To commemorate Remembrance Day, this week’s photo is of my great-grandfather Thomas Edward Mills.
He was born on August 1, 1872 in Liverpool, England (his birth name was actually Albert), the son of Frederick Mills and Alice Lyon. The family lived at 17 Summer Seat.
In the 1890s he immigrated to Nova Scotia and settled in the Shubenacadie/Gays River area where he met my great-grandmother Arabella (Mitchell) Greenough, who was teaching in the area at the time. They married in 1902 and had six children.
My grandad Alan Mills was the youngest and was born in September 1915. At the time of his birth, his father was in Valcartier, Quebec having joined the 40th Batallion (Nova Scotia) Canadian Expeditionary Force earlier that year.
On September 5, 1916, Thomas Edward Mills died in battle in France at the age of 44, having never met my grandad. He is buried at the Courcelette British Cemetery.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been one year since Mom left this world for a better one. So, it’s only fitting that I share some photos of her.
Mom was one of my biggest genealogy fans. She always enjoyed learning new information I discovered. She was also one my my best sources, helping me connect the dots and answer questions about ancestors long gone. I sure do miss her.
Aunt Florence was the only sibling of my Grandad’s that I met. The others were long gone by the time I was born. Growing up, we would visit her and her husband Herbert Titus (Uncle Herbert) at their home in Dartmouth each summer when we went to Nova Scotia.
When my Mom was sick with tuberculosis as a child, she had a lengthy stay at the TB Hospital in Halifax. Nan and Grandad, living in Oyster Pond, could visit her only on the weekend when they could borrow a friend’s car. Fortunately for Mom, her Aunt Florence and Aunt Belle visited her through the week, bringing with them various books, magazines, and paper dolls for her to enjoy. Mom would always remark how much those visits meant to her.
Florence Elizabeth Mills was born June 3, 1908 in Gays River, Colchester County, Nova Scotia. She was the third child of Thomas Edward Mills and Arabella Jane Mitchell. She was likely named after her mother’s sister Florence Mitchell and her father’s sister Elizabeth Mills in Liverpool, England. She was probably the last family member who had any recollection of her father who was killed in the First World War.
Florence married Herbert Titus in 1931. They had two daughters: Elizabeth and Marjorie. Herbert also had a son from his first marriage. Florence died in 2002. She was the last of the Mills siblings
In 1998, I “interviewed” my Nan Rose (Power) Mills about her childhood and early adulthood in East Jeddore, Nova Scotia. The account below is based largely on the information she provided me.
Rose Power met her future husband Alan Mills (my Grandad) when she was 16 years old. He was a friend of Sam Mitchell, who was dating Rose’s sister Edna (Poode) at the time. Rose and Alan “went together” for three years before marrying.
Source: Nova Scotia, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Registration: Year: 1938 number: 88903, Allan [Alan] Victor Mills and Rose Margaret Power, married at Musquodobit Harbour, Halifax County, 7 May 1938; database with images, Province of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Archives (https://archives.novascotia.ca/vital-statistics/ : accessed 29 March 2022)
They were married on May 7, 1938 in the Manse of the United Church in Musquodoboit Harbour by Mr. Graham. Besides the bride and groom and the minister, there were five other people present: Rose’s parents Earl and Alice Power; Alan’s sister Belle and her husband Roy Jennex; and Alan’s friend Reg Foley who drove them over to the church.
After the official marriage ceremony, they returned to Earl and Alice’s home in East Jeddore for a wedding reception. Rose’s Uncle Fred (Baker) played the wedding march on Alice’s big organ. They received plenty of gifts and well wishes from guests. One of her favourite gifts was a “pretty pink glass bowl” given by Marsha Hopkins.
Below are some of the wedding wishes written by guests. I found these gems long forgotten in a trunk in my Grandad’s attic.
Today is the 86th anniversary of my grandparents’ wedding. Although the marriage ultimately ended, my grandparents reconciled before Grandad died of lung cancer in 1995. So, today I celebrate what sounded like a fun and happy day.
Today is my aunt Bert’s birthday. She would’ve turned 80. Born Arabella Bertha Mills (we always called her “Bert”) she was the third daughter of my grandparents Alan Mills and Rose Power. She was born April 26, 1944 at home in Oyster Pond Jeddore, Nova Scotia.
When I was growing up, Bert and her first husband and their family lived next door to us on the Beach Strip in Hamilton. I can still remember the days when she would pick me up from school. Those were the best days because she would always take me to Burger King in their orange pick-up truck. I loved that truck – and the trips to Burger King.
Years later, she and her second husband lived in the house on the other side of us. So, Bert was our neighbour twice. Bert died September 10, 2021.
Here is a photo of Bert taken when she was two years old. My Nan’s writing is on the reverse of the photograph.
Here is a photo of the old Oyster Pond United Church in Oyster Pond, Nova Scotia. I don’t recall ever having been inside it, but there are at least two significant family events that happened in this church.
My parents were married here in 1971. And, my Grandad’s (Alan Mills) funeral was held here January 24, 1995. Most of his ashes are buried with his mother Arabella in the church cemetery.
Here are three generations: My great-grandfather Earl Power in the centre with his daughter Rose (my Nan) on his left and his granddaughter Gladys (my aunt) on his right.
It looks to me that the picture was taken at my grandparents’ home in Oyster Pond. The photo is dated January 1969, which was one year after my great-grandmother Alice (Baker) Power died.
This is one of only a handful of photos I’ve seen of Earl Power. It’s certainly the best one quality-wise. And, I’m amazed at how much my Nan looks like my Mom in this photo.
As we approach Remembrance Day , I thought I’d share a picture of my great grandfather Thomas Edward Mills (left) and an unknown man.
Grandfather Mills, as he was known by the family, was born in Liverpool, England and came to Canada in the 1890s.
He was a member of the 40th Batallion (Nova Scotia) of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during the First World War. He died in battle as a member of the 13th Batallion Canadian Infantry and is buried at the Courcelette British Cemetery in France.
Grave marker of Doris Elaine (Mills) Finch, White Chapel Memorial Gardens (Hamilton). Photo by Amanda Finch.
It took a little longer than expected, but the good folks at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Hamilton finally located and installed my Mom’s grave marker. OK technically it’s my Dad’s too, but he wants to wait a bit before rejoining Mom.
My parents purchased their marker and burial plot years ago. A good idea. I think they chose well. The round piece in the top centre pulls up and becomes a vase for flowers.
Doris Elaine (Mills) Finch was born August 26, 1949 in Oyster Pond Jeddore, Nova Scotia. She died July 20, 2023 in Oakville, Ontario.
Here is a picture of my Grandad Alan Mills (left) and his friend Sam Mitchell. Sam lived up the road from my Grandad in Oyster Pond, Halifax County, Nova Scotia. Not only were they lifelong friends, they were actually distant (third) cousins.
Alan Victor Morash Mills was born 11 September 1915 in Gays River, NS. He died on 20 January 1995 after a brief battle with lung cancer. Samuel William Harvey Mitchell, son of Archibald Daniel Mitchell and Emma Cox, died on 31 January 1995 – only days after attending my grandfather’s funeral.
