The Millholland Family Chapter 3 The Family of James Millholland Associated Surnames in this chapter: Douglass

The original James Millholland, born 1762, was born of Scotch - Irish parents in the County Antrim, Northern Ireland. His father was a manufacturer of linen textiles. James from early youth followed the sea and later became the captain of his own ship, carrying cargoes to far distant ports of the world.

In 1785 James sailed to Philadelphia and made that port his home, marrying Isabella Douglass on July 4, 1787, in the Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, the marriage ceremony being performed by the Rev. George Duffield, D.D. She was born in 1761. Several children were born during this marriage, but the only one to survive was the son, Robert Douglass Millholland.

In a sworn statement by Eleanor Clark, the sister of Isabella Douglass, before a Justice of the Peace in Philadelphia, October 22, 1846, Eleanor Clark said, "about the year 1796 or 1797 he, the said James Millholland, left his wife, on a sea voyage for the City of Baltimore, and to the best of her knowledge and belief he, the said James, never returned to his family." Note: The original sworn statement of Eleanor Clark, is in the possession of Harry Z. Maxwell, Philadelphia, a great - great - grandson of Isabella Douglass.

The sea voyage was supposed to have been to New Orleans, and that the ship and all on board were lost off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in a gale during the winter of 1796 - 1979.

It is said that Isabella remained with relatives in Philadelphia, later moving to Baltimore with her only son Robert.

In searching through old Philadelphia directories in the Historical Society, there was listed in the year 1794, a James Mullhollen, mariner, 8l Swanson St., Southwark, Phila., who without doubt is the original James as the correct spelling of the name Millholland seems always to have been a difficult one.

Isabella married a second time to James Whitney who had a rope and twine factory in Baltimore; they had two children, but both died in infancy. After Mr. Whitney died, Isabella married Daniel James, a sea captain; they had one daughter, Rebecca James, who married David Griffith; their son Captain David Griffith of Reading, PA, married Rose McGovern; their son was named James Millholland Griffith.

On January 8, 1820, Isabella died. Her portrait is in the possession of Constance Moore, Wilmington, Delaware, a great - great - granddaughter. The engagement ring that James gave to Isabella is of gold with a central oval crystal surrounded by twelve pearls; under the crystal oval are the initials JM to ID, with a lock of hair from each. The ring is owned by James H. Millholland, Wynnewood, PA, a great - great - grandson, being given to him by Mrs. Mortimer Brown (Mary Price) who was a descendant of Ellen Douglass, a sister of Isabella. Ownership of the portrait and ring were true as of the writing of James Harrison Millholland’s book, “The Millholland Family in America.” Current ownership is unknown.

The text for this chapter has been taken word for word from James Harrison Millholland’s original work. However, I believe he jumped to a conclusion that has yet to be proven when he said, “In searching through old Philadelphia directories in the Historical Society, there was listed in the year 1794, a James Mullhollen, mariner, 8l Swanson St., Southwark, Phila., who without doubt is the original James as the correct spelling of the name Millholland seems always to have been a difficult one.”

In our research we have discovered several Millholland, and variations thereof, families that cannot be connected to ours. I did find one user on Ancestry that believes James came to the U.S. with brothers, but she had no documentation to back up the claim. It is more likely that the James he discovered is not our James.