James Miller Church

James6 Miller Church (Benjamin5–4, Edward3, Benjamin2, Richard1), son of Dr. Benjamin5 and Sarah (Miller) Church, was born in Boston and baptized there at the Hollis Street Church 28 October 1759. He died in Brighton (called Brighthelmston until 1810), Sussex, England, 20 May 1834.[40] He was buried there in St. Nicholas’ Church 25 May 1834.

James married 1 January 1784, Mary Amey Powney. She was baptized at St. Andrew, Holborn, London, 31 August 1764, daughter of Heron and Sarah (Severn) Powney. She was buried in Brighton 29 January 1837.

Children of James6 Miller and Mary Amey (Powney) Church:

• i. Rebecca7 Eleanor Church, bp. Farningham, Kent, 22 Feb. 1785.
• ii. ?Susanna Church, bp. St. Andrew, Holborn, 13 Nov. 1791; bur. there 11 Nov. 1792.
• iii. ?Fanny Church, bp. St. Andrew, Holborn, bp. 13 Nov. 1791;

Child of James6 Miller Church, mother unknown:

• 5. iv. Emma7 Church, b. Harwich, Essex, England, ca. 1807; m. Thomas Peachey.

James had a long career in the military. He was a surgeon's mate in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. After fleeing to England he was surgeon's mate and ensign in the Middlesex Militia. He was appointed ensign to the South Gloucestershire Militia, June 1791. Later he was a surgeon in the Westminster Militia.

In the Fall 2016 edition of the NEHG Register (Volume 170), link (American Ancestors membership needed to view) a major piece of research by Michael Leclerc demonstrates that Benj. Church was actually married to Sarah Miller, dau. of James and Mary Miller, in London on January 18, 1759, and that this was his only wife. She was baptized in Ross, Herefordshire 18 Marc 1727/8 and died in England 8 August 1788. Their three children were James Miller, Sarah Weld, and Hannah Kirkby/Longhurst. Sarah's marriage to Benjamin Weld was later dissolved by the Supreme Judicial Court in Boston in 1790 for her misbehavior. This research clears up longstanding confusion among historians about Benjamin Church's wife.

From Descendants of Richard Church of Plymouth, Mass. page 99

Children of Benjamin Church and Hannah:

480. James Miller, b 1759.

comments

From Leclerc, Fall 2016:

"It appears that James Miller Church somehow has been portrayed as two individuals. The son Benjamin supposedly “married a Lady of London, and became a surgeon in the British army,” but this actually describes James."

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• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 20 2017, 0:54:30 UTC