• Born in Nova Scotia. Moved with family to Wardsville, Ontario in 1827 and lived his last years in Marysville, Michigan.95

• Son of Peter & Elenor Mills.669, p 1,677,667, p 5

• Barnabas could have been named after Peter’s brother-in-law, Barnabas Gilroy.678, p 1

• I find your Barnabas born 26 Feb 1801 in the town book, but Darrell doesn’t list him, as he was not in the family notes, which would indicate that Barny [sic] did leave the county.679, p 1

• In my opinion there can be no doubt that Barnabas was in fact a son of Peter and Eleanor (Ennis/Innis) Mills. The only contrary evidence seems to be the fact that W. Darrell Mills’ genealogical tables, as given in Michael’s newsletter, do not show Barnabas as one of Peter’s children. However, Darrell’s record leaves out other known children of Peter, and has at least one major error, so the omission of Barnabas cannot be considered significant. It must be pointed out in fairness to Darrell that he does not claim that his list of Peter’s children is complete; in my experience “family source” information rarely is.298, cover letter

• Actually I have a long-time acquaintance with your genealogy since our Mills families both came from NS to Mosa and then to St. Clair Co., MI. When I started hunting for my Mills connection in St. Clair, I met Lois Wedge. She gave me a sheet showing Daniel Mills as the father of Barnabus. But when I got the NS info, it appeared much more likely to me that he was the 1801 son of Peter, which is apparently the conclusion others came to also. There was a Daniel Mills in NS early enough to have a son in 1801, but the odds are against two Barnabas Mills being born in 1801. Name inferences are hardly conclusive. The Barnabas could have been named after Peter’s brother-in-law, Barnabas Gilroy. Peter also had sons named Reuben and Nelson, names of your Barnabas’s sons. Your Barnabas did not have a Peter, but many of the Mills did not name any of the children after the father of grandfather.678, p 1

• Moved from NS to Iona, Ont.680, p 1

• It is possible that Barnabas may have moved to Upper Canada ca. 1820 as a single man, returning later to Nova Scotia to marry and live until after his son Hamilton was born. (In this connection the following information, mainly from secondary sources, may or may not be significant: About 1820, the time that this census indicates for Barnabas’ arrival in Upper Canada, several families removed from the Southampton area of Cumberland Co., N. S., to Upper Canada, settling in the Iona area in Dunwich Twp. in what is now Elgin County. The group included James Lumley (son of John and Nancy (Harrison) Lumley) and his wife Eleanor H. Nelson; Eleanor was a sister of Barnabas Mills’ first wife, Margaret Ann Nelson. According to Source 3, Barnabas Mills was born at Southampton, and according to Source 5, in Upper Canada. Barnabas Mills first settled at Iona.)298, p 5

• His [Reuben Mills] father was a native son of Nova Scotia, the year of his birth being 1801. The elder Mr. Mills followed the calling of the farm throughout his entire life. He came to Canada [meaning Ontario] in an early day, when he had reached his majority, and lived there for many years, till his family of thirteen children, seven boys and six girls, had grown to manhood and womanhood. The mother died when Reuben Mills, the immediate subject of this brief personal record, was nine years old [thus 1848], and some time after the father married again. The second wife bore him two children, and after her death in Canada he came to Marysville, where he passed away in 1871.12, p 780

• Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forest Cadastral Map Index Sheet No. 60:
This map shows that Barney Mills was granted 200 acres in Cumberland County. The lot, through which the Black River flows, is located on the eastern outskirts of the present town of Springhill, and lies on both sides of the road leading to Salt Springs. (The eastern part of the Springhill Cemetery now lies on part of the lot.) The following indicial information is given for the grant: “Lib 10 Fol 8 No. 1567/Book N p16”.681
This is undoubtedly the property that Barney Mills “of River Thames” sold in 1836 [see below]. It cannot be concluded from this information that [Barnabas] Mills actually resided on the property. At this time many residents of the earlier-settled parts of the county obtained grants of crown land in the unsettled interior, probably to have access to the timber on the properties.298, p 7

• Petitioner a native of province with wife and one child; has never had land granted; asks for an order to survey for 200 acres “on the Black River adjoining lands on the East side, formerly laid off for Andrew Dexter.” [A notation on the document states that a warrant to survey was issued and a grant made, both on 16 Dec. 1823.]
The property is clearly that shown on the cadastral map, and that sold by Barnabas Mills of Mosa Twp. in 1836.
The statement that (on 23 Oct. 1823) Barney Mills had a wife and one child agrees with the Family Record: Barnabas’ eldest child (Nelson) was born 15 Jan. 1823, and thus was nine months old when the petition was written; Barnabas’ second child (Hamilton) was not born until 8 Aug. 1824, ten months after the petition was written.282, p 1

• In 1825, the hilltop now Springhill, and the surrounding countryside was all laid off in grants. A map of Crown Grants by B. Scott with grants dated 1827 and 1828 show these on or near the “Claremont Road” (now Main Street): ...Barney Mills, ... The grants were very elastic in their titles and surveys, with the legal term “more or less” widely used. These lands were used as a commodity and the early settlers constantly bought, sold and exchanged among themselves.682, p 2

• 1826: removal from Nova Scotia to Mosa: “when he [Nelson Mills] was three years old, they removed to Wardsville, about 30 miles from Chatham, Ontario.”270

• Barney Mills: Lot 21, Range 1RS.683, p 166
• Barney Mills: Lot 20 & 21, 1st Range S. Long Woods Road; 92 acres; patent date: 18 Nov 1847.684

• From transcriptions of assessment rolls for the township of Mosa, Middlesex County, Ontario for the years 1826, 1831, and 1841, the following information is taken from those transcriptions and the facsimile:
• In 1826 Joseph Mills occupied 100 acres on Lots 20 & 21, south of Longwoods Road; the household consisted of Joseph only; none of the land was cultivated; the assessment was 20 [shillings].
(Joseph Mills is not listed in later assessment rolls.)
• In 1831 Barney Mills occupied Lot 21, first range south [of Longwoods Road]; the transcription gives no other information; the original perhaps includes more.
• In 1841 Barney Mills occupied Lot 21, First Range; the household consisted of three males over 16, three males under 16, one female over 16, and four females under 16 [for a total of 10].
(Barney Mills is not listed in the 1826 roll.)
This information places Barnabas in Mosa Township at least as early as 1831. Apparently he was not there in 1826, at least not as a land owner or tenant farmer, which is consistent with his arriving with his family in Upper Canada ca. 1825 and first settling at Iona.
The composition of Barnabas’ household in 1841 may be compared with that predicted by the information in the Family Record [prepared by David W. Mills]. According to the Record, in 1841 there would have been: three males over 16 (Barnabas, Nelson, Hamilton); three males under 16 (Barney, Hanse, Reuben; Abraham was born 27 Mar 1841, but since the assessment was for 1841, it would presumably have been made at or before the beginning of the year, and thus before Abraham was born); one female over 16 (Margaret Ann Nelson); four females under 16 (Elizabeth, Jane Ellen, Mary, Margaret Ann). The match is perfect.298, pp 5-6

• The agricultural census shows that “Bernard” Mills occupied 190 acres on Lots 20 & 21 on the First Concession South (of Longwoods Road), of which (in 1860) 120 acres were “under wood,” 15 and 1/2 acres in crops, and 54 and 1/2 acres in pasture. In the “Remarks” column are the terse comments: “Soil Good. River Flats. Want of culture.”298, p 4

• Barney Mills of River Thames, Upper Canada, and Peggy Ann his wife, for 30 pounds deeded to William Boss of Maccan land on the Black River. Signed by Barney Mills and Peggy Ann Mills. Dated 1 Oct. 1836, registered 21 June 1837.
Since Barney Mills of Mosa Twp. at this time occupied a farm which fronted on the Thames River, and his wife’s given name was Margaret (for which “Peggy” is a common nickname), this must be the record of the sale of land belonging to Barney, son of Peter Mills. One can only conjecture about the reason he did not sell the land until at least 10 years after he left Nova Scotia.298, p 7

• Obituary
Mr. Barney Mills died Saturday, April 24, of inflammation of the lungs. He had been sick less than two weeks, and was thought by his physician to be improving rapidly. He was able to walk about the room a half hour before his death.
Rev. J. W. Holt conducted the funeral services at the M. E. church, Tuesday, April 27th, at 10 o’clock a. m. The body was taken to Fort Gratiot Cemetery for interment.
Mr. Mills was born in Nova Scotia in 1801 and removed to the vicinity of Chatham, Ontario about the year 1858 [sic]. The last few years of his life were spent in comparative quiet with his sons in this place. Mr. Mills was twice married and 12 children survive him. Among his sons are Reuben and Hamilton Mills, of this place, Nelson and Barney, of the well known firm of N. & B. Mills, lumberman, and James L. Mills, now residing in Washington territory. The daughters are Mrs. Edwards, of Port Huron, Miss Griffith, of Belle River, Mrs. Conger, of Toledo, O., and others residing in Ontario.674

• 1842 Census: Mosa Twp, Middlesex County, Ont. Married, age 30-59, non-proprietor of real property, farmer, 22 years in province. 3 males over 16; 3 males under 16; 1 female over 16; 4 females under 16.298, p 4,683, p 168,297
• 1851 Mosa twp. Census: farmer, born Nova Scotia, Baptist, age 51, married.298, p 2,299,300, p 7
• 1861 Mosa twp. Census: farmer, [b] N. S., Baptist, age 59. Enumerated as Bernard Mills.298, p 3,685
All six persons, including the Merryfield girl, are described in the appropriate column as “members of the family,” indicating blood relationship.298, pp 3-4
• 1870 Census: Marysville, St. Clair, Michigan. Age 68, living with son, Hamilton.675

• The one native of Ireland would be Margaret Ann (Nelson) Mills. All the other members of the household are described as natives of Canada, whereas three were in fact born in Nova Scotia, which did not become part of Canada until 1867. However, the Canadian enumerators more often than not chose to regard persons born in Nova Scotia as natives of Canada, so this apparent discrepancy may be disregarded.298, p 5

• Look for will/probate in St. Clair County.