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Archiver > GERMANNA_COLONIES > 2001-03 > 0984392594


From: John Blankenbaker <>
Subject: [GERMANNA] (1113)Germanna Colonies, History of
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 05:23:14 -0500


The eleven hundred and thirteenth note in a series on the Germanna Colonies

Mary Barlow was born ca 1756 in Culpeper Co., VA (later Madison Co.) as the
daughter of Christopher Barlow, Jr. and Catherine Fleshman. On 10 Apr 1773,
at about the age of 16 years, Mary married John Millbank in Culpeper Co.
Their first child, Eleanor, was born 16 Apr 1774. Mary was confirmed in the
Hebron Church on Easter of 1776 as Mary (Maria) Millbanks and was a
communicant on Easter 1777. It is not the usual case for marriage to
precede confirmation but it does occur. The next two children of Mary and
John, Elizabeth and Charles, were also confirmed at the church.

Mary filed an application for a pension in Scott Co., KY in 1836 saying her
husband was a "salir on Virginia line" during the Revolution. No military
record was found for him and the pension was denied. Looking at other
evidence in the case, it is probable that John Millbank had performed no
service that would have entitled Mary to a pension.

Without having positive proof, it is believed that John Millbank may be the
John Millbank tried for robbery at Old Bailey in London, England, 12 July
1770 and sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to transportation
for life. This meant that he was sentenced to be sent to the colonies where
he was to spend the rest of his life. He was brought to America on the ship
Scarsdale. Typically, such people were auctioned off as indentured servants
to pay the cost of their transportation.

When John was tried at Old Bailey, he was one of four people, the other
three of whom where sailors. Apparently, John talked about his earlier
experiences to Mary, at least to the extent that she understood that he was
a sailor. Perhaps, without having the details, she filed for a pension on
the hope that John had served in the Revolution.

Another possibility is that John Millbank, being a sailor, joined one of
the ships which had a letter of authorization to be a privateer. Such
service was private and not as a member of any official armed service. If
so, he would not have qualified for a pension.

Would such service have qualified a descendant for membership in one of the
patriotic societies? In the past, descendants of Michael Garoutte, a
privateer, have been admitted to the DAR but I do not know their current
opinion on such service.

Returning to the Millbanks, they moved ca 1806 to Kentucky, Scott Co. in
particular. He was in the 1810 and 1820 census from Scott Co. His will was
approved in 1826. Her place and date of death are unknown. She was named in
the will of her brother, Joseph, in 1845. This is the last record known for
her. John and Mary were also the parents of three other children, Anna,
Mary, and Sally.

John Blankenbaker
http://www.germanna.com/
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~george/johnsgermnotes/germhis1.html
http://www.inficad.com/~genelea/gerhist/gerindex.html

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