What happened to Elijah? Another brick wall.

[Wendus]

An ancestor of mine, a police constable, lived in and guarded the Old Fulham Workhouse. The first child born to him and his wife, was named Elijah, but he died in infancy. Some years and a few more children later, another son was born, and named Elijah Leonis (the family surname was Mills).

Elijah Leonis was born in April 1853, in the Old Workhouse. He is listed in the 1861 census, although his name is spelled (wrongly) as Eligah. However, I can find no trace of Elijah after this date. I've searched census records, marriage and death lists, etc., but with no luck.

If anyone happens to come across any mention of Elijah Leonis Mills (born Fulham, 1853) after 1860, I'd be really grateful if you could let me know.

Very many thanks.

[SBSFamilyhistory]

Can you tell us what the parent's names were?

Sue

[Sue Mackay]

I am a confused :confused:

I looked up Eligah Mills on the 1861, aged 7 born Fulham, and his parents were Joseph (shoemaker) and Judith (shoe binder), both from Buckinghamshire. Seems a bit of a leap from being a policeman? The family was living at Hope Cottage, Fulham.

EDIT. OK Have found them in 1851 and this IS the right family. Joseph and Judith (born Hillesden and Steeple Claydon Bucks respectively) and children Emily, William, Lucy and Denys born either Fulham or Chelsea. The search is now on for Elijah in 1871!

[Sue Mackay]

Haven't found Elijah yet. Judith Mills appears to have changed her name to Sarah in 1871. Either that or there are some remarkable coincidences. I looked up Denys Mills and found the following

RG10; Piece: 70; Folio: 12; Page: 16
9 St.Thomas Road, Fulham

Sarah MILLS Wid 48 Charwoman b Bucks, Steeple Claydon
Denys MILLS Son 21 House painter b Fulham
Ada MILLS Dau 7 b Fulham

[Alan Welsford]

Judith Mills appears to have changed her name to Sarah in 1871. Either that or there are some remarkable coincidences.
Yes, I thought that a bit odd.

The following is a bit of a punt, but I think she probably married as a Judith.....

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
----------------------------------------------------
Marriages Jun 1842
----------------------------------------------------
MILLS Joseph Buckingham 6 457
PANGBORN Judith Buckingham 6 457

Which doesn't help find Elijah, of course.

I agree there's not a sniff of him in any subsequent census, so unless he started going by another name, my gut feel is you are probably chasing a death record. But I certainly can't find one.

Otherwise I suppose he could have gone into the military, or something else that would have taken him outside the UK.

Sorry I can't help. Perhaps someone else will use better searching techniques than I have.

Alan

Edited for an afterthought....

Hopefully not, for the son of a Policeman, but there are a number of London born males, (and at least one female), with initials E.M. and of about the right age detained at her majesty's pleasure in 1871. Probably not, but it can happen to the best of families.

[SBSFamilyhistory]

I have found the death of the first Elijah Mills but not the second... well not yet.


Surname First name(s) Age District Vol Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deaths Sep 1843 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MILLS Elijah William Kensington 3 189

[suedent]

I've tried looking for "*leonis" just in case his first name was mangled but still no luck, just the entry of his birth :(

[SBSFamilyhistory]

There are 4 Elijah Mills on the 1871 Census.

two can be discounted as they live with their parents.

the other two could be discounted on the grounds the age, and place of birth being incorrect but there is always the possibility that they lied

ummm

[suedent]

There is also the possibility that he has been enumerated as Elisha or even Elisa - The poor Elisha/Elijah (he seems to swop at will) in my husband's tree suffered this fate - fortunately for me he was still living with his parents at the time - probably just very confused!

[Sue Mackay]

There is also the possibility that he has been enumerated as Elisha or even Elisa - The poor Elisha/Elijah (he seems to swop at will) in my husband's tree suffered this fate - fortunately for me he was still living with his parents at the time - probably just very confused!

I put in a search for Eli* without a surname and then had to quickly check the Male box as it brought up all the Elizas and Elizabeths. It did work with the Male box ticked, and brought up all the Elishas/Elis etc born within two years of 1853, but I still didn't find him! He probably emigrated.

[suedent]

As he would be 17 he might be apprenticed & the enumerator given him the wrong surname.

I did search "Wills" & "Wells" as fairly obvious alternatives but still drew a blank.

EDIT: I've also checked the USA & Canada - a couple but at least 10 years out on age.

[SBSFamilyhistory]

what about Australia..or even Europe..

[v.wells]

As he would be 17 he might be apprenticed & the enumerator given him the wrong surname.

I did search "Wills" & "Wells" as fairly obvious alternatives but still drew a blank.

EDIT: I've also checked the USA & Canada - a couple but at least 10 years out on age.

Try Walls as well.

[Wendus]

I'm very grateful for all your input. I feel I should give a brief history of the family, just to explain the one or two queries.

Joseph William Mills and Judith Sarah Pangborn were married in a Buckinghamshire Register Office in April 1842. Probably a 'shotgun' weding, as the first Elijah was born in July of the same year. Baby Elijah died of a 'bowel complaint' the following year, after travelling to London with his parents.

With references supplied by Sir Harry Verney Bt, of Claydon House, Bucks, and a Mr Jarvis of Steeple Claydon (amongst others), Joseph joined the Metropolitan Police Force on 10 May 1843 and became PC V229. His Warrant number was 20167. He was posted to 'V' Division in Fulham, where he and Judith lived in the Old Workhouse. Part of Joseph's duties was to guard the premises. Although a new Union Workhouse was opened by 1850, Joseph and Judith lived on in the old building, and Elijah Leonis was born there in 1853. A daughter (my gt-grandmother) was born there in 1855.

On 22 November 1858, Joseph was promoted to Sergeant and, on 18 Jan 1859, the year before the Old Workhouse building was demolished, he was transferred to 'T' Division. On 18 Jun 1859, Joseph took 'voluntary retirement' (resigned). Records show that Joseph was suffering from Phthisis (a form of consumptive TB) at the time of his retirement. As a police sergeant, he was awarded a pension of £31 per annum.

After his retirement, Joseph was described as a Shoemaker.

The family eventually moved to 9 St Thomas Road, Fulham, where Joseph died on 2nd Nov 1864.

Another note of interest ... I've never been able to find out where Joseph was buried, despite an extensive search!

Hope I haven't bored you too much, and thank you again for your interest.

[Mutley]

I put in a search for Eli* without a surname and then had to quickly check the Male box as it brought up all the Elizas and Elizabeths. It did work with the Male box ticked, and brought up all the Elishas/Elis etc born within two years of 1853, but I still didn't find him! He probably emigrated.

I had an Elijah who was transcribed as Eliza with the female box ticked.

It was most definately him but he was more often a her :confused: