Thomas Miller (bef. 1676)

Born before 26 Mar 1676 in Saint Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire,

Descendants

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Biography

Thomas Miller was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.

Thomas MillerI was Christened on 26 Mar 1676 at Saint Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Father's Name: Samuel Miller, Mother's Name: Mary
Research Note: As New Year's Day fell on 25th March prior to 1752, this birth/baptismal date is not affected by the change from Julian to Gregorian calendar

Geographical Note and Social context: Following the end of the civil war in 1646 Portsmouth prospered. Between 1650 and 1660 12 ships were built in Portsmouth and the town was very busy. Its population had probably grown to over 3,000.
In 1663 a new wharf was built for the exclusive use of the navy and the dockyard. In 1665 a mast pond was dug (masts were soaked in it for years to season them). As the dockyard lay north of the town surrounded by fields it was easy for it to expand. In 1667-85 the fortifications around the town were rebuilt. Two moats were dug outside the walls separated by a strip of land. Afterward, Portsmouth was one of the most heavily fortified towns in Europe.
At the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, Portsmouth Dockyard continued to expand. New docks and warehouses were built. A church dedicated to St Anne was built in 1704. Rows of houses were built in the dockyard for senior officers who needed to be close to their work. Meanwhile, the town of Portsmouth had reached the bursting point by the end of the 17th century. So people began to build houses north of the town on the area known as the Common, near the dockyard. The first houses were built there about 1690. The governor of the dockyard was alarmed by this new development. He feared that if houses were built near the dockyard they would provide cover for advancing enemy troops. In 1703 he threatened to fire his cannons at any new houses.
The dockyard workers appealed to the husband of Queen Anne, who was visiting Portsmouth at the time. In 1704 royal permission was given for people to build houses near the dockyard. So a new suburb called Portsmouth Common grew. In 1792 it changed its name to Portsea.^[1]

Thomas Miller married Elizabeth Dennis on 27 Jan 1697 at Fawley, Hampshire, England
Research Note: Elizabeth is a popular nane around Portmouth at the turn of the century as was Thomas, there are several marriages on record at the start of the 19th C. However this marriage is at the appropriate time for the birth of their son Thomas. Furthermore Fowey is only 11 miles from Boldre.
However, there are baptismal records from 1698 to 1711 in Fowley of children to Thomas and Elizabeth, so this may be a different family.

Thomas Miller was Christened on 15 Apr 1698 at Boldre, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom. Father's Name: Thomae Miller.

Sources

1. ↑ https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-portsmouth/

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWJ4-59Q : 19 September 2020), Thomas Miller, 1676.
• "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKHW-V5Z : 12 March 2020), Thomas Miller, 1697.
• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7CD-9LN : 20 September 2020), Thomas Miller, 1698.