Has anyone come across William Miller.

[Costar]

William (Bill)was a bosun and he must have went to sea at a young age as I cannot find any record of him after the Scottish 1881 census when he was aged 3 until 1901 when I think I have in living in Amble, Northumberland, England age 21 unmarried and occupation seaman. 
This may tie in with what I know regarding  his Fathers  1st marriage (whereabouts unknown) some time between 1866 & 1876  which ended with the deaths of his wife and children  in a fire.  As I cannot find the marriage or deaths in Scotland and the fact that he and William sailed from the east coast (Sunderland, England) I am looking for a 1st marriage & deaths  in the Newcastle / Hartlepool area.
His 2nd wife  (Mary McKenzie = 3/1/1877 Glasgow) and family moved to Hartlepool sometime between late 1886 & late 1888 and then back to Glasgow (Lochwinnoch) before 1901.
I have found that the name McKenzie sometimes appears as McTear or McIntyre in other documents that I have and appear to come from the Wigtown / Kirkmaiden / Drumore area  (south west Scotland)

I have 100 post cards written by  William  on his travels around the world between 1905 & 1909. Some name the ships & destinations that he was on.
SS Furnessia  sailing from Glasgow  Arriving New York 10th  Oct  & returning to Glasgow on the 14th  Oct. (2 deaths and 1 Birth on board) I found it was a boy and he was named James Turner b31/10/1905.
Boatswains mate on the SS Sardinia Montreal to Boston.
SS Trafford Hall 18th Dec 1905 to Bombay & Karachi via Suez Canal. Arrived back to Liverpool
20th Feb 06.
SS Glen Affrick to Ceylon 18th Sept 1906.
 May 1908 London to Sydney estimated arrival 6th June.
In Sept 1909 on his way to the Fife Islands  from Dunedin he became unwell so “resigned” and returned to Dunedin. On his postcard of that date he says  “ I am in Fire Brigade in Christchurch Central Station. Will write soon”
Sometime after he went home to Glasgow (Lochwinnoch) where I found him in the 1913 valuation rolls living with his Mother.
He appeared again in Feb1921 on the SS Raranga as Bosun sailing from Newcastle to New Zealand where he remained for the rest of his life (as far as I know). He was living in Dunedin in 1933 and I have a photo of him in Auckland 1947, but no address. I am trying to find if he was married when he died and where he is  buried?
I do not know if he became a NZ Citizen.

A lot of loose ends to clear up.

[Neil Todd]

Hi, Did William have a middle name and or do you know his Mothers maiden name.
Have you searched the NZ BDM's
Neil

[johnbarr]

Hello Costar,

Yes, quite a few William Millers to sort through.

ER shows a William Miller in Dunedin, 1935, occupation electrician.

Waikumete Cemetery have a William Miller d 1948 age 70, occupation electrician and seaman.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0i9q/

Seems to fit with the details you have provided

Sibuns were the FD, and it might be possible to get further information from their records.

John B

[kiwihalfpint]

Have you searched the NZ BDM's
Neil

If you feel like ordering the death certificate order the "Printout" as it is the cheaper option and has more information on it.


http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a93/

As John mentioned there many William Miller's and getting the Printout or contacting the FD will give the information whether he was married and had children.


Cheers
KHP

[Costar]

Hi,
Thanks for all your replies.

William born Glasgow Feb 1878 did not have middle name. His mothers maiden name was McKenzie or McIntyre or Mctear, it all depends what certificate you look at. I put that down to the Irish accent and poor spelling.
I have searched the BMD registers and found some possibles but unless I order more certificates I cannot rule them out, which is why I phone NZ direct to see if they can confirm at least the Parents names but I have found they do not work that way. I have found William in 1935 Dunedin and as I know that he was living there in 1933 (I have his address) I am presuming that it is he.
I will look into the death in 1948, the age and occupations are right.
Can you tell me what Sibuns and FD are.
Did not know about the printouts.

Costar

[kiwihalfpint]

Can you tell me what Sibuns and FD are.

Hi Costar,

FD = Funeral Director and Sibuns is the name of the Funeral Directors for William Miller.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0ib9/

Cheers
KHP

[johnbarr]

Thanks for explaining my shorthand, KHP 

Costar, I sorted all of the deaths of William Miller (no middle name) at BDM from 1940 to 1978 to arrive at those whose age gave a birth in 1878. The 1948 death was the only one that fitted. Others were at least two years out.

Sorry, I should have shown all the results before deleting my spreadsheet 

John B

[Costar]

Hello All,

Thank you all very much for your help.

Success at last.

William Miller died 1948. I have the burial details from Sibuns Funerals, who I also thank.
William is buried in the Waikumete Soldiers Cemetery as he must have served in the Boer War, Regt Number 38711.
He was married at some time and later divorced. Wife's name Helen Sophia.

So I have a bit more research to do.

Costar

[Janette]

Hi Costar

Here is their marriage

1912/8828 Ellen Sophia  Treseder to William  Miller 

Cheers Janette