Miller - the Delaware County, NY Genealogy and History Site

namely the Dry Brook and Millbrook valleys. Hence the Fairbairn Bible records John F. (1852), Nelson G.
(1854), and George G. (1856) as being born in Shandaken, while the youngest, William H. (1862) as born in
Hardenburgh.
When John Fairbairn applies for his pension, he gives his address as Belleayre, Ulster County, NY. In the
1880 census, Town of Hardenburgh, John and Elizabeth Fairbairn are listed as a household with their unmarried
sons Jarvis, George, and William H., along with their son James, his wife, Mary, and their children, Rachel,
Francis M., and Nelson. Since Jame's daughter, Rachel is known to have been born in a house later purchased and
expanded by George Jay Gould, it may well be that at the time of the 1880 census, the family was residing in that
house now known as Flyvaal and currently part of the Gould's Furlow estate in Seager.
John's application for a Civil War pension makes for interesting reading. He is described as having a dark
complexion and dark eyes. He attests that he was mustered at Elmira, where he became ill with typhoid fever after
having to sleep on a cold floor without bedding and subsequently losing an eye to that illness. However, the army
contests that he was discharged because he claimed to be forty years of age when in fact he was over fifty at the
time of his enlistment. John also claims that he has suffered from respiratory problems or chronic bronchitis ever
since becoming ill in Elmira and is unable to do much work. There are affidavits in support of his claim from
Hinkleys and Gavetts. It's not clear whether he was awarded a pension or not., His oldest son, Walter, seems to be
the only member of John's immediate family to serve in the Civil War.
John and Elizabeth Miller Fairbairn are buried in the Lake Hill Cemetery on Slade Road just off the Dry
Brook Road in Hardenburgh, Ulster County, NY. Their tombstone reads: John Fairbairn June 9, 1812 - April 3,
1895 and Elizabeth his wife 2/2/1821 - 10/23/1891(I believe the stone once also said natives of Scotland but it is
no longer legible). Several of their sons and a number of their grandchildren and great grandchildren rest with
them.
More About JOHN FAIRBAIRN:
Burial: Lake Hill Cemetery, Dry Brook, Ulster Co, New York
Cause of Death: Senile debility and chronic bronchitis
Description: Dark Complexion 39
Emigration: May 16, 1840, "Fairfield" - Liverpool to New York
Record Change: January 15, 2003 39
Tombstone: 6/9/1812 - 4/3/1896
Children of ELISEBETH MILLER and JOHN FAIRBAIRN are:
15. i. WALTER 5 FAIRBAIRN, b. March 31, 1842, Bovina, Delaware Co, NY; d. October 19, 1906, Margaretville,
New York.
ii. FRANK MILLER FAIRBAIRN, b. May 26, 1844; d. December 29, 1856.
16. iii. JARVIS BARRETT FAIRBAIRN, b. May 22, 1846, Atlantic Ocean; d. July 09, 1926, Millbrook, Hardenburgh,
Ulster County, NY.
17. iv. JAMES E FAIRBAIRN, b. January 29, 1849, New Kingston, Delaware County, NY; d. February 09, 1922,
Margaretville, Delaware County, NY.
18. v. JOHN FRANCIS FAIRBAIRN, b. January 19, 1852, Shandaken, Ulster County, NY.
19. vi. NELSON G FAIRBAIRN, b. September 26, 1854, Shandaken, Ulster County, NY; d. 1940.
vii. GEORGE G FAIRBAIRN, b. August 09, 1856.
20. viii. WILLIAM H FAIRBAIRN, b. September 23, 1862, Hardenburg, Ulster County, NY.
11. GIDEON 4 MILLER (FRANCIS 3 , GIDEON 2 , JAMES 1 ) was born October 06, 1824 in Castleton, Roxburgh,
Scotland 40 , and died November 28, 1911 in Middletown, Orange County, NY. He married ELLEN BIGGAR,
daughter of WALTER BIGGAR. She was born 1827 in Bovina, Delaware County, NY, and died 1882 in Campbell
Mountain, Colchester, Delaware County, NY.
Notes for GIDEON MILLER:
"History of Delaware County" published 1880
Gideon Miller was born in Scotland in 1823, came to America in 1840, and married Ellen Biggar, who was born
in this county in 1827. Walter, one of their 5 children, is is a medical student at Andes and has been prominent as
a teacher. Nettie, a daughter, has also been a teacher. Mr. Miller follows farming and blacksmithing at his farm on
Campbell Mountain in Colchester.
More About GIDEON MILLER:
Burial: Downsville Cemetery, Delaware County, NY 41
Emigration: 1837
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