Ronald George MILLS

Other Events and Attributes:

• Cremated: 24 Jan 2007 ; Portchester Crematorium. The Service was conducted by Lance Blake, a Franciscan Friar from The Rowans Hospice. Celia read the following poem:- The words of this poem reflect how the family believes Daddy would be thinking now Death is nothing at all I have only slipped away into the next room I am I and you are you Whatever we were to each other That we are still Call me by my old familiar name Speak to me in the easy way you always used Put no difference into your tone Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow Laugh as we always laughed At the little jokes we always enjoyed together Play, smile, think of me, and talk to me Let my name be ever the household word that it always was Let it be spoken without effort Without the ghost of a shadow in it Life means all that it ever meant It is the same as it ever was There is absolute unbroken continuity What is death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind Because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you for an interval Somewhere very near Just around the corner All is well. Nothing is past; nothing is lost One brief moment and all will be as it was before How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again! by Canon Henry Scott Holland. Lance concluded with this:- Death is only an old door Set in a garden wall. On gentle hinges it gives at dusk, When the thrushes call. Along the lintel's green leaves beyond, The light lies still. Very willing and weary feet Go over that sill. There is nothing to trouble any heart, Nothing to hurt at all Death is only a quiet door In an old wall. Author Unknown

Notes:

Dec 1995 - Heart attack.
May 1996 - Incident 1
Jun 1996 - Ventricular aneurysm resected combined with bypass surgery.
May 1998 - Incident 2
Mar 2001 - Incident 3
Oct 2001 - Near Miss

17th Jun 2006 - Admitted with "community acquired pneumonia"
23rd Jun 2006 Discharged.
12th August 2006 - Readmitted with double pneumonia.
Whilst in hospital acquired C difficile infection.

* Incidents - Ambulance to A&E - Extreme shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid inducing anxiety and panic.

Christened:
St. Matthews Church, Gosport

Cremated:
It was his wish that his ashes be scattered on the grave of his Grandmother Eva Annie in St.Mark's Church Cemetery, Alverstoke.

Died:
Cause of Death:-
Severe cardiac failure
Ischaemic heart disease

Ronald married Joyce Olive BILLSON on 24 Aug 1946 in the Parish Church, Rugby. Joyce (daughter of Leonard Sidney Henry BILLSON and Adelaide Victoria May WILSON) was born on 18 Nov 1924 in 227, Clifton Road, Rugby; died on 6 Aug 2018 in Gracewell Nursing Home, Fareham. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Corin Vincent MILLS was born on 22 May 1950 in St. Mary's Maternity Hospital, Harborough Magna, Warks.; was christened in the Parish Church, Alverstoke.
2. Celia Rosemary MILLS was born on 7 Jul 1953 in Calcutta, India.
3. Brian Alexander MILLS was born on 2 Jul 1956 in 36, Alms Hill Road, Eccleshall, Sheffield.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 16 Jun 1898, St. Mary's Church, Alverstoke
• Census: 1901, 59, Coburg St. North Shields, Northumberland
• Census: 1911, 88, Clayhall Road, Alverstoke
• Military: 9 Jul 1943, Whitehall Cinema, East Grinstead ; The East Grinstead Incident. 9th July 1943 At the time he was the Military Assistance Officer at Great House Court, Fairfield Road, East Grinstead. Captain W.G. Mills was at a cinema in East Grinstead watching a film. An air raid started and the cinema took a direct hit. He organised the orderly evacuation of the cinema and was mentioned in despatches. See:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sussex/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8829000/8829228.stm and:- http://spartacus-educational.com/2WWwhitehall.htm
• Cremated: 4 Feb 1971, Portsdown Crematorium

Notes:

According to Ron Mills, a relative, whom he thought may have been Jesse Mills, was prepared to pay the costs of sending William George Mills to Winchester College. George's mother Eva Annie insisted that he go straight into the Army instead.
He did so as a bugler.

Was this the reason behind a possible rift between the Mills and Williams families?.
It is clear that William George was prevented from knowing anything about his relatives apart from some very sketchy details.



Birth:
The copy of his birth certificate is dated 18th October 1901 and stamped
"Royal Commission Patriotic Fund". This is just five months after the death of Thomas William.
The assumption is that Eva Annie may have had a grant to pay for the burial of her husband.
Ron & I visited the offices of the Patriotic Fund in London during May 2003. They don't have any records of grants to individuals.

Baptism:
Page 312 No. 2490

Cremated:
Cremation Reference 34261

His ashes were scattered :-
North Border 13/14 posts, South of Chestnut

Died:
Description: Cerebral Thrombosis Ateriosclerosis Disseminated Sclerosis (MS)

William + Eileen Grace FRANCIS. Eileen (daughter of William John FRANCIS and Alice Maud Mary SAIT) was born on 10 Jan 1900 in 70, North Street, Gosport, Hants.; died on 28 Oct 1988 in Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1911, 67, North Street, Gosport, Hants
• Occupation: 1912, Priddy\'s Hard Ordnance Depot, Gosport; Work involved filling shell cases. Her Mother took out a Life Insurance policy at a penny per week as it was a dangerous occupation.
• Cremated: Nov 1988, Portsdown Crematorium

Notes:

Worked at Priddy's Hard (Ordnance) before she was married

Cremated:
Cremation Reference 99985

Her ashes were scattered :-

North Border 13/14 posts, South of Chestnut

Died:
Description: Cardio respiratory failure plus other causes

Other Events and Attributes:

• Stationed: ? and 11 Sep 1900, Port Royal, Jamaica
• School Attendance: Bef 1883, Wood Street School
• School Attendance: Between 3 Jul 1883 and 15 Jun 1888, Vicarage Road School, Plumstead
• Census: 1891, not recorded; Missing from 1891 Census - assumption was that he had been posted to Jamaica. There are no census records of people serving abroad. Research now proves that he didn't enlist until 1892 - so where was he in 1891? Was he with his sister Louisa and her future family, the Carters, who were also missing from the Census in 1891?
• Stationed: 1 Apr 1892, F Company Royal Engineers, Chatham
• Stationed: 1 Apr 1893, 30th Company Royal Engineers, Plymouth
• Stationed: 2 Oct 1893, 30th Company Royal Engineers, Plymouth
• Stationed: 2 Apr 1894, 35th Company Royal Engineers, Pembroke Dock
• Stationed: 1 Oct 1894, 35th Company Royal Engineers, Pembroke Dock; The company was stationed at Pennar Point and was involved with experimental torpedos and submarine mining. 2011 - the old buildings have been demolished, the only remains are of the jetty.
• Appointed: Aft Oct 1894
• Stationed: 1 Apr 1895, 35th Company Royal Engineers, Pembroke Dock
• Stationed: 1 Oct 1895, 35th Company Royal Engineers, Pembroke Dock
• Stationed: 1 Apr 1896, 35th Company Royal Engineers, Pembroke Dock
• Appointed: 1 Sep 1897; The Muster Rolls of the Royal Engineers (WO16 3031 3032) show a Lance Corporal T Mills No. 26372 stationed at Pembroke Dock on the 1st April 1897 with the 35th Company Royal Engineers. This ties up with the photo of Eva Annie taken in Haverfordwest.
• Appointed: Aft 1898
• Appointed: Abt 1901

Notes:

Lance Corporal - R.E when he was married.

Second Corporal - R.E - When his son was born

Mechanist Staff Sergeant - R.E - When he died

Possibly stationed in Jamaica, Pembroke, Chepstow & Gosport areas. Ron remembers seeing the places in his army pay book (now lost).


Birth:
1874 Mar Quarter in EAST ASHFORD Volume 02A Page 713

Stationed:
He sailed back to the UK on the Royal Mail Steam Packet Elbe(a compound engine ship of around 3100 tons) arriving at Southampton on 27th September 1900.




School Attendance:
Description: Admission number 589

London Metropolitan Archives - Microfilm No. XO95 334 - frame 00369/370

Stationed:
Sapper

WO16/2980, Muster Roll

Enlisted on 22nd February 1892 - Trade on enlistment - Fitter.
The likelihood is that since leaving school he had been an apprentice at the Royal Arsenal.

The Muster Rolls for the previous year - 1891 show clearly that his Army Number, 26372 hadn't yet been issued.

Stationed:
Sapper

Noted as being at Fort Picklecombe. WO16/2980-2991-2992

Fort Picklecombe was a Palmerston Fort on the Western (Cornish) side of the entrance to Plymouth Sound. Fort Bovisand protected the Eastern side.

Stationed:
Sapper

WO16/2980/2991 Muster Roll

Stationed:
Sapper

WO16/3002 Muster Roll

Stationed:
Sapper

Noted as being on Guard Duty

Appointed:
Lance Corporal

Stationed:
Lance Corporal

WO16/3012 Muster Roll

Stationed:
Lance Corporal

WO16/3047 Muster Roll

Stationed:
Lance Corporal

WO16/3014 Muster Roll

Appointed:
2nd Corporal R.E

Appointed:
Corporal

Appointed:
Military Mechanist Staff Sergeant RE

Died:
Description: Typhlitis (9 days) & Peritonitis

His father James was present at the death.

Buried:
The ceremony was performed by a Presbyterian Mininster.
He was buried in unconsecrated ground - No. 9821
The Entry No. in the register was 2952

Thomas married Eva Annie WILLIAMS on 2 Mar 1897 in the Parish Church, Alverstoke. Eva (daughter of William George WILLIAMS and Amy Augusta NEWNHAM) was born on 18 May 1873 in Clayhall, Alverstoke; died on 8 Sep 1915 in 88, Clayhall Road, Clayhall.; was buried on 11 Sep 1915 in St. Mark's Church Cemetery, St Mark's Road, Alverstoke. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 5 Jun 1873, St. Mary's Church, Alverstoke
• Address: 1891; Address:
  2, Hughenden Villas
• Occupation: 1891, 2, Hughenden Villas, Alverstoke, Hants; Housemaid (Domestic Servant)
• Census: 1911, 88, Clayhall Road, Alverstoke.

Notes:

William George Mills won a scholarship to Winchester College but Eva Annie turned it down, even though the Mills family offered to pay the fees. She insisted that he was going to join the R.E like his father.

Birth:
FreeFormatDate:Jun Q 1873 Alverstoke 2b 491

Baptism:
FreeFormatDate:Page 468 No. 3743

Address:
Description: as housemaid to Phoebe Cox

Occupation:
FreeFormatDate:for Phoebe M Cox

Died:
FreeFormatDate:aged 42 years

Description: Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Buried:
FreeFormatDate:246/1967

Her grave was supposedly marked by a headstone placed by WG Mills - not found when Celia & I visited in 2003.

The position is noted in the Sexton's records on Page 363 as "South of Stedmans (grave), North side of St. Mark's"

Notes:

Married:
Witnessed by William George Williams and Annie Mills

His sister Sarah Ann attended the marriage.
Stationed at Sutton On Plym.
Rank - Lance Corporal

When William George was born

Census

Military Mechanist Staff Sergeant RE

Stationed:
Rank - Lance Corporal

Residence when married - Sutton On Plym - Parish of Plymouth - St John the Evangelist

Stationed:
Lance Corporal 26372

With 35th Company Royal Engineers

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Foreman (Time Keeper) for a gas company
• Address: 1881; Address:
  38, Graig Terrace, Swansea.
• Address: 1891; Address:
  11, Graig Terrace, Swansea.
• Occupation: 1891; Painter
• Address: Jan 1900; Address:
  19, Mayfield Road, Gosport at the time of his marriage

Notes:

Time Keeper at time of marriage

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Sept Q Alverstoke 2b 601

Buried:
From Burial Register of Ann's Hill Cemetery
Page 17 entry 22636 August 6 1915 William John FRANCIS , Gas Fitter aged 45 - died at 67 North St, Gosport - buried plot 47 consecrated ground

William married Alice Maud Mary SAIT on 8 Jan 1900 in the Parish Church, Alverstoke. Alice (daughter of James Henry SAIT and Mary Ann CHURCHER) was born on 17 Feb 1874 in 50, North Street, Gosport; died in Jan 1948 in 45, Peel Road, Gosport; was buried on 21 Jan 1948 in Ann's Hill Cemetery, Gosport. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1881, 1 South Cross Street, Gosport, Hampshire
• Address: Jan 1900; Address:
  10, North Street, Gosport at the time of her marriage

Notes:

Present at her marriage was Alfred Isaac Sait - her Uncle.

Ron Mills remembers that there was no love lost between Alice and her brother James Henry.
There was a disagreement over an inheritance - JH taking more than a fair share.

Died:
Mar Q Gosport 6b 277

Description: buried at Anns Hill Road Cemetery

Buried:
From the Burial Register of Ann's Hill Cemetery
Page 139 entry 35144 Jan 21 1948 Alice Maud Mary FRANCIS, widow aged 73, died 16 January 1948 at 45 Peel Rd, Gosport - buried Plot 47 consecrated ground

Notes:

Married:
Mar Q 1900 2b 808 Alverstoke

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1841, Winton, Barton Upon Irwell, Lancashire; : 3
• Census: 1851, Worsley Road, Winton, Barton On Irwell; James Mills and Joseph Mills & families
• Census: 1861, 6, Fitzroy Terrace, Plumstead, Kent; James recorded as an Engine Fitter. Living in lodgings. Also lodging in the same house is a Joseph Warburton, nephew of the head of the household and born in Worsley (close by Winton where James was born). It is likely then that personal connections were behind James' move away from home.
• Address: 1905, 202, Victoria Road, Old Charlton.

Notes:

Census:
Recorded as a Power Loom Silk Weaver

Died:
Diabetes Mellitus & Senile Decay

Informant was his wife Sarah, present at the death.
She gave his age as being 82 years old. This must have been a mistake as he was actually 80.

Buried:
Recorded in the Burial Registers of St. Margaret's Church, Plumstead

His age at burial makes his birth date 1836 yet all other documents point to 1838.

London Metropolitan Archives - Microfilm No. XO99 161 - frame 00433

James married Sarah (Kate?) IRELAND on 1 Mar 1863 in Upper Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, London. Sarah (daughter of James MICKLEBURGH and Frances Sarah IRELAND) was born on 12 Jan 1842 in Lowestoft, Suffolk; was christened on 3 Nov 1850 in Lowestoft, Suffolk; died on 26 Apr 1920 in 110, Ancona Road, Plumstead; was buried on 30 Apr 1920. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1851, Mariner's Lane, Lowestoft; With her Grandmother Frances (Fanny)
• Census: 1861, 7, Cirencester Place, Fitzroy Square, Marylebone

Notes:

Christened:
Bishop's transcripts 1685 - 1875
Church of England
Archdeaconry of Suffolk.
This record is in the IGi v5.0

Birth:
The only time that the middle name Kate appears in the records is on her marriage certificate

Census:
Description: Dress & Mantle Maker

Died:
Administration granted - London - 1st September 1920 to Edward Mills - Fitter.
Effects - £63 7s 6d

Buried:
Recorded in the Burial Registers of St Margarets.

London Metropolitan Archives - Microfilm No. XO99 161 - frame 00441

Notes:

The 1911 Census records that James and Sarah had 9 children born alive.
Apart from Thomas William there must have been three other children who probably died in infancy.

Married:
Witnessed by William Reynolds & Christina Gosling

St. Pancras parish was split up into 33 eclesiastical parishes. It was in one of these, St. John the Evangelist, that James and Sarah were married. The parish church was situated in Upper Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square.
The church has been demolished.
The London Metropolitan Archives holds the marriage registers.
Reference P90/JNA2/15. Film X78/102

FreeFormatDate:1904 until 1918

Description: (Kelly's Directory)

He was noted at this address until 1916 in Kelly's Directory.
The Greenwich History Centre doesn't have copies between 1917 & 1919.
He doesn't appear in the 1920 Directory.

In the London Post Office Directory the house is listed as being occupied by James Jesse Mills until 1920.

Description: at the time of their marriage

FreeFormatDate:At the time of Edward's birth

FreeFormatDate:at the birth of their daughter Ellen

ASHFORD
Probably the greatest influence on the growth of the town was the arrival of the railway in 1842 and the decision by the South Eastern Railway Company to build the Railway Works in the town in 1846. Between 1841 and 1861 the town more than doubled in population from 3,000 to 7,000.
The railway workers developed their own community in an area originally called Alfred Town by the Railway Company. The community, which soon became known locally as The New Town and finally Newtown, had its own schools, pub, bathhouse, shops and Mechanics' Institute, which doubled up as a library and social and educational club for the workers.
The Railway Works dominated the town and nearly 1,000 locomotives were built or re-built there before the Works was closed in 1981. The Wheel Shop closed in March 1993.

FreeFormatDate:at the births of their daughter Louisa and son Thomas William

FreeFormatDate:at the birth of their son James Jesse

FreeFormatDate:at the birth of their daughter Sarah Ann

Description: James was present at the death of his son Thomas in Newcastle on Tyne

He was noted at this address in the Kelly's Directory of 1893

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1873, Clayhall; a journeyman plumber at the birth of Eva Annie
• Census: 1891, 3, Palestine Place, Alverstoke, Hants
• Occupation: 1897; Plumber at the time of marriage of Eva & Thomas

Notes:

Birth:
Sep Q 1839 Warminster V111 3_5

Census:
Description: Plumber

Occupation:
This note is taken from Eva Annie's marriage certificate which presumably should have read "deceased"

Died:
Dec Q 1896 2b 354 Alverstoke

Description: Asthma, Bronchitis

Informant was M A Williams, Sister in Law.
This would have been his brother Charles Williams' wife - Mary Ann (Hutchins)

William married Amy Augusta NEWNHAM on 9 Mar 1868 in the Parish Church, Portsea. Amy (daughter of Obediah NEWNHAM and Augusta Priscilla Garret VINER) was born on 8 Mar 1846 in 2, St. Vincent Street, Southsea; died on 3 Jan 1925 in 88, Clayhall Road, Clayhall, Alverstoke. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1861, 24, Gloucester Street, Portsea
• Census: 1891, 3, Palestine Place, Alverstoke, Hants
• Census: 1901, 88, Clayhall Road, Clayhall, Alverstoke, Hants
• Census: 1911, 88. Clayhall Road, Alverstoke
• Inquest: 6 Jan 1925

Notes:

Birth:
FreeFormatDate:Jun Q Portsea Island V11 144

The family bible says 1847.

Census:
Living with her mother and family

Inquest:
Description: Accidental Death

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Jan Q 2b 805

Description: Concussion of the brain following a fall

Informant was the Coroner

Notes:

Married:
Mar 1868 Portsea I. 2b 564

Description: Ellen Williams & William Newnham

FreeFormatDate:Census

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1870, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales; Seaman in Merchant Service
• Census: 1871, At Sea ?
• Occupation: 1881; Rigger
• Occupation: 1891; Sailor

Notes:

He wasn't alive at the marriage of his son William John Francis (1900)

Occupation:
FreeFormatDate:Later on described as a Master Mariner

Died:
FreeFormatDate:March Q Swansea 11a 634

Description: Not proven

William married Mary WILLIAMS in 1868. Mary was born about 1832 in Mathree, Pembroke, Wales; died about 1900 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1871, 39, Swan Street, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales
• Occupation: 1881; Rigger's Wife

Notes:

Birth:
Description: Fishguard?

Census:
Description: Sailor's Wife

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Mar Q Swansea 11a 635

Description: Not proven

Notes:

Married:
FreeFormatDate:Sept Q Haverfordwest Vol 11a Page 1049

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 7 Sep 1851, St. Mary's Church, Alverstoke
• Census: 1871, 8 & 9 Hobbs Yard, High Street, Gosport
• Census: 1881, 1 South Cross Street, Gosport, Hampshire
• Occupation: 1881; Hackney Carriage Driver

Notes:

He wasn't alive at the time of marriage of his daughter Alice Maud Mary

Birth:
FreeFormatDate:Jun Q Alverstoke V11 27

Baptism:
Description: page 34 No. 265

Census:
Description: Labourer

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Sept Q Alverstoke 2b 320

Buried:
FreeFormatDate:Page 51 / Entry 12095. Plot 25 Unconsecrated ground

James married Mary Ann CHURCHER on 29 Apr 1873 in The Parish Church of St. Matthew, Gosport. Mary (daughter of Isaac CHURCHER and Mary Ann STARES) was born in 1851 in Wickham, Hampshire; died in Mar 1913 in 147, High Street, Gosport; was buried in Ann's Hill Cemetery, Gosport.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1871, Bridge Street, Wickham
• Census: 1881, 1 South Cross Street, Gosport, Hampshire
• Census: 1891, 143, High Street, Gosport, Hampshire
• Census: 1901, 4, Holly Street, Gosport, Hampshire
• Census: 1911, 67, North Street, Gosport, Hants

Notes:

Birth:
Jun Q 1851 Fareham V11 _5

Census:
Description: Servant

She was living with the family of Henry Churcher (Grocer) as a servant. A few doors away lived two other Churcher families. My guess is they were all connected.

Census:
Description: Laundress

Census:
Description: widow on her own

Buried:
Page 219, Entry 21,665. Plot 25, Unconsecrated ground

Notes:

Married:
Living at 45, North Street, Gosport

Present at the marriage were Alice Jane Ford and George Rose