William Mills

[BlackpoolBell]

My great grandfather and his father were both William Mills. The youngest born 1848, I think in Manchester -  was married and I found him in Manchester in the 1861 census with his wife and new born child. In the 1881 census he in not to be found but his wife Harriet was in a workhouse in Hull with a new child  and then again in 1891 -  this time with a new child in  a Norfolk workhouse. On the birth certificate in 1891 he was identified as a liscenced hawker.
Can anyone help?
Judith

[crisane]

I have found Harriet and her son Robert in 1881 and again with her son Reuben in 1891 (but where is Robert?)
In 1881 she says she is married but in 1891 she states widow.
Now Harriet is born Manchester 1848 so who is the William with new born son in 1861? If Harriet she would only be 15.  Could you give us the piece/folio and page numbers for the 1861 census entry? Also which child's birth certificate was he down as  a licensed hawker.  Reuben was born 1888 Norwich and Robert 1881 Hull, was it his birth cert?

[BlackpoolBell]

robert died beore the age of 1, her previous child in the earlier census, I'm assuming also died
The licensed hawker came from the birth certificate of reuben
Do you have any clues?
Judith

[crisane]

I think this could be your William at home with his Mum in 1881! I had the same situation in my family but much later, in 1911. And the husband also had himself down as single!
1881 RG11/3990/87/43
16 Dyers Lane Manchester
Ann Mills head 64 shopkeeper born Worsley
William son Single 33 warehouseman Manchester
James son Single 31 Blacksmith Manchester
John 10 grandson Manchester
James 8 grandson Manchester

So is James the son of William and Harriet? 
Do you have William with his parents in 1851 and 1861. Is Ann his mother?

[crisane]

1861 RG09/2942/64/41
16 Dyers lane Deansgate Manchester
Ann Miles 50 Widow Mangle keeper born Worsley
Thomas son 19 cottn spinner
William 14 errand boy
James 11 scholar
Robert 7 scholar
John 5
All children born Manchester.
It is Miles on the image.

1871 RG10/4039/15/24
16 Dyers Lane Deansgate Manchester
Ann Mills 54 Widow shop keeper
James son 21 Blacksmith
John 18 maker up
All born Manchester including Ann.  Ann has lowered her age a little and John has gained 3 years.
+ 2 lodgers

[crisane]

1851 HO107/2227/0/0 
Back Lad Lane
William Miles 38 Fustian cutter
Ann 37 Fustian Cutter
William 4
James 1
+ 3 lodgers
All born Manchester

It occurred to me that you probably have these but now I know that William was his father, that their name was Miles in 1851 and 1861. Did they change it or did the enumerators mistake what they were told?

[crisane]

There is a death of a William Mills in Manchester age 33 (William was 33 in the census) June 1/4 1881 vol 8d page 135.
This would also fit in with Harriet saying she was married in 1881 and a widow in the 1891 census.

Now I know that you have found a Harriet Mills with a Reuben, son age 3 in Norwich in 1888  that doesn't mean that William was still alive.  My great grandmother had 4 children in the decade after her husband died and 3 of them were registered in his name!

Another scenario may be that this is not your Harriet.  I have a recollection of seeing a Mills family with Reuben as one of their children so this may be a different Harriet.

[BlackpoolBell]

The trouble is there are hundreds of william mills. All I have is his marriage certificate and the birth certificates of their sons Robert and Reuben
In 1869 William was 21 and living in Back water street. He was a fustian cutter. that links to your previous post. What do you think?

[BlackpoolBell]

I'm struggling to find the census return you mention. I cant search by number on ancestry and the names arent coming up. Can you help
J