Rachel Mills

Rachel's great niece, Ellen Maud Hillier (Nellie) is living with Walter and Rachel at the 1891 census. Rachel's nephew, Henry Hillier, who is Nellie's father, was farming in Barking at the time of the 1881 census. The census for Green Lane, Romford, describes him as 28 yrs old, born 1853, Manton Wiltshire, farmer with 310 acres, employing 15 women, 7 boys and 17 men. Ellen Maud is 8 yrs, born Ilford. Her mother is Fanny, 32 yrs born Devizes Wiltshire, and she has a younger brother and sister, all born in Essex. By the 1891 census something dreadful has happened to Henry, and he is working as a farm labourer, only Fanny and son Henry are at home, and they are taking in a lodger. This probably accounts for Walter and Rachel taking Nellie into their home. Henry was probably christened at Preshute (Manton) Wiltshire 20 November 1853, father Stephen, mother Eliza. This would mean Rachel has a brother called Stephen. Ellen M Hillier marries Silvester Hodgson in West Ham in 1922. If it is the same person, she is 50 yrs old, but WW1 killed so many men of marriage age, this might not be surprising. She might have been the widow of a WW1 soldier. Possible, but not conclusive.

The only birth record I can find for Rachel says she was christened in Stourton to Thomas Hillier, a pig butcher, and Louisa in 1829. If this is indeed Rachel's family, and it seems likely, then they might have lived in Manton where the children were born and travelled to Stourton for the christening, especially if Louisa's parents came from there. Just a guess, trying to make sense of the details. Wiltshire was famous for its pork products for well over a century, so Thomas was in the right business in the right place. The connections seem fairly secure so I have added them to Rachel's tree. Don't know who Henry's father is so no connection made there.

Rachel didn't marry Walter until 1881, long after their children were born, possibly because she was already married to someone else and had to wait until he died. Possible other marriage is - Rachael Hillyar of Stourton, married John Howell 30 Nov 1847, at Stourton, Wiltshire; her father Thomas Hillyar, his father William Howell. If this is indeed our Rachel, she would have been 18 or 19 yrs old in 1847. REg. Mere Wilts.

Rachel died at Romford Q4 1902, age 74 yrs.