Places - the Miller Family Home in Prescott, Ontario

This is a photo of the Miller family home on Henry Street in Prescott, Ontario. In Gertrude's album, the photo is labeled "home". It was the home to two generations of Millers and it remains in the family today. Many of the Prescott family photos from the early twentieth century were taken at and around this structure.

Photograph of family members on the front steps of the Henry St. residence ca 1920

The property was initially purchased by a man named Edward Jessup from the British government on May 27, 1797. A piece of the land was portioned off to Edward’s son and the remaining parcel was sold to Samuel Brady after Edward’s death in 1828.

According to local historian, Suzanne Dodge, the residence was built by Brady around 1830. The porch was added about 40 or 50 years later, possibly by the Miller family. The main structure is constructed of stone with several small wooden additions to either side. The main part of the home has a single gable facing the street with a blind Gothic-arched window at the top. A distinctive series of white wooden railings and posts supports a porch at the front. The house sits on an elevated terrace created with a stone retaining wall.

Unidentified woman in front of the Henry St. home ca 1900.

John Smith Miller purchased the property and home from Brady descendants on February 4, 1874. Miller moved to Prescott from Kent, England before 1861. It can be assumed that his father, Edward Miller and uncle, William Miller, along with a number cousins and other family memebers moved to Prescott at approximately the same time.  On September 23, 1862, John married Mary Louisa Hance, a native of Canada. For most and perhaps all of his time in Prescott he was the proprietor of the Dog and Duck Inn, an Inn and Tavern that was once located on Water St, near Prescott Harbour. 

After John Miller’s death in 1897, the property remained in the hands of the Miller family. In 1903, upon the death of William (called “Edsall”) Miller, John’s eldest son, the property was split in thirds to the remaining siblings: Gertrude, Louisa and Eva. By then, Gertrude had married and was living in Syracuse, N. Y. but sisters, Eva and Louisa, still resided at the home. Additionally, Louisa’s husband, James B. White (called “Thol”) and their daughter Jean White were also there. By 1911, Louisa had passed away and the census lists that Eva Miller, Thol and Jean were still at the house. On this census, Eva is listed as the head of the household.  

Detail of the main section of the home, facing Henry Street, today. Photo by Charlie Tobin (2013)

Jean White was married to Charles Tobin in 1927. By 1940 all of the Miller siblings had died and the home was passed down to her. Of all of the Miller descendants, Jean resided in the house the longest. Local residents still fondly remember her and associate her with the home. It seems fitting that it remains with the Tobin family today.

Special thanks to Charlie Tobin and Suzanne Dodge for their input in piecing the history of this unique structure together.