Father: Thomas Sherwood
Mother: Ann T. *****
Spouse: John W. Miller
m: ~1812
Child-1: Frances Ann
2: Thomas
A. - b: 11/Nov/1815 - KY
d: 16/Nov/1898 - Casey Co., KY - bur: Miller Cem.
3: Mary
Margaret - b: 1816/1817 - KY - nra: 1850
4: Elijah
Johnson (Jonse)
5: Elizabeth
6: Sarah
- b: 1824 - KY - nra: 1860
7: Jefferson
- b: 3/Jul/1827 - Casey Co., KY
d: 30/Oct/1860 - Gentry Co., MO -
bur:
Wayman Cem., Howard Twp.
8: Eliza
A.
Biographical Details:
Hester Sherwood, known familiarly as "Hessey", "Hetty", or "Hetta", was the oldest daughter of Thomas and Ann Sherwood, who were an early settlers of Casey County, Kentucky. She was born September 5, 1790, in North Carolina, probably in either Stokes or Guilford County. Moreover, circumstantial evidence indicates that the Sherwood family apparently migrated from North Carolina to Kentucky in the late 1790's and, subsequently, John W. Miller and Hester Sherwood were married in Casey County about 1812 or 1813, although no documentary record has been found. John died in 1839 and the following year the household of "Hessy" Miller was listed in the population schedule of the 1840 US Census for Casey County, which included a male and a female from ten to fifteen years of age, two females from fifteen to twenty years of age, a female and two males from twenty to thirty years, and one older female between forty and fifty. Obviously, the oldest female can be identified confidently as Hester herself. The remaining individuals accord well with the seven youngest children of John and Hester Miller. Within this context, it is believed that their oldest daughter, Francis Ann, had married Robert J. Austin about 1836 and, therefore, would not likely have been living with her mother and siblings in 1840.Source Notes and Citations:A close relationship between the Sherwood and Miller families is specifically supported by an agreement involving Mathew W. and Polly Sherwood Evans conveying her dower interest in one hundred and ninety acres of land lying along the Green River, to the heirs of John Miller, deceased, in exchange for sixty-eight dollars and twelve and one half cents "n hand paid".1 A formal indenture to this effect was made on October 7, 1842, in Monroe County, Missouri, and subsequently recorded in Casey County. The land parcel was specifically identified as having been originally granted to Thomas Shearwood (Sherwood) and it is further clear under the terms of the conveyance, that Polly Evans was his direct heir, viz., his daughter. In addition, the heirs of John Miller were specifically named and, moreover, it was explicitly stated that the Miller family was then resident on the parcel. Subsequently, the family of Hetta Miller, consisting of nine persons apparently living in two neighboring houses, was listed in the population schedule of the 1850 US Census for Casey County. Upon inspection, it is obvious that "Hetta" must be a misspelling or diminutive of Hester and that the named individuals correspond closely with the heirs of John Miller. Moreover, at the time the census was taken, it is clear that several of the children of John and Hester Miller were not actually living "at home" with their mother and, therefore, were erroneously recorded as members of this household. (In particular, it is known that Frances Ann, Elijah Johnson, and Jefferson were living in Gentry County, Missouri, and that Elizabeth and her husband, John Evans, were living in a separate household in Casey County.) Of course, the census of 1850 was the first one in which all persons, including children, were listed by name and it is possible that Hester (or whoever supplied family information to the census taker) misunderstood and thought that all of her children rather than only those actually living in her household should be reported. Of course, there may be other explanations for the error. However, regardless of the reason, it is evident that the only deviation between the members of this household and the heirs of John Miller was the appearance of Margaret Miller in the former and Mary Miller in the latter. An obvious explanation for this discrepancy is that her full name was Mary Margaret (or, perhaps, less likely, Margaret Mary) Miller.
As stated elsewhere, four of the children of John and Hessey Miller, viz., Frances Ann Miller Austin, Elizabeth Miller Evans, and Elijah Johnson and Jefferson Miller, left Casey County between 1847 and 1851 and moved to Gentry County, Missouri. Moreover, census records of 1860, 1870, and 1880 for both Casey and Gentry Counties indicate that none of the sons ever married. In addition, it is not known if or whom the daughters, Margaret and Sarah married, however, Casey County marriage records indicate that Eliza married Addison Toms on November 21, 1863. An additional complication is that in the population schedule of the 1870 US Census for Casey County, the household of Thomas Miller, age fifty-four, included an elderly female, "Therisa" Miller, age seventy-nine years. Nevertheless, Thomas Miller can be identified with confidence as the son of John W. Miller, hence, Therisa and Hester Miller were undoubtedly one and the same person. Likewise, in the 1880 census Hessey and Thomas Miller were still living together. In addition, another son, Elijah Johnson, had apparently returned from Missouri and was also resident in the household. Hester Miller died in Casey County on April 6, 1881, and was buried with her husband in the Miller Cemetery.
1. This Indenture made this 7th day of October AD 1842 Between Mathew W. Evans and Polly Evans his wife late Polly Shearwood, of the County of Monroe in the State of Missouri of the one part ? Hessey Miller, Frances Ann Miller, Thomas Miller, Mary Miller, Elijah J. Miller, Elizabeth Miller, Sally Miller, Jefferson Miller Miller, and Eliza Miller, heirs of John Miller Dec'd of the County of Casey and State of Kentucky of the other part Witnesseth that the party of the first part for and in Consideration of the sum of Sixty Eight dollars 12? Cents in hand paid thereupon whereof they do acknowledge to have granted bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell (?) and confer and convey unto the said party of the second part all our right, title Interest ? Claim into and over a certain tract of land lying and being in Casey County and State of Kentucky on green river ? Containing one hundred and ninety acres patented to Thomas Shearwood deceased On which tract of land the party of the second part now live, the said tract of land lies between the South fork of Green River ? Green River and on which tract the said Thomas Shearwood Deceased Assd. surveyed and possessed with its appurtenances to have and to hold the said Interest in the said tract or parcel of land with (?) of the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the party of the second part and their heirs forever and the said party of the first part doth hereby Covenant with the party of the second part that they will and forever Warrant and defend the title (?) their Interest and Claims in the said tract of land and appurtenances unto the party of the second part free from or against the Claims of all persons whatever.
In witness whereof the party of the first party have hereunto s(et) their hands and seals the day and year above written /s/Mathew W. Evans (seal) /s/Polly Evans (seal) mark
It appears that this indenture was first made in Monroe County, Missouri, and later recorded in Casey County. Mathew W. Evans and Polly Shearwood were married in Casey County on July 11, 1824. (Deed Bk. 5, Casey Co., KY, pgs. 2-3.)
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Additional Citations:
2. 1840 US Census Population Schedule for Casey County, Kentucky, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 173, (microfilm: roll M704_107; img. 74).3. 1850 US Census Population Schedule for Casey County, Kentucky, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 350A, (microfilm: roll M432_196; img. 129).
4. 1860 US Census Population Schedule for Casey County, Kentucky, National Archives, Washington DC: pgs. 427, (microfilm: roll M653_361; img. 428).
5. 1870 US Census Population Schedule for Casey County, Kentucky, National Archives, Washington DC: pgs. 280B, (microfilm: roll M593_454; img. 560).
6. 1880 US Census Population Schedule for Casey County, Kentucky, National Archives, Washington DC: pgs. 681A, (microfilm: roll T9_408; img. 642).
7. Ben Glick, "Wayman Cemetery", unpublished. (Gentry County MOGenWeb Archives, www.dropbox.com/sh/slhfvw5i4zjmxft/AACpiVIeIwQNQ0H7W_JYPuSqa/Wayman.pdf?dl=0, 2014.)
8. Nancy Perry,"Miller Cemetery", unpublished. (Casey County KYGenWeb Archives, www.rootsweb.com/~kycasey/caseycems/MillerCemetery.txt, 2004.)
9. Miller Cemetery, Casey County, Kentucky (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=75134&CScn=Miller&CScntry=4&CSst=19&CScnty=1011&, continuously updated).