Francis Benjamin Miller, 1838-1901.

Francis Benjamin Miller, the 8th and last child of Joseph Dundas Miller and Elizabeth Tomlinson, was born 1 February 1838 in Liverpool, England.¹ He became a ship-broker with the family's shipping business; he traveled to South America, Australia, and Europe.² In 1863 he married Charlotte Elizabeth Taylor and they had two children, Francis Spurstow and William Joseph. Charlotte died in 1873 and was buried in Liverpool, England.

Francis Benjamin, or Uncle Ben as he was called by my great grandfather, Charles Edward Miller, married again in 1876 to Fannie Louise Frodsham, known as Fanny.³ Two children, Rose and Frederick Charles, were born to them in England before they left to homestead in Canada in 1880.⁴ The family sailed on the Rolling Polly, arriving in Toronto. In the summer of 1880 they went by train to Winnipeg, then by boat to Portage la Prairie where Fanny delivered two more children, twins - Dorothy and Bernard West. Dorothy died there when she was just 2 1/2 months old. Benjamin and his son William went on ahead to set up the homestead near Solsgirth, about twelve miles from Birtle and about 200 miles from Winnipeg. Together they took 640 acres and built a log house. The farm was named Rosevale.⁵ Three more children were born in Manitoba, Gerald Hope, Helen, and Ruby Blanche.

Benjamin died in 1901 and his son William died in 1904. Rosevale was sold and Fanny and her daughters Helen and Ruby lived in Birtle, then England, Winnipeg, and finally California. Fanny died in 1924. ⁶

1. Handwritten Notes of Admiral Francis Spurstow Miller, 1863-1953, on Miller Family, 1936. Much of the information on Francis Benjamin Miller and his family comes from these notes written by his son and later recompiled by Donovan Miller, Francis Benjamin's grandson. In the 1901 Canadian Census, his date of birth is given as 1 December 1837 rather than 1 February. 1901 Canadian Census. Manitoba, Birtle, District: Marquette, Microfilm Reel T-6433, p.2. Different family charts give 1837 or 1838. Since his next older sibling was born in September 1836, it would not be possible for his birth to take place less than six months later in February 1837. He was christened July 1838, so a birth in Feb 1838 seems more plausible.

2. Abra, Marion W., compiler and ed. A View of the Birdtail: A History of the Municipality of Birtle, the Town of Birtle and the Villages of Foxwarren and Solsgirth, 1878-1974. The History Committee of the Municipality of Birtle, c1974. A biographical sketch of Francis Benjamin Miller is given on p.348.

3. Collected information on the Miller and Spurstow families, typed up (probably) by Bernard West Miller, one of Francis Benjamin's sons.

4. Abra. A View of the Birdtail.

5. Collected information on the Miller and Spurstow families.
   Abra. A View of the Birdtail.

6. Research notes of Admiral Francis Spurstow Miller, 1863-1953.
   Abra. A View of the Birdtail.

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