There were two John McMillen's living in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania during the early 1800's. There was a John McMillen living in Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County. His will was written 26 May 1830 and probated 28 July 1831 (see Indiana County Connections blog post of 24 July 2016 for information on him). A second John McMillen lived in Redbank Township, Armstrong County. His will was written 10 December 1835 and probated 18 December 1837.
Although I am related to the John McMillen living in Plum Creek Township, I also did some research on the John McMillen living in Redbank Township to help differentiate them. The John McMillen from Redbank Township was a Revolutionary War veteran and collected a pension based on his service.
John McMillen from Redbank Township mentions his wife Jenny and the following sons in his will.
1) John
2) William
3) Robert
4) Wilson
He leaves his personal estate to his wife and any residue after his wife's death to his six daughters. His unmarried daughter Polly is the only daughter mentioned by name in his will. He leaves her a note dated 10 December 1835 for money that was in the hands of Thomas McKelvey. He leaves a lot to his son John and a lot to his son William that he had already signed deeds for. He leaves the rest of his land to his sons Robert and Wilson who are to provide for his wife after his death. He names Wm Heszvey (sp. ?) and his son John as the executors of his will. Joseph Smith and William Mohney witnessed his will.
The Revolutionary War pension file for John McMillen is available on Ancestry, Fold3, and Heritage Quest. The affidavit of John McMillen, dated 18 June 1835, in his pension file states he was born in County Tyrone, Ireland on 1 August 1756. He came to this country on 24 August 1772 and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where he was drafted in 1776 for two months. He was drafted again in Lancaster County in 1777 and 1778 for two months each time. He then moved to York County, Pennsylvania where he was drafted in 1779 for two months. He lived in Lancaster and York Counties after the Revolutionary War. He then moved to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania where he lived for twenty years before going to Armstrong County. There is an affidavit by his brother, Thomas McMillen, dated 10 November 1834, in his pension file. His brother lived in Tyrone Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania at the time. He and his brother were both in the Revolutionary War.
John McMillen's affidavit of 1835 gives the names of the officers under whom he served and describes his service during each two month term. He was a private in the militia during the war. He was awarded a pension certificate on 29 June 1835 and received $106.66 in arrears to 4 March 1831. He was eligible for a pension of $26.66 per year. There is a final payment voucher for John McMillen for the fourth quarter, 1837. His pension file does not mention any family members other than his brother Thomas.
