John and Jane Miller, Newtown, Wellington celebrated Golden Wedding

[jgmiller]

Is there anybody who could provide any further information with regard to the family of John and Jane Miller in the Newtown, Wellington area?


I have a newspaper cutting from the (Wellington) Evening News, which sadly is undated, but which must be from the period 1940 - 1950.

The text reads

Mr and Mrs John Miller, of Newtown, who a few days ago celebrated their golden wedding.

Mr Miller served in the Northumberland Fusiliers for twenty-one years, and was present at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898, at the capture of Crete, took part in the Boer War, and was mentioned in dispatches in connection with the action at Kleinfontein.

He came to New Zealand in 1909.

Other sources indicate that he was the eldest son of John Miller (tobaconist) and Margaret Ann Iggo, married in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in November 1862, and that he was therefore born between 1863 and 1864.

The census of 1881 indicates that he was not present in the household with his mother who had remarried (John Miller apparently died at an early age sometime between 1872 and 1880) and presumably at the age of 18-19 had left home and perhaps was already serving in the military.

I would be very grateful to anybody in the Newtown, Wellington area who can supply information regarding this Miller family or their descendents.

[Lucy2]

Hi jgmiller

... and welcome to RootsChat. 

I may be in a position to assist further with this query, however, you will need to provide some further details.

It seems to me that a John MILLER (b.c. 1863) and arriving in New Zealand in 1909, would not in fact, have married here. ?

*   When did "your" John MILLER marry ... and to Jane "whom" ?      (Maiden name ?)

*   Did John and Jane have other christian names ?
   
*   If John and Jane MILLER arrived in 1909, do they appear on a passenger list to New Zealand ?     

*   Were they accompanied by their children ?

[I'm not aware of the newspaper "Evening News"  -   Wellington's newspaper was known as the "Evening Post".
Are there any clues (as to a more definite time frame), given on the reverse of that newspaper clipping ?]

Lu

[Lucy2]

  ... passengers to New Zealand, can be searched for at the following site >>

http://www.findmypast.com/


Lu

[jgmiller]

It seems to me that a John MILLER (b.c. 1863) and arriving in New Zealand in 1909, would not in fact, have married here. ?

Not unless he lived until he was at least 96 (1959), and only married on arrival in 1909.

When did "your" John MILLER marry ... and to Jane "whom" ?      (Maiden name ?)

I have not yet been able to obtain this information.

Did John and Jane have other christian names ?

As yet unknown, but by comparison with the names of his brothers, unlikley.
   

If John and Jane MILLER arrived in 1909, do they appear on a passenger list to New Zealand ? 

Following your suggestion to try the search at FindMyPast, I have retrieved the following

                                  DOB
MILLER     John M     Unknown     M     1909     London     New Zealand     Wellington

If I include Jane Miller as an accompanying person, the search returns no result.
It therefore appears that he traveled to NZ on his own, if this is indeed the same John Miller, but the missing DOB is a serious omission.

However, I wonder if John and Jane Miller traveled from South Africa to New Zealand, rather than John returning to England following the Boer War, keeping in mind that both his father and mother had already died in c1872-1880 and 1909 respectively.

I'm not aware of the newspaper "Evening News"  -   Wellington's newspaper was known as the "Evening Post".

That was a typographic error on my part -- sorry  -- it was indeed the Evening Post (taken over by The Dominion, so now the single paper is The Dominion Post).

I have checked the Evening Post clippings database at the Wellington City Libraries on line search facility but could find nothing relevant.

Are there any clues (as to a more definite time frame), given on the reverse of that newspaper clipping ?

Excellent suggestion!  I only have in my posession at my present location a photocopy of the clipping, so I will
ask my father who has access to the original to check the reverse.

The one thing that is confusing in the newspaper clipping is -- it says that John Miller was present at the capture of Crete.  I have subsequently discovered that UK troops occupied the island of Crete in 1898, and this is not a reference to the German occupation of 1941.

[Thamesite2017]

using the findmypast site
where you found John M
just enter MILLER and 1909 from LONDON to WELLINGTON
and there are a handull of MILLER's including JJ
it may pay to get some credits or someone with them and look at the passenger list for John's voyage, then you can see which ones are with him
BYe
Althea

Have you tried 1901 census england to shed light on family

[lil growler]

Hi jg

The details for the John M Miller from London to Wellington 4 th Feb 1909 on the Corinthic is single and his occupation is a Dairyman

Other Millers on the same voyage
Mrs Miller, wife , children: Alf Miller, Galdys Miller, Ida Miller, Irene Miller, Percy Miller and Percy A Miller, husband and a Mechanic.

There is a Mrs J Miller who travelled on the Turakina from London to Wellington, single and a widow.

Mr JJ Miller from London to Wellington 21 Feb 1909 on the Paporoa is single and a painter by trade.

Regards

lil

[Lucy2]

It seems to me that a John MILLER (b.c. 1863) and arriving in New Zealand in 1909, would not in fact, have married here. ?

Not unless he lived until he was at least 96 (1959), and only married on arrival in 1909.

My reason for asking the above question, was that the John MILLER born circa 1863, would in 1909, have been around 46 years of age.    I consider it is reasonable therefore,  to expect, that he may have married earlier, and might also have had children.     [And yes, I had already come to the conclusion that a later marriage, would mean that he was a very old man at the time of celebrating his Golden anniversary !]

Some preliminary searching of the NZ Marriage Index (from 1909) had also revealed  that two "John MILLER's had married women named "Jane / Janie" ... both these events however, occurred in 1912.  [1912 + 50 years = 1962] :

Further, the New Zealand Death index shows, that of persons named John MILLER, (including those who had a second christian name), who died between 1957 and 1966, none were over the age of 88 years.

It does seem unlikely then, that "a John MILLER (b.c. 1863) and marrying in New Zealand in 1912", would be the same John MILLER mentioned in the newspaper article.

Lu

[jgmiller]

A big thank you to everybody who has offered suggestions and performed searches for me.

I now have some further information about John Miller.

John E Miller was born in 1866/1867 in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland.

(His mother's brother was named John Emmet Iggo, so it is possible that the E may have stood for Emmet also.)

In 1881, John E Miller was an "inmate" at the the Industrial Schools, Jubilee Road, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (All Saints).

MILLER, John E ..... Inmate ..... Single ..... M ..... 15 ..... 1866 ..... Scholar ..... Newcastle, Northumberland

From this date and the fact that John Miller arrived in New Zealand in 1909 and served for 21 years in the Northumberland Fusiliers for 21 years, it means that his years of service must have started at the earliest in 1882 and the latest 1888, and finished at the earliest in 1903 and at the latest 1909.

From the back of the newspaper clipping,  there are items all about horse racing and one of them described the horse Catalogue making a big "come back" after winning the Winter Cup, having come second in the Manawatu Hunt two years previously.  A web search revealed that this was a big even because Catalogue was an old horse and won the Winter Cup twice, both in 1937 and 1938.

So that points to the Golden Wedding (50th anniversary) of John and Jane Miller being in 1937, and their wedding being in 1887.

From the New Zealand Births, Marriages, and Deaths searchable index, I have found two possible matching entries -- one for a John Miller aged 80 in 1947, and another for a John Miller aged 81 in 1948.

I have now sent an e-mail message for Letters to the Editor at the Dominion Post with the details of the newspaper clipping requesting information from anybody who knew or is related to the Millers of Newtown, so perhaps in a few days there may be some response from the newspaper staff as to whether or not the letter is suitable for publication.

[Thamesite2017]

Wow you are making progess
ON NZSG Burial locator
re the john 1847Age 80 buried
Location   Green Island New Cemetery Otago S07.02

The 1948 one was Karori, 81
Source   Karori Cemetery Office

There are alot of JOHN MILLERS....
Bye
Althea