Mary’s music
Mary Miller’s work to be the subject of Colchester Historeum presentation
The story of Mary Miller and her music book will be the subject of an in-depth presentation next week at the Colchester Historeum.
Although Mary Miller’s music book was at the Colchester Historeum, no one there knew anything about her for years.
Now a bit of Mary’s story is known, and a presentation on her, her book and similar books will be held at the Colchester Historeum on Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
“When we were doing the Planter book we sent to the British Library, in London, for information,” said Carol Campbell (who, along with James Smith, wrote ‘Necessaries and Sufficiencies’). “Included in the information we received was a 1769 passenger list for the Admiral Hawke, and there was Mary Miller’s name, along with the names of her brothers and parents. It was the most wonderful thing.”
They were sure it was the right family because Mary had written the names of her brothers
in her book.
Mary Miller was 19 when she joined a singing class in Ireland and got one of the book’s masters designed and made. When she was 22, she, her parents, William and Ann, and her brothers, John and Samuel, left Ireland for Nova Scotia. She brought her music book with her.
“There was an inaccurate story often repeated about the Admiral Hawke being wrecked on Sable Island and the passengers being survivors,” said James Smith. “The truth is that there are news stories about the ship’s arrival in Halifax and her departure. There was no shipwreck, although she did encounter a severe storm off Cape Sable.”
The surname Densmore has also been written in the music book, and Mary married a Densmore.
During the Sept. 28 presentation “Mary’s ‘Ale Wifs Pater Noister: The story of ‘May Miller Her Book’ and similar manuscript
tunebooks” Dr. Nancy Vogan, a retired educator from Mount Allison University’s music department, will discuss the book and show images of similar books
she’s found in three countries.
Admission is $5 for non-members, free for members.