Hayden and Bonham

This deed clearly shows that Sarah Cason was not the mother of John Miller's children. It also
shows the date of John Miller's death (2 Feb 1814) as well as the month and year that John
Miller deeded much of his property to his children and their spouses (Oct 1807).

Actual text:
March 14,1814. Deed of Gift. Whereas John Miller in his lifetime and before his
intermarriage with Sarah Cason his last wife to wit sometime in the month of October 1807 did
by a deed of gift duly executed in the presence of William Neill Esquire and John Hunter give
and convey to his children William Teague and Elizabeth his wife, John Cason and Sarah his wife,
Zebulon Matthews and Jane his wife, Abraham Johnson and Ann his wife, Joseph Cason & Rebecca
his wife, George Miller, James Miller, Joshua Smith & Poly his wife, John Miller, Anderson
Miller, and William Miller there heirs and assigns the tracts of land the first tract whereon
the said John Miller then lived containing 600 acres on Bush River in Laurens District adjoining
Joshua Teague, Elijah Teague, Thos. Cason, William Cason, William Neill and lands said to belong
to Kirk, the other tract of land situated on Bush River in Newbury containing 120 [acres]
commonly called Chandlers Mill Place adjoining John Level, Charles Crew, Charles Leopart and
West Gary. Also the following negroes to wit. Moses, Poter, Easter, Cloe, Anni, Nelly, Rachel,
Charles and David to be equally divided between his said children share and share alike and
since the execution of the said deed one of the above Negroes to wit. Cloe has had two children,
one named Polly and the other name not recollected being in the possession of John Cason and
another of the above named Negroes to wit. Anni has had one child named Nancy and whereas the
saidd said John Miller before his intermarriage with the said Sarah showed to her the said
deed that she might know in what manner he had disposed of his property and where as the said
Sarah with a free knowledge of the said deed afterwards intermarried with the said John Miller
on or about 2 February – case departed this life intestate leaving the said Sarah his widow
and Elizabeth the wife of W. Teague land, the wife of John Cason, Jane the wife of Zebulon
Mathews, Ann the wife of Abraham Johnson, Rebecca the wife of Joseph Cason, George Miller,
James Miller, Polley the wife of Joshua Smith, John Miller, Anderson Miller and William Miller
whereby the said Sarah the widow the the said John Miller would have been entitled to one
third percent of the said tracts of land and Negroes, herein before mentioned have not the
said John Miller prior to his intermarriage with the said Sarah giving the said lands and
Negroes to his children by the deed aforesaid. And whereas since the death of the said John
Miller’s administration on his goods and chattels rights and credits hath been granted to
his son George Miller and whereas the said children of the said John Miller hath becoming
dissatisfied in consequence of the destruction of the said deed of gift under a belief that
the said Sarah intends to contract with them for her distributive share of the real and
personal estate mentioned in the said deed and whereas said Sarah is willing to remove these
dissatisfactions and reinstate these rights under the said deed by relinquishment to them
all the right title claim or demand which she as the widow of the said John Miller might or
could have in law or Equity to the said lands and Negroes mentioned in the said deed. I
Sarah Miller of Laurens District, South Carolina, widow and relict of the said John Miller,
deceased for an [and] in consideration of the promises herein before stated have conveyed
and released unto the said William Teague and Elizabeth his wife, John Cason and Sarah his
wife, Zebulon Matthews and Jane his wife, Abraham Johnson and Ann his wife, Joseph Cason &
Rebecca his wife, George Miller, James Miller, Joshua Smith & Poly his wife, John Miller,
Anderson Miller, and William Miller all my right and title claim ro [or] demand which I as
the widow of the said John Miller might or could have to the tracts of land and Negroes
herein before stated to have been conveyed and given by the said John Miller before his
intermarriage with me by the deed of gift aforesaid… Set my hand 15 March 1814 Sarah (X)
Miller. Wit: John Monroe, John Hewet. Proved by John Hewet on 30 July 1814 before Wm. Neil,
J.P. Recorded August 1, 1814.

End Transcript;