Saturday, May 19, 2018

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Slavery in Berne




Jack was sold as a slave to Johan Jost Dietz in 1792 when he was four years old. He appeared on the census of 1800 in the household of Col. Johan Jost Dietz at Town of Berne, Albany, NY. He and his wives are buried in the Berne Beaverdam Cemetery.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Indentured servant contract



    A few years ago I found, (or was sent), a late l8th or early 19th century indentured servant contract between a three year-old boy and a farmer in Berne, New York. I filed it away under the name of the boy.whose last name I can no longer remember. I have hundreds of surname files, one for every family in the Town of Berne and Knox and other hilltowns, but without knowing the boy's last name I can not find it.
    The 18 year contract called for the farmer to teach the boy the secrets and skills of farming. In addition to room and board, the farmer was required to furnish the boy clothes and to let him go to school to learn reading, writing and arithmetic. When the boy turned 21 the farmer was to provide him a suit of clothes, a bible, and a horse at which time the young man was free to leave.
    During the period of the contract the boy was not allowed to drink alcohol, swear or marry

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Berne and Knox history

Just a reminder I will be in Berne Town Park Tues. 23 of September from 2 to 5pm. I will have my new book "Berne and Knox, Some Early Families to 1787" as well as my previous book "Berne and Knox, Our German Heritage." Also available will be reprints of the 1977 "Our Heritage" the Town of Berne History till 1977. The first few chapters have many errors which is why I wrote some new books.
Hal Miller

Friday, August 14, 2015

My latest book, "Berne and Knox, Some Early Families to 1787" is finally
finished. It is a follow-up to my earlier book "Berne and Knox, Our German
Heritage"
which covers the early history of Berne and Knox through 1787.
Both are available form my brother Ralph Miller
<https://www.facebook.com/ralph.miller.7370>, Town of Berne Historian, 1136
Helderberg Trail, Berne, NY, 12023. The books cost $20 each if picked up at
his house or $25 if they are mailed. Checks should be made to Ralph Miller
with a notation as to which book you would like.

Also a reprint of "Our Heritage" the 1977 history of Berne is available at
the Berne Town Hall at a cost of $15.00. Cost for copies to be mailed is
$20. Checks should be made out to Town of Berne and mailed to Berne Town
Clerk, PO Box 57, Berne, NY 12023. The reason I wrote my two books was
largely due to the errors in "Our Heritage" chapters on the settlement of
Berne and of some of the early families.

Thursday, January 22, 2015


Monday, August 12, 2013

The reprints of Our Heritage, history of Town of Berne are now available. Price is $15 if picked up at the Town Clerk's Office in Town Hall of Berne or $20 if mailed. Write: Berne Town Clerk, PO Box 57, Berne, 12023. Pay by check.to Berne Town Clerk or Town of Berne