from website details http://www.burtonridge.freeserve.co.uk
On his death in 1977 we discovered William Richard Thomas Miller (WRTM) had changed his name by Deed Poll from WRT ZAHL in 1932. This Deed Poll was witnessed by Mabel Blanche New(*) His birth certificate shows William Richard Thomas Zahl born son of William Zahl and Charlotte (Formerly Lyons) on 8 September 1903, 3 Roskell Road, Putney The birth was not registered until 20 October 1903 William Thomas Zahl was baptised on 23 April 1905 at St Mary Wandsworth Putney. His parents are recorded as Wilhelm (a commission agent) and Charlotte Zahl of 7 Roskell Road. From 1902-1908 however, the Miller family lived at 7 Roskell Road including Clare - not the Zahls. William Zahl is noted on the electoral register at 40 Brandelhow Road, Putney Bridge Road, in 1905. There is no record of Zahls on Roskell Road in 1904,1905 His "sister" Clare (Miller) told us that WRTM was cared for by his aunt from an early age. His mother reputedly drank/disappeared and Clare's mother (Phebe Miller formerly Lyons, the sister of Charlotte) took WRTM in at the age of 1 or 2. Clare's mother died when WRTM was around 12 years old. WRTM's father was never mentioned; WRTM only said himself that his childhood was difficult and was with hindsight reluctant to talk about it. We have not traced Phebe's death although Clare's father, Robert Nelson Miller, died in 1915. Clare, being almost 20 years older than WRTM, seems to have adopted parental duties from this time. We have discovered that his registered parents, William and Charlotte Zahl, continued to live close by for many years. Charlotte died in 1920 as Charlotte Sale; and William, who also adopted the surname Sale, was still alive in 1932. It seems likely that they were his registered parents for convenience and probable that they were not his blood parents. It seems to us that Clare Miller possibly was in fact his true mother. William Zahl attended Brandlehow Rd SChool from 8.2.1909 His address was 40 Rusholme Rd, and his parent given as William (Zahl). His last day of attendance was 16.06.1909. Cause of leaving:removed. William Zahl attended the All Saints Putney infants school from 2.11.1909. His address was 13 Dryburgh Rd, and his guardian Mrs Miller. His "last school attended" was recorded as "none". William Miller attended the Richmond County School for Boys from 14.9.1915 to 20.12.1916. His address was given as 20 Elm Rd East Sheen, and guardian: Mrs Miller.His previous school was recorded as Haltham Rd School, Putney SW WRTM attended Battersea Grammar School under the name of MILLER from January-July 1917 and again from January 1918-July 1920. His school record gives his mother as Mrs Miller and his father's occupation as "unknown". There are no mentions in the school magazine. No prize lists. No sports teams.. We understand the gap in his attendance may have been caused by illness (rheumatic fever) and convalescence (New Forerst) WRTM was an articled pupil architect: to Stanley Harry Burdwood, of 109 Baker Street W1 in December 1920. His guardian is given as Miss Clara Miller of 31 Abbey Gardens. His articles of pupilage were witnessed by H Fairbanks, 31 Abbey Gardens, NW and H.L.Hobson of 37 Humberstone Road, Leicester. He did not qualify until around 1942 from when he was employed as an architect in various connections until his retirement in 1968. Until his marriage at the age of 41 he lived with Clare, Mabel New and Laura Fairbanks at Sandy Lodge and later Caldy both in Moor Park, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire The Zahl/Lyons/Miller relationship is complicated and unclear and presents a genealogical challenge! <../notes/whoami.html> (*) Mabel's mother's maiden name was Skinner
***** end of web website data *****