Find Ancestors

Yes, I think it would be worth me going to the archive to look at his police personnel record to see the reason for leaving. I've been doing some more digging and on a couple of his children's marriage certificates in 1901 and 1902 his occupation is listed as 'general labourer'. So, after being a police constable he seems to have been a tramway servant and then labourer - it seems like there is a story there...

I've had a breakthrough this morning and think I've found him on the 1911 census - the age and place of birth match up, but he's shown as a widower. Sadly, he is an inmate at a poorhouse.

With this info I will hopefully be able to trawl through some death certificates and find his.

I imagine any police personnel record might record when he left the police service - presumably some time between 1895 and 1901.

But as he didn't die in service, it probably wouldn't record his death.

Edinburgh City Archives have some old police records, but as far as I can see, nothing useful re Leith as far as your particular search is concerned.

https://tinyurl.com/y6zub3lx

[ Reminds me of the old tongue-twister:
The Leith police dismisseth us. ]

Is there a record of Police service?

If there was, maybe it will list when he died.

Chris Ho :) - wow that's so interesting!! Very dramatic, wish I knew what that was all about! The address on the 1911 census for Barbara is 7 New Broughton, Edinburgh.

ArgyllGran - thanks for that. I've checked the 1938 death before and unfortunately it's not him. As you say, lots of possibilities if name/date isn't as expected.

greyghost - yes, the Barbara and Magnus you mention are my relatives. I think I'll do as you suggest and go to register house in Edinburgh for a proper trawl through all of the possibilities.


Thanks all.

Given the St Andrew reg district in 1911, there's also this death as a very long shot -

MILLER
JOHN
80
1930
685/2 80
St Andrew (Edinburgh)


I don't see him definitely anywhere in 1911, unless, again, the middle name/initial was omitted, or his age given incorrectly, in which case the same applies as for deaths - there are lots to choose from, both in Edinburgh and in other places.

There's this one in 1911 with correct age - but he's with a Margaret, aged 43 -

MILLAR
JOHN
1911
M
61
685/4 43/ 5
St Giles
Midlothian

Knowing the names and Barbara's age - ish from 1901 census can manipulate SP website and see these 2 together, but no further details available without looking at original. Is this your family?

Surname Forename Year Gender Age at Census Ref RD Name County/ City Image View
MILLER BARBARA 1911 F 60 685/2 26/ 14 St Andrew Midlothian
MILLER MAGNUS 1911 M 22685/2 26/ 14 St Andrew Midlothian

There are many examples of census being wrongly completed - just because she says married and for 35 years unfortunately doesn't mean that's true. Saving face was important to some.

If he was alive then she would still be married, doesn't mean they were together. If Magnus is listed as Head , yes, you would think his Father wasn't in that household at least.

If you were able to get to the Records Office in Edinburgh a day ticket I believe would allow you to look at as many records as you wanted, so you would be able to trawl through the death certs. As there are such a lot of possibles in Scotland it would cost a fair bit to buy SP credits and check them out - but you could only go up to 1918 that way anyway.

If Magnus was 'Head' in 1911, his mother was living/staying with him rather than vice versa

There is below...

Chris :)

25 November 1895 - Edinburgh Evening News - Edinburgh, Midlothian

ALLEGED STABBING AT LEITH.
At Leith Court today, Thomas Miller, described as a Baker in Hope Street, North Leith, was remitted to a higher court charged with having on Saturday, in Prince Regent Street, assaulted John Henderson Miller, a police constable, and Andrew Miller, waiter, and with a knife stabbed the former repeatedly on the breast, sides, and back, and the latter on the breast, both to the effusion of blood. It is said that the prisoner had quarrelled with his wife, and had followed her to the house of the constable, who is a step brother. The injuries are not considered serious.


1876 Marriage, as mentioned on Bayanne...

26 February 1876 - Shetland Times - Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland

Marriages.
At Upper Sound, Lerwick, on the 18thinst. by the Rev. A.R. Saunders, M.A., John H. Millar, sailor, Upper Sound, to Barbara, daughter of Thomas Tait, boat carpenter, Fetlar.


Edits (what does 1911 give for Address details?...)

As far as emigration goes, all you can do is trawl through all the travel records of John Millers with YOB approx 1850, leaving (or arriving elsewhere) after 1901, and hope to find one with a likely occupation or other bit of identifying info.

I haven't found one so far.

EDIT:

There's this one, but too young to be either John or his son:


John Henderson Millar
in the New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
Name: John Henderson Millar
Arrival Date: 13 Jul 1918
Birth Date: abt 1898
Birth Location: Scotland
Birth Location Other: Leith, Scotland
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/ Nationality: Scottish (Scotish)
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Carmania

He's an engineer.
Mother: M Millar, 40 Craighall Road, Leith.

If he died in Scotland, but not in Leith, and without the middle name or initial being put on the record, then it will be impossible to know which of the many possible deaths 1901-50 could be his.

In that timeframe, there are three possibilities in Edinburgh alone, including this one in Leith - if he hadn't actually died before Barbara:

MILLER
JOHN
88
1938
685/9 60
Leith

Possibly, any tips on how I could find out?

could he have immagrated

I've just looked up the 1911 census (sorry, can't see a way to copy/paste, but I'll explain what is says). There are 2 members of the household: John's wife Barbara Miller and her son Magnus Miller. Magnus is listed as head of the household. Barbara's marital status shows as married for 35 years. So not widowed, but John is not there! My understanding of census records (please correct me if I'm wrong!) is that they capture whoever happened to be in the house on that particular night. However, if John was just temporarily away, surely his son Magnus would not be listed as 'head' of the household??

Can you copy and paste the 1911 census for his wife at all for us.
What does it say then of her marital status?

1911 only available on Scotland's People
Transcripts of earlier ones are available Ancestry, FMP, but not able to see originals.

Thanks for looking into that theory anyway! I did consider that they'd separated but even if John H Miller had remarried, his death cert should still be available with the same name. Are there any reasons that a death certificate from 1900s wouldn't exist?! Could it have been wrongly recorded?
I have only searched online but could go to the search room in person if that would make any difference....

Well, if this is that Margaret's birth, it would seem more likely that it's the son John H's marriage - (or some other JHM ) -

SCOTT
MARGARET SMITH
F
1877
026/ 30
Sanday


And her death (also listed as Scott):

MILLER
MARGARET SMITH
79
1957
015/ 2
Eday and Pharay


EDIT:

and, in fact, to destroy my own theory, this was probably her husband's birth:

MILLER
JOHN HARCUS
M
1868
015/ 4
Eday and Pharay

So forget that marriage!

As John and Barbara appear to be living apart in 1901, I wonder if they separated and he remarried ??

MILLER
JOHN H
SCOTT
MARGARET S
1911
015/ 4
Eday and Pharay

On the other hand that might be the son's marriage.

Or some entirely different John H Miller, of course!

Yes, his wife Barbara's death certiicate from 1929 states that she is 'widow of John Miller, Police Constable'.


Thanks for the census record info, which I have seen already. Unfortunately I just haven't been able to find out about his death. Other public family trees he appears on seem to list his death as unknown or in Edinburgh but with no date....

Do you have his wife's death certificate? If so, is she described as a widow?

John H Miller
Scotland Census, 1861
Name:
John H Miller
Event Type:
Census
Event Date:
1861
Event Place:
Unst, Shetland, Scotland
Enumeration District:
5
Gender:
Male
Age:
11
Occupation:
STONE DYKER
Birthplace:
Shetland
Relationship to Head of Household:
VISITOR
0
Affiliate Publication Number:
2
County:
Shetland
Birth Year (Estimated):
1850
Piece:
11
Digital Folder Number:
004549970
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Thomas Williamson Male 34 Shetland
Joan Williamson Female 32 Shetland
Thomas Miller Male 39 Shetland
Margery Miller Female 26 Shetland
John H Miller Male 11 Shetland
Andrew Miller Male 6 Shetland
Agnes Miller Female 2 Shetland
Margory Miller Female 0 Shetland
Agnes J Muir Female 45 Shetland