John Mills

  General Notes:

John MILLS was born 1688/9 probably in England. He came as a young man to
Philadelphia where he engaged in the lumber business with Richard Harrold
before settling in Maryland. In 1730 he was described as John Mills of
"Manoquisy near ye River Potomac" on the marriage certificate of his son
Thomas who married to Elizabeth Harrold, a daughter of Richard Harrold.
In 1731 he witnessed a marriage at the home of Josiah Ballinger at
"Monoguisie Province of Maryland." He owned 1315 acres in what is now
Berkeley Co., WV described as being "on a branch of Opeckon, near but not
adjoining Lewis DeMoss' land." In 1743 he deeded land to sons Thomas,
Hur, Henry and John Jr. recorded in Frederick Co., VA. In 1757, he was
visited by William Reckitt during the French and Indian War. John was
then living within two or three miles of a place where not many weeks
before Indians had killed and taken away people. He made his last will
and testament 28 Sep 1759 which was probated Jul 1761 Rowan Co., NC. The
will made specific bequests to his children Thomas, John, Hur, Henry, and
Mary. He left one shilling each to the children of his then wife Rebeckah
referring to the support of her children. John died 24 11th month 1760
and his death is noted in the monthly meeting records of New Garden MM,
Guilford Co., NC.
In 1730 John witnessed the marriage of his eldest son Thomas, followed by
the signature of a Rebecca Mills who was most likely his first wife and
the mother of Thomas. Children by his first marriage were born between
1709 and 1724. Children from a second marriage to a woman also named
Rebecca are recorded in the minutes of New Garden MM, NC. These children
were born between 1742 and 1757. It would appear that John's first wife
died after 1730 and he remarried circa 1740 to the second Rebecca. The
second marriage no doubt occured while John and his children were members
of Hopewell MM, VA. Unfortunately, the early records of this monthly
meeting burned so there is no record of this marriage. The surnames of
both wives remain unknown.

  Research Notes:

The Mills name originates in Hampshire, England. The Mills line has been traced back to John Mills, born about 1640 in England. He married Mary Kenion. Their child was John Mills, born between 1660-1665 in Oldham, England. He was the first Mills to come to American. He married Sarah Harrold in Pennsylvania. There child was John Mills, born Jan 29, 1687. He married Rachel Bates. (Rachel's great grandfather was born in Arundel Castle in Sussex, England, which still stands today.) Their child was Hur Mills b. Abt. 1716, of Hopewell, Frederick, Virginia, USA and d. November 26, 1761. Hur married Rachel Harrold in 1738 in Hopewell, Frederick, Virginia. Rachel was the daughter of Richard Harrold and Mary Beals. Hur Mills and Rachel Harrold's daughter was Rachel Mills.

John married Rebecca Wright about 1708 in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. (Rebecca Wright was born on 14 Jul 1690 in Monocacy Meeting, Frederick, Virginia and died about 1740 in Monocacy Meeting, Frederick, Virginia.)

John next married Rebecca Unknown.