Major William George MILLS, R.E

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)

Family/Spouse: 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]

1. Eileen Mary MILLS was born on 28 Jul 1921 in 67, North Street, Gosport; died on 27 Oct 1988 in Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport.
2. Ronald George MILLS was born on 20 Jul 1923 in 67, North St, Gosport; was christened on 17 Oct 1923; died on 16 Jan 2007 in Southampton General Hospital.
3. Gordon Raymond MILLS was born on 5 Oct 1926 in Faenza, Peel Road, Gosport, Hants; died on 29 May 2003 in Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth.

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:

• 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

Notes:

Christened:
Baptism: 6 Dec 1807 St Mary the Virgin, Eccles, Lancashire, England
James Mills - Son of Matthew Mills & Sarah
Abode: Winton
Occupation: Husbandman
Source: LDS Film 1545488 (and MFPR 167 at MCL)

Died:
Sep Q 1869 8c 327 Barton

James married Ann HUGHES before 1835 in ?. Ann was born about 1802 in Wellington, Shropshire; died in 1856 in Barton upon Irwell, Lancashire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Was she related to the Hughes family that Emma Mills married into?

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Mar Q Barton 8c 320

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1841, Bell Lane, Lowestoft, Suffolk; Baker ? (Apprentice?)
• Occupation: 1841; Sea Captain (apocryphal ?)

Notes:

Christened:
This is the closest official record of his birth.
Name: James Mickleburgh
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 12 Jan 1818
Christening Place: LOWESTOFT,SUFFOLK,ENGLAND
Father's Name: Edward Mickleburgh
Mother's Name: Ann

LDS Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C13163-2
System Origin: England-ODM
GS Film number: 918501
Reference ID:

Occupation:
The occupation of "Sea Captain - deceased" appears on his illegitimate daughter Sarah Ireland's marriage certificate to James Mills in 1863.
She recorded her father's name as James Ireland and his occupation as Sea Captain which was apocryphal to hide the fact that her mother never married him. He would always have been away at sea ...
Sarah's birth certificate revealed the true name of her father - James Mickleburgh. It's doubtful that she ever saw her own birth certificate.

Died:
Possible death as he doesn't appear in the 1851 Census

Name: James Mickleburgh
Registration Year: 1848
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration district: Hoxne
Suffolk
Volume: 13
Page: 361

James + Frances Sarah IRELAND. Frances (daughter of James IRELAND and Frances LAKE) was born in 1822 in Lowestoft; was christened on 4 Mar 1822 in St. Margaret's Church, Lowestoft; died in 1849 in Lowestoft; was buried on 23 Apr 1849 in St. Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1841, High, St. Lowestoft

Notes:

Christened:
Parents recorded as James Ireland & Frances Lake

Birth:
The 1841 census is the only one she is recorded in, with an age that indicates she was born around 1826.

Died:
Jun Q 1849 13 356 Mutford

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1871, 3, Charlie Street, Clayhall, Alverstoke; Recorded as a Widow, occupation Gardener and living with daughter Ann and son John

Notes:

Christened:
Recorded as son of William & Anne.

Possibility exists that Anne was the first wife of William Williams. Census records show a 17 year difference in age between William and Caroline which may also suggest that Caroline wasn't George's mother.

Died:
Described as:- Pensioner, Civil Service.
Informant was Mary Ann Williams nee Hutchins (wife of his son Charles George Williams)

George married Anna Maria GARRETT on 15 Sep 1838 in Fovant Parish Church, Wiltshire. Anna (daughter of Charles George MILLS and Elizabeth GARRETT) was born on 29 Dec 1816 in Fovant, Wiltshire; died on 04 Apr 1865 in Alverstoke. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 19 Jan 1817, Fovant, Wiltshire
• Census: 1861, Charley Street, Clayhall, Alverstoke

Notes:

Birth:
Census indicates born 1818

Baptism:
The Parish Register of Baptisms records that she was "Base Born Daughter of Elizabeth;Garrett;Fovant;Single woman"

Died:
Jun Q 1865 2b 284 Alverstoke

Cause: Rheumatic Meningitis.
Source: Pat Deering-Smith research

Notes:

Married:
Sept Q Vol 8 Page 571

Description: George Garratt & Caroline Garratt

Occupation - Gardener

Census:
Description: Gardener

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 29 Jun 1817, Niton, Isle of Wight
• Occupation: 1846; Stonemason
• Census: 1851, 3, Corporation Road, Portsea
• Occupation: 1861; Seaman
• Census: 1871, 24, Gloucester Street, Portsea

Notes:

Baptism:
IGI

Census:
Description: Stonemason

Occupation:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Not recorded in the 1861 Census

Census:
Description: Stonemason

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Jun Q 2b 316 Portsea Island

Obediah married Augusta Priscilla Garret VINER in 1842 in Isle of Wight. Augusta (daughter of George S VINER and Amy VAUGHAN) was born in 1817 in Alverstoke, Gosport; died in 1883 in Portsea Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 29 Jun 1817, Alverstoke Parish Church
• Census: 1851, 3, Corporation Road, Portsea
• Census: 1861, 24, Gloucester Street, Portsea
• Census: 1871, 24, Gloucester Street, Portsea
• Census: 1881, 15, Rutland Street "The Orange Tree" Portsea

Notes:

Census:
Description: Wife of a Seaman RN

Census:
Description: Beer House Keeper

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Dec Q 2b 313

Notes:

Married:
FreeFormatDate:Sept Q 1842 Vol 8 Page297