David Mills (1730 - 1829)

Born 1730 in Bedford, Westchester, New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1829 at about age 99 in Maccan, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jennifer Pettigrew [send private message]

Biography

David Mills was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:Proven
Date: Undated

David was born in 1730 in Westchester, New York. David is the child of George Mills and Mary Holmes.

In 1786, David Mills filed a claim for damages, asking for reimbursement from the Crown. This documentation is noted in the Loyalist Directory, where David is a recognized UEL. ^[1][2]

According to the UEL directory, David arrived with his wife and six children at Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia. He was granted 500 acres in the Cobequid Grant. ^[3] The Nova Scotia Land Index lists David Mills among those who were included in the "Cobequid Land Grant" ("Seaman and others...")^[4][5]

According to the Township Records of Southampton, David & Rebecca's place of residence was recorded as follows: 1788, 1790, 1792: Barronsfield. 1793, 1799: Maccan.^[6]

On 2 Aug. 1791, David Mills of Barrons Field, Cumberland County, province of Halifax sold two parcels of land with his wife Rebeckah to Lemuel Light of Bedford, Westchester County, New York. The land was in the town of Bedford. ^[7]

On 1 Nov. 1815, David Mills wrote his will. He was a farmer of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. The will was proved on 5 July 1836. He names his sons, Ruben, Peter, Stephen, and Nathan. He names his daughters, Martha Mills, Abigail Hoag, Charlotte Harrison, and Dorcas Gilroy. ^[8]

David is buried in the Harrison Burial Ground^[9], Maccan, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada.^[10]

Documentation

Last Will and Testament of David Mills

In the name of God Amen. I David Mills of the County of Cumberland and the province of Novascotia, Farmer, being weak in bodey But of perfect minde and memory, thanks be given unto God, call unto minde the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say, principlally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul unto the hand of almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth, to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executor, nothing doubting But at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again, by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, demire [?], and deppose of the same in the following manner and form. First, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved sons Reuben Mills, Peter Mills, and Stephen Mills the sum of five shilings each current money of Nova Scotia to be paid out of my effects by my executor. Also I give unto my well beloved daughters Martha Mills, Abigail Hoeg, Charlotte Harrison, and Dorcas Gilroy the sum of five shillings each current money of Nova Scotia to be paid out of my effects by my executor. ...give unto my well beloved son Nathan Mills ... I likewise constitute, mark and ordain executor of this my last will and testament. ^[11] (Continued on next page) "All and signgular my lands buildings goods and chattels, by him freely to be possessed and injoyed. and I do hereby utterly disalone, revok, and disanul all and any other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and executors by me in any wise before named willed and bequeathed: ratifying and confirming this and no other. Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. Signed, sealed, published, announced, and declared by the said David Mills as his last will and testament in the presence of m. who in his presence of him and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names. David Mills (X his mark), Robert Blenkhorn, David Blenkhorn.^[12]

Research Notes

The Will presents some interesting challenges to the overall picture for David Mills.

• First, his son Samuel is not included. Samuel's marriage record clearly indicates his parents as David and Rebecca. Two possible solutions: Perhaps Samuel died prior to David's will in 1815? Or, perhaps Samuel's first name was Stephen but he was popularly known by his middle name? ````
• Reuben Mills. This is the only record that links David to Reuben. Is this the same Reuben Mills who settled in Moncton?
  • DNA suggests that Reuben is not related to the line of George Mills (currently connected as David's father in Bedford). So, either this David Mills is not descended from George Mills, or his son Reuben is different than the Reuben Mills in Moncton.
• Mother and wife are Holmes. David's mother is listed as Mary Holmes and his wife is also a Holmes. This is not impossible, but it does raise a question mark.

There is a marriage for David Mills Jr. 16 June 1816 to Ruth Terriss.^[13] Is this another son of David and Rebecca Mills? It is more likely that this David Mills Jr. was a grandson of the David Mills of this profile.````

Sources

1. ↑ The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; American Loyalist Claims, Series II; Class: AO 13; Piece: 026 (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/3712/images/40939_307203-00507?pId=7577)
2. ↑ Loyalist Directory: David Mills (http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/detail.php?letter=m&line=1007)
3. ↑ Loyalist Directory: David Mills (http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/detail.php?letter=m&line=1007)
4. ↑ Nova Scotia Land Papers. Direct Link: Seaman and others Note: if the direct link does not work, search Nova Scotia Land Papers, then search "Seaman" in Cumberland County.
5. ↑ Transcribed text from the Nova Scotia Archives Land Papers 1765-1800. Names listed in the documents: Stephen Seaman, Matthew Dallaway, Ezekiah Seaman, Peter Ruftin, Jesse Ogden, Thomas Wheaton, Moses Simmons, David Ungsley, Israel barker, John Gleeson, Henry Piers, James Ackol, James Merrit, Charles Jennings, Wright Weeks, William Jofree, Jonathan Valmer, John Maby, Joseph Sears, Jeremiah Seaman, John Crawford, Joseph Vurdy, David Mills, Joseph Trine, Danish Dickerson, Shubach Jeeves(?), Stephen Vurdy, William Coon, Charles Vincent, Jesse Scofield, Josiah Baker, James Meach, Samuel Bishop, John Williams, Samuel Wood, John Sherwood, James Chase, Nathaniel Hoag, John Ogden, Samuel Embree, Zackariah Snider, Joshua Horton, John Willow, Jeremiah Ruftin, Abraham Covert, Henry Shilts, Henry Gray, Simon Rethonfer(?), Robert Purdy, Peter Maby, Gilbert Hanland, Jabez Bundler(?), John Ruftin Sr., Martin Creary, Jonathan Snider, Nathaniel Goolding, Obadiah Simpson, Aaron Fountain, Henry Trenchard, John Baxter, Nathaniel Purdy, David Ackley, Joseph Embree Jr., John Hunter, John Ryness, James Miller, James Townsbury, Henry Purdy, Elijah Smith, Jonathan Worden, Daniel Holmes, Hames Ruftin, John Ruftin, Samuel Horton, Caleb Griffin, Amos Fowler, John Myers, John Brisband, Gideon Palmer, Nathaniel Ackley, Benjamin Chamberlain West Chester Loyalists. Warrant and report for 54,150 acres on the Harbour of Ramsheg and Tatamagouche. Granted 33,250 acres on the Cobequid Road, near the boundary of Londonderry.
6. ↑ A Register of Marriages, Births, Deaths and Marks of Cattle in the District of Maccan, Nappan and Southampton for the County of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. (Luke Harrison, Town Clerk, March 20th 1788. James Jenks, Town Clerk, 1821. Thomas Read, Town Clerk, 1831). Transcribed in 1999 by Bev Sumpter. (https://www.libris.ca/yrkfam/yrks03.htm)
7. ↑ Westchester County Deed Records, Vol. L, pp. 117-119. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WZ-3XZP?i=66&cc=2078654&cat=228986)
8. ↑ Cumberland County Estate Files, 1764-1938, No. 2269-2329 (B-C) (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99ZB-K9QC-B?i=352&cc=2134302)
9. ↑ Find a Grave cemetery ID: 2457572
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/170492613/david-mills : accessed 21 February 2022), memorial page for David Mills (1730–1829), Find a Grave Memorial ID 170492613, citing Harrison Burial Ground, Maccan, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada ; Maintained by Brian McConnell (contributor 48857516) .
11. ↑ Cumberland County Estate Files, 1764-1938, No. 2269-2329 (B-C) (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99ZB-K9QC-B?i=352&cc=2134302)
12. ↑ "Canada, Nova Scotia Probate Records, 1760-1993," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZB-K935-9?cc=2134302&wc=SN1R-FM3%3A1411412402%2C1413349101 : 4 November 2014), Cumberland > Estate files, 1764-1938, no 2269-2329 (B-C) > image 354 of 1076; county courthouses, Nova Scotia.
13. ↑ Nova Scotia Archives. Nova Scotia Births, Marriages, and Deaths. David Mills and Ruth Terriss married on 18 June 1816 at Cumberland County Registration: Year: 1816 number: 3743

• U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Name: David Mills, Arrival Year: 1784, Arrival Place: Nova Scotia, Canada
• Nova Scotia, Canada, Land Petitions, 1765-1800 - David Mills, Year: 1785, Place of Land Record: Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada, Details: West Chester Loyalists. Warrant and report for 54,150 acres on the Harbour of Ramsheg and Tatamagouche. Granted 33,250 acres on the Cobequid Road, near the boundary of Londonderry.
• UK, American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835 - David Mills, Previous Residence Place: New York, Record Type: Account of Losses, Description: New Claims
• Nova Scotia, Canada, Census, Assessment and Poll Tax Records, 1770-1795, 1827, 1838 - David Mills, Residence Year 1795, Residence Place: Maccan, Nappan and River Hebert, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada, Record Type: Poll Tax Roll