Peter Miller was born in 1813 in Boldre, to George (38) and Lydia (41, nee Tinsley). He was the seventh of their eight children and was baptised at Beaulieu church. The family lived on the site of what is now Old Tinsleys and George worked as an agricultural labourer. The Rev Comyn records the family as dissenters in his notebooks.​

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In 1831, Peter and his cousin James Tinsley were both sentenced to 3 months imprisonment for destroying game.

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Patience Colenutt, born in 1811 (in Niton, Isle of Wight) was the daughter of Jacob and Ann (nee Rolf); the third of their eight children.

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Aged 18, she married James Scovell. Patience returned home to her mother in Niton following James death in 1840 and worked as a dressmaker. Peter lodged with the family and worked as a shoe maker. 

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​Peter and Patience married on 5th August 1841 at Boldre church. In 1847 Peter was appointed one of East Boldre chapel's eight 'visitors', with responsibility for East End, to support the pastor in maintaining oversight of its members given the wide area the chapel covered.

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​In 1851 they were living in Thorney Hill where Peter farmed 10 acres. By 1861 the couple had moved to a farm in Burley. Both the 1871 and 1881 censuses show them settled in Beaulieu Rails where Peter worked as a labourer. By 1891 they had returned to the Isle of Wight and were lodging with Patience's nephew in Carisbrook.

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​Peter was buried by the Rev Henry New on 14th September 1894. Patience's death post-dates the surviving burial register so there is no record of her burial.

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​Peter’s epitaph includes 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17