Robert Mills (1828 - 1897)

Born Nov 1828 in County Longford, Ireland

Husband of Anne Mills — married 1852 in Victoria, Australia

Died 2 Mar 1897 at age 68 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Biography

Robert Mills (1828-1897)

Robert Mills was born in Ireland.

Birth
Robert Mills was born in November 1828 at County Longford, Ireland. He was the son of John Mills and Dorothea Huggins.

Robert Mills came free to the Colony of Victoria (1851-1900)

Immigration
John Mills and his wife, Dorothea Mills and their six children emigrated from Ireland to the Colony of New South Wales. They departed Liverpool, England and arrived at Victoria and New South Wales on board the ship 'Argyle' in 1850. Robert Mills left the ship in Victoria, while the rest of the family continued to New South Wales. ^[1]

Marriage
Robert Mills married Anne / Anna Maria Mills in 1852 at Victoria, Australia. ^[2]

Children
Robert Mills and Anne / Anna Maria (Mills) Mills had 8 children:

1. Margaret Robina Johnston Mills born 1853 Vic. (m. Day) died 1929 Qld.
2. Annie Maria Mills born 1856 Vic. (m. Else) died 04 November 1932 Qld.
3. Robert John Mills born 1857 Vic. died 1858 Vic. (age 1)
4. Amy Letitia Mills born 1858 Vic. died 1860 Vic. (age 20 months)
5. Phoebe Elizabeth Mills born 1860 Vic. died 1861 Vic. (age 7 months)
6. William Robert Mills born 24 May 1862 Qld. died 04 January 1920 Qld.
7. John Charles Mills born 06 December 1866 Qld. died 11 November 1869 Qld.
8. Dorothea Mary Mills born 23 May 1869 Qld. died 01 August 1870 Qld.

Death
Robert Mills age 68, passed away 02 March 1897 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ^[3]

Funeral Notice

"Advertising" The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947) 2 March 1897: Page 1

FUNERAL NOTICE.— The Friends of Mr. ROBERT MILLS, late of Telegraph Newspaper Company, are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, to move from the residence of his Son-in-law, Mr. W. Day, Cairns terrace, Red Hill, TO-MORROW (Wednesday) AFTERNOON,

March 3, at 3.30 o'clock, to the Toowong Cemetery. CANNON & CRIPPS, Undertakers. ^[4]

Burial
Robert Mills was buried on 03 March 1897 at Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ^[5]

Obituary

"MR. R. MILLS." The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934) 5 March 1897: Page 6.

MR. R. MILLS.

One of the oldest printers of Brisbane, Mr.Robert Mills, died at a quarter to 2 o'clock on Tuesday. Mr. Mills has for many years, lived at Thorroldtown, but he died, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. William Day, Cairns terrace, Red Hill, to which, desiring a change, he went a few weeks ago. He met a painless death, after some months of ill-health.

Mr. Mills, who was born at Longford, in Ireland, was 68 years of age last November. His widow survives him, and he also leaves two daughters and a son, who are all married.

The deceased, with his parents, brothers, and sisters, arrived in Australia in the ship Argyll, in 1850. The rest of the family went to Sydney, but the son Robert remained in Melbourne. There he saw the changes brought about by the gold rush. The wages of compositors rose from 8d. to 2s. 6d. per 1,000, and Mr. Mills, being a fast hand, made money. He was associated with the Argus in its early days. Subsequently he visited New South Wales and New Zealand.

In Sydney, he worked on Sir Henry Parkes's paper, the Empire. He arrived in Brisbane in 1868, and became overseer of the Guardian. His brother, the late Mr. Charles Mills (for nearly 22 years printer of the Telegraph) was stone-hand. When the Guardian was incorporated in the Courier the Express was started, of which Mr. Robert Mills was printer and publisher. The Express died in 1871, and Mr. Mills was one of the party which brought out the short-lived Colonist which succeeded it. The Colonist was merged in the Telegraph on October 1, 1872.

Mr. Mills was next employed at the Government Printing Office. He left there to take the overseership of the newly started Roman Catholic organ, the Australian. After a short occupancy of that position he joined the Telegraph companionship, and with one break he thereafter worked in the composing-room of this office.

His health gave way a few months ago.

As a printer his devotion to his work was unstinted.

Mr. Mills, who was a man of strong Protestant convictions, was an active member of the congregation when All Saints' Church was built. On removing to Petrie terrace he was a churchwarden of Christ Church, Milton. He took an interest in the inauguration of the volunteer movement in Brisbane, and was a lieutenant in the old Fortitude Valley Corps.

The Queensland Typographical Association had in him one of its first presidents. By many citizens and persons connected with the printing trade his memory will be cherished.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ DEATH OF AN OLD COLONIST (1880, May 15). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174715447
2. ↑ Marriage: VIC, Australia BDM IndexMILLS Robert | Marriage |MILLS, Anne | Year: 1852 |Reg. No. 3005/1852 | Reg. Victoria, Australia
3. ↑ Death: QLD Government Family History BDM Death registration: Robert Mills | Death date: 02/03/1897 |Mother's name: Dorothy Huggins | Father/parent's name: John Mills |Registration details: 1897/C/1511 | Reg. Queensland, Australia
4. ↑ Advertising (1897, March 2). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 1. Retrieved May 9, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172161569
5. ↑ Burial: BCC Graves Brisbane MILLS ROBERT | Date of Service: 03-03-1897 | Cemetery:Toowong Cemetery | Grve Location: 1-24-9/10 | Also buried in this grave: MILLS ANNE | Date of Service: 04-11-1915 | DAY WILLIAM| Age: 66 Years| Date of Service: 01-09-1927 | DAY MARGARET RUBINA JOHNSTONE |Age: 76 Years | Date of Service: 21-09-1929 | JOHNSTONE MARGARET CAROLINE MILLS | Date of Service: 14-10-1877 | DAY WILLIAM ARTHUR |Date of Service: 02-10-1892 | PANTON RUBINA ANNIE | Age: 38 Years | Date of Service: 10-04-1933
6. ↑ MR. R. MILLS. (1897, March 5). The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934), p. 6. Retrieved May 9, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190511443