RESEARCH REPORT

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


THE JOSHUA MILLER HOUSE

10192 Ninth Line

Part lot 22, Concession 8 (east 1/2)

 

 

 

Prepared For:   Heritage Markham

 

Prepared By:    Marie Jones

 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR DESIGNATION

 

The Joshua Miller Jr. House is recommended for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act because of its historical, architectural and contextual significance.  This dwelling appears to be the oldest or one of the earliest buildings constructed in Markham that is still in existence.

 

Historical Background

 

The house on Lot 22, Concession 8 (10192 Ninth Line) was built c.1803 on a two- hundred acre parcel of land, which was originally awarded to Joshua Miller Junior on August 19, 1801. He did not receive the patent to the property until November of 1807.   

 

Joshua Miller Senior (father to Joshua Jr) settled in Saratoga, New York after arriving from Scotland.  The year he arrived is not certain, but it appears that his five children, Joshua b.1779, John b.1784, Jacob b.1786, Peter and Elizabeth b.1783 were all born in Ballston Springs N.Y. and at some time he moved on to live in Fairfield Connecticut prior to his emigration to Upper Canada.  Joshua, a devout Baptist, was a United Empire Loyalist and left the U.S. in 1793 and settled in Stamford Township near Niagara Falls on 100 acres of farm land, which was purchased from James Forsythe.  Joshua Sr. emigrated with three of his children, Elizabeth, John, and Peter.    Joshua Jr., his eldest son, and Jacob stayed behind in the U.S. for a time before joining the rest of the family in Stamford. Eventually Joshua Sr. and all his children would move on to live in Markham following after his eldest son Joshua Jr and daughter Elizabeth.

 

Joshua Miller Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Darrer arrived in Stamford in 1798 where they lived for approximately three years.  On August 7, 1801 Joshua submitted his petition to Peter Russell Esq. the Lieut.Governor, to grant him a lot upon which to settle.  Joshua Jr. “coming into the province by water, brought no cattle with him, that he has purchased a few and has the means of purchasing oxen and other necessities for the settling and improving a vacant lot of the crown … and humbly prays your excellency would be pleased to grant him a lot in Whitchurch or Gwillimbury for immediate settlement”.  He is listed on the petition as being entitled to receive land because of his status as a son of a United Empire Loyalist (the Ontario Archives Land Records Index also has Joshua listed as a MC or Military Claimant). On August 19, 1801 Joshua Jr. was recommended for two hundred acres subject to the settlement duties.  The fiat, when issued, indicates his initial fee and survey were paid.  Joshua Miller Jr. received an Order-in- Council on Aug. 18, 1801 awarding him the right to reside on the 200 acre parcel of Crown land located at Lot 22, Concession 8 in the Township of Markham.   

                                                                                               

It appears that Joshua Jr, his wife Elizabeth Darrer and their first child, a son Robert made their way to Markham later that summer. Joshua’s sister Eizabeth Miller, her husband, Azariah Lundy and their first child John joined the three.  Azariah Lundy was the son of William Lundy and Nancy Silverthorn who settled in the Niagara Falls Ontario area in 1796 after leaving the U.S. when hostilities ended after the Revolutionary War. This line of the Lundy family are associated with the infamous Battle of Lundy’s Lane, which occurred during the War of 1812.  We are not certain of the length of time the Lundy family lived with the Millers on Lot 22, Concession 8, but research supports their movement to the Buttonville area.  Peter Miller, Joshua Jr.’s youngest brother, came into Markham Township prior to 1804 and settled on the E ½ of Lot 17, Concession 4 (Buttonville).  In Oct. of 1807 the property was sold.  For a time the Lundy family may have resided with the Peter Miller family. George and Joseph Lundy, Elizabeth’s sons, later purchased property on Concessions 3 and 4.  There are several descendents of Azariah and Elizabeth Lundy buried in the Buttonville Cemetery.  

 

It seems that the Miller family had connections to the family of Peter De Guerre, b. 1777, (Degeer) which also settled in Stamford, Ontario after leaving the U.S. about the same time as did Joshua Miller Sr. Peter De Guerre and family arrived in Markham prior to 1800 and settled on Lot 26, Concession 9, north of the area  where Joshua Miller Jr. would eventually settle.   Peter received the Crown deed for the full 200 acres in 1803 after having fulfilled his settlement duties.  It is possible that Joshua Miller Jr. followed his friend De Guerre from Stamford Township to Markham in the early 1800’s. 

     

The Berczy’s Census of Markham Settlers indicates that the Joshua Miller Jr. family and the Lundy family were both living together on Lot 22, Concession 8 in 1803.  The style of construction and original layout of the dwelling on the property indicates that the Joshua Miller Jr. house was originally a double house, evidently built for these two families.  An architectural analysis of the house and the extremely wide boards used in its construction indicate that many of the boards were hewn from old growth forest, which may date from the time of the clearing.  Joshua Jr. is also listed as leasing the property across the road on Lot 22, concession 9 in 1803, a lot that was later patented by his father Joshua Miller Sr. in 1805.

 

Joshua Miller Jr. and Elizabeth Darrer (b.1784 d.1823) were married in 1798 and they had nine children together:  Anna (Britton), John M., Pheobe (Reynolds), Robert (b.1801), Hannah (b.1802), Jacob J. (b. 1806 d.1884) Luton Miller (b.1809), Elisha (b. 1811) and Laura (Hamilton, b.1819). Elizabeth died in 1823 when their youngest child Laura was three years old. She was most likely buried on the family farm with her son Robert who had been killed by a falling tree in 1817.  On May 4, 1824, Joshua Jr. was married a second time.  His new wife Rachael Shannon (b.1791 d.1869) had previously been married to Azariah Lundy’s brother, Benjamin, who died during the battle of Lundy’s Lane. They had three children together: William Shannon (b.1823), Sarah (b.1825) and Daniel (b.1832).   

 

On Feb 12, 1811 Joshua sold the W ½ 100 acres of Lot 22, Concession 8 to his brother John Miller for 100 pounds.  John quickly sold this 100 acre parcel to Jonas Byer in July, of the same year, for 250 pounds. Descendants of the Byer family continued to farm this property for many years.  It would seem that for a number of years prior to this time John, his wife Betsy Elsphet Miller and their children were living with Joshua and his family in the Joshua Miller house and farming the full two hundred acres together. In 1813 John purchased 100 acres across the road on the E ½ of Lot 22, Concession 9, land that was originally owned by his father Joshua Sr..  

 

In Jan. 1823 Joshua Miller Jr. purchased an additional 100 acres of land E ½ Lot 21, Concession 8, located to the south of his property.  Of this piece a one acre parcel on the North East corner was purchased from Joshua and Rachael Miller for 25 pounds in 1847 for the erection of a Baptist church and cemetery lands. The members of the extended Miller family were Baptists.  Joshua Miller Sr. was one of the founders of the Baptist Church in Newton, Halfmoon N.Y in 1791.

 

The First Markham Baptist Church on the 9th Line took its beginnings from an earlier Baptist group in Whitby. The earliest known written records of the Markham church were started in 1833 and contained four names.  These were Joshua Miller, Jacob Miller, Phoebe Miller and Hezekiah Badgerow.  Regular minutes of the meetings began in 1834 and the numbers of individuals increased dramatically during this one year period to 27 people, sixteen of whom were Millers.  It is not known for certain where these early members worshipped. At one of their regular meetings on Feb. 1839 the membership discusses “improving the church”, indicating that the congregation owned a church building of some type.  It would seem that the Miller Schoolhouse was an entirely separate building from the church.  Joshua Miller Jr. and William Miller were ordained as deacons of the church by Elder William Marsh from Whitby on March 25, 1837.  In 1847 the church group purchased the one acre site from the Millers and one year later the new red brick church was opened for use.  It is not known what happened to the earlier church and there is no discussion of its demise at any of the regular church meetings. The congregation grew and declined over time and by 1959 the church was officially closed for regular Sunday services.  In 1981, with the help of the Markham Lions Club, the church was dismantled and relocated to the Markham Museum grounds.            

 

As early as 1838 there is evidence that a Common School existed on the Miller property, referred to as the Miller Schoolhouse.  In 1816, the Government of Upper Canada passed an Act, the regulations of which would operate only when the inhabitants of the local area wished to establish a school, in which case the law directed that three trustees were to be appointed to decide on a suitable teacher for the students. In June of 1838 the Miller school had one of the largest enrolments in Markham Township, with 40 students attending. The numbers increased to 44 students by Dec. of the same year.  John B. Miller was employed as the teacher during this time.  After 1855 with the reorganization in municipal government, distinct school sections were established. The school for S.S. #19, which replaced the Miller Schoolhouse, was located on Lot 23, Concession 9 on the east side of the 9th Line.

 

It appears that in 1803 Joshua Sr. with his sons Jacob (b.1786 d.1869) and John  (b.1784 d.1851) arrived in Markham to live on Lot 22, Concession 9.  Joshua Sr. was granted the patent to this 200 acre parcel on Sept. 19, 1805.  Jacob married Phoebe Gould, aunt of U.S. tycoon Jay Gould. According to family legend Jacob, who was working as a gardener on Abraham and Anna Gould’s estate, eloped with Pheobe and ran off to Canada. Their family of 16 all lived to adulthood.  In 1823 Jacob Miller became the owner of the W ½ 100 acres of Lot 22, Concession 9.  John Miller who was married twice had nine children and by 1813 became the owner of the E ½ 100 acres of Lot 22, Concession 9. This section remained in the Miller family for almost 100 years. Joshua Miller Sr. continued to live with his sons on this property until his death. 

 

Joshua Miller Jr. passed away on Nov. 11, 1851. Apparently there was a dispute over wills.  Joshua had written a will on May 13, 1851, which was abandoned, and an earlier will dated May 8, 1850 was brought forward.  The case came before the Queen’s Bench and it was decided the first will would stand.  It was not until Dec. of 1857 that the whole matter was finally settled.  As part of his will his real estate holdings were divided somewhat.  His wife, Rachael, inherited 94 ½ acres of Lot 22, Concession 8 and three of his daughters (Anna Britten, Laura Hamilton, Phoebe Reynolds) received 1 acre lots along the north end of the 9th Concession. Another daughter, Sarah Crosby, received the adjoining 1 ½ acre lot to the immediate north of these. By April of 1865 Elisha Miller had bought the full 4 ½ acres from his sisters.  Rachael also received the remaining 39 acres of Lot 21, Concession 8 where her son, William Shannon Miller, continued to live with his wife and family.  The Census of 1851 lists Rachael at the age of 60 residing in the Joshua Miller Jr. house with her youngest son Daniel Miller.  Hugh Spafford’s family is also listed as residing there as tenants, probably in the other part of the Millers dwelling.

 

According to the Historic Maps of 1853 and 1860, his widow continued to reside on the property.  The 1860 Map appears to show a dwelling in the vicinity of the current house.  Joshua is believed to be the earliest recorded burial at the First Baptist Church Cemetery.  Rachael died in 1862 and was buried in the Baptist Cemetery. 

 

For some years after his father’s death, it appears that his fourth son Luton Miller, who had established a farm of his own on Lot 16, Concession 8, administered the Miller Farm.   According to the History of York County Ontario dated 1885, Luton Miller “contributed not a little towards the making of roads and the erection of churches and schoolhouses”.  Among the positions he held included Roadmaster, Trustee of Schools and Deacon of the Baptist Church.  He was also a Lieutenant in the militia, and was one of the first to answer the call to arms during the Rebellion of 1837.

 

By the late 1870s, the property was overseen by Daniel Miller. For a time the property was tenanted by Robert Ledlow and his wife Harriet.  In 1878 the property was sold to the Honourable David Reesor for $7,500.  

 

David Reesor (b.1823 d.1902) was one of Markham’s most prominent citizens.  He was a member of the provincial legislature and was appointed to the Canadian Senate.  He was involved in many aspects of business and civic life including his founding of the Markham Economist, establishment of the Markham High School, Ownership of the Markham Cheese factory.  Reesor was also involved in land development in the vicinity of Malvern.  Emily Reesor (McDougall) of St. Mary’s was the wife of David Reesor.

 

It is believed that David Reesor gave his son, William D. (b.1858 d.1928), the Miller farm as a wedding present when he married Alice Moffatt in 1883. William was born in Markham and also operated the farm across the road on Lot 21, Concession 9.  He was a consistent prize winner at the Markham Fair with his high standard Jersey cattle and was often referred to as “Jersey Bill” in these social circles.  He was married at Pilot Mound, Manitoba on April 25, 1883 to Alice Moffatt of Carleton Place, a member of a family internationally known in the manufacture of stoves.  Together William and Alice had four sons, Bruce, Frank, Harry, and Colby.  There is a house at Lot 21, Concession 9, however it appears that the house at Lot 22, Concession 8 is the more substantial of the two and therefore it was probably the primary family home while the other house was used by tenant farmers. It may have been around this time when the house was converted to a single family dwelling.  The large central chimney was replaced with a central staircase to the second floor and paired end chimneys were constructed.. 

 

In 1902, the family moved to Alberta and acquired many sections of grazing land in the Cypress Hills, south east of Medicine Hat.  A severe setback for William occurred during a blizzard, which started on Saturday, May 19, 1903 and continued for a week driving his heard of cattle for miles.  When located all were dead and buried beneath the snow.

 

Architectural Reasons

 

The building located at 10192 Ninth Line is a good example of a vernacular, 1 ½ storey, five bay Georgian style house, of a salt box form built in the early part of the 19th Century.  As such it may be one of the oldest houses in Markham and its New England style form is rare in southern Ontario.

 

The house has been subject to neglect over the past decade or more and as a result all of the windows have been broken.  Those that remain are of a 2/2 pane division and are unusual in their relatively small size.  The windows were probably originally of a 6/6 pane division.

 

The house features a central doorway with sidelights and simple architectural surround.  Although this has been damaged, the original form can be discerned.  The house was originally built as a double house for two families, but was probably renovated to its present single family form in the1890’s.

 

The original cladding material appears to be wood clapboard, which was later covered in stucco applied to a lath.  Evidence of this is seen on the rear elevation and at the front over the former porch.  It is believed that the remainder of the stucco was removed when Insulbrick was applied c.1930s.

 

An unusual feature of the house is the relatively high roof pitch, which with further investigation seems not to be original to the house.  Typically for a house of this style and period, the roof pitch would be relatively low.  It is possible that the second storey was increased in height at a later date.

 

The overall shape of the house is a salt box, as a result of the one story addition which, based on the size of the beams which support it, appears to have been constructed soon after the main house was constructed.  The house appears to have been constructed in a style quite typical of the New England States. This salt box form of architecture is extremely rare in Markham Township.    

 

The early date of construction of the house is evidenced by one of the interior doors which is formed from two wide planks.  The dwelling is of a post and beam construction with the primary frame having 14 bents.  The sills and  plates were hand hewned.  The original beaded wall board is existing on most of the interior walls.  These extremely wide boards would indicate they were hewn from old growth forest, which may date from the time of the clearing.  Oversize blacksmith hand made rose head nails secure the flooring and are visible in other interior woodwork.  Early machine cut nails in a distinctive style, indicative of the Tremont Nail Co. of New England, were used to secure the wall boarding.

 

The relatively low ceiling height was probably intended to enhance heating from a single fireplace. Evidence exists of an original massive central fireplace with openings on both sides.  This particular fireplace was replaced with a central staircase and paired end chimneys c. 1890.

 

 

 

 

Contextual Significance

 

The Joshua Miller Jr. house is of contextual significance as one of the earliest farmhouses in the Township.  The existing cultural landscape in the vicinity of the 9th Line and Major Mackenzie Road presents a mixture of agricultural land and farm complexes. The house is also a reminder of the existence of the community surrounding the 9th Line Baptist Church, which was located in the vicinity until it was moved to the Markham Museum. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUILDING LOCATION

10192 Ninth Line
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


IDENTIFICATION

 

Property:                                  The Joshua Miller House

                                                10192 Ninth Line

                              

 

Legal Description:                     Lot 22, Concession 8

 

Owners:                                   1512406 Ontario Limited

                                   

Inventory No.:                          H3-9A

 

Assessment Roll No.:                237-455-00

 

Date of Construction:                c.1803

 

Style of Architecture:                Georgian Vernacular, 5 Bay Facade

                                                Salt box form

 

Type of Structure:                     Farm Residence

 

            Number of Storeys:                  1.5

 

Exterior Wall Material:              Originally wood Clapboard with the later addition of Stucco over lath (later still, Insulbrick)

 

        Special Features:                      Georgian Cottage, 5 bay facade

                                                        Sidelight openings

                                                        Small, original window openings

                                                        Wide Old Growth Boards use in Construction

                                                        Original wood clapboard

                                                        Salt box Form and Structure intact                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua Miller Jr. House, Rear Elevation (E)
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua Miller Jr. House, North Elevation