Ruth Isabel MILLIE

Female 1908 - 1989  (81 years)


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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Ruth Isabel MILLIE was born on 08 Jun 1908 in London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada (daughter of Sargeant Henry Thomas Beale MILLIE and Grace Edith MELMER); died on 26 Jul 1989 in Davison, Genesee, Michigan, USA; was buried on 28 Jul 1989 in Davison, Genesee, Michigan, USA.

    Ruth married Willard Winefred WIGARD on 22 May 1926 in Flint, Michigan. Willard (son of Oscar Nelson WIGARD and Elsie Winnifred SCHELL) was born on 11 Apr 1904 in Superior City, Ward 1, Douglas County, Wisconsin; died on 08 Nov 1989 in Flint, Genesee, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Children:
    1. Living WIGARD
    2. Living WIGARD
    3. Living WIGARD
    4. Living WIGARD
    5. Living WIGARD

Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Sargeant Henry Thomas Beale MILLIE was born on 14 Sep 1857 in Kilkenny, Ireland (son of Robert Rumgay MILLIE and Elizabeth Margaret BEALE); died on 11 Jun 1918 in London, Ontario, Canada; was buried on 11 Jun 1918 in Mount Pleasant Cemetary, Section X, London, Ontario, Canada. ( Veterans Section).

    Notes:

    NOTE 1./
    David T:
    May 18, 2002 letter
    Mr. Robert. M
    Ms. Melanie M

    Dear Bob & Melanie:

    I wrote recently about some Millie's I found in Scotland I thought might be precursors of Melanie's H.H. Millie. Melanie asked me to explain, and I thought it would be a good exercise to see if it hangs together. I think Bob's line may well be connected as well, so here goes:

    We have these facts:
    " Henry (aka "Harry") H. Millie (H.H. Millie) was born in Ireland Feb 8, 1863. His brothers were Charles Thomas Millie and Samuel Boucher Millie. We know this from the information I got last year from the National Archives. The three emigrated to Canada in the early 1880's.
    " H.H. Millie's brother Samuel Boucher Millie joined the North-West Mounted Police force on September 1, 1899 and was discharged on March 25, 1904. The archive records refer to his next of kin, Miss Lily Hariot Millie of Ballymooney, Gashill, Kings. Co., Ireland. Another record identifies his next of kin as his sister, Margaret McDowell of Upper Edmonton, now a London suburb. Samuel joined the 179th Battalion in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I. This relationship is confirmed in the Archives records, and per note received from Melanie apparently written by H.H.'s daughter Emma. Although reported to have died in Winnipeg during WWI, the archives records suggest he claimed a pension in British Columbia under the name William Thompson.
    " H.H. Millie's Charles Millie was found in Battleford, Saskatchewan. It appears that he was a member of the Battleford Home Guard Volunteers in the rebellion of 1885. He was given a land grant for services but took $$ instead. By 1901, when Henry had settled in Carman Manitoba, Charles was working for a rancher in Alberta near Wetaskiwin. In the letter from H. H. Millie in Carman, Manitoba to the Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police it says that his brother Charles had died just previous to September 11, 1902. He died shortly after in Wetaskiwin. This relationship is confirmed in the Archives records, and per note received from Melanie apparently written by H.H.'s daughter Emma.
    H. H. Millie also had 4 sisters per information from Melanie, as well as from the archives records of Samuel.
    " Margaret Ellen Millie married a McDowell and was living in London, according to Samuel's next of kin record, at the time of WWI, at 16 Angel Road, Upper Edmonton, Enfield, England. A note from Melanie says she died December 5, 1921, aged 68, interred in Tottenham Cemetery. I found these records (LDS British Vital Records, 2nd Edition) which give the husband as Frederick, and two children, an unnamed boy and an unnamed girl, born in Dublin:
    MCDOWELL, Birth
    Gender: Male
    Birth Date: 4 Sep 1875 Birthplace: No 3 South City, Dub, Ire
    Recorded in: Dublin, Ireland
    Collection: Civil Registration
    Father: George Frederick MCDOWELL
    Mother: Margaret Ellen MILLIE
    Source: FHL Film 255935 Dates: 1875 - 1875
    ***********************
    MCDOWELL, Birth
    Gender: Female
    Birth Date: 4 Dec 1873 Birthplace: No 3 South City, Dub, Ire
    Recorded in: Dublin, Ireland
    Collection: Civil Registration
    Father: George Frederick MCDOWELL
    Mother: Margaret Ellen MILLER
    Source: FHL Film 255889 Dates: 1873 - 1875
    I couldn't find them in England yet in the 1881 census.
    " Lillian Hariot Millie - per note received from Melanie apparently written by H.H.'s daughter Emma, never married
    " Henrietta Millie - per note received from Melanie apparently written by H.H.'s daughter Emma, never married; and
    " Mary Millie, married Charles Castle.
    The parents of H.H. Millie and the others were identified by Melanie as Henry Millie and Mary Dempster. The death certificate for H.H. lists his father as Henry Millie, and his mother as Mary. Note that the death certificate says that the father, Henry Millie was born in Scotland.
    I found the following marriage record (in the LDS British Vital records CD's, 2nd edition) for Henry and Mary Dempster, which says Henry's father was Thomas and Mary's was Charles Dempster:
    MILLIE, Henry Age: 30
    Wife: Mary Jane DEMPSTER Age: 21
    Marriage Date: 31 May 1851 Recorded in: St Thomas, Dublin, Ireland
    Collection: Civil Registration
    Husband's Father: Thomas MILLIE
    Wife's Father: Charles DEMPSTER
    Source: FHL Film 101326 Dates: 1851 - 1851
    (I will call H.H.'s father Henry 1821, his approximate birth date, to minimize further confusion)
    According to notes from Melanie, extracts from the Kings County Chronicle report that Henry Millie Died January 7, 1891, in his 71st year at Ballymooney, Geashill, (which was where H.H. was born per his death certificate, and per his obituary in 1917 in Kelowna, B.C.). Henry's wife Mary Jane died May 20, 1899, aged 68.

    According to the letter dated January 1, 1920 from Aunt Margaret Ellen McDowell (H.H.'s sister) to her niece Emma Millie McGarrity (Melanie's grandmother), the Millie's settled in Scotland. Emma Millie McGarrity's grandfather's grandfather (ie: Henry Millie's grandfather) had 4 sons, John, Tom, Andrew and Robert. The letter says that all 4 went to Ireland. Tom Millie was Henry Millie's father according to this letter. This marriage record above is consistent with this information. I was previously unable to find a Millie family in Scotland, or anywhere else which included 4 sons named John, Tom, Andrew and Robert, let alone one which would fit the requisite time frame. With the new LDS British Vital Records collections however I found the following family in Fife with the right collection of sons. Better still, the unusual name of the mother make it virtually certain, for me anyway, that the son Thomas, born 1796, is went to Ireland, as presumably did the other sons as described in Ms. McDowell's letter. The following lists the 6 sons of Henry Millie (yes, yet another one) and Magdalene Rumgay (note the name):
    1. MILLIE, John Bir 1791 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie, Mo: Magdalene Rumgay
    2. MILLIE, Andrew Chr 1793 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie, Mo: Magdaline Rumgay
    3. MILLIE, David Chr 1794 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie, Mo: Magdaline Rumgay
    4. MILLIE, Henry Chr 1794 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie, Mo: Magdaline Rumgay
    5. MILLIE, Thomas Chr 1796 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie, Mo: Magdaline Rumgay
    6. MILLIE, Robert Chr 1798 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie, Mo: Magdalene Rumgay

    I found the marriage of this Henry and Magdalene on the LDS FamilySearch website:
    Marriage:
    Magdalene RUMGAY; Sex: F; Spouse: Henry MILLIE; Marriage: Abt. 1790; Banderran, Ceres, Fife, Scotland; Film # 457767
    I also found the following birth record of Magdalene-I presume it is her, how many can there be?:
    Magdalan RUMGAY; Sex: F; Christening: 1 September 1765, Cameron, Fife; Parents: Andrew RUMGAY, Mary Mackie. Reference: Batch # C114122, 1695-1819, Call # 1040151, Printout # 6900431.

    The real proof that Thomas of this family went to Ireland lies in the marriage record below:
    LATIMER, William
    Wife: Magdalene Rumgay MILLIE ; Marriage Date: 23 Oct 1847 Recorded in: St Peter, Dublin, Ireland
    Collection: Civil Registration; Husband's Father: James LATIMER; Wife's Father: Thomas MILLIE
    Source: FHL Film 101286 Dates: 1847 - 1847

    Magdalene Rumgay Millie of Dublin Ireland, daughter of Thomas Millie, MUST be the granddaughter of Henry Millie and Magdalene Rumgay of Fife. There surely can't be another Thomas Millie, of the same generation, who would name his daughter Magdalene Rumgay. Since we know that Thomas, father of Henry 1821, and grandfather of H.H Millie was born in Scotland, and moved to Ireland, and had brothers named Andrew, John and Robert, and there are so few Millie's generally, let alone in Ireland, he must be the same person as the father of Magdalene Rumgay Millie of Dublin, and she is an aunt of H.H. Millie and his siblings. Also note that like Henry 1821, she was married in Dublin, and only 4 years before Henry 1821.
    Next, who did Thomas marry? Who was Henry 1821's mother? Well, the LDS website has a marriage record for a Thomas Millie and Mary McWattie, 9 December 1818, Dundee, Angus, Scotland (batch # M112824, Source Call # 0993401, Printout call # 6902959). Is this the correct Thomas? Here we go back to the letter Margaret McDowell wrote in 1920 to her niece, Emma Millie. The transcribed copy Melanie sent says:
    There was a slip of paper enclosed in this letter from Aunt Maggie McDowell and this is the info as follows: "PRIVATE and don't tell acquaintances, does no good. My father's Grandfather committed suicide from loss of an awful large sum in speculation and I believe he was a Millie, French, but I may be mistaken, he may have been McQuatty."
    So yes, Thomas married Mary McWattie in Dundee. Margaret McDowell's father was Henry 1821, and his grandfathers would have been Henry Millie (married to Magdalene Rumgay) and Mary McWattie's father. This reference proves that this is the correct spouse for Thomas.

    Again searching the LDS site, we find a record for the christening of Henry Millie, 10 October 1819, Dundee, Angus, Scotland; father-Thomas Millie, mother-Mary McWattie (batch # C112827, Source Call # 0993425, Printout call # 6900646)

    So Melanie, I think we have you back to Scotland:
    1. Henry Millie married Magdalene Rumgay in Fife Scotland in 1790.
    2. Thomas, born 1796 in Ceres, Fife, Scotland, married Mary McWattie, 9 December 1818, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.
    3. Henry Millie born 10 October 1819, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, married Mary Dempster 1851 in Dublin
    4. Henry Herbert Millie (H.H. Millie) born February 1863 in Ireland, emigrated to Canada early 1880's, married Caroline Sarah Mills, abt. Feb. 1900 in Manitoba
    5. Emma Lily Millie born abt March 6, 1901, married Joseph Patrick McGarrity, 1919
    6. Lawrence Patrick Dempster McGarrity, born 1924, married Jean Anderson
    7. Melanie McGarrity

    I think this is pretty accurate based upon these published records. If you are energetic, you should order the microfilms from the LDS and copy the records yourself, ideally taking a print or the original registers. Not only will this document the facts, but the original registers may have additional information not picked up on the LDS indexes.

    The next question is what happened to the other brothers of Thomas who went to Ireland, who were their children and grandchildren, and did Thomas have any other children besides Henry 1821 and Magdalene.

    Bob's Henry Thomas Beale Millie (H.T.B.) was born September 14, 1862, in Kilkenny, Ireland, and emigrated to Canada around the time of H.H. and his brothers. H.T.B.'s parents were Robert Millie and Elizabeth Beale. (Although born in Ireland, I have always held out to Bob that he is Scottish in origin: Millie's all come from Scotland, and the south of England (perhaps French before that, but that is all beyond me), and H.T.B. was Presbyterian, basically a Scottish Protestant religion.) Was this Robert another son of Thomas, and a brother of Henry 1821 and Magdalene? Or was he a son of one of Thomas' brothers, Andrew, John or Robert, and a first cousin of Henry 1821 and Magdalene? I think given the scarcity of Millie's generally, and in Ireland in particular, these Irish Millie's of Scottish descent must be connected, and H.T.B. and H.H. were cousins, sharing common grandparents in either Thomas Millie and his wife ??, or in Henry Millie and Magdalene Rumgay. The common names, Henry, Henrietta, Robert and Thomas are all there (H.T.B also had a sister Henrietta). All were Presbyterian, indicating Scotch origin, and all came from the counties around Dublin.
    If I were a betting man, that's where I would put my money.

    Best regards
    David

    NOTE 2./ An Account of the Advance of the 7th Fusiliers of London by Alexander Campbell @ http://library.usask.ca/northwest/campbell/campbell.html

    The 7th Fusiliers, a battalion of militia which was headquartered in London, Ontario. This unit was called into active service on April 1, 1885 and, within a week, had embarked on their journey west -- a journey made more arduous by the gaps in the railway above Lake Superior. After stops in Winnipeg and Swift Current, the 7th Fusiliers did not reach the area of the fighting until after General Middleton's forces had defeated the Métis at Batoche. The unit was one of many which served to protect the Northwest Field Force's lines of communication. The 7th Fusiliers left for their return journey to Ontario in mid-July without ever seeing combat.

    NOTE 3./ This question is still UNRESOLVED: The Kilkenny reference as well as the Scott surname reference seems to indicate something more than a non relationship:

    MILLIE, Jonathan Marriage
    Wife: Annabella SCOTT
    Marriage Date: 20 Mar 1856 Recorded in: Patricks, Kilkenny, Ireland
    Collection: Civil Registration
    Husband's Father: John MILLIE
    Wife's Father: George SCOTT
    Source: FHL Film 101377 Dates: 1856 - 1856

    NOTE 4./ North West Canada Medal (Received by both HTB Millie and George W. Jacobs)

    Terms
    The medal was originally approved for presentation to soldiers taking part in the suppression of the Rebellion of 1885, but only to those who served west of Port Arthur. Award of the medal was also approved for some of the volunteers who participated in key actions, including the crew of the steamer "Northcote" which was recognized for its services at the Battle of Batoche, and members of the Prince Albert Volunteers who fought at Duck Lake. A grant of 320 acres of land or scrip of $80 were also awarded to these recipients.

    The North West Mounted Police (NWMP) were initially excluded from receiving the medal. Those serving in the NWMP during the Rebellion (prior to July 3, 1885) were made eligible in 1887, but were not awarded accompanying land or scrip. During the 1930's surviving NWMP veterans of the Rebellion received $300 grants in lieu of the land or scrip that originally had been denied to NWMP recipients.

    Bars
    Saskatchewan: Awarded to all those who took part in any or all of the main encounters during the rebellion. These took place along the Saskatchewan River at Fish Creek, Batoche, Cut Knife and Frenchman's Butte.
    (Batoche): Medals have been found with an unofficial bar for the battle of Batoche.
    Description
    A circular, silver medal, 1.42 inches in diameter.
    Obverse
    A diademed and veiled effigy of the Queen Victoria, facing left, with the legend: VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. (Identical to the Egyptian Medal.)
    Reverse
    The legend: NORTH WEST / 1885 / CANADA appears in three lines within a wreath of maple leaves.
    Mounting
    A plain, straight, suspender is attached to the medal with a double-toe claw.
    Ribbon
    The slate grey (blue) ribbon is 1.25 inches wide, with crimson (0.25 inch wide) stripes, 0.125 inches from each edge.
    Naming
    The medal was issued to military recipients unnamed, but a considerable number were named locally. Those later awarded to the NWMP were engraved with the recipient's name prior to presentation.
    Dates
    The medal was authorized on 24 July 1885, for issue to military personnel on 18 September 1885. A Canadian Order-in-Council of December 13, 1996 recommended that the NWMP receive the medal. This recomendation was accepted by the British Government on February 16, 1887.
    Issued
    There were 5,650 medals issued (16 of them being British Officers), plus 1,753 Saskatchewan Bars. There were 920 medals authorized for issue to members of the NWMP.

    NOTE 5./ 1891 East Middlesex, Ontario Canada census,
    Name: Henry Millie
    Gender: Male
    Marital Status: Single
    Age: 32
    Birth Year: abt 1859
    Birthplace: England
    Relation to Head of House: Lodger
    Religion: Free Church
    French Canadian: No
    Father's Birth Place: Ireland
    Mother's Birth Place: Ireland
    Province: Ontario
    District Number: 90
    District: Middlesex East
    Subdistrict: London East
    Archive Roll #: T-6352
    .

    NOTE 6./ 1901 Census District: ON MIDDLESEX (East) (#87) Subdistrict: London (City) Wards No. 3 and 4 D-5 Page 21

    Family Name Sex Relationship M/S DOB Age
    235 Millie Henery M Head M Sep 11 1857 43 Private
    235 Millie Grace F Wife M Jun 3 1875 25
    235 Millie Harry M Son S May 27 1893 7
    235 Millie Ethel F Daughter S Oct 8 1894 6
    235 Millie Hilda F Daughter S Jun 13 1899 2

    NOTE 7./ 1911 Middlesex East, London Township, Bronghdale Village census

    Name Home in 1911 (Province, District, Sub-District) Birth Birthplace Relation
    Henry Millie Ontario, Middlesex East, London Township, Bronghdale Village 1858 Ireland Head
    Grace Millie Ontario, Middlesex East, London Township, Bronghdale Village 1874 Ontario Wife
    Henry W Millie Ontario, Middlesex East, London Township, Bronghdale Village 1891 Ontario Son
    Ethel Millie Ontario, Middlesex East, London Township, Bronghdale Village 1894 Ontario Daughter
    Hilda Millie Ontario, Middlesex East, London Township, Bronghdale Village 1898 Ontario Daughter
    Louise Millie Ontario, Middlesex East, London Township, Bronghdale Village 1902 Ontario Daughter
    Ruth Millie Ontario, Middlesex East, London Township, Bronghdale Village 1908 Ontario Daughter

    NOTE 8./ HTB re-enlistment papers on 8-4-1917 show his dob to be 9-14-1862 indicating his age of 57 years 10 months according to the document. I believe this to be in error since if his what I believe to be his actual dob of 9-11-1857 was given, he would have been 62 years old and probably ineligible for military duty.

    NOTE 9./ Commonwealth War Graves Commission: Casualty Details

    Name: MILLIE
    Initials: H T B
    Nationality: Canadian
    Rank: Sergeant
    Regiment/Service: 7th Regiment
    Age: 57
    Date of Death: 11/06/1918
    Service No: 2943
    Additional information: Son of the late Robert and Isabel Millie; husband of Grace Edith Millie, of 20, Wharncliffe Rd., London, Ont.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Mil. plot. R.1. G.21.
    Cemetery: LONDON (MOUNT PLEASANT) CEMETERY

    NOTE 10./ Historical Perspective: The Year Was 1885
    The year was 1885 and the flow of settlers to western Canada increased greatly with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

    And in Canada's North-West Territories there were rumblings of a rebellion. In what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta, three groups had grievances with the Canadian government in Ottawa. The Metis, descendants of fur traders and indigenous peoples, were concerned about legal claim to their land; white settlers were waiting for official property titles necessary to secure loans and felt their interests weren't represented; and the starving First Nations peoples who had been promised farming equipment and aid were angry that treaties weren't being observed.

    The rebellion, which would only last for two months, was led by Louis Riel, a Metis who had fought for the rights of Manitoba residents during the Red River uprising in 1869-70. He formed a provisional government and armed forces. These forces clashed with government troops at Duck Lake and although the Metis claimed this first victory, the rebellion was subdued by the end of May, and Louis Riel was arrested and hung for treason.

    In the United States, anti-Chinese sentiment was on the rise following the California gold rush, which had brought more than 100,000 Chinese to American shores. In September of 1885, violence erupted. In a Union Pacific Coal Mine in Rock Springs, Wyoming, there was a dispute over who had the right to work in a particularly rich area of the mine. Paid by the ton, white workers rioted, burning the Chinese quarter of town, and killing twenty-eight Chinese miners. The perpetrators were never prosecuted and Army troops had to be called in to protect those Chinese who wished to return to their homes.

    In Chicago, Sarah E. Goode, a former slave, became the first African American woman to be awarded a patent from the U.S. government for her design of a “cabinet bed.” Her invention could be used as a cabinet by day, but opened into a bed for sleeping.

    In June of 1885 the U.S. received a package--actually two hundred and fourteen packages. In them was the Statue of Liberty, waiting to be assembled on Bedloe’s Island. The statue would be unveiled in late October of 1886.

    Great strides were made in the field of medicine in 1885, when Louis Pasteur successfully treated Joseph Meister for rabies with his new vaccine.

    Henry married Grace Edith MELMER on 04 Jul 1892 in London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada. Grace (daughter of William MELMER and Louisa LAVINE) was born on 03 Jun 1874 in Ottawa, Carlton, Ontario, Canada; died on 27 Oct 1937 in Mt Morris, Michigan; was buried on 30 Oct 1937 in Mt Pleasant, Lot 594, Section Ta, London, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Grace Edith MELMER was born on 03 Jun 1874 in Ottawa, Carlton, Ontario, Canada (daughter of William MELMER and Louisa LAVINE); died on 27 Oct 1937 in Mt Morris, Michigan; was buried on 30 Oct 1937 in Mt Pleasant, Lot 594, Section Ta, London, Ontario, Canada.

    Notes:

    NOTE 1./ 1891 Hamilton City, Ontario census

    Name: Grace E Melmer
    Gender: Female
    Marital Status: Single
    Age: 16
    Birth Year: abt 1875
    Birthplace: Ontario
    Relation to Head of House: Daughter
    Religion: Free Church
    French Canadian: No
    Father's Birth Place: Ontario
    Mother's Birth Place: Ontario
    Province: Ontario
    District Number: 72
    District: Hamilton City
    Subdistrict: Ward 7
    Archive Roll #: T-6342

    Household Members: Name Age
    William Melmer 50
    Louisa Melmer 50
    Alfred Henry 24
    Alice Melmer 18
    Grace E Melmer 16
    George Melmer 5
    John Melmer 12
    Louisa Melmer 10

    NOTE 2./ Historical Perspective: The Year Was 1873

    The year was 1873 and much of the world was entering into a long period of economic depression. The beginning of the Long Depression is typically marked by the crash of the Vienna stock market, which sent ripples across Europe and eventually the United States with the fall of Jay Cooke & Company. The Cooke investment bank was heavily invested in the overbuilt railroad system which was beginning to fail. With the fall of this prominent company, a financial panic ensued and the New York Stock Exchange had to close for ten days. Railroads, factories, banks, and businesses had to close their doors resulting in skyrocketing unemployment rates. The Long Depression would last into the 1890s.

    There were other smaller scale disasters in 1873. The British SS Atlantic out of Liverpool (with a stop at Queenstown) hit a submerged rock en route to New York and was wrecked in heavy seas off Nova Scotia. It is estimated that 545 of the 952 passengers perished.

    In Baltimore, Maryland, a fire began in the factory of Joseph Thomas and Sons and spread over ten acres of the city. Photos of the fire and aftermath can be found online at the Maryland Historical Society.

    A cholera epidemic swept through Birmingham, Alabama. Below is an interesting excerpt from a report from Mortimer H. Jordan, who was secretary of the Jefferson County Medical Society of Birmingham, Alabama, at the time of the epidemic (found on the website of the Reynolds Historical Library at the University of Alabama at Birmingham).

    The treatment adopted was the opium and mercurial. When the stomach seemed so inactive that nothing made any impression upon it, an emetic of mustard, salt, ginger, and pepper, suspended in hot water, in many cases produced a warm glow over the surface of the body in a few moments. . . . Diuretics produced no good results. No condition in life, sex, or age escaped. The sucking babe and those of extreme age suffered alike from its ravages.

    Before closing this paper, justice demands that we should briefly allude to the heroic and self sacrificing conduct, during this epidemic, of that unfortunate class who are known as 'women of the town.' These poor creatures, though outcasts from society, anathematized by the church, despised by women and maltreated by men, when the pestilence swept over the city, came forth from their homes to nurse the sick and close the eyes of the dead. It was passing strange that they would receive no pay, expected no thanks; they only went where their presence was needed, and never remained longer than they could do good. While we abhor the degradation of these unfortunates, their magnanimous behavior during these fearful days has drawn forth our sympathy and gratitude.

    Further north and west, Jesse James and the James- Younger gang robbed a Rock Island train near Adair, Iowa. This first train robbery netted the gang more than $2,300, but was most likely a disappointment for the gang. They were expecting a $100,000 gold shipment, but that shipment had been switched to another train at the last moment.

    North of the border in Canada, the Dominion Parliament had more lawful goals in mind when it established the North-West Mounted Police, the predecessor of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Canada was growing and in 1873 Prince Edward Island joined the federation as Canada's smallest province.

    In music, the song Home on the Range was born (Daniel Kelly & Brewster M. Higley). The tune went on to become the state song of Kansas and is known around the world.

    NOTE 2./ The Fourth National Census, 1901

    The first census of the young nation of Canada was taken in 1871, four years after four colonies became Canada. Manitoba and British Columbia joined Canada in 1870 and 1871 and therefore missed being included in the census. By 1901, the year of the fourth census, there were seven provinces, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia, and the Territories, a vast area that included what became Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories.

    Government officials planning censuses increased the number of questions every time; for example, there were twelve columns to be completed on the form in 1891 and thirty-one in 1901. All the additional information is a benefit to genealogists, although I wish two columns from 1891 had been retained--the ones asking for the birthplaces of the individual's father and mother. Their absence is partially compensated for by the addition of questions about origin, nationality, and date of immigration. Also useful for genealogy is the addition of columns for date and place of birth, as well as another for the exact date of birth. The 1901 census also seeks information about the work or employment of each person and how much they earned.

    Beginning with the name of each person enumerated, this is the list of columns:

    Name of each person in household 31 March 1901
    Sex
    Colour
    Relationship to head of household
    Single, married, widowed, or divorced
    Month and date of birth
    Year of birth
    Age at last birthday
    Country or place of birth (If Canada, include province and add "r" or "u" for rural or urban.)
    Year of immigration
    Year of naturalization
    Racial or tribal origin
    Racial or tribal origin
    Nationality
    Religion
    Profession, occupation, or trade
    Living on own means
    Employer, Employee, or Working on Own Account
    Working at a trade in factory or in home
    Months employed at trade in factory
    Months employed at trade in home
    Months employed in other occupation than trade in factory or home
    Earnings from occupation or trade
    Months at school in the year
    Can read
    Can write
    Can speak English
    Can speak French
    Mother tongue
    Infirmities

    It is of significant interest to read the point on the 1901 form about using "r" and "u" to indicate whether the Canadian birthplace was rural or urban.

    Children:
    1. Harry William Frederick MILLIE was born on 27 May 1893 in London , Ontario, Canada,; died on 02 Mar 1918 in London, Ontario, Canada; was buried on 05 Mar 1918 in London, Ontario, Woodland Cemetary M, 82 - NE.
    2. Grace Ethel MILLIE was born on 09 Oct 1894 in London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada; died in Apr 1977 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.
    3. Victor MILLIE was born on 30 Mar 1897 in London , Ontario, Canada; died on 15 Dec 1899 in London , Ontario, Canada; was buried on 15 Dec 1899 in Mount Pleasant Cemetary, London, with apparently no headstone.
    4. Hilda V MILLIE was born on 13 Jan 1899 in London, Ontario, Canada; died about 1987 in London, Ontario, Canada.
    5. Louise Dora MILLIE was born on 19 Oct 1902 in London, Middlesex, Ontario; died on 05 Nov 1981 in Flint Michigan; was buried on 08 Nov 1981 in Sunset Hills Cemetary, Flint, Michigan.
    6. 1. Ruth Isabel MILLIE was born on 08 Jun 1908 in London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada; died on 26 Jul 1989 in Davison, Genesee, Michigan, USA; was buried on 28 Jul 1989 in Davison, Genesee, Michigan, USA.


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Robert Rumgay MILLIE was born on 12 Aug 1798 in Easthill of Bandirran estates, Ceres Parish, Fife, Scotland (son of Henry MILLIE and Magdalene RUMGAY); died before 05 Aug 1886 in not in 1841 Scotland census.

    Notes:

    NOTE 1./ THE SURNAME MILLIE

    The research of the Millie Surname for my ancestors stops with Robert R. Millie. His name was obtained from the Ontario Marriage Registration of Henry Thomas Beale Millie and Grace Edith Melmer. The lost ancestors seem to be in the maze of Ireland's sons. ADDENDUM 10-12-02 : On the Marriage Registration of Henrietta Amelia Millie and Robert Scott, the parents are listed, showing that the individual previously known only as Robert R. Millie, was in fact Robert Rumgay Millie. This consequently opened the door to our Millie roots leading back from Ireland to that of Scottish origins. The single generation spent in Ireland, explains the uncommomality of the surname within her confines. Scotland however has many Rumgays, and several clans of Millies that may never be connected, in several different parishes, but to a high degree in Fife, and around central Scotland. There are several indications that our Millie surname or a derivative spelling, will lead back to France at about the time of the Hugenot Revolution.

    The surname Millie is a derivative of several different spellings. Millicent, Millier, Millay, Milly, de Milly, d'Milly, Milia, Mealy and others. Andrew J. Millie of NSW Australia, has done extensive research on the relationships of these variants. An example of his findings follows: ....... " de MILLY and MILCENT are definitely 100% guaranteed to be the same families. A lot of Nobility dropped their noble surnames during the Wars of Religion and were known by different names. de Milly/Milcent is just one example of this" ..........

    The derivatives surnames of Millie has it's origins in France and the family was Huguenot, '...a name given to the French Calvinist Protestants of the 16th and 17th centuries...largely inspired by Martin Luther...During the 17th century the Huguenots saw their power and privileges progressively undermined by the strongly Catholic kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV...In 1685 the Edict of Nantes was revoked, and thousands of Protestants chose to migrate from France rather than accept Catholicism.' Many, fled to England and Scotland.

    NOTE 2./ FIFE, SCOTLAND : FIFE in The 1830's

    POPULATION.
    In 1755, the population was 2540
    1793 2320
    1811 2407
    1821 2840
    1831 2762
    Number of families in the parish, 606
    chiefly employed in agriculture 183
    trade, manufactures, or handicraft 281

    Since 1831, there has been a great increase in the number of the people ; and, from the accounts of their establishments, which were lately given in by the several manufacturers in the parish, we are authorized to say, that the population must now be about 3000 at least. In 1793, 138 looms are said to have been employed in the parish. From 700 to 900 of the inhabitants are now employed in weaving and winding. From 170 to 200 are employed regularly in the mills; and, with the exception of about 30, who are employed in the lime-works, the greater part which remains of the working population is agricultural. The town of Cupar is so near to Ceres, that there are few shopkeepers or venders of any commodities in the latter place.

    CHARACTER and HABITS of the PEOPLE:.-The people are universally industrious, and in general they cultivate the sister virtues of temperance and frugality. Considerable attention to neatness and cleanliness also may be discovered among them. Dr Arnot, author of the former account, mentions, that among the women, the cloak and bonnet had become substitutes for the plaid; and among the men, that the bonnet was supplanted by the hat. It is singular enough, that the plaid and bonnet should now be both regaining their former estimation. There exists also among the people a considerable deal of information, and a general desire for knowledge. A subscription and circulating library was commenced by them in 1828. It consists now of 500 volumes, in which there is varied as well as much useful reading. There are 100 subscribers to this library.
    During the last three years, there were 3 illegitimate births in the parish.

    MANUFACTURES:-Since the date of the last Statistical Account three spinning mills have been built in the parish, and a bleachfield establishment has been erected at Duraden. In 1827, two mills were built on the grounds of Easter Pitscottie. The machinery is propelled partly by water, and partly by steam. The steam, in general, is only required in summer, occasionally when the water is light. The mills belong to Messrs William and James Yool, manufacturers, Ceres.
    There is accommodation for the families of the workers in the buildings at these mills ; and they contain altogether upwards of 150 individuals. There is a teacher and a small library attached to the mills. The other spinning-mill, which belongs to Mr David Yool, was erected at Tarvit in 1799. The machinery at this mill goes partly by water, and partly by steam; and the power is applied also to the turning of a saw-mill. The three spinning-mills are occupied in preparing and spinning flax, tow, and yarns. The raw material is obtained from Dundee and the yarns are sent partly to the Dundee market, and partly to manufacturers in Fife. 150 men, women, and young people are employed. The bleachfield establishment was erected in 1825 by some manufacturers in Ceres. It has received the name of St Ann's Bleaching Company, from a well of that name in the vicinity. The number of hands employed varies from 35 to 40. The supply of brown raw material for it, is chiefly obtained from the mills already mentioned. Previous to the erection of this bleachfield, little was manufactured by the weavers in Ceres except " Brown Silesias;" now the yarns are all cleaned and bleached, and the people are employed in weaving dowlas and sheeting. From 700 to 900 are engaged in this employment ; and from L. 50,000 to L. 60,000 Sterling worth of dowlas and sheeting are annually manufactured in the parish. To any one who reads this statement of the manufacture, it will be evident that the various works are most profitably arranged. The mills supply the bleacbfield, and the bleachfield supplies the weavers : and while there is a saving in this manner, as to the carriage of the various articles, there is also an encouragement to the manufacture of the place. There is every likelihood that the manufacture of this flourishing place will, in a few years, become more extended ; and there are, at present, some proposals of erecting another mill on a very extensive plan..

    PAROCHIAL ECONOMY
    MARKETS;- There is a weekly market in Cupar, the county town, distant only two miles and a half. But this widely extended parish has an easy access to markets in several places . and some of the farmers find it convenient to send their produce to Largo, some to St Andrews, and a very few to Dundee. There are two annual markets or fairs held in the village of Ceres, one on the 24th June, and the other on the 20th day of October; and both of them are most numerously resorted to, as excellent wool, and corn, and horse, and cattle-markets.

    MEANS OF COMMUNICATION;-A turnpike road runs from east to west through the whole length of the parish. There is also a road which runs from north to south, through the breadth of the parish. In summer, a daily-coach runs through Ceres, and joins the steamboat which leaves Largo for Edinburgh. A messenger, paid by the inhabitants of Ceres, carries letters or papers daily to Cupar, the post-town. There are regular carriers from Ceres to all the neighbouring towns.

    ECCLESIASTICAL STATE:- Ceres parish is a rectory, which, before the Reformation, belonged to the Provostry of Kirkhheugh, a religious house at St Andrews. A considerable part of the east end of the parish formerly belonged to the parish of St Andrews, and about the year 1620, was annexed to Ceres, quoad sacra tantum, (as it was long thought;) but the present incumbent discovered that there was no such reservation, and it is now annexed, quoad sacra et civilia. Ceres originally belonged to St Andrews presbytery. In the old church of Ceres, there was an aisle on the south, which belonged to the family of Craighall, and which, before the Reformation, was a chapel dedicated to St Ninian. The schoolmaster of Ceres uniformly receives a presentation to the Chaplainry. There used to be a salary of L. 3 Scots paid to him; but the houses in Cupar from which this salary was paid cannot now be discovered. The present church was built in 1806. It stands on a height, where formerly stood the old church and chapel : it was situated on the outskirts of the old town, but since the new town or Bridge-end was built, it may be said to be in the centre of the village. It is seated for 1100, but actually holds 1300, and the seats are very advantageously disposed both for bearers and speaker. These seats all belong to the heritors of the parish, and there is no rent charged for the use of them. Seats are appropriated for the proprietors and farmers, and the remainder are free and open to the people, and, except on very bad days, they are well filled. There are two meetings in the church, winter and summer. The average number of communicants is 1000. The right of patronage, by a grant from the Crown, was vested in the Crawford family.
    There are also two meeting-houses in the village of Ceres, one for the Associate Congregation of Antiburgher Seceders, which was built in 1744, the other for the Presbytery of Relief. To each of these are attached a settled clergyman and regular congregation. A brotherly feeling and Christian spirit pervades the greater number of the members of these three congregations and you will occasionally find them in each others place of worship.
    There are about 86 families in this parish attached to the Relief Church, and about the same number to the Secession.

    NOTE 3./ HISTORICAL reference: The Year Was 1829

    The year was 1829, and in Scotland, there was a catastrophic flood. According to a paper online at the website of Fettes College, Edinburgh, Scotland, the Muckle Spate (large flood) of 1829, began on August 3, 1829 in northeast Scotland and was "the most severe catastrophic flood in modern UK history." It extended across a large area of Scotland, from Inverness to Montrose, and devastated homes and agriculture in the affected areas. The Edinburgh Advertiser from August 11, 1829 provides detailed coverage of some of the affected areas, including the excerpt below:

    The Dee was first observed to increase about four o'clock on Monday afternoon, and it continued to rise until about eleven o'clock on Tuesday forenoon, when it remained stationary for a few hours; after which, it began to recede with considerable rapidity. In some places, it attained an elevation of eleven feet above its ordinary level. . . The low grounds in the vicinity of the river were completely inundated, and so great, in some parts of its course, was the space over which it extended, that it presented the appearance rather of a lake than a river. . . Vast quantities of hay, straw, timber, &c. have been swept away; and so great was the force of the torrent, that many fields were stript of their soil, and covered with sand and stones. A good many cattle and sheep may have been drowned; but as it is customary, in the upper parts of the country to leave numerous flocks scattered over the hills, it will be impossible, for some time to ascertain with accuracy the numbers that have perished. Fortunately, notwithstanding the imminent to which many people were exposed from the suddenness of the inundation, no loss of human life has arisen from the overflowing of the Dee. Several cottages have, at Ballaster and other places, been carried away; and so completely were others surrounded with water, that a stranger could scarce have told on which side of the river they stood. A good many people were rescued, by means of boats, from being drowned in their own houses, and were obliged to resign their furniture, &c. to destruction. With the exception of the bridge near Aberdeen, and that at Potarch, all the bridges over the Dee have either been swept away, or sustained more or less injury. . . .

    Robert married Elizabeth Margaret BEALE in 1840 in Kildare Diocese, Kildare, Ireland. Elizabeth was born about 1819 in Kildare Diocese, Kildare, Ireland; died before 05 Aug 1886; was buried in Leinster=Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laios, Meath, Offaly and others. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  Elizabeth Margaret BEALE was born about 1819 in Kildare Diocese, Kildare, Ireland; died before 05 Aug 1886; was buried in Leinster=Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laios, Meath, Offaly and others.

    Notes:

    NOTE 1./ Leinster Province =Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laios, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

    NOTE 2./ 1848-1864 Griffiths Valuation of Ireland : Possibly relations to Elizabeth Margaret Beale

    Surname First Name Townland Parish County
    Beale Anthony Killough Up. Kilmacanoge Wicklow
    Beale Anthony Killough Lr. Kilmacanoge Wicklow
    Beale Hugh Mounteagle Ballyroan Laois
    Beale Hugh Ballyroan (Abbeyleix Rd) Ballyroan Laois
    Beale Hugh Ballyroan Ballyroan Laois
    Beale Thomas Ballyroan (Bridge Street) Ballyroan Laois
    Beale Christopher Curriersbog Borris Laois
    Beale Christopher Maryborough (Market Sq.) Borris Laois
    Beale Christopher Maryborough (Coote St.) Borris Laois
    Beale William Derrydavy Ardea Laois
    Beale Richard Derrydavy Ardea Laois
    Deale Michael Derrydavy Ardea Laois
    Beale Denis Ballymullen Abbeyleix Laois
    Beale Joshua Tromaun Athleague Roscommon
    Beale Christopher Knockmay Clonenagh and Clonagheen Laois
    Beale John Templeshannon Templeshannon Wexford
    Beale John Enniscorthy Templeshannon Wexford
    Beale Patrick Modlins Folly Lane St. Marys Enniscorthy Wexford
    Beale Robert Irish Street, Enniscorthy St. Marys Enniscorthy Wexford
    Beale Robert Irish Street, Enniscorthy St. Marys Enniscorthy Wexford
    Beale Patrick Modlins Folly Lane St. Marys Enniscorthy Wexford
    Beale Anne Templeshannon Templeshannon Wexford
    Beale John Ballyduff Kilcomb Wexford
    Beale Joseph Ballyhuppahane Rosenallis Laois
    Beale Thomas Killeen Moyanna Laois
    Beale Joseph, Jr. Mountmellick (Main St. Lr. Rosenallis Laois
    Beale Joseph Barkmill Clonenagh and Clonagheen Laois
    Beale Edward Coolatore Ferns Wexford
    Beale Thomas Drumcar Drumcar Louth
    Beale Joseph Esker Clonenagh and Clonagheen Laois
    These are matches starting with the search string:
    Beales George New-Row (Poddle) St. Lukes Dublin

    Notes:

    Married:
    Married 1840, Diocese of Kildare, Ireland Diocesan and Prerogative Marriage Licence Bonds indexes 1623-1866

    Children:
    1. Elizabeth MILLIE
    2. Margaret MILLIE was born in in Ireland?.
    3. Isabel Madeline MILLIE was born in 1844 in Ireland; died after 1891 in Wimbledon, Surrey, England.
    4. Henrietta Amelia MILLIE was born about 1852 in Inverness, Scotland; died about 1901 in Dublin.
    5. 2. Sargeant Henry Thomas Beale MILLIE was born on 14 Sep 1857 in Kilkenny, Ireland; died on 11 Jun 1918 in London, Ontario, Canada; was buried on 11 Jun 1918 in Mount Pleasant Cemetary, Section X, London, Ontario, Canada. ( Veterans Section).

  3. 6.  William MELMER was born in 1835 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England (son of GeorgeSr MELMER and Matilda COOLEY); died on 08 Feb 1893 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario; was buried in Hamilton Wentworth Hamilton HM-287.

    Notes:

    NOTE 1./ 1851 Cheltenham, Gloucester, England census,

    Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/Island
    George Melmer abt 1803 Isle of Wight, Jersey, Channel Islands Head Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Matilda Melmer abt 1801 Middlesex, England Wife Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Elizabeth Melmer abt 1828 Leicestershire, England Daughter Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Frances Melmer abt 1830 Leicestershire, England Daughter Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Martha Melmer abt 1833 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Daugh Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    William Melmer abt 1835 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Henry Melmer abt 1838 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Matilda Cooks abt 1775 Bridgenorth, Shropshire, Eng Mother-in-law Cheltenham Gloucestershire

    NOTE 2./ 1871 St louis Ward, Montreal PQ census,
    Name: William Malmar
    Gender: Male
    Age: 35
    Birth Year: abt 1836
    Birth Place: England
    Marital Status: Married
    religion: W. Methodist
    Origin: Anglaise (English)
    Province: Quebec
    District: Montreal East
    District Number: 105
    Division: 06
    Subdistrict: St Louis Ward
    Subdistrict Number: a

    Household Members: Name Age
    William Malmar 35
    Louisa Malmar 31
    Emily Malmar 10
    William Malmar 9
    Archibald Malmar 5
    Arthur Malmar 3
    Cecilia Henry 14
    Alfred Henry 11

    NOTE 3./ 1881 Census Place: St Patrick's Ward, Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada: Source: FHL Film 1375883 NAC C-13247 Dist 134 SubDist H Div 2 Page 100 Family 502
    Name Sex Marr Age Origin Birthplace

    William MELMER M M 46 English England Occ: Teacher Religion: Presbyterian
    Louisa MELMER F M 41 English Q Religion: Presbyterian
    Emily F. MELMER F 20 English O Occ: Servant Religion: Presbyterian
    William R. MELMER M 20 English O Occ: Clerk Religion: Presbyterian
    Archibald MELMER M 16 English O Occ: Shoe Cutter Religion: Presbyterian
    Arthur MELMER M 12 English Q Religion: Presbyterian
    Alice M. MELMER F 8 English O Religion: Presbyterian
    Grace E. MELMER F 6 English O Religion: Presbyterian
    George D. MELMER M 4 English O Religion: Presbyterian
    John H. MELMER M 3 English O Religion: Presbyterian
    Louisa M. MELMER F <1 English O Religion: Presbyterian Born: Dec; 4/12
    Alfred HENRY M 21 English O Occ: Factory Hand Religion: Presbyterian

    NOTE 4./ from the 1881 Canadian Census:

    A./ William and Louisa Melmer, are the only Melmer surname enumerated in the entire 1881 Canadian census, according to the LDS census disk set. This Melmer search was for any origin or heritage, and thus in 1881, puts the only Melmers in Canada, to be those directly associated to William Melmer.

    B./ Arthur is the only Child of the 9, that William Melmer fathered, to be born in Quebec. (1869) Alice b. 1873, was the 1st child of William and Louisa. Since Louisa was born in Quebec, it may be that William and Emma were living in Quebec at the time of her passing. Hence, the birth of Arthur and new marriage for William all occurring in less than a four year span between 1869 - 1873.

    C./ Alfred HENRY Male, Single, 21, English Origin, Born in Ontario, Occ: Factory Hand Religion: Presbyterian; is enumerated with the William and Louisa Melmer family of 9 children that we can account for. Alfred Henry would be the 12th member of this household. There is evidence that Louisa Levine's name may have actually been Louisa Henry, as indicated on the birth certificate of George Derby Melmer. See .jpeg of certificate, August 10, 1876, parents given as William Melmer and Louisa Henry. That would either make Alfred Henry Louisa's son she could have bore at age 20, or a brother, 21 years her junior. This issue remains unresolved.

    D./ Cheltenham
    Created 1st July 1837.
    Sub-districts : Charlton Kings; Cheltenham.
    GRO volumes : XI (1837-51); 6a (1852-1930).
    Badgeworth, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Coberley, Cowley, Great Witcombe, Leckhampton, Prestbury, Shurdington, Staverton, Swindon, Uckington, Up Hatherley
    Registers now in Cheltenham district.

    NOTE 5./ 1891 Hamilton City, Ontario, Canada census

    Name Home in 1891 Birth Year Birthplace Relation
    William Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1841 England Head
    Louisa Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1841 Ontario Wife
    Alfred Henry Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1867 Ontario Son
    Alice Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1873 Ontario Daughter
    Grace E Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1875 Ontario Daughter
    George Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1886 Ontario Son
    John Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1879 Ontario Son
    Louisa Melmer Ontario, 72, Hamilton City, Ward 7 abt 1881 Ontario Daughter

    Name: William Melmer
    Gender: Male
    Marital Status: Married
    Age: 50
    Birth Year: abt 1841
    Birthplace: England
    Relation to Head of House: Head
    Religion: Brethren In churt
    French Canadian: No
    Father's Birth Place: England
    Mother's Birth Place: England
    Province: Ontario
    District Number: 72
    District: Hamilton City
    Subdistrict: Ward 7
    Archive Roll #: T-6342

    Household Members: Name Age
    William Melmer 50
    Louisa Melmer 50
    Alfred Henry 24
    Alice Melmer 18
    Grace E Melmer 16
    George Melmer 5
    John Melmer 12
    Louisa Melmer 10
    NOTE 5./ Castle Garden.org Ship Search: <>

    First name Last name Occupation Age Sex Arrived Origin Ship
    William Melmer Teacher 25 M 19 Mar 1860 England James Foster

    William Melmer Occupation Teacher
    Age 25
    Sex M
    Literacy U
    Arrived 19 Mar 1860
    Origin England
    Port Liverpool
    Last Residence
    Destination USA
    Plan Unknown
    Ship James Foster Jr.
    Passage Unknown

    NOTE 6./ Roots and Twigs: Carol Cooper (Tollgate)

    Born in Cheltenham and resident with his parents and siblings at Fairview Street, St Mary`s Cheltenham in 1841 aged 6 years.
    In 1851 he was living 33 St Paul`s Street North, Cheltenham, with parents and siblings, enumerated as a 16 year old teacher.
    William registered the death of his father George in 1854. Place of residence 35 St Paul`s St. North, Cheltenham.
    Marriage certificate on file. Married Emma Louisa Edwards in 1858 at Exeter, Devon. GRO ref 5b/139. The couple were married on 11th December 1858 at the Parish Church of All Hallows on the Walls, City of Exeter, Devon, by License, witnessed by Soloman Stoneman and Martha White. William was 23 year old bachelor Schoolmaster resident at Totnes at time of marriage whose father was George Melmer, Confectioner and Emma Louisa Edwards was a 25 year old spinster, from Allhallows, daughter of Robert Edwards, a Tailor. The couple signed the register themselves.

    William was a well respected school master and was presented with a Bible upon his departure for foreign shores in 1860, inscribed as follows:
    Presented to Mr William Melmer by the Committee of the Cheltenham British Schools as a token of their esteem for his fidelity, diligence and exemplary conduct in the discharge of his duties as a Pupil Techer in the Cheltenham School - signed on behalf of the Committee.

    From information received from Bob Millie, a direct descendent of William Melmer, it is understood that he emigrated to Canada in March 1860 on board SS James Foster Jr. out of Liverpool to New York. Passenger List for this ship only shows William Melmer, aged 25, Teacher, born England, no indication of him travelling with wife Emma. The couple had a child born December 1859 and who died 23 April 1860 in Cheltenham - after the emigration to Canada! The baby`s death was registered by it`s grandmother, Matilda Melmer, William`s mother. Emma Melmer did indeed emigrate however, perhaps at a different time, as she had her second child in Ontario in 1861.

    Emma died around 1870/72 and William remarried Louisa Henry Levine producing a further 5 children from this relationship.

    The family resided in 1881 at St Patrick`s Ward, Toronto, York, Ontario, which included four surviving children from William`s first marriage (the first child Emma Matilda having died aged 6 months in Cheltenham before their passage to Canada).

    William married Louisa LAVINE on 22 Feb 1871 in Point Saint-Charles Centenary Methodist Church of Montréal, Quebec. Louisa was born on 04 May 1844 in Quebec; died after 1911 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario; was buried in Hamilton Wentworth Hamilton HM-287. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Louisa LAVINE was born on 04 May 1844 in Quebec; died after 1911 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario; was buried in Hamilton Wentworth Hamilton HM-287.

    Notes:

    NOTE 1./ Surname Conflict:

    1./ Additional male enumerated in 1881, St Patrick's Ward, Toronto, York, Ontario, Alfred HENRY Male English 21 O Factory Hand Presbyterian is enumerated with all of rest of William and Louisa Melmer family.
    2./ Birth of Alice Maud Melmer provides the following information. #004430-72 (Carleton Co) MELMER (or Milmer?), Alice Maud, f, b. 1 Sep.1872, father - William MELMER, teacher; mother - Louisa HENRY, infm - Wm Melmer, New Edinburgh.
    3./ With no other evidence of Louisas name being Levine, presumption is that she was married previously to an Unknown Henry, and that her maiden name would may be Levine. This is only a presumption at this time. 3-20-2003.
    4./ Birth Registration for Alice Maud Melmer indicates Louise Henry.
    5./ Marriage Name: Louisa Matilda Melmer, Birth Place: London, Ont, Age: 18, Est Birth Year: abt 1880, Father Name: William Melmer, Mother Name: Louisa Weir, Spouse Name: David Hendry
    6./ Marriage George Darby Melmer, Birth Place: Toronto, Age: 36, Est Birth Year: abt 1881, Father Name: William Melmer,
    Mother Name: Louise Leving, Spouse Name: Edna Breckon

    NOTE 2./ 1871 St louis Ward, Montreal PQ census,

    William Malmar abt 1836 England St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
    Louisa Malmar abt 1840 Quebec St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
    Emily Malmar abt 1861 Ontario St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
    William Malmar abt 1862 Ontario St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
    Archibald Malmar abt 1866 Quebec St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
    Arthur Malmar abt 1868 Quebec St Louis Ward, Montreal East,
    Cecilia Henry abt 1857 Ontario St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec
    Alfred Henry abt 1860 Ontario St Louis Ward, Montreal East, Quebec.

    NOTE 3./ 1891 Hamilton City, Ontario census

    Name: Louisa Melmer
    Gender: Female
    Marital Status: Married
    Age: 50
    Birth Year: abt 1841
    Birthplace: Ontario {{NOTE>>>>>BORN IN QUEBEC IN the 1881 CENSUS}}
    Relation to Head of House: Wife
    Religion: Free Church
    French Canadian: No
    Father's Birth Place: Ontario
    Mother's Birth Place: Ontario
    Province: Ontario
    District Number: 72
    District: Hamilton City
    Subdistrict: Ward 7
    Archive Roll #: T-6342

    Household Members: Name Age
    William Melmer 50
    Louisa Melmer 50
    Alfred Henry 24
    Alice Melmer 18
    Grace E Melmer 16
    George Melmer 5
    John Melmer 12
    Louisa Melmer 10

    NOTE 4./ 1901 London Township, Ontario, Canada Census Record

    Name: Louise Melmer
    Gender: Female
    Marital Status: Widowed
    Age: 60
    Birth Date: 4 May 1840
    Birthplace: Ontario
    Relation to Head of House: Head
    Racial or Tribal Origin: English
    Nationality: Canada (Canadian)
    Religion: Presbyterian
    Province: Ontario
    DISTRICT: Middlesex (East/est
    District Number: 87
    Sub-District Number: C-8
    Family Number: 61
    Page: 6

    Household Members: Name Age
    Louise Melmer 60
    Alphard S Melmer 38
    Alles M Melmer 26

    Name Home in 1901(Province, District, Sub-District) Birth Year Birthplace
    Louise Melmer Ontario, Middlesex (East/Est), London 1840 Ontario Head
    Alphard S Melmer Ontario, Middlesex (East/Est), London 1862 Ontario Son
    Alles M Melmer Ontario, Middlesex (East/Est), London 1874 Ontario

    NOTE 5./ 1911 London Township, Ontario, Canada Census Record

    Name: Louise Melmer
    Gender: Female
    Marital Status: Widowed
    Age: 77
    Birth Date: May 1844
    Birthplace: Ontario
    Family Number: 113
    Relation to Head of House: Head
    Tribal: German
    Province: Ontario
    District: Middlesex East
    District Number: 95
    Sub-District: London Township, Bronghdale Village
    Sub-District Number: 5
    Census Year: 1911
    Page: 11
    Household Members: Name Birth Year
    Louise Melmer 1844
    Alice M Melmer 1880
    Alfred H Melmer 1861

    NOTE 6./ Mariages non catholiques de la région de Montréal, 1766-1899, "Electronic," DÉTAILS pour Melmer William
    <>

    Nom époux Melmer
    Prénom époux William
    Nom épouse Henry
    Prénom épouse Louisa
    Année 1871
    Église Point Saint-Charles Centenary Methodist Church (Montréal)
    Confession Méthodiste
    Pagination 5
    Source Centre d'archives de Montréal, CE601,S99

    Children:
    1. Alice Maud MELMER was born on 01 Sep 1872 in New Edinburgh, Carleton County, Ottawa, Ontario; died on 06 Mar 1947 in St Thomas, Elgin County, Ontario.
    2. 3. Grace Edith MELMER was born on 03 Jun 1874 in Ottawa, Carlton, Ontario, Canada; died on 27 Oct 1937 in Mt Morris, Michigan; was buried on 30 Oct 1937 in Mt Pleasant, Lot 594, Section Ta, London, Ontario, Canada.
    3. George Darby MELMER was born on 10 Aug 1876 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; died after 1917.
    4. John Henry MELMER was born on 28 Jul 1878 in Toronto, Ontario; died on 09 Jun 1957 in Westminster Hospital, London, Ontario; was buried on 12 Jun 1957 in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, London Middlesex London MX-141.
    5. Louisa Matilda MELMER was born on 04 Dec 1880 in Ontario; died about 1925 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario; was buried in Woodland cemetery, London, Middlesex County, Ontario.


Generation: 4

  1. 8.  Henry MILLIE was born on 09 Sep 1761 in Cameron, Fife, Scotland; was christened on 20 Sep 1761 in Backbraes, Ceres, Fife, Scotland (son of John MILLIE and Martha DONALDSON).

    Notes:

    Reference David Thompson e-mail 5-15-02:

    Thomas MILLIE had brothers Robert, John and Andrew. Well, I found a family with all these children:
    MILLIE, John Bir 1791 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie
    Mo: Magdalene Rumgay
    MILLIE, Andrew Chr 1793 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie
    Mo: Magdaline Rumgay
    MILLIE, David Chr 1794 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie
    Mo: Magdaline Rumgay
    MILLIE, Henry Chr 1794 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie
    Mo: Magdaline Rumgay
    MILLIE, Thomas Chr 1796 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie
    Mo: Magdaline Rumgay
    MILLIE, Robert Chr 1798 Scot Fife Ceres
    Fa: Henry Millie
    Mo: Magdalene Rumgay
    I also found the following who may be an aunt of HH, her father was Thomas, she was in Dublin, and note her first and middle names, the same as Thomas above:
    LATIMER, William
    Wife: Magdalene Rumgay MILLIE
    Marriage Date: 23 Oct 1847 Recorded in: St. Peter, Dublin, Ireland
    Collection: Civil Registration
    Husband's Father: James LATIMER
    Wife's Father: Thomas MILLIE
    Source: FHL Film 101286 Dates: 1847 - 1847
    I still bet that Bob's Henry comes down this line. Likely a couple or all of the brothers went to Ireland together.

    NOTE 2./ CERES, ASSOCIATE CONGREGATION: BAPTISMS, 1738-1806, 1808, 1836-37, [CH3/54]
    <>
    [Seceding families came from all over Central and East Fife to have their children baptised at Ceres, and this has been reflected in the baptismal register, in the index below all parishes and place-names have been kept, apart from Ceres: where none is given, the family belongs to Ceres]
    MILLIE, HENRY & MAGDALENE RUMGAY by Easthill of Bandirran; John, Oct 25/0ct 30 1791; Andrew, Jan 20 1793; David, Oct 10 1794; Thomas, July 26 1796; Robert, Aug 12 1798

    NOTE 3./ Historical Note: The Year Was 1789

    The year was 1789 and in the U.S. a young government was beginning to take shape. In its first nationwide election, the popular Revolutionary War general, George Washington, became the country's first president and was sworn in at the first capitol of the United States, Federal Hall in New York City.

    In France, a rebellion was underway and with the storming of the Bastille prison, the French Revolution began. In its reporting on the subject, The Times of London, England had the following to say of the conflict:

    The spirit of liberty which so long lay in a state of death, oppressed by the hand of power, received its first spark of returning animation, by the incautious and impolitic assistance afforded to America. The French soldier on his return from that emancipated continent, told a glorious tale to his countrymen--"That the arms of France had given freedome to thirteen United States, and planted the standard of liberty on the battlements of New York and Philadelphia." The idea of such a noble deed became a general object of admiration, the [facets?] of a similar state were eagerly longed for by all ranks of people, and the vox populi had this force of argument--"If France gave freedom to America, why should she not unchain the arbitrary fetters which bind her own people.

    Later that year, the Marquis de Lafayette, with the advice of Thomas Jefferson who was at the time the American ambassador to France, drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. It was adopted by France's National Assembly in August and ratified by Louis XVI in October.

    There was unrest in other parts of the world as well. Sweden and Russia were at war, and briefly, Norway had joined the conflict, although a peace treaty was signed in July 1789.

    In a smaller, but well-known conflict, the mutiny on the H.M.S. Bounty was also in the year 1789. On April 28, part of the crew of the Bounty, led by Fletcher Christian, mutinied and set Captain William Bligh and eighteen crewmembers adrift. Bligh managed to get the boat some 3,600 miles to Timor. Some of the mutineers were captured and prosecuted--three were hanged, while others, including Fletcher Christian ended up on Pitcairn Island, where some of their descendants live to this day.

    In 1789, there was an epidemic of influenza in New England, New York, and Nova Scotia, which resulted in many deaths due to secondary cases of pneumonia. The new president was among those who fell ill. He caught a cold while visiting Boston, and later, was affected more seriously with influenza, which was dubbed Washington Influenza.

    Henry married Magdalene RUMGAY about 1790 in Easthill of Bandirran, Ceres, Fife, Scotland. Magdalene (daughter of AndrewSr RUMGAY and Mary (McKie) MACKIE) was born on 01 Sep 1765 in Cameron, Fife, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 9.  Magdalene RUMGAY was born on 01 Sep 1765 in Cameron, Fife, Scotland (daughter of AndrewSr RUMGAY and Mary (McKie) MACKIE).
    Children:
    1. John MILLIE was born on 25 Oct 1791 in Easthill of Bandirran Estates, Ceres Parish, Fife, Scotland.; died in in New York ?.
    2. Andrew MILLIE was born on 19 Jan 1793 in Easthill of Bandirran Estates, Ceres Parish, Fife, Scotland..
    3. David MILLIE was born on 10 Oct 1794 in Easthill of Bandirran, Ceres Parish, Fife, Scotland.
    4. Henry MILLIE was born on 10 Oct 1794 in Ceres Parish, Fife, Scotland; died after 1861 in Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland.
    5. Thomas MILLIE was born on 26 Jul 1796 in Easthill of Bandirran, Ceres Parish, Fife, Scotland; died in in Ireland.
    6. 4. Robert Rumgay MILLIE was born on 12 Aug 1798 in Easthill of Bandirran estates, Ceres Parish, Fife, Scotland; died before 05 Aug 1886 in not in 1841 Scotland census.
    7. Mary MILLIE was born in 1808 in Ceres, Fifeshire, Scotland; died after 1861 in Age 53, Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland.

  3. 12.  GeorgeSr MELMER was born on 21 Nov 1802 in St Helier, Isle of Wight, Jersey (son of George MELMER and Fanny BOTT); died on 06 Aug 1854 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England.

    Notes:

    About MELMER, George
    George Melmer was born in Jersey according to 1851 census, entry registered St Helier 1802 to parents George & Fanny, nee Bott.

    According to the entry in the 1841 census George was aged 35 with his wife and 5 of his children. It should be noted that his wife Matilda was enumerated in the name of Martha (enumerator`s error?). I have no evidence of George being married to a Martha! The family were resident at Fairview Street, St Mary`s Cheltenham, and George was described as a confectioner. His eldest son, George, was aged 15 an apprentice, the other children were scholars which included Frances 10, Martha 8, William 6 & Henry 4. Daughter Matilda was elsewhere on the night of the 1841 census as was daughter Elizabeth (born circa 1828).

    This family were present at 33 St Paul`s Street North, Cheltenham, in 1851, where George and Matilda were resident with their family. George was enumerated as a 48 year old pastry cook, wife Matilda was aged 50. Daughter Elizabeth Melmer was present in 1851 along with other siblings and Matilda Cooley, mother in law, aged 76, widowed annuitant born Bridgenorth, Shropshire.

    Death certificate on file. He died an early death in 1854 aged 52 in Cheltenham of Dropsey, General Anasarca & Debility. His death was registered by son William, in attendance at 35 St Pauls St North.

    I do not know where George Melmer is buried. I checked the registers at Bouncers Lane cemetery in Cheltenham, but burials did not begin there until 1864. Cheltenham Cemetery opened with its first burial in 1864, charmingly recorded in the Register of Burials as "The First Commencement" taking place on the 19 November of that year.

    NOTE 1./ 1841 Cheltenham, Gloucester, England census,

    Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Civil Parish County/Island
    George Melmer abt 1806 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Martha Melmer abt 1806 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    George Melmer abt 1826 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Frances Melmer abt 1831 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Martha Melmer abt 1833 Gloucestershire, England Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Wm Melmer abt 1835 Gloucestershire, England Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Henry Melmer abt 1837 Gloucestershire, England Cheltenham Gloucestershire

    NOTE 2./ 1851 Cheltenham, Gloucester, England census,

    Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/Island
    George Melmer abt 1803 Isle of Wight, Jersey, Channel Islands Head Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Matilda Melmer abt 1801 Middlesex, England Wife Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Elizabeth Melmer abt 1828 Leicestershire, England Daughter Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Frances Melmer abt 1830 Leicestershire, England Daughter Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Martha Melmer abt 1833 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Dau Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    William Melmer abt 1835 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Henry Melmer abt 1838 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Cheltenham Gloucestershire
    Matilda Cooley abt 1775 Bridgenorth, Shropshire, Eng Mother-in-law Cheltenham Gloucestershire

    NOTE 3./ e-mail from Carol Cooper ([email protected]) on 8-19-2007

    The 1841 census for Fairview Street, Cheltenham, shows the Melmers (George Snr & Martha (sic.) - should read Matilda) with their family of children at that time, namely George 15 (ages were rounded in 1841) and Frances 10 (both born out of county) with Martha 8, William 6 and Henry 4, all born within county of Gloucestershire.

    The 1851 census for St Paul's St. North, Cheltenham, shows the Melmer family excluding son George (enumerated as Melmore), who was residing in lodgings at 8 Hanover Street, just around the corner [I know both streets well], with wife Ann and children Emma 8, Mary Ann 6, Elizabeth 3 & George 1 month old. I have now purchased both birth certificates for first and last children, namely Emma in 1843 at 25 Brunswick Street and George in 1851 at 8 Hanover Street, which clearly shows they were born to George Melmer and Ann Hughes - see attached. However, I have not managed to find any marriage between George and Ann Hughes in the indexes for either England or Wales, so presume they did not actually manage to tie the knot, which is a shame as a marriage certificate would confirm who his father was.

    What makes me so convinced that this George Melmer, with Ann, was most definitely the son of George and Matilda is that apart from being the only other Melmer family in Cheltenham at that time and living just round the corner from his parents, his birth occurred (according to the 1851 census) in Southampton, which was precisely the same place as his parents' marriage took place the same year, see the death certificate of Matilda Melmer, which I sent you a copy of in a previous email some while ago.

    What I can also be certain of is that the reason we cannot find George 1824 in the 1881 census for Canada is because he was almost certainly dead by this time. In his mother Matilda Melmer's death certificate in 1883 at Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, it stated she was the mother of only 3 living children at the time of her death, namely Martha, William and Henry - those deceased were 1 male (can only be George 1824) and 3 females.

    So, I speculate that George, Ann and four children left the UK shortly after 1851 for foreign shores, possibly America or even Australia and after the death of first wife Ann Hughes, George moved on to Canada to be with other members of his family, leaving behind his children some of whom would by this time have grown up and probably married and settled. He subsequently married second wife Mary Wallace circa 1856 and the two daughters quickly followed that marriage. From the age of Matilda Eaton (24) in 1881, she must have been the elder of the two daughters.

    What I also noticed from the 1881 census entry for the Eaton family in Montreal, was that Robert Eaton, the Pedler, was considerably older than Matilda, indeed he must have been a widower at marriage, as the eldest child in the household was William aged 14. He could not possibly have been Matilda's son, only Robert 4 and Matilda 1 could have been her children, suggesting that Matilda Melmer married Robert Eaton circa 1876, upon reaching the age of 21 years. It is quite conceivable therefore that by 1901 Canadian census, Robert Eaton may have died and his young wife Matilda, may just have remarried and taken another surname by this time. If their daughter Matilda had also married before 1901, she too would be almost impossible to locate in the 1901 census, without evidence of such a marriage. Robert Eaton Jnr would almost certainly have been of an age to fight in a War at the turn of the century, also making his appearance in any census of 1901 very difficult to find - all this is only speculation but could account for their "disappearance" from any census after 1881.

    GeorgeSr married Matilda COOLEY in 1824 in Southhampton, Hampshire, England. Matilda (daughter of William COOLEY and Matilda NOYES) was born in 1800 in Bridgenorth, Shropshire, England; died on 11 Dec 1883 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia; was buried on 12 Dec 1883 in Ipswich Cemetary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 13.  Matilda COOLEY was born in 1800 in Bridgenorth, Shropshire, England (daughter of William COOLEY and Matilda NOYES); died on 11 Dec 1883 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia; was buried on 12 Dec 1883 in Ipswich Cemetary.

    Notes:

    NOTE 1./ About COOLEY, Matilda : From Carol Ward`s Family Tree: {Tollgate} <>

    About COOLEY, Matilda
    Matilda Cooley was born in Middlesex c.1800 according to census 1851 the daughter of William Cooley a navy surgeon and Matilda nee Noyes. She had a brother, Arnold James Cooley although it is proving difficult to connect Arnold to Matilda. Even her father`s Will did not name Arnold, but Matilda was a named beneficiary.

    Matilda is known to have had babies c 1824 in Southampton, c1827 in Bath, 1828/30 in Leicester and from 1833 at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

    According to the entry in the 1841 census Matilda Cooley was enumerated as "Martha". The family were resident at Fairview Street, St Mary`s Cheltenham, and George was described as a confectioner. His eldest son, George, was aged 15 (ages rounded), an apprentice, the other children were scholars which included Frances 10, Martha 8, William 6 & Henry 4. Daughter Matilda was elsewhere on the night of the 1841 census as was daughter Elizabeth (born circa 1828).

    This family were present at 33 St Paul`s Street North, Cheltenham, in 1851, where George and Matilda were resident with their family. George was enumerated as a 48 year old pastry cook, wife Matilda was aged 50. Daughter Elizabeth Melmer was present in 1851 along with other siblings and Matilda Cooley, mother, aged 76, widowed annuitant born Bridgenorth, Shropshire.

    Matilda was widowed in 1854 and the census for 1861 shows her living at Regent Place, Cheltenham, aged 60 with daughter Elizabeth, aged 28 (sic), both dressmakers.

    In April 1860 she registered a death of an Emma Matilda Melmer (grandaughter) who was the daughter of William Melmer Schoolmaster. The child was 6 months, died from debility at birth, and Matilda was present at the death.

    In 1861 Matilda was resident at Regent Place with daughter Elizabeth, both ladies were dressmakers, Matilda being aged 60, Elizabeth, aged 28.

    Matilda and daughter Elizabeth emigrated after the census in 1861 arriving in Queensland, Australia on the "Theresa" in 1863.

    Death Certificate on file. Matilda died at Ipswich, Queensland, Australia on 11th December 1883 at the age of 82 from Senile Decay. Her death occurred at "Racecourse", Ipswich, Q`land, and was registered by her son in law William Jones also of Racecourse Ipswich. Matilda`s death certificate gives the names of her parents as William Cooley, Surgeon Royal Navy and Matilda (nee Noyes) and states that she was born Middlesex, London, England and had been in Queensland for about 9 years. She was the mother of 3 living children at the time of her death, Martha 49, William 47 and Henry 45 and she had 1 male and 3 female children deceased. Her certificate also states that she was the widow of George Melmer, whom she had married at the age of 25 years in Southampton, Hampshire, England.

    Matilda Melmer was buried on 12th December 1883 at Ipswich Cemetary, Congregational, by Rev`d E Greenwood in the present of witnesses Archibald Hughes and Michael Martin.

    NOTE 2./ e-mail from [email protected] on 10-6-2006

    It gives me great pleasure to send to you a copy of the original death certificate for Matilda Melmer (nee Cooley), widow of George Melmer of Jersey, Channel Isles and who died Ipswich, Queensland 11.12.1883.

    You will see the certificate for Ipswich, Queensland, Australia defines more than our British certificates in that it clearly mentions parents and children of the deceased.

    My contact (a direct descendent of William Jones and Martha Melmer) has confirmed to me that Matilda and daughter Elizabeth emigrated to the Australias on board the vessel "Theresa", arriving Queensland 1862/3 which accounts for why I cannot locate them in British Census post 1861, nor have I located either of their deaths in the UK.

    I am also informed that Elizabeth Melmer married a Thomas Murphy in 1864 in Australia - presumably a previous husband to William Cody pictured with her in the photograph supplied by Bob.

    I have also deduced that the E F Melmer, mentioned in the 1880 census for "Unorganized territory of Nabraska" was probably one and the same Henry Melmer (b.1837), though why the name was changed I do not know, but my informant confirms that it was reported Henry also emigrated to the States and that Matilda visited her son there (verbal information only).

    I am promised further documentation in support of the above information though it may not be for a while due to administrative difficulties. Once I am in possession, I will share accordingly.

    I hope this finds all of you in good health and high spirits.

    Until next time, kind regards and very best wishes

    your UK cousin, Carol

    NOTE 3./ Regarding Matilda Cooley Photos: See jpeg: e-mail from [email protected] 8-29-2007

    I also forgot to pass this on to you - it is an authentic photograph of Matilda Cooley [(1799-1883) - married George Melmer 1824] and still hangs in a home in Brisbane Australia. It was taken circa 1865 shortly after her arrival with daughter Elizabeth in Australia. The attached photo was taken through glass but you can clearly see how she looked.

    Children:
    1. GeorgeJr MELMER was born in 1824 in Southampton, Hampshire, England; died on 29 Oct 1881 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; was buried in Pointe St-Charles Grace Anglican Church, Montréal.
    2. Matilda MELMER was born in 1827 in Bath, Somerset; died on 03 Dec 1874 in Back of 105 High Street, Cheltenham, Gloucester.
    3. Elizabeth MELMER was born in 1828 in Leicester, England; died on 30 Jul 1873 in Coulterville, San Francisco California.
    4. Frances MELMER was born in 1830 in Leicester, England.
    5. Martha MELMER was born in 1833 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England; died on 17 Jul 1897 in Raceview, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.
    6. 6. William MELMER was born in 1835 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England; died on 08 Feb 1893 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario; was buried in Hamilton Wentworth Hamilton HM-287.
    7. Henry MELMER was born on 10 Jul 1837 in Cheltenham, Gloucester, England; died after 11 Dec 1883 in Unorganized territory of Nebraska.
    8. E F MELMER was born in 1838 in England.