First Settler in the Valley; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 9, No. 2 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** 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.