Obituary of John Miller, Connecticut. USA, Survived Four Years of World War 1, Born 1888, Likely From Coolculaghta, Durrus, West Cork.
The Millers were possibly weavers or involved in the linen trade, small holders.
Amazing he survived 4 years of WWI. He lived his entire life in Connecticut. He had 8 children, one my Grandmother Kathleen Millar. He was tall for his time-his military records say 6’1″.
John Millar left Ireland after he married in 1910 and went to Wales to work as a coal miner. He married in 1910 a girl from Schull, Sarah Ann Wilkinson daughter of William Wilkinson and Anne Burchill. He was in the British Army from 1915 – 1918. His family stayed in Wales while he served. They emigrated to Connecticut in 1923. He died in Connecticut on 6 Sept 1956.
About a mile over the hill from his home place is Dereenlomane, the location of the Barytes Mines. In its heyday the 1910s it probably employed hundreds. When it closed in 1920 many of the miners went to work in the South Wales coal mines. It is possible that John Miller also worked here.
The Burcills named may be related to the Burchills in the Customs service at Castletownbere across Bantry Bay. Possibly through the patronage of the Hungerfords.
| 1800 | John Burchill | Revenue Boatman | Probably from around Crokhaven m Mary Driscoll Castleetownbere 1807 | ||||||
| 1806 | Joseph Burchill | Revenue Boatman | Probably from around Crookhaven, 1806 Sarah daughter married Richard Baker Baltimore | Parish Register |
Many from the Durrus District served in World War 1 in the British Army, Canadian, US, Australian and possibly New Zealand forces. Most but not all survived.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11urZxIDy4fdnr2ih_r8mtr4i1zI5dqmLgz6ipOIRhCM/edit#gid=0
Research started with the 1901 and 1911 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Cork/Lowertown/Knock/1158418/ (In the 1901 census Thomas Millar is a Dairyman!)
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Cork/Lowertown/Knock/444397/
The 1911 census states they had 14 children. When I go to Family Search website I find Thomas Miller (or Millar-it shows up both ways) with Mary Chambers having many children in the right time period and the right place:
Mary Miller
Ireland Births and Baptisms
| Name | Mary Miller |
| Gender | Female |
| Christening Place | DURRUS & KILCROHANE, CORK, IRE |
| Birth Date | 12 Jan 1872 |
| Birthplace | Durrus & Kilcrohane, Cork, Ire |
| Father’s Name | Thomas Miller |
| Mother’s Name | Mary Chambers |
| Name | Alice Millar |
| Gender | Female |
| Birth Date | 03 Feb 1877 |
| Birthplace | Leltulickey, Cork, Ireland |
| Father’s Name | Thomas Millar |
| Mother’s Name | Mary Millar Chambers |
Name Anne Millar Gender Female Birth Date 11 Aug 1879 Birthplace Lettertickey, Cork, Ireland Father’s Name Thomas Millar Mother’s Name Mary Chambers Millar
West Cork History 
Thank you for posting this about my great grandfather. All is correct except he married a girl from Schull. Sarah Ann Wilkinson daughter of William Wilkinson and Anne Burchill.
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