Hello Derek,
Thanks for your message: "I am one of the grandchildren of Francis Burdett Mills and son of Leonard Alfred Sidney Mills. I have just seen this chat and would like to know more as well. Leonard returned to England after Australia."
I have found you on the tree I have assembled. I have your Dad: "Leonard Alfred Sydney, b.23/05/1915 Wandsworth RD, bapt. 11/07/1915 St Mary’s, Balham High Rd - d.16/07/1983 Weston-super-Mare.". I guess James Cater and Nick Mills will also see your rootschat mail and get back to you. Nick is a far nearer cousin of yours than I am, being a grandson of Leonard's older brother William Robert, b.21/12/1897 at 34 Shakespeare Rd, South Hornsey, bapt. 09/01/1898
at St Matthias‘, Stoke Newington - d.1980 Colchester, Essex. James Cater is Nick's brother in law. My link to your family is via Clara Mills, my greatgrandmother (Clara, b.15/04/1868 St Pancras, bapt. 05/05/1868 at All Saints’, Gordon Square, St Pancras. Died 30/12/1952 Hastings). Clara was the oldest sister of Francis Burdett Mills, b.27/10/1874 St Marylebone, bapt. 13/01/1875 at St John the Evangelist, Fitzroy Square (Charlotte Street) - d. March 1951 Wandsworth RD aged 76.
I will try to find ways of sending over the whole tree I have typed up to you, via this attachment option. I may have to split it up over 2 messages owing to the length, but I'll attempt it during the coming week. In the meantime and to whet your appetite here is a biographical note on your greatgrandfather Francis Mills, the father of Francis Burdett, b.1874 and of Clara, b.1868, here in the body of the rootschat message:
"
Francis Mills, called Francis Burdett Mills in his sons FB Mills’ 1895 marriage entry, son William James Mills' 1911 marriage entry, daughter Lilian Daisy’s 1912 marriage entry and on his death cert; called Frank on his daughters’ Clara and Charlotte Elizabeth’s parish marriage entries (in 1888 and 1896 respectively). Francis was born at 9 Norfolk Street, sub-district of All Souls, Marylebone on 04/04/1843 as Francis Mills (mother’s maiden name Powell, ref.01/132). Registration of Francis on 17/04/1843; bapt. 30/04/1843 St Mary‘s, Bryanston Square. The baptism entry has Francis’ birth as 04/04/1843. For the 1851 census see end for possible sighting of Francis). On marriage Francis was a bachelor, a minor and a brass finisher of George St. Francis was 28 in 1871, head of house living with his wife and 2 daughters at 11 Tottenham St. With them were 2 other households, the Vanderhagens and the Keens and 3 lodgers, Mary Ann Panel (or Punch, unclear), Ann French and Daniel Dugard. In 1881 he may be identified with the Francis Mills, an inmate of Highgate Infirmary, see below. In 1881 hiswife and 4 children were at 48 Drummond Crescent, eccles. parish of St Mary’s with 3 other households. In 1891 he was 48 and brass finisher living with wife Maria and children Ellen, Francis, Charlotte, William and Daisy at 6 Little Drummond St, eccles. parish of St Mary‘s; it was a multi-occupation dwelling with the Wood family and 4 other people there. In 1901 he was 58 and a brass trimmer with his name transcribed for computer as Thomas Mills living with his wife and daughter Lilian. Francis Mills, 62, married, not able-bodied, a brass trimmer and C. of E. was registered for admission on
19/04/1906 to the St John’s Road workhouse in the parish of St Mary’s, Islington. His address was
given as 50 Frederick - (last bit lost in the binding). Francis Burdett Mills died aged 64 on 07/01/1908 at 87 Roman Rd, Islington. He died of bronchitis and heart disease, syncope; the informant was his wife Maria, present at the death. The burial entry at Islington Cemetery, East Finchley gives Francis Burdett Mills of Roman Rd, dying in January 1908 and buried 13/01/1908 in a public grave - no headstone. Trade: Brass finisher or brass trimmer, sometimes brass founder (brass founder in 1877 on daughter Emily Amelia‘s death certificate).. 1870 - a labourer. 1908 brass finisher. Family rumour that Francis was natural son of Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt (d.1844) or his son Sir Robert Burdett, 6th Bt or Sir William Burdett, 7th Bt and was in receipt of a regular payment from the Burdett source persisting after his father’s death (info from Nick Mills). Francis Mills’ son Francis Burdett Mills told the family on numerous occasions that his father, Francis Mills (1843-1908) didn't do a day’s work in his life, but always had plenty of money. He was also described as 'Gentleman' on some documentation. Also that FBM used some of the money to set up the Mills Dairy (source Francis B.C. Mill, b.1929), son of Herbert Mills). No mention is made of a Francis Mills in the wills of the 5th or 7th baronets. The 6th Baronet died intestate. "
Hope this is of interest. I had no idea your father Leonard went to Australia. Do you have the dates and where he lived?
Thanks, Richard Huggett (and I'll be in touch again with the whole tree, hopefully.)
