James Millen (1856-1923)

An Exciting Discovery!

My great great grandparents, Charles Milne and Elspeth Ross, came to Wentworth County, Ontario ca 1846 from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They had one daughter and seven sons… some of the children were born in Scotland and some in Wentworth.

Charles died in 1856 and Elspeth remarried about fifteen years later and lived well into her nineties. Their daughter, Margaret, married and eventually moved to Kinross, Michigan. Four of the sons remained in Ontario and three sons (Robert, George and James) moved to Michigan.

For years I have searched without success for the three sons who migrated to Michigan.  This week, thanks to DNA matches with some distant cousins and some further research, I have found James Millen.

He was originally James Milne. My branch of the Milne family pronounces the name as Millen and I often find it spelled that way in records. James obviously decided to adopt that spelling as it is found on all his Michigan records and those of his children. 

The breakthrough happened as a result of me checking the Ancestry trees of some DNA matches. This led to a copy of James’ death registration which gave his parents’ names as Mr. Millen and Elspeth Ross. Her name leapt off the page at me!

I am always sure to check spelling variations of names so I’m sure I must have come across James before in my searches of Michigan records. However, without the DNA matches and the death certificate I couldn’t be sure of his identity. Now I’m hoping that contact with some of his descendants might lead to his brothers, Robert and George. The search continues…

A Marriage at Black’s Tavern

William Milne and Catherine Johnson were married on October 3, 1871.

According to the marriage registration, Billy and Catherine were married at Black’s Tavern, Flamborough West Township, Wentworth County. The tavern was owned by Joseph Black, the father-in-law of Billy’s brother, Charles.

William was the son of Charles Milne and Elspet Ross. Catherine was the daughter of William Johnson and Rebecca Cromer.

More detail about the lives of Billy and Catherine can be found on the Milne page of this website.

Catherine Johnson Milne

More Reunion Photos

A selection of photos from the Milne Reunion of 2002…

Where did that fifteen years go?

Milne Reunion 2002

Happy Canada Day!

On the eve of the 150th anniversary of Confederation I have given some thought to my direct ancestors and their families who were present in Canada on 1 July 1867. They lived on farms or in small communities and I don’t know how or if they marked that historic day.

Those early settlers were:

William Collins (1799 – 1881) and Jean Anderson Collins (1798 – 1850) emigrated from Renfrewshire, Scotland ca 1826 and settled in Oxford County and then Waterloo County.

George Hewitt (1805 – 1893) and Mary Clements Hewitt (1807 – 1896) left Norfolk County, England in 1836 and settled in Oxford County the year before the Rebellions of 1837.

John Hewitt (1833 – 1911) left Norfolk with his parents in 1836 and married Elizabeth Collins (1835 – 1881) who was born in Waterloo County.

Charles Milne (1807 – 1856) and Elspet Ross Milne (1808 – 1897) arrived in Wentworth County from Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1846.

Rebecca Cromer Johnson McArthur (1807 – 1902) was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, emigrated to New York City and came to Wentworth County as a widow ca 1850 with two young daughters.

William Milne (1850 – 1932) was born in Dundas, Ontario and married Catherine Johnson (1846 – 1911) who was born in New York City, NY and arrived in 1850 with her mother and sister.

 

William Milne 1850 – 1932

William Milne, who died on this day in 1932, was the seventh child of Charles Milne and Elspet Ross. He was born at Dundas, Ontario on March 6, 1850. He was always called Billy by family and friends and was said to be extremely stubborn.

Billy married Catherine Johnson at Black’s Tavern, Flamborough West Township, Wentworth County on October 3, 1871.

In the late 1870’s, William and Catherine moved first to Grey Township, Huron County and then to Elma Township, Perth County where they purchased land at West 1/2 Lot 1, Concession 7.

Only two of Billy and Catherine’s four children lived to adulthood. Mary Rebecca and William Johnston (Willie) died in childhood.  Robert James, the eldest of Billy and Catherine’s children, lived most of his adult life in Grey Township, Huron County and at the family farm in Elma. In the early 1920’s, Charles Alexander moved his family to Texas.

Catherine died on October 31, 1911 after a series of strokes. Billy died on May 30, 1932. Both are buried with their son, Willie, in Elma Centre Cemetery a short distance from their farm.