Research by Josh Machovsky
Occupation: His occupation is given as tanner in his will.
http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/earpconnections/millerdspartii.htm
The following was found in The Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine - Winter 1959 - Volume XXIII - Number 2 Pages 57 – 62. It was transcribed to Angelfire by Sharon Wick.
THE MILLARDS OF REHOBOTH, MASSACHUSETTS
By Frances Davis McTeer of Detroit, Mich. And Frederick C. Warner of North Amherst, Mass.
PART II - Continued from Fall 1959, p. 10
SECOND GENERATION
2. ROBERT (2) MILLARD (John-1), b. probably in England ca. 1632, d. in Rehoboth, Mass., 16 March 1699, age 67 years, buried in Kickimuit Cemetery, Warren, R.I.; m. at Rehoboth, 24 Dec.1662 according to the original town records), ELIZABETH SABIN, b. there in 1642 or 1643, d. there 7 Feb. 1717/8, age 75 years, buried Newman Church Cemetery Seekonk, Mass., daughter of William and ..... (Wright?) Sabin. (Bowen, Vol. III, pp. 124-128)* She m. (2) at Rehoboth, 12 Jan. 1700/1, as his second wife, Samuel Hayward, b. 1646, d. at Mendon, Mass., 29 July 1713. He m. (1) Mehitable .......
Like his father Robert Millard was a tanner at Rehoboth. In 1668 he was one of those who received lots in the North Purchase meadow (later Attleboro); and in 1689 he was listed among the Inhabitants and Proprietors of Rehoboth. In addition to the lands he had by propriety, Robert bought lands at Palmer River from Anthony Perry, John Fitch and Joseph Peck and salt marsh in Swansea from Peter Hunt. (Plymouth Colony Deeds as abstracted in Bowen, Vol. III)
His name is included in various Rehoboth tax lists from 1671 to 1678, and on 26 Jan. 1676/7, "An account of the charges that several Persons have been at relating to the late War" (King Philip's War) shows "Rob Miller -- b. 5.17.06". (Bowen, Vol. II, p. 42) The Massachusetts towns were then required to equip and provision their own militiamen, and the money listed in this account was probably used for this purpose. Besides this financial contribution to the war effort, Robert Millard served at the Falls Fight under Capt. William Turner. (Soldiers in King Philip's War, 1906, by George M. Bodge, p. 239)
Although Robert remained throughout his life a resident of Rehoboth, on 19 May 1685 he owned land in New Meadow Neck in Swansea (between Runen's River and Warren River) and was listed as one of the proprietors of Swansea (between Runen's River and Warren River) and which is now Barrington and Warren, R.I. including parts of Swansea, Seekonk and East Providence. Similarly the name of Robert Millard was listed on 23 July 1689 among "the several persons that live ... (torn) ..." in Swansea. New Meadow Neck was part of Swansea from the organization of that town in 1663 until it was set off to Barrington in 1717. (Sowams, With Ancient Records of Swansea and Parts Adjacent, 1908, by Thomas W. Bicknell, pp. 68-9, 145)
The will of Robert Millard of Rehoboth, Tanner, dated 11 March 1698/9, proved 29 March 1699, bequeathed to sons Solomon and Ephraim, dwelling house, barn and lands belonging thereto, upland at Palmer River, and fifty pounds commonage; to son Nathaniel, ten acres on Rocky River; to son Nehemiah, fifty acres "he now lives upon"; to son Robert, fifty acres at the northside of Rehoboth. To each son he gave in addition a piece of salt meadow in New Meadow. He bequeathed further to his grandsons, John and Richard Bragg, fifty acres of the northside to each; to daughter Elizabeth, a cow; to daughters Mary and Experience, ten pounds each; and to wife Elizabeth, all household goods, living space and her maintenance at the expense of the sons Solomon and Ephraim, who were designated executors. Witnesses: Timothy Blake, Thomas Bowen. The inventory, totalling £271.10.00, included besides the real estate listed in the will, Barks Mill and Tann Pitts (this mill was evidently used to grind bark for use in tanning), stock in the Tann Pitts, Raw hides and Barks, ten acres at Chestnut Hill, a 14 acre lot lying by William Doans, and ten pounds worth of smithy tools. (Bristol Co., Mass. Probates, Vol. 2, pp. 3-4)
On 17 June 1695, Robert Millerd had deeded to his son Nathaniel Millerd of Rehoboth, Malster, one half acre on the east side of Palmer River, previously purchased of John Fitch. Then on 29 March 1699, Mary Millerd, one of the witnesses to the deed, and on 18 May 1699 Henry West, the other witness, swore that they had seen Robert sign. The record of their testimony provides further confirmation of the date of Robert's death. (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 3, p. 109; Bowen, Vol. III, pp. 169-170)
Robert Millard and Elizabeth Sabin had ten children, all born at Rehoboth:
Elizabeth, b. 5 Feb. 1663/4, d. at Bristol, R.I., 9 Sept. 1741; m. at Rehoboth, 12 Oct. 1684, John Bragg, whose widow Mrs. Mary Bragg was appointed on 5 Aug. 1746, administratrix of the estate of her late husband John Bragg of Bristol. Three children, born at Bristol.
ROBERT, b. 12 June 1666
NEHEMIAH b. 8 June 1668
Josiah b. 26 July 1670, probably d. at Bristol, Mass., 28 May 1694.
NATHANIEL b. 31 March 1672.
SOLOMON b. 6 March 1674.
EPHRAIM
Mary (Marcy) b. 14 June 1680; m. at Rehoboth, 20 Jan 1701/2, John Vaughn. On 13 June 1717, Nehemiah Millard (#7) of Rehoboth sold to John Vaughn of Newport, R.I., one eighth part of the meadow which was formerly the property of Robert Millard deceased. (Bristol Co., Mass. Deeds, Vol. 10, p. 656)
Sarah b. 26 Sep. 1684, bur. at Rehoboth, 24 Dec, 1690.
Experience b. 20 May 1687, prob. d. unmar. between 11 Mar. 1699 and 13 June 1717.