John (Jonathan?) Mills, Sr. b. 29 Jan 1687 Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA d. 24 Nov 1760 Guilford Co., NC: The Schrock-Birkey Connection

John (Jonathan?) Mills, Sr.

Male 1687 - 1760  (73 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All

  • Name John (Jonathan?) Mills  [1, 2, 3
    Suffix Sr. 
    Birth 29 Jan 1687  Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Gender Male 
    Occupation In 1734 John described himself as a farmer from Prince George Co., MD  [5
    Religion Quaker 
    Residence 1718-1726  Prince George Co., MD Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 24 Nov 1760  Guilford Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    • New Garden Friends Cemetery
    Person ID I1920  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 6 Jun 2021 

    Father John Mills, Iii,   b. 1663, Oldham, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Jan 1704, Chester Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 41 years) 
    Mother Sarah Harrold,   b. 1662, Province Of PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Oct 1759, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 97 years) 
    Family ID F11252  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Rachel,   b. Abt 1690   d. Abt 1731, VA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 41 years) 
    Children 
     1. John Thomas Mills,   b. Abt 1709, PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Sep 1793, Guilford Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 84 years)
    Family ID F11258  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 27 Dec 2020 

    Family 2 Rebecca Wright,   b. 14 Jul 1690, Chester Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1740, Prince George Co., MD Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 49 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1708  Chester Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Probably
    Children 
     1. John Mills, Jr,   b. 27 Oct 1712, Chester Co., PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Apr 1794, NC Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
     2. Hur (Hurculus) Mills,   b. Jul 1716/17, Prince George Co., MD Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Nov 1761, Guilford Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 44 years)
     3. Henry Mills,   b. 23 Sep 1720, PA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Oct 1810, NC Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years)
     4. Mary Mills,   b. 17 Jan 1724, PA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F1365  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 27 Dec 2020 

    Family 3 Rebeckah Harrold (?),   b. Bef 1721, Hopewell, Frederick Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Jan 1761, NC Find all individuals with events at this location (Age > 40 years) 
    Marriage 1740  Hopewell, Frederick Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 7, 8
    • Probably Hopewell MM
    Children 
     1. William Mills,   b. 27 Aug 1742, Hopewell Twp., Frederick Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1774, SC Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 31 years)
     2. Rebecca Mills,   b. 15 Dec 1744, Hopewell Twp., Frederick Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. George Mills,   b. 8 Oct 1747, Hopewell Twp., Frederick Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. Benjamin Mills,   b. 8 Oct 1747, Hopewell Twp., Frederick Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. Alice Mills,   b. 22 Jun 1750, Hopewell Twp., Frederick Co., VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     6. Tabitha Mills,   b. 27 Feb 1752, Salisbury, Rowan Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Oct 1826, Estill, Madison Co., KY Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years)
     7. Jonathan Mills,   b. 14 May 1757, Guilford Co., NC Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F1364  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 25 Dec 2018 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 29 Jan 1687 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - Abt 1708 - Chester Co., PA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1718-1726 - Prince George Co., MD Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1740 - Hopewell, Frederick Co., VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 24 Nov 1760 - Guilford Co., NC Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • Information about John Mills, Sr., as published on his memorial on Find-A-Grave website:

      John MILLS Sr. was probably born in England. He came as a young man to Philadelphia where he engaged in the lumber business with Richard Harrold before settling in Maryland. John Mills Sr. is also identified by many Mills' family history accounts as the first Mills Emigrant to America of his line. The most notable manuscript was written by Jeremiah Mills, born 1784, son of Amos Mills, born 1752, grandson of Hur Mills born 1714.

      In 1730 he was described as John Mills of "Manoquisy near ye River Potomac" on the marriage certificate of his son Thomas Mills who married 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 received a land grant/patent of 1315 acres, 12 Nov 1735, located in Virginia. Today this land is located between Inwood and Gerrardstown, Berkeley Co., WV. This land was described as being "on a branch of Opeckon, near but not adjoining the Lewis DeMoss land." In 1743 he deeded land to sons Thomas Mills, Hur Mills, Henry Mills and John Mills Jr. recorded in Frederick Co., VA.

      On 1752, 6, 1. Hopewell granted John Mills a certificate to remove to Cane Creek Monthly Meeting in Orange Co., NC. (we do not if it was Sr. or Jr.) John Mills Sr's Daughter Mary Mills Beeson and her husband William Beesonarrived at Cane Creek first, 1752, 3, 7. John Mills?. was followed on 1753, 5, 7. by Thomas Mills, John Mills?, Hur Mills and Henry Mills; to Cane Creek, they were received on 1753, 9, 1. The land the Mills families settled on was in Orange County, which became Rowan Co. in 1753 and then became Guilford Co. in 1770.

      In 1757, John Mills Sr. was visited by William Reckitt during the French and Indian War. John Mills Sr. 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 left one shilling bequests to each of his five oldest children by his 1st wife Rebecca Mills: Thomas Mills, John Mills Jr., Hur Mills, Henry Mills and Mary Mills Beeson. The rest of his estate was left to his 2nd and current wife Rebekah Mills (spelled as in the will) for the support of her children who were not specifically named. John Mills Sr. died 24 11th month 1760 and his death is noted in the records of New Garden Monthly Meeting, Guilford Co., NC.

      In 1730 John Mills Sr. witnessed the marriage of his eldest son Thomas Mills, followed by the signature of a Rebecca Mills who was most likely his first wife and the mother of Thomas Mills. There were five children from his first marriage, born between 1709 and 1724. There were seven children from his second marriage to a woman also named Rebecca Mills that are recorded in the minutes of New Garden MM, NC. These children were born between 1742 and 1757. It would appear that John Mills' first wife died after 1730 and he remarried circa 1740 to the second Rebecca Mills. The second marriage no doubt occurred while John Mills Sr. 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.

      "When mistakes are published, they are impossible to correct"

      Please note: contrary to some published references, there is no documented evidence to support that our John was the son of a John Mills who died 1704/5 at Philadelphia MM. Further, his mother was not Sarah Harrold and he was never married to a Rachel Bates!

      Recommended WEB site for ==John Mills Sr.

      Questions/Suggestions? - Email Me 

      Contributing Research providers;
      Cheska Wheatley descendant of Thomas and Elizabeth Harrold MILLS 
      Gwen Boyer Bjorkman descendant of Thomas and Elizabeth Harrold MILLS
      Diana Whittenburg descendant of John Jr. and Sarah Beals MILLS
      David Mills descendant of John Jr. and Sarah Beals MILLS
      ——————————————

      From Hopewell Friends History 1734-1934. Pub 1936. Mills. Page 12. In the state land office at Richmond VA are to be found recorded in book 16 the patents issued to settlers who came to the Shenandoah Valley under the authority of the orders in Council made to Alexander Ross and Morgan Bryan. All bear the date of November 12, 1735 and recite that the grantee is one of the seventy families brought in by them and excepting location and acreage are alike in wording and conditions., and are signed by William Gooch, Lt. Governor of the Colony at that time.

      John Mills, Sr no 35 1315 acres of land in Berkeley Co WV. The land is on Mill Creek between Inwood and Gerradstown with highway 51 along the North part and highway 24 running through the land. This information is from the book Pioneers of old Frederick County, Virginia by Cecil O'Dell.
      ————

      “Probably came to America about 1708 with Richard Harrold and worked in Philadelphia in the construction business for several years before moving to Maryland.

      “In 1730 he was described as John Mills of “Manoquisy near ye River Potomack” on son Thomas Mills’ marriage certificate recorded at New Garden Monthly Meeting, PA.

      “In 1731 John, along with Thomas and Reuben Mills witnessed a marriage at Monoguisie, Province of Maryland, recorded at Nottingham MM, PA.

      “John owned 1315 acres, in what is now Berkeley Co., WV; described in the patent as being “On a Branch of Opeckon, near but not adjoining Lewis MeMoss’ land.” In 1743 John Mills made several deeds recorded in Frederick Co., VA conveying portions of this tract to each of his sons, Thomas, Henry, Hurr and John Jr. In each deed he is described as “John Mills, Sr., of Prince George Co., MD, farmer.” His sons are all of Frederick County. No wife joined John Mills Sr. in these deeds.

      “John was visited by Friend William Reckitt in 1757 during the French and Indian War. “The Indians had killed and taken away people within two or three miles of this place not many weeks before; but the Lord preserved US in our journey.”

      “John’s will was made 28 Sept 1759, probated July 1761 in Rowan Co., NC. None of the children by his second marriage were named. “

      Hopewell Meeting House...
      “was the first Quaker meeting established in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It was originally known as Opeckan and was set off from the Concord Quarterly Meeting of Pennsylvania in 1734. The actual date of first settlement is thought to be around 1730. The meeting house is located about six miles north of Winchester, Frederick Co., Virginia.

      “A land grant of 100,000 acres was purchased on the Opeckan River. Many of the earliest settlers moved into the area from the Valley of the Monocacy in Maryland.”

      http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mygermanfamilies/MillsJohnRebecca.html
      John Mills was received at Cane Creek Monthly Meeting in North Carolina on 8/1/1752 on a certificate from Hopewell Monthly Meeting, Opeckan, Virginia dated 6/1/1752. Cane Creek Meeting at that time embraced a large area but John probably settled in Rowan County as he was a charter member of New Garden Monthly Meeting, Rowan County, when it was established in 1754. Sons Thomas, John, Hur & Henry followed on 9/1/1753 by certificate from Hopewell dated 5/7/1753.

      John Mills and son John, Jr., are called "Fathers of the Colony" by Hinshaw in writing of Hopewell Monthly Meeting in Virginia. Unfortunately the early Hopewell records have been lost and we only know of the Mills family move to North Carolina from the minutes of the receiving meeting. Fortunately, as was often the case, children were recorded at New Garden Monthly Meeting even though born in Virginia and it is here that we learn that Rebeckah was second wife of John and find birth dates for the second set of children. It is also born out by John's will, abstracted below.

      Abstract of John Mills Sr’s WillRowan County (A:122) John (X) Mills. Sept. 28, 1759. prb. July 1761. Wife Rebecah. 4 sons are each to have 1 shilling and what they have already received. Sons of a former wife, they are: Thomas, John, Hur, Henry. Dau., Mary Beeson, by former wife. Exr: wife, Rebeckah. Wit: William Buis, William Baldwin, John Baker.

      ------

      In 2011 we learned that the Quaker Mills site online on geocities was no longer available but a source online of archives in Ancestry.com found the following pertinent information. It had been posted in 2001 by Cheska Wheatley who has since passed away. We will post a limited amount of this information here.

      Cheska Wheatley mentions that the Quaker John Mills family is not her line but she helped a friend with research who was descended from this line so had quite a bit of information on them.

      She gives information from son Thomas Mills' marriage certificate recorded at New Garden Monthly Meeting, Pa. In the right hand column customarily reserved for parents and close family members is a signature of John Mills followed by that of Rebecca Mills who is held to be his first wife. John Mills is described in 1730 as living on "Manoquisy near ye River Potomack."

      The New Garden Monthly Meeting records, Guilford Co., NC contain the birth records of John's children by a woman named Rebecca who is clearly identified as his second wife. Their first child was born in 1742 some twelve years after John's eldest son by his first wife was married.

      In 1742 and 1743 John Mills of Prince George, Md made several deeds of land to his sons Thomas, Henry, Hur and John J. who were then residents of Opeckan, Frederick Co, Va and no doubt members of Hopewell MM, Va. The records no doubt contain information on the death of the first wife and marriage to the second wife but the records are unavailable due to destruction in a fire.

      Between 1752 and 1753 John Sr. and his four sons transferred their memberships from Hopewell Monthly Meeting, Va to Cane Creek Monthly Meeting, NC according to the men's minutes of that meeting. In 1754 New Garden MM, NC was set off from Cane Creek MM and the four Mills brothers are recorded as original members of that meeting.

      In 1759, John made his will which made bequests of 1 shilling each to his children Thomas, Henry, Hur, John and Mary "by my former wife." The rest of his estate was left to his wife Rebeckah and her children who were unnamed in the will. John died in 1760 and this will was probated 1761 in Rowan Co.l, NC that year.

      Nothing is known about the widow Rebeccah other than one written account in 1840 which states she went to Montgomery Co, NC. Her oldest son William was disowned by New Garden MM, NC in 1763 for attending his sister Rebecca's marriage to a non-Quaker. There is no mention of the remaining children in the Quaker records. [2, 5, 6, 7, 9]

  • Sources 
    1. [S104] Parke & Cobb Family Genealogy.

    2. [S1060] Find-A-Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117963341/john-mills.

    3. [S1294] Park/Parks/Parke Families File.

    4. [S910] John Mills (b. 1688, d. Nov 24, 1760).

    5. [S106] Pioneer Quakers at Monacacy (MD).

    6. [S105] Mills Ancestry.

    7. [S908] John and Rebecca Mills Families.

    8. [S1060] Find-A-Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195406519/rebecca-2nd-mills.

    9. [S909] Descendants of John Mills (Quaker).


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