| Notes |
- Ted Miller: Birth info from OPR Births 496/00 0030 0242 Dumbarton Register - Birth Date 24 August 1806.
Based on correspondence from Muriel Peppler, I believe that John Miller 1806 came to Canada in 1826 (unexplained date in a Robert Miller bible in the possession of Carolee, daughter of Clinton Park, granddaughter of Elizabeth Miller Park 2017).
Family lore suggests that he worked on a ships crew and left the ship in Quebec and made his way to Lanark County. He would have been 20 years of age at the time and would have qualified for a free grant of land when he reached age 21 but the land granting program was cancelled in 1827. He therefore did not receive a land grant.
It is not know at this time where he worked and lived until his marriage to Margaret Blair in Lanark, Rev. John Gemmill, in 1831 (Marriage certificate believed to have been held by Melville Millar in the 1990s). It is suspected that he may have worked for James Blair for a time and thus met his daughter Margaret. James Blair settled in Dalhousie in 1820. He died before 1834 and his son George acquired the property Dalhousie Concession 1 Lot 8 and applied for the crown patent for this lot.
Land Record Dalhousie C1 L8 (Almonte Registry Office - researched by Mel Miller)
1837 Crown to George Blair
1852 George Blair to Robert Bateson
1865 Robert Bateson to George Blair
1872 George Blair to Andrew Paul
1876 Andrew Paul to Stewart Miller
1881 Stewart Miller to George Blair
1885 George Blair to Jane Blair
1895 Stewart Miller and wife to James Dunham
Stewart Miller, son of John and Margaret, retured to this farm in the 1870's with his first wife, Jane Elliott, age 40 who died in 1883 and a son John, age 12 who died in 1881. Jane and her son are buried in the same plot as George Blair in the Watson Corners cemetery.
It is believed that two children were born before moving to Bathurst. One unsubstatiated suggestion is that William was born in Huntley Township, Carleton County. If this can be established it might suggest that John was engaged in the timber industry for a period. This was one of the common methods for gaining currency during this period.
St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Perth, ON
John (21 Jan 1836 - 13 Feb 1846) and Margaret (1 Feb 1835, communicant - 13- Jun 1846) were members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Perth. It lists their location as Bathurst C2 L8 at time of becoming members (1836). Margaret's location is given as Perth at time of departure from congregation.
Their children
(*PAO Toronto. MS 201 Reel#1 Church Records: Drummond, Bathurst, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church)
William - birth location to be confirmed;
Catherine - birth location and baptism to be confirmed;
James Miller born 15 Dec, 1835, chr. 8 May 1836, St Andrews Presbyterian Church, location Bathurst C2 L3*
George Miller born 18 Sep 1837, chr. 24 Sep 1837, St Andrews Presbyterian Church, location Bathurst C2 L3*
David - born circa 1840, Bathurst Twp, Lanark County
Stewart - born c 1841, Bathurst Twp, Lanark County
Robert - born 1834-4, Rawdon Twp, Hastings County
John - born circa 1850, Rawdon Twp, Hastings County
Research on the two Bathurst Township locations gives this information:
Location from Baptismal records:
C2 L3E - 1824 Hugh Spratt
C2 L3E - 1829 Patrick Kane
C2 L3W - 1824 Michael Cullen
C2 L3W - 1825 Samuel McLellan
C2 L3W - 1841 Isaac Corry
It is probable that they rented or leased part of this lot for a period of time.
Location from John Miller, St. Andrew's Role and Lanark Land Records, Book I, sale of property to Andrew Miller and Early Settlers in Bathurst Township; JRE Miller :
C2 L8E - 1826 John McKenzie
C2 L8E - 1832 Henry Graham
C2 L8W - 1833 Archibald Fraser
C2 L8W - 1833 John Miller
C2 L8W - 1833 Andrew Miller
It appears that John Miller owned this lot jointly with Archibald Fraser 1833-1838. The sale to Andrew was recorded on 12 Dec 1838.
After the move to Hastings County, Land records indicate that John and Margaret resided at Rawdon C9 L21 but later acquired additional properties.
Rawdon Township
C9 L21 Deed March 1847 - 200 acres
C8 L21 Deed December 1853 - 50 acres
C8 L20 Deed 1864 - 100 acres (Johnston property)
Margaret Blair's sister Lillus Blair m. John Stewart C4 L20 Bathurst
Janet Stewart b. 5 Apr 1836, c. 8 May 1836
John Stewart was former military, a teacher in Perth (Jean McGill: A Pioneer Story...)
They moved to Rawdon Township, Hastings Cty with John and Margaret.
Stewart Miller m. Annie Elliott, daughter of Kennedy & Ann Elliott, Bathurst, who also moved to Rawdon.
Robert Miller m. Agnes Duncan, daughter of Peter Duncan & Elizabeth Beaumont, Bathurst, who moved to either Rawdon or Seymour E Twp, Northumberland.
John Miller died late 1870 and before 12 Jan 1871
- (Research):
10 Jan 2024 - Revisiting what we think we know about John Miller.
Questions to think about
1.What can be proven? Where do our assumptions lie?
2. John Miller's birth date - do we have the right John Miller? Was he born in Dumbarton or elsewhere?
3. What was his birthdate? Is there a memorial stone or cemetery records? Is there a death record? What year is recorded on each of the census records and what were the instructions to the ennumerator, e.g. next birthday versus last birthday? If recorded as "1806" does it mean he was actually born in 1805?
4. What documentation can be found in family papers, bible etc.? I have recorded what I have in files following this series of questions.
5. Proof of his arrival date and the origin of the story that he worked as a ship's carpenter assistant to earn passage when arriving?
Why did he go to the Blairs upon arrival rather than to one of the Miller families?
6. Review the two Miller genealogies published by Ernest Miller, one about 1987, the second in 1993 to look at the evolution of thinking through that period.
7. A review of letters written by other researchers re John Miller.
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What do I have?
Preliminary Printout of the Family of William Miller and Mary or Margaret Burns: Dumbarton, Scotland and Lanark County, Canada. J.R. Ernest Miller, abt 1989.
In his introductory notes it appears that he confused William Miller the son, and William Miller the father, in his assumptions (general notes). This preliminary listing of children includes those of each of the Williams in one list. He provides details of the descendants of Andrew Miller and Catherine Munro (3rd line of Bathurst and descendants known) , John Miller and Margaret Blair, and George Miller and Helen Mason (my branch in Bathurst), Thomas Miller and Elizabeth Mason (many from this family moved to North Dakota about 1860) and Janet or Jessie Miller and Robert Boyle (Australian connection).
Notes re John Miller and Margaret Blair:
At this time he is described as the son of William Miller and Mary Burns and his age is noted as 1807, death as 1881 in Rawdon. Dumbarton is suggested with a ? mark. He is noted as marrying Margaret Blair in Lanark in 1831 but notes that no records of this have been found. Two children are baptised at St. Andrew's Church, Perth - James on 8 May 1836 and George on 24 September 1837 (Rev. Thomas Clarke Wilson). The family address is given as Lot 3 Concession 2 Bathurst. A short time later they moved to Rawdon, Hastings county.
Margaret Blair is believed to be the daughter of James Blair, who settled in Dalhousie in 1820. He died before 1834 and his son George acquired the property Lot 8 concession 1, Dalhousie. Stewart Miller, son of John and Margaret returned to this property in the 1870s.
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The Families of William, John and Andrew Miller of Dumbarton & Cardross, Dunbartonshire, Scotland Emigrating to Lanark County, Upper Canada in 1820-1821 as compiled by J.R. Ernest Miller, 1993.
In this documents he credits Mel Miler, Gertrude Hurst, Maxine Fox and Muriel Peppler for contributions from the John Miller branch of the family. He notes that Clarice Miller Stefan contacted him about 1992 seeking info on the Miller-Munro branch of the family and she provided information of the descendants of Thomas Miller and Elizabeth Mason. Andrew Stewart found a letter in the back of a family organ that provided information on Andrew Millers son who imigrated to Australia with the Boyle family (Janet Miller). His whereabout were not known until an inquiry from Australia for information prompted a search of the 1861 census located him living with the Boyles in Lanark township. This inquiry lead to a reciprical request for info from Australia which provided much more info on Janet's family.
The letter from William Miller found in the small book The Rise and Progress of Emigration from the Counties of Lanark and Renfrew, Robert Lamond and the suggestion of two William Millers and a reference to Whitelea as William Miller Sr's farm name Whitelea raised more questions.
Muriel Peppler researched the family in Scotland and helped to clarify and change original relationships of the the William Millers. One William (Jr.) arrived in 1820 and claimed land on concession 2 lot 14 in Dalhousie township; the second William (Sr.) arrived in 1821 and settled on concession 1 lot 15 Lanark township, across the the township border from Andrew, his son, who settled on concession 1 lot 15 Dalhousie township before moving to Bathurst in the 1830s.
William Jr. was found in the 1834 survey of settlers (LAC) but was absent from the 1841 census of settlers. His property was transferred to Alexander Parks and in documents it was indicated that William Miller had gone to Hammond, St. Lawrence County, New York in 1839. The sale of the property was registered 7 December 1853.
William Sr. was listed as deceased in the 1834 survey (later found to have died in 1825) and his widow is living on the property. Her death is recorded in the Robert Mason journals as 13 December 1839. The diaries provided info on the families of his three daughters who married Miller men.
Familes:
William Miller Sr and Elizabeth Gilmour
Robert 3 Nov 1784
William 1786
John 7 Jun 1789
Jean 3 Aug 1791
James 20 Jan 1794
Peter 13 Jun 1796
Andrew 15 Sep 1799
Janet Jul 1802
William Miller Jr and Margaret Burns
Thomas 10 Sep 1809
Robert 19 Apr 1810
William 31 Jul 1812
Janet 4 Mar 1813
George 14 Jan 1814
Peter 29 Jul 1816
Margaret A. 4 Jul 1817
Mary 24 Oct 1819
John Miller 1789, son of William Miller and Elizabeth Gilmour came with his brothers William and Andrew when the family left Dumbarton to settle in Lanark.
Notes on John Miller and Margaret Blair:
John Miller 1789 (sic) married Margaret Blair in 1831 and two children were born in Bathurst. (This assumption of John Miller 1789 marrying Margaret Blair was the basis of an assumed relationship to William and Elizabeth).
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Notes from previous Research
One of the census (1861) shows an Isabella Miller that no one can identify. Isabella is said to have married William Milne and is buried in Burnbrae cemetery, adjoining St Andrew's Church. The inscription on their tombstone is hard to read (1981:M. Peppler) but seems to be: Isabella Miller, died 22 Feb 1883, aged 60?, 63?, 69?. A granddaughter has her birth as 27 May 1820. This would make it unlikely that she was John and Margaret's daughter, maybe a sister?
Family, Jane Milne married William Stewart Jr.
Mary McLaughlin Miller, daughter of John and Margaret Miller, Osgoode, C10 L36, born 10 Jul 1843, baptised 16 Mar 1844.
Excerpt from a letter - decendent of Stewart & Janet Miller
The Millers and Blairs first settled in Dalhousie. Grandfather moved to Rawdon, near Campbellford; both he and grandmother Miller are buried there. Father, Mother, Uncle Robert and Aunt Agnes are buried in Rainy River.
From Ted Miller, Nov 2019
The 1871 Census of Canada lists John Miller, age 64, as dying in April within the 12 months "preceeding the 1871 Census".
2. The Ontario Land Registry Access Land Registry Office for Hastings County (LRO21) advises -
Page 267 of 301 of this document recorded that William, James, David, Stewart, George, John and wives & Margaret Miller - Widow" Granted 100 acres of the property of Concession 9, Lot 21, to "Robert Miller", by Grant G818 on 12 January, 1871.
Page 267 of 301 of this document recorded that William, James, David, Stewart, Robert, John and wives & Margaret Miller - Widow" Granted 50 acres of the property of Concession 9, Lot 21, to "George Miller", by Grant G814 on 12 January, 1871.
If the property of John Miller was passed to his descendants in January, 1871, that must mean that John Miller died during the April before 1871, i.e., April 1870.
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Letter from Melvin John Miller , Brantford, ON, to Diane Duncan, 29 Nov 1978 (Yes I've been in the loop on this that long!!!)
Mel began research in 1974 and references the following sources:
?WToronto Archives
?WLanark and Hastings Registry Offices
?WEdith Miller, Bathurst Twp, a walking encyclopedia on Miller lore and where I got my initial info to supplement the work done in the 1950s by my grandfather and others. Referred Mel to me.
?WMuriel Peppler, Beamsville, ON. Referred Mel to me.
Mel writes:
"I am a great grandson of John Miller (and Margaret Blair) who was a brother to the George Miller who married Helen Mason (6 Apr 1836). The family I refer to consisted of 4 sons and 3 daughters William, Thomas, George, John, Mary, Jessie and Ann. I am told the family came to Canada from Dumbarton Scotland, about the year 1822, and settled in the Lanark area. The mother's name is said to have been Mary or Margaret Burns, the fathers name John or William Miller (date of births or deaths not known to me at present)". This is where the confusion between John Miller 1789 and John Miller 1806 began.
Letter from Mel Miller, Bobcaygeon, ON, to Diane Duncan 17 Jul 1982.
Mel mentions his wife Ethel, son Don and daughter Moreen who live near Nanaimo.
A visit to Archives in Ottawa raised the following info:
Microfische N. G.9 D4-034 - all of the following had links to info in the Ontario archives but links not indicated.
?WWilliam Miller, Lanark Lot 15W, Con 1
?WWilliam Miller, Lanark, lot 12W Con 7
?WWilliam Miller, Lanark, lot 13W Con 2
?WWilliam S. Miller, Lanark, lot 9E Con 5
?WJohn Miller, Lanark, lot 22W Con 2
?WJohn Miller, Lanark, lot 21 Con 2
Search for ships lists - found Commerce, voyage 1820 on RG 8 1 Vol. 625 pp. 219-223 Reel c.3159 but no list for Cannington or George Canning.
"I had a letter recently from Kelowna BC (lady's mother was a miller who married into the George Easton family at Watson's Corners and who listed early Miller family as follows: (note much of this has proven erroneous)
John Miller - lived at Rawdon twp
George Miller - Bathurst twp
Peter Miller - Bathurst twp
Robert Miller - Bathurst twp
David Miller - Lucknow, On
Andrew Miller - Mis. (???) USA
Margaret Miller - married a Mr. Boyle and moved to Australia.
The following may have been attached to one of Mel's letters but no source was attached to it directly.
Florence Miller
Her Grandfather - Robert Miller, b. Hastings Co., ON 4 Jun 1843 - 23 Oct 1931
Her Grandmother - Agnes Duncan, b. Hastings Co., ON 23 Aug 1843 - 22 Dec 1935
Marrried 11 May 1864
Children:
George - 23 aug 1865 - 8 Feb 1944
James - 20 Aug 1869 - 18 May 1885
Charles - 17 Jan 1872 - 26 Jul 1947
John - 22 Feb 1874 -
Edward - 2 Jul 1877 -
Elizabeth - 2 Jul 1877 -
Wesley - 10 Feb 1881 - 28 Jun 1921
Great Grandfather
Peter Duncan, 28 Jan 1812 - 5 Jun 1888, Perthshire Scotland
Great Grandmother
Elizabeth, Beaumont, 2 May 1822 - 11 Nov 1863, Gibralter, Spain
Children:
Agnes, 23 Aug 1843; Janet, 14 Nov 1848; Mary Ann, 16 Dec 1850; Elizabeth, 15 Oct 1852; Isabella, 2 Mar 1855; George, 19 Apr 1858;
Jane, 7 May 1860; William, 20 Jun 1862.
Great Grandfather
John Miller, born in Glasgow, Scotland
Great Grandmother
, born in Glasgow, Scotland
married in Lanark County, Ontario 11 Feb 1831
children: William, James, David, George, Stewart, Robert, John.
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From Muriel Fox, Welland, ON to Ernest Miller, Glen Tay, ON, 3 Aug 1988
"My grandfather was Stewart Miller who I understand was born in Rawdon, moved to Watson's Corners; first marriage Jane Elliott, second marriage to Janet Conroy. He second with his brother Robert to the Rainy River Country in the late 1890s? On my chart the first Miller I have was John Miller born in Dumbarton Scotland - came to Canada in 1820 or 1822, married Margaret (Mary) Burns, born also in Scotland.
My grandfather's parents were John Miller (son of John (sic) Miller and Margaret Burns). Last year, my husband and I were down to Lanark County, especially to Watson's Corneres, where my grandfather's store is still standing. As I was raised in Saskatchewan, there are many details missing. I would be interested to know, if you are the same branch of the Miller family. I also had a cousin Ernest Miller, who lived in Fort Francis.
From Muriel Fox, Welland, ON to Ernest Miller, Glen Tay, ON, 26 Aug 1988
"Stewart Miller was my grandfather, Janet Conroy my grandmother. Gertrude Hurst was my mother and Mel Miller was my cousin, son of Joseph and Mai Miller."
Muriel mentions her husband Harold Fox and Mel's sister Marion.
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previous letters are missing.
Letter from Muriel Peppler to Diane Duncan, undated.
Since my last letter to you, some new information has come to light.... It concers James Blair - the "Blairs" were one of the first original families to settle in Watson's Corners area in Dalhousie are nearby to the town of Lanark. James Blair arrived on the ship Brock in the late summer of 1820, a member of the Trans Atlantic Bridgetown Society. He took up land on the 1st concession near the Lanark depot. A document held by Muriel Hurst (of Rainy River, Ont, descendant of John Miller and Margaret Blair) states that James Blair served for 1 year duration with His Majesty's Fifth Garrison, Battalion of Foot in Scotland, 26th Regiment and elsewhere, received his discharge 1807. His discharge paper listed his birth place, Parish of Kinnard, County of Perth, Scotland. He was listed elsewhere as a weaver and did not immigrate from Ireland to Scotland, to Canada, until 13 years after his army discharge.
James Blair, original owner of the East 1/2 of Lot 8, 1st concession Dalhousie Township, also West half of lot 8 Concession 1, on Oct 1820. James died in 1837, his farm passed to his eldest son George, a yeoman of Bathurst District.
George Blair, born 1799, died 1887, age 88 years and his grave and headstone is in St Andrew's Cemetery at Watson's Corners. Also buried there is a brother, Robert, born 1807 died 7 Dec 1884. George and Robert are said to be brothers of Margaret Blair who married John Miller, 1831 in Lanark, by Rev'd Gemmill. John Blair, of near Ferguson's Falls (1863) may have been their brother, Lillias Blair who married John Stewart (1st teacher in Perth) believed to be a sister.
There is a Miss Bateson (said to have been a Blair) buried in the Watson's Corner Cemetery.
The Blair farm, was inherited in 1876 by Stewart Miller, son of John Miller & Margaret Blair. However, it is interesting to note that the map of Lanark County 1863 shows an R. Bateson, and a W. Bateson on the Blair property. I t seems to indicate that Geo. Blair had no sons and that their daughter married one of the Batesons.
I wrote a letter to Scotland re location of Crieff and Cromrie. (Early oral history linked Miller familes to these communities). They are both parishes in Perthshire and Crieff is only a few miles from Kinnard. This might indicate that the Miller family lived in these areas - or else the Blair family had relatives in these parishes? Both are a considerable distance from Dumbarton. (If Miller family came thru' the Lesmahagow Society, Lesmahagow parish is in Lanarkshire.
In order to cover the whole of Glasgow area, microfilms on these four parishes would need to be checked viz: Glasgow City Parish; Glasgow Barony Parish; Glasgow Gorbals Parish; and Govan Parish. It would really help if we knew the father's name or occupation!
My problem seems to be "where my Isabella Miller (m. Wm. Milne) fits into the picture. She certainly was connected to the Blairs since she named one of her sons Wm. Blair Milne; and my aunt was named Jessie Blair Stewart.
The letter goes on with requests for info including a reference to someone who contacted her about 20 years before. I suspect it may have been part of my grandfather's group trying to assemble info at that time. I have an original copy of the info they collected in the 1950s and 1960s. I will add that at a later time.
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Letter from Muriel Peppler to Ernest Miller, 25 Jan 1978
"No doubt you will recall that my cousin, Mrs Jean Johnson, of Prescott, called you in the fall aout our Miller family history; a subject near and dear to my heart. She had a nice visit with Miss Jean Miller (my grandaunt), who called her cousin Marion Miller, to come over. The Misses Millers, said that you would be much more informaatiove on our Miller history; so rather than try to explain my relationship to you I have enclosed a chart showing the double relationship through both my grandmothers, if the information I have is correct -
i.e. Was Isabelle Miller, a daughter of John Miller and Margaret Blair? Any other daughters? Their sons were William, James, David, George, Stewart, Robert and John. I believe the first three sons were born in the vicinity of Perth, the younger boys were born in Rawdon Twp, Hastings County.
Would you know the lot and concession number where they first settled in Lanark County or Bathurst District?
Would you know the names of John's two brothers and where they settled and would you be a descendant of one of the two brothers?
My grandfather often spoke of their Miller kin in Perth and Glen Miller, Hastings County. (Any info on the families that lived in Glen Miller, Hastings?)
Would you have the birth date for gg grandpa John Miller and his precise place of origin in Scotland other than in the vicinity of Glasgow? His parent's names? The same info for gg grandma Margaret Blair?
There was a Wm. Blair who owned a hotel right behind the Perth Museum, formerly the Matheson home. Wm. Blair also made the first brick in a triangular shape. Wonder if he could have been Margaret's father. He died in 1821.
Would you have any info on the Johnston-Hackett families of Perth (vicinity). My g grandmother Ellen Johnston was born vicinity there 7 July,1831.
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1806 - 1870 (63 years)
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