Ancestral Line

Charles Walter Millett was born at 1, The Poplars, Hampton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex on 21st December 1879, (possibly 21st Feb. 1880 according to the baptism records), and Baptised on 4th May 1880 at Holy Trinity Church, Twickenham.   By the time of the 1881 census, the family had moved to the heart of London at 2 Brompton Square, Kensington, a stone’s throw from Hyde Park. Charles was educated at Worthing College, St. Dunstan’s College in Catford, South London and Ashton Grammar School, Dunstable.  Between 1892 and 1896 he attended the Polytechnic, Regent Street, London before furthering his education at University College, Gower Street, London. [1] From 1899 through to 1902, Charles served an apprenticeship in the drawing office of Messrs. George Wailes and Company of Euston Road, London, engineers and millwrights, machine tool merchants, machinists and tool dealers. [1] Charles was elected a member of The Institution of Junior Engineers in 1899.  The Junior Institution of Engineers was founded as the Vulcanic Society in 1884, changing its name to the Junior Institution of Engineers in 1902. It was established by junior engineers to instruct and encourage young engineers at the start of their professional careers. From 20th October 1902, Charles was employed as a draughtsman at the Automatic Gem and Gold Separator Syndicate at 10 St. Swithin’s Lane, London. [1] Charles was elected a Graduate of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1903 and subsequently an Associate Member in 1905. At this time he was signing his name as Walter Millett, preferring this over his given name of Charles. [1] (I will continue to refer to him as Charles.) He remained in London until the war of 1914-18 when he enlisted, and during 1914-15 saw active service with the East Africa Volunteers.  The East African campaign in World War I was a series of battles and guerrilla actions, which started in German East Africa (GEA) and spread to portions of Portuguese Mozambique, Northern Rhodesia, British East Africa, the Uganda Protectorate, and the Belgian Congo. Having returned from British East Africa, on 26 November 1916, Charles married Constance Mary Cooke (see below).  He was employed as an Assistant Engineer with the newly formed Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries until 1922 when he returned to East Africa to work on the erection of the power station in Mombasa. Returning to England again in 1925 Charles acted as contractor’s agent to the Newport Water Works Company.  He then became a resident engineer at the Guildford Corporation’s Water Works. His final post was in a similar role with the Cheltenham and Gloucester Joint Water Board. [26]  Employment: 1902 to 1905: Employed as a draughtsman by various firms in London.1914 to 1918: On active service in the East Africa Volunteers1919 to 1922: Assistant engineer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries1922 to 1925: Construction of Mombasa Power Station, East Africa.1925 to 1928: Contractor’s agent to the Newport Water Works Company1928: Contractor’s agent to the Cheltenham and Gloucester Joint Water Board. 1881 (Age 1) 2, Brompton Square, London  1891 (Age 11) 89 – 91, Westminster Bridge Road, London. (Scholar) 1901 (Age 21) 1, Stratford Place, Marylebone. (Engineer Articled Clerk) 1911 (Age 31) Abbotsford, Hampton Wick. 1930, 18 Orchard Road, Kingston 1936, 13 Charlton Place, Kingston (Electoral Register) 1939, 6 Abbey Terrace, Tewkesbury (1939 England & Wales Register *) * The 1939 Register was taken on 29 September 1939. The information was used to produce identity cards and, once rationing was introduced in January 1940, to issue ration books. Information in the Register was also used to administer conscription and the direction of labour and to monitor and control the movement of the population caused by military mobilisation and mass evacuation. Marriage: Charles married Constance Mary Cooke (1888-1970) of Nunhead, Surrey, on 26th November 1916 at St. Stephen’s Church, Hounslow, being the home parish of Charles’ bride. Children: Francis Henry Walter Millett was born on 28th February 1919 at 54 Mornington Crescent, Chingford, Essex Joyce Helena Millett was born on 1st March 1920 at 18 Orchard Road, Kingston, and baptised at All Saints, Kingston Upon Thames, on May 16th. Charles was a trustee of the Passmore Edwards Institute in Hayle, Cornwall in 1893. The Institute was erected to provide education and technical training for local men at a time when Hayle was suffering from a decline in the mining industry, a decline from which Hayle had yet to recover. Charles died on 8th August 1942 at Kingston upon Thames. He was 62 years of age. In 1943 his obituary was published by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers: CHARLES WALTER MILLETT, whose death occurred in his sixty-third year on 8th August 1942, was elected a Graduate of the Institution in 1903 and was transferred to Associate Membership in 1905. After receiving his technical education at the Polytechnic, Regent Street, and at University College, London, during which period he served his apprenticeship with Messrs. George Wailes and Company, Euston Road, he was, from 1902 to 1905, employed as draughtsman by various firms in London. He remained in London until the war, of 1914-18; he then enlisted and during 1914-15 was on active service in the East Africa Volunteers. From 1919 until 1922 he was assistant engineer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, after which he returned to East Africa and was engaged on the erection of the power station at Mombasa. On his return to England in 1925 he acted as contractor’s agent to the Newport Water Works Company for three years. He then became resident engineer at the Guildford Corporation’s Water Works. Mr. Millett finally occupied a similar position with the Cheltenham and Gloucester Joint Water Board.

Charles Dewen was born in St. Georges, Kennington, London, on 25th January 1837 to Honey and Mary Millett. He was Christened at St Mary’s Newington on 19th February 1837.  At the age of 4, Charles was still living at 2 St Georges Place, St Georges Rd, Lambeth. This is an area he knew well and to where he would later return, but at the age of 6 years, he and his family moved to Liverpool where his father had taken up work. In 1847, aged just 10, Charles tragically lost his father due to typhus. His widowed mother remarried 3 years later on the 30th of May 1850 and the family moved to Conchan on the Isle of Man. Charles was listed as a student at King Williams College, Isle of Man (illustrated above). He was registered as an entrant in September 1848 but left the following year mid-summer 1849. In the 1851 census, Charle’s siblings, Ellen, Walter H., Henry M and Honey Millett Jr. were all residing in the Isle of Man at 18 Derby Square, Douglas. However, now 14 years of age, the census shows that Charles was residing with his grandfather, Richard Oke Millett, at the family home of Penpol, in Hayle, Cornwall. We are unsure what he did for the next 8 years until his marriage on 28th May 1859, to Frances Edith Turner at the parish church in St Paul, Covent Garden, London. Frances was born in London. After his education, Charles had found work in London. He was employed by London and Westminster Bank at their Lambeth Branch at 91 Westminster Bridge Road as a bank clerk, close to where he had lived as a young boy. By 1881 Charles had been promoted to branch bank manager, a position he retained until his retirement. The branch is no longer there. Children: Charles owned a yacht, May Queen, a 28-foot cutter built in 1876, whilst he was resident at The Poplars. He was treasurer of the Lambeth Pension Society. Residences: Charles died on 2nd August 1911 at Hampton Wick and is buried in Teddington Cemetery. Probate London 23 August to Frances Edith Millett (widow).Effects £3,793 16s 6d Note: I have just started to research the name “Dewen” as it is such an unusual one. Interestingly, the name crops up a few times in and around Marazion. At present I can only assume Charles’ parents had  heard or knew the name back in Cornwall. [1] https://www.thepeerage.com/p8577.htm#i85770

Honey Millett was born 1st September 1809 at Lansallos, Cornwall to Revd John Curnow Millett and Mary Honey. He was Christened on 25th October 1809 in the parish of Lansallos. At the age of 14 in 1823, Honey joined the Maritime Service of the East India Company as a midshipman on board the Marchioness of Ely (pictured above), a Blackwall Frigate, built for the East India Co.  At the age of 18, he became a purser onboard the same ship c1827. In 1837 Honey lived in London at 2, St. Georges Place, St. Georges Road, Lambeth. In 1841 the first modern UK census recorded his occupation as HC Services. Honey married Mary Ann Turner (b. India 1814-1889) on 24 November 1834 at St Hilary, Cornwall. Together they had 6 children: Charles Dewen, 1837 – 1911 Helen Elvira, 1839 – 1932 Arthur Fenning, 1841 – 1885 Walter Hale, 1843 – 1900 Henry Michell, 1845 – 1903 Honey Jnr, 1847 – 1863 At some point between 1841 and 1843, the family moved to Liverpool where they lived in the Mount Pleasant district at 7 Brownlow Street, now the site of Liverpool Infirmary. In 1844, Honey was recorded as Commission Agent to Messrs Pascoe, Grenfell and Sons, copper merchants. Honey died of typhus fever (17 days certified) on 14 August 1847 at Liverpool, Lancashire aged 38.  His will was proved on 18 September 1847.  [The Economist Volume 5, Issue 2] Honey was buried in St James Cemetery Liverpool, (Grave No. 339). 2 At the time of Honey’s death, his widow was pregnant and on 6th April 1847 she gave birth to a son. He was Christened Honey in memory of his father. 

John Curnow Millett was born at Penpol Manor on 5th January 1771 to Richard Oke Millett and Jane Millett (nee Curnow) and Christened at Phillack Parish Church in Hayle on 9th January that year at St. Clement.[18] John was educated at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, (pictured ) and graduated with a B.A. in 1793.  Later that year he was ordained a deacon following which he was appointed Curate at Ludgvan, north-east of Penzance, on 28th October 1793 with a stipend of “£40 a Year payable quarterly”.  He was ordained priest on 8 March 1795. [16] On 16 Nov 1797, John married his first wife, Mary Thomas (1742 – 1806), in Phillack, Cornwall.  [19] They had one child, John Thomas Millett. Tragically, Mary died on 27th February 1801. John re-married on 5 Feb 1806 in Lansallos, Cornwall to Mary Honey. [19] Together they had no less than 10 children. John was appointed Curate at Lansallos on 6th August 1816 11.  Lansallos is a village in the parish of Polperro, some distance from his home at Hayle. John Curnow Millett was a Partner in the Deed of 1828 in the Cornish Copper Company. Children: [3] The 1841 Census Records show 70-year-old John living at Penpol with his son, Richard Oke. John died on 13 Jan 1848 in Penpoll of “eating too heartily” (see below) and was buried on 19 Jan in Phillack, Cornwall. The burial ceremony was performed by the curate, RG Dangerfield. Glasgow Herald (Glasgow) Saturday 30 January 1864: An inquest was held at Hayle on Saturday last on the body of the Rev. J. C. Millett, who died at his residence at Penpol, on the night of the 12th inst.  From the evidence given it appeared that the rev. gentleman had been for many years past suffering from indigestion and its attendant consequences and had lately slept by himself.  He retired to bed early in the evening, apparently not worse than usual, but in the morning, not rising at his accustomed hour, one of the inmates on going into his bedroom discovered him dead.  His appearance indicated that he must have died some hours before he was discovered, and from the unruffled state of the bed clothes, his death must have taken place without a struggle.  Verdict “Found Dead”.  Source:  Royal Cornwall Gazette (Truro) Friday 21 January 1848. The Hayle station of the West Cornwall Railway is situated on the estate of Penpol; the residence called Penpol House is very close to the station and has been the seat of the Milletts and their ancestors for many generations.  The last owner and occupier was the late Rev. John C. Millett, who was found dead in his bed on the morning of the 13th January, 1848, after the family had breakfasted.  He had been a little unwell from indigestion, and was on sick diet the day previous, and took in bed, on retiring to rest at night, a breakfast cup of arrowroot and brandy.  The next morning, he was found dead exactly in the same position as that in which he placed himself after taking the arrowroot.  He slept in a room alone.  A coroner’s jury, at an inquest held at Penpol, on the 15th of January 1848, decided that the cause of the sudden death of the Rev. J. C. Millett was “eating too heartily,” and they returned a verdict accordingly.

Richard Oke Millett was born on 29th March 1749 in Marazion to Oke Millett and Mary (nee Tyack) and Christened on 18th April 1749 at St. Hilary Church, near Marazion. Richard married Jane Curnow on the 3rd of April 1770 at St. Clements. Through his wife Jane, one of the three co-heirs of John Curnow, and by an arrangement with the other co-heirs, he leased the Penpol estate and moved into the ancient Penpol House (See photo). In 1778 he bought the property from the Rt. Hon. Lord Arundel. 24 Richard Oke Millett was a Partner in the Deed of 25 October 1779 in the Cornish Copper Company (with £1,000). His presence at Penpol House proved to be an asset for the Cornish Copper Company in what came to be known as the “Thirty Years War” with a rival company set up by John Harvey. (See “Rivalries” below) In the London Edition of The Gazette dated 10 July 1798, it was reported that Richard Oke Millett, Esq. was to be Captain of the Copper-House Company of Volunteers in Cornwall.  The Volunteer Corps was a British voluntary part-time organization for the purpose of home defence in the event of invasion, during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Marriages: Richard was married twice. On 3rd April 1770, he married Jane Curnow (1742 – 1806) at St. Clement, near Truro, Cornwall. They had 9 children: Richard’s second marriage was to Elizabeth Richards (1772-1842) on 5 September 1807 at St Hilary. They had one child: Rivalries Richard was always willing and ready to contest, on CCC’s behalf, the rights which John Harvey claimed to the waters of the Penpol River.  In January 1795, probably on a suggestion from John Edwards (Manager of CCC from 1765-1807), Richard withdrew the permission given some time previously to Harvey to make a small leat [an open watercourse conducting water to a mill] on the edge of the Penpol wastrel to carry off the water from the working of a Boring Mill.  This was followed by a threat to fill in the leat if Harvey’s men did not stop using it.  If this threat of force were carried into effect it would result in the Boring Mill coming to a halt.  In the event, Harvey did fail to act and so John Edwards sent in his men to fill in the leat”. In February 1795 Richard Oke Millett, Captain Henry Prideaux with about 40 men “knocked off the stocks a lighter being built by Harvey’s”; Harvey complained that the timber “was put in a place where the tide flows and this morning [25 February 1725] the sea carried off a great many pieces which is a great loss”. Richard Oke Millett died on 3 September 1832 aged 83 at Penpol and was buried on 8 September 1832 at Phillack.

Oke Millett was born in Marazion, Cornwall, on 6 August 1718 to Robert Millett and Margaret Oke. He was baptised on 23rd August 1719 in the parish of St. Hilary.  On 26th November 1736, at the age of 18, Oke paid an Apprentice Indenture to Mr Anthony Mead to train as a felt maker. [1] In a codicil to his father Leonard’s will, the following item was added: “That my wife shall have the house I now live in in Marazion during her life and tis my desire that my son Oak (sic) Millett after his apprenticeship is expired shod move home and live in friendship with his mother and live with her therein.” [2] Oke was appointed Mayor of Marazion four times; 1751, 1759, 1760 and 1766. Marriage: Oke’s first marriage was to Elizabeth Pharish (1723–1745) on 7th Feb. 1743 in the parish of St. Hilary which lies adjacent to Marazion to the north.  Elizabeth tragically died on 15th Apr 1745. Child: Oke’s second marriage was to Mary Tyack (1719–1782) which took place on 2nd April 1746 in the parish church of Germoe, about 6 miles east of Marazion. Children Oke died suddenly in 1777 and was buried at St. Hilary on 21st November of that year aged 58.

Leonard was born in 1692, and baptised on 7 May 1692 at St Hilary, Cornwall.  He was a merchant residing in Marazion. As a renowned member of the community, he was appointed three times Mayor of Marazion, in 1718, 1719 and 1721.  Leonard was described as a merchant.  His status can be clearly seen for he was able to leave his six sons well provided for in his will.  Four of them were left £280 each (£75,000 today), Robert was left £180 (£50,000 today) together with some land, and the residue of the estate was left to his eldest son, Oke.  His daughter Jane was to have £300 but “in case she marries Walter Thomas of Scilly who served his time with John Hill carpenter, I only give her £5 (£1,300 today)”.  This provision was never queried for Jane died after the will was written but before her father. His widow, Grace, died twelve years after her husband.  She, as many others in Marazion, left some money to charity, in her case £16 to poor widows in the town, as well as other charitable bequests.  The possessions mentioned in the wills of both Leonard and Grace, including a best tea kettle, a dressing table with glass, a diamond ring, a silver ladle, a swing-looking glass and a silver snuff box, her clothes and books suggest a family living in some style. Leonard Millett of Marazion owned both seines and drift nets and later stated that because he and the others had been unwilling to contend any further with St. Aubyn, they had agreed that he should have a decree against them “for the recovery of the tithe and they had since paid tithe for all pilchards taken in the codds and meased in the sleeves of the seines, also for pilchards taken in drift nets and for all hook fish taken by them”. It is known from a dispute concerning non-payment of tithes for fish taken that Robert’s merchant son Leonard once had fishing interests so he could have inherited the vessel Prosperous from his father Robert. 3 Leonard married first Jane Millett (1692-1730), daughter of John Millett (1666 – 1744) and Joan Davis (1670 – 1731), on 23 June 1716 at St Hilary. Leonard married second Grace Millett (1708-1757) on 8 June 1731 at St Just-in-Penwith. They did not have any children.  Leonard died in December 1740 at Marazion aged 48. He was buried on 25 December 1740 at St Hilary. See: The Humphrey Davy Link.

Leonard Junior’s birth date is uncertain, but it is believed to be c1649.  As the grandson of Peter Millett, a capital inhabitant of the Marazion, it is perhaps no surprise that he was elected Mayor of the town. Records of the dates vary but a roll of Mayors of Marazion displayed in the town’s council chamber, shows Leonard Millett serving in the years 1679 and 1683. In 1663 Leonard married Wilmot Dunstan. Children: Leonard died in 1686 and was buried at St. Hilary.