Georgia Governor and Council Journals, 1753-1760. Ed. Mary Bondurant Warren. 1991:
Heritage Papers, Athens,
GA. GA Dept. of Archives and
History, Morrow, GA. Copy on file Sharon Dean Lee.
p. 26
April 1755
Thomas Mills of the province; 200 ac.; disapproved. Wanted land at S side
of Great Ogechee River at a place where Fort Argyle formerly stood. "The said Land be
reserved for public uses, and the Petitioner had leave to look for land
elsewhere." [ also in April 1755 page 160, Vol 7 of Colonial Records of Georgia
by Candler. Copy on file Margaret Drody Thompson].
NOTE: In 1733
Fort Argyle was built on the Ogeechee River, on land that later became part of Bryan County. Part of Effingham eventually
became Bryan. In
1754 the town of Georgetown was laid out on the
lower Ogeechee by John Reynolds, the first royal governor of Georgia, but the anticipated deep-water port
never came to fruition, because attention was focused on more established
commercial markets at Savannah and Sunbury. Georgetown was renamed
Hardwicke by Governor Reynolds in 1755.
p.64
9 Sept 1756
William
Mills; 150 ac; approved. Land at a place called "Bear Head Swamp" on N.
Newport. He had 1 negro.
p. 68
William Mills; 150 ac, in
Newport Dist. [A-246]
p. 128
April 1759
William Mills; 100 ac,;
approved. He has 150 ac and two negroes. He asks to purchase 100 ac. On the S
branch of N. Newport adj. self and John
Quarterman.
p. 129
1 May 1759, Savannah
[Found only in TC-His Honour Henry
Ellis, 500 ac]
Edward Gilman; 150 ac.; approved. [page 168-R] He was lately
come into the province from South
Carolina. He has a wife. Land is at N Newport at the
head of Horse-run Swamp about a mi. SW from
William Mills. [TC]
p. 133
[page 1-R]
Copy of the Minutes of the
Proceedings of the Governour in Council from 5 June 1759 to 24 July Following
Inclusive.
Thomas Christie; 350 ac.; approved. [page 5-R] He has been in the
province upwards of 3 years. He has a wife and 4 negroes. Land is on
Bear-head Swamp, the head branch of N
Newport adj. E. William Mills and W on Richard Baker.
p. 136
Thomas Mills; 100 ac.; approved. [page 16-L] He had been in the province 2
yrs. Land is upon the S Branch of N Newport about half a mile to the W of
William Mills [TC]
p. 153
William Mills-100 ac. In St. John's Par.
[B-316]
Leon Hollingsworth Card File. Card #24. Savannah Historical
Society. Copy on file Margaret Drody Thompson.
1755 July 12, Colonial Deed;
book J, Bills of Sale, Bonds, (etc.) p 19. Thomas Mills to William Mills; 50
pounds sterling of Great Britain; negro man Prince and a bay horse named Poney;
"and to my two daughters Sarah Mills and Rhoda Mills:, stock of cattle, hogs,
etc. "now at Ft. Argyle" signed by mark. Wit: Lewis Matteair, Jos. Butler, Jr,
Recorded 7-15-1755
(Phil Mills asks if we have seen a
Mitty Laniere listed as Sarah Mills Lanier, Granddaughter. Sarah had a sister
named Mitta. I have not seen Mitta or Mitty in any info in documents
todate.(3-1-08)
Leon Hollingsworth Card File. Card #23. Savannah Historical
Society. Copy on file Margaret Drody Thompson.
April 12, 1756 Colonial
Deed:
"Thomas Mills of the great Ogeechee in
the Colony of GA/ Planter for the love and affection here unto my son William
Mills of the same place planter and five shillings negro man will also a grey
horse, branded."
Coleman & Ready index to Colonial records.
Historical Society of Georgia, Savannah, Ga.,
Accessed by Margaret Drody Thompson, Jan 3, 2007.
1 April 1760 William
Mills, St. Johns Parish 100 A
3 Dec 1761 Thomas Mills 100 A St. Andrews Parish
6 Nov 1761
William Mills 250 A St. Johns Parish
The Georgia Historical Society Quarterly Volume XXXXII. p. 176-190. Savannah, 1962: pub by the U of GA, Athens. GA Dept. of
Archives and History, Morrow, GA. Copy on file Sharon Dean Lee.
p.
178
"Collections of the Georgia Historical Society and Other documents: The
Letter Book of Thomas Rasberry, 1758-1761." Ed. Lilla Mills Hawes. Part
VIII.
p. 190
Savannah in Georgia Novembr. 5th,
1760
Devonsheir Reeve & Lloyd
GENTLEMEN . . . Youl find under Cover
of this the first of the two following Setts of Bills Exchange on London
amounting to Two hundred and seven Pounds & eight pence Sterling which when
paid yo'l pass to my Credit Namely
Robt. Colhoun's Bill to Harriott Crooke on
John & Thos. Mills 4th August last for 155.5.8
[NOTE: I include this
reference on the merchant Thomas Mills because of its inclusion of a reference
to a brother John.]
Coleman & Ready index to Colonial records.
Historical Society of Georgia, Savannah, Ga. Accessed Jan 3, 2007. Copy on file Margaret Drody Thompson.
1 April 1760
William Mills, St.
Johns Parish 100 A
3 Dec 1761 Thomas Mills 100 A St.
Andrews Parish
6 Nov 1761 William Mills 250 A St. Johns Parish
Cate, Margaret Davis . A Story of Brunswick and
the Coastal Islands. 1930: GLOVER BROS., Inc.
Brunswick,
Georgia.
Accessed by Sharon Dean Lee 31 Dec 2007.
Pg.
72
The will of Capt. Demere, who died about April 1766, is on file
in the State Department of Archives in Atlanta and directs that the residue of his
estate, after certain legacies are paid, shall be divided between his sons,
Raymond Demere, and his nephew, Raymond Demere. John Graham of Savannah and Donald Mackay,
a merchant of Frederica, were named as executors.
The appraisal of
the estate, which was made by Lieut. Robt. Baillie, John Polson, James
Forrester, and Dr. Allan Stuart, listed articles valued at 3,224, including
between 300 and 400 head of "horned cattle"; 50 hogs; 4 riding horses and a
mare; silver headed swords; silver mounted pistols; gold headed canes; 350 oz.
"plane" silver plate; 100 ox. "chased" silver plate; diamond ring; silver cork
screw; silver lock; gold seals; gold brooch with garnets; silver snuff box; gold
watch and chain; the periagua Harrington; the ranger and cannon; 25 slaves,
valued at 1035; and notes of the following parties: Andrew Marston, Robert
Davis, John Harvey, John Simpson, James Forrester, Wm. Mills, Regina
Margaretta, Angus McRae, Georgiana McIntosh, Andrew Bruden, Joseph Prunious,
Peter Grant, Mark Carr, Wm. Hester, John Perkins, James Johnson, Benj. Arnold,
Donald Munro, Anthony Hancock, James Abrahams, Wm. Woodland, Richard Cotymore,
John Monroe,
Leon Hollingsworth Card File. Card #25. Savannah Historical
Society. Copy on file Margaret Drody Thompson.
July 12, 1756: "William Mills
of the Great Ogeechee: to John Elliott of Midway 50 lbs sterling; negro man
Will. Signed by hand: wit: John Quarterman, John Shave. Rec. 11-3-1756 in Book
J. Bonds, Bills of Sale, etc., page 78.
The Colonial
Records of Georgia, Vol. VII, Proceedings and
Minutes of the Governor and Council From October 30, 1754, to March 6, 1759.
1906: Atlanta,
Chas. P. Byrd. State Printing. Compiled and published under authority of the
Legislature by Allen D. Candler, A. M. LL. D. GA Dept. of Archives and History,
Morrow, GA. Copy on file Sharon Dean Lee.
p. 403
5th October 1756
Read
a Petition of William Mills setting forth that he was desirous of Cultivating
Lands having One Negro and therefore Praying for One Hundred and fifty Acres at
a Place called Bear head Swamp on North
Newport. [Given a seven months' grant which he must register in
seven months "that his Majesty may not be defrauded of his Quick Rents" and
"Sworn to Improve the Said Land."
pp. 144
9th Dec
1756
William Mills 150 Acres in the District of Newport.
The
Colonial Records of Georgia, Vol VIII: Journal of the Proceedings of the
Governor and Council, March 8, 1759, to December 31, 1762, Inclusive. 1907:
Atlanta, Chas.
P. Byrd. State Printing. Compiled and published under authority of the
Legislature by Allen D. Candler, A. M. LL. D. GA Dept. of Archives and History,
Morrow, GA. Copy on file Sharon Dean Lee.
p. 10 [need to get a
copy]
p. 18
April 1759
Read a Petition of William Mills setting
forth that he had had one hundred and fifty Acres of Land granted him and was
desirous to obtain additional Tract having two Negroes. Therefore praying for
one hundred Acres, by Purchase, on the south Branch of North Newport adjoining
the Petitioner's Land and Land of John
Quarterman which if granted he engaged to improve
the same. Granted.
p. 77
July, 1759
Read a Petition of Thomas Mills
setting forth that he had been two Years in the Province, had had no Lands
granted him and was desirous to obtain Land for Cultivation Therefore praying
for one hundred Acres upon the South Branch of North Newport about half a Mile
to the West of Land granted William Mills which if granted he engaged to
cultivate and improve the same. Granted.
Part
2
p. 213
William Mills 100 Acres in
St. John's Parish.
The Colonial Records of Georgia, Vol VIII: Journal of the
Proceedings of the Governor and Council, March 8, 1759, to December 31, 1762,
Inclusive. 1907: Atlanta, Chas. P. Byrd. State Printing.
Compiled and published under authority of the Legislature by Allen D. Candler,
A. M. LL. D. The Historical Society of Georgia, Savannah, Ga.
Copy on file Margaret Drody Thompson, accessed 3 Jan 2007.
p. 556
August
1761
"three Senior MILLS children killed" by Coweta
Indians
+
St.
Andrews Parish on St. Mary's River around the Ferry
Deposition
to George McIntosh, J.P
Saturday the 19th of September 1767
"Last he
heard of the murders committed by the Indians, the day before at Jereh. Wildrs
Settlement near 20 mile above the ferry on St Mary's River....informed that
WILLIAM MILLS was to be up, with some people in order to go and bury the dead,
for they all concluded that every one in the family were killed, that about
sundown the same day OLD MILLS , Mrs.WILLIAM MILLS , two children
and a negro came to the ferry after making their escape from the Indians, that
on Sunday night this despon.t WILLIAM MILLS and three other men, went up to the
place where the murder was committed, and there found (in a Branch) Mrs. Wilder
taking care of her husband who was wounded in the leg and afterwards found Baker
and Cummins by their grones in the thicket who were both still sensible....about
13 indians made the attack.....ransacked the house, killed a hog and fired the
house.....Baker died before they got him very far from this place, and Cummins
died about 2 hours after they got him to the ferry. Signed William Clark 21st
October 1767 and Geo. McKintosh
The Colonial Records of
Georgia, Volume IX Proceedings And
Minutes of the Governor and Council From January 4, 1763, to December 2, 1766.
Partly from State Archives and Partly from Manuscripts in the British Public
Record Office, London. 1907: Atlanta, Chas. P. Byrd. State Printing.
Compiled and published under authority of the Legislature by Allen D. Candler,
A. M. LL.D. GA Dept. of Archives and History, Morrow, GA. Copy on file Sharon
Dean Lee.
P. 52
May 1763
Read a Petition of William Mills setting forth
that he had been many Years settled in the Province and had had two hundred
Acres of Land granted him in Family Right and was desirous to obtain an
additional Tract having four Negroes Therefore praying for one hundred Acres on
the Alatamaha about fifteen Miles or Twenty Miles on this Side of the Mouth of
the Hohoope on a long Bluff for the Conveniency of settling a Stock
thereon-
Rejected.
p. 726
December 1766
Read a Petition of
William Mills setting forth that he had Five hundred Acres of Land granted him
and was desirous to Obtain an Additional Tract having a Wife two children and
eight Negores Therefore praying for One hundred Acres on a Branch of St. Mary's
River two Miles back from the River and about fifty Miles from the
Mouth-
Rejected.
The Colonial Records of Georgia, Vol. X, Proceedings and
Minutes of the Governor and Council From January 6, 1767, to December 5, 1769.
1907: Atlanta,
Chas. P. Byrd. State Printing. Compiled and published under authority of the
Legislature by Allen D. Candler, A. M. LL. D. GA Dept. of Archives and History,
Morrow, GA. Copy on file Sharon Dean Lee.
p. 116
His Excellency the
Governour signed the following Grants vizt:
William Mills 250 Acres St. Matthew's Parish.
Georgia Land Owners' Memorials 1758-1776.
NSDAR Library,
Washington, DC. # 90441. Copy on file Sharon Dean
Lee.
p. 14
49 William Mills, 150 acres, 2/100, 4-1-1760, St. John's Parish. Bounded
on SW by self, east by John Quarterman, other sides vacant; granted to self
12-4-1759. Signed William Mills.
p.39
172 William Mills, 100 acres,
2/100, 3-23-1759, Newport. Bounded by vacant land. Granted to
self 12-9-1756. Signed William Mills.
p. 55
254 Wm., Mills, 250
acres, 2/100, 11-6-1761, St.
John's Parish. Bounded on NE by self, W by Ben Baker,
vacant land, and Thos. Mills, other sides vacant; granted to self 11-3-1761.
Signed William Mills.
p. 58 [I missed copying this page, which is
referenced to both Thomas and Wm Mills]
p. 195
15 William Dukes,
100 acres, St. Andrew's Parish, 2/100. Bounded easterly by William Mills, other
sides vacant. Granted 0-1-1773 by Joseph Lewis for William Duks
[sic].
p. 203
38 Josiah Dickson, 200 acres, St. Matthew's Parish,
2/100. Bounded northwesterly by MILLS, southwesterly by his own lands, other
sides vacant. Granted 1-5-1773 by Valentine Hollingsworth for Josiah
Dixson.
Vol XI 1770-71 Col. Records of Ga.
Governor and Council page 432
" St. Matthew's Parish:
Benjamin Lanier
200 acres
Joshua Pierce 150 acres
p. 204
40 THOMAS MILLS, 150
acres in 2 grants, 2/100. 50 acres, St. Matthew's Parish. Bounded westerly by
the Great Ogeechee River, northeasterly by his own land,
southerly by JOSIAH DICKSON. 100 acres, St. Matthew's Parish. Bounded southwesterly partly by his own land,
other sides vacant. Granted 1-19-1773. Signed 5-10-1773 by THOMAS
MILLS."
p. 222
88 LEWIS MATTIER, 250 acres, St. Andrew's Parish,
2/100. Bounded westerly by his own land, north-easterly by William Mills, other
sides vacant. Granted 7-5-1774. Signed 9-14-1774 by (no signature).
p.
250
162 JAMES MCKAY, 1500 acres in 2 grants, 2/100. 1000 acres.
Township of Wrightsboro, St. Paul's Parish. Bounded southwesterly by
JAMES COATES, JACOB CASTLE, JOHN DUNKIN, WILLIAM MILLS, AND RICHARD SMITH,
northwesterly by JOHN MORE and RICHARD SMITH, northeasterly by HIXON, ROSS,
widow STUBBS, and vacant land, southeasterly by JOHN PERKINS.
P.
255
174 THOMAS CHISOLM, 50 acres, St. Matthew's Parish, 2/100. Bounded
northwesterly by THOMAS MILLS, southwesterly by the Great Ogeechee River, southeasterly and northeasterly by
"land surveyed for" JOSIAH DICKSON.
Thomas Mills page 593 listed in Ga.
Rev. War Soldiers Graves lists him as native of Rowan Co. from DAR Patriots
list; Ga. Citizens p 25, 72 and Rev. rosters. Per Margarets
research
[NOTE from SDL: the 1783 date for Thomas Mills, Josiah
Dixon, and Valentine Hollingsworth is interesting in its relationship to
information provided by Margaret Thompson:
"Duplin County, NC Court Records
Committee of Claims, Coroner's Inquest, S. S. 316 to death of John register in
1763
Oaths were given by all the men who were later found in Screven County
as early settlers: oaths in record by Bird Lanier, John Ganey, Valentine
Hollingsworth, Benjamin Lanier, Clifton Bowen,Sr. THOMAS MILLS, Charles Merrit,
William Stevens, ...Good and Lawful men of the Parish of St. Garbriel in the
said county ...charged and sworn ...what manner of death, etc."
another
entry for him:
"1767 State Militia for Duplin Co., NC also lists Thomas Mills
and Benjamin Lynear as Ensigns; list made out at Wilmington, NC
Published abstracts of Duplin County deeds and court minutes do not
begin until 1784. Duplin will abstracts, 1730-1860, have no index reference to
Thomas Mills. Abstracts Sampson-Duplin Deeds, by Max R. Peterson -- -- Deed book
1: 272: Thomas Mills was a witness to the conveyance of John Miller Sr.
to William Mills Sr. August 1767. -- Deed Book 1:353, John Atkeison sold to
Thomas Mills 9 February 1763 with Henry and Valuntine Hollingsworth as
witnesses. -- Deed Book 3: 19: William Williams sold land to Thomas Mills
on 14 January 1758. -- Book 4:144 records a January 1769 governor's
Part 3
commission to Rev. John Hobert
Briggs, inducted the 28th of that month in the presence of Thomas Mills and
others including Zebulon Hollingsworth. -- Deed Book 4:358: Joseph Williams sold
land to Edward Howcutt dated August 1, 1769 and witnessed by Thomas Mills
and Henry Hollingsworth.
The Colonial Records of Georgia: Conveyance Manuscript Books.
Book X2: August 27, 1772 to Apr 12, 1774, British. GA Dept. of Archives and
History, Morrow, GA. Copies on file Sharon Dean Lee and Margaret Drody
Thompson. [The following are abstracts.]
p. 947
12th Oct 1761 "in the
first year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George the Third," recorded 6th
July 1773
William Mills, planter, of St
John's Parish makes an indenture to Richard Spencer of St. John's Parish for ten
shillings 500 acres of land bordering northerly Thomas Christy, westerly Thomas
Mills and Benjamin Baker. Witnesses Thomas Quarterman and Rebecca
Quarterman.
p. 948 Deed Boox X2 Effingham County, Savannah research by Margaret Drody Thompson
Dec 2007: led by Leon Hollinsworth card file #25 Thomasville Gen. Library
research July 2007 - his card did not list the "son" id I discovered.
13th
Oct 1762 "in the first year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George the
Third," recorded 6th July 1773
William Mills, planter, of St. John's Parish, states that he received from John
Spencer the sum of one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds for five hundred
acres of land, buildings, etc, in St.
John's Parish. Witnesses Thomas and Rebecca
Quarterman
pp. 949-950
28th April 1762 "in the second year of the
reign of our sovereign Lord George the Third," recorded 6th July
1773
Thomas Mills, planter, of St. Andrew's Parish, pledges/makes an
indenture to William Mills, planter and son of the said Thomas Mills and
Elizabeth Mills of St. Andrew's Parish, for ten shillings, 100 acres of
land, buildings, etc, in St. Andrew's Parish. Signed by Thomas and Elisa
Mills. Witnesses James Andrew, John Stewart, Wm Graves.
pp.
950-951
29th April 1762 "in the second year of the reign of our sovereign
Lord George the Third"; signatures witnessed 17th Nov 1772; recorded 6th July
1773
Thomas Mills, planter, of St. Andrew's Parish, and his wife Elizabeth
Mills sell to William Mills, planter and son of the said Thomas Mills and
Elizabeth Mills for thirty-five pounds fourteen shillings one hundred acres
of land, buildings, etc. Thomas makes his mark and Elizabeth signs that they
have received the money. Witnesses James Andrew, John Stewart, and William
Graves. NOTE: signatures witnessed 17th Nov 1772.
Thomas Mills, b.
Rowan Co., N.C., 1740; d. Screven Co., GA. Served as 2nd Lieut. 1st Regiment,
2nd Batt., Ga. Militia, 17 76 (we havenot proved any other wife for Thomas as listed by Mrs
McCall. We only have records for an Elizabeth (no Lucy) -.*
Children:
1.
Hannah, mar. 1792, John Lewis Lanier (1762-1812).
*Very likely whoever
contributed this record to McCall is in error about Lucy Allen as the mother of
the Mills children. Based on the language of Elizabeth Mills' conveyance in
1797 ("my children" and "my Loving son Stephen Mills"), Elizabeth is more likely
the mother of the children. According the Margaret Brody Thompson in an email
to Sharon Dean Lee Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:36 AM, she "also conferenced
with the state's DAR genealogist and she agrees with us too."
Governor
and Council papers of Colonial Records. Vol 8. Copy on file Margaret Drody
Thompson.
p. 10
May 1763
William Mills mentioned on of for a
description for land requested by Palmer Golding"Branch of South Newport without
two or three miles of lands granted William Mills . . .
Copy on file Sharon Dean Lee.
The Proceedings and Minutes of
the Governor and Council of Georgia, October 4, 1774 through November 7, 1775
and September 6, 1779 through September 20, 1780."
p. 210
[At a Council held in the council Chamber at Savannah the Sixth decr
1774]
His Excellency acquainted the Board that he had been applied to, to
Appoint Commissioners of the Road for the Parish of St. Philip, in the Room of
Isaac Ford, James Eastlake and Richard Burford, who have Removed out of that
Parish. Whereupon it was Resolved That William Belcher, Thos Mills and Benjamin
Laniere be appointed Commissioners of the Roads in said Parish in the Room of
the said, Ford, Eastlake and Burford.
Davis,
Robert S., Jr. Georgia Citizens and Soldiers of the American Revolution. 1979:
Easley, SC:
Georgia Historical Press, NSDAR
Library # 70079, GA Military 1775-1783 DAV. Copy on file Sharon Dean Lee.
pp.
28-29
'Accounts, 1776-1782 The following are the longest of the
accounts for payment due for supplies and services rendered the Georgia Patriots
that are in the Telamon Cuyler Collection, Special Collections, University of Georgia Libraries. The Cuyler Collection
also contains hundreds of papers relating to individual accounts, some listed in
the documents reproduced here. Documents used here are reproduced through the
courtesy of the University of Georgia
Libraries.
The Pearce-Mills
connection:
From Margaret Thompson: Passport:
Executive Department Wednesday 3rd of July 1811 on application ordered that a
passport be prepared for Messrs. Thoms F. Lovett, Joshua Pearce and Archibald
Mills, the two first from the County of Scriven, and the latter from the County
of Burke of this State to travel through the Creek Nation of Indians, which was
presented and signed.
The son of Joshua Pearce, Stephen
Calfrey Pearce, married William Mills' daughter Mary Mills. William was one of
our Thomas' sons. Mary Mills Pearce married a Beville. There is a history of
the Beville bamily that can be downloaded from Google. Jack P Dean,cousin to
Sharon Lee Dean, , is a Y-DNA match (through a cousin) to this Joshua
Pearce:
" From Sharon Lee: In 1818
Henry Bryan moved to Alabama. Henry Bryan's wife was Honora
Bonnell. Some of the Bonnells went to Alabama, and Archibald E. Bonnell later had a
descendant named Jack P Dean. Henry Bryan later had a descendant named Sharon
Ann Dean. Sharon and Jack are Y-DNA identified Dean cousins and are, of course,
Bonnell cousins.
Hope you find this useful to filling
in some blanks of the Screven Countys earliest settlers. Thomas Mills
was apparently in the area as early as 1755 according to land
records.
Margaret Drody
Thompson
[email protected]
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