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40th Regiment in Wikipedia
| There were three
Regiments of the line serving in Australia a hundred
years ago. These were the 48th, now the 1st Battalion,
the Northamptonshire Regiment, which came out in 1817;
the 3rd Buffs, now "The East Kent Regiment , which came
out in 1823; the 40th, now the South Lancashire
Regiment, which followed soon after. The custom in those
days was to send out the regiments in detachments as
guards in the transports bringing convicts, and finally
the colonel and headquarters staff. Major, afterwards Lieut-Colonel Morrisett, of the 48th, left descendants who were afterwards well known in Queensland. Lieut Stirling, of the Buffs was with Oxley when the Brisbane River was discovered, and from the 40th came the first commandant at Moreton Bay. Sir Thomas Brisbane had laid down that only married officers with families were to be sent as commandants of the out settlements, and when it became necessary to send a commandant to Moreton Bay his choice fell upon Lieut Henry Miller. Promotion was slow in those days, for our first commandant was 38 years of age, having been born in 1785. He belonged to Londonderry, where his father was a clergyman. His brother Mr Joseph Miller, was Mayor of Londonderry on five different occasions. His nephew, Sir William Miller, was mayor about 40 years ago. He entered the army at an early age, being gazetted as an ensign in the 40th in 1799, when only 14. He married some ten years later, his eldest son Henry, being born on December 30, 1809, at Londonderry. At that time the 40th were with Wellington on the Peninsular. The great battle of Talavera had been fought the previous July. "This battle" says Jomini, "recovered the glory of the successes of Marlborough, which for a century had declined. It was felt that the English infantry could contend with the best in Europe." Wellington won his peerage at Talaveres and the 40th carries the name of the victory on its colours. Miller was with his regiment when, on September 27, 1810, Wellington fought the battle of Busace to secure his retreat to his "laboured rampart lines" at Torres Vedras. When the Iron Duke opened his campaign of 1812, by taking Cindad Rodrigo, Miller took part in the assault which cost us 90 officers and 1200 men. Three months later Badajos was taken by storm. This was the most bloody of all the struggles of the war, and cost us 5000 in killed and wounded. Assault after assault had failed. In two hours 2000 men had of a Forlorn Hope, and was severely wounded. The 40th were with Wellington in his victorious advance. Its battle honours include Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse. The fall of Napoleon left Great Britain free to turn her attention to the United States, and Miller crossed the Atlantic with the 40th. He was at the unsuccessful attack on New Orleans on January 8, 1815, when the commanding officer, Sir E. Pakenham, was killed. He was back again in Europe in time to be present at Waterloo which sealed the fate of Napoleon, and incidentally, of Australia, too for it left Great Britain without a serious rival and in possession of a great colonial empire. Miller's last fight was Waterloo. He was given the Peninsular medal, with clasps for Busaco, Badajos and Ciudad Rodrigo, and the Waterloo medal. These decorations are in the possession of his family in Melbourne. After Waterloo the 40th formed part of the army of occupation, and Lieut. Miller was joined by his wife and family in Paris. From France the 40th went to Glasgow and in March 1823 the regiment was ordered to go to New South Wales. Lieut. Miller and his family came out with one of the detachments, and on October 27,1824, the Mayles arrived with Colonel Thornton and the headquarters of the regiment. By that date Lieut. Miller was in charge at Moreton Bay, having come up from Sydney in the brig Amity a couple of months earlier. His appointment as commandant is dated September 12, 1824. It would be hard to imagine a more desolate and forsaken spot than that upon which Mrs. Miller found herself and her young family. She was many miles up a river in a savage land. The only tie with civilisation was the rare arrival of a ship from Sydney in Moreton Bay, for no ship in that time had ever entered the Brisbane River. There were no buildings, except huts, and no other women except the soldiers' wives on the strength of the regiment. It was in these surroundings that Mrs Miller gave birth to a son, who was afterwards christened Charles Morton Miller. It is confidently believed that he was the first white child born at Moreton Bay, and therefore the first Queenslander. He is no longer living but his widow still survives at the great age of 96, and his son, Mr. Charles Miller, of Ballarat, hopes to be present at the centenary celebrations. Lieut. Miller was at Moreton Bay for about 18 months. He was then succeeded by Captain Bishop, also of the 40th, and returned to Sydney. From thence he went to Van Diemen's Land, and when, in 1828, the regiment went to India, Captain Miller, as he had then become, remained behind in an appointment connected with the commissariat. He lived at Hobart in a house facing the Glebe, which was standing a few years ago, and may, perhaps, still be there. His eldest son, Henry, who was a lad of 15 when his father was at Moreton Bay, entered the Audit Office in Hobart, but left to go to the new settlement at Port Phillip. There he soon established himself. On December 30, 1840 Mrs. Miller died at Hobart, aged 53, and on August 23, 1842, Captain Miller married again. His second wife was a Miss McQueen, of New Norfolk, Van Diemen's Land. He died at Hobart on January 10, 1866. The second Mrs. Miller died in 1891, and is buried at Hobart with her son, Ernest George Miller, who died in 1887, aged 37 years. Captain Miller's eldest son, Henry Miller, rose with the settlement on the Yarra and saw it grow from a few huts to be the noblest city south of the Line. His fortunes grew with the city. The Bank of Victoria and the Victoria Insurance Company owed their existence to him, and when he died on February 7, 1888, he left sons and grandsons to carry on the memory of our first commandant. Sir Edward Miller, Albert Miller, and Septimus Miller are household words in Victoria. Captain Miller's grave at Hobart in course of time fell into disrepair. A new gravestone has recently been erected by the family. Note |
| ....Lieutenant Henry Miller was replaced by Captain Peter Bishop in August 1825. This was a great disappointment to Miller, who had worked very hard against great odds. As he pointed out in his letter to Balfour (reproduced below), the fact that progress at Redcliffe and Brisbane Town had been slow was not primarily his fault. The letter gives the best account available of the life of the settlement under Miller's command but unfortunately Miller, in his attempt to clear himself of any blame tried to shift the blame for the choice of the Redcliffe site onto Oxley; this was unfair, as originally Miller had tried to share the credit for the choice. The real reason for his dismissal may well have been, as Miller suggested, to cover the mistakes of others; yet Miller certainly made mistakes of his own. The postscript to his letter reveals that there were irregularities in the management of the stores; and it has already been pointed out that Miller seems to have established Brisbane Town much further up the river than intended by the Governor. The fact that the Governor ignored Miller's appeal against his dismissal reflects no credit on the Governor, but it should be borne in mind that at this very time Sir Thomas Brisbane's own position as Governor was being threatened and he was consequently under great personal strain... |
| (Lieutenant Miller to
:Lieutenant-Colonel Balfour) (Tasmanian State Archives,
Ref. C.S.O.1/371/8476)
Hobart Town April 25th
1826 The situation selected by the person appointee by Government for that express purpose as a site for the Settlement proved on trial, in every respect ineligible, the ground was light, sandy and sterile, no timber fit for building was in its neighbourhood, and the very grass for thatch (as a substitute for shingles) I had to send miles for; while, so limited was our supply of water, that I found myself obliged in the midst of all the other press of business to have recourse to the expedient of sinking a regular well. In the latter end of November 1824, Sir Thomas Brisbane visited Morton Bay, and expressed himself satisfied with what I had done; he also observed that in all probability he would have the settlement removed, but said nothing decisive on the subject. Early in December 1824, the very small stock of Medicines sent with us was completely exhausted, and sickness attacked the Prisoners; nor till the month of August 1825 was there any medicines, of any description forwarded to the Settlement, though I applied for them to Head Quarters whenever opportunity offered, which indeed was seldom, as a continued period of five months has been suffered to elapse, without any vessel being sent to our relief ' the consequence of which was, that I have been frequently reduced to nine, ten, eleven, or twelve men, per day to carry into effect plans which would have required at least one hundred, and during the whole of the time I was Commandant, there were but seven prisoners sent as reinforcements, two of whom I was directed, "to have instructed in the duties of Overseers" although there was no person on the Settlement capable of so doing. I had also to labour under the vast disadvantage of not knowing the Government tasks for the different kinds of Work; I repeatedly applied for a list of them, but was never supplied with it. On my arrival at Morton Bay, it was one of my first cares to have a quantity of Garden seeds and Potatoes put into the ground, knowing how important it would be to have a supply of vegetables, but, owing to the advanced period of the season, the extreme badness of the soil, the want of manure, and the scorching heat of the sun, some of those seeds never vegetated and the remainder after making a sickly appearance for a short time withered away, though I had them carefully watered every evening. .When the cool season set in, and manure had accumulated, I succeeded in rearing a few vegetables which were distributed amongst the sick and others on the Settlement. In April 1825 I received orders from Government to abandon the Settlement, and form another at the distance of twenty seven miles; this I accomplished; though the difficulties of the task, situated as I then was, with my original few wasted and enfeebled by sickness, were so many, and so great, that none but an eye-witness could, in the least form an idea of them, and it would swell this statement beyond all limits were I even to attempt their description. A short time after this removal was effected so little were our wants attended to, that our supply of flour totally failed; and at a crisis when wholesome food was particularly and indispensably necessary to preserve the few who were able to work in health, and to establish the convalescent, we found ourselves reduced to the necessity of living on salt meat, and field pease, the baneful effects of which soon became deplorably visible, and in the midst of all this suffering, in the month of August 1825 to my unspeakable astonishment Captain Bishop arrived to displace me in the Command and I was officially informed that Sir Thomas Brisbane had taken this step "in consequence of the little exertion manifested by me in the duties of the appointment." In those general terms was this communication expressed nor up to this hour have I been able to discover wherein this alleged want of exertion on my part consisted but have had to submit to the severe infliction of being condemned unheard and uninformed of any one error and I hope I may be permitted to say when exculpating myself that it is my confident belief that I was removed to cover the mistakes of others and here Sir I beg most respectfully to appeal to you, is it in the least probable that I would remain inactive or supine when expressly informed in my written instructions that any emolument I might expect to reap the second year must arise entirely from the prisoners I could ration by the produce of the settlement. On my arrival in Sydney, I waited on Sir Thomas Brisbane, and requested that it my conduct during the time of my being Commandant appeared to him in any degree incorrect, that he would order the strictest investigation into it; I also delivered to him a voluminous written statement (of which this is partly the substance) but to neither my request or statement, did I ever receive any answer. I then considered it my duty in justice to my family to Memorial to be appointed to the vacant Engineer ship at Morton Bay, and received a verbal answer by Mr Stirling then acting as Sir Thomas Brisbane's Aid-de-Camp that he did not consider it delicate to his successor to make new appointments on the eve of his departure. This answer Mr Stirling repeated at my request and in my presence, to Colonel Dumaresq as I considered it necessary that that gentleman should be informed it was from no personal objection to me Sir Thomas declined appointing me to that situation. I have now Sir most earnestly to apologise for trespassing on your time by the length of this statement which I found impossible to shorten consistent with clearness, and I trust that should any vague rumour have reached you to my prejudice, it will be successful in removing it. I have, etc, Henry Miller With respect to the Engineer's Stores which were missing at Morton Bay I shall have the honour of laying before you for your information the substance of a Memorial I forwarded to Sir Thomas Brisbane on the subject with the least possible delay. |
| In 1717 England had four independent companies garrisoned in Newfoundland and another four at Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia. These eight companies were ordered to form a Regiment at Nova Scotia in that year under the command of Colonel Richard Phillips, the Governor of that colony. The 40th Regiment was born, but as common at this period Regiments were known by their Commanding Officer, and in this case, "Phillips Regiment of Foot", - later Cornwallis'. From 1717 to 1743, Phillips Regiment was mainly garrisoned at Annapolis, Placentia and Canso protecting the settlers from indian raids and French build up in the area. When war was declared against France in 1744, Phillips Reg't held the attack at Annapolis but fell at Canso, but the following year Nova Scotia was saved 1751, and by Royal Command Phillips Reg't, (now Cornwallis') was to be known as the "40th Regiment of Foot". In 1755, the 40th took part in the defeat of Fort Beausejour, and drove the French out of Nova Scotia. In 1758 with Britain in its final struggle with France over the sovereigncy of Canada, the Grenadiers of the 40th formed part of General Wolfe's famous "Louisburg Grenadiers" which captured Louisburg under his personal leading. At a later date Flank Companies of the Reg't were present with Wolfe at the taking of Quebec, and the Reg't took part at the surrender of Montreal whereby Canada became a British Colony. In 1761 the 40th moved from Canada to the West Indies to take the French outpost of Martinique, followed by Cuba and in June beseiged Havana after Spain declared war on England. This war ended in early 1763 and the 40th Reg't arrived in the British Isle in 1765, 48 years after its formation. With America embroiled in its War of Independance with Britain, the 40th arrived in Boston in 1775 ready for active service. The Regiment earned high praise for its conduct in the war. In 1778 the 40th left America for the West Indies but returned to New York in September, 1781. In 1782 the 40th was given the distinction of a county title, and was to be known as "The 40th Regiment 2nd Somersetshire". The 40th returned to England in 1783 after the peace treaty of Versailles. Between the years 1793 and 1799, the Reg't was active against the French in Holland and St Vincent, and garrison duty at Gibraltar, Minorca and Malta. In 1800 the 40th was part of the force at the landing at Abourkir Bay near Alexandria, Egypt, and the Flank companies distinguished themselves so well that they were granted the distinction of wearing the "Sphinx-superscibed Egypt". In 1807 the Reg't took part in a short campaign in South America where the 40th earned the battle honour "Montevideo" and from Sth America the 40th sailed to Portugal for the start of the Peninsula War. Here the British under Wellington fought Napoleons army for six weary years and eventually drove them from Portugal through Spain and back into France. The 40th Reg't earned thirteen hard fought battle honours from "Rolica to Toulouse". The 40th returned to England in 1814, but were soon back in Europe again where at Waterloo the fate of Napoleon was finally decided. For their steadfastness and discipline on this day the 40th were awarded the battle honour "Waterloo" and permitted to encircle their badge with a laurel wreath. In 1824 the 40th Reg't arrived in Australia for its first tour of garrison duty with most of the reg't in Tasmania and one company in N.S.W. The Regiment left Australia for India in 1829. Because of uprisings in Afghanistan, the 40th was part of a field force ordered to Candahar in 1841. After taking part in numerous actions against the rebels, the field force started its return to India in August 1842, via Ghuznee, Cabool and the Kyber Pass fighting rebels all the way, and on the 23rd of December,1842, crossed the Sutlej into India. All regiments that took part were awarded the battle honours "Candahar - Ghuznee - Cabool 1842" and a silver medal with the above inscribed. In December 1843, the 40th, with other British and Indian troops took part in a heavy action against rebels near the village of Maharajpoor, for which they were awarded the battle honour "Maharajpoor" and a medal (the Indian Star). The 40th sailed for England in 1845 and served on garrison duty in England and Ireland. 1852, the 40th moved from their post at Templemore to Cork ready to embark for Australia for their second tour of duty there. On the 12th July, the Reg't under the command of Lt Col T.J. Valiant embarked on H.M Steam Ship Vulcan and sailed on the 15th, arriving in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip on the 19th October, disembarked at Melbourne on the 4th and 5th November. The 40th was to garrison Melbourne and all the major gold towns in Victoria. The most notable incident of their stay being the Eureka Stockade incident on the 3rd December 1854, where the 40th and the 12th regiments with local police attacked a stockade manned by armed miners. The 40th lost two dead, including Captain H.C. Wise, and about six wounded. The regiment left Australia in 1860 for New Zealand for the Maori War. They returned to England in 1866, and after various postings they went to Ireland untill 1872, when once again the 40th was posted to India. In 1881, the 82nd Regiment -(Prince of Wales' Volunteers) was grouped with the 40th and became 1st and 2nd battalions of the "South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Volunteers)". The first war of importance after 1881 was the South African War of 1889-1902, which the 1st battalion "the old 40th" took part. From Sth Africa the 1st battalion sailed back to India where they stayed right through the 1914-1918 war doing great service for King and Country. The 1st battalion went to France in 1939, and returned to England via Dunkirk. The South Lancashire was one of two assault battalions who landed first on the beaches of Normandy on D.Day. When the war ended in 1945, the 1st battalion sailed from France to the Middle East, and returned to England in 1947. In 1948 at a ceremony held at Trieste, the 1st and 2nd battalions of the regiment were amalgamated to form the 1st battalion South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Volunteers. In Hong Kong on the 1st of July 1958, the Sth Lancashire reg't amalgamated with the East Lancashire reg't to become the Lancashire Regiment (PWV), then again in 1970, the Lancashire Reg't amalgamated with the Loyal Regiment, North Lancashire, to become the "Queens Lancashire Regiment". Their present Regimental Headquarters is Fulwood Barracks in Preston, and their Regimental Museum is at Peninsula Barracks, Warrington. Here also is the Parish Church of St Elphin where many of the old Colours are laid up, including the Colours that were brought to Australia in 1852.. This then is the short history of the old 40th Regiment. |
| Miller Sir Francis
Henry 3rd son of the late William Miller M.D. of
Termonbacca House, Braehead Londonderry: b. 1865; Ed at
Foyle Coll. Londonderry; admitted a Solicitor 1888 ;
appointed Town Clerk and Law Officer Londonderry 1901
and 1902: m 1890 Maud Mary, el da. of the late Frederick
Meredith of Croydon ; cr Knt 1902. Augenish, Buncrana,
co. Donegal; Consitutional Club
Miller Sir William M.D. son of Joseph Ewing Miller, Esq., M.D., J.P. for Londonderry ; b1827 ; ed. at Trin. Coll., Dublin (B.A. 1850, M.B. 1853) ; L.R.C.S. Ireland 1853; formerly Assist House Surg. of Liverpool N. Dispensary; is Surg. of Londonderry Infirmary. Surg.-Major.-Londonderry Militia, Physician to Londonderry City Fever Hospital, an Alderman and a J.P. of Londonderry. 1846 Londonderry Directory, Gentry & Clergy, Miller, Rev John H. AM Principle Foyle College |
| Research: Subject: Re:
Capt Henry Millar Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 22:10:15 +1100 (EST) Dear Peter, Millar, Henry 40th |
| This is the Last Will and
Testament of me Henry Miller of Hobart Town in
Tasmania Esquire (formerly a Captain in Her Majesty’s
Fortieth Regiment of Infantry). I Appoint Nigel Gresley of Hobart town aforesaid Esquire William Veal Morriss of the same place Esquire and Charles Morton Abbott Clerk in the Bank of Van Dieman’s Land Executors of this my will I …… my just debts funeral and ……… expenses to be fully paid I bequeath the whole of my household furniture books china glass plate and all other my personnel affects which shall be in and about my dwelling house at the time of my decease to my wife Elizabeth Ann absolutely I bequeath to my wife the yearly sum of one hundred pounds during her life to be paid to her by my Executors out of the income arising from the Investment of my Estate half yearly to and for her sole and separate use and I direct and declare that her receipt alone (whither covert or sole) shall be a discharge for the same I direct that my Executors lay out and expend any sum of money not exceeding the annual sum of one hundred and fifty pounds in and towards the maintenance education and support of my son Ernest George during his minority (such annual sum to be paid out of the income arising as aforesaid). I bequeath to my son Henry the sum of Five pounds as a slight token of my affection ……. and esteem which sum I hope he may lay out in the purchase of a mourning ring or other memento (the amount of this legacy is occasioned by the …. of the Legatee being in affluent circumstances). I bequeath to my son Mars Morphett the sum of Five hundred pounds and to my son Charles Moton the sum of four hundred pounds this sum I wish to be paid over to my said son Henry to be by him invested on behalf of my said son Charles Morton and the interest ….. arising by such investment to be paid by him to my said son Charles Morton during his life annually and after his decease the said sum of four hundred pounds to be disposed of on my said son Charles Morton shall by his Will direct but if my said son Henry shall decline to receive and invest the said sum of four hundred pounds as aforesaid then I direct my Executors to hold and invest the same in their discretion in and upon the purpose and interests hereinbefore contained concerning the samr I direct the …. ……… of five hundred …. four hundred …. do hereinbefore bequeathed to be paid at or before the expiration of three years from my decease and ………. my Executors to sell a sufficient portion of my personnel Estate to enable them to pay …. ……… hereinbefore bequeathed I bequeath all the residue of my property and …. unto my said son Ernest George absolutely but not to be paid over to him until he attains the age of twenty one years I direct my Executors to invest any surplus of the income of my Estate during the minority of my said son Ernest George for his benefit in the sole discretion of my Executors I direct my Executors to continue the present investments of my Estate so long as they can do so and if by any reason any of such investment should fall on or be paid up I authorise my Executors to invest the same from time to time upon such activities as they in their discretion shall think advisable … however for them to alter and vary any such investment in their sole discretion … … … ….. ….. on one or Mortgagee or Trustee to my said Executors subject to the Executors affecting the same I direct that the receipt of my said Executors for such monies and …….. as shall be paid or transferred to them by virtue of this my Will shall efectually discharge the persons paying or transferring the same from liability to … to the application thereof And I declare that my said Executors shall be ……….. for their own respective acts and take the only and shall be at liberty to retain and allow to each other out of the monies coming to their hands by virtue of this my Will all expenses incurred in ……….. the Trusts thereof I hereby revoke all former Wills by me at any time made I appoint my said wife guardian of my said son Earnest George and my desire is that they reside together during the minority of my said son and in the event of the death of my said wife during such minority I appoint my Executors as his guardians ….. whereof I have hereunder by my hand this sixth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and sixty three H Miller. Signed by the said testator Henry Miller esquire and for …. Will and Testament in the presence of … present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses Sam Crisp ….. …. Sarah Turner. This is the first Codicil to the above written Will of me the above named Henry Miller I … all my real Estate to my said son Ernest George absolutely Witness my hand this tenth day of November One thousand eight hundred and sixty three H Miller Signed in the presence of the Testator who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses Sam Crisp Jr, Sarah Turner. This is the second Codicil to the above written Will of me the above named Henry Miller. I increase the Legacy to my wife to the sum of One Hundred and forty pounds and the annual sum to my son Ernest George during minority to the sum of Two hundred pounds Witness my hand this fifth day of September One thousand eight hundred and sixty four H Miller. Signed in the presence of us present at the same time in the presence of the Testator at his request and in the presence of each other Sam Crisp Jr, Sarah Turner. (Deceased died 10 January 1866) transcribed by .... |
| From: "John Steele" To: Peter Andrews Subject: Captain Henry Miller Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2003 21:21:59 +1000 Dear Peter Andrews, I came across your website
today, ..... I think you may be interested in a few
remarks about You will have known of me as the author of the book "Brisbane Town in Convict Days 1824-1842" (1975)......... The main reason for this message is to let you know that the gravestones referred to by Cumbrae-Stewart exist in the Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart. The stone that marked the
grave of Captain Henry Miller and his first wife Jane
was originally in the Campbell Street cemetery and was
renewed about 1923 (as stated by Cumbrae-Stewart), but
in 1940 it was relocated to Cornelian Bay. It is
in Section X, plot 10, reference 14365. The stone
is still standing but it has weathered since 1940;
fortunately a Further, there is a memorial plaque to Elizabeth Anne Miller high on the wall of the North transept of St David's Cathedral. My search for the monuments in 1994 was featured in the Hobart Mercury, and some Millers contacted me as a result. If you decide to include some of this information in your Miller web page I hope that some Miller descendants in the south may be inspired to restore these monuments. Please let me know if you
would like further information such as the With best wishes, John Steele ---------------------------------------------------- From: "John Steele"
Dear Peter, The gravestone inscriptions, from photographs dated 1940 are: SACRED IN LOVING MEMORY OF ..... The receipt
records that both headstones were removed from
(C)Vampbell Street to the Cornelian Bay Cemetery
on I did not record the exact wording on the plaque in St David's Cathedral, but it specifies that Elizabeth Anne Miller, born 25 February 1825, died 14 October 1891, was a much-loved Sunday School teacher for most of her life. Henry Miller's entry in
the Holy Trinity Parish Burial Register (seen by me on
microfilm NS 349/29-30 at the Archives of Tasmania) is:
4377 Henry Miller, abode Campbell Street, buried
12 January 1866, aged 82. Best wishes, Peter, Peter, I have been comparing the list of Mars children that you have on your web site, with the list I scanned and sent to you, and the list from my wife's aunt and came up with the following. My search came up with eight children from the marriage according to the Historical Index I have obtained on the internet. All the entries list the father as Mars Morphett and the mother as Sarah Charlotte, they were:
Your web site has the following list of children for Mars and Sarah:
My wife's aunt lists of Mars and Sarah’s/Charlotte’s [we have a discrepancy between the first name written in an old bible for Mars wife and her registered name] children as:
I think its highly likely that all the lists are correct and should be combined as there are large ‘gaps’ in both lists that could be filled in by combining if one assumes that children were conceived every year or so. If I do that we get a list of 13 children, not uncommon in those days, as follows:
What do you think of
this list?
Regards
Darryl
Dear Andrew Hi Carlina, Shelia Barton writes in Nov 2019 .....I would just like to point out that Henry Miller’s son Charles Moreton Miller was not the first born European in Queensland, it was actually Amity Moreton Thompson born 2 weeks earlier in Redcliffe Bay on 21st September 1824. Her father was Robert Hay Thompson a Corporal in the 40th Regiment, and mother Mary Mckechnie. She was baptised at St Phillips Church in Sydney on 23rd October 1825. She was supposed to have
been given 500 acres of land by Sir Thomas Brisbane.
Unfortunately her father was transferred to Tasmania
then India where he died in 1833. Despite, in her
later life, writing two letters regarding this land
she was unsuccessful at claiming it. I wonder if the
Miller family were ever given land to the first born
male, and if they claimed theirs..... Dear Peter Andrews,
I was very interested in
your fascinating webpage on Captain Henry Miller.
These sorts of contributions make the Internet a
goldmine for researchers. A reference in a shipping
site to a detachment of the 40th Regiment being
on the convict transport 'Isabella' when it landed in
Sydney in December 1823, led me to your site. A rather
garbled reference on another site, suggested that
Lieutenant Miller and 31 other ranks sailed from Cork
on the Isabella in 1823. Do you know what ship
Lieutenant Henry Miller arrived on? He was, as you
know, in Sydney by 24th December 1823. My great great
grandfather, Thomas Sweeney was on the Isabella and I
have researched his life, including the voyage to
Australia. My Thomas settled in the Port Phillip
District in 1838, so it was interesting to see that
Henry Miller Junior also settled there.
I look forward to your
reply.
Peter Cuffley
Dear Peter,
No sooner had I sent you
an E-mail than I was looking through my notes and
found the following reference from the Sydney
Gazette Tuesday 18th December 1823: "Ship News -
Tuesday last arrived from Cork which she left in
August last, the ship Isabella, Captain Wallis. She
brings hither 190 male prisoners. Five died on the
passage, the compliment being originally 195.
The guard comprises a detachment of the 40th under
the command of Lieutenant Millar, who is accompanied
by his Lady and family. The Surgeon
Superintendent is Dr. Rae, R.N., who came here
this time last year on the Eliza." I had extracted
this years ago and forgotten that it was in my
Thomas Sweeney Timeline.
Yours sincerely
Peter Cuffley
Dear Peter,
This is on our new
E-mail address, just hooked up a couple of hours
ago. In my rush to let you know that I had found
the reference to Lieutenant Miller on the
Isabella, I put the date of the Sydney Gazette as
Tuesday instead of Thursday 18th December 1823.
They arrived on Tuesday the 16th, and on the
Wednesday, the ship's Master, William Rae, wrote
to the Governor about the uncovering of a plot to
stage a mutiny. The informant, Francis Keefe, was
granted an immediate Ticket of Leave on arrival in
Sydney.
Peter Cuffley
|
| Extracts from
very interesting emails from Mary Christine McDonald regarding
Jane Morphett, wife of Capt Miller |
| I am collating
my material on a gr-gr-grandfather Lt. John Coote and have
a sheet of marriages, etc. from early Irish
newspapers. On the sheet is the marriage of Lt. John
Coote and Isabella Morphett in 1812. The Morphetts
lived in Mallow and I believe Lt. John joined the army
around there. They lived in Co. Cork.... mainly
Kilworth before Isabella died and he came to Canada. However, just below that is a record of the marriage of Henry Miller, Esq. of the 40th Regt. to Jane Morphett in 1808. The ladies were sisters. Isabella Morphett Coote d. 1845 in Whitegate, Co. Cork and shortly after, Lt. John took 3 or 4 younger sons and came to Halifax, Nova Scotia where I live. He remarried and had one more child, his 15th!! She became my great-grandmother, Ellen Louise Coote. She married John Edward McDonald. What's interesting to me are the first names of some of the Millers as they are also some of the first names of the Cootes. Perhaps the names come from the Morphett side of the family. e.g. - Henry, Mars Morphett, Charles, Henrietta, Charlotte and George are all Coote names. I couldn't believe it when I saw "Mars Morphett" in your list. Mars Morphett Coote was one of the sons that Lt. John Coote brought with him and he was the one to sign his father's death certificate in Oct. of 1852. Have you ever heard of the name "Mars" before? I have never heard of it in Canada. Lt. John Coote was in the Peninsular War and also the Battle of Waterloo as well. ....and.... Here are a few more details re the Morphetts which I discovered over the years: Jane and Isabella had siblings Elizabeth, b. 1787 and d. at Mrs. Boyce's in Kilworth, Co. Cork in 1833. Also: Ephaphroditus, b. 1798 and d. 28 June, 1816 in Mallow, Co. Cork. Also Sophie Adelaide, bp. 12 Aug. 1802 in Mallow C. of I. Sophie, fifth d/o R. H. Morphett, d. 5 Oct. 1822 at Kilworth as reported in the Freeman Journal. Also Charlotte Ward, b. 15 Feb. 1806 in Mallow; C. of I. Charlotte m. 3 July, 1826 to Lt. P.J. Begbie, 2nd Batt., Madras Artillery, youngest d/o of late R. H. Morphett, Esq. of Mallow, Co. Cork. Source: The Oriental Herald, Vol. 12, page 124. Their father, Richard Hamilton Morphett was b. in 1757 and m. Ann Andrews 7 Nov. 1782 at St. Werburgh Church, Dublin. R. H. Morphett's death is noted in MFCJ #8, 142 in Mallow "The Crossroads of Munster". He is buried in St. James Cemetery, Mallow. It appears that he died within the same year that Isabella and John Coote had married. His young son (18) is buried with his father. The children (almost all) of Lt. John Coote and Isabella's daughter Vida, left with their father and uncle the year after Vida died in Co. Cork for Australia. Vida had married Isaac Seymour. This was in 1877 I believe. So your wife Jeni may have some Seymour relatives in Australia. Mary Christine McDonald |
