OUR PIONEER GRANDPARENTS from NEW JERSEY to OHIO
WILLIAM W. (perhaps WINANS/WYNANT) MILLS
and
his first wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" "Betsey" Clark
Audrey (MILLS+LEHMANN-CREAGER+SHIELDS) HANCOCK
6 December 2006
WILLIAM W. (perhaps Winans/Wynant) MILLS, s/o William Mills and Rebecca [--?--], was born 1790 in probably Westfield Township, Essex County (now Union County), New Jersey. Nothing is known about his youth.
[NOTE: William W. MILLS middle name was possibly Winans or Wynant, as a grandson was named Nicholas Wynant MILLS, which more than likely represents a ancestral surname relationship. We also find a "Nicholas WYNANT" residing in Shelby Co., OH in this same time period. ASH]
The first known record is his marriage on 17 February 1810 at the Scotch Plains Baptist Church (aka Church of Christ), Scotch Plains, now Union County, New Jersey to Elizabeth "Betsy" Clark (parentage unknown). According to record, they were married by Rev. Thomas Brown. (Marriage Record of Scotch Plains Baptist Church)
William MILLS b 1790 Essex Co., NJ; m 17 Feb 1810 Essex Co., NJ to Elizabeth CLARK; & d 8 Feb 1873. (Source: IGI: Family Group Record: http://www.familysearch.org/: Submitter: Floreen M. HARD, 1092 N. 575W, Clinton, UT 84015, Submission #AF83-107748) |
(Source: GREAVES, Richard Pearson, "Greaves' Notes," Given to NJ Historical Society & Photocopied with permission by Westfield Public Library, Westfield, Union Co., NJ, p. 757) [NOTE: GREAVES, unmarried, d 1948 after spending 50+ years collecting data on the Colonial Families of the Westfield area. ASH] |
By 1810, it appears that William had already purchased land in Ohio, even though he doesn't appear to have been living there.
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(Also, David, Isaac W.; Jacob H.; Isaac W., Jr.; Marmaduke W., John H. (#1), John H. (#2); and Thomas H. Mills) (Source: Early Ohio Tax Records, p. 402) |
William and Betsy appear to have had at least three children who were born in New Jersey, before their removal "westward" to Hamilton County, Ohio. One family story indicates that son, Dennis C. Mills, was born at Indian Hill in Hamilton County, Ohio, but no record has been found to validate this, and censuses indicate New Jersey as the place of birth. Perhaps the family resided in Hamilton County briefly, as that was usually one of the stepping off areas before moving onward.
A few references appear to validate William's sojourn in Warren County, Ohio. In one he purchased land in October 1818, and at the time appears to have resided in Warren County, Ohio. Then his residence in Warren County, Ohio is given in the History of Shelby County, Ohio.
"I will give the names of such as I have of settlers after those I have mentioned, viz., Abijah O'Neall and family, James Corey, Josiah Sutton, Charles Monroe, Ezekiel Bell, Mr. Isham, John Quigley, William Mills." (Source: The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part IV Township Histories, Wayne Township by Judge John W. Keys, Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882) |
"William MILLS, Jr." Lived Warren Co., OH Purchaser of Land (E) E & N of 2nd Principal Meridian Survey, Range 14, Twp. 18, Sec. 20 23 Oct 1818 (Source: BERRY, Ellen T. & David A., "Early OH Settlers, Purchasers of Land in SW OH, 1800-1840," p. 227) |
"William Mills,......, emigrated to Warren County, Ohio in 1822 for 3 years." (Sutton's 1883 Edition of History of Shelby County, Ohio: Cynthian Twp.) |
Also, residing in Warren County, Ohio at this same time was Jeremiah Mills, Jr. and his wife, Abigail Bryant, who married also at the Scotch Plains Baptist Church in Union County, New Jersey. The fathers, William, II & Jeremiah, Sr. (of William W. and Jeremiah, Jr. respectively) were the administrators of the estate of William Mills I, so there was more than likely an unknown familial relationship between the Williams and Jeremiahs. Jeremiah Mills, Jr. spent the remainder of his life in Warren County, Ohio where he is buried in the Ft. Ancient Cemetery (aka Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery). This is a gravestone rubbing discovered by ASH while researching at the Lebanon, Warren Co., OH Historical Center. It was hanging on the wall there, and when I indicated I was researching this family, it was offered to me back in the early 1990s. Note the misspelling of New Jersey on his gravestone.
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BORN NEAR Westfield, Essex County, New Jesey MARCH 1, 1769 Emigrated to this state about 1802 Died Dec. 11, 1860 Aged 91 Y. 9 M. & 10 D. AS SOLDIER, PIONEER, AND CITIZEN HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY WELL. Gravestone Photo |
Other references says the William W. Mills family came to Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH in 1824-1825 then to Lebanon, Turtle Creek Twp., Warren County, Ohio. It is said that Dennis C. MILLS (#2 son) was born at Indian Hill in Columbia Twp., Hamilton Co., OH by one researcher. This has not been verified.
From the entry below, it appears more than likely this was the time that William and his family probably had vacated their Warren County, Ohio land and were seeking other areas to settle in Ohio. It is said that William was also in Montgomery County, Ohio, but at this time I have not found any records to verify this. We do know that other apparently related MILLS families from Westfield Township, Union County, NJ, also moved into Ohio.
June 12, 1824 A LIST OF LANDS Returned delinquent for tax from the County of Warren for the year 1823 with the tax, interest, and penalty, for the years 1823 & 4 charged thereon. |
1790 Hamilton County (Original) |
"Then, in 1825, they settled in this township on the farm now owned by Henry Sweigart, of Newport. On this farm was started the old town of Cynthiana, which has long since become extinct." (Sutton's 1883 Edition of History of Shelby County, Ohio: Cynthian Twp.) The village of Cynthiana was laid out for Haes & Hagamein and Alexander Miller on September 14, 1819. It was located at the Loramie crossing in Section 30, Township 10, Range 5, East. (Sutton's 1883 Edition of History of Shelby County, Ohio: Cynthian Twp.)
It appears that William then purchased additional land on July 2, 1827 according to this record:
"William W. MILLS, Section 19, Township 10, Range 5 East West 1/2, NE 1/4, 70.38 acres," Deed "P" from "U.S." Government, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH, District Land Office, which sold land before Shelby Coounty, Ohio was formed, "issued July 2, 1827, Record Book 62, p. 417" This was 5th Range east of the Indiana border. If this land is the same land as shown on 1875 Map of Shelby Co., Ohio, it would be on farm and land that was owned in 1875 by A. [Augustus] MILLS (1 farm) and D.[Dennis] C. MILLS (3 farms). This land is located in Cynthian Township, just above Newport, Shelby Co., OH. Section 19 is split almost evenly by two roads that cross in the middle--Cardo Rd. & State Rd. 66.
(Source: "Shelbyana", #20, Jul 1984, p. 2: Index of Land Entries and Patents, Shelby Co., OH)
"WILLIAM MILLS, one of the pioneers of Cynthian Township, was born in New Jersey in 1790. In 1810 he married Elizabeth Clark, who was born the same year as that of her husband. In 1822 they emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, where they remained about three years. Then, in 1825, they settled in this township on the farm now owned by Henry Sweigart, of Newport. On this farm was started the old town of Cynthian, which has long since become extinct. Mr. and Mrs. Mills had born to them seven children. His wife died in 1831. He shortly afterward married Joanna Flinn. By this union there was one child born. Mr. Mills died Feb. 8., 1873." |
William and Elizabeth had 7 children (Sutton's 1883 Edition of History of Shelby County, Ohio: Cynthian Twp.), but only five have been identified at this time; namely, Halstead C., Dennis C., Philemon Elmer, Joanna, and Mary "Polly". It is believed that the elder three were probably born in New Jersey and the younger ones in Ohio, but at this time there is conflicting information which needs to be resolved. The 1830 U. S. Federal Census in Shelby County, Ohio shows 7 children (4 boys, 3 girls) in the family.
Shelby County, Ohio Cynthian Township Series: M19 Roll: 140 Page: 28 Image: 1 William Mills |
In 1830 William Mills was one of the administrators of the will of Robert Chambers.
From "Executors & Administrators, Common Pleas, Shelby County, Ohio, Volume No. 1, 1824-1837": |
William is given in one history as being a blacksmith and tavern owner.
Elizabeth died 1 March 1831 probably in the homestead in Cynthian Township. She apparently was nicknamed "Betsy," also spelled "Betsey" in other records. She was laid to rest by her husband in the Mills Family Graveyard, Mills Road, Cynthian Township, Shelby County, Ohio near Newport in Shelby County.
MEMORY OF Betsy wife of Wm Mills Died March 1st, 1881 Aged 44 Years 6 Mo. 15 Ds. |
Shortly after the death of his first wife, William, married secondly to Joanna Flinn, who appears to have been the daughter of Stephen Flinn & Sarah "Sally" Marsh. William and Joanna had one child, a daughter, Sally Amarintha, who died at age 3 years 1 month. She was laid to rest in the Mills Family Graveyard next to William's first wife, Betsy.
[July 1992 Family Group Sheet by J. Daniel RUPERT of Kalamazoo, Michigan listed William MILLS m 13 Oct 1811 Roxbury, Morris Co., NJ to Elizabeth BOYLE & said he died in Piqua, OH. Nothing more was noted for Elizabeth BOYLE. He listed children as: Halstead C. MILLS b 4 Apr 1812 Morris Co., NJ, m 1840 to Mary PEARSON, & d 11 Nov 1885 Wilshire, Van Wert Co., OH. He listed Dennis C. MILLS b Morris Co., NJ & m Elizabeth GISSEMAN; & Nancy MILLS m John PRICKETT. Much of this information DOES NOT agree with my research per information. ASH] |
1832
William MILLS married (2) Joanna FLINN, daughter of Stephen FLINN and Sally [perhaps MARSH].
1832 Dec-1836 Mar 22
Sally Amarintha MILLS, daughter of William & (2) Joanna, was born Dec 1832 and died 22 Mar 1836 at 3y 4m 12d.
She was buried at the Mills Family Graveyard, near Newport, Cynthian Twp., Shelby County, Ohio next to William's first wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" (Clark) Mills.
[NOTE: Gravestone was still intact in 1985 and still standing in 2003. ASH]
Shelby County, Ohio Cynthian Twp. (Ancestry.com...Image 37 of 130) WILLIAM MILLS Shelby County, Ohio Cynthian Twp. (Ancestry.com...Image 37 of 130) DENNIS MILLS |
Shelby County, Ohio Cynthian Twp. 13 Oct 1850 (Ancestry.com: Image 4 of 21) #29-29 Tuesday, January 06, 2004: "In the 1850 census, William and Joanah Mills have listed with them a Lafgett Riker. I believe it was misspelled and is my ggg grandfather Lafayette Riker. I have not found any earlier material on him other than this "maybe" census report. Do you know if he is a grandson to William and Joanah or Elizabeth or related some other way? (Source: Internet, 6 Jan 2004, E-mail to ASH: Karla S. Hall at rikergirl4@conwaycorp.net) [At this time, I do not know of a family connection. ASH] |
http://www.tdn-net.com/genealogy/census/bethelc.htm#lm Bethel Twp., Miami Co., OH Census Index Name, Census, page, Twp. Mills, James D. 1850 066a Bethel Twp Mills, William 1850 065b Bethel Twp |
~~~~~~~ 1807-1865 ~~~~~~~ http://www.tdn-net.com/genealogy/m-county/deeds/deeds-m.htm 11 Jan 1854 Mills, William <-- Kinzey, Henry 29 129 31 06 05 Union Twp. 09 Apr 1855 Mills, William, Joanna --> Kepner, Ann 33 095 31 06 05 Union Twp. |
CULLIN, Thomas 31 196 --> Mills, William 29 01 11 Staunton Twp. |
(http://www.tdn-net.com/genealogy/m-county/probate/pro-m.htm) 1807 - 1900
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158 acre parcel Loramie Twp., Shelby Co., OH purchased by William MILLS. |
On 08 February 1873, William W. Mills died in Miami County, Ohio. His coffin box bill and coffin and hearse bills were found in his estate records. At this time, it is assumed that he was buried somewhere in Miami County, Ohio, but no record has been found of his exact burial location, nor that of his second wife, Joanna, who died after William.
(http://www.tdn-net.com/genealogy/m-county/probate/pro-m.htm) 1807 - 1900
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WILLIAM MILLS of the Estate of William MILLS, Deceased Application for Letters of Administration Filed February 24th 1873 James MILLER asked to be appointed administrator of the estate of William MILLS. |
 Know all men by these Presents, That we James MILLER, Wesley HATHAWAY, and Robert H. FLINN are held and firmly bound unto the State of Ohio, in the penal sum of Two Thousand Dollars, to the payment of which we do hereby jointly and severally bind ourselves, our Heirs, Executors and Admistrators, if default be made in the condition following: |
Record on file: |
It has been suggested that William MILLS was buried at Bethel Cemetery. Bethel Cemetery is located in Montgomery County, Ohio and is south of West Milton. It is on the Phillisburg-Union Road which runs between State Routes 48 and 49. The Phillisburg-Union Road is just north of Union Ohio. There are two cemeteries on this road. Going west from State Route 48, the first cemetery is about 1 mile on the right and is called Minnich Cemetery. The second cemetery is a few miles further west and is much closer to Phillisburg, Ohio. This second cemetery, which is on the right, is Bethel Cemetery.
PAPERS from MIAMI COUNTY, OHIO
Estate Records
1850 Miami Co., OH, Bethel Twp. (No Mills) |
Revised: 14 December 2006