Abraham Miller was born at 2 Galway Court
(which no longer exists) in the Shankill in Belfast on the 5th August 1872. He worked in the Ballymena Observer
until he was let go on the 29th June 1891. He completed his apprenticeship in the "Coleraine Constitution"
on 1/4/1893.
He enlisted in the 1st Seaforth Highlanders in Glasgow 26/4/94 and served in Tipperary but was released 28/8/1894 following a petition by his mother who needed his support to raise her family at 7 Hope Street, Belfast. It appears that 1 month previously he told his officer that he had no wish to leave the army. He married a Catholic, Mary Waters who was probably born in Wicklow Town.
I have always understood that his mother Sarah Ball was upset at her son marrying a Catholic and took her family to Canada in case another might do the same.
This may not be borne out by the tone of the letters which passed between his sister and brother in law in New York and his son Jim. Abraham married again some time after Mary's death and lived in York Street until his death. Although Sarah visited his widow with her daughter Louise I was never aware of the existence of this 2nd wife. |
At the time of the 1911 census the family lived at 11 Lime Street. The Mooneys in number 5 appear to have been cousins on the mother's side. Their eldest son was Patrick Mooney, see reference in connection with Mary Miller née Waters