Charlie Miller (1894 - 1949)

Born 27 Jul 1894 in Spring Creek, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Son of Charles Miller and Mary Jane (Melrose) Miller

Husband of Emily May (Davis) Miller — married 15 Mar 1917 in Moree, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 10 Oct 1949 at age 55 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rhonda Lucas [send private message]

This profile is part of the [[Project:Melrose-DNA|Melrose-DNA Name Study]].

Biography

Charles was born^[1] 27th July 1894 at Spring Creek, NSW, the 5th child and 1st son of Charles Miller^[2] and Mary Jane Melrose.

He married^[3] Emily May Davis on 15th March 1917 at Church of All Saints, Moree, NSW, the witnesses were M A Miller and Thos Miller, Charles' sister and brother-in-law.

Charles was also known as 'Charles Marco' and 'The Snakeman' in the Show circuit. On 24th January 1935 there is a report in 'The Argus' (Melb)^[4] as follows:

"TALLANGATTA-Charles Marco who has been engaged snake catching here for the Eliza Hall research work, was transferring a bag of snakes into a box before being forwarded to Melbourne when several of them escaped. In gathering the snakes three or four of them coiled round Marco's right foot and bit him about the ankle. For a time he appeared to be in great pain and the ankle swelled considerably but the following day he was able to proceed with his work."

He enlisted^[5] in the Australian Defence Corps at Nambucca Heads 28th March 1942 and was discharged 14th October 1942. It's interesting that he states his date of birth as 27/7/92 which made him 2 years older than his actual birth registration in 1894, he was unemployed at the time, but states his occupation as a shearer. During his 201 days service he suffered increasing flu and bronchial infections until he was finally diagnosed with TB (tuberculosis) when he was finally discharged as medically unfit, no cause of his own.

About 1945 Charles, Emily and family trekked across Australia to Perth and settled in Fremantle, it must have been eventful journey for them as one photo depicts from the Emily's^[6] collection.

A lovely article^[7] appeared in "The Daily News" (Perth), in 1948 where he gives us a version of his life story:

For 30 years Charles Marco (50), of Sydney, has caught, handled and been bitten by snakes for a living. He thinks his job is 'hot but pleasant.' Some of the snakes he catches go to his own collection — he keeps about 250. The rest are for the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, where snake serum is used to counter snake-bite and as a blood coagulator. Hundreds of scars on Mr. Marco's hands and arms show where he has been bitten by some of the thousands of snakes he has handled. Paralysed At Brisbane in 1925 he was blinded and paralysed for eight weeks after a bite from a deadly tiger-snake. As a young man Mr. Marco found that he could handle snakes. He decided to make it his living. Snakes were plentiful on his father's farm. With his 26-year-old son he now tours Australia collecting deadly snakes. To aid the South Perth Zoo in getting funds for its complete reconstruction programme Mr. Marco will demonstrate his art and give a talk on snake-bite at the zoo between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. tomorrow.

He died on the 10th October 1949 of broncho pneumonia at Fremantle Hospital, the family were residing at Coogee Beach. A death and funeral notice appeared in "The West Australian"^[8]

MILLER: On October 10, at Fremantle Hospital, Charles Miller, of Coogee Beach, dearly beloved husband of Emily. loved father of Beryl (Mrs. Fry), Cecelia (Mrs. Cummings), Frederick and Thelma (Mrs. Vinci), fond father-in-law of Jim. Patrick, Joan and Richard, loved grandfather of eight grandchildren: aged 54 years. Peacefully sleeping.

MILLER: The Friends of the late Mr. Charles Miller of Coogee Beach, Showman, are respectfully informed that an Anglican Cremation Service will be conducted in the Crematorium Chapel, Karrakatta. The Funeral is appointed to leave our Private Chapel, 37 Adelaide street, Fremantle, THIS (Tuesday, MORNING at 11 o'clock arriving at the Crematorium at 11.30 o'clock. PROSSER, SCOTT AND CO. Tel. L2682, W1804. BA3359, F1066.

Charles was cremated^[9], at Karrakatta and his ashes interred at Fremantle Cemetery, Garden of Remembrance, Crematorium A, Site: A1, Position 0020.

These are some of the last photo's taken of Charlie before he passed, it appeared in the "Daily News", entitled 'Man at Zoo with Snake', these precious photo's were found in Emily's personal collection held by a great granddaughter in WA who generously allowed us to take copies of the album.

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

1. ↑ “Birth for Charlie Miller,” 1894, Warialda, 6639, Birth, Transcription , NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Indexes.
2. ↑ Paternal relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group consisting of Margaret Sealey GEDmatch F448743, Peggy Lucas GEDmatch M224633, Rhonda Lucas GEDmatch A889678, Shelly Brophy GEDmatch M033616 sharing a 11.121 cM segment on chromosome 9 from 112209452 to 120391730.
3. ↑ “Marriage for Charles Miller & Emily Davis,” 1917, Moree, 2365, Marriage, Transcription, NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Indexes.
4. ↑ OTHER DISTRICTS. (1935, January 24). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 3. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from "Talangatta"
5. ↑ 'Military Records', National Archives of Australia, online,NAA, B884, N161948. And, WWII Veteran Certificate
6. ↑ 'Emily's Personal Photo Collection', held by a granddaughter in WA
7. ↑ SNAKES ARE 'PLEASANT' BUT HOT'. (1948, January 17). The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950), p. 6 Edition: FIRST EDITION. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79675923
8. ↑ Family Notices. (1949, October 11). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from Death & Funeral Notice
9. ↑ "Cremation Application for Charles Miller", Karrakatta Cemetery Records, fiche, Code: KC004607, Online Summary, Copy of Original held by Rhonda

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