Colonel James Jesse MILLS, O.B.E. - C.B.E.

Other Events and Attributes:

• School Attendance: 16 Jun 1884 to 2 Mar 1889, Vicarage Road School, Plumstead
• School Attendance: 25 Feb 1889, Bloomfield Road School, Plumstead
• Address: Between 1937 and 1938; Address:
  Bourneside, Gomshall, Surrey
• Retired: 29 Aug 1941
• Address: 1926 - 1945, 17, Arterberry Road, Wimbledon. SW 20; As an Inspector of Ordnance he had a flat in Wimbledon to be able to visit the local factories.
• Employment: After 1945, Wimbledon

Notes:

Original beliefs. Superceded by subsequent research.
He was thought (by William George Mills) to have been a Colonel in the R.E and based at the R.E School, Chatham. From the only known photograph that we had, he appeared to be fairly close in age to his brother Thomas William. Now that we have more pictures of James Jesse it is clear that the photograph was not of him but of his eldest brother Edward Mills.

It turned out that he was 4 years younger and eventually became a Colonel in the R.A.O.C

Ann Mills recalls that JJ's family were with him during his overseas postings.

In France they lived in a chateaux and Vivian (George) was attacked by an alsatian.
Vivian was sent home from Malta with another Army child to a school in Shropshire.

Most of their leave was taken in Ireland with Maud's family. Ann recalls going to a big house in Cashel called Longfield which had been the home of Charles Bianconi (an Italian emigre who was responsible for the beginnings of public transport in Ireland). She describes Bianconi as being Vivian's Uncle. John Bianconi was originally an O'Connell but had his name changed on the wishes of his Grandfather Charles Bianconi.

Whilst JJ was a competent horse rider (he played polo whilst in Gibraltar), Maud was very good, riding side saddle, hunting etc. She was also a keen tennis player.

Birth:
1878 Mar Quarter in WEST ASHFORD Volume 02A Page 718

School Attendance:
Description: Admission No. 3080

London Metropolitan Archives - Microfilm No. XO95 334

Address:
until 1937/8

e-mail from Ann Noyes - Shere & Gomshall Local History Society 19th Nov 2002

Because Shere and Gomshall have such a rich number of old houses most of our records are concerned with them! Bourneside still stands, it is on the main A25 road that runs through Gomshall, opposite the Post Office Stores and the United Reformed chapel. It looks as though it was built in the late 19th century and is now known as 'The Gallery' and sells wine and offers display space for artists in watercolours, ceramic, glass and wood. The site was part of the Gomshall Mill property. In 1965 a bungalow was built on part of the land for the residents of Bourneside, and they moved out of the 'big' house into the bungalow. There is a structure known as 'The Coach House (part of the original Bourneside) which is now the premises of an Antique Restorer who has extended at the back and has recently bought the bungalow. At Shere Museum (Elizabeth Rich. 01483 203245) there is a map of the property, prepared when planning permission was sought for the bungalow. I have so far found no reference to Col. James Jesse Mills OBE Copies of the Electoral Roll on microfiche can be consulted at Surrey History Centre, Woking, 01483 594594. This would confirm the years of his residence
There is a story that in World War 2, Bournside was used as a girls' school called Braemar High School for Girls, but I have not seen evidence of this, and I cannot think that it was big enough for that.
Best wishes Ann Noyes

e-mail to Ann Noyes - Nov 20th 2002

My father and I visited the Surrey History Centre today to view the
Electoral Registers. We found our relative James Jesse Mills at Bourneside
in 1937 together with his wife Maud Mary (up to today we didn't know he was
married).
Records for 1939 to 1944 don't exist but in March 1945 Bourneside was
occupied by the Braemar High School and by 1950 the school had moved to The
Croft.
In 1950 Bourneside was occupied by Richard and Prudence Jequier.

Ann recalls that after the War ended and George came back from Burma, the family were told that Bourneside was to be requisitioned and that the school refused to move.

Retired:
from Regular Army

Employment:
2nd WW Employed by War Office as Inspector of factories producing munitions.
He had a flat in Kensington

Died:
FreeFormatDate:witnessed by Ann Mills - daughter in law

Description: Cardio-renal failure, pneumonia and Parkinsonism

James married Maud Mary HAYES on 15 Mar 1910 (Licence) in Woolwich Register Office. Maud (daughter of Thomas Patrick HAYES, Junior and Helen Mary BURKE) was born on 14 Oct 1880 in 4, Proby Square, Blackrock, Dublin; died on 21 Jan 1969 in Park Prewett Hospital, Basingstoke; was buried in Broadstairs. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Witnessed by Annie Wynn and Edward Mills

Description: from beginning of WW2

Description: (from Telephone Directories)

Address found in the Deeds to 2 Ethel Road.

The house was bought on the 16th April 1959 in the name of Maud Mary Mills and sold on 22nd June 1959 to her son Vivian. The price for both sales was £1350. On James Jesse's death the house was sold for £3400 (21st May 1963)

1. Captain Vivian Hayes MILLS was born on 1 Jan 1911 in Forte Villas, Cork, Ireland; died on 22 Dec 1976 in Lauderdale Road, Paddington, London; was buried in Richmond Cemetery.

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

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:

• Occupation: Husbandman (a tenant farmer raising animals rather than arable farming.) Status below Yeoman

Notes:

Occupations.
From 1810 to 1816 he is recorded as a labourer.
From 1816 onward he is recorded as sawyer


Buried:
! in the margin indicates cholera victim

Matthew married Sarah LOMAX on 2 Apr 1804 in St. Mary, Prestwich. Sarah (daughter of Nathan LOMAX) was born in 1784 in Barton; was christened on 26 Dec 1784 in St. Mary the Virgin, Eccles; died in 1827 in Winton, Barton upon Irwell, Lancashire; was buried on 22 May 1827 in St. Mary the Virgin, Eccles. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Possible parents Nathan Lomax (Weaver)and Ann of Barton.

Notes:

Christened:
Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts record him as Edward Rix Mickleburgh, six weeks old, Bastard son of Elizabeth.
Rix probably the surname of the father.

Died:
Death quarter 1
Death year 1864
District MUTFORD
County Suffolk
Volume 4A
Page 548

Edward married Ann BELL on 28 Aug 1809 in St Peter & St Paul, Swaffham, Norfolk. Ann was born about 1785 in Yarmouth, Norfolk; died in 1854. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
1851 Census indicates birth circa 1789

Died:
Death quarter 2
Death year 1854
District MUTFORD
County Suffolk
Volume 4A
Page 427

Notes:

Married:
England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NXN5-FP5 : accessed 8 December 2014), Edward Mickleburgh and Ann Bell, 28 Aug 1809; citing Swaffham, Norfolk, England, reference 16 63; FHL microfilm 1,471,577.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1822, Lowestoft; Revenue Boatman
• Occupation: 1824, Lowestoft; Preventive Boatman
• Occupation: 1828, Lowestoft; Preventive Service Man

Notes:

Died:
A James Ireland died Sep Q 1838 13 108 Henstead
Henstead itself is only four miles from Lowestoft.

James married Frances LAKE on 21 Jan 1818 in St Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Frances (daughter of Nicholas LAKE and Frances HARVEY) was born in 1796 in Worstead, Norfolk; was christened on 15 Jul 1796 in North Walsham; died in 1852 in Lowestoft; was buried on 10 Feb 1852 in St. Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1841, High St. Lowestoft; Recorded as a Green Grocer
• Census: 1851, Mariner's Lane, Lowestoft; Recorded as a Charwoman. She would have been Sarah's Grandmother, not mother.

Notes:

Christened:
Name: Frances Lake
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Jul 1796
Baptism Date: 15 Jul 1796
Baptism Place: North Walsham,Norfolk,England
Father: Nicholas Lake
Mother: Frances
FHL Film Number: 894722, 894723

Died:
Mar Q 1852 4a 450 Mutford