Thomas Miller (1847 - 1923)

Born 18 Apr 1847 in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, UK

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Ann (Ross) Miller — married 18 Oct 1889 in North Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 22 Jan 1923 at age 75 in 44 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

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Biography

Thomas was born in 1847. He was the son of Alexander Miller and Ann Slater. He passed away in 1923.

Sources

• 13458: 02/06/1847: Baptism of Thomas Millar, 1847: Thomas Millar, Son of Alexander Millar & Ann Sclatter from Kirkwall was baptised on 2/6/1847 at Congregational Ch, Kirkwall by R Paterson [Orkney Archives - ref:]

1851 aged 3 with parents, 1861 aged 13 with mother in Kirkwall

1871 ?probably Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, All Saints, Northumberland, England: Thomas MILLER, 23, optician, born Kirkwall, lodger [also James Hay FORSYTH, 22, joiner, lodger]

1881 9 W Montgomery Pl South Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland age 33 Philosophical Instrument Maker. Living with widowed mother and brother George. [Mother died before the next census]

Marriage rego: Jane Ann ROSS & Thomas MILLER 1889 692/1 163 Leith North: 18 Oct 1889 at 17 Trinity[?] Crescent, Trinity, North Leith, After Banns according to the Forms of Free Church of Scotland: Thomas MILLER Philosophical Instrument Maker, bachelor, 42, usual residence 47 [?49 or 4/] Renfew Street, Glasgow, parents Alexander MILLER Crofter (dec) & Ann MILLER MS SLATER; and Jane Anne ROSS, spinster, 27, usual residence 17 Trinity Crescent, Trinity, Leith, father David ROSS Lighthouse Keeper & Euphemia ROSS MS PETRIE; (signed) David KILPATRICK [presume Minister], Thomas ALLAN witness, Maggie B. PETRIE witness. [Difficult to decipher ?Trinity - if not Trinity perhaps Sornity? Firnity??]

1891: 16 Seamore St, Maryhill, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland: ¶Thomas MILLER, 43, born Kirkwall, Orkney, Philosophical Insrtument Maker. ¶Jane A. MILLER, 30, wife, born Garsetness, Rossshire. [ancestry.com]

1901 England & Wales Census [PRO RG 13/1259 - accessed via ancestry.com] Wood Green, Tottenham, Middlesex: 58 Hornsey Park Road (1 house): ¶Thomas MILLER, Head, Mar, 53, Philosophical Instrument maker (worker). ¶Jane A. do, wife, mar, 40. ¶Alexander do, son, 9. ¶Burgess do, daur, 8. ¶Ross, do, son, 4. ¶Euphemia ROSS, M-in-law, widow, 70, Living on own means. All born Scotland.

1911: Edinburgh George Square district: 32 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh (4 persons living in the house which has 6 windowed rooms): ¶Thomas MILLER, Head, 62, mar, Instrument Maker, Philosophical and Dental (Employer), born Kirkwall Orkney. ¶Jane Ann MILLER, wife, 50, mar for 21 yrs, 4 live births, 3 now living, born Tarbutness, Rosshire. ¶Ross MILLER, son, 14, school, born Glasgow, Lanark. ¶Euphemia ROSS, boarder, 82, Widow, Private means, born Leith [= mother of Jane Ann].

<The Mercury> Hobart, Tas. Tues 17 July 1923; THE FIRST PHONOGRAPH IN SCOTLAND. In the person of Mr. Thomas Miller, scientific and philosophical instrument maker, Edinburgh (says an Edinburgh newspaper) there has passed away one who for nearly a couple of generations kept abreast of the latest developments in invention, and who was known and respected by practically everyone in scientific circles in Edinburgh. An Orcadian by birth, Mr. Miller came to Edinburgh in 1860, and while apprenticed to Mr. Kemp, instrument maker, Infirmary-street, manipulated one of the first telephones In Scotland. The telephone was then regarded as a scientific toy. A little later made with his own hands the first phonograph ever manufactured in Scotland - the old “tin foil” variety, after Edison’s early models. Mr. Miller would dilate upon the weird and wonderful surgical instruments intended for special purposes which he had been asked to make in his time. He manufactured the first vacuum cleaner for a London butcher, and during the war constructed the intricate apparatus for locating sunken sub-marines. (Mr. Thomas Miller was an uncle of Mr. J. Miller, of the firm of Johnston and Miller, Hobart.)