled.


   Given under my hand and the Seal of the Colony at Williamsburg this 13th day of March
1741/2 in the 15th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the Second by the
Grace of God King of Great Brittain &c.
                                            William Gooch.