William Muir Miller "born Lan. Scotland" emigrated to USA 1870 aged 29

[Willison]

Can anyone please help in finding family - parents, siblings - of this man within Scotland? Only very basic facts known....

William Muir Miller arrived in the US in 1870 (20th July) aged 29 years, on the ship "Australia" sailing from Glasgow.

Born "Lan. Scotland"

Died 20th March 1900 in Washington DC

((Enlisted in US Army on 4th April 1872 aged 31. Later discharged on 14th December 1877.))

[Forfarian]

According to www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk William Muir Miller, son of William Miller and Margaret Cousins, was baptised in the parish of New Monkland, Lanarkshire, on 17 March 1833. The International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch says he was born on 19 February 1833. You can view the original baptism on the Scotland's People web site at modest cost. There is no corresponding death in the deaths index at SP.

This William Muir Miller would have been aged 37 years 5 months and 1 day when your William Muir Miller arrive in New York. Could he have massaged his age by a few years on arrival in the USA?

There are no other William Muir Millers in the Scottish indexes. However (a) there could have been another one whose baptism has not survived or (b) there could have been another one who is recorded as plain William Miller.

Do you have any other scraps of information about him after his arrival in the USA?

[Willison]

Many thanks Forfarian. I greatly appreciate your assistance.

I had already found a reference to the W.M. Miller you mention above within a general internet search but was a bit discouraged by the difference in birth years. If this is the man in question then yes, he could have 'massaged' his age for whatever reason. (TBH, I have found similar within my family tree in the 19th century and the worst offenders were all men!    )
I have much more confidence that this could be the correct man now that you have suggested similar. The fact that you found no death entry for this man seems a good indicator too.

I am looking at this on behalf of an American acquaintance and it appears she has no other scraps of info.
 

Thank you very much once again.

[Forfarian]

Yes, but you are wise to be a little cautious. Just because he is the only one in the records doesn't mean that he is the right one.

[Willison]

Agreed, best regards. 

Willison

[ev]

Hi all ,

Looking a the Church records on Scotlandspeople William Miller / Margaret Cousins may have had another son William c1838(Did the first William die ?)

I think this is the family in 1841-
Church Street , Coatbridge , Old Monkland , Lanarkshire(all born Lanarkshire)
Willm Miller 40 clerk
Margt Miller 35
Barbara Miller 6
Willm Miller 3
John Miller 2m
(FreeCEN)


ev

[Willison]

Could be Ev. Thanks for the input. Something more to chew over. I will need to go back to the lady in question and see if any of the above names perhaps ring a bell (perhaps repeated in later generations?)

Thanks again

Willison

[Forfarian]

Looking a the Church records on Scotlandspeople William Miller / Margaret Cousins may have had another son William c1838

So they did. Baptised 15 July 1838 in Old Monkland. Born 21 June 1838.

Just imagine that he was also named William Muir, but the clerk didn't bother with recording the middle name? He would have been 32 years and 29 days old when your William Muir Miller arrived in New York.

[Willison]

Yep, that's maybe a better fit (for a vain man shaving a few years off his age!) 

Thank you both!

Willison