Tinmen and Braziers of County Down

[abbeyfield]

Further to my request for information on the Mills family of Newry I am now aware that this family was quite widespread throughout Co.Down and probably Antrim also.
The main occupation of the family appears to have been as tinmen & braziers,and also ironmongers.
The family had connections with Whitehaven,Cumberland and also with the Isle of Man.
Any information on this family will be most welcome.
Thank you and regards
Abbeyfield

[Christopher]

Hello Abbeyfield,

You omitted to mention a date in your message on this thread so I had a look at your Re: Mills Family of Newry thread. Are you looking for information post 1840 in Ireland as well as pre 1840. Presumably you're
still seeking information about the family in Whitehaven, Cumberland and also the Isle of Man.

Ros Davies' Co. Down, Ireland, Genealogy Research Site - Mills contains one tin smith in Belfast and Richard Mills leasing land in Newry in 1750 & 1789. 

Christopher.

[abbeyfield]

Hi Christopher,Thank you very much for your reply,you have done me a great service.Yes I am seeking information on the Mills familyfrom 1750-1825 in Ireland,Whitehaven,and the IoM
Regards and thanks.
abbeyfield

[Christopher]

Hello Abbeyfield,

There's a thread on the Genforum Isle of Man board about ...  Thomas Mills family in Ireland and Isle of Man.

Thomas Mills - Born about 1796 in Ireland
Listed as age 55 in 1851 census of Ramsey, Isle of Man - occupation: Tinsmith.
Also listed at death in 1860 as age 65)

Would the Mills family have been members of the travelling community at one stage? Tinsmiths used to visit the farming communities throughout Ireland.

Christopher

[abbeyfield]

Hi Christopher,Thanks for your reply once again,I was aware of the genforum message as I am in very close touch with Elizabeth Nichols the author of that particular thread.I am quite convinced that the origins of the Mills family do lie in the travelling community.One problem we have is that it is possible that there are in fact 2 Mills families,possibly cousins who share the same names,in particular the names of Joseph,Thomas,and Sarah,but we are slowly getting there.Thanks for your help once again Christopher it is very much appreciated.
Regards
abbeyfied

[Christopher]

I'm having problems with my search ... I googled Irish Tinsmiths Mills family expecting to see an Irish site and got a Manx site ... John & A. Mills instead.

William Gill Mills sounds an interesting guy. He was born on 18th December 1822 at Ardglass, Co. Down which is in east Down whereas Newry is south Down. William's parents were Thomas Mills and Jane Gill. William was the secretary to the IoM branch of the Mormons under John Kelly in 1850 - James Quayle reports him baptising him in 1849 but later managed to be excommunicated for adultry. He is remembered as having written two important hymns - "Arise oh glorious Zion" and "We'll sing the songs of Zion"

The article mentions that the family state that William was half brother to John Mills - he had several siblings or half-siblings born in Belfast, Castletown and Cumberland. The 1852 Directory of Belfast and Province of Ulster lists ...

Hugh Mills, tinsmith, 19, Smithfield and 12, Charlemont Street.

I came across another article about William "William Gill Mills, father of Mannie Pickett."

Christopher

[abbeyfield]

Hi Christopher,Wow you certainly have put some interesting Mills material my way.The parents of William G Mills as you say were Thomas Mills and Jane Gill.Jane was the 2nd.wife of Thomas who had previously been married to Alice McDonald or Alecia Mcdonell who sadly died.This couple had at least two children John,born Belfast and Margaret born Co.Down.Now my own Gt.X 3 grandfather was Joseph Mills a tinman & brazier and he appears to have been born in Co.Down circa 1815/18.I believe,I can put it no higher than that,that Joseph was a 3rd.child of the marriage of Thomas Mills & Alice McDonald.I have documentary evidence to show Thomas Mills was the father of my Gt.X 3 grandfather,I just need to find Joseph's birth record for the final proof.
Once again Christopher my thanks for your help with this search,you have been fantastic.
Best regards
abbeyfield