Andrew Miller, Lanark Society Settler
Andrew Miller, who was baptized 15 Sep 1799 in Cardross, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, arrived in Quebec on the brig George Canning with his parents, 14 April 1821. Andrew travelled as part of the Glasgow Canadian Emigration Society under the leadership of Walter Black. His father, William Miller and brother James Miller were also members of this group and all three registered their location claim on 15 July 1821.
Prior to departure he served for a time with the 79th Foot, 2nd Battalion. In their records he is listed as a weaver. Upon arrival in Canada, he is described as a bachelor and his military records describe him as five foot six and quarter inches tall and weighing about 183 pounds. His appearance is described as fresh, with a pale complexion, long face, blue eyes, and dark brown hair. His residence is North Parish, Glasgow, Lanarkshire and his occupation is weaver.
Upon arrival in in the Lanark settlement Andrew claimed lot 15 northeast in concession one of Dalhousie Township, close to his father’s location of lot 15 southwest in concession one of Lanark township. These land claims are documented in early military records that describe the lot as rocky, with only a small clearing in 1834. Andrew moved from this property, probably about 1827 when he purchased the southwest portion of Dalhousie lot 13 concession 1 from Peter McNabb who received the patent in 1825. This parcel was sold to Hugh Hunter, Jr. on 26 March 1839.
Andrew appears to have joined his older brothers in Bathurst township prior to the 1834 Report on Settlers. He located on Bathurst lot 9 of concession 2. And the 1942 census indicates that at that time he had seven children, born in Canada and living with in Bathurst. This property was part of his will in 10 Jan 1870.
On 6 Jan 1847 Andrew Miller purchased Bathurst lot 8 Con 2 (all) from his brother John Miller. The Crown originally granted this lot to Archibald Fraser 1 Feb 1833. On 3 August 1860, Andrew transferred part of this lot to sons Peter Miller and the remainder to Andrew Miller, Jr. Peter Miller’s will was probated 10 Apr 1889. On 2 Apr 1897, Andrew and his wife Elizabeth E. Miller sold their portion to Peter J. Noonan.
In the Memorial copybook it appears that Andrew purchased Bathurst lot 7 NE concession 2 (part), 26 Mar 1847. He obtains the deed 13 Mar 1849. This property was part of his will 10 Jan 1870.
The Family of Andrew and Catherine Miller
In 1851 Andrew and Catherine’s surviving family were William (1826), Peter (1827), Andrew (1830), John (1832), Mary (1834), Elizabeth (1835), Robert (1836-1838), Catherine (1840), James (1843), Jane (1845) and Robert (1847). Andrew and Catherine lived in a log house with their eight children and Andrew’s brother Robert.
William Miller (1826-1911), the eldest, does not appear on the 1851 census but is living with the family in 1861 in Bathurst. He married shortly after this census and moved to Saugeen township Bruce County. He married Elizabeth Jean Murdoch (1832-1892), daughter of John Murdoch and Jean Hall, in August 1864 and they have six children. William and Elizabeth are buried in the Paisley Cemetery in Bruce County.
Peter Miller (1827-1885), born in Lanark Township but lived and farmed most of his life in Bathurst Township Lanark County. He married Margaret Mason (1827-1881) daughter of Robert Mason and Helen Gourlie (or Gourley), in July 1859.
Andrew Miller (1830-1876), born in Lanark Township, lived and farmed in Bathurst Township, Lanark County. He married a Helen (or Ellen) Mason Miller (1838-1931), Daughter of George Miller and Helen “Ellen” Mason, and granddaughter of Robert Mason and Helen Gourley in Jan 1862 in Perth, Ontario.
John Miller (1832-1851) died prior to the census in 1851 and is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Perth.
Mary Miller (1834-1899), born in Bathurst Township, married Roderick Weagant (1835-1906) about 1856 and they moved to Walsh County, North Dakota in 1860. Their eldest child Catherine died about that time at the age of two years. The remainder of the children are born in North Dakota. Roderick and Mary are buried in the Grafton City Cemetery.
Elizabeth Alvina Miller (1835-1932) married Robert Mason Miller (1836-1915), son of Thomas Miller and Elizabeth Mason in July 1861. Robert and Elizabeth emigrated to Pembina County, North Dakota about 1862. They are buried in the St Thomas Cemetery. Elizabeth and Robert had three sons.
Robert Miller (1836-1836) Bathurst Township.
? Miller (1837-1837) Bathurst Township.
Catherine Munro Miller (1840-1890) married John McConnell (1832-1904) in Perth, Ontario in January 1869. John is listed as a grocer in Paisley, Catherine died in Bruce County in 1890. In 1881 and in 1896 John is listed as a merchant. In 1901 he is a hardware merchant in Harriston, Wellington County. They had six children.
James Miller (1843-1920) married Elizabeth Ritchie (1843-1919) in Perth in March 1871. They emigrated to Polk County, Minnesota in 1877. In the 1895 state census their home is Crookston in Polk County. By 1910 they are living in Pasadena Los Angeles County, California. They both died in California.
Jane Miller (1845-abt 1871) married Lorenzo Judson (1840-1901) in Perth, Ontario in May 1869. They emigrate to Crookston, Polk County, North Dakota and have one son Robert. Jane died from childbirth complications.
Robert Munro Miller (1847-1913) married Sarah Smith Dodds (1857-1935), a sister of my great grandmother, Eliza Dodds. In May 1879. Sarah and Eliza were the daughters of Ralph Dodds and Louise Mckay of Glen Tay. The sisters were close and many of my family pictures show Sarah and Eliza together. In 1901 Robert and Sarah live and farm at Rideau Ferry. They have nine children.
Catherine Munro, Andrew’s wife died 12 August 1858 and the 1861 census tells us that Andrew continues to live in the log house with six of his children. Peter has married Margaret Mason and is living nearby with daughter Ellen. Andrew is unmarried but also living nearby. Mary has married Roderick Weagant and they immigrated to North Dakota in 1860.
Andrew Miller died 28 Sep 1869. His will was probated 10 Jan 1870.
Good morning Diane/ Great job on the Histroy of Andrew Miller. However, I must disagree with you on one point. Contrary to your sttatement in this publication, Andrew did not buy proerty from his Brother John Miller. Concession 2 Lot 8 in Bathurst Township is documented as belonging to my John Miller (1806-1870) and his wife Margaret Blair (1802-1871+). John and his wife are listed in one of your Father’s Publications as living on this property together with their first 3 sons, William, James and George.
The Ontario Land Property Register advised –
BATHURST TOWNSHIP, LANARK COUNTY, CONCESSION 2, LOT 8
Page 222 of 628 recorded that the Crown Deeded Concession 2, Lot 8 West Half, to Archibald Fraser on 1 February, 1847.
Page 222 of 628 recorded that Archibald Fraser Deeded Concession 2, Lot 8 West Half, to John Miller by Deed C-1010 on 19 April, 1847.
Page 222 of 628 recorded that John Miller Deeded Concession 2, Lot 8 West Half, to Andrew Miller by Deed T-300 on 6 January, 1847.
John and his Family left Bathurst Township sometime before 1840 as their 4th son, David, was born in Rawdon township, Hastings County, Ontario while the Family was living on Concession 9, Lot 21.
I can provide you with copies of this documentation if needed.
Ted Miller
Thanks Ted. But I also have that documentation and have come to believe that Andrew’s brother John was the John Miller in those documents. The John Miller descended from William Miller, brother of Andrew was in the area and moved there when his brothers left Lanark Township in the early 1830s. Have you found any documentation that definitely links John Miller and Margaret Blair rather than the John Miller of my family line? I welcome proof one way or the other but have come to the conclusion that it was not John Miller and Margaret Blair as it is more likely to be a brother on that parcel of land. I am now seeking more documentation on this. John was living with his parents about 1825 and tried to obtain a land grant near his parents around 1830. It is logical that, with his failure to do so, he moved with his brothers in the early 1830s.
John Miller married to Margaret Blair arrived as a young man too late to gain a land grant It is probable that he worked and lived elsewhere, possibly in Perth, while acquiring resources to move to Rawdon County. We need to explore this further. Perhaps we need to explore early records in the town and general area and he does not show up on land records. Let’s seek further documentation.
I have an eerily similar family tree from Horton township littered with Fraser’s and mcnabbsand family name archibald
Linda
Hi Linda,
I know that some of the Lanark Millers are connected to the Renfrew Millers – I just haven’t fully explored it yet. I am currently assembling summaries of what I do know about people and it is amazing how that helps me discover what has been previously missed. Would you like to explore this further?
Diane
Yes I’m would and just to let you know party of my dads family
Moved to Walsh county ND and I I still have cousins there.
The family name are all very similar
Fascinating!
Linda
How can I get in touch with you?
I will contact you by email which is attached to your message – site security! LOL
There are Bain’s, Macnaughton s and in my husbands family. They are fram New Brunswick and Gaspeda, Quebec.
Do they have any tie to Lanark County?