Where did great uncle Harold go? .....

[AnneM]

Hi

I've been looking for a while for the various brothers and sisters of my husband's grandfather William Carey Miller, born 1875.

His oldest brother appaars to have been a Harold Augustus Miller. I know that he was born in 1864 in Winchester to Mark Miller and his wife Louisa Hyde and he appears with them in the 1871 census in Clerkenwell in London. My problem is that after that he disappears totally. I've checked all the deaths between 1871 and 1881 on Ancestry and he is not there.

Another wrinkle is that there is a sister Charlotte Louisa Miller born 1865 in Winchester who also appears on the 1871 census and then disappears... only to reappear on the 1901 census working as a governess/ housekeeper, apparently to a family called Druiff in Hampstead. She has shorn a couple of years off her age but I've checked and there does not seem to be another Charlotte L Miller born at around that time in Winchester. The relationships are not clear but she may have acquired a 4 year old daughter with the surname Martin.

Does anyone have any brilliant ideas about where Harold could have gone? Am I missing something. I did think he might have joined the army and been posted abroad or something but surely he would have reappeared at some stage if that were the case.

Where was Charlotte hiding in 1881 and 1891? She does not appear to have been masquerading as Charlotte Martin.

Help if you can???? I'm beginning to believe that he was abducted by aliens along with his sister whom they finally let go. I love that smiley.

Anne

PS Mark senior died in 1876 and thereafter I've mostly tracked the rest of the family. I know that at least the two youngest brothers William and Thomas Lancelot emigrated to South Africa probably around the end of C19 beginning of C20.

[Jean Jeanie]

Hi Anne

Had a look around for Harold Augustus and variations in 1881. no luck.

However, could Charlotte Louisa have dropped the Charlotte in 1881 and become Louise Miller?

Found a likely candidate.

Louisa Miller, aged 17, born Winchester 1864, living with a Price Family at the Kings Head Inn. Wickham, Hampshire.

Not a lot of help to you unless you know anything about the Price family

Jean

[SarahND]

Hi Anne,
There is a Harold Miller born January 1864 in the 1900 census in Rochester, New York. He is a barber and has a wife and 2 daughters. The census form gives his birthplace as New York, but that of his parents as England. I have seen before that the census enumerator has mistakenly written the state of residence as the place of birth, so I wouldn't rule this one out completely on that count. However, does the month of birth fit?

There is a Harold Miller, who says his age is 18, who sailed to New York in 1880 from London. I suppose you've looked at him during the free passenger list records time on Ancestry and ruled him out, or would you like me to follow him up?
Regards,
Sarah

[AnneM]

Hi Sarah and Jean

I had not forgotten about uncle Harold but unfortunately when I double checked I found he was born in April May or June 1863.

There are a few Louisas born in Winchester but no other Charlotte L of the right age. Charlotte was her grandmother's name and Granny looked after the family after father's death so I would be surprised if she dropped the Charlotte.

The more I ponder the Harold problem the more I wonder if he was the first of the boys to go to South Africa but somehow he got lost. Maybe he died there shortly after arrival as my husband's father does not seem to have known of his existence. He knew about the other brothers Thomas k/a Lancelot and Mark and obviously his own father William.

I doubt if I'll solve this one.

Anne

[SarahND]

Well Anne, here's one last try then The problem is, although here he is big as life in the 1910 census, I can't reliably find him and his family at any other point. That is, if the details given in this census are more or less correct... But here it is, in case it is helpful.
All the best,
Sarah

1910
14 W***t Avenue, Boston City, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Miller, Harry, head, 46, married 23 years, born in England, came to U.S. in 1891, shoe dealer in a shoe store
___ Elizabeth, wife, 45, married 23 years, had one child, one still living, Born in England, came to U.S. in 1891
___ May, daughter, 21, born in England, came to U.S. in 1891