William Miller lived in or near the town of Sherborne in Dorsetshire, England, possibly from about the 1750's until death in late 1789 or by January 1790. Not much is currently known about him or his family, but he was listed as a "gentleman" in his proved will, which means that he owned property. From his will, one property was in the nearby town of Henstridge, about 6 miles northeast of Sherborne. The other property known from agreements made by widow Leonora was in the Taunton Deane district in the town of Rimpton, Somerset, about 2 miles northeast of Sherborne. William probably obtained this property before marriage. It wasn't specified in his will by name, but indirectly in the codicil.

William married Leonora Johnson on October 28, 1783. The transcript of parish records for Sarum Marriage License Bonds by the Wiltshire FHS states that Leonora's home parish was St. Edmund's, Salisbury, Wiltshire (a few blocks northeast of the cathedral). She was a spinster, age 26 (so born about 1757). The bondsman was Thomas Johnson, a tallow chandler of Salisbury (Thomas Johnson may be an older brother). William's home parish was Sherborne, Dorset, and his occupation was Yeoman (a minor landowner, a freeman or prosperous farmer). The Wiltshire & Swindon Records Centre has a microfiche record of the marriage:

#106, William Miller of the parish of Sherborne in the County of Dorset & Leonora Johnson 
of the parish of St. Edmunds Sarum, Married in this church by license this 28th day of Oct 
in the year 1783 by James Smith underdean, this marriage was solemnized between us William 
Miller, Leonora Johnson, in the presence of Hugh Jeboult, Sarah Miller
[- Marriage, Salisbury St. Edmund's, fiche 2 of 3, page 36]. 

Sarah Miller is likely a close relation of William's, but it is not yet known exactly how. There is a Sarah Miller, bap. 12/8/1762, dau. of Clement & Elizabeth, in St. Edmund's who was about the same age as William & Leonora. Hugh Jeboult is probably an uncle of Leonora's and brother-in-law of Leonora's mother.

October 28, 1783 Marriage of William Miller & Leonora Johnson at St. Edmund's Salisbury

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William probably died young based on the details in the will, as he left provisions for son George and daughters Charlotte and Lucy, who were all still young children between the ages of 1 and 5 (George & Charlotte were probably named after King George III & wife Charlotte). Also, transcriptions posted online of Sherborne births and marriages indicate that widow Leonora Miller remarried a year later to Thomas Hyde and they had one daughter, Elizabeth Ann HYDE.

Son George later became an attorney. Daughters Charlotte and Lucy died young. Sherborne transcripts of burials notes that Lucy was buried on 6/2/1805 (aged about 18 years), and 87 days later Charlotte was buried on 8/28/1805 (aged almost 17 years). Not much is known about Lucy, but a daughter and a granddaughter of George were named Lucy. Other descendants of George were named Leonora after George's mother. The middle name of William's daughter Lucy was Harris, which implies that William's mother may have had that surname. Leonora's maiden surname was Johnson, and two of son George's children had that middle name. Also, two of George's children had the middle name of Welch, after George's wife Harriet Welch.

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LEONORA JOHNSON MILLER HYDE

Following the death of William Miller, widow Leonora Miller remarried to Thomas Hyde. Sherborne parish marriage transcripts have this entry: "1790 SEPT 27; Thomas HYDE & Leonora MILLER ; [Witnesses:] John HELLIER Charlotte FERRIS; Licence" [Source: Dorset OPC, Sherborne Marriages]. In the Sherborne parish baptism transcripts, there is this entry: "Elizabeth Ann [born 27 July] child of Thomas & Lenora HYDE baptised September 6 1791" [Sources: Sherborne Baptisms, 1790-1799 and FamilySearch.org IGI].

John Hellier also served as one of the executors of William Miller's will, and was a party to the agreements of Widow Leonora Miller regarding her inherited property at Rimpton.

THOMAS HYDE: possibly died about 1Q-1845 or 1Q-1847:
BMD-Death: "Thomas Hyde, 1Q-1845, Sherborne, Vol. 8 pg. 75" or
BMD-Death: "Thomas Hyde, 1Q-1847, Sherborne, Vol. 8 pg. 95."