Looking for Thomas Mills 1791, Eltham, Kent

[Matthew Mills]

Hi, I am a beginner genealogist and am a little bit stuck trying to find out info about my 3x Great Grand Parents. 
My Great Grand Father was Alfred Mills (b. 1891)  from Bexley/Welling Kent, owned a nursery there.  His Father was George Mills (b. 1846) from Eltham Kent (also a nurseryman and Agr Labourer), His parents are missing but I have found George living with his brother Joseph with his Grand parents Thomas and Sarah Mills in the 1851 Census.

Any help or info would be much appreciated.

[dawnsh]

Hi Matthew

I've found a few Eltham baptisms at St John the Baptist Church

Thomas Mills, 22 Sep 1816, parents Thomas & Sarah Mills, father Labourer, abode Eltham
Elizabeth Mills, 25 Mar 1821, Thomas & Sarah Mills as above
Eliza Mills, 8 Feb 1824, Thomas & Sarah Mills as above

There's a possible marriage for Thomas Mills and Sarah Addis at St Nicholas Plumstead 8 Oct 1813

and then these

Eliza Caroline Mills, 27 Jan 1839, parents Thomas Daniel & Sarah Mills, Labourer of Eltham    
Thomas William Mills, 6 Jun 1841, parents as above
Joseph Mills, 4 Sep 1842, parents as above

and a possible marriage Thomas Mills and Sarah Cole, also at St Nicholas Plumstead 14 Nov 1836

It's not possible to confirm just from the marriage entries that these are correct as fathers names weren't recorded until after 1837.

Anyway hope these help, if not someone may be along later with more information.

Dawn

[trish1120]

Looks to me that THOMAS Mills c 1816 Eltham was married more than once or married and then lived with another woman;

1861 Census
Bexley, Kent
RG9/465/71/26
Thomas MILLS, 43. Head, Mar, born Eltham
Elizabeth, 29, Wife, Mar, born Bexley
GEORGE, 15, Son, born Eltham
James, 11, Son
Eliza, 8, Daug
Mary, 6, Daug
Caroline, 4, Daug
Fredrick, 2, Son
John, 2mths, Son
All younger Children born Bexley

1841 in Eltham we have;
HO107/Eltham
Thomas MILLS, 25, Ag Lab
Elizabeth, 20
Allice, 9mths

A Tree has Thomas marrying Elizabeth RUMBALL 1839

I found this on FreeREG;
Marriage;
17 Nov 1839, St Michael, East Whickham, Kent
Thomas MILLS, Bachelor, Labourer, Father THOMAS Mills, Labourer
Elizabeth RUMBALL, Single, Father GEORGE Rumball, Bailiff
Witnesses, Amy and William Welfare
Notes, Bride and both witnesses signed with a mark. Bride's age recorded as "Not of Age"

This looks ok as in 1851 ALICE Mills born c 1841 Eltham, Kent, is visiting in Woolwich
The Family name is transcribed as Hills, but could be Mills.
Head of House is Robert born c 1826, Hadlow, kent
Caroline, 4, Daug
Fredrick, 2, Son
John, 2mths, Son
All younger Children born Bexley


I cant find Thomas in 1851 at all.
Must be away working and why Alice/Joseph/George are living elsewhere in 1851.

In 1861 Thomas and second Elizabeth they have a Son James born c 1850;

1851 Census
Bexley, Kent
HO107/1607/49/27
Elizabeth PETTIS, 60, Head, Widow, Charwoman, born Manton, Wiltshire
Elizabeth, 19, Daug, Unm,no occp, born Bexley ****
JAMES, 1, Grandson, born Bexley

So looks to me that in 1861 George is back with his Dad.
Thomas Mills and Elizabeth Pettis and her Son James are there and Thomas/Elizabeth possibly have had several Children together.

Trish

[Matthew Mills]

Thankyou both for that information.  The dates and places all look right.  Which sites did you both find that information?  I have tried looking for the 1861 census that has Thomas and Elizabeth and the 1841 one and neither names come up (I'm using findmypast).  I do find however that when searching that it's quite finicky as to what you put in the location field.

thanks again.

Matt

[dawnsh]

The parish registers deposited at the London Metropolitan Archives can be found at Ancestry, but you'll need a sub or a trip to your local library where they may offer free access inhouse.

Eltham comes under the London Borough of Greenwich

[Matthew Mills]

Thanks again.  The only issue I have with the new information is the age of Thomas and Elizabeth in the 1841 census at 1841 where it shows Thomas and Elizabeth and Alice living at the Rumball family farm in Chapel Farm, Eltham, Lewisham, Kent, England.  It shows Thomas and Elizabeth having the same age.  Maybe Thomas lied about his age so it didn't look like he was a cradle snatcher!!

Archive reference HO107
Piece number 482
Book number 8
Folio number 19
Page number 21

[Matthew Mills]

Now I'm more confused (I think from the two thomas's being born same year same place).  I think I now have mixed up both Thomas's  as I have Thomas marrying Elizabeth Rumball, Living with Elizabeth Pittis and marrying Mary Ann Eaves/Eves (nee Prescott).  I have no idea which of the following is my Thomas Mills.  I know my ancestor George Mills was born in a cottage that used to stand behind/within the nursery at Welling.
A number of times Thomas's age seems to fluctuate so maybe im following a third Thomas Mills!

1841  Alice 0         Thomas 20  Elizabeth Rumball 20  (could be wrong thomas)
1851  George 6     with Grand Parents Thomas Sarah
1851  Alice 10      Visiting Robert 25 and Elizabeth 30 (Could Elizabeth have left Thomas) and Louisa 1
1861  George 15 1846  Thomas 43 Elizabeth Pittis 29
1861  Census Alice Mills 20  John Cohen 24
1860 Oct  Marriage  Alice 20  John Cohen 24  Thomas Mills (Gardener) listed
1865  Elizabeth Pittis 33 dies
1866 Oct   Thomas 48 Widower  Mary Eves 30 Widow nee prescott
1871 Thomas 45  Mary 33  (Age goes backward)
1881  Thomas 63   Mary 42  Alice 18  Charles 17  2 lion Road