An American Family History

Benjamin Craig Miller was born in 1848 in Kingston, Ontario. His parents were Thomas Miller and Hester Wilson. His marriage record said his middle name was Gray.

When he was 26 years old, he married Elizabeth Jane Forest on October 6, 1880 at Christ Church in Victoria County, Ontario. She was 16. Her parents were William Forest and Ann Jane Armstrong. He lived in Galway Township when he married. They were both members of the Church of England.

A descendant of Benjamin's wrote that he spent his younger years in Kingston, then he lived around Kinmount. He owned a store in Burnt River, Somerville Township, Victoria County where he sold groceries and other things.

Their children were Hester Selina Miller Grant (1883, married James Grant), Thomas Miller (1887), Elizabeth Jane Miller Lipton (1890, married George Richard Lipton),  Benjamin Miller (1893, married Margaret Leonard), William Francis Miller (1895, married Myrtle Violet Cora Emily Wilson),  John Joseph Miller (1897), Unnamed Baby Girl (1900), Annie Maude Miller Wolstenholme (1902, married Richard Alfred Wolstenholme), Emily Inzie Miller Crawley (1904, married Rowland Hill Crawley), Edward Miller (1906), and Frederick Miller (1909).

At the time of the 1901 census, they were living in Somerville, Victoria North. The household consisted of Benjimin age 48, Liza age 37, Hester H. age 17, Thomas age 13, Elizabeth age 11, Benjimin age age 8, Willliam F. age 6, and Joseph J. age 3.  Benjamin was a farmer.

In 1917 John Joseph joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. He was in the First Depot Battalion, 109 Regiment. He died on September 19, 1918 in the Battle of Aaras during the Grand Offensive on the Western Front.

Benjamin died on November 9, 1927 of a heart attack in Toronto. Eliza died on November 10, 1946 in Burnt River. They were buried at Burnt River Cemetery.