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MILES, Joseph
1794 - 1861 (67 years) Has 9 ancestors and 59 descendants in this family tree.
- 1800-
Name MILES, Joseph Birth 1794 Ash, Surrey, England 
Gender Male Death 15 Jan 1861 Aldershot, Hampshire, England Person ID I802 Edgoose Last Modified 6 Feb 2026
Father MILES, Joseph, b. 1769, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 1832, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey, England (Age 63 years) Mother ROBINSON, Ann d. 1800, Aldershot, Hampshire, England Marriage 4 May 1794 Normandy, Surrey, England Family ID F586 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family WILLIS, Mary, b. Between 1792 and 1793, Farnham, Surrey, England d. 1862, Aldershot, Hampshire, England (Age 70 years) Marriage 1 Mar 1817 Aldershot, Hampshire, England Children 1. MILES, Lucy, b. 1817, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 1900, West Ham Registration District, Essex (Age 83 years)2. MILES, Jane, b. 1818, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 15 Dec 1818, Aldershot, Hampshire, England (Age 0 years)3. MILES, Joseph, b. 1820, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 1853, Marylebone Registration District, London (Age 33 years)4. MILES, Ann, b. 1822, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 1902, East Grinstead, Sussex, England (Age 80 years)5. MILES, Mary, b. 1824, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 1834, Aldershot, Hampshire, England (Age 10 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]6. MILES, Elizabeth, b. 1826, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 1878, Farnham Registration District, Surrey (Age 52 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]7. MILES, Jane, b. 1829, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 1866, East London, London, England (Age 37 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]8. MILES, Reuben, b. 1831, Aldershot, Hampshire, England d. 21 Dec 1905, Guildford Registration District, Surrey (Age 74 years)Family ID F589 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Notes
JOSEPH MILES 1794-1861
According to the IGI the Joseph MILES who married Mary WILLIS at Aldershot, Hampshire, on 1 March 1817 was baptised at Ash, Surrey, on 8 October 1794.
From the 1841 census of Aldershot Workhouse, Aldershot, Hampshire:
*Joseph MILES, governor, aged 45, not born in Hampshire;
Mary MILES, matron, aged 45, not born in Hampshire;
Ann MILES, aged 20, born in Hampshire;
Elizabeth MILES, aged 15, born in Hampshire;
Jane MILES, aged 10, born in Hampshire;
Reuben MILES, aged 10, born in Hampshire;
(HO107/394/3)
From the 1851 census of Aldershot, Hampshire:
*Joseph MILES, head, aged 57, carrier, born at Ash, Surrey;
Mary MILES, wife, aged 58, born at Farnham, Surrey.
(HO107/1595/83/29)
Charles HERVE, in his 1881 "Traditions about Aldershot", describes one post holder as 'an army pensioner, who, by reason of being lame of one leg, blind of one eye, and deaf as a post, was judged fit to enact the part of parish constable'. Although he received no salary, he could make a little money, 'which sometimes amounted to the sum of two shillings within the twelve months, resulting from the capture of a stray vagrant or two'.
"In 1898 Aldershot resident John DENNY remembered the old general parish policeman who was here before the camp started. Joe MILES was his name, a big man. When he left the police he became the town crier, and there was quite a procession when he was presented with a new bell ... He was a lame man, and he walked underneath a canopy which was carried by four other lame men."
(From 'Secret Aldershot' by Paul H. VICKERS, Amberley Publishing 2018, ISBN 9781445677040)
He was the Town Crier of Aldershot for the last four years of his life.
The death of Joseph MILES was registered in 1861.
(GRO March Q 1861 Farnham 2a 48)
"DEATH OF THE TOWN CRIER. - We regret to announce the death on Wednesday last of a well-known public character in Aldershot, Mr. Joseph MILES, the town crier. This sad event appears to have been the result of an accident. On Thursday evening, about half-past 5 o'clock, he was returning home, apparently in his usual health, and had arrived within twenty yards of his cottage door, when, from some cause or other, his foot slipped, and he fell over a railing into a deep ditch beneath, his head and neck receiving severe injury from the concussion. He was speedily extricated from the ditch, and conveyed to his cottage. Dr. SHOOLBRAID was at once sent for, and rendered every possible asssistance, but without avail; the spinal cord appeared to be injured; and, at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning MILES expired. He has, for about forty years, filled the office of hayward in the parish, but, during the last four years, he has been better known as the town crier, acquitting himself well in that capacity, and mingling an amount of originality with his calling that made him universal favourite in the neighbourhood. A short time ago a new bell was presented to him by the townspeople, and a comic and joyous proceession took place on the occasion. Who would have thought that the notes of triumph then heard for the old bellman would soon be changed to plaintive elegy, and that both the old and new bells would ere long be in mourning for their master! But so it is; the aged crier has joined his kindred dust; and calumny must be silent over his frailties, of whatever kind they were, while posterity preserves a memory of him, in connection with his office, amongst the traditions of old Aldershot. MILES was 66 years of age; he was the father of five children, all of whom are now grown up and married; and he leaves a widow far advanced in years."
(Aldershot Military Gazette, Saturday, 19th January 1861)
(British Newspaper Archive)
"INQUEST. - On Saturday last an inquest was held at the 'Florence Nightingale,' by T. PAIN Esq. on the body of Mr. Joseph MILES, whose death was noticed last week. The evidence confirmed the previous impression that MILES came by his death accidentally, the principal witness, Charlotte KERCHER, stating that, about half-past five o'clock on Tuesday evening, the 15th. inst. she was passing along the road close to the bridge over the watercourse near Miles's house, when she saw the deceased pass off the road on to the footpath, reel, and fall over the rail, upon his head. No one was near him at the time. She called out, and ran after the picket, and shortly afterwards MILES was extricated. - Dr. SHOOLBRAID who attended the deceeased, described him as almost lifeless when he was called to see him. He applied the usual restorative, and after some time MILES appeared to improve a little. He last saw him alive at 12 o'clock on the night of the accident, MILES dying about 10 o'clock on the following morning, just as he (Dr. SHOOLBRAID) reached the door. He had since examined the body. There was a cut upon the left side of the head, and a few bruises. He was of the opinion that the deceased, who appeared completely paralysed, died from the concussion and injury received to the spinal cord. - The jury returned a verdict of 'Accidental Death."
(Aldershot Military Gazette, Satuday, 26 January 1861)
(British Newspaper Archive)
"MILES Joseph. 27 September [1862]. The Will of Joseph MILES late of Aldershot in the County of Southampton Yeoman deceased who died 15 January 1861 at Aldershot aforesaid was proved at the Principal Registry by the oaths of Reuben MILES of Send in the County of Surrey Labourer the Son and John BAILEY of 30 White-street Little Moorfields in the City of London Policeman the Executors.
Effects £20."
(National Probate Calendar 1862)
Note: John BAILEY was the husband of Joseph MILES' daughter Jane (1829-1866)
The Will of Joseph MILES:
"This is the last Will and Testament of me Joseph MILES of the Parish of Aldershott in the County of Southampton
I give and bequeath to my wife the whole of the rents of my Property situate in the parish of Aldershott aforesaid consisting of six tenements and garden with the newly erected tenement together with my household furniture for her own use during her life by paying therefrom all my just debts funeral and Testamentary expences and also to receive all money due to me at the time of my decease but shall not be allowed to sell or Mortgage my property or any part thereof in any way whatever
I give and bequeath to my son Reuben MILES my live and dead stock after the decease of my wife
I hereby order and direct that my two Executors hereinafter named shall proceed immediately to sell the whole of my property except my household furniture and that the proceeds of such sale shall be equally divided amongst my six children viz Lucy MILES Joseph MILES deceased his share to be equally divided between his two children Ann KNOWLES Elizabeth PHARA Reuben MILES and Jane BAILEY and in case one or more of my five children now living should die previous to the execution of this my will then their share also shall be equally divided amongst their children
Reuben MILES shall have my household furniture in addition to his share as above stated
I do hereby nominate and appoint my son Reuben MILES and my son in Law John BAILEY Executors of this my last will and Testament to which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five - Joseph MILES - Set Signed sealed delivered by the said Joseph MILES as his last will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses - Reuben ATTFIELD - William COLLINS.
Proved at London 27th Septr 1862 by the oaths of Reuben MILES the son and John BAILEY the Executors to whom admon was granted".
(revised 25.04.2020)