Emily (Morris) Mills (1856 - 1904)

Born 7 Jan 1856 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Albert William Bonier Hawken — married 9 Aug 1882 (to before 1886) in Willunga, South Australia, Australia

Wife of Arthur Frederick Mills — married 1 Feb 1886 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 24 Aug 1904 at age 48 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

Emily Morris was born in 1856 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, the 3rd child of Richard and Mary Ann Morris (nee Rundle). Her siblings were Eliza, Richard, Harriet, Mary Ann, George, William and Albert. It is believed that Emily was referred to as 'Amy'. Her father was a labourer and a shoe maker.

Little is known of Emily's early life. Her father deserted the family when she was young.

First Marriage

At age 26 in 1882, she married an Albert William Bonier Hawken in Willunga, south of Adelaide. He came from a big family that lived in the Willunga area at the time. There are no known children from the marriage.

Second Marriage

Emily married a second time on the 1st February 1886 to Arthur Frederick Mills, at the Bible Christian House in Adelaide. The minister and his wife served as witnesses. It should be noted that Emily recorded her status on the second marriage certificate as widow, but this was untrue. The prohibitive cost of divorce at the time is likely to have been the reason for this.

Child

Emily and Arthur had a daughter, Cissy Cornelia, who was born in August of that year in Sydney, New South Wales. What the couple were doing in the state of New South Wales is currently unknown, but it appears that some of Arthur's siblings may have moved to the state and they could have been visiting them. Cissy would be their only child.

Port Pirie

It is not known when Emily and Arthur came back to South Australia, but when they did, it appears they settled in the Port Pirie area. Arthur was employed in the area as a clerk. Emily appeared before the local court of Insolvency on September 22nd, 1892 for a final hearing, as reported in The Advertiser newspaper, 23rd September 1892. Mr J Duncan appeared as her representative, and a first class certificate was awarded.

Quackery

By 1901, Emily's husband Arthur was calling himself "Professor" Mills and had become a well-known "quack" in the city of Adelaide. Arthur advertised his services in The Advertiser newspaper, almost on a weekly basis between 1901 and 1908.

Death

Emily died on the 24th August 1904 and was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide. The headstone was erected by her mother, sister and brother, and memorium notices were placed in the newspaper over several years by her daughter Cissy.

Sources

• *South Australian Marriage Certificate, 1882, District Willunga, Book 132, Page 602
• South Australian Marriage Certificate, 1886, District Adelaide, Book 146, Page 258
• Adelaide Hospital Admissions, 1904
• South Australian Death Certificate, 1904, District Adelaide, Book 304, Page 256
• West Terrace Cemetery, burial 25/8/1904, Road 3, Path 5, Aspect W, Site Number 15