Miles, Elijah

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: D. M. Young, “MILES, ELIJAH,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 6, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/miles_elijah_6E.html
  • DCB profile:
    • Merchant, farmer, army and militia officer, politician, and magistrate; b. 16 Jan. 1753 in New Milford, Conn., son of Justus Miles and Hannah Olmstead; m. first 1779 Frances Cornwell of Hempstead, N.Y., and they had eight children; m. secondly 3 Aug. 1800 Elizabeth Harding of Maugerville, N.B., and they had two sons; d. 26 May 1831 in Maugerville.
    • Elijah Miles was educated at the public school in New Milford and at the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War was engaged in farming there. It is not known when he became a soldier but in 1776 he was serving as a captain in the 3rd battalion of De Lancey’s Brigade, a loyalist unit; with the reorganization of the brigade in 1781 his battalion was renumbered the 2nd.
    • When the war ended, the two brothers went in 1783 with other provincial troops and loyalist refugees to the future colony of New Brunswick. Miles appears to have borne a reputation for honour and integrity. He exemplifies the qualities that later admirers of American loyalists saw as typical of the younger men who ranked below the bureaucratic élite but were firm upholders of the principles of church establishment and strong executive authority.
  • United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=5836
  • Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/164306144/elijah-miles