Though Leslie Mills was born in Ireland, he claimed to be "English." His marriage certificate he says his father was a cattle drover named Matthew Mills.
WHICH MILLS FAMILY?
Matthew Mills lived in Lissan parish, Loughinsholin barony, in the rolling “mountains” of Southern Derry. This is a region known for its’ cattle and deciding which was the correct one was difficult.
A DROVER (Courtesy Ireland Calling)
"To Meath of the pastures
From wet hills by the sea
Through Leitrim and Longford
Go my cattle and me.
I hear in the darkness
Their slipping and breathing.
I name them the bye-ways
They're to pass without heeding
Then the wet, winding roads
Brown bogs and black water;
And my thoughts on white ships
And the King of Spain's daughter.
O! farmer Strong farmer!
You can spend at the fair
But your face you must turn
To your crops and your care.
And SOldiers - red soldiers!
You've seen many lands;
but you walk two by two
And by captain's commands.
O! the smell of the beasts,
The wet wind in the morn
And the proud and hard earth
Never broken for corn
And the crowds at the fair
The herds loosened and blind
Loud words and dark faces
And the wild blood behind
O! strong men with your best
I would strive breast to breast
I could quiet your herds
With my words, with my words.)
I will rbing you my kine,
Where there's grass to the knee
But you'll think of scant croppings
Harsh with salt of the sea."
Matthew Mills
Matthew Mills was presumably born about 1775 and married between 1800 and 1810. When the 1831 census was taken he had two sons and two daughters living at home.
He was presumably fairly well off, for when Leslie Mills emigrated to England about 1844 he was receiving a pension. As there is no record of his serving in the armed forces, I suspect this came from the farm.
CHILDREN: