INTRODUCTION
by
Audrey (Shields) Hancock
2006
to the
MILLS HISTORY
by
Millie Frances (Mills) Aldred
1952
The family history below by Millie Frances (Mills) Aldred appears to be one branch's oral family history. It apparently reflects the ancestry of one William Mills considered to be part of my (Audrey's) family line also.
Her story on p. 2 states:
"William Mills, the founder of the Mills Family of this record, was grandson or great grandson of the William Mills who came from North Hampton, England."
Nothing is really known as to the authenticity of this oral history. As with many family stories, even within the same generation, we find facts, names, dates, etc. can be confused, and stories confused and misunderstood as they are repeated by others. Sometimes after doing research, parts or pieces of a story can be proven and validated.
Millie's history begins with one William Mills who was born 31 December 1811; married (1) Nancy P. Felter and (2) Julia Ann Tooley and lived in Hamilton County, Ohio.
However, what Millie evidently didn't know is that her William Mills was the s/o of Philemon Elmer Mills who laid out the town of Sharonville, Hamilton County, OH who was from Westfield Township, Essex County (now Union County), New Jersey MILLS FAMILY. She apparently didn't realize that her "Philemore (sic) Elmore (sic) Peterson Jones Mills," born 1835, who was s/o William Mills born 1811, was a grandson named for his grandfather, Philemon Elmer Mills, the founder of Sharonville, Ohio. This Philemon Elmer Mills, was s/o of William Mills II and Rebecca [--?--] and gs/o William Mills I and Amy [--?--].
"Sharon is pleasantly situated in the Mill crook valley on the line of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis railroad, and is one of the most northerly towns in the county. Its site was originally embraced in the farm of Simon Hageman, who settled immediately west of the village in 1796. The present Hageman homestead was built in 1818-22, and is the oldest house in the village. The town was platted in 1818 by Simon Hageman, Josephus Myers, Philemon Mills, and Abijah Jones. Its early growth was rapid." History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, p. 452 |
"SHARONVILLE - It is also an ancient village, having been laid out May 30, 1818 by Messrs. Josephus Myers, Simon Hagerman, Philemon Mills and Abijah Jones." In some records, Philemon is also known as E. Philemon Mills and in family records he is Philemon Elmer Mills. The village in 1881 was situated on the Short Line railway, at the point where it crossed the east fork of Mill creek, two miles distant from the north and west lines of the township, respectively, at the southeast corner of section thirty. In 1830 it had ninety-five inhabitants, and the post office was known as "Sharonville." The Sharonville post office became extinct before 1840, but was restored as the village grew to what it is today in 1881. By the last census, taken half a century, Sharonville had a population of four hundred and sixty-nine. (Source: "History of Hamilton County Ohio" compiled by Henry A. Ford, A. M. and Mrs. Kate B. Ford, L. A. Williams & Co., Publishers, 1881, p. 394) |
|
OUR FAMILY HANCOCK & SHIELDS & Interrelated Families plus Miscellaneous Gatherings |
HISTORY
of the
WILLIAM MILLS FAMILY
of the
WILLIAM MILLS FAMILY
by
Millie Frances (Mills) Aldred
Madison County, Indiana
Privately Published
1952
Edited by
Jacob W. H. Aldred
Florence, Alabama
(Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, Indiana)
(Call No. Gc929.2, M623A)
OF THE
MILLS FAMILY
As Related By Charles Ludlow Mills
as told to him by his father, Philemore Elmore Peterson Jones Mills,
as told to him by his father, William Mills,
founder of the present Mills Family"
"According to tradition, this branch of the Mills Family in America started in 1742 when one William Mills sailed from England for America. William and his younger brother, Isaac, went from their home in Edinburg, Scotland to North Hampton, England where each fitted out a ship and sailed for America from North Hampton in 1742.
They were separated by a big storm at sea. Isaac landed in South America and William in New York. William opened a tavern, or a hotel as we would call it now, having his name on his place of business.
The other brother, Isaac, landed in South America and became very wealthy. After twenty years had passed, he went to New York on a business trip. Walking down the street, he noticed the name, William Mills, on a building. He went in, thinking perhaps that it was his brother's, and made himself known. He said that it was a pity that they both had not landed in South America because it was much easier to accumulate wealth there than in New York. No further account was had of him afterwards.
The ancestors of William Mills, the founder of our line of Mills, named their oldest son, William, down from the William of the eighteenth century. William is a family name of the descendants of William Mills, though not always given to the oldest son in the family.
This William Mills had a sister, Amy (Mills) Long. She was a very strong woman and could lift heavy things, like a barrel of vinegar."
Revised: