Thomas Milner

Thomas Milner (died April 27, 1694), emigrated from England to the Virginia colony where he became a merchant, planter, military officer and politician who twice served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses.

Early life Although his parentage and date of birth are unknown or disputed, he is assumed to have emigrated to the Virginia colony from Yorkshire or Lincolnshire, in part because he used the same coat of arms as that Milner family. Upon his election as burgess in 1688, Milner was soom appointed as chairman of two important committees, that for examination of election returns and for propositions and grievances. When Speaker Allen left the chair during an important debate about whether to assist the New York colony in defending itself against the French (which was ultimately rejected), Milner was elected chairman of the committee of the whole House for that debate. He also supported Speaker Allen and other burgesses in opposing Governor Effingham's policies. When Speaker Allen refused to swear allegiance to WIlliam and Mary after the Glorious Revolution, fellow burgesses elected Milner as their Speaker without opposition for the 1691–1692 session. Effingham's successor, Gov. Francis Nicholson seemed to have a better relationship with Milner and the burgesses, for both sessions passed considerable legislation. Thus, Nicholson suggested that Milner receive a post as customs collector, and Rev. James Blair arranged for Milner's appointment as trustee of the newly formed College of William and Mary. The burgesses re-elected Milner speaker in both 1693 sessions, but he and the burgesses came into conflict with the newly appointed governor Sir Edmund Andros. Those George and John Milner may instead have been associated with Robert Milner who sailed to Virginia in 1620 and established residence in Charles City County on the other side of Williamsburg and Jamestown from Nansemond County. This man's son Thomas Milner Jr. married into the Cary family of Virginia and his grandson of the same name married into the Selden family of Virginia, else genealogists who worked several decades ago believe the male Milner line in Virginia ended with the death of Samuel Milner in 1788. This man's daughter (Thomas Jr.'s sister) Mary Milner (1667–1700) married Col. Miles Cary (b. 1665) who became a burgess representing Warwick County, but none of their children survived (his issue were with his second wife Mary Wilson Rowscow). His son Francis' daughter Anne married Major Thomas Cary (b. 1647) of Windmill Point plantation in Warwick County.

Death and legacy Milner died on April 27, 1694. He is among the names on a memorial tablet in WIlliamsburg near the former Eastern State Hospital.