William Miller was born to John and Margaret Miller in 1751 in Kendal, Westmoreland County, England. He was christened in Holy Trinity Church, Kendal, October 14, 1751.¹ Family tradition says that the William Miller from which our line descends was born in 1751. His age at death, 74, in 1826 agrees with this birth date.² In his father's will, written in 1777, three other children, William's siblings, were mentioned: Thomas, Dorothy and Rebecca.³

William married Mary Spurstow, 1756-1832, on 21 September 1779 in St. John the Baptist Church, Chester, Cheshire, England.⁴ Mary's father was George Spurstow, an apothecary in Chester, where Mary was baptized in St. Peter's Church⁵ and her mother was Elizabeth Hayes (Heays).

William was a mercer and draper and lived in Liverpool most of his life. He is listed in the parish registers of St. Nicholas Church, Liverpool, as a mercer and draper at the 1782 christening of his daughter Elizabeth;⁶ from 1788 until 1800 he is listed as a silk mercer at his children's christenings. William and Mary had 10 children, all born in Liverpool.

William wrote his will 13 April 1826, leaving his estate to his "present dear wife Mary for her life and at her death to be divided, share and share alike to my daughters Helen (also known as Ellen), Rebecca and Mary or to so many of them as may be then alive." He died 11 August 1826 in Liverpool, Lancaster County, England. A notice of death appeared in the Liverpool Mercury on 7 September 1826: "Wm. Miller, Gentleman, Erskine St." The executor of his will was his son, Rev. Charles H. Miller. The will was probated 23 January 1827.⁷

Mary Spurstow Miller, William wife, lived nearly six more years. She most likely was living with her son, Rev. Charles H. Miller, during that time. Charles was the curate of Cheswardine Parish in Shropshire. He and his wife, Charlotte King Hilliard, were living there when Mary died on 30 January 1832. She is buried in the churchyard there, as is her daughter, Ellen, who never married, and who died in 1850.⁸

Related Links
Baptismal record of William Miller
Marriage Certificate of William Miller and Mary Spurstow
Children of William Miller and Mary Spurstow
9-generation descent report, with index and sources, for John Miller, d.1778,    father of William Miller
Will of William Miller, 1826
John Miller, William Miller's father
Photo of painting: Mary Spurstow Miller holding her son Joseph Dundas Miller
The Spurstow family of Cheshire, England
Christening of Mary Spurstow, 1756, daughter of George Spurstow and   Elizabeth Hayes of Chester, Cheshire
Gravestone of Mary Spurstow Miller, 1756-1832

Mary Spurstow Miller

The portrait of William Miller is a snaphot of an oil painting in the home of a descendant taken by Hope Healy Koontz on one of her trips to England.

The portrait of Mary Spurstow Miller is a snapshot of an oil painting. Mary Spurstow was the daughter of George Spurstow and Elizabeth Hayes of Chester, England. The original portrait was in the possession of Barbara Barker and then Jack Barker, her son. Photograph of portrait courtesy of Hope Healy Koontz.