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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: katy k on Tuesday 22 September 15 21:26 BST (UK)
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Hi, Please can anyone help me find out what became of George Henry Mills born 1891 Worcestershire England to George and Annie Mills (blacksmith and shopkeeper) of Collington Herefordshire?
I think he may have been the George Henry Mills who arrived in St Johns Canada aboard The Virginian on 23rd April 1914 from Liverpool.
He gave his destination as Ottawa and his occupation as farmer and baker.He would have been about 23 years old and, as far as I know, unmarried.
After this I can find no trace of him.
I would love to know if he married and made a life for himself in Canada or if he possibly got caught up in WW1 but I can find no trace. Any help appreciated.
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Hi Katy K,
I wonder if this is him?
There is this entry on the CWGC website: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/105134/HACKETT,%20G%20H
He was a corporal in the 49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Regimental No: 432182.
Next of kin given as: Elizabeth M Hackett of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Scratch that, its not him, his attestation paper states that this George Henry Hackett was born on 24th November 1885 in Oxford, Kent, England.
Link to attestation paper here: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/list.aspx?k=Surname%3a%22Hackett%22+AND+RegimentNum%3a%22432182%22
Back to square one unfortunately! Apologies for that.
Kind regards
David
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Not sure about the one above David - Birth year and place don't seem to agree with poster description. Corporal George Henry Hackett born 1885 Otford, Kent, England died 2 June 1916 - Ypres (Ieper), West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen), Belgium - Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery.
Sandra
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Hi Sandra,
Yep, I should have checked the attestation paper first! My apologies again.
Kind regards
David
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Thank you to all those who tried to help. I've just realied I've typed the wrong name! I'd already done my Hackett research. The name should be George Henry MILLS- Too many Georges in my family!
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Hi Sandra,
Yep, I should have checked the attestation paper first! My apologies again.
Kind regards
David
Not a problem David - I was looking at that entry myself - puzzling because I couldn't find a birth to match him in UK or passenger list. ::)
Cheers
Sandra
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There is a Batterham Family Tree on Ancestry that shows him never leaving England. If you contact the owner of the tree, perhaps you can share/compare.
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Hi Kate,
Is this the George Henry Mills in 1891 Eastham Worcestershire.
George Mills 29
Anne Mills 27
Helen Mills 3
Caroline Mills 1
George Henry Mills 2 months born Eastham Worcestershire.
Louisa Dallow 14
and then in Brockhampton Collington Herefordshire 1901
George Mills 39 (Blacksmith and Grocer) Annie Mills 38
Ellen Mills 12 Caroline M Mills 11
George H Mills 10
John Mills 8 Thomas Mills 8
James S Mills 7 Alfred W Mills 6
Beatrice M Mills 4 Albert E Mills 1
Christopher W Mills 2 months.
Had moved on and was not with the family in 1911 - occupation seemed to be Baker & Confectioner which identifies him on the 1914 passenger lists as you said. No one seems to have positive information on him after 1901, The anc trees seem to be a bit of a mish-mash.
Doesn't appear to be anything in Service Files of the First World War, 1914-1918 - Canadian Expeditionary Force - this is the link if you want to try variation of names
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef/Pages/search.aspx
After his arrival in 1914 - the next census was 1921 but so far am not finding anything positive.
Still looking.
Sandra
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Hi Kate,
The only male on the 1921 Canadian Census who is even close, gives his birth year as 1896, his arrival in Canada in 1913 and his name Harry George Mills. In 1921 he is married to Hazel, but I could not find a marriage in Ontario.
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Thanks.
Yes Sandra, that is the right one. I've tracked him until he is living at Church street Kington Herefordshire on the 1911 census as a servant to baker and confectioner John Hussey. After that I can find nothing in England or on the few Canadian things I can access.The giving of his trade as farmer and baker on the entry to Canada made me think,given what I already knew, it could be correct.
I do know the family tree referred to but also know of a few errors on it. I now know what happenned to all but 3 of The Mills Family from Collington Forge but George is one of the sons I just can't track!
Guess it's likely I may never know the answer-unless he appears on the England 1921 census when that is finally released!!
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Would you have an exact date of birth for him ? Might help us check if he crossed the border into USA and appears on the SSDI (Social Security Death Index) ???
Sandra
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I believe his birth was march 1891 in Tenbury registration district of Worcestershire. not sure of exact date.
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Unfortunately need the exact date. Who was the informant on his father's death ? Was there a will ?
Sandra
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From his school records, I have the possible birth date 21st Jan 1891 (then under Henry Mills)
His father George died 22nd July 1920 and is buried at Collington St Marys church but I don't know who the informant was and I've not found a will as yet.My info came from the church records.
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I think I may have solved it! Geo H Mills, giving his address as Collington Bromyard returned to England aboard The Missanabie arriving Liverpool on 28th November 1914. So he was in Canada for only about 6 months.
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Hi Katy - just happened to find this website by accident. I believe the GEORGE HENRY MILLS you were searching for was my Grandfather. He married Ethel Mary Mills who was a confectioner and they had two children - Hilda Mary and (my mother) - Irene. Irene is now 92 and has often mentioned that Grandad went to Canada with a friend and then WW1 broke out so they came back to enlist. Grandad had a weak chest to he couldn't sign up but went on to be a farmer and shopkeeper in Cheshire and then North Wales. His family were blacksmiths and the forge remains was opposite the church in Collington, we actually went to visit approx 25 years ago. Surely this is the same George Henry you are asking about as there are too many coincidences. I will check with my Mother to see if she can remember her Father's birthday and year. Hope to hear back from you .....
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Oh wow! Yes,the same George Henry. My grandfather was known as Sam Mills but George on his official documents . I now know he was the illigitimate son of George Henry's sister Caroline but he always gave George and Annie mills from Collington as his parents not grandparents.(They raised him) so for years my family couldn't understand why we could not find any details as we knew nothing of Caroline. Then i finally solved the puzzle with help from Bromyard history society and tried to find out what became of all The mills siblings from Collington who would have actually been my grandad's uncles and aunts but I think were more like brothers and sisters to him.
I have also visited there and found my great great grandparents grave, traced my great grandmother Carolines marriage to Charles Fortey and a few other bits and pieces but I would love to know what became of the other family members.it would be amazing if your mother could solve any of this puzzle for me. thank you so much for replying
Kim
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Hi there - I've been to visit my Mother today and during her reminiscing she recalled how her Father was almost paranoid about her being home by 9 pm when she was a teenager and she once said to my Grandmother 'Why is Dad so unfair about me being home so early when other girls are allowed to be out later'. My Granny told her that he'd has a Sister who became pregnant when she was unmarried and it brought shame on the family (as it did in those days), so that was probably why. My Mum had been told that the Sister had been made to marry an older man. My Grandad died when I was 12, in 1962 and apparently his sister came to the funeral, Mum thinks it was Beatrice. MUm is now 92 and although she is very 'switched on' her memory of any contact with her Father's family is vague. I suppose they were living in North Wales and Grandad's family were still in Herefordshire & in those days people didn't travel that far. My Mum seemed to suddenly recall quite a few things about her Dad but unfortunately she has no knowledge of any members of his family, her Sister, Hilda, passed away last year so we can't ask her either. I was wrong when I mentioned that my Grandad didn't enlist into the Army because of a chest complaint, apparently they did accept him but he was restricted to UK service. I'm so sorry we can't help unravel the mystery of the other siblings as obviously we are keen to find out more. Surely such a large family as the 'Mills' should produce a few more links. Please, please keep in touch. Happy hunting!
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Thank you for replying. I know quite a bit more info and have got back with The family to 1811 if you are interested. I also discovered that Mills should not really have been the family name.Your mothers grandfather, George H Mills senior, was himself illigitimate-born George Dallow in 1861 to Caroline Dallow(1837-1887)She took a man called Edward James before Bromyard petty sessions in 1862 for failiure to pay child support and won her case.(i cannot track him further as the court records don't survive ). In 1865 she married James Mills and the child took his name.Perhaps that explains why George senior did not disown his own daughter Caroline (named for his mother)when history repeated itself and she had my grandad.(she was not quite 16 at the time)
She went on to work for the Fortey family caring for their children and when the wife died she married Charles Fortey who was already in his 50's. She was about 26. They went on to have 4 children and lived in the Much Marcle area. She died in 1962. I know where she is buried but have yet to visit.
The sister who your mother remembers would probobly have been Beatrice Annie(1897-1975). She remained living at the forge married to Charles Bethall and she is buried at Collington.
The other sister Ellen/Helen(1888-?) moved to Edgbaston Birmingham in service and then married Albert Johnson and had at least 3 children.
Of the Mills brothers,I traced your grandfather because I have a copy of Annies will which named him as executor.
I also know of John (1892-1946) who remained in the Bromyard area and is also buried at collington.
I think he had a twin Thomas who I can find no record of past 1911.
James Edward(1893-?) who also vanishes after the 1911 census.
Alfred William (1895-?)who was discharged from the army in 1916 due to hammer toes and then vanishes.
Albert Ernest (1899-1923) who died in Evesham hospital aged 23 and is buried at collington and
Christopher walter (1901-1951) who lived in Colwell and died "at the railway station" aged 50.
I always meant to research the Dallows but haven't done any research for about 2 yrs now. I may get back to it after receiving your message.
Kim
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Hi Katy - My name is Barbara by the way!! That is fascinating and yes, I would love to know more too! I have a cousin aged 70( my Mother's sister's youngest daughter)who lives near Manchester so I will contact her just incase she may know any facts or stories that she was told by her Mum or our Granny & Grandad. If I do find anything else I will certainly contact you. Please keep in touch - happy hunting!