Martin Miller (Muller, Mueller) Family

Martin's Family Martin's Descendants

Martin Miller brought his family to the USA from Basel, Switzerland in 1852.  The Miller (Mueller) family set sail to America on a Brigantine (Brig) sailboat named Leonidas about August 1852 from the French port of Le Havre, France. The Captain of the ship was W. Hewes and 334 passengers were aboard, manifest #0007027.  They arrived in the port of New York on November 9, 1952 with the trip taking  63 days.

I found in the Youngstown, Oh library volumes of the Germans to America passenger lists by Ira A. Glazier and P. William Filby.  Volume 4, page 149 lists the transcribed passenger list for Martin Mueller. Miller actually had the French spelling MUELLER (German spelling was Müller).
Following is the passenger list for Martin Miller, age, sex (M or F).
Mueller, Martin 44 M
Anna 44 F (this would be Anna Maria Socin Sutsel)
Martin 19 M
Henry 17 M
Sebast. 14 M (Sebastion)
Hermann 10 M
Anna 8 F (this would be Anna Maria Miller)
Anna 7 F (this would be Mary Anna Miller)
Fredric 5 M (this would be John Fredrick Miller)
Jean 2 M (this would be our John Miller who possibly had M. for a middle initial as stated in the 1900 census)

Also listed was the province code SR for Switzerland from which they migrated, 000 for village code or Obermoellrich, NN (none) for occupation, and destination of USA.

Source: Germans to America, vol 4, pg 149.

There has been some confusion over the years as to how old John Miller was when he arrived.  Harry Miller had stated he was 2 years old at the time of crossing the ocean.  The following was written by Eugene (Fritz) Whiteman in a letter dated December 11, 1981 to Larry Baughman.  What he stated in the letter does conflict with the above Germans to America information but it was what the family believed at the time.  The letter stated: "....Larry, I have uncovered  a lot of information of our ancestors.  It takes a lot of time and traveling which is sporadic since I cannot devote a lot of time.  To give you some information on the Miller side.  Your Great-Grandfather (John Miller) was born in Switzerland coming to this country he was two years old.  There were 9 brothers and 2 sisters. They came on a sailboat and the trip took 40 days.  There is some assumption that they landed along the North Eastern Atlantic, then migrated down the Great Lakes, crossing overland and settling in Tonawanda, New York. Then migrated to Jefferson County. Some died of small pox and diphtheria. Your ancestors served in the Civil War.  There were 2 great-Uncle Millers.  One was imprisoned at Andersonville for three years and the other was wounded.  I could go on and on....."   Uncle Gene had researched and "...substantiated and confirmed most of this information from newspaper clippings, taped interviewing of Uncle Harry Miller and at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, Pa...."

It has also been stated by old time family members that a child was born & buried at sea while coming on the boat to America.  The letter above from Gene Whiteman states 9 brothers... could this have included one buried at sea since our genealogy only lists 8 brothers?

Only Isaac and Frank were born in New York, USA and all other children were born in Switzerland or Germany.

Martin Miller moved his family to Sigel, Jefferson Co., Pa in 1858.
Source: Isaac Miller obituary.

Martin Miller, being a very strong man could tie a 50 pound sack of flour to his little finger and write his name on the wall.

 

This site was last updated August 31, 2005

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Copyright © 2005 Larry Baughman