MILLER, William George
Born 1883; died 28 November 1918; buried 29 November 1918; age 35
William George MILLER was born in 1883 in Perthshire, Scotland, fourth child of Alexander & Catherine Miller.
In the 1881 Census of England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, Alexander MILLER (age 26, born Fowlis Wester, Perthshire)) and his wife Catherine (age 29, born Abernyte, Perthsire) were living in Willoughby Street, Muthill [i], Perthshire with their two children, Euphemia (born 1878) and John Graham (born 1879). Alexander’s occupation was listed as “Grocers salesman”.
In 1891, when the Census was repeated, five more children were listed: Alexander (b 1881); William George (b 1883); Catherine Ann (b 1885); Jessie Christina McAnish (b 1886); Thomas McIntyre (b 1890). Another child, Clarence Stewart Graham (b 1888) had died in 1890, and Catherine Ann died young also, in 1893. Two more children were born after the 1891 Census had been taken: Constance Agnes (b 1891) and Easter Mary White (b 1895)
The family still lived in Willoughby Street, Muthill, and Alexander had become a Grocer. However, in late 1899 double tragedy hit the family, when their mother Catherine died on 15 November, followed exactly one month later by her husband Alexander, who died on 15 December 1899. Their eight children ranged in age from 4 to 21 at that time. Their maternal aunt, Catherine’s only sibling, Jessie, a middle aged single woman, seems to have taken charge, and just over 12 months after these deaths she and the children all migrated to New Zealand.
They boarded the ship “Rakaia” in London on 27 March 1901 and arrived in Wellington on 29 May 1901, calling at Plymouth, Tenerife and Hobart on the voyage to New Zealand. By the time the Electoral Roll for 1905-1906 was taken Jessie was living in Church Street, Masterton, with the younger children, and Euphemia, John Graham and William George, who were all working (as shop assistant, driver and tailor respectively) were living independently in nearby Bannister Street.
William worked as a tailor for Mr Alex Donald, of Masterton. There are many advertisements in local papers for Mr Alex Donald’s business of tailoring for both men and woman. The company operated from premises in Queen Street, Masterton, and advertised “ought to be your tailor” and “makes smart fitting Suits and Costumes”, amongst other positive statements about their services.
However, by 1911 William had moved to Wellington, continuing working as a tailor and residing in Webb Street, Te Aro. By 1914, still working as a tailor, he was living at 8 Edge Hill, Mt Victoria. Edge Hill is a small dog-leg street off Kent Terrace, which was probably full of boarding houses. William remained single so would not have set up his own establishment.
When William became sick with the influenza he was transferred to St Patrick’s College Temporary Hospital, Cambridge Terrace, where he died on 28 November 1918. William was buried in the Public 2 section of Karori Cemetery the following day.
Death Notice:
MILLER.—On the 28th November, 1918, at St. Patrick's College Temporary Hospital, William George Miller, late of Masterton, and No. 8, Edge Hill; aged 36 years.
Sadly missed.
(Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 131, 29 Nov 1918)
His death, one of so many at the time, attracted a small notice in the Personal Notes column of the Wairarapa Daily Times on 29 November:
The death occurred in Wellington, yesterday from pneumonia of Mr William George Miller, formerly of Masterton. Deceased, who was a single man, was 35 years of age, and was for a time in the employ of Mr Alex. Donald, tailor, of Masterton. The late Mr Miller, who was born in Scotland, came out to New Zealand about 17 years ago. He was a nephew of Miss J. Mclntyre, of Church street, and a brother of Mr J. G. Miller, Pownall street.
The plaque on the headstone is very simple and factual, without any sentimental verses or references to family. The plot was paid for on 25 February 1920 by William’s brother, Alexander who was living at 73 Church Street, Masterton. There are no other family members buried in the plot.
Friends inserted In Memoriam notices in 1919 and 1920:
MILLER.—In fond memory of William George Miller, who died at St. Patrick's Temporary Hospital on the 28th November, 1918. A good sport; also faithful friend. Inserted by his old friend, S.J.
(Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 129, 28 Nov 1919)
MILLER.—In fond memory of William George Miller, who died on the 28th November, 1918. Gone, but not forgotten. Inserted by his old friends, L Johnson and F Dowsett.
(Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 130, 29 Nov 1920)
William’s siblings all married and most continued to live in or around the Masterton area. His brother Thomas McIntyre, however, who worked as a Telegraphist for the New Zealand Government worked in a number of towns over the years, including Masterton, Featherston, Te Kuiti, Taupo, Manaia, Ohaeawai in Bay of Islands, and finally in Otahuhu. During World War 1 Thomas commenced duty on 7 February 1916 from Methven and having served in the Specialist Signalling Company attached to the Otago Regiment for the rest of the war he was discharged in New Zealand on 3 January 1919. He too had contracted influenza in October 1918 in England but obviously recovered. Thomas married Isobel Christina Nielson in 1923 and they had a daughter and a son, and eventually settled in Otahuhu where they both died many years later.
William’s younger sister Constance married twice and sadly was found drowned in the Mangatainoka River on 16 August 1933.
Their aunt Jessie McIntyre lived in her Church Street home until she died on 8 July 1939 and was buried in Masterton Cemetery on 10 July 1939. She never married, but niece Easter and family lived with her. However, in another unfortunate family coincidence Easter predeceased her aunt by a mere three days, and had just been buried in Masterton Cemetery on 7 July 1939 when her aunt too died.
Researched by Beverley Hamlin and written by Jenny Robertson
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 360 I
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Scotland Censuses - www.findmypast.co.uk
6. Shipping – www.familysearch.org
[i] Muthill is a village in Perth and Kinross, Perthshire, Scotland. It lies just west of the former railway line connecting Gleneagles and Crieff, 3 miles south of Crieff. The line closed between the two points on 6/7/1964. The name possibly derives from Moot hill, a place of judgement. There are over a hundred listed buildings in the village.
Born 1883; died 28 November 1918; buried 29 November 1918; age 35
William George MILLER was born in 1883 in Perthshire, Scotland, fourth child of Alexander & Catherine Miller.
In the 1881 Census of England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, Alexander MILLER (age 26, born Fowlis Wester, Perthshire)) and his wife Catherine (age 29, born Abernyte, Perthsire) were living in Willoughby Street, Muthill [i], Perthshire with their two children, Euphemia (born 1878) and John Graham (born 1879). Alexander’s occupation was listed as “Grocers salesman”.
In 1891, when the Census was repeated, five more children were listed: Alexander (b 1881); William George (b 1883); Catherine Ann (b 1885); Jessie Christina McAnish (b 1886); Thomas McIntyre (b 1890). Another child, Clarence Stewart Graham (b 1888) had died in 1890, and Catherine Ann died young also, in 1893. Two more children were born after the 1891 Census had been taken: Constance Agnes (b 1891) and Easter Mary White (b 1895)
The family still lived in Willoughby Street, Muthill, and Alexander had become a Grocer. However, in late 1899 double tragedy hit the family, when their mother Catherine died on 15 November, followed exactly one month later by her husband Alexander, who died on 15 December 1899. Their eight children ranged in age from 4 to 21 at that time. Their maternal aunt, Catherine’s only sibling, Jessie, a middle aged single woman, seems to have taken charge, and just over 12 months after these deaths she and the children all migrated to New Zealand.
They boarded the ship “Rakaia” in London on 27 March 1901 and arrived in Wellington on 29 May 1901, calling at Plymouth, Tenerife and Hobart on the voyage to New Zealand. By the time the Electoral Roll for 1905-1906 was taken Jessie was living in Church Street, Masterton, with the younger children, and Euphemia, John Graham and William George, who were all working (as shop assistant, driver and tailor respectively) were living independently in nearby Bannister Street.
William worked as a tailor for Mr Alex Donald, of Masterton. There are many advertisements in local papers for Mr Alex Donald’s business of tailoring for both men and woman. The company operated from premises in Queen Street, Masterton, and advertised “ought to be your tailor” and “makes smart fitting Suits and Costumes”, amongst other positive statements about their services.
However, by 1911 William had moved to Wellington, continuing working as a tailor and residing in Webb Street, Te Aro. By 1914, still working as a tailor, he was living at 8 Edge Hill, Mt Victoria. Edge Hill is a small dog-leg street off Kent Terrace, which was probably full of boarding houses. William remained single so would not have set up his own establishment.
When William became sick with the influenza he was transferred to St Patrick’s College Temporary Hospital, Cambridge Terrace, where he died on 28 November 1918. William was buried in the Public 2 section of Karori Cemetery the following day.
Death Notice:
MILLER.—On the 28th November, 1918, at St. Patrick's College Temporary Hospital, William George Miller, late of Masterton, and No. 8, Edge Hill; aged 36 years.
Sadly missed.
(Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 131, 29 Nov 1918)
His death, one of so many at the time, attracted a small notice in the Personal Notes column of the Wairarapa Daily Times on 29 November:
The death occurred in Wellington, yesterday from pneumonia of Mr William George Miller, formerly of Masterton. Deceased, who was a single man, was 35 years of age, and was for a time in the employ of Mr Alex. Donald, tailor, of Masterton. The late Mr Miller, who was born in Scotland, came out to New Zealand about 17 years ago. He was a nephew of Miss J. Mclntyre, of Church street, and a brother of Mr J. G. Miller, Pownall street.
The plaque on the headstone is very simple and factual, without any sentimental verses or references to family. The plot was paid for on 25 February 1920 by William’s brother, Alexander who was living at 73 Church Street, Masterton. There are no other family members buried in the plot.
Friends inserted In Memoriam notices in 1919 and 1920:
MILLER.—In fond memory of William George Miller, who died at St. Patrick's Temporary Hospital on the 28th November, 1918. A good sport; also faithful friend. Inserted by his old friend, S.J.
(Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 129, 28 Nov 1919)
MILLER.—In fond memory of William George Miller, who died on the 28th November, 1918. Gone, but not forgotten. Inserted by his old friends, L Johnson and F Dowsett.
(Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 130, 29 Nov 1920)
William’s siblings all married and most continued to live in or around the Masterton area. His brother Thomas McIntyre, however, who worked as a Telegraphist for the New Zealand Government worked in a number of towns over the years, including Masterton, Featherston, Te Kuiti, Taupo, Manaia, Ohaeawai in Bay of Islands, and finally in Otahuhu. During World War 1 Thomas commenced duty on 7 February 1916 from Methven and having served in the Specialist Signalling Company attached to the Otago Regiment for the rest of the war he was discharged in New Zealand on 3 January 1919. He too had contracted influenza in October 1918 in England but obviously recovered. Thomas married Isobel Christina Nielson in 1923 and they had a daughter and a son, and eventually settled in Otahuhu where they both died many years later.
William’s younger sister Constance married twice and sadly was found drowned in the Mangatainoka River on 16 August 1933.
Their aunt Jessie McIntyre lived in her Church Street home until she died on 8 July 1939 and was buried in Masterton Cemetery on 10 July 1939. She never married, but niece Easter and family lived with her. However, in another unfortunate family coincidence Easter predeceased her aunt by a mere three days, and had just been buried in Masterton Cemetery on 7 July 1939 when her aunt too died.
Researched by Beverley Hamlin and written by Jenny Robertson
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 360 I
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Scotland Censuses - www.findmypast.co.uk
6. Shipping – www.familysearch.org
[i] Muthill is a village in Perth and Kinross, Perthshire, Scotland. It lies just west of the former railway line connecting Gleneagles and Crieff, 3 miles south of Crieff. The line closed between the two points on 6/7/1964. The name possibly derives from Moot hill, a place of judgement. There are over a hundred listed buildings in the village.